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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 415 records · Page 23

Building Stronger State Energy Partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy

This final technical report details the results of total work efforts and progress made from October 2007 – September 2011 under the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) cooperative agreement DE-FC26-07NT43264, Building Stronger State Energy Partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy. Major topical project areas in this final report include work efforts in the following areas: Energy Assurance and Critical Infrastructure, State and Regional Technical Assistance, Regional Initiative, Regional Coordination and Technical Assistance, and International Activities in China. All required deliverables have been provided to the National Energy Technology Laboratory and DOE program officials.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

FY19 Report for Instrumentation Development for the Transient Testing Program

This report details the technical activities and accomplishment carried out under funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Technology Research and Development (NTRD) program for in-pile instrumentation supporting the transient testing program in FY19. These activities were performed in support of cross-cutting transient testing experiment objectives. The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of key technical work, of particular interest to nuclear irradiation test experimenters and in-pile instrumentation engineers. During FY19, development activities are focused on deployment of devices to perform online measurement of neutron flux, temperature, and mechanical behaviors in nuclear fuels experiments. Specifically, these R&D activities include in-pile investigations at the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility throughout the year. Other in-pile instrumentation R&D activities are being carried out under other DOE programs, which may be recognized but not the focus of this document. A brief summary of activities and accomplishments is first provided for each major activity. More detailed summaries are presented in appendices.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

FY17 Report for Instrumentation Development for the Transient Testing Program

This report details the technical activities and accomplishment carried out under the in-pile instrumentation work package supporting the transient testing program. These activities were performed in direct support of cross-cutting transient testing experiment objectives. The purpose of this report is to provide a complete summary of all work, which is of particular interest to nuclear irradiation test experimenters and in-pile instrumentation engineers with emphasis on transient testing applications. Development activities are focused on devices to perform online measurement of neutron flux, temperature, and mechanical behaviors in nuclear fuels experiments. A brief summary of activities and accomplishments is first provided for each major activity. Detailed reports are presented in appendices.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

CT-Guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsy in Patients with Suspected Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose: The outcome of CT-guided biopsy in patients with suspected retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF), regarded as technically challenging, remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the results of CT-guided biopsy in patients with lesions considered in the differential diagnosis of RF and compare them with results from patients with other retroperitoneal lesions. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent CT-guided biopsy of retroperitoneal lesions between January 2010 and September 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The study cohort with retroperitoneal lesions surrounding the infra-abdominal aorta, iliac vessels, and/or ureters was divided into two groups: Group F included patients with lesions for which RF was considered in the differential diagnosis, and Group C comprised patients with a retroperitoneal mass or lymphadenopathy. Lesion size and depth, and biopsy details including technical success, position, procedure time, diagnostic yield, and complications between the two groups were compared. Results: Group F included 27 patients (mean age 68.5 years ± 11.6, 17 male) and Group C 30 patients (mean age 65.0 years ± 11.8, 16 male). The short axis was significantly smaller in Group F than in Group C (19 mm vs 26 mm, P = 0.041), and procedure time was significantly longer in Group F than in Group C (31.5 min ± 13.2 vs 20.3 min ± 8.4, P = 0.001). Technical success rate (93% vs 100%), accuracy (93% vs 93%), and complications (3.7% vs 10%) between Groups F and C were not significantly different. Conclusions: CT-guided biopsy of patients with suspected RF is considered safe and effective.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Renewable Energy Potential Model: Priority Geothermal Leasing Areas ReEDs Results

This dataset contains the results of a study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to identify potential future priority geothermal leasing areas on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States Forest Service (USFS) lands. The analysis uses the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model to evaluate geothermal resource potential under different scenarios of resource depth and technology combinations through the year 2050. The study considers geothermal resource potential, natural resource conflicts, and transmission access to categorize areas into near, mid, and far deployment priorities. The dataset includes outputs from the ReEDS model, such as geothermal capacity, generation, system costs, and emissions under various economic and technical scenarios. Favorability site data with geographic coordinates and site-specific attributes (e.g., resource favorability, land type) are also provided. Supporting resources include a technical report detailing methodologies and assumptions, along with a link to the ReEDS model GitHub repository, which requires GAMS and Python software for execution.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

U.S. Virgin Islands Petroleum Price-Spike Preparation

This NREL technical report details a plan for the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to minimize the economic damage caused by major petroleum price increases. The assumptions for this plan are that the USVI will have very little time and money to implement it and that the population will be highly motivated to follow it because of high fuel prices. The plan's success, therefore, is highly dependent onbehavior change. This plan was derived largely from a review of the actions taken and behavior changes made by companies and commuters throughout the United States in response to the oil price spike of 2008. Many of these solutions were coordinated by or reported through the 88 local representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program. The National Renewable Energy Laboratoryprovides technical and communications support for the Clean Cities program and therefore serves as a de facto repository of these solutions. This plan is the first publication that has tapped this repository.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Dual-loop Solvent-based CCS for Net Negative CO 2 Emissions with Lower Cost

This final technical report details the successful design, construction, and operational validation of an innovative dual-loop CO 2 capture technology designed to achieve deep decarbonization (>99%) from Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power plants that results in the electricity with carbon intensity of approximate 42 kg CO 2 -eq/MWh, less than the electricity produced by solar PV. The integrated process couples a primary aqueous solvent (in this project, a water lean solvent – WLS) absorption loop for bulk CO 2 removal with a secondary potassium hydroxide (KOH) polishing loop featuring electrochemical regeneration. This architecture leverages the higher exergy efficiency of the primary loop while utilizing the fastest kinetic of the secondary loop to capture dilute residual CO 2 , achieving an overall capture rate of 99.9% and co-producing pure hydrogen after moisture being condensed and dehydrated. Technical feasibility was established through a comprehensive 2,000-hour experimental campaign on a bench-scale fully-integrated unit (using 4” absorber and 4” stripper) with the feeding flue gas flowrate in the range of 8-20 cfm, confirming the attainment of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. The project executed extensive parametric testing followed by 1,000 hours of continuous steady-state testing, demonstrating exceptional process stability with the electrochemical regenerator exhibiting less than a 10% reduction in electrical conductivity over the duration of the campaign. Operational characterization gathering on the bench unit revealed distinct energy profiles for the hybrid system: the primary loop required approximately 280 kJ mol -1 for bulk removal, while the polishing loop required approximately 1,600 kJ mol -1 specifically when reducing dilute CO 2 concentrations from ~740 ppm down to <50 ppm. (Please note those energy values/numbers can only be viewed as relative relationship and should not be extrapolated as absolute values required for CO 2 capture). Furthermore, dynamic testing validated the system’s flexibility for utility applications, demonstrating a rapid process response time of <30 minutes to changes in flue gas flowrate. Emission monitoring confirmed that the dual-loop architecture effectively mitigates solvent losses, utilizing a water wash to remove entrained aerosols to <1 ppm. The Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) indicates a cost of capture of $\$$59.3/tonne and a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of 71.7 $\$$/MWh at the overall capture efficiency of 99.8% of total carbon in the flue gas stream, with sensitivity analysis identifying an economic optimum when the primary loop captures 97% of the total CO 2 . A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) confirms the technology’s potential for net-negative emissions, determining a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 52 kg CO 2 -eq/MWh—significantly lower than the baseline—which further decreases to 42 kg CO 2 -eq/MWh when crediting the displacement of conventional hydrogen production.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Control of Technology Transfer at JPL

Controlled Technology: 1) Design: preliminary or critical design data, schematics, technical flow charts, SNV code/diagnostics, logic flow diagrams, wirelist, ICDs, detailed specifications or requirements. 2) Development: constraints, computations, configurations, technical analyses, acceptance criteria, anomaly resolution, detailed test plans, detailed technical proposals. 3) Production: process or how-to: assemble, operated, repair, maintain, modify. 4) Manufacturing: technical instructions, specific parts, specific materials, specific qualities, specific processes, specific flow. 5) Operations: how-to operate, contingency or standard operating plans, Ops handbooks. 6) Repair: repair instructions, troubleshooting schemes, detailed schematics. 7) Test: specific procedures, data, analysis, detailed test plan and retest plans, detailed anomaly resolutions, detailed failure causes and corrective actions, troubleshooting, trended test data, flight readiness data. 8) Maintenance: maintenance schedules and plans, methods for regular upkeep, overhaul instructions. 9) Modification: modification instructions, upgrades kit parts, including software

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)↗

Development of Metal Oxide Nanostructure-based Optical Sensors for Fossil Fuel Derived Gases Measurement at High Temperature

This final technical report details research works performed supported by a Department of Energy grant (DE-FE0003859), which was awarded under the University Coal Research Program administrated by National Energy Technology Laboratory. This research program studied high temperature fiber sensor for harsh environment applications. It developed two fiber optical sensor platform technology including regenerative fiber Bragg grating sensors and distributed fiber optical sensing based on Rayleigh backscattering optical frequency domain reflectometry. Through the studies of chemical and thermal regenerative techniques for fiber Bragg grating (FBG) fabrication, high-temperature stable FBG sensors were successfully developed and fabricated in air-hole microstructured fibers, high-attenuation fibers, rare-earth doped fibers, and standard telecommunication fibers. By optimizing the laser processing and thermal annealing procedures, fiber grating sensors with stable performance up to 1100°C have been developed. Using these temperature-stable FBG gratings as sensor platform, fiber optical flow, temperature, pressure, and chemical sensors have been developed to operate at high temperatures up to 800°C. Through the integration of on-fiber functional coating, the use of application-specific air-hole microstructural fiber, and application of active fiber sensing scheme, distributed fiber sensor for temperature, pressure, flow, liquid level, and chemical sensing have been demonstrated with high spatial resolution (1-cm or better) with wide temperature ranges. These include the demonstration of 1) liquid level sensing from 77K to the room temperature, pressure/temperature sensing from the room temperature to 800C and from the 15psi to 2000 psi, and hydrogen concentration measurement from 0.2% to 10% with temperature ranges from the room temperature to 700°C. Optical sensors developed by this program has broken several technical records including flow sensors with the highest operation temperature up to 750°C, first distributed chemical measurements at the record high temperature up to 700°C, first distributed pressure measurement at the record high temperature up to 800°C, and the fiber laser sensors with the record high operation temperature up to 700°C. The research performed by this program dramatically expand the functionality, adaptability, and applicability of distributed fiber optical sensors with potential applications in a number of high-temperature energy systems such as fossil-fuel power generation, high-temperature fuel cell applications, and potential for nuclear energy systems.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Model predictive control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems: A state-of-the-art review

Due to the fast advancement of communication and information technology, intelligent buildings have garnered great interest. These buildings can forecast weather, ambient temperature, and sun irradiation and can modify heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) operations appropriately, based on current and previous data. This change is intended to reduce HVAC system energy usage while maintaining an appropriate degree of thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Since its inception, model predictive control (MPC) has been one of the prospective solutions for HVAC management systems to reduce both costs and energy usage. Additionally, MPC is becoming increasingly practical as the processing capacity of building automation systems increases and a large quantity of monitored building data becomes available. MPC also provides the potential to improve the energy efficiency of HVAC systems via its capacity to consider limitations, to predict disruptions, and to factor in multiple competing goals such as interior thermal comfort and building energy consumption. Although substantial research has been conducted on MPC in building HVAC systems, there is a shortage of critical reviews and a lack of a comprehensive framework that formulates and defines the applications. Here, this article provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art overview of MPC in HVAC systems. Detailed discussions of modeling approaches and optimization algorithms are included. Numerous design aspects such as prediction horizon, occupancy behavior, building type, and cost function, that impact MPC performance are discussed in detail. The technical characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of various types of modeling software are discussed. The primary objective of this work is to highlight critical design characteristics for the MPC control scheme and to give improved suggestions for future research. Moreover, numerous prospective scenarios have been suggested that might provide future research direction.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Near-field transport imaging applied to photovoltaic materials

We developed and applied a new analytical technique - near-field transport imaging (NF-TI or simply TI) - to photovoltaic materials. Charge-carrier transport is an important factor in solar cell performance, and TI is an innovative approach that integrates a scanning electron microscope with a near-field scanning optical microscope, providing the possibility to study luminescence associated with recombination and transport with high spatial resolution. In this paper, we describe in detail the technical barriers we had to overcome to develop the technique for routine application and the data-fitting procedure used to calculate minority-carrier diffusion length values. The diffusion length measured by TI agrees well with the results calculated by time-resolved photoluminescence on well-controlled gallium arsenide (GaAs) thin-film samples. We report for the first time on measurements on thin-film cadmium telluride using this technique, including the determination of effective carrier diffusion length, as well as the first near-field imaging of the effect of a single localized defect on carrier transport and recombination in a GaAs heterostructure. Furthermore, by changing the scanning setup, we were able to demonstrate near-field cathodoluminescence (CL), and correlated the results with standard CL measurements. In conclusion, the TI technique shows great potential for mapping transport properties in solar cell materials with high spatial resolution.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Application of new simulation algorithms for modeling rf diagnostics of electron clouds

Traveling wave rf diagnostics of electron cloud build-up show promise as a non-destructive technique for measuring plasma density and the efficacy of mitigation techniques. However, it is very difficult to derive an absolute measure of plasma density from experimental measurements for a variety of technical reasons. Detailed numerical simulations are vital in order to understand experimental data, and have successfully modeled build-up. Such simulations are limited in their ability to reproduce experimental data due to the large separation of scales inherent to the problem. Namely, one must resolve both rf frequencies in the GHz range, as well as the plasma modulation frequency of tens of MHz, while running for very long simulations times, on the order of microseconds. The application of new numerical simulation techniques allow us to bridge the simulation scales in this problem and produce spectra that can be directly compared to experiments. The first method is to use a plasma dielectric model to measure plasma-induced phase shifts in the rf wave. The dielectric is modulated at a low frequency, simulating the effects of multiple bunch crossings. This allows simulations to be performed without kinetic particles representing the plasma, which both speeds up the simulations as well as reduces numerical noise from interpolation of particle charge and currents onto the computational grid. Secondly we utilize a port boundary condition model to simultaneously absorb rf at the simulation boundaries, and to launch the rf into the simulation. This method improves the accuracy of simulations by restricting rf frequencies better than adding an external (finite) current source to drive rf, and absorbing layers at the boundaries. We also explore the effects of non-uniform plasma densities on the simulated spectra.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

On the Colbeck–Renner theorem

In three papers, Colbeck and Renner [Nat. Commun. 2, 411 (2011); Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 150402 (2012); e-print arXiv:1208.4123] argued that “no alternative theory compatible with quantum theory and satisfying the freedom of choice assumption can give improved predictions.” We give a more precise version of the formulation and proof of this remarkable claim. Our proof broadly follows theirs, which relies on physically well motivated axioms, but to fill in some crucial details, certain technical assumptions have had to be added, whose physical status seems somewhat obscure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

ADM Analysis of gravity models within the framework of bimetric variational formalism

Bimetric variational formalism was recently employed to construct novel bimetric gravity models. In these models an affine connection is generated by an additional tensor field which is independent of the physical metric. In this work we demonstrate how the ADM decomposition can be applied to study such models and provide some technical intermediate details. Using ADM decomposition we are able to prove that a linear model is unstable as has previously been indicated by perturbative analysis. Moreover, we show that it is also very difficult if not impossible to construct a non-linear model which is ghost-free within the framework of bimetric variational formalism. However, we demonstrate that viable models are possible along similar lines of thought. To this end, we consider a set up in which the affine connection is a variation of the Levi-Civita one. As a proof of principle we construct a gravity model with a massless scalar field obtained this way.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The FRAM robotic telescope for atmospheric monitoring at the Pierre Auger Observatory

FRAM (F/Photometric Robotic Atmospheric Monitor) is a robotic telescope operated at the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina for the purposes of atmospheric monitoring using stellar photometry. As a passive system which does not produce any light that could interfere with the observations of the fluorescence telescopes of the observatory, it complements the active monitoring systems that use lasers. We discuss the applications of stellar photometry for atmospheric monitoring at optical observatories in general and the particular modes of operation employed by the Auger FRAM. We describe in detail the technical aspects of FRAM, the hardware and software requirements for a successful operation of a robotic telescope for such a purpose and their implementation within the FRAM system.

Optics↗

High-voltage and electrode system for a cryogenic experiment to search for the neutron electric dipole moment

The cryogenic approach to the search for the neutron electric dipole moment—performing the experiment in superfluid liquid helium—holds promise for a substantial increase in sensitivity, potentially enabling a sensitivity level of 10 −28 𝑒cm. A crucial component in realizing such an experiment is the high-voltage and electrode system capable of providing an electric field of 75 kV/cm. This, in turn, requires an electric potential of 635 kV to be applied to the high-voltage electrode, while simultaneously satisfying other experimental constraints, such as those on heat load and magnetic noise requirements. In this work, we describe the outcome of a comprehensive development program addressing these challenges. It outlines the system requirements, discusses new insights into relevant physical phenomena, and details selected technical solutions with their corresponding experimental demonstrations and expected performance. The results collectively demonstrate the successful development of the necessary technology for the high-voltage and electrode system for this approach.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

VizEng

VisEng is a data presentation and display system directed at presenting information generated by a plant information management system. This system allows multiple levels of drilldown from a high level system management interface down to technical implementation details of the actual system. This is a system awareness infrastructure application, which is meant to bridge the role based knowledge gap and give all operation room workers understandable and actionable complete state awareness. The aggregated system resources create an expandable and scalable display methodology that can fit any use case.

Lehmer, JacobP.↗