Standardization of TT&C Systems to Reduce Operations Cost - Case Study
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Standardization TT&C Systems Operations Cost↗
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Electric Utility Distribution Costs: Scoping Study on Trends, Drivers, and Possible Response Strategies [Slides]
This scoping study synthesizes information that will help stakeholders understand the scope, scale, and drivers of recent increases in investor-owned utility (IOU) expenditures on local distribution power grids, while providing regulators and other decision-makers with potential strategies to keep electricity bills down. The study includes five distinct components. Drawing first on data from FERC Form 1, it summarizes key trends in past and recent IOU distribution costs. Next, through a review of a sample of distribution-system plans, it characterizes material drivers of planned distribution expenditures. Ultimately, regulators must approve cost recovery for IOU expenditures, including those for the distribution system. The study therefore also: examines trends in utility requests and regulatory approvals related to changes in retail rates and return on equity; identifies areas where utility shareholder and customer incentives may be misaligned; and develops a menu of options that state regulators might consider to optimize distribution system expenditures. Some of the key findings include: - IOU distribution spending at a national level has grown by 6%/yr since 2014 in real dollar terms, 4x faster than in the prior 20 years and consisting mostly of capital (not operating) expenditure. - On a per-kWh basis, increases in IOU distribution costs since 2014 represent over 30% of the overall national-average increase in retail electricity rates. - Regional spending growth has ranged from 2-8%/yr, with larger estimated rate impacts in CAISO, then NYISO & ISO-NE, and then the Southeast, MISO & PJM (see figure). - Some utilities are planning for significantly increased distribution system spending. Planned spending on managing the existing system (asset replacement, safety & reliability, and resilience are all important drivers) exceeds that for capacity expansion. - IOU rate increase requests ($18 billion in 2025) and public utility commission (PUC) approval levels (average of 64% of requested amounts from 2021-2025) have recently hit multi-decadal highs. - PUCs in New England and the Southeast have recently approved a greater fraction of rate requests (>75%, on average) than in ther regions, while PUCs in California and the Southeast have generally authorized higher equity returns than in other regions. - Regulators have many tools to tackle potential misalignments between utility and customer interests and, more specifically, to optimize and reduce distribution costs. Shorter-term options include those related to return on equity, capital structure, depreciation, trackers, construction work in progress, and securitization. Longer-term options include performance-based regulation and a wide variety of planning-related requirements. All options embed important tradeoffs.
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
Low-Cost Handle Study for Photovoltaics on Transfer Printed Virtual Substrates
This work expands upon previous research related to transfer printed virtual substrates: a technique for generating low-cost engineered substrates that is not based on wafer reuse. Here, silicon and sapphire are evaluated as candidate low-cost handle materials, validated by metal organic chemical vapor deposition regrowth of GaAs single-junction solar cells. Resulting devices are studied via materials and electrical characterization techniques, including concentration measurements that indicate GaAs//sapphire TPVS open-circuit voltage at >10 suns comparable with identical devices grown on a prime GaAs substrate.
41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
Extensive cost reduction studies: Composite empennage component - L-1011 commercial airliner
A series of cover skin laminate studies was conducted. The baseline laminate design is composed of 34 plies with doublers interwoven. This is costly to produce, since the broad goods tape dispersing machine must stop frequently while the doubler plies are inserted by hand during the layup sequence. The use of graphite cloth was investigated for the cover skin. Attention is also given to low resin content prepreg, the selection of optimum tape width, an increase in gap/overlap tolerances, the use of large reusable vacuum bags with mechanical edge seals for production, an integrated laminating center machine, automated hat stiffener processing, a secondary bond assembly process, and a single-stage cure process.
Van Hamersveld, J.↗
Quality Guidelines for Energy System Studies: Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage Costs in NETL Studies
Transport, storage, and combined T&S costs are reported in this guideline as first-year break even (FYBE) costs in real 2023 dollars per metric ton (tonne) (2023$/tonne). These FYBE costs are from the perspective of a CO 2 pipeline project owner and/or a CO 2 saline storage project owner, and represent a minimum price the owner(s) can charge a CO 2 capture project owner over 30 operating years to transport and/or store a tonne of CO 2 and remain economically viable.
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
Earth Observatory Satellite system definition study. Report 3: Design cost trade-off studies and recommendations
An analysis of the design and cost tradeoff aspects of the Earth Observatory Satellite (EOS) development is presented. The design/cost factors that affect a series of mission/system level concepts are discussed. The subjects considered are as follows: (1) spacecraft subsystem cost tradeoffs, (2) ground system cost tradeoffs, and (3) program cost summary. Tables of data are provided to summarize the results of the analyses. Illustrations of the various spacecraft configurations are included.
Source record↗
NALNET book system: Cost benefit study
The goals of the NASA's library network system, NALNET, the functions of the current book system, the products and services of a book system required by NASA Center libraries, and the characteristics of a system that would best supply those products and services were assessed. Emphasis was placed on determining the most cost effective means of meeting NASA's requirements for an automated book system. Various operating modes were examined including the current STIMS file, the PUBFILE, developing software improvements for products as appropriate to the Center needs, and obtaining cataloging and products from the bibliographic utilities including at least OCLC, RLIN, BNA, and STIF. It is recommended that NALNET operate under the STIMS file mode and obtain cataloging and products from the bibliographic utilities. The recommendations are based on the premise that given the current state of the art in library automation it is not cost effective for NASA to maintain a full range of cataloging services on its own system. The bibliographic utilities can support higher quality systems with a greater range of services at a lower total cost.
Dewath, N. V.↗
Integral Airframe Structures (IAS): Validated Feasibility Study of Integrally Stiffened Metallic Fuselage Panels for Reducing Manufacturing Costs
The Integral Airframe Structures (IAS) program investigated the feasibility of using "integrally stiffened" construction for commercial transport fuselage structure. The objective of the program was to demonstrate structural performance and weight equal to current "built-up" structure with lower manufacturing cost. Testing evaluated mechanical properties, structural details, joint performance, repair, static compression, and two-bay crack residual strength panels. Alloys evaluated included 7050-T7451 plate, 7050-T74511 extrusion, 6013-T6511x extrusion, and 7475-T7351 plate. Structural performance was evaluated with a large 7475-T7351 pressure test that included the arrest of a two-bay longitudinal crack, and a measure of residual strength for a two-bay crack centered on a broken frame. Analysis predictions for the two-bay longitudinal crack panel correlated well with the test results. Analysis activity conducted by the IAS team strongly indicates that current analysis tools predict integral structural behavior as accurately as built-up structure. The cost study results indicated that, compared to built-up fabrication methods, high-speed machining structure from aluminum plate would yield a recurring cost savings of 61%. Part count dropped from 78 individual parts on a baseline panel to just 7 parts for machined IAS structure.
Munroe, J.↗
Assessing the New Home Market Opportunity: Case Study and Cost Modeling for Solar and Storage in 2030
In 2020, the United States had a cumulative 19 gigawatts (GWdc) of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity. A growing percentage of these solar installations are paired with battery storage, up from 0.1% in 2015 to 8.1% in 2020. Some states are considering or have already adopted policy mandates to require solar and storage systems. The cost of installing residential solar and battery storage projects remains a barrier to widespread adoption nationwide. For example, the cost of a typical residential retrofit solar and storage system ranges from $\$ 26,153$ to $\$ 37,909$, which is 38% to 100% higher than a standalone PV system.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Quality Guidelines for Energy System Studies - Capital Cost Scaling Methodology: Revision 4a Report
Costs are frequently required as part of systems analysis work at NETL. Many of the cost results provided as part of systems analysis work were created with the use of scaling, since obtaining new vendor-supplied cost quotes for each category developed by NETL would be prohibitively time consuming and costly. Additionally, many of the technologies being investigated by NETL have not progressed far enough to have quotable costs. The costs are scaled from a quote for a similar plant configuration by use of various equations that typically employ at least one process parameter (e.g., coal-feed rate, oxidant-feed rate) and often an exponent. The primary purpose of the exponent is to account for economies of scale (i.e., as equipment size gets larger, it gets progressively cheaper to add additional capacity). The purpose of this section of the QGESS report is to provide a standard basis for scaling costs, with specific emphasis on scaling exponents. The intention of having a standardized document is to provide guidelines for proper procedures to reduce the potential of errors and increase credibility through consistency.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Oil Stand-Alone and Co-Hydroprocessing Case Studies: Design, Cost, and Sustainability Based on Process Model Predictions
Refined liquid fuels provide conveniences for road, rail, air, and marine transportation due to high energy density, ease of transport and storage, and existing production and distribution infrastructure. Biomass conversion technologies can help diversify and increase the supply of liquid fuels towards a more robust energy future. The backbone of such development must include reliable, high-volume biomass supply chains and efficient utilization of those resources. These activities, if pursued, will lead to rural infrastructure development and new jobs.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Process Design and Techno-Economic Analysis of the Modular Staged Pressurized Oxy-Combustion (SPOC) Power Plant for Biomass
This work describes the process design and techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the modular SPOC power plant for biomass firing and coal-biomass co-firing. Two Rankine cycles were considered: a supercritical steam cycle (242 bar, 593°C, 593°C) with 550 MWe net output and a subcritical cycle (166 bar, 566°C, 566°C) with 200 MWe net output. For both cases, 95% carbon capture was modeled, and hybrid poplar biomass was chosen to generate carbon-negative power. In addition, the supercritical 500 MWe case included a 25% biomass co-firing (carbon neutral) case. For both cycles, a 100% Powder River Basin coal firing case was used for comparison purposes. In the SPOC process, oxygen is produced via a cryogenic air separation unit (ASU) and the heat generated from the compression of air is integrated into the steam cycle and utilized for boiler feed water pre-heating. Unique to the SPOC process, the boilers are pressurized and arranged in a series-parallel configuration, with minimized flue gas recirculation. The flue gas is cooled and scrubbed in the direct-contact cooler (DCC) column, and the moisture in the flue gas is condensed, leaving the bottom of the DCC at a sufficiently high temperature such that it can be used for boiler feed water pre-heating, improving plant thermal efficiency. Following drying and purification, CO2 in the flue gas is at the purity required for storage or utilization. The performance data were obtained from process modelling via Aspen Plus®. The stream data from Aspen Plus® were used as an input for the AACE Class 5 cost study. Ultimately, the capital costs, Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), and cost of CO2 captured and avoided were obtained. The HHV efficiency of the carbon negative 550 MWe supercritical SPOC case (34.8%) was clearly above those reported by NETL for the BECCS baseline cases of supercritical pulverized coal with capture (B12B, 31.5%) and the 49% biomass co-firing case with capture (PA3, 29.2%). The HHV efficiency of the carbon-negative subcritical plant is also higher than the subcritical baseline PC plant with capture (case B11B.95) presented by NETL (32% vs 29.7%). The LCOE for the SPOC 100% biomass case was similar to the LCOE for the BECCS 49% biomass with carbon capture case ($147/MWh), and the SPOC carbon neutral case LCOE was lower ($110/MWh) than the cost for the NETL baseline SC coal firing case with 90% carbon capture ($114/MWh).
Magalhaes, Duarte↗
Methods for studying energy costs and energy flow during human locomotion.
Energy costs and flow during human locomotion at varied speeds and slopes on treadmill
Lukin, L.↗
The study of cost estimations and economic analyses of rocket motors and rocket motor systems /cost estimation for sounding rocket designs/ Final report
Cost estimates and feasibility of compression molded plastic motor cases and nozzles for solid rockets
Martin, P. J.↗
Cost benefit study of advanced materials technology for aircraft turbine engines
The cost/benefits of eight advanced materials technologies were evaluated for two aircraft missions. The overall study was based on a time frame of commercial engine use of the advanced material technologies by 1985. The material technologies evaluated were eutectic turbine blades, titanium aluminide components, ceramic vanes, shrouds and combustor liners, tungsten composite FeCrAly blades, gamma prime oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloy blades, and no coat ODS alloy combustor liners. They were evaluated in two conventional takeoff and landing missions, one transcontinental and one intercontinental.
Hillery, R. V.↗
Experiment results session: Economic evaluation; concepts, selected studies, system cost, and a proposed program
There are no author-identified significant results in this report.
Osterhoudt, F.↗
Reusable Reentry Satellite (RRS) system design study: System cost estimates document
The Reusable Reentry Satellite (RRS) program was initiated to provide life science investigators relatively inexpensive, frequent access to space for extended periods of time with eventual satellite recovery on earth. The RRS will provide an on-orbit laboratory for research on biological and material processes, be launched from a number of expendable launch vehicles, and operate in Low-Altitude Earth Orbit (LEO) as a free-flying unmanned laboratory. SAIC's design will provide independent atmospheric reentry and soft landing in the continental U.S., orbit for a maximum of 60 days, and will sustain three flights per year for 10 years. The Reusable Reentry Vehicle (RRV) will be 3-axis stabilized with artificial gravity up to 1.5g's, be rugged and easily maintainable, and have a modular design to accommodate a satellite bus and separate modular payloads (e.g., rodent module, general biological module, ESA microgravity botany facility, general botany module). The purpose of this System Cost Estimate Document is to provide a Life Cycle Cost Estimate (LCCE) for a NASA RRS Program using SAIC's RRS design. The estimate includes development, procurement, and 10 years of operations and support (O&S) costs for NASA's RRS program. The estimate does not include costs for other agencies which may track or interface with the RRS program (e.g., Air Force tracking agencies or individual RRS experimenters involved with special payload modules (PM's)). The life cycle cost estimate extends over the 10 year operation and support period FY99-2008.
Source record↗
An Exploratory Study of Cost Engineering in Axiomatic Design: Creation of the Cost Model Based on an FR-DP Map
Large complex projects cost large sums of money throughout their life cycle for a variety of reasons and causes. For such large programs, the credible estimation of the project cost, a quick assessment of the cost of making changes, and the management of the project budget with effective cost reduction determine the viability of the project. Cost engineering that deals with these issues requires a rigorous method and systematic processes. This paper introduces a logical framework to a&e effective cost engineering. The framework is built upon Axiomatic Design process. The structure in the Axiomatic Design process provides a good foundation to closely tie engineering design and cost information together. The cost framework presented in this paper is a systematic link between the functional domain (FRs), physical domain (DPs), cost domain (CUs), and a task/process-based model. The FR-DP map relates a system s functional requirements to design solutions across all levels and branches of the decomposition hierarchy. DPs are mapped into CUs, which provides a means to estimate the cost of design solutions - DPs - from the cost of the physical entities in the system - CUs. The task/process model describes the iterative process ot-developing each of the CUs, and is used to estimate the cost of CUs. By linking the four domains, this framework provides a superior traceability from requirements to cost information.
Lee, Taesik↗