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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 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Modeling the Air Quality Impacts of Future Energy Scenarios

Many greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction measures achieve simultaneous reductions in air pollutants. Human-Earth system models can estimate such emission changes in the energy system but using them in chemistry-transport models (CTMs) to study their air quality impacts involves resource-intensive emissions processing. This is greatly simplified by an emissions scaling approach linking state-level emissions estimated by a human-Earth system model to a CTM. A scenario continuing pre-2022 energy policy in the U.S. to 2050 shows widespread air quality improvements over the 2015 baseline from SO 2 and NO x emission reductions of 50–80% from electricity generation and light-duty vehicles. Scenarios of GHG mitigation and vehicle electrification at the state and national level add further benefits. However, PM 2.5 increases from increased use of wood heating and bioenergy suggest that additional PM 2.5 management may be needed when using biofuels. In conclusion, this approach helps assess multiple future energy scenarios efficiently without sacrificing chemical detail in the air quality simulations.

air quality↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluation of a high-throughput method for processing sponge-stick samples to detect viable, non-spore-forming biothreat agents

After a bioterrorism incident, surface sampling is often used to determine the extent of contamination and exposure, guiding decontamination efforts and decisions for re-occupancy of affected sites. The sponge-stick (SS) is a preferred and commonly used device for sample collection to detect both spore-forming and non-spore-forming biothreat agents from non-porous surfaces. Here, in this study, a recently developed high-throughput method (HTM) for processing SS samples to detect viable Bacillus anthracis spores was adapted for detection of non-spore-forming biothreat agents, Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis. The scalable HTM was used to process up to 20 SS samples simultaneously, compared to the current stomacher-based method which processes one SS at a time. Comparisons of the HTM and the stomacher-based method were statistically indistinguishable for most experiments (P > 0.05) with HTM recoveries of 37–60 % for Y. pestis inoculated at 102–103 cells/SS and held 48 h at 4 °C to mimic sample transport/storage. The HTM was integrated with Rapid Viability-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RV-PCR) analysis to detect viable Y. pestis in the presence of particulate contamination (Arizona Test Dust, ATD). This approach detected Y. pestis inoculated at 20 cells/SS and ATD did not impact detection (P > 0.05). F. tularensis showed significantly lower recoveries between no-hold time and 48-h hold time (4 °C, P < 0.05) using the HTM, which further testing showed could be due to toxicity of the neutralizing buffer used for SS pre-wetting. With modifications, this method could enhance throughput capacity while maintaining similar recovery efficiencies to current methods for other non-spore-forming bacterial pathogens.

Biological and medical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2025

DNA viruses from different stages of a wastewater treatment plant in southwest Ohio

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) house diverse populations of microbial communities that are dynamic across treatment stages. Although viruses, especially non-pathogenic ones are relatively less studied compared to their bacterial counterparts, they are equally important players in WWTP microbiomes. In this study, we sampled influent, activated sludge, and effluent stages of a WWTP in southwest Ohio to sequence their viral population using multiple displacement amplification (MDA) and metagenomic approaches. We recovered 1003 viral genomes, the majority of which were ssDNA (single-stranded DNA) viruses that formed distinct clusters representing novel species and phylogenetic groups not closely related to known human gut or terrestrial viruses. Additionally, tracking viruses across treatment stages showed several persisted across multiple treatment stages. These results suggest that further studies are needed to understand the persistence of viral populations, particularly non-pathogenic ones, across different stages of WWTPs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Policy implications of net-zero emissions: A multi-model analysis of United States emissions and energy system impacts

Many countries, subnational jurisdictions, and companies are setting net-zero emissions goals; however, questions remain about strategies to reach these targets, policy measures, technology gaps, and economic impacts. Here, we investigate the potential policy implications of reaching economy-wide net-zero CO 2 emissions across the United States by 2050 using results from a multi-model comparison with 14 energy-economic models. Model results suggest that achieving net-zero CO 2 targets depends on policies that accelerate deployment of zero- and low-emitting technologies that have seen rapid cost reductions in recent years (including wind, solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles) as well as relatively nascent options (including carbon capture and storage, advanced biofuels, low-carbon hydrogen, advanced nuclear, and long-duration energy storage). While net-zero policies are likely to lower fossil fuel consumption, including considerable coal and petroleum reductions, achieving net-zero emissions does not necessarily mean phasing out all fossil fuels. Model results indicate that the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy and climate provisions amplify near-term decarbonization but that net-zero policies have larger impacts on long-run outcomes. Stringent climate policy can have large fiscal impacts on tax revenue and government spending—revenues from carbon pricing and subsidies for carbon removal range from 0.1 % to 3.7 % of GDP in 2050 across models. Each dollar per metric ton carbon price leads to a 0.06 % to 0.31 % reduction in economy-wide CO 2 emissions relative to a reference scenario with current policies. Spending on energy across the economy decreases relative to today for many models under reference and net-zero policies, especially as a share of GDP, due primarily to end-use electrification and energy efficiency.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

District Geothermal Heating + Cooling Deployment in a CT Environmental Justice Community

The report marks the team’s completion of all required tasks and milestones. Work completed for Task 1 (Technical and Economic Feasibility Assessment & Procurement Drafting) included development of analysis and design model; completion of technical, economic, and environmental assessments; and technical outreach and coalition design. Components for Task 2 (Outreach & Community Engagement) involved broad outreach and community-engagement efforts (including stakeholder meetings and a webinar as well as development of a formal engagement plan) and development of a web page and a case study. For Task 3 (Workforce Transition, Development, & Training Plan), the team undertook a formal statewide geothermal workforce needs assessment, developed corresponding recommendations for both the state as a whole and the Wallingford project, and held several workshops. For Task 4 (Project Management & Data Sharing), the team drafted a data-sharing plan.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2014

Smart Coatings for Launch Site Corrosion Protection

Smart, environmentally friendly paint system for early corrosion detection, mitigation, and healing that will enable supportability in KSC launch facilities and ground systems through their operational life cycles. KSC's Corrosion Technology Laboratory is developing a smart, self-healing coating that can detect and repair corrosion at an early stage. This coating is being developed using microcapsules specifically designed to deliver the contents of their core when corrosion starts.

TechPort Portfolio System↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evolving Electricity Supply and Demand to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions: Insights from the EMF-37 Study

This paper explores the role of electricity in achieving economy-wide net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 in the United States based on results from 17 models as part of the 37th Stanford Energy Modeling Forum (EMF-37). In the study's Net-Zero scenario, the models use diverse pathways to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with gross energy-related residual emissions ranging from 17.2 to 66.6 % of 2020 levels. Electricity consistently emerges as central to achieving net-zero, with models projecting rapid electrification of end-uses and rapidly declining CO2 intensity of electricity. However, the extent of electrification and the technology mix to decarbonize the power sector vary considerably across models. In the Net-Zero scenario, electricity is projected to evolve from ~20 % of final energy in 2020 to 17-63 % in 2050 across the models driven by electrification in all sectors-buildings, industry, and transportation-and, to a lesser extent by direct air capture. By 2050, total electricity consumption increases by 24-176 % (relative to 2020), accompanied by significant expansion in renewable electricity production. Together, solar and wind generation grows by 175-834 %, supplying 45-90 % of total electricity in 2050, with wind achieving slightly higher shares than solar. Electricity storage technologies are deployed at scale to support wind and solar generation. The electricity generation mix varies across models: some project almost complete reliance on renewables, while others see a substantial role for natural gas, often with carbon capture and storage. This paper synthesizes the rich diversity of modeling approaches and results, highlighting differing views on how key drivers of electricity demand and supply might evolve.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Kinetic Modeling of Secondary Organic Aerosol in a Weather-Chemistry Model: Parameterizations, Processes, and Predictions for GOAmazon

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) forms and evolves in the atmosphere through many pathways and processes, over diverse spatial and time scales. Hence, there is a need to represent these widely-varying kinetic processes in large-scale atmospheric models to allow for accurate predictions of the abundance, properties, and impacts of SOA. In this work, we integrated a kinetic, process-level model (simpleSOM-MOSAIC) into a weather-chemistry model (WRF-Chem) to simulate the oxidation chemistry and microphysics of atmospheric SOA. simpleSOM-MOSAIC simulates multigenerational gas-phase chemistry, autoxidation reactions, heterogeneous oxidation, oligomerization, and phase-state-influenced gas/particle partitioning of SOA. As a case study, the integrated WRF-Chem-simpleSOM-MOSAIC (WC-SSM) model was used to simulate the photochemical evolution downwind of a large city (Manaus, Brazil) in the Amazon and, in turn, study the anthropogenic and biogenic interactions in an otherwise pristine environment. Consistent with previous work, we found that OA was enhanced by up to a factor of four in the urban plume due to elevated hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations, relative to the background, and that this OA was dominated by SOA from biogenic precursors (80%). Further, in addition to accurately simulating the OA enhancement in the urban plume, the model reproduced the magnitude of the OA oxygen-to-carbon (O:C) ratio and broadly tracked the evolution of the aerosol size distribution. Our work highlights the importance of including an integrated, kinetic representation of SOA processes in an atmospheric model

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Design and Evaluation of Environmental Barrier Coatings for Protection of Ceramic Matrix Composites in Hydrogen-Based Turbines

This presentation at the 2024 FECM Spring Project Review Meeting summarizes ongoing work at NETL aimed at enabling the use of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials in next-generation high-efficiency power generation turbines fueled by hydrogen, natural gas, or other fuels. The work broadly involves three aspects (1) phase-field damage modeling of CMCs and the environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) used to protect them (2) computational design of new and improved EBCs and (3) performance testing of EBCs using a novel gas turbine combustion simulation rig developed at NETL. An overview on current status and next steps for each aspect of the project are presented.

ceramic matrix composite (CMC)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Phase-Field Modeling of Damage Evolution in Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) and Environmental Barrier Coating (EBC)

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) protected by environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) present a promising materials solution for next generation gas turbines. Developments of more robust and efficient EBCs and mechanically tougher CMCs are thus of significant technological importance. Here we develop a phase-field modeling framework that incorporates the thermally grown oxide (TGO), recognized as a critical factor for degradation and failure of EBCs. We simulate crack growth in the TGO and the potential extension into the bond coat / CMC substrate. The model efficiently takes account of the large inelastic deformation induced by the severe volume expansion of TGO, thanks to our recently developed, so-called incremental realization of inelastic deformation (IRID) algorithm. A phase-field model is built for damage evolution in CMCs including crack growth and interfacial sliding. The effects of fiber layout and interfacial sliding on the macroscopic toughness of CMCs are revealed by large-scale simulations and compared to experiments.

advanced energy systems and materials↗
NASA NTRS1989

Comparative thermal analysis of the space station Freedom photovoltaic deployable boom structure using TRASYS, NEVADA, and SINDA programs

The proposed Space Station Photovoltaic Deployable Boom was analyzed for operating temperatures. The boom glass/epoxy structure design needs protective shielding from environmental degradation. The protective shielding optical properties (solar absorptivity and emissivity) dictate the operating temperatures of the boom components. The Space Station Boom protective shielding must also withstand the effects of the extendible/retractable coiling action within the mast canister. A thermal analysis method was developed for the Space Station Deployable Boom to predict transient temperatures for a variety of surface properties. The modeling procedures used to evaluate temperatures within the boom structure incorporated the TRASYS, NEVADA, and SINDA thermal analysis programs. Use of these programs led to a comparison between TRASYS and NEVADA analysis methods. Comparing TRASYS and NEVADA results exposed differences in the environmental solar flux predictions.

Baumeister, Joseph F.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Comparative thermal analysis of the Space Station Freedom photovoltaic deployable boom structure using TRASYS, NEVADA, and SINDA programs

The proposed Space Station Photovoltaic Deployable Boom was analyzed for operating temperatures. The boom glass/epoxy structure design needs protective shielding from environmental degradation. The protective shielding optical properties (solar absorptivity and emissivity) dictate the operating temperatures of the boom components. The Space Station Boom protective shielding must also withstand the effects of the extendible/retractable coiling acting within the mast canister. A thermal analysis method was developed for the Space Station Deployable Boom to predict transient temperatures for a variety of surface properties. The modeling procedures used to evaluate temperatures within the boom structure incorporated the TRASYS, NEVADA, and SINDA thermal analysis programs. Use of these programs led to a comparison between TRASYS and NEVADA analysis methods. Comparing TRASYS and NEVADA results exposed differences in the environmental solar flux predictions.

Baumeister, Joseph F.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Blue Carbon Stocks Along the Pacific Coast of North America Are Mainly Driven by Local Rather Than Regional Factors

Coastal wetlands, including seagrass meadows, emergent marshes, mangroves, and temperate tidal swamps, can efficiently sequester and store large quantities of sediment organic carbon (SOC). However, SOC stocks may vary by ecosystem type and along environmental or climate gradients at different scales. Quantifying such variability is needed to improve blue carbon accounting, conservation effectiveness, and restoration planning. We analyzed SOC stocks in 1,284 sediment cores along >6,500 km of the Pacific coast of North America that included large environmental gradients and multiple ecosystem types. Tidal wetlands with woody vegetation (mangroves and swamps) had the highest mean stocks to 1 m depth (357 and 355 Mg ha −1 , respectively), 45% higher than marshes (245 Mg ha −1 ), and more than 500% higher than seagrass (68 Mg ha −1 ). Unvegetated tideflats, though not often considered a blue carbon ecosystem, had noteworthy stocks (148 Mg ha −1 ). Stocks increased with tidal elevation and with fine (<63 μm) sediment content in several ecosystems. Stocks also varied by dominant plant species within individual ecosystem types. At larger scales, marsh stocks were lowest in the Sonoran Desert region of Mexico, and swamp stocks differed among climate zones; otherwise stocks showed little correlation with ecoregion or latitude. More variability in SOC occurred among ecosystem types, and at smaller spatial scales (such as individual estuaries), than across regional climate gradients. These patterns can inform coastal conservation and restoration priorities across scales where preserving stored carbon and enhancing sequestration helps avert greenhouse gas emissions and maintains other vital ecosystem services.

emergent marsh↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reducing Long‐Standing Surface Ozone Overestimation in Earth System Modeling by High‐Resolution Simulation and Dry Deposition Improvement

The overestimation of surface ozone concentration in low‐resolution global atmospheric chemistry and climate models has been a long‐standing issue. We first update the ozone dry deposition scheme in both high‐ (0.25°) and low‐resolution (1°) Community Earth System Model (CESM) version 1.3 runs, by adding the effects of leaf area index and correcting the sunlit and shaded fractions of stomatal resistances. With this update, 5‐year‐long summer simulations (2015–2019) using the low‐resolution CESM still exhibit substantial ozone overestimation (by 6.0–16.2 ppbv) over the U.S., Europe, eastern China, and ozone pollution hotspots. The ozone dry deposition scheme is further improved by adjusting the leaf cuticle conductance, reducing the mean ozone bias by 19%, and increasing the model resolution further reduces the ozone overestimation by 43%. We elucidate the mechanism by which model grid spacing influences simulated ozone, revealing distinctive pathways in urban versus rural areas. In rural areas, grid spacing mainly affects daytime ozone levels, where additional NO x emissions from nearby urban areas result in an ozone boost and overestimation in low‐resolution simulations. In contrast, over urban areas, daytime ozone overestimation follows a similar mechanism due to the influence of volatile organic compounds from surrounding rural areas. However, nighttime ozone overestimation is closely linked to weakened NO titration owing to the redistribution of urban NO x to rural areas. Additionally, stratosphere‐troposphere exchange may also contribute to reducing ozone bias in high‐resolution simulations, warranting further investigation. This optimized high‐resolution CESM may enhance understanding of ozone formation mechanisms, sources, and changes in a warming climate.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Data from: Understanding the biogeochemical and spatial drivers of methane and carbon dioxide fluxes in a large temperate reservoir

This dataset contains spatially resolved measurements of CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes and associated environmental variables collected across 200 sites in Douglas Reservoir (Tennessee, USA) between July 29-August 2, 2024. Measurements include diffusive fluxes of CO₂ and CH₄, CH₄ ebullition, and biogeochemical and spatial variables such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, chlorophyll-a, pH, water depth, and distance from the dam. Sampling was conducted using a spatially balanced design to capture longitudinal and depth-related gradients throughout the reservoir. The dataset is structured to support analyses of spatial variability, flux pathway comparisons, and modeling approaches (e.g., spatial statistics and machine learning) aimed at understanding controls on reservoir CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes and improving upscaling to whole-reservoir and regional estimates.

Neeper, Jamie [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000842342101)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of grassland fire dynamics on particulate emission factors

Understanding particulate emission factors in grassland fires is critical for improving air quality assessments and refining emissions inventories. This study explores the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of fire processes and their influence on particulate emissions. Traditional emission factor inventories often rely on static values, overlooking the spatially and temporally variable dynamics of fire behavior. Through field experiments conducted at Konza Prairie Biological Station measuring emissions with uncrewed aerial vehicles, and computational modeling using HIGRAD/FIRETEC, this research highlights the dependency of emission production on localized fire dynamics, including ignition patterns, fuel properties, and atmospheric conditions. The results demonstrate a need for fire dynamic considerations to accurately capture emissions variability.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗