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At least 397 records · Page 22

Integration of plant and microbial oil processing at oilcane biorefineries for more sustainable biofuel production

Oilcane—an oil-accumulating crop engineered from sugarcane—and microbial oil have the potential to improve renewable oil production and help meet the expected demand for bioderived oleochemicals and fuels. To assess the potential synergies of processing both plant and microbial oils, the economic and environmental implications of integrating microbial oil production at oilcane and sugarcane biorefineries were characterized. Due to decreased crop yields that lead to higher simulated feedstock prices and lower biorefinery capacities, current oilcane prototypes result in higher costs and carbon intensities than microbial oil from sugarcane. To inform oilcane feedstock development, we calculated the required biomass yields (as a function of oil content) for oilcane to achieve financial parity with sugarcane. At 10 dw% oil, oilcane can sustain up to 30% less yield than sugarcane and still be more profitable in all simulated scenarios. Assuming continued improvements in microbial oil production from cane juice, achieving this target results in a minimum biodiesel selling price of 1.34 [0.90, 1.85] USD∙L –1 (presented as median [5th, 95th] percentiles), a carbon intensity of 0.51 [0.47, 0.55] kg CO 2 e L –1 , and a total biodiesel yield of 2140 [1870, 2410] L ha –1 year –1 . Compared to biofuel production from soybean, this outcome is equivalent to 3.0–3.9 as much biofuel per hectare of land and a 57%–63% reduction in carbon intensity. While only 20% of simulated scenarios fell within the market price range of biodiesel (0.45–1.11 USD∙L –1 ), if the oilcane biomass yield would improve to 25.6 DMT∙ha –1 ∙y –1 (an equivalent yield to sugarcane) 87% of evaluated scenarios would have a minimum biodiesel selling price within or below the market price range.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Hilbert space fragmentation in a 2D quantum spin system with subsystem symmetries

We consider a 2D quantum spin model with ring-exchange interaction that has subsystem symmetries associated to conserved magnetization along rows and columns of a square lattice, which implies the conservation of the global dipole moment. The model is not integrable, but violates the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis through an extensive Hilbert space fragmentation, including an exponential number of inert subsectors with trivial dynamics, arising from kinetic constraints. While subsystem symmetries are quite restrictive for the dynamics, we show that they alone cannot account for such a number of inert states, even with infinite-range interactions. We present a procedure for constructing shielding structures that can separate and disentangle dynamically active regions from each other. Notably, subsystem symmetries allow the thickness of the shields to be dependent only on the interaction range rather than on the size of the active regions, unlike in the case of generic dipole-conserving systems.

Khudorozhkov, Alexey↗

Efficient phase-space generation for hadron collider event simulation

We present a simple yet efficient algorithm for phase-space integration at hadron colliders. Individual mappings consist of a single t-channel combined with any number of s-channel decays, and are constructed using diagrammatic information. The factorial growth in the number of channels is tamed by providing an option to limit the number of s-channel topologies. We provide a publicly available, parallelized code in C++ and test its performance in typical LHC scenarios.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Progress Towards a New Model Chemolithoautotrophic Host (CRADA Final Report)

Some of the largest scale chemical processes for the production of important commodity chemicals and fuels involve an H 2 -containing gas mixture as an intermediate [e.g. ammonia, urea, methanol, Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) diesel, and hydrotreatment of crude petroleum to refined fuels]. The successful development of a model H 2 -oxidizing chemoautotrophic host could expand the range of fuels and chemicals produced from H 2 and CO 2 intermediates in the chemical, oil, and gas sectors in the near term, as well as from renewable and waste-derived sources of these gases that are expected to greatly expand in coming years. Among non-photosynthetic bacteria that can utilize H 2 and CO 2 , Cupriavidus necator (C. necator, formerly Ralstonia eutropha), is the best studied. C. necator is an excellent microbial host for the production of a variety of chemicals because it grows extremely quickly to very high cell densities autotrophically on H 2 and CO 2 , is genetically tractable, and has the ability to accumulate polymers, such as polyhydroxybutyrate, at industrial levels. Despite having great potential as a platform bioproduction host, genetic tools are limited, making metabolic engineering of this organism slow and laborious. In this CRADA project, we developed a number of genetic tools for C. necator: 1) Improvement of C. necator genetic transformation efficiency 2) Integration of heterologous genes into the C. necator chromosome and development of promoter library 3) Development of graded RBSs to control heterologous protein expression 4) Use of RBSs to demonstrate fatty alcohol production in C. necator 5) Demonstration of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in C. necator

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Qualification of ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 Mixing Criteria by Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling for the 3430 Building Fan Addition and Increased Ventilation Capacity

Additional ventilation capacity has been designed for the 3430 Building filtered exhaust stack system. The updated system will increase the number of fans from two to three and include new ductwork with a larger diameter to integrate the new fan into the existing stack. Stack operations will involve running various fan combinations at any given time. The air monitoring system of the existing two-fan stack previously was found to comply with the American National Standards Institute/Health Physics Society (ANSI/HPS) N13.1-1999 standard. Full-scale, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was used to evaluate the modified three-fan system for compliance with the ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 standard, which essentially is equivalent to the ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999 standard. The four mixing criteria evaluated are 1) flow angle, 2) velocity, 3) gas tracer, and 4) particle tracer. Benchmarking of the CFD modeling methodology showed good agreement with previous testing used to qualify the stack, and modeling of the existing two-fan system showed good agreement with test data collected from the 3430 Building stack. Modeling was performed to develop a suitable three-fan design. Initial modeling of the three-fan design and basic ductwork showed that flow angles and velocity uniformity were acceptable; however, the gas tracer and particle tracer mixing results were not acceptable. To meet ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 criteria, an air blender was added to the stack design.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Qualification of ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 Mixing Criteria by Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling for the 3430 Building Fan Addition and Increased Ventilation Capacity

Additional ventilation capacity has been designed for the 3430 Building filtered exhaust stack system. The updated system will increase the number of fans from two to three and include new ductwork with a larger diameter to integrate the new fan into the existing stack. Stack operations will involve running various fan combinations at any given time. The air monitoring system of the existing two-fan stack previously was found to comply with the American National Standards Institute/Health Physics Society (ANSI/HPS) N13.1-1999 standard. Full-scale, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was used to evaluate the modified three-fan system for compliance with the ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 standard, which essentially is equivalent to the ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999 standard. The four mixing criteria evaluated are 1) flow angle, 2) velocity, 3) gas tracer, and 4) particle tracer. Benchmarking of the CFD modeling methodology showed good agreement with previous testing used to qualify the stack, and modeling of the existing two-fan system showed good agreement with test data collected from the 3430 Building stack. Modeling was performed to develop a suitable three-fan design. Initial modeling of the three-fan design and basic ductwork showed that flow angles and velocity uniformity were acceptable; however, the gas tracer and particle tracer mixing results were not acceptable. To meet ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 criteria, an air blender was added to the stack design. This revision models the individual maximum fan reduced flow capacity from 38,000 cfm to 31,200 cfm; no changes to the duct design are made.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Technology Case Study: Economic, Sustainability, and Deployment Considerations for Sustainable Aviation Fuels Produced via Lignocellulosic Sugar Catalysis

This report presents a technology case study reflecting one exemplary representative pathway for the conversion of lignocellulosic sugars to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) via aqueous phase reforming (APR) catalysis, considered within a broader integrated biorefinery framework based on biochemical processing operations. While far from the only option for converting sugars to SAF, this pathway was selected as a case study here based on its relatively high technology maturity and simplistic processing approach (avoiding complex separations or other equipment scalability challenges), coupled with the potential for high fuel yields and favorable costs/carbon intensities with opportunities for further near-term optimization. The report considers key process integration and engineering design considerations for a modeled hypothetical, nth-plant commercial biorefinery, reflecting a number of processing options and parameters envisioned to be achievable as future goals. Resultant outputs from Aspen Plus process simulations are evaluated through techno-economic and life cycle analyses (TEA and LCA), including implications for marginal cost of CO2 abatement and inclusion of currently-applicable policy incentives. Moving beyond base case configurations, a number of alternative scenarios are also evaluated for their ability to further improve economics, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and marginal cost of abatement, highlighting a path to achieve deep decarbonization goals of more than 70% GHG reduction for SAF (with the potential to reach net-negative carbon intensities in some cases) under reasonable fuel production costs. The report also highlights future opportunities and gaps for further research on this technology pathway.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Modeling and Simulation of Fuel Dispersal During the Loss-of-Coolant Accident

This document is the compilation of the milestone portion to a larger end of project NEUP report. The executive summary of the modeling portion is provided below: In the event of cladding rupture during a postulated LOCA in a pressurized water reactor, fuel particles, along with fission gases, can be expelled into the reactor core from the fractured fuel rod, a phenomenon referred to as fuel dispersal. The initial stage of fuel dispersal is strongly influenced by the high-pressure ejection of fuel fragments, the size and geometry of the ruptured cladding, and the depressurization history of the fuel rod during the postulated LOCA transient. Depending on the location of the burst orifice relative to the quench front, the dispersal event represents an intricate three-phase flow and heat transfer phenomenon, where high-temperature fuel particles carried by the fission gases interact with the coolant within the narrow subchannels of the fuel assemblies, inducing localized phase change. Given the unique multiphysics nature of this phenomena, the current study develops a dedicated computational framework to predict the mass distribution and cooling of dispersing fuel particles, facilitating post-accident assessment and management of the fuel assemblies. Considering the scale of nuclear reactor applications, a continuum three-fluid model is proposed for simulating the transport of solids within the reactor core. With high-temperature fuel fragments within the liquid media, nucleation sites inducing phase changes are dispersed within the flow domain. Coupled with the fact that the transient dispersal event occurs on different time scales than other three-phase flow applications, this study derives a time-averaged three-fluid flow model without losing generality. The assumptions regarding the continuum treatment of the solid phase and the modeling of fuel dispersal behavior are incorporated to simplify the governing equations and derive applicable closure relations. The computational validation of the model was conducted using adiabatic experimental results obtained from ongoing research at Oregon State University, focusing on characterizing fuel dispersal behavior during simulated LOCA conditions. Settlement characteristics of the solids, quantified by the probability distribution of equivalent particles, closely matched the probability density functions reported in experimental studies. The transport of fuel particles within a scaled 5 × 5 lattice of a pressurized-water reactor rod bundle geometry was modeled through a two-fluid Eulerian framework. The required boundary conditions were evaluated from the fuel performance code BISON in a postulated large-break LOCA scenario. The modeling framework considered solid fuel particles as granular matter, interacting with the gaseous dry steam phase and fission gases through the governing interfacial momentum exchange between the participating fluids. The simulation results provided the volume fraction of the solids obtained at the bottom surface of the enclosing tank geometry. Postulated LOCA leading to fuel dispersal phenomena involves the strong coupling between fuel thermomechanics, cladding deformation, thermal-hydraulics, and fuel particle transport. Incorporation of such a strong coupling in numerical simulation is performed by coupling the multiphysics solvers. In the case of fuel dispersal, a strong coupled simulation can be performed by coupling the BISON code for fuel performance, the TRACE code for system-level thermal hydraulics, and fuel particle transport in Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE). For such intricate infrastructure, the MOOSE Framework eases the data transfer between codes. The recent version of MOOSE has incorporated the Navier-Stokes module for the fluid flow. An exploratory exercise was done to gain familiarity with finite volume capabilities in the MOOSE framework to incorporate the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model. New finite-volume and auxiliary kernels were introduced to assemble the SA transport equation, compute turbulent viscosity, and evaluate wall distance and diagnostic turbulence terms, fully integrated with existing Navier-Stokes modules. A turbulent lid-driven cavity at a Reynolds number of approximately 10,000 is used for verification. MOOSE shows the robust solver convergence and produces the turbulent features. But it underpredicts the velocity profile and turbulent quantities, emphasizing the need to develop improved SA near-wall treatments (e.g., low-Re corrections or wall functions) as a key direction for future work.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Transforming an Ionic Conductor into an Electronic Conductor via Crystallization: In Situ Evolution of Transference Numbers and Structure in (La,Sr)(Ga,Fe)O 3–x Perovskite Thin Films

Mixed-conducting perovskites are workhorse electrochemically active materials, but typical high-temperature processing compromises their catalytic activity and chemo-mechanical integrity. Low-temperature pulsed laser deposition of amorphous films plus mild thermal annealing is an emerging route to form homogeneous mixed conductors with exceptional catalytic activity, but little is known about the evolution of the oxide-ion transport and transference numbers during crystallization. Here the coupled evolution of ionic and electronic transport behavior and structure in room-temperature-grown amorphous (La,Sr)(Ga,Fe)O 3-x films as they crystallize is explored. In situ ac-impedance spectroscopy with and without blocking electrodes, simultaneous capturing-synchrotron-grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction, dc polarization, transmission electron microscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization effects and the role of grain boundaries on transference numbers is combined. Ionic conductivity increases by ≈2 orders of magnitude during crystallization, with even larger increases in electronic conductivity. Consequently, as crystallinity increases, LSGF transitions from a predominantly ionic conductor to a predominantly electronic conductor. The roles of evolving lattice structural order, microstructure, and defect chemistry are examined. Grain boundaries appear relatively nonblocking electronically but significantly blocking ionically. The results demonstrate that ionic transference numbers can be tailored over a wide range by tuning crystallinity and microstructure without having to change the cation composition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings (AEDG) Training: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-18-00761

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Building Technologies Office (BTO), Commercial Buildings Integration (CBI) Program supports the adoption of zero energy ready buildings design practices through targeted Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce development. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) identified the opportunity to provided targeted training to those professionals that have the greatest potential to impact adoption and successful design outcomes of zero energy ready buildings projects. In January 2018, ASHRAE released Achieving Zero Energy: Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings (AEDG). The AEDG was developed in collaboration with NREL, American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and Illuminating Engineers Society (IES). The purpose of this CRADA was to create a partnership between NREL, AIA, ASHRAE, USGBC, and IES to create and host on-demand, web-based training based on the AEDG.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

A space-time adaptive finite element method with exponential time integrator for the phase field model of pitting corrosion

In this paper we propose a space-time adaptive finite element method for the phase field model of pitting corrosion, which is a parabolic partial differential equation system consisting of a phase variable and a concentration variable. A major challenge in solving this phase field model is that the problem is very stiff, which makes the time step size extremely small for standard temporal discretizations. Another difficulty is that a high spatial resolution is required to capture the steep gradients within the diffused interface, which results in very large number of degrees of freedom for uniform meshes. To overcome the stiffness of this model, we combine the Rosenbrock–Euler exponential integrator with Crank–Nicolson scheme for the temporal discretization. Moreover, by exploiting the fact that the speed of the corroding interface decreases with time, we derive an adaptive time stepping formula. For the spatial approximation, we propose a simple and efficient strategy to generate adaptive meshes that reduces the computational cost significantly. Thus, the proposed method utilizes local adaptivity and mesh refinement for efficient simulation of the corrosive dissolution over long times in heterogeneous media with complex microstructures. We also present an extensive set of numerical experiments in both two and three dimensional spaces to demonstrate efficiency and robustness of the proposed method.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Hybrid gausslet/Gaussian basis sets

We introduce hybrid gausslet/Gaussian basis sets, where a standard Gaussian basis is added to a gausslet basis in order to increase accuracy near the nuclei while keeping the spacing of the grid of gausslets relatively large. The Gaussians are orthogonalized to the gausslets, which are already orthonormal, and approximations are introduced to maintain the diagonal property of the two electron part of the Hamiltonian so that it continues to scale as the second power of the number of basis functions rather than the fourth. We introduce several corrections to the Hamiltonian designed to enforce certain exact properties, such as the values of certain two-electron integrals. We also introduce a simple universal energy correction that compensates for the incompleteness of the basis stemming from the electron–electron cusps based on the measured double occupancy of each basis function. We perform a number of Hartree Fock and full configuration interaction (full-CI) test calculations on two electron systems and Hartree Fock on a ten-atom hydrogen chain to benchmark these techniques. The inclusion of the cusp correction allows us to obtain complete basis set full-CI results for the two electron cases at the level of several micro-Hartrees, and we see similar apparent accuracy for Hartree Fock on the ten-atom hydrogen chain.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Advection algorithms for quantum neutrino moment transport

Neutrino transport in compact objects is an inherently challenging multidimensional problem. Here, this difficulty is compounded if one includes flavor transformation—an intrinsically quantum phenomenon requiring one to follow the coherence between flavors and thus necessitating the introduction of complex numbers. To reduce the computational burden, simulations of compact objects that include neutrino transport often make use of momentum-angle-integrated moments (the lowest order ones being commonly referred to as the energy density and flux) and these quantities can be generalized to include neutrino flavor, i.e., they become quantum moments. Numerous finite-volume approaches to solving the moment evolution equations for classical neutrino transport have been developed based on solving a Riemann problem at cell interfaces. In this paper we describe our generalization of a Riemann solver for quantum moments, specifically decomposing complex numbers in terms of a (signed) magnitude and phase instead of real and imaginary parts. We then test our new algorithm in numerous cases showing a neutrino fast flavor instability, varying from toy models with analytic solutions to snapshots from neutron star merger simulations. Compared to previous algorithms for neutrino transport with flavor mixing, we find uniformly smaller growth rates of the flavor transformation along with concomitantly larger length-scales, and that the results are a better match with the growth rates seen from multiangle codes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A double copy from twisted (co)homology at genus one

We study the twisted (co)homology of a family of genus-one integrals — the so called Riemann-Wirtinger integrals. These integrals are closely related to one-loop string amplitudes in chiral splitting where one leaves the loop-momentum, modulus and all but one puncture un-integrated. While not actual one-loop string integrals, they share many properties and are simple enough that the associated twisted (co)homologies have been completely characterized [1]. Using intersection numbers — an inner product on the vector space of allowed differential forms — we derive the Gauss-Manin connection for two bases of the twisted cohomology providing an independent check of [2]. We also use the intersection index — an inner product on the vector space of allowed contours — to derive a double-copy formula for the closed-string analogues of Riemann-Wirtinger integrals (one-dimensional integrals over the torus). Similar to the celebrated KLT formula between open- and closed-string tree-level amplitudes, these intersection indices form a genus-one KLT-like kernel defining bilinears in meromorphic Riemann-Wirtinger integrals that are equal to their complex counterparts.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

iPHoP: An integrated machine learning framework to maximize host prediction for metagenome-derived viruses of archaea and bacteria

The extraordinary diversity of viruses infecting bacteria and archaea is now primarily studied through metagenomics. While metagenomes enable high-throughput exploration of the viral sequence space, metagenome-derived sequences lack key information compared to isolated viruses, in particular host association. Different computational approaches are available to predict the host(s) of uncultivated viruses based on their genome sequences, but thus far individual approaches are limited either in precision or in recall, i.e., for a number of viruses they yield erroneous predictions or no prediction at all. Here, we describe iPHoP, a two-step framework that integrates multiple methods to reliably predict host taxonomy at the genus rank for a broad range of viruses infecting bacteria and archaea, while retaining a low false discovery rate. Based on a large dataset of metagenome-derived virus genomes from the IMG/VR database, we illustrate how iPHoP can provide extensive host prediction and guide further characterization of uncultivated viruses.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Integrative teaching of metabolic modeling and flux analysis with interactive python modules

Abstract The modeling of rates of biochemical reactions—fluxes—in metabolic networks is widely used for both basic biological research and biotechnological applications. A number of different modeling methods have been developed to estimate and predict fluxes, including kinetic and constraint‐based (Metabolic Flux Analysis and flux balance analysis) approaches. Although different resources exist for teaching these methods individually, to‐date no resources have been developed to teach these approaches in an integrative way that equips learners with an understanding of each modeling paradigm, how they relate to one another, and the information that can be gleaned from each. We have developed a series of modeling simulations in Python to teach kinetic modeling, metabolic control analysis, 13C‐metabolic flux analysis, and flux balance analysis. These simulations are presented in a series of interactive notebooks with guided lesson plans and associated lecture notes. Learners assimilate key principles using models of simple metabolic networks by running simulations, generating and using data, and making and validating predictions about the effects of modifying model parameters. We used these simulations as the hands‐on computer laboratory component of a four‐day metabolic modeling workshop and participant survey results showed improvements in learners' self‐assessed competence and confidence in understanding and applying metabolic modeling techniques after having attended the workshop. The resources provided can be incorporated in their entirety or individually into courses and workshops on bioengineering and metabolic modeling at the undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate level.

Kaste, Joshua A. M.↗

Blockchain Empowered Provenance Framework for Sensor Identity Management and Data Flow Security in Fossil-based Power Plants

The overall goals of this project are divided into 3 important phases. First, a peer-to-peer SCADA network is to be established where identity profile of sensors from fossil-power plants will be stored in an immutable manner in order to verify data flow integrity in real time. Second, it is aimed to develop a Blockchain-based provenance platform to audit equipment operations along with data and process integrity violations. In this phase, various operational rules will be incorporated in the ledger on behalf of the operating sensor so its abnormal use can be easily detected. In addition, it is aimed to achieve provenance when the rate of transactions is exceedingly high, thus enabling to design a scalable provenance scheme that can work in real time when number of data collecting points or sensor units increase in fossil-based power plants. Finally, a working testbed will be developed to integrate the Blockchain platform with sensor-based fossil power plant comprising of Remote Terminal Units (RTU) and SCADA devices. Using multiple Raspberry-PIs mimicking the role of RTUs that are interfaced with multiple sensors devices will be deployed to serve as a critical component of fossil power plant and the performance metrics such as throughput, latency, bootstrapping time, etc., will be evaluated on the testbed.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Integration of Pumped Heat Energy Storage with Fossil-Fired Power Plant (Final Report)

The project team of Southwest Research Institute ® (SwRI ® ), Malta Inc. (Malta), and Luminant Generation Company LLC (Luminant) completed a feasibility study for the integration of a 100-MW, 10-hour (1000-MWh) Malta Pumped Heat Energy Storage (MPHES) system with multiple full-sized fossil-fired electricity generation units (EGU) in Luminant portfolio. MPHES is a long-duration, molten-salt-energy storage technology that uses turbomachinery and heat exchangers to transfer energy to a thermal storage media when charging, and removes the heat in a similar fashion when discharging. With high round trip efficiency (60-65%) and long lifespan (30+ years), MPHES provides economic benefits to the fossil-asset owners that can be scaled to integrate with assets across their portfolio. This technology uses hardware components, workforce personnel, and skillsets similar to those used by fossil EGUs, allowing for synergy when co-locating the two technologies. Luminant has approximately 39,000 megawatts of generation across 12 states, operating in six of the seven competitive markets in the U.S. and powered by a diverse portfolio of natural gas, nuclear, coal, and solar facilities. The DeCordova plant in Granbury, Texas, a simple cycle natural gas peaker power plant, was used as the fossil-fired asset in this project. The local market in Granbury, Texas has many influences, including several nearby power plants, a Luminant-owned nuclear plant (Comanche Peak), and substantial wind energy, which causes both negative pricing at night and high market volatility. Reducing false starts of the DeCordova plant and better responding to market volatility would be an economic advantage. Luminant is currently integrating battery storage plant on site to begin addressing these challenges. Integrating long-duration storage, like MPHES, would expand this capability beyond one hour of storage and have the potential to greatly reduce the total number of gas turbine starts. The MPHES charging requirement could help offset the overnight operating costs of Comanche Peak, which cannot load follow, and the nearby Luminant-owned Wise County combined cycle plant that cycles too often. Following the assessment of Luminant’s ERCOT-based portfolio for integration compatibility with Malta’s PHES system and the project tasks of conceptual study, technoeconomic analysis, technology gap assessment, and commercialization plan, the project team effort has resulted in several key outcomes: (1) Identification of market trends in a high-wind penetration market outside a major metropolitan area; (2) Creation of a dispatching model for the MPHES system and the pairing of Li-ion battery with a gas turbine in a real time market; (3) Revenue and cost estimations for operating MPHES alongside a gas peaker plant with real dispatching considerations and comparison with variations in the Malta implementation, including doubling the storage capacity and using two discharge drivetrains; (4) Potential carbon emission reductions possible by replacing gas turbine operation with Malta PHES operation; and (5) Summary of literature-based future market predictions for Texas.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗