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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 73 records · Page 4

Impacts of Integrating Topology Reconfiguration and Vehicle-to-Grid Technologies on Distribution System Operation

Autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) provide unique opportunities to cope with the uncertainties of distributed energy generation in distribution networks. But the effects are limited by both inherent radial topology and the behaviors of decentralized AEVs. As such, we investigate the potential benefits of dynamic distribution network reconfiguration (DDNR), taking into account AEVs' spatial-temporal availability and their charging demand. We propose a mixed integer programming model to optimally coordinate the charging/discharging of AEVs with DDNR, while satisfying AEVs' original travel plan. Numerical studies based on a test system overlaying the IEEE 33-node test feeder and Sioux Falls transportation network show that DDNR and AEV complement each other, which improves the operation of the distribution system. We also conduct sensitivity analyses on inputs including renewable fluctuation and AEVs penetration level.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

CReST-VCT System Integration Framework

In this paper, we propose a system integration framework for deploying the Coordinated Real-time Sub-Transmission Volt-var Control Tool (CReST VCT) functionality between the transmission system, the distribution system, and DERs. This represents one possible set of design choices to implement the coordinated optimization capabilities in an operating environment. The framework provides the following: An architectural reference model that describes how the CReST VCT solution maps into a broader grid architecture that accommodates and enables higher levels of DER penetration and utilization: A system integration reference model that defines a possible allocation of CReST VCT functionality within a utility’s operational environment. This includes one possible system design approach for allocation of functionality within software and protocol selections across the various interfaces; A list of potential performance and security issues that should be considered during an implementation. This framework does not represent a specific implementation of the CReST VCT algorithm or integration into a specific utility environment. It is intended to serve as a reference for those who plan to implement such a solution into their environment. The general model provided by the framework can be tailored to a specific environment based on its specific constraints and requirements.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Cyber-Physical Risks for Advanced Reactors

Cybersecurity for industrial control systems is an important consideration that advance reactor designers will need to consider. How cyber risk is managed is the subject of on-going research and debate in the nuclear industry. This report seeks to identify potential cyber risks for advance reactors. Identified risks are divided into absorbed risk and licensee managed risk to clearly show how cyber risks for advance reactors can potentially be transferred. Absorbed risks are risks that originate external to the licensee but may unknowingly propagate into the plant. Insights include (1) the need for unification of safety, physical security, and cybersecurity risk assessment frameworks to ensure optimal coordination of risk, (2) a quantitative risk assessment methodology in conjunction with qualitative assessments may be useful in efficiently and sufficiently managing cyber risks, and (3) cyber risk management techniques should align with a risked informed regulatory framework for advance reactors.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Microgrid Controller Survey Report: 2024 Update

In the past decade, the number of microgrids deployed by electric utilities, end-use customers, and third parties has been increasing significantly both in the US and worldwide. The increase is driven by various reasons, such as carbon emission reduction, energy efficiency improvement, reliability and resilience enhancement, energy infrastructure modernization, and more. Microgrid controllers, as the most important components in these deployed microgrids, optimally coordinate the operation and control of the microgrid assets (e.g., distributed energy resources [DERs], energy storage systems, demand response, and even electric vehicles) and ensure that the microgrid is being operated in an efficient, clean, and resilient manner. To that end, the market for microgrid controllers has been growing rapidly in recent years. Various microgrid controllers have been released and continuously updated by vendors to satisfy the different needs of microgrid customers. However, the functionalities demonstrated by microgrid controllers released by different vendors show a huge difference because of a lack of widely known and accepted industrial standards, and various microgrid customers have specific requirements for different applications and scenarios. To obtain a clear view of the current state of the commercial microgrid controllers’ functionalities and identify potential research gaps, a survey of the functionalities of commercial microgrid controllers and the Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) developed by vendors and national laboratories was conducted in 2023. The results of the survey are presented in this report with the current status of commercial microgrid controllers analyzed, potential research gaps identified, and future research trends revealed.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

An Evaluation of the Economic and Resilience Benefits of a Microgrid in Northampton, Massachusetts

Recent developments and advances in distributed energy resource (DER) technologies make them valuable assets in microgrids. This paper presents an innovative evaluation framework for microgrid assets to capture economic benefits from various grid and behind-the-meter services in grid-connecting mode and resilience benefits in islanding mode. In particular, a linear programming formulation is used to model different services and DER operational constraints to determine the optimal DER dispatch to maximize economic benefits. For the resiliency analysis, a stochastic evaluation procedure is proposed to explicitly quantify the microgrid survivability against a random outage, considering uncertainties associated with photovoltaic (PV) generation, system load, and distributed generator failures. Optimal coordination strategies are developed to minimize unserved energy and improve system survivability, considering different levels of system connectedness. The proposed framework has been applied to evaluate a proposed microgrid in Northampton, Massachusetts that would link the Northampton Department of Public Works, Cooley Dickenson Hospital, and Smith Vocational Area High School. The findings of this analysis indicate that over a 20-year economic life, a 441 kW/441 kWh battery energy storage system, and 386 kW PV solar array can generate $2.5 million in present value benefits, yielding a 1.16 return on investment ratio. Results of this study also show that forming a microgrid generally improves system survivability, but the resilience performance of individual facilities varies depending on power-sharing strategies.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Direct computation of magnetic surfaces in Boozer coordinates and coil optimization for quasisymmetry

We propose a new method to compute magnetic surfaces that are parametrized in Boozer coordinates for vacuum magnetic fields. We also propose a measure for quasisymmetry on the computed surfaces and use it to design coils that generate a magnetic field that is quasisymmetric on those surfaces. The rotational transform of the field and complexity measures for the coils are also controlled in the design problem. Using an adjoint approach, we are able to obtain analytic derivatives for this optimization problem, yielding an efficient gradient-based algorithm. Starting from an initial coil set that presents nested magnetic surfaces for a large fraction of the volume, our method converges rapidly to coil systems generating fields with excellent quasisymmetry and low particle losses. In particular for low complexity coils, we are able to significantly improve the performance compared with coils obtained from the standard two-stage approach, e.g. reduce losses of fusion-produced alpha particles born at half-radius from $17.7\,\%$ to $6.6\,\%$ . We also demonstrate 16-coil configurations with alpha loss ${<}1\,\%$ and neoclassical transport magnitude $\epsilon _{\text {eff}}^{3/2}$ less than approximately $5\times 10^{-9}$ .

Physics↗

The ORNL Overhead Vehicle Dataset (OOVD)

Roadways are critical to meeting the mobility and economic needs of the nation. The United States uses 28% of its energy in moving goods and people, with approximately 60% of that utilized by cars, light trucks, and motorcycles. Thus, improved transportation efficiency is vital to America’s economic progress. The increasing congestion and energy resource requirements of transportation systems for metropolitan areas require research in methods to improve and optimize control methods. Coordinating and optimizing traffic in urban areas may introduce hundreds of thousands of vehicles and traffic management systems, which can require high performance computing (HPC) resources to model and manage. This data set was created to understand the potential for machine learning, computer vision, and HPC to improve the energy efficiency aspects of traffic control by leveraging GRIDSMART traffic cameras as sensors for adaptive traffic control, with a sensitivity to the fuel consumption characteristics of the traffic in the camera’s visual field. GRIDSMART cameras—an existing, fielded commercial product—sense the presence of vehicles at intersections and replace more conventional sensors (such as inductive loops) to issue calls to traffic control. These cameras, which have horizon-to-horizon view, offer the potential for an improved view of the traffic environment which can be used to generate better control algorithms.

Karnowski, Thomas P.↗

Reinforcement Learning-based Traffic Control to Optimize Energy Usage and Throughput (CRADA report)

The US roadways are critical to meeting the mobility and economic needs of the nation. The United States uses 28% of its energy in moving goods and people, with approximately 60% of that utilized by cars, light trucks, and motorcycles. Thus, improved transportation efficiency is vital to America’s economic progress. The increasing congestion and energy resource requirements of transportation systems for metropolitan areas require research in methods to improve and optimize control methods. Coordinating and optimizing traffic in urban areas may introduce hundreds of thousands of vehicles and traffic management systems, which can require high performance computing (HPC) resources to model and manage. In this work, we seek to use machine learning, computer vision, and HPC to improve the energy efficiency aspects of traffic control by leveraging GRIDSMART traffic cameras as sensors for adaptive traffic control, with a sensitivity to the fuel consumption characteristics of the traffic in the camera’s visual field. Traffic control use cases using reinforcement learning have been published and achieved good results. Surveys from DOE national laboratories estimate that the fuel cost of idling is 6 billion gallons wasted annually [Argonne National Laboratory, 2019]. GRIDSMART cameras—an existing, fielded commercial product—sense the presence of vehicles at intersections and replace more conventional sensors (such as inductive loops) to issue calls to traffic control. These cameras, which have horizon-to-horizon view, offer the potential for an improved view of the traffic environment which can be used to generate better control algorithms.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Coordinated Modeling of Electric Grid and Natural Gas Network Operations

Presentation based upon full report of a Colorado case study and coordination framework, which is available at https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy20osti/77096.pdf. JISEA analysts Brian Sergi, Omar Guerra, and Bri-Mathias Hodge will present on recent JISEA work on coordination between the natural gas and electricity sectors. Power and gas are becoming increasingly interdependent but weren't designed to function together. How does greater coordination impact system operations with different levels of solar and wind penetrations? This free JISEA presentation will take place in a Webinar on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 12 p.m.: Learn how greater coordination between the natural gas and electricity sectors impacts system operations with different levels of solar and wind penetrations. Presentation information includes: Historical and projected data for natural gas consumption and power generation in the United States as demonstrated by 2014 East Coast Polar Vortex, 2021 Texas Winter Storm Uri. Showing coupling points, FERC identified need for better coordination, different levels of coordination (decision making and optimization control), coordination framework. Case study on Colorado Front Range, ramping requirements and gas nominations, real-time dispatch (June and December scenarios), results of analysis of impacts of coordination on unserved load. Total real-time gas offtakes by node, impacts on unserved gas, effect on CO2 emissions. Discussions on clusions drawn from Colorado Case study expanded co-simulation via HELICS, objectives of the HELICS+ natural gas use case, modeling of hydrogen blending, techno economic assessment of blending, and blending impacts on energy content and pressure.

analysis↗

Agent-Supervisor Coordination for Decentralized Event-Triggered Optimization

This letter proposes decentralized resource-aware coordination schemes for solving network optimization problems defined by objective functions that combine locally evaluable costs with network-wide coupling components. These methods are well suited for a group of supervised agents trying to solve an optimization problem under mild coordination requirements. Each agent has information on its local cost and coordinates with the network supervisor for information about the coupling term of the cost. The proposed approach is feedback-based and asynchronous by design, guarantees anytime feasibility, and ensures the asymptotic convergence of the network state to the desired optimizer. Numerical simulations on a power system example illustrate our results.

decentralized algorithms↗

Literature Survey on Operational Voltage Control and Reactive Power Management on Transmission and Sub-Transmission Networks

Voltage and reactive power system control is generally performed following usual patterns of loads, based on off-line studies for daily and seasonal operations. This practice is currently challenged by the inclusion of distributed renewable generation, such as solar. There has been focus on resolving this problem at the distribution level; however, the transmission and sub-transmission levels have received less attention. This paper provides a literature review of proposed methods and solution approaches to coordinate and optimize voltage control and reactive power management, with an emphasis on applications at transmission and sub-transmission level. The conclusion drawn from the survey is that additional research is needed in the areas of optimizing switch shunt actions and coordinating all available resources to deal with uncertain patterns from increasing distributed renewable generation in the operational time frame. These topics are not deeply explored in the literature.

capacitors↗

Optimized Integration of Electric Vehicles in Low Voltage Distribution Grids

All over the world the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially in the transportation sector, becomes more and more important. Electric vehicles will be one of the key factors to mitigate GHG emissions due to their higher efficiency in contrast to internal combustion engine vehicles. On the other hand, uncoordinated charging will put more strain on electrical distribution grids and possible congestions in the grid become more likely. In this paper, we analyze the impact of uncoordinated charging, as well as optimization-based coordination strategies on the voltage stability and phase unbalances of a representative European semi-urban low voltage grid. Therefore, we model the low voltage grid as a three-phase system and take realistic arrival and departure times of the electric vehicle fleet into account. Subsequently, we compare different coordinated charging strategies with regard to their optimization objectives, e.g., cost reduction or GHG emissions reduction. Results show that possible congestion problems can be solved by coordinated charging. Additionally, depending on the objective, the costs can be reduced by more than 50% and the GHG emissions by around 40%.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Optimization of the generator coordinate method with machine-learning techniques for nuclear spectra and neutrinoless double- β decay: Ridge regression for nuclei with axial deformation

The generator coordinate method (GCM) is an important tool of choice for modeling large-amplitude collective motion in atomic nuclei. The computational complexity of the GCM increases rapidly with the number of collective coordinates. It imposes a strong restriction on the applicability of the method. In this work, we propose a subspace-reduction algorithm that employs optimal statistical ML models as surrogates for exact quantum-number projection calculations for norm and Hamiltonian kernels. The model space of the original GCM is reduced to a subspace relevant for nuclear low energy spectra and the NME of ground state to ground state 0νββ decay based on the orthogonality condition (OC) and the energy-transition-orthogonality procedure (ENTROP), respectively. For simplicity, the polynomial ridge regression (RR) algorithm is used to learn the norm and Hamiltonian kernels of axially deformed configurations. The efficiency and accuracy of this algorithm are illustrated for 76 Ge and 76 Se by comparing results obtained using the optimal RR models to direct GCM calculations. The low-lying energy spectra of 76 Ge and 76 Se, as well as the 0νββ-decay NME between their ground states, are computed. Furthermore, the results show that the performance of the GCM+OC/ENTROP+RR is more robust than that of the GCM+RR alone, and the former can reproduce the results of the original GCM calculation accurately with a significantly reduced computational cost.

59 ≤ A ≤ 89↗

Spherical fitting for oscilloscope film trace reading

This report describes a spherical fitting algorithm that can be used for estimating the oscilloscope film trace coordinates. This algorithm was adopted from a least square algebraic spherical fitting algorithm developed by the author earlier for photovoltaic velocimetry applications. Preliminary assessment suggests that the algorithm may be used for optimizing the coordinates manually digitized by the user, or may be used as an uncertainty estimator for the user’s film reading uncertainties.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Co-Simulation Model for Optimal Wind-Hydro Coordination Using Wind Farm Control Dynamics

The growing share of Variable Renewable Energy sources (VRES) in power systems presents challenges for regula- tors, grid operators and energy producers. The VRES’ operation has limited flexibility in their operations, as they are highly dependent on ambient environments. To address these challenges, decision-makers must consider multiple objectives, among these are revenue, power system services and mechanical load on wind turbines. Coordinated operation of power plants and different wind farm control strategies are examples of measures that can benefit these objectives. This study proposes a Multi-Objective Linear Programming (MOLP) model to simulate the optimum operation of wind and hydropower plants that share limited transmission capacity. Further, wind farm control dynamics are included to obtain realistic output power and accumulated damage. From this, a case study based on a relevant location in Norway is presented to analyze the improved effect of wind- hydro coordination and wind farm control in achieving the objectives of accumulated wind turbine damage and total revenue of the hybrid power system. In addition, the study considers the potential advantages of adding a variable-speed pump to the hydropower plant. The results demonstrate that by considering multiple objectives in the optimization, one may achieve better overall performance of the objectives. By utilizing the flexibility of hydro storage, the decision maker may adjust to obtain the most desired outcome. Moreover, the added flexibility of utilizing a pump for hydro storage shows great improvements for the combined revenue of the power plants and reduced curtailment of the wind farm. However, less impact is observed from using a variable speed pump compared to a fixed speed pump.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Thermodynamically Optimized Machine-Learned Reaction Coordinates for Hydrophobic Ligand Dissociation

Ligand unbinding is mediated by its free energy change, which has intertwined contributions from both energy and entropy. It is important, but not easy, to quantify their individual contributions to the free energy profile. We model hydrophobic ligand unbinding for two systems, a methane particle and a C 60 fullerene, both unbinding from hydrophobic pockets in all-atom water. Using a modified deep learning framework, we learn a thermodynamically optimized reaction coordinate to describe the hydrophobic ligand dissociation for both systems. Interpretation of these reaction coordinates reveals the roles of entropic and enthalpic forces as the ligand and pocket sizes change. In both cases, we observe that the free-energy barrier to unbinding is dominated by entropy considerations. Furthermore, the process of methane unbinding is driven by methane solvation, while fullerene unbinding is driven first by pocket wetting and then fullerene wetting. For both solutes, the direct importance of the distance from the binding pocket to the learned reaction coordinate is present, but low. Furthermore, our framework and subsequent feature important analysis thus give useful thermodynamic insight into hydrophobic ligand dissociation problems that are otherwise difficult to glean.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗