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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Analysis and compensation of an aircraft simulator control loading system with compliant linkage

A hydraulic control loading system for aircraft simulation was analyzed to find the causes of undesirable low frequency oscillations and loading effects in the output. The hypothesis of mechanical compliance in the control linkage was substantiated by comparing the behavior of a mathematical model of the system with previously obtained experimental data. A compensation scheme based on the minimum integral of the squared difference between desired and actual output was shown to be effective in reducing the undesirable output effects. The structure of the proposed compensation was computed by use of a dynamic programing algorithm and a linear state space model of the fixed elements in the system.

Johnson, P. R.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Evaluation of Equivalent Battery Model Representations for Thermostatically Controlled Loads in Commercial Buildings

Models for thermostatically controlled loads in commercial buildings often include many parameters and variables compared to residential buildings. As such, it is beneficial to use reduced-order models to represent these resources. A classic example of such a model is the Virtual Battery or Equivalent Battery Model (EBM). In this paper, the typical EBM is extended to higher-order commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning (HVAC) models and adapted for electric water heaters. Finally, we compare the performance of EBMs with detailed thermal models using three classic optimization problems - energy maximization, energy minimization, and power reference tracking. Our results show that the EBM-constrained and detailed thermal model-constrained problems produce similar outcomes in terms of temperature, power, and total energy consumption.

commercial buildings↗
DOE OSTI2024

Active Aerodynamic Load Control for Wind Turbines

The goal of this project was to develop and demonstrate an advanced dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator technology. We set out to demonstrate the efficacy and impact of the new actuator technology as a key component of an active load control system for wind turbines. A DBD plasma actuator consists of a thin layer of dielectric material separating a pair of offset electrodes. One of those electrodes is embedded between the dielectric layer and a non-conductive substrate, while the other is exposed to air. When driven by an appropriate high voltage waveform, the device ionizes the air near the surface of the dielectric and adjacent to the exposed electrode. Collisions between the ions in the plasma and neutral air molecules result in a wall-jet – a region of induced air velocity that can be used to modify the flow around a lifting body. Use of the device near the trailing edge of a wind turbine blade, designed in such a way as to amplify the effects of the flow-modifying device, can result in large changes to the global forces experienced by the blade. Because of the fast response time of the device, it can allow the turbine to react in real time to changes in the wind associated with turbulence, wind shear, gusts, and the like, when paired with appropriate sensors and control algorithms. The goal of this project was to increase the capacity of the device to induce velocity on its surface at the levels required by large, utility-scale wind turbines. The first technical goal was to increase the induced velocity from the current industry-best of about 4 m/s to 10 m/s by modifying the electrical waveform used to drive the device and by introducing a semi-conductive surface coating to control electrostatic charge build-up on the surface. The second goal was to use the device to modify the lift on a representative airfoil in a wind tunnel, demonstrating a reduction in lift coefficient of 0.2 or better. The third goal was to produce an actuator-induced velocity of 20 m/s. Alongside our partners at the University of Texas at Dallas, we also applied modern, advanced design methods to optimize the impact of the technology on the design of wind turbines. We also had planned to install a segmented, active load control system on a test turbine to demonstrate the ability to reduce unsteady aerodynamic forces on the turbine associated with changes in the wind. The highest induced velocity achieved during this research was 11 m/s. However, practical design constraints limited the change in lift coefficient to about 0.12 for a representative airfoil in the wind tunnel at a Reynolds number of 400,000. The primary conclusion is that the plasma actuator control authority remains insufficient for practical purposes when extrapolated to Reynolds numbers over 1 million. The potential impact of the active lift control concept was evaluated through detailed simulations for three wind turbine sizes: a 3.4MW onshore turbine, a 10MW offshore turbine, and a 15MW offshore turbine. A feedback control system was designed for each turbine within two scenarios: one where the active lift control is used as a retrofit capability on the baseline design, and the other where the designers were permitted to “upscale” the turbines in order increase annual energy production. The levelized cost of energy was then evaluated for the range of turbine sizes and design configuration. It was found that the LCOE reduction associated with active lift control fell in the range of 0.7% to 7.2%, with the highest reduction associated with upscaling the 3.4MW turbine.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Coordination of thermostatically controlled loads

Apparatus and methods for a market-based control framework to coordinate a group of autonomous thermostatically controlled loads (TCL) to achieve system-level objectives with pricing incentives is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method of providing power to a load via a power grid by submitting bids to a coordinator includes determining an energy response relating price data for one or more energy prices to quantity data for power to be consumed by the load, sending a bid for power for a finite time period based on the energy response to the coordinator, and receiving a clearing price based on: the bid, on bids received from a plurality of additional loads, and a feeder power constraint. In some examples, the energy response is based at least in part on an equivalent thermal parameter model and a control policy indicating one or more power states for the load.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Coordination of thermostatically controlled loads

Apparatus and methods for a market-based control framework to coordinate a group of autonomous thermostatically controlled loads (TCL) to achieve system-level objectives with pricing incentives is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method of providing power to a load via a power grid by submitting bids to a coordinator includes determining an energy response relating price data for one or more energy prices to quantity data for power to be consumed by the load, sending a bid for power for a finite time period based on the energy response to the coordinator, and receiving a clearing price based on: the bid, on bids received from a plurality of additional loads, and a feeder power constraint. In some examples, the energy response is based at least in part on an equivalent thermal parameter model and a control policy indicating one or more power states for the load.

Lian, Jianming↗
DOE OSTI2021

Systems and methods for randomized, packet-based power management of conditionally-controlled loads and bi-directional distributed energy storage systems

The present disclosure provides a distributed and anonymous approach to demand response of an electricity system. The approach conceptualizes energy consumption and production of distributed-energy resources (DERs) via discrete energy packets that are coordinated by a cyber computing entity that grants or denies energy packet requests from the DERs. The approach leverages a condition of a DER, which is particularly useful for (1) thermostatically-controlled loads, (2) non-thermostatic conditionally-controlled loads, and (3) bi-directional distributed energy storage systems. In a first aspect of the present approach, each DER independently requests the authority to switch on for a fixed amount of time (i.e., packet duration). The coordinator determines whether to grant or deny each request based electric grid and/or energy or power market conditions. In a second aspect, bi-directional DERs, such as distributed-energy storage systems (DESSs) are further able to request to supply energy to the grid.

Frolik, Jeff↗
DOE OSTI2022

Load Control for Frequency Response - A Literature Review

As electricity grids employ greater fractions of renewable energy, which introduce additional variability and uncertainty in the net load, balancing electrical load and generation becomes more challenging. This paper reviews the literature documenting physical simulations and real systems that employ load control (LC) for frequency response and other grid services, which balance net load on the grid and prevent unwanted frequency excursions. Apart from academic and simulation studies, few sources exist on large-scale laboratory hardware testing or actual real-world systems that employ LC for frequency response, and we review them here. Four types of systems that we consider are: 1) Laboratory-based LC experiments, 2) Isolated microgrids that employ LC, 3) Larger grids that employ LC and 4) vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, using electric vehicles (EVs). In general, these systems have successfully used LC to meet their objectives, which are often keeping grid frequency within a required band. However, LC struggled to balance grid frequency in an isolated system powered by a single wind turbine, and V2G technology requires refinement in communication and control to provide optimal regulation that adheres to industry standards. As LC grows in the energy industry, we have three main recommendations: 1) encouraging system operators who use LC to publish system characteristics and lessons learned; 2) transitioning more LC theoretical/simulated systems to physical experiments, and physical experiments to real-world pilot systems; 3) demonstrating load control to support isolated, high-wind-contribution systems.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1983

Experimental and analytical investigation of active loads control for aircraft landing gear

A series hydraulic, active loads control main landing gear from a light, twin-engine civil aircraft was investigated. Tests included landing impact and traversal of simulated runway roughness. It is shown that the active gear is feasible and very effective in reducing the force transmitted to the airframe. Preliminary validation of a multidegree of freedom active gear flexible airframe takeoff and landing analysis computer program, which may be used as a design tool for active gear systems, is accomplished by comparing experimental and computed data for the passive and active gears.

Morris, D. L.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Design of a 3.4-MW wind turbine with integrated plasma actuator-based load control

Historically, cost reduction in wind energy has been accomplished by increasing hub heights and rotor diameters to capture more energy per turbine. The growth in rotor and turbine costs with increasing turbine sizes is also driven by the additional structure that must be added to withstand unsteady aerodynamic loads caused by turbulence, gusts, wind shear, misaligned yaw, upwind wakes, and the tower shadow. In this paper, we present a holistic design solution to integrate active load control using a controllable Gurney flap based on plasma actuators. We illustrate the design solution for a land-based 3.4-MW wind turbine rotor. Comparisons to a baseline reference 3.4-MW wind turbine show significant load reduction (15–18% DEL reduction for flap-wise blade root moments), rotor mass reduction (5–8%), and LCOE reduction (1.16–3.11%). To achieve these results, a comprehensive sequential-iterative design procedure is introduced to integrate the controllable Gurney flap into the turbine design and to drive the design solution toward the best LCOE reduction solution. Results are presented for mapping fatigue load reductions into cost reductions. In addition, an evaluation of active load control extended from Region-III to also include Region-II showed a further 34% reduction in DEL.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2018

A phase model approach for thermostatically controlled load demand response

A significant portion of electricity consumed worldwide is used to power thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and water heaters. Because the short-term timing of operation of such systems is inconsequential as long as their long-run average power consumption is maintained, they are increasingly used in demand response (DR) programs to balance supply and demand on the power grid. Here, we present an ab initio phase model for general TCLs, and use the concept to develop a continuous oscillator model of a TCL and compute its phase response to changes in temperature and applied power. This yields a simple control system model that can be used to evaluate control policies for modulating the power consumption of aggregated loads with parameter heterogeneity and stochastic drift. We demonstrate this concept by comparing simulations of ensembles of heterogeneous loads using the continuous state model and an established hybrid state model. The developed phase model approach is a novel means of evaluating DR provision using TCLs, and is instrumental in estimating the capacity of ancillary services or DR on different time scales. We further propose a novel phase response based open-loop control policy that effectively modulates the aggregate power of a heterogeneous TCL population while maintaining load diversity and minimizing power overshoots. This is demonstrated by low-error tracking of a regulation signal by filtering it into frequency bands and using TCL sub-ensembles with duty cycles in corresponding ranges. As a result, control policies that can maintain a uniform distribution of power consumption by aggregated heterogeneous loads will enable distribution system management (DSM) approaches that maintain stability as well as power quality, and further allow more integration of renewable energy sources.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1974

Control load envelope shaping by live twist

Rotor control systems experience a rapid load growth resulting from retreating blade stall during flight conditions of high blade loading or airspeeds. An investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of changing blade torsional properties over the rotor flight envelope. The results of this study show that reducing the blade stiffness to introduce more blade live twist significantly reduces the large retreating blade control loads, while expanding the flight envelope and reducing retreating blade stall loads.

Tarzanin, F. J., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Extracting maximal frequency response potential in controllable loads

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for extracting maximal frequency response potential in controllable loads. In one example, a method includes assigning a fitness metric to at least one electrical device coupled to a power grid, assigning a frequency threshold based on the fitness metric, and transmitting the assigned frequency threshold to the at least one electrical device. The fitness metric can be based at least in part on an availability component and a quality component associated with the at least one device and the frequency threshold can cause the at least one electrical device to activate autonomously based on a frequency of the power grid.

Lian, Jianming↗
DOE OSTI2020

Flexibility Estimation and Control of Thermostatically Controlled Loads with Lock Time for Regulation Service

A virtual battery model is a simple and general method to quantify aggregate flexibility from thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs), enabling grid operators to effectively coordinate a large number of flexible building loads with supplyside resources in power systems. Lockout controls are designed to avoid wear and tear resulting from short-cycling of hardware. The lock on/off time could significantly affect aggregate flexibility from TCLs to provide ancillary services and may even fail control algorithms designed without considering the lock time constraints. This paper focuses on flexibility estimation and control design for TCLs with lock time constraints to provide frequency regulation service. We first investigate the potential impacts of lock time on TCLs’ aggregate flexibility and control performance. Both control-dependent and control-independent power bounds are derived, based on either previous TCL switching operations or regulation signals. While the control-dependent method provides aggregate flexibility for a given control method, the control-independent method calculates the theoretical maximum of power bounds. Two control algorithms are proposed to better distribute flexibility over time and thereby improve signal tracking performance. The proposed methods are illustrated and validated through simulations.

Wang, Peng↗
NASA NTRS1979

Analytical investigation of the landing dynamics of a large airplane with a load-control system in the main landing gear

The results of an evaluation of an active load-control landing gear computer program (ACOLAG) for predicting the landing dynamics of airplanes with passive and active main gears are presented. ACOLAG was used in an analytical investigation of the landing dynamics of a large airplane with both passive and active main gears. It was concluded that the program is valid for predicting the landing dynamics of airplanes with both passive and active main gears. It was shown that the active gear reduces airframe-gear forces and airplane motions following initial impact, and has the potential for significant reductions in structural fatigue damage relative to that which occurs with the passive gear.

Mcgehee, J. R.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Coordination of thermostatically controlled loads with unknown parameters

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for coordination of a population of Thermostatically Controlled Loads (TCLs) with unknown parameters to achieve group objectives including bidding and market clearing strategies designed to motivate self-interested users to realize efficient energy allocation subject to a peak power constraint. In one examples of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a load includes estimating a set of values for unmeasured parameters of the load's thermal environment based on output measurements of the thermal environment, determining an energy response based on the estimated set of values for the unmeasured parameters, and transmitting a bid for power for a finite time period based on the determined energy response to the coordinator. A clearing price is received from the coordinator responsive to the transmitted bid and power is sent to the load responsive to the received clearing price.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2019

Impacts of Lock-off Time on Virtual Battery Model from Thermostatically Controlled Loads

We test through simulation the influence of lock-off time on the aggregated flexibility of thermostatically controllable loads (TCLs), which is modeled by virtual battery (VB) models. The VB model provides a simple but effective way to quantify the aggregated flexibility of TCLs, but its efficacy is not clear when there is lock-off time for TCLs. TCLs cannot be turned on during the lock-off period, and so lock-off time imposes inevitable restrictions on not only the flexibility of individual TCLs but also the aggregated flexibility of a group of TCLs. We first test the influence of lock-off time on the efficacy of VB models with two artificial signals. One of the signal is of low frequency while the other is of high frequency. We then use real-world data to test the influence. One set of data is from a duck curve from CAISO while the other set of data is from AGC signals from PJM. The duck curve changes slowly while the AGC signals change rapidly over time. From both the artificial signals and real-word data, we find that lock-off time has a more significant impact on rapid signals than on slow signals.

Wang, Peng↗