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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Solar energy system performance evaluation: Seasonal report for Contemporary Newman, Newman, Georgia

A hot solar heating and hot water system's operational performance from June 1979 through April 1980 is evaluated. Solar energy satisfied 42 percent of the total measure load (hot water plus space heating), which was somewhat higher than the solar fraction of 32 percent. When system losses into the heating space from duct leaks and storage are included, the heating solar fraction increases from 42 to 64 percent. Net electrical energy savings were 5.47 million BTUs.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1980

Solar energy system performance evaluation. Seasonal report for Wormser, Columbia, South Carolina

The Wormser Solar Energy System's operational performance from April 1979 through March 1980 was evaluated. The space heating subsystem met 42 percent of the measured space heating load and the hot water subsystem met 23 percent of the measured hot water demand. Net electrical energy savings were 4.36 million Btu's or 1277 kwh. Fossil energy savings will increase considerably if the uncontrolled solar energy input to the building is considered.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2022

Energy Saver: Tips on Saving Money and Energy in Your Home

The Energy Saver guide offers tips to consumers and homeowners for saving money and energy at home and on the road. By following just a few of the simple tips in the Energy Saver guide, consumers can make their homes more comfortable and easier to heat and cool--while saving money. The guide provides the latest tips on energy-saving, efficient technologies and for using clean, renewable energy at home.

consumers↗
DOE OSTI2024

Performance evaluation of underground thermal storage integrated dual-source heat pump systems

The increasing demand for electricity stresses the existing electric grids. Buildings consume 73% of all U.S. electricity and are responsible for 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating thermal energy storage (TES) in building heating/cooling systems, which consume considerable electricity, can mitigate the challenges to electric grids. Here, this study reports on a novel thermal energy storage device integrated heat pump system to reshape the building electricity demand profile while maintaining thermal comfort. The annual performance of the proposed system has been evaluated through a dynamic system simulation with high fidelity in the Modelica platform. The dynamic model of the novel hybrid component named ‘dual purpose underground thermal battery’ was developed and validated. It was then incorporated into the system model. Given a time-of-use tariff, a rule-based control strategy was designed to shift the electric demand and switch the heat pump source for a typical single-family house in different climate zones of the United States. The system performance of the new TES-integrated dual-source heat pump was compared with that of a conventional air-source heat pump system. The results indicate that the proposed system can reduce the annual HVAC electricity cost by up to 52% while saving 45.2% on electricity consumption. In the Northern areas, the annual peak load of the HVAC system can be reduced by 64.9%. However, this reduction is less in the Southern areas as the system’s higher efficiency in winter dominates the overall energy-saving potential.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Human-in-the-Loop Motion Control of a Two-DOF Hydraulic Backhoe Powered by the Hybrid Hydraulic Electric Architecture (HHEA)

Abstract The Hybrid Hydraulic-Electric Architecture (HHEA) combines the respective power density and control advantages of hydraulic and electric actuation to save energy for off-road vehicles. It uses a set of selectable common pressure rails to transmit the majority of power and electric actuation to modulate that power. As it is critical that off-road vehicles can perform tasks dexterously and exactly as commanded by the operator, the switchings between discrete pressure rails pose a potential challenge for smooth and precise motion. A control strategy consisting of a backstepping nominal control and least norm transition control has previously been developed to address this issue. It has been tested on 1 degree of freedom (DOF) testbeds where known trajectories were able to be tracked precisely. This paper presents the implementation of the HHEA motion control strategy on a 2-DOF backhoe operated by a human operator via a 2-DOF joystick. Unlike previous studies, the duty cycle is unknown beforehand and the decision to change pressure rails is taken in real-time. The efficacy of the motion control strategy has been validated experimentally. Several strategies to improve the user interface: control in workspace coordinates, pressure feedback, and velocity field-based task specification, have also been implemented and demonstrated to make operating the multiple DOF, HHEA actuated machine more intuitive to novice operators.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bishop Paiute's Residential Solar Program Phase III

The project consisted of the design, installation, inspection, interconnection and monitoring of 40 grid-tied solar electric systems, totaling up to 108 kW rated capacity, on qualified existing low-income single-family homes located within the Bishop Paiute Reservation. The systems are to provide at least 30-75% savings in displaced electricity totaling 175,000 kWh/year. After the DOE grant contract was signed, the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO) board voted to reduce the tribal tax to work on the reservation for these low-income projects from 4% to 1%. This generous reduction was applied back into the community solar project and two additional tribal homes were added for a new total of 40 grid-tied solar electric systems, totaling up to 113 kW rated capacity (two more than originally planned) projects. Additionally, each homeowner was educated on energy efficiency and how solar works and saves them money. The estimated 75% savings on monthly electric bills brings financial relief to tribal homeowners and makes a significant difference on the reservation; giving low-income families money to spend on other essential items, while reducing their carbon footprint in this remote tribal reservation. The GRID IE program and this tribal project had a training component for tribal members to get free hands-on job training on 8 of the 40 homes. Those tribal members that came out to train with GRID IE could then be eligible for the “train to hire” portion of the program, on the remaining 32 homes. Overall, the triple impact of the Bishop Paiute Tribe Residential Solar Program Phase III—affordable energy for low-income families, on-site clean energy production, and hands-on solar installation jobs for local workers—these all help build the Tribe’s energy, economic, environmental goals and offers local self-sufficiency while supporting energy independence to the neediest on the Reservation.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Port of New York and New Jersey Drayage Electrification Analysis

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluated the potential for drayage electrification in the Port of New York and New Jersey (PoNYNJ), with a focus on operators: Harbor Freight Transport (HF), Safeway Trucking (SWT), and International Motor Freight Inc (IMF). This report summarizes the data collection and electrification evaluation of all three drayage operators, includes detailed operational data, and identifies the performance requirements for battery electric tractors (BETs) and corresponding infrastructure operated within the context of PoNYNJ drayage operation. This report also details a methodology to evaluate opportunities, strategies, and challenges associated with future expansions of BETs in meeting PANYNJ emissions goals. The Port Authority has established a goal of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 across all facilities, including from tenant and stakeholder sources such as drayage trucks. NREL used real-world performance data collected on the three PoNYNJ drayage operations, along with modeling and analysis tools to compare BET to diesel trucks. From March to July 2021, NREL collected 1Hz vehicle and engine data from 46 drayage trucks at the three operators totaling nearly 121,000 miles of operation, providing enough information to assess vehicle operations for electrification potential. A Future Automotive Systems Technology Simulator (FASTSim) electric truck powertrain model was validated using PoNYNJ data and scenarios were run to evaluate drayage truck electrification requirements over the real-world cycles. The first scenario examined BET viability with minimal changes to existing operations. This assumes the trucks charge when stopped for two hours or longer, have a functional battery size of 375 kWh, and can charge at 270 kilowatts (kW) average which are the specification of the commercially available Freightliner eCascadia. The second scenario looked at what operational, charging infrastructure, and BET technology changes would be needed to fully electrify. Finally, detailed analysis was run on charging rate structure to understand operational costs to the fleets. The studied drayage trucks averaged 5.1 MPG, spent roughly 9% of their energy at idle, and drove an average of 140 miles per day with a maximum daily distance of 573 miles. The FASTSim model results indicate a comparable BET would use 417 kWh of energy per day on average accounting for cargo weight, which is close to the full usable capacity of the eCascadia currently available on the market. Based on the daily average operating data, partial fleet electrification is possible with current technology. However, some specific days of operation would require over 1,600 kWh of energy due to longer distances traveled by the trucks and more intense operation. Trucks used for long distance and intense operation cannot be readily electrified with current technology without operational changes. Full adoption of BETs could reduce CO 2 emissions from these fleets by roughly 75% today, eliminating 76 metric tons of CO 2 (MTCO 2 ) per vehicle each year, which equates to 24,100 MTCO 2 per year for all three operators. Commercially available direct current fast chargers (DCFC) have charge rates up to 350 kW. Based on the average daily modeled energy use for each operator, current industrial rate structures, and the assumption of 350 kW peak charging, full drayage electrification would increase electricity consumption. In addition, peak demand usage would increase with unmanaged charging along with cost of electricity having a direct impact on cost per mile for electric vehicles. The resulting cost per mile for BETs along with comparable cost per mile for conventional diesel trucks are also examined at $\$$4.00 per gallon of diesel. It will be important for PANYNJ and the drayage operators within the PoNYNJ to consider these load impacts to their existing electrical infrastructure and devise operational strategies that avoid coincident charging of vehicles to mitigate demand charges. Despite these electricity cost increases, savings from reductions in diesel consumption will help offset the costs of this increased electricity consumption. However, prices of both electricity and diesel are subject to change based on various factors meaning the realized savings will vary over time. This shows BETs could be cost-competitive on an energy cost per mile basis for all scenarios while diesel is above $\$$3.00/gal. Further, if diesel prices dropped to the 15-year low of $2.33/gal, it would still be cost competitive to operate the EVs with electricity costs of 16.3 ¢/kWh or less.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1993

An analytical optimization of electric propulsion orbit transfer vehicles

Due to the electric propulsion's inherent propellant mass savings over chemical propulsion, electric propulsion orbit transfer vehicles (EPOTV's) are highly efficient mode of orbit transfer. When selecting an electric propulsion device (ion, MPD, or arcjet) and propellant for a particular mission, it is preferable to use quick, analytical system optimization methods instead of time intensive numerical integration methods. It is also of interest to determine each thruster's optimal operating characteristics for a specific mission. Analytical expressions are derived which determine the optimal specific impulse (Isp) for each type of electric thruster to maximize payload fraction for a desired thrusting time. These expressions take into account the variation of thruster efficiency with specific impulse. Verification of the method is made with representative electric propulsion values on a LEO-to-GEO mission. Application of the method to specific missions is discussed.

Oleson, Steven R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A new direction in energy conversion - The all-electric aircraft

This paper reviews recent studies of all-electric aircraft that use electric-only secondary power and flight critical fly-by-wire flight controls, and brings to the attention of the power system designer the intrinsic advantages of such aircraft. The all-electric aircraft is made possible by the development of rare earth magnet materials and fault tolerant systems technologies. Recent studies have shown all-electric aircraft to be more efficient than conventional designs and offer substantial operating costs reductions. Compared to present aircraft, an all-electric transport can save at least 10 percent in fuel burn. The cornerstone of an all-electric aircraft is the electric secondary power system. This paper reviews the major features of flight critical electric secondary power systems. Research required to lay the foundation for an all-electric aircraft is briefly discussed.

Spitzer, C. R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Peak Demand Savings from Efficiency: Opportunities and Practices [Slides]

Electricity systems are designed to meet peak demand - the maximum load during a specified period, typically in summer - even if that demand occurs only a few hours in a year. Yet most evaluations of electricity efficiency programs focus on reductions in annual energy use. However, these efficiency programs are also delivering peak demand savings at an affordable cost. A new study by the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) explores the program administrator (PA) cost - or the cost to implement an energy efficiency program to a utility or third party administrator - of saving peak demand through efficiency programs for electric utility customers. Berkeley Lab collected data on costs, annual energy savings, and peak demand savings for electricity efficiency programs for 52 utilities and other program administrators in 15 states between 2014 and 2018. The analysis focused on eight program types that represent 68% of the peak demand savings for the utilities and program administrators studied. The findings improve our understanding of which energy efficiency programs produce the most peak demand savings and their cost performance.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

Comparative study on the overall energy performance between photovoltaic and Low-E insulated glass units

In this report a novel semi-transparent building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) laminate was developed and introduced in this paper. It was produced by cutting standard mono-crystalline silicon solar cells into small strips and then making electrical connections between each strip before laminating the cells between two layers of glass. The overall energy performance and energy saving potential of the BIPV insulated glass unit (IGU) under real world conditions were identified through a side by side comparative study. Compared to the reference IGU, the BIPV IGU had lower solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) but much higher U-factor. The average HVAC electricity saving of the BIPV IGU was about 10% relative to the reference IGU. Daylighting measurement and analysis were carried out to evaluate the trade-offs associated with the BIPV IGU between daylight, glare, and lighting energy use. The results indicated that the BIPV IGU is better than the reference IGU in reducing discomfort glare. However, if the most conservative viewpoint near the window is used for the assessment, a lower transmittance BIPV IGU is required to bring the overall discomfort levels below the perceptible level. Lastly, the net energy saving potential associated with the novel BIPV IGU was identified based on the power, thermal and daylighting performance. On average, the BIPV IGU saved 16.8% of the total electricity use of the room. Further studies and improvement on the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells, the optimal transmittance as well as the thermal properties would make this technology more energy-efficient and affordable.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Impacts of Electric Space Heating in Multifamily Apartments in Juneau, Alaska [Slides]

The study objective was to understand the change in electrical consumption and cost after the addition of a ductless mini-split air-source heat pump (ASHP) across rental apartments heated by electrical resistance heating systems in multifamily buildings in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska Electric Light and Power Company (AELP), the utility in Juneau, Alaska, funded installation of 19 heat pumps across four buildings. Using electrical meter interval data, including the total apartment consumption and submeter data for each heating appliance (electric resistance baseboard and heat pump), the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) calculated energy use metrics before and after heat pump installation and visualized results. Through this research, NLR compares electrical use (total and specific to heating appliances), adjusted for weather and apartment size, and electrical demand in the year before and after installation of an ASHP across study units. The results will inform the utility and residents of documented energy and cost savings from transitioning building heating systems to a higher-efficiency electricity-based appliance, deliver a basis for building energy modeling across other multifamily housing dwellings, and enable estimates of potential electricity savings to AELP grid under widespread adoption scenarios.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

Tribal Renewable Energy: Bishop Paiute Tribe, Residential Solar Program Phase II (Final Report)

The project consisted of the design, installation, inspection, and interconnection of 35 grid-tied, solar electric systems, totaled 123 kW rated capacity, on qualified existing low-income single-family homes located within the Bishop Paiute Reservation, which provide at least 65-79% savings in displaced electricity. Tribal job trainees were hired for each installation, gaining valuable job experience. Additionally, each homeowner was educated on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The overall project goal was to deploy clean energy systems in order to achieve the Bishop Paiute Tribe’s long-term goals of energy self-sufficiency, environmental protection, and better lives for our Tribal members and community. The energy displaced was 82.4 percent of total electricity used (exceeding estimated 65-79%)or over 170,000 kWh/year generating approximately $1.29 million worth of power for low-income families over their lifespans, while eliminating an estimated 2,640 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction makes a significant difference on the reservation giving more families money to spend on other essential items, while reducing their carbon footprint in this beautiful mountain community. Also, implementing these 35 systems provided a approximately 132 hours of paid solar installation work for tribal members. Training and good paying jobs are scarce on the reservation and solar is the fastest growing industry in CA and this training offered our members a real chance to learn and then get paid. The program is very significant to the family who qualified, as most families fall below the federal poverty guidelines, and many are living paycheck to paycheck. Overall, the triple impact of the Bishop Paiute Tribe Residential Solar Program Phase II— affordable energy for low-income families, on-site clean energy production, and hands-on solar installation jobs for local workers—these all help build the Tribe’s energy, economic, environmental, and social self-sufficiency and sovereignty amongst the most needy on the Reservation

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1980

Energy potential and early operational experience for large wind turbines

Projections for the total potential output of large wind turbines in the U.S. are reviewed. NASA has developed nine large windpowered generators, of 100 kW, 200 kW, 2 MW, and 2.5 MW capacities, with rotors 100-300 ft in diameter, and all with horizontal axes. Approximately 214,000 sq miles of the U.S. have been determined as having substantial wind regimes and terrain suitable for large wind turbine siting. This translates into 340,000 Mod 2 (2.5 MW) wind turbines producing 4.9 quads of electricity annually, equivalent to saving 2.5 billion barrels of oil/yr. The cost of electricity is seen as the critical factor in utility acceptance of large wind turbines, and the Mod 2 machines are noted to achieve the 2-4 cents/kWh (1977 dollars) COE which is necessary. Problems such as pollution, including visual, auditory, EM, and land use difficulties are considered, and solutions are indicated.

Robbins, W. H.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Voices from Rural Electric Cooperatives: A Call for a DER Integration Playbook for Rural and Agricultural Income & Savings from Renewable Energy (RAISE)

Rural-serving electric utilities (RSEUs)—including electric cooperatives, municipal systems, and small investor-owned utilities—are essential players in the evolving energy landscape. These community-focused entities are increasingly being asked to consider distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop and ground-mounted solar, wind, battery storage, smart water heaters, and demand response programs (NRECA 2025; Lenhart et al. 2020). Yet the path to DER adoption is far from straightforward in the rural context. This report is based on in-depth interviews with managers of rural electric cooperatives across the United States. These conversations offer a grounded, unvarnished look at how DERs are perceived, what barriers exist, and what conditions might enable integration and adoption. While the utilities interviewed vary in geography, size, and DER experience, several clear and common themes emerged across electric cooperatives such that the report recommends the development of a DER Integration Runbook to help utilities assess readiness, define local use cases, engage stakeholders, pilot projects, and iterate, expanding over time.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
NASA NTRS2015

Spinoff 2015

Topics covered include: 3D Endoscope to Boost Safety, Cut Cost of Surgery; Audio App Brings a Better Night's Sleep Liquid Cooling Technology Increases Exercise Efficiency; Algae-Derived Dietary Ingredients Nourish Animals; Space Grant Research Launches Rehabilitation Chair; Vision Trainer Teaches Focusing Techniques at Home; Aircraft Geared Architecture Reduces Fuel Cost and Noise; Ubiquitous Supercritical Wing Design Cuts Billions in Fuel Costs; Flight Controller Software Protects Lightweight Flexible Aircraft; Cabin Pressure Monitors Notify Pilots to Save Lives; Ionospheric Mapping Software Ensures Accuracy of Pilots' GPS; Water Mapping Technology Rebuilds Lives in Arid Regions; Shock Absorbers Save Structures and Lives during Earthquakes; Software Facilitates Sharing of Water Quality Data Worldwide; Underwater Adhesives Retrofit Pipelines with Advanced Sensors; Laser Imaging Video Camera Sees through Fire, Fog, Smoke; 3D Lasers Increase Efficiency, Safety of Moving Machines; Air Revitalization System Enables Excursions to the Stratosphere; Magnetic Fluids Deliver Better Speaker Sound Quality; Bioreactor Yields Extracts for Skin Cream; Private Astronaut Training Prepares Commercial Crews of Tomorrow; Activity Monitors Help Users Get Optimum Sun Exposure; LEDs Illuminate Bulbs for Better Sleep, Wake Cycles; Charged Particles Kill Pathogens and Round Up Dust; Balance Devices Train Golfers for a Consistent Swing; Landsat Imagery Enables Global Studies of Surface Trends; Ruggedized Spectrometers Are Built for Tough Jobs; Gas Conversion Systems Reclaim Fuel for Industry; Remote Sensing Technologies Mitigate Drought; Satellite Data Inform Forecasts of Crop Growth; Probes Measure Gases for Environmental Research; Cloud Computing Technologies Facilitate Earth Research; Software Cuts Homebuilding Costs, Increases Energy Efficiency; Portable Planetariums Teach Science; Schedule Analysis Software Saves Time for Project Planners; Sound Modeling Simplifies Vehicle Noise Management; Custom 3D Printers Revolutionize Space Supply Chain; Improved Calibration Shows Images' True Colors; Micromachined Parts Advance Medicine, Astrophysics, and More; Metalworking Techniques Unlock a Unique Alloy; Low-Cost Sensors Deliver Nanometer-Accurate Measurements; Electrical Monitoring Devices Save on Time and Cost; Dry Lubricant Smooths the Way for Space Travel, Industry; and Compact Vapor Chamber Cools Critical Components.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modeled Retrofit Package Performance for Schools

This report details modeled energy performance and savings from retrofit packages in prototypical school buildings in climate zones throughout the U.S. The information herein serves as a reference for elementary and secondary schools interested in implementing retrofit packages in their facilities for energy savings as well as health and safety benefits. School models developed for simulating package performance differentiated between rural and urban environments. Simulations were run for 10 distinct climate zones covering a range of climate conditions throughout the U.S. Results include savings estimates for electricity, natural gas, CO 2 emissions, and annual utility costs for nine different retrofit packages that combine energy conservation measures, including HVAC controls and equipment upgrades, lighting efficiency upgrades, and electrification technologies such as heat pumps for space conditioning and domestic hot water. Nine additional retrofit packages were also developed for elementary schools and modeled in two climate zones. Appendix B describes the additional retrofit packages and presents savings estimates.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS1981

Integrated propulsion for near-Earth space missions. Volume 1: Executive summary

Tradeoffs between electric propulsion system mass ratio and transfer time from LEO to GEO were conducted parametrically for various thruster efficiency, specific impulse, and other propulsion parameters. A computer model was developed for performing orbit transfer calculations which included the effects of aerodynamic drag, radiation degradation, and occultation. The tradeoff results showed that thruster technology areas for integrated propulsion should be directed towards improving primary thruster efficiency in the range from 1500 to 2500 seconds, and be continued towards reducing specific mass. Comparison of auxiliary propulsion systems showed large total propellant mass savings with integrated electric auxiliary propulsion. Stationkeeping is the most demanding on orbit propulsion requirement. At area densities above 0.5 sq m/kg, East-West stationkeeping requirements from solar pressure exceed North-South stationkeeping requirements from gravitational forces. A solar array pointing strategy was developed to minimize the effects of atmospheric drag at low altitude, enabling electric propulsion to initiate orbit transfer at Shuttle's maximum cargo carrying altitude. Gravity gradient torques are used during ascent to sustain the spacecraft roll motion required for optimum solar array illumination. A near optimum cover glass thickness of 6 mils was established for LEO to GEO transfer.

Dailey, C. L.↗