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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Building Alternative Indices of Socioeconomic Status for Population Modeling in Data-Sparse Contexts (Short Paper)

Population modeling requires clear definitions of socioeconomic status (SES) to ensure overall estimate accuracy and locate potentially underserved subpopulations. This presents a challenge as SES can be measured in myriad ways and for divergent purposes, and the data required to calculate these metrics may be lacking, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs). To support more refined SES measurement, we explore improvements upon the Demographic and Health Survey’s (DHS) Wealth Index (DHS-WI) using alternative characterizations of SES based on multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and hierarchical clustering. We produce the MCA-derived metrics first on a full suite of household economic, demographic, and dwelling variables, then on a reduced set of occupant-only SES characteristics. We explore the utility of these metrics relative to DHS-WI based on their ability to 1) differentiate DHS household types and 2) identify mixtures of SES levels within DHS samples and mapped at high spatial resolution. We find that our full suite MCA yields more clearly defined SES segments and that our reduced MCA delineates occupant SES most clearly, suggesting potential pathways to improve upon the DHS-WI in future population modeling efforts for LMICs.

Cunningham, Angela↗
DOE OSTI2020

Designing a drone delivery network with automated battery swapping machines

Drones are projected to alter last-mile delivery, but their short travel range is a concern. In this study, we propose a drone delivery network design using automated battery swapping machines (ABSMs) to extend ranges. The design minimizes the long-term delivery costs, including ABSM investment, drone ownership, and cost of the delivery time, and locates ABSMs to serve a set of customers. We build a mixed-integer nonlinear program that captures the nonlinear waiting time of drones at ABSMs. To solve the problem, we create an exact solution algorithm that finds the globally optimal solution using a derivative-supported cutting-plane method. To validate the applicability of our program, we conduct a case study on the Chicago Metropolitan area using cost data from leading ABSM manufacturer and geographical data from the planning and operations language for agent-based regional integrated simulation (more commonly known as POLARIS). A sensitivity analysis identifies that ABSM service times and costs are the key parameters impacting the long-term adoption of drone delivery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

STREAMS guidelines: standards for technical reporting in environmental and host-associated microbiome studies

The interdisciplinary nature of microbiome research, coupled with the generation of complex multi-omics data, makes knowledge sharing challenging. The Strengthening the Organization and Reporting of Microbiome Studies (STORMS) guidelines provide a checklist for the reporting of study information, experimental design and analytical methods within a scientific manuscript on human microbiome research. Here, in this Consensus Statement, we present the standards for technical reporting in environmental and host-associated microbiome studies (STREAMS) guidelines. The guidelines expand on STORMS and include 67 items to support the reporting and review of environmental (for example, terrestrial, aquatic, atmospheric and engineered), synthetic and non-human host-associated microbiome studies in a standardized and machine-actionable manner. Based on input from 248 researchers spanning 28 countries, we provide detailed guidance, including comparisons with STORMS, and case studies that demonstrate the usage of the STREAMS guidelines. In conclusion, STREAMS, like STORMS, will be a living community resource updated by the Consortium with consensus-building input of the broader community.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Deep Reinforcement Learning From Demonstrations to Assist Service Restoration in Islanded Microgrids

Microgrids can be operated in island mode during utility grid outages to support service restoration and improve system resilience. To schedule and dispatch distributed energy resources (DERs) in an islanded microgrid, conventional model-based methods rely on accurate distribution network models and lack generalization and adaptability. Data-driven methods are promising for DER coordination but face practical challenges such as potential hazards to microgrids during online training and insufficient online training opportunities due to low outage rates. This paper presents a novel two-stage learning framework that builds on the deep deterministic policy gradient from demonstrations to identify an optimal restoration strategy. At the pre-training stage, imitation learning is applied to equip the control agent with expert experiences to guarantee acceptable initial performance. At the online training stage, action clipping, reward shaping, and expert demonstrations are leveraged to ensure safe exploration while accelerating the training process. In conclusion, the proposed method is illustrated using the IEEE 123-node system and compared with a representative model-based method and the standard deep deterministic policy gradient method to prove solution accuracy and demonstrate increased computational efficiency.

Du, Yan↗
DOE OSTI2024

Design, Control and Application of Next Generation Qubits

Design, Control and Application of Next Generation Qubits Arun Bansil, Northeastern University (Principal Investigator) Claudio Chamon, Boston University (Co-Investigator) Adrian Feiguin, Northeastern University (Co-Investigator) Liang Fu, MIT (Co-Investigator) Eduardo Mucciolo, Univ. of Central Florida (Co-Investigator) Qimin Yan, Temple University (Co-Investigator) The quest for developing technologies for manipulating and storing information quantum mechanically is currently led by approaches that include Josephson-junctions, ion-traps, and qubits generated by defect spins in solids. Topological qubits, however, are inherently more robust to decoherence by environmental effects, and should be able to sprint ahead once practical barriers have been overcome. At the present stage of the development of the field, it is important to explore a variety of architectures and materials beyond the conventional paradigms in order to seed breakthroughs toward building a scalable quantum computer. Our comprehensive theoretical research program involved four interconnected thrusts as follows. • A materials discovery effort in two-dimensional compounds in search of materials to support Majorana zero modes and defect structures suitable as qubits. • Exploration of architectures for topological quantum computation by investigating both superconducting Majorana qubits, and robust platforms for braiding with new “meta-materials” built of arrays of Majorana qubits. • Investigation of properties of hybrid metal-organic qubits based on transition-metal centers in graphene, and molecular crystals of polyaromatic complexes with embedded transition-metal atoms. • Development of tensor-network and semiclassical approaches to study decoherence in the presence of random and dispersive spin baths, and NV centers in diamond. The full spectrum of theoretical and numerical approaches was used to address the goals of this project including first-principles, density-matrix-renormalization group, tensor networks, and data-driven high-throughput approaches using materials database and machine-learning.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Schema Elements for Granta Annual Report: FY2024

Granta: Materials Intelligence (Granta: MI) is a commercial database software distributed by Ansys, Inc. that is utilized by the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) to organize and store relevant materials data. Lack of standard and well-documented database schema is the primary obstacle to an NSE materials data management solution, so the objective of this project is to create and document such a schema. In FY21, an approach for designing, documenting, and managing a standard database schema was described based on the creation of schema elements (collections of attributes used to describe particular aspects of the data) to be used as building blocks for creating various database tables without duplication. In FY22, these methods were applied through a multi-site collaboration to create and document the schema elements necessary to build a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) testing table. In FY23 the schema was expanded to include elements for a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) table, along with schema for supporting metadata tables including Instruments, Projects, Documents, and Testing Series. In FY24 the following progress was made, again through multi-site collaboration: • The existing schema elements were modified to accommodate thermomechanical analysis (TMA) data, and a table, Test Data: TMA, was created for managing TMA data. • The elements necessary for the following additive manufacturing (AM) data tables (directed at data specific to selective laser sintering AM technology) were created: • AM Builds • AM Processes • AM Part Designs • Built AM Parts • AM Feedstock Materials • AM Feedstock Material Batches • The elements necessary for creating a Calibrated Material Models table were created, and the Calibrated Material Models table was created. In FY25 the existing schema will be deployed on the production enterprise Granta instance on the enterprise secure network. Schema elements will be appended, and new elements created as necessary, to allow the creation of tables specifically to support materials testing, AM process development, and design and analysis for modernization programs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Stakeholder engagement to address agribusiness concerns and opportunities: the circular carbon bioeconomy example

Effective stakeholder engagement in decisions about complex systems involving sustainable agribusiness requires substantial time and resources by both the managers involved in a supply chain and their stakeholders. Therefore, it is important to understand how to design and implement business strategies that integrate stakeholder perspectives as the project develops. The objective of this article is to explore how actors interested in sustainable and resilient agribusinesses can effectively involve stakeholders in supporting strategies to advance a circular carbon bioeconomy. We consider an approach for stakeholder engagement based on six principles: diversity, listening, value, trust, accountability, and flexibility/ adaptability. Practical means for agribusinesses to apply the six principles to the circular carbon bioeconomy are discussed along with challenges encountered when applying them. Managerial choices and engagement designs and practices are specific to each type of agribusiness. Employing this approach can help project developers prioritize, prepare, and sustain stakeholder engagement, and build local capacities for continual improvement and informed decisions aligned with more sustainable business strategies.

Dale, Virginia [University of Tennessee, Knoxville↗
DOE OSTI2021

Virtual Battery Aggregator (Virtual Battery Aggregator for Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems)

Distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) are being deployed in feeders with high distributed energy resource (DER) penetration to provide visibility of DERs and enable DER control strategies for grid operators. DERMS can support centralized grid controls by aggregating individual DER information into a single virtual DER model. This codebase creates algorithms for a DERMS platform that are able to aggregate a set of DERs that can be modeled as batteries, create a virtual battery model for centralized grid controls, and dispatch power setpoints to the individual DERs based on a desired virtual power setpoint received from the centralized grid control. It integrates with existing co-simulation frameworks and models for buildings, DERs, and distribution systems. While the DERMS is designed to work with batteries, it can be used with any DER that can be defined by a generalized battery model.

Blonsky, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2020

EGS Collab Experiment 1: DNA tracer data on transport through porous media

This submission contains DNA tracer data that supports the analysis and conclusions of the publication, "DNA tracer transport through porous media -The effect of DNA length and adsorption." https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR028382. This experiment used DNA as an artificial reservoir tracer. Groundwater tracing is an effective way to identify fluid flow pathways and estimate hydrogeologic properties, which are important premises for building reliable hydrological models for transport predictions or contamination mitigations. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of DNA length (i.e., number of base pairs for dsDNA) and adsorption on DNA transport.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

SBML Level 3: an extensible format for the exchange and reuse of biological models

Systems biology has experienced dramatic growth in the number, size, and complexity of computational models. To reproduce simulation results and reuse models, researchers must exchange unambiguous model descriptions. We review the latest edition of the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML), a format designed for this purpose. A community of modelers and software authors developed SBML Level 3 over the past decade. Its modular form consists of a core suited to representing reaction-based models and packages that extend the core with features suited to other model types including constraint-based models, reaction-diffusion models, logical network models, and rule-based models. The format leverages two decades of SBML and a rich software ecosystem that transformed how systems biologists build and interact with models. More recently, the rise of multiscale models of whole cells and organs, and new data sources such as single-cell measurements and live imaging, has precipitated new ways of integrating data with models. We provide our perspectives on the challenges presented by these developments and how SBML Level 3 provides the foundation needed to support this evolution.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Bridging Control and Deployment: A Cross-Layer Analysis of Scalable Building Cluster Control

Building cluster control has emerged as a promising approach for enabling flexible and coordinated operation of distributed building systems, yet its transition from pilot demonstrations to routine grid-interactive operation remains limited. This paper argues that this gap cannot be explained by control algorithms alone. Instead, it arises from interacting barriers in communication infrastructure, data and semantic interoperability, uncertainty management, stakeholder participation, market design, and policy support. Accordingly, the paper reviews both technical and non-technical barriers to building cluster control. Technical challenges include heterogeneous devices and protocols, communication latency and reliability, distributed decision-making, and uncertainty propagation across aggregated loads. Non-technical barriers include user participation, stakeholder coordination, incentive allocation, and data governance. Existing solution approaches are synthesized, including semantic interoperability frameworks, edge and hierarchical communication architectures, distributed and transactive control strategies, uncertainty-aware optimization, policy mechanisms, and market reforms. Based on this analysis, two research directions are identified: testing infrastructures that can evaluate control performance under realistic multi-building conditions, and abstraction methods that allow building clusters to interact with other energy sectors through standardized flexibility representations. Overall, the paper provides a structured review of how building cluster control can move from isolated demonstrations toward reproducible, market-compatible, and grid-relevant implementation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Testbed Demonstration of a Microgrid Building Block Prototype

With the adoption of ambitious climate action goals, the penetration level of distributed energy resources (DERs) is rapidly increasing. Microgrids are an efficient way to integrate these DERs, facilitating their operation and control. Additionally, microgrids enhance the overall resilience of the distribution system by serving critical loads both within and outside their boundaries. However, the need for substantial customized engineering leads to a high cost of development, installation and maintenance of microgrids. To address this challenge, Microgrid Building Blocks (MBB) are proposed to reduce the deployment cost of microgrids through modular, standardized design and implementation. This work presents a testbed demonstrating the integrated power conversion, control, and communication functionalities of an MBB. The testbed is formed by a real-time electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation combined with a hardware and software prototype of MBB. The use cases supported by the MBB testbed are enumerated. The islanded operation, voltage regulation, and optimal dispatch capabilities of an MBB-based microgrid controller are validated through a case study.

Somda, Baza [Virginia Tech]↗
DOE OSTI2022

Reducing the Overnight Capital Cost of Advanced Reactors Using Equipment-Level Seismic Protective Systems

Consideration of the effects of earthquake shaking on the design and construction of nuclear power plants adds substantially to the overnight capital cost, with anecdotal estimates as high as 35+%, attributed to additional construction materials, need for one-off and sub-optimal designs of equipment due to conflicting design choices, the high cost of seismic qualification of equipment, and regulatory review. Safety-critical equipment in large light water reactors is designed and qualified for seismic demands imposed by the supporting reactor building, optimal mechanical designs are not possible, and designs of a given piece of equipment may vary with height above grade. Similar negative impacts are expected for advanced reactors unless the seismic design paradigm is changed. The overarching goal of this transformational MEITNER project, which involved a multidisciplinary engineering team and designers of three fundamentally different advanced reactors, was to adapt proven seismic isolation and damping technologies to operationalize modular protective systems for safety-class equipment inside advanced reactor buildings. Such seismic protective systems would be tightly integrated into design development for reactor support systems and balance-of-plant construction. The adoption of the technology, which is widely used in non-nuclear sectors, would simplify plant design, enable the use of standardized equipment and buildings, optimized for operational performance, and reduce plant size and weight. The need for site-specific equipment would be eliminated, enabling identical equipment to be used across multiple plants sited across the US and economies of scale, and catalyzing new interest and investment. The equipment-based protective systems would allow siting of advanced reactors in regions of high seismic hazard.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Reliable Protection for an Inverter-Based Resources Dominant Grid: Technology Development and Field Demonstration

The project aimed to address the challenges posed by the rapid growth of inverter-based resources (IBR) such as solar, wind, and battery storage, which have fundamentally changed fault behavior, system strength, and protection performance in bulk power systems. Traditional protection schemes, designed for synchronous generator-dominated grids, are inadequate under high IBR penetration. Overall, the project materially advances protection modeling and simulation capabilities needed to maintain reliable grid protection under high IBR penetration. The results build utility confidence in operating power systems safely and reliably across a wide range of generation mixes, supporting grid modernization goals.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Implementing Ordinary Differential Equation Solvers in Rust Programming Language for Modeling Vehicle Powertrain Systems: Preprint

Efficient and accurate ordinary differential equation (ODE) solvers are necessary for powertrain and vehicle dynamics modeling. However, current commercial ODE solvers can be financially prohibitive, leading to a need for accessible, effective, open-source ODE solvers designed for powertrain modeling. Rust is a compiled programming language that has the potential to be used for fast and easy-to-use powertrain models, given its exceptional computational performance, robust package ecosystem, and short time required for modelers to become proficient. However, of the three commonly used (>3,000 downloads) packages in Rust with ODE solver capabilities, only one has more than four numerical methods implemented, and none are designed specifically for modeling physical systems. Therefore, the goal of the Differential Equation System Solver (DESS) was to implement accurate ODE solvers in Rust designed for the component-based problems often seen in powertrain modeling. DESS is a text-based software package that provides a flexible framework for building and solving systems of ODEs. This allows DESS to be included as a dependency for automotive powertrain models that require a variety of solvers and solver configurations. Seven explicit ODE solver methods have been implemented in DESS: Euler’s, Heun’s, midpoint, Ralston’s, classic Runge-Kutta, Bogacki-Shampine, and Cash-Karp. These represent five fixed-step methods and two adaptive-step methods. This paper shows that the solver implementations increase accuracy and computational efficiency compared to Euler's method when modeling a system of three thermal masses in Rust. DESS also includes features designed for modeling component-based physical systems. Users can define relationships between nodes in their system, which the package then translates into a system of equations, leading to simpler and more intuitive code. In the case of a three-thermal-mass system, the user can specify node thermal properties (e.g., thermal capacitance), how nodes are interconnected, and thermal conductance between nodes rather than providing a system of equations. The core contribution from this work is an open-source, text-based Rust package with ODE solvers for automotive powertrain modeling to support cost-free, fast, and accurate simulation.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Capability Building Progression of an Insider Threat Mitigation Program at an International Research Reactor

The nuclear industry recognizes the difficulties involved in developing effective managerial and leadership skills in a highly technical and proficient workforce such as that found in nuclear facilities. Implementing an insider threat mitigation program (ITMP) within the nuclear industry is a complex and ongoing process that demands a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, an organization’s security culture, and rigorous regulatory requirements yet also accounts for facility characteristics, physical security, material flow, and activities involving nuclear material. Given the high-consequence nature of research reactor operations, even minor lapses can lead to safety, security, and reputational risks. An effective ITMP requires a defense-in-depth approach that incorporates behavioral analysis, robust vetting procedures, continuous monitoring, and cross-disciplinary coordination. It must also promote a culture of vigilance and accountability at all levels up to and including executive leadership but be flexible enough to adapt to evolving global threats and technological advances. Insider threat mitigation is not a one-time effort but rather a sustained commitment to excellence in safety and security. Establishing a culture in which personnel proactively report incidents and issues that could affect nuclear safety and security is vital to maintaining a safe and secure operational environment. This document was developed to guide senior management and research reactor organizations in creating comprehensive programs to effectively manage and mitigate insider threat behaviors and actions. It focuses on the key pillars of an effective ITMP, including the national legal framework, security culture, preventive and protective measures, cyber security, and performance evaluation. By using a systematic approach during implementation, facilities can foster environments conducive to insider threat detection and support long-term program sustainability. The document also provides strategies for improving communication across all levels of an organization, helping to eliminate barriers that hinder the development of robust ITMPs and enhance overall security culture. In today’s organizations, the concept of leveraging safety and security culture lessons to facilitate knowledge transfer is rapidly evolving to expedite insider threat management and security culture improvements. This document outlines the rationale for evaluating an ITMP based on national customs, culture, and stakeholders. The elements are all germane to reliability and trustworthiness and relate to security concerns that states may encounter. The document focuses not only on individual perceptions regarding security issues and capability building but also on team building and how to resolve concerns. The implementers of a facility’s ITMP may zero in on indicators of insider threats within their enterprise. This material will benefit organizations when it is applied using a systematic and structured approach as demonstrated throughout the document.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2020

Neutronics Enhanced Meshing Operations (NEMO) Users Manual V.1.0

The is a Python framework developed at Idaho National Laboratory that uses the Cubit Python to build Cubit models and export them in EXODUS II format. These EXODUS mesh files can be used by any -based application, but NEMO is specialized for coupled neutronics calculations. Therefore, the primary purpose of NEMO is to prepare mesh files for reactor geometries and generate a homogenization overlay file for the Serpent Monte Carlo code. This homogenization overlay file ensures the consistency of the mesh with the generation of homogenized cross sections and reference fluxes for the Superhomogenization method. NEMO also supports the preparation of mesh files for thermal and thermo-mechanical models, particularly the discontinuous finite element gap heat transfer model in Griffin. This manual introduces the user to the basic capabilities in NEMO for prismatic geometries.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Conference Support, 32nd Western Photosynthesis Conference 2023

This DOE-BES award provided conference support for the 32nd Western Photosynthesis Conference (WPC2023), held January 5–8, 2023 at the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay, California. The Western Photosynthesis Conference is one of three regional photosynthesis meetings held annually in the United States and serves as a primary venue for early-career scientists—graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduates—to present research and build professional networks alongside established investigators in the field. Photosynthesis research is central to the DOE Office of Science's Basic Energy Sciences mission, underpinning fundamental understanding of solar energy conversion, biofuels, and the biological transformation of light into chemical energy. DOE-BES funds were used, as proposed, to support registration and housing costs for 20 early-career participants (9 postdoctoral researchers, 9 graduate students, and 2 undergraduates) and to help defray travel costs for two junior invited speakers based outside California, for a total DOE-BES expenditure of $10,060. The meeting was executed as planned, with no significant deviations from the approved program, budget, or schedule. WPC2023 drew 76 registrants across six scientific topic areas, featured 8 of 9 invited/keynote speakers, and provided extensive opportunities for early-career scientists to present talks and posters, compete for recognition awards, and network with senior researchers in the field.

conference↗