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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 55 records · Page 3

Development and Assessment of Deployed Sensors and Technologies Supporting Molten Salt Loop Operations

During FY24, Argonne conducted a variety of activities to develop and assess new monitoring and control technologies towards enabling long-duration operations of molten salt reactor systems. The first objective of the work completed this year was to deploy technologies capable of reliably and rapidly monitoring the operational health of a molten salt loop. To achieve this, the project focused on specific tasks, including: (1) electroanalytical technique development for use in deployed sensors, and (2) operations of sensors on the Facility to Alleviate Salt Technology Risks (FASTR) loop at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The second objective of the work this year focused on creating a pumped actinide flow loop to enable long-duration salt chemistry and corrosion studies using uranium-bearing fuel salts. Toward that end, we designed and procured a loop capable of being installed into a radiological glovebox at Argonne. A corrosion control system was also designed for integration into this loop. These combined systems will enable the feasibility of corrosion control and management systems to be investigated with complex chloride fuel salt mixtures.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Indirect Liquefaction, Ex Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis, Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2020 State-of-Technology Cases

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) aims to develop and deploy technologies to transform renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower through public and private partnerships (U.S. Department of Energy, 2016). BETO and its national laboratory teams conduct in-depth techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biomass feedstock supply and logistics and conversion technologies to produce biofuels. There are two general types of TEAs: A design case outlines a target case (future projection) for a particular biofuel pathway. It enables identification of data gaps and research and development needs and provides goals and benchmarks against which technology progress is assessed. A state of technology (SOT) analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual results at current experimental scales relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases, and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available. In addition to developing a TEA for a pathway of interest, BETO also performs a supply chain sustainability analysis (SCSA). The SCSA takes the life-cycle analysis approach that BETO has been supporting for about 20 years. It enables BETO to identify energy consumption, environmental, and sustainability issues that may be associated with biofuel production. Approaches to mitigate these issues can then be developed. Additionally, the SCSA allows for comparison of energy and environmental impacts across biofuel pathways in BETO’s research and development portfolio. This technical report describes the SCSAs for the production of renewable hydrocarbon transportation fuels via a range of conversion technologies in the 2020 SOTs: (1) renewable high octane gasoline (HOG) via indirect liquefaction (IDL) of woody lignocellulosic biomass (note that the IDL pathway in this SCSA represents the syngas conversion design [Harris et al. 2021]); (2) renewable gasoline (RG) and diesel (RD) blendstocks via ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of woody lignocellulosic biomass [Abhijit et al. 2021]; (3) RD via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet sludge from a wastewater treatment plant; (4) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via biochemical conversion of herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass (Davis et al. 2021; Lin et al. 2021); (5) renewable diesel via HTL of a blend of algae (Davis and Klein, 2021) and woody biomass (Hartley et al. 2020); and (6) renewable diesel via combined algae processing (CAP) (Wiatrowski and Davis, 2021). This technical report focuses on the environmental performance of these six biofuel production pathways in their 2020 SOT cases. The results of these renewable hydrocarbon fuel pathways in these SCSA analyses update those for the respective 2019 SOT cases (Cai et al. 2020). They also provide an opportunity to examine the impact of technology improvements in both biomass feedstock production and biofuel production that have been achieved in 2020 SOTs on the sustainability performance of these renewable transportation fuels. The SCSA results also reflect updates to Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET®) model, which was released in October 2020 (Wang et al. 2020). These GREET updates include the production of natural gas, electricity, and petroleum-based fuels that can influence biofuels’ supply chain greenhouse gas (GHG) (CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O) emissions, water consumption, and air pollutant emissions. GHG emissions, water consumption, and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions are the main sustainability metrics assessed in this analysis. In this analysis, we define water consumption as the amount of water withdrawn from a freshwater source that is not returned (or returnable) to a freshwater source at the same level of quality. Life-cycle fossil energy consumption and net energy balance, which is the life-cycle fossil energy consumption deducted from the renewable biofuel energy produced, are also assessed.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Indirect Liquefaction, Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2021 State-of-Technology Cases

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) aims to develop and deploy technologies to transform renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower through public and private partnerships. BETO and its national laboratory teams conduct in-depth techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biomass feedstock supply and logistics and conversion technologies to produce biofuels. There are two general types of TEAs: A design case outlines a target case (future projection) for a particular biofuel pathway. It informs R&D priorities by identifying areas in need of improvement, tracks sustainability impact of R&D, and provides goals and benchmarks against which technology progress is assessed. A state of technology (SOT) analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual results at current experimental scales relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases, and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Indirect Liquefaction, Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2021 State-of-Technology Cases

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) aims to develop and deploy technologies to transform renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower through public and private partnerships. BETO and its national laboratory teams conduct in-depth techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biomass feedstock supply and logistics and conversion technologies to produce biofuels. There are two general types of TEAs: A design case outlines a target case (future projection) for a particular biofuel pathway. It informs R&D priorities by identifying areas in need of improvement, tracks sustainability impact of R&D, and provides goals and benchmarks against which technology progress is assessed. A state of technology (SOT) analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual results at current experimental scales relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases, and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Accelerating Nuclear-Integrated Data Centers in the USA: SWOT Analysis, Power-Thermal Management Strategies, and Industrial-Scale Demonstration and Potential Deployment

Driven by the growth in digital services, cloud computing, AI, and manufacturing, data centers face rising energy demands that challenge traditional power sources and cooling efficiency. This study explores using nuclear power to meet these demands, focusing on accelerated reactor technology deployment and highlighting needs such as N+1/N+2 power supplies and integrated power-thermal management. A SWOT analysis addresses grid connectivity, reactors, and site selection, particularly DOE sites. Reactor technology demonstration and deployment could be accelerated by leveraging test facilities such as MARVEL, MAGNET, TED, FAS, DOME, LOTUS, ATR, Energy System Proving Grounds, and upcoming Energy Launch Pads, along with modeling and simulation tools such as RELAP5, MOOSE, VERA, RAVEN, and FORCE. The potential power and thermal management options, including various cooling technologies, waste-heat utilization, and an industrial-scale demonstration plan, aim to accelerate the integration of nuclear power and data centers in the USA, while emphasizing community and stakeholder engagement and synergistic efforts.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗

Large Detector Systems in Particle Physics Experiments & the Role Africa Will Play in Detector Technologies of the Future

In this talk, we will give a brief overview of some of the detector technologies deployed in large-scale experiments in particle physic research lab the world and through a specific Micro Pattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD) technologies example, we will discuss challenges associated to these technologies in term of production, assembly, characterization and deployment in complex detector system for the experiments. In the second half of the talk, we will initiate the discussion on the role that African countries could play in the development of detector technologies in the future for application in various field of fundamental and applied science. We will hope to engage the audience to explore initiatives under the African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP) umbrella to encourage African research institutions and universities to invest in detector research and development (R&D) and in infrastructures dedicated aimed at covering all aspects of detector technologies and providing opportunities to generation of bright young African minds to take part in international collaboration of large-scale experiments at facilities such as the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) in the USA or the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and to contribute to the deployment and operation of detector technologies in future experiments.

Gnanvo, Kondo↗

Structures and Mechanisms Design Concepts for Adaptive Deployable Entry Placement Technology

System studies have shown that large deployable aerodynamic decelerators such as the Adaptive Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT) concept can revolutionize future robotic and human exploration missions involving atmospheric entry, descent and landing by significantly reducing the maximum heating rate, total heat load, and deceleration loads experienced by the spacecraft during entry [1-3]. ADEPT and the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) [4] share the approach of stowing the entry system in the shroud of the launch vehicle and deploying it to a much larger diameter prior to entry. The ADEPT concept provides a low ballistic coefficient for planetary entry by employing an umbrella-like deployable structure consisting of ribs, struts and a fabric cover that form an aerodynamic decelerator capable of undergoing hypersonic flight. The ADEPT "skin" is a 3-D woven carbon cloth that serves as a thermal protection system (TPS) and as a structural surface that transfers aerodynamic forces to the underlying ribs [5]. This paper focuses on design activities associated with integrating ADEPT components (cloth, ribs, struts and mechanisms) into a system that can function across all configurations and environments of a typical mission concept: stowed during launch, in-space deployment, entry, descent, parachute deployment and separation from the landing payload. The baseline structures and mechanisms were selected via trade studies conducted during the summer and fall of 2012. They are now being incorporated into the design of a ground test article (GTA) that will be fabricated in 2013. It will be used to evaluate retention of the stowed configuration in a launch environment, mechanism operation for release, deployment and locking, and static strength of the deployed decelerator. Of particular interest are the carbon cloth interfaces, underlying hot structure, (Advanced Carbon- Carbon ribs) and other structural components (nose cap, struts, and main body) designed to withstand the pressure and extremely high heating experienced during planetary entry.

Yount, Bryan C.↗

From LEO, to the Moon and then Mars: Developing a Global Strategy for Exploration Risk Reduction

Most nations currently involved in human spaceflight, or with such ambitions, believe that space exploration will capture the imagination of our youth resulting in future engineers and scientists, advance technologies which will improve life on earth, increase the knowledge of our solar system, and strengthen bonds and relationships across the globe. The Global Exploration Strategy, published in 2007 by 14 space agencies, eloquently makes this case and presents a vision for space exploration. It argues that in order for space exploration to be sustainable, nations must work together to address the challenges and share the burden of costs. This paper will examine Mars mission scenarios developed by NASA, ESA and other agencies and show resulting conclusions regarding key challenges, needed technologies and associated mission risks. It will discuss the importance of using the International Space Station as a platform for exploration risk reduction and how the global exploration community will develop lunar exploration elements and architectures that enable the long term goal of human missions to Mars. The International Space Station (ISS) is a critical first step both from a technology and capability demonstration point of view, but also from a partnership point of view. There is much work that can be done in low earth orbit for exploration risk reduction. As the current "outpost at the edge of the frontier", the ISS is a place where we can demonstrate certain technologies and capabilities that will substantially reduce the risk of deploying an outpost on the lunar surface and Mars mission scenarios. The ISS partnership is strong and has fulfilled mission needs. Likewise, the partnerships we build on the moon will provide a strong foundation for establishing partnerships for the human Mars missions. On the moon, we build a permanently manned outpost and deploy technologies and capabilities to allow humans to stay for long periods of time. The moon is interesting from a scientific point of view, but it is extremely important for development and demonstration the technologies and capabilities needed for human missions to Mars. This paper will show the logic and strategy for addressing technological, operational and programmatic challenges by using low earth orbit and lunar missions to enable the long term goal of exploration of our solar system.

Laurini, Kathleen C.↗

Characteristics of U.S. Energy Production using Nuclear Fission

When considering potential energy production technologies for the future, a critical consideration centers on the question of “how green” the technology is. Here, the word “green” implies that the technology has a zero or minimal impact on the public and environment while still providing benefits by way of electricity, heat, and other products such as hydrogen and water. And, these potential impacts must be considered over the lifecycle of the technology deployment, from design, construction, operation, and disposition. Ideally, a green energy technology would be net-zero (i.e., having no to almost negligible contribution) on five key elements: 1. Greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases such as ozone-depleting gases 2. Water consumption 3. Material resource consumption 4. Disposition of wastes 5. Public, flora, and fauna safety including deaths, health, and environmental impacts. Society would benefit from net-zero impacts of the five elements above while having low-cost energy. As society starts to replace fossil fuels in the energy mix, we need to consider the possible impacts of adopted technologies. We need a production approach that provides large quantities of energy while being safe, reliable, economical, and sustainable. In this report, we describe a variety of characteristics related to the five elements above to provide a fact-supported, science-based depiction of nuclear fission as an energy providing technology. By better understanding how fission power is nearly net-zero in the five elements above, we can position our thinking to align with the overarching goal to provide society with a low-impact energy source.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

NASA technology transfer network communications and information system: TUNS user survey

Applied Expertise surveyed the users of the deployed Technology Utilization Network System (TUNS) and surveyed prospective new users in order to gather background information for developing the Concept Document of the system that will upgrade and replace TUNS. Survey participants broadly agree that automated mechanisms for acquiring, managing, and disseminating new technology and spinoff benefits information can and should play an important role in meeting NASA technology utilization goals. However, TUNS does not meet this need for most users. The survey describes a number of systematic improvements that will make it easier to use the technology transfer mechanism, and thus expedite the collection and dissemination of technology information. The survey identified 26 suggestions for enhancing the technology transfer system and related processes.

Source record↗

A modular chemo-selective oxygen production unit to deliver oxygen for advanced combustion systems

Commercial oxygen generation technologies deploy either cryogenic air separation or vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA). These technologies can provide nearly pure oxygen but are only economically viable at oxygen production rates of 100-7,000 tonnes/day. The state-of-theart cryogenic air separation plants are impending the theoretical limits of thermodynamic efficiency but cannot be scaled down to cater future needs. Therefore, there is great incentive to develop a new approach for oxygen separation that can accommodate the upcoming demands. Our proposed research approach address to find novel methodologies to provide energy efficient modular O 2 on demand systems for modular gasification and other applications. Small scale modular systems for O 2 production offer certain benefits including enhanced energy efficiency, reduced operating costs and flexibility to tailor location specific needs. Our hypothesis is that a small modular system could be engineered using solvent-based capture and thermal release of oxygen, to enable “oxygen on demand” for any combustion-related technology.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The Large Deployable Reflector - A technology development challenge

The proposed Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) telescope is an astrophysical orbiting platform whose aperture is of the order of 20 m, and is dedicated to observations in the IR and sub-mm wavelengths. NASA is currently planning a 5-year technology development program that will allow the requisite hardware and software to reach the state required for economical and reliable implementation. A computer model simulation is envisioned toward this end that will encompass and integrate structural, thermal, control, optics, and systems program elements. Possession of the enabling technology is foreseen for the early 1990s.

Pittman, R. B.↗

Adaptable Deployable Entry & Placement Technology (ADEPT) for Cubesat Delivery to Mars Surface

The Adaptable, Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT), uses a mechanical skeleton to deploy a revolutionary carbon fabric system that serves as both heat shield and primary structure during atmospheric entry. The NASA ADEPT project, currently funded by the Game Changing Development Program in STMD is currently focused on 1m class hypersonic decelerators for the delivery of very small payloads ( 5 kg) to locations of interest in an effort to leverage low-cost platforms to rapidly mature the technology while simultaneously delivering high-value science. Preliminary mission design and aerothermal performance testing in arcjets have shown the ADEPT system is quite capable of safe delivery of cubesats to Mars surface. The ability of the ADEPT to transit to Mars in a stowed configuration (similar to an umbrella) provides options for integration with the Mars 2020 cruise stage, even to consider multiple ADEPTs. System-level test campaigns are underway for FY15 execution or planning for FY16. These include deployment testing, wind tunnel testing, system-level arc jet testing, and a sounding rocket flight test. The goal is system level maturation (TRL 6) at a 1m class Mars design reference mission configuration.

3D Woven↗

Real Time Data System (RTDS)

Information is given in viewgraph form on the Real Time Data System (RTDS). The goals are to increase the quality of flight decision making, reduce and enhance flight controller training time, and serve as a near-operations technology test-bed. Information is given on the growth of RTDS; flight control disciplines; RTDS technology deployment in 1987-1989 and 1990-91; a functionality comparison of mainframes and workstations; and technology transfer activities.

Heindel, Troy A.↗

Scaling Wind Power Innovation Assessment for Rapid Energy Transition with Artificial Intelligence

Planning for energy system decarbonization requires new insights into the potential of renewable technologies, deployed at unprecedented scale, to meet urgent sustainability goals. However, limited scalability of current wind energy research tools restricts characterization of innovation impacts to isolated reference sites, challenging investment and decision making under rapid growth. We demonstrate the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to inform future technology advancement and energy systems design by leveraging a state-of-the-art surrogate model to conduct a series of fleet-wide wind plant layout optimizations for greater than 6,800 projected U.S. onshore buildout locations. We show how innovative wake steering technology can address an array of barriers to large-scale deployment and integration of wind power. Specifically, wake steering reduces required plant area by an average of 18% and could preserve upwards of 13,000 km2 for future greenfield deployment, potentially easing siting challenges associated with wind energy infrastructure. Further, by enabling reduced turbine spacing and increased energy production, flexible operations of wake steering improve levelized cost of energy, particularly for large plants and in land-constrained settings. Finally, optimizations that consider dynamic energy prices can deliver increased power production and revenue capture during high-value (often low-wind) periods, further bolstering plant economics. Our computationally efficient approach offers a pathway to accelerate nationwide geographic evaluation of innovative technologies.

graph neural networks↗

Enabling New and Innovative Low Cost Mars Science Missions with the Adaptable, Deployable, Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT)

The Adaptive Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT) offers a delivery capability for Small Sat or CubeSat orbiter(s), in-situ elements, or landers. ADEPT can deliver the same science payload to a destination with a stowed diameter a factor of 3-4 times smaller than an equivalent rigid aeroshell, alleviating volumetric constraints on the secondary payload accommodation or primary carrier spacecraft bus. The ADEPT system can support payload over a range of mass and geometries to offer a delivery capability for a single or constellation of spacecraft supporting the goals and objectives of “Low Cost Mars Science Missions.”

ADEPT↗

Challenges and Opportunities for Floating Offshore Wind Energy in Ultradeep Waters of the Central Atlantic

This study, funded under an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is intended to provide BOEM with key information to inform their decision making about current and future leasing in the Central Atlantic region of the United States. The report will also benefit state governments, developers, research institutions, and the public which are seeking technical and market-based information about the unique aspects of the offshore wind energy development along the outer continental shelf of the Central Atlantic region of the United States. The study provides a broad top-level assessment of the key challenges and opportunities that are unique to offshore wind energy development in the Central Atlantic region. It focuses on BOEM's Central-Atlantic region Call areas. The research is based on the most current technology, deployment, and stakeholder information available to NREL. The topics include assessments of the physical environment, current leasing status and major stakeholder issues, state and federal energy policy, an assessment of future leasing requirements based on state targets, status and limitations of the technology, and supply chain status. The primary intent is to inform the readers about the prospects for deploying offshore wind in the designated deep water Call areas, E and F, identified by BOEM. The report makes recommendations regarding development in these regions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗