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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
DOE OSTI2023

Grid Forming Fast Frequency Response for PMSG-Based Wind Turbines

Electric power systems are undergoing a rapid transition from fuel-based generation using synchronous generators to renewable generation interfaced by power electronics. In this context, a key challenge is using renewable generation with limited controllability to contribute to power system stability. In this work, we investigate grid-forming control of permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind turbines. The proposed control and curtailment strategy supports the entire spectrum of standard functions of grid-following (e.g. maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and grid-forming control (e.g., primary frequency control) without explicit mode switching. A detailed case study is used to compare the performance of the proposed control at operating points corresponding to MPPT and frequency control with standard grid-forming and grid-following controls. Further, the results demonstrate that (i) the proposed energy balancing grid forming control is self-synchronizing in MPPT mode, (ii) the (limited) energy storage and controllability of wind turbines can be adequately utilized to provide grid support, and (ii) the proposed control exhibits good performance under variable wind speeds and does not result in a significant increase of wind turbine fatigue loads.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Review on Protection Challenges on Transmission Lines Connected to Inverter Based Resources

The increased penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) connected to transmission grids is challenging how traditional electric power systems operate. Such systems were originally designed based on the dominant presence of synchronous generators. Some main challenges include the increased concerns about system stability due to the reduced system inertia caused by IBRs and the reduced protection reliability caused by the non-deterministic fault current response of IBRs. The protection relays’ algorithms have been designed and validated based on well-known fault current characteristics of synchronous generations, while the short-circuit responses of IBRs heavily depend on their vendor-specific control schemes, which are mainly set to protect inverter semiconductor switches and DC components. The magnitude of short current that IBRs contribute is typically between 1.1–1.5 times the rated current that may behave unstably and incoherently with the voltages. The control scheme of the IBRs also controls the active (P) and reactive (Q) support during system voltage sag and swell conditions. These characteristics challenge not only protective relay schemes but also existing short-circuit software tools to correctly model IBRs for fault studies and protection coordination analyses. Utilities, university researchers, research institutes, and relay manufacturers have performed studies to investigate different aspects of high IBR penetration. Almost all studies support 1) creating international and national standards to regulate the IBRs, 2) revising engineering tools to address shortcomings, and 3) adjusting the protective relay settings to resolve protection problems. This paper summarizes the studies and research conducted in recent years to quantify the impact of IBR penetration on transmission line protection and to identify potential solutions to improve the dependability and reliability of grid protection systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

A review on protection challenges of Transmission Lines connected to Inverter Based Resources

The increased penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) connected to transmission grids is challenging how traditional electric power systems operate. Such systems were originally designed based on the dominant presence of synchronous generators. Some main challenges include the increased concerns about system stability due to the reduced system inertia caused by IBRs and the reduced protection reliability caused by the non-deterministic fault current response of IBRs. The protection relays’ algorithms have been designed and validated based on well-known fault current characteristics of synchronous generations, while the short-circuit responses of IBRs heavily depend on their vendor-specific control schemes, which are mainly set to protect inverter semiconductor switches and DC components. The magnitude of short current that IBRs contribute is typically between 1.1–1.5 times the rated current that may behave unstably and incoherently with the voltages. The control scheme of the IBRs also controls the active (P) and reactive (Q) support during system voltage sag and swell conditions. These characteristics challenge not only protective relay schemes but also existing short-circuit software tools to correctly model IBRs for fault studies and protection coordination analyses.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Review on Protection Challenges of Transmission Lines Connected to Inverter-Based Resources

The increased penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) connected to transmission grids is challenging how traditional electric power systems operate. Such systems were originally designed based on the dominant presence of synchronous generators. Some main challenges include the increased concerns about system stability due to the reduced system inertia caused by IBRs and the reduced protection reliability caused by the non-deterministic fault current response of IBRs. The protection relays’ algorithms have been designed and validated based on well-known fault current characteristics of synchronous generations, while the short-circuit responses of IBRs heavily depend on their vendor-specific control schemes, which are mainly set to protect inverter semiconductor switches and DC components. The magnitude of short current that IBRs contribute is typically between 1.1–1.5 times the rated current that may behave unstably and incoherently with the voltages. The control scheme of the IBRs also controls the active (P) and reactive (Q) support during system voltage sag and swell conditions. These characteristics challenge not only protective relay schemes but also existing short-circuit software tools to correctly model IBRs for fault studies and protection coordination analyses

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Role of Protons and Hydrides in the Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Guaiacol at the Ruthenium Nanoparticle-water Interface

The mechanistic roles of free hydronium ions, surface hydrides, and interfacial protons during guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) on ruthenium nanoparticles are established. As guaiacol adsorbs on Ru, it loses its strong aromaticity and undergoes a rapid H-shift from its hydroxyl to meta carbons (in relation to its hydroxyl group), leading enol and keto surface isomers to exist in chemical equilibrium. HDO occurs via a hydridic H-adatom (H*) attack to the enol, followed by a kinetically relevant C-O bond rupture step, during which water shuttles the hydroxyl proton, enabling its intramolecular attack to the methoxy, evolving a high charged [Ru(s)-(C6H5O-)…(H+)…OCH3]† transition state. The competing HYD begins with a rapid H* attack to the keto, before a second, kinetically relevant H* attack, without proton involvement. Water, despite shifting the thermodynamics towards the more polar surface keto, promotes HDO to a much greater extent than HYD, because of its dual catalytic roles—it mobilizes hydroxyl proton (Brønsted acid) to cleave the strong C-O bond, synchronizing with the Ru metal surface (base) function that stabilizes the resulting [Ru(s)-(C6H5O-)…(H+)…OCH3]† transition state, and the water layers solvate this charged transition state, further reducing its free energy. Free hydronium ions do catalyze a separate homogeneous enol-keto isomerization, but this reaction is kinetically unrelated to HDO catalysis. This mechanistic picture explains the strong effects of polar protic solvent in hydrodeoxygenation, highlighting (i) the requirements of surface hydrides and interfacial protons acting in tandem to complete a HDO turnover and (ii) the cooperative role of protic solvent and metal surface in breaking the aromaticity and stabilizing charged reactive precursors and transition states.

Shangguan, Junnan↗
DOE OSTI2026

Anticipating decoherence in quantum systems

Large-scale quantum technologies require coherence across distant nodes, necessitating indistinguishable quantum states. However, environmental disorder, including dephasing, spectral diffusion, and spin-bath interactions, undermines coherence. Using statistical methods, we uncover correlations in decoherence channels induced by slowly varying environments. Spectral diffusion serves as a representative demonstration case that can be extended to other remote, disordered systems such as spins in nitrogen-vacancy centers and quantum-dot spin qubits, as well as flux noise in superconducting qubits. In this work, we employ replica-theory-inspired trajectory analysis to reveal predictable temporal structures in decoherence dynamics, and validate these through an anticipatory systems framework with internal prediction of unseen spectral dynamics in multiple quantum systems, showing that this framework could, if implemented, reduce spectral shift by average factors of approximately 2 to 19, depending on emitter stability, thereby enabling enhanced coherence and multi-node synchronization for scalable quantum communication, computation, imaging, and sensing.

Maan, Pranshu [Purdue University]↗
DOE OSTI2022

Small-Signal Stability Support from Dynamically Configurable Grid-Forming/Following Inverters for Distribution Systems: Preprint

As the penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) continues to increase in modern power systems, system stability is challenged by the insufficient inertia induced by IBRs; hence, there is a need to develop various methods to address the potential instabilities. In this paper, grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) controls are implemented for inverters with flexible-mode transitions between them. The operation mode transition between GFM and GFL controls is adopted as an additional degree of control flexibility to adjust the small signal stability margin. Further, a holistic and detailed small signal model of the entire system with the dynamics from both synchronous generators (SGs) and IBRs is derived. The effectiveness of the proposed work in adjusting the system small signal stability margin is validated by conducting case studies with varying penetration levels of IBRs. A test system with one SG and five inverters was implemented in MATLAB/Simulink to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Index Terms - grid-following control, grid-forming control, operation mode transition, small-signal stability analysis

grid-following control↗
DOE OSTI2025

Consensus-Based Control and Optimization of Power System Inertia

The integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar, wind, and energy storage systems, into power grids through inverter-based resources reduces power system inertia, leading to faster frequency dynamics and potential grid instability. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a distributed, consensus-based approach for the real-time control and optimization of inertia sources (synchronous generators and/or DERs) during system disturbances, enhancing both system stability and economic performance. The distributed control and optimization approach assumes each inertia source exchanges information solely with its neighbor ones, making it easily scalable to large power grid networks. The impacts of the communication connectivity among the inertia sources as well as their generation capacity limits on the distributed approach are investigated. We also demonstrate the approach’s robustness in scenarios involving communication time delays and packet losses, validating its effectiveness through numerical simulations on a 4-bus test system and a two-area 8-bus test system.

Power system inertia↗
DOE OSTI2026

Performance Evaluation of a Microgrid System with Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Inverters with Diesel Generators: Insights From Hardware Experiments

This paper presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of a microgrid system integrating grid-forming (GFM) inverters, grid-following (GFL) inverters, and a diesel generator, focusing on their interactions and behavior under various dynamic events. The study is conducted using a pure hardware setup comprising two GFM inverters, one GFL inverter, a diesel generator, load banks, a point of common coupling (PCC), and an emulated main grid. The evaluation specifically examines dynamic scenarios, including voltage jumps, phase jumps, rate of change of frequency (ROCOF), synchronization, and islanding operations, which pose critical challenges to system stability. Among all the tests conducted, the overloading and phase jump tests proved to be the most challenging. The capacity of the DC side is crucial for withstanding overloading and grid disturbance tests; otherwise, GFM inverters frequently trip due to DC undervoltage. Throughout all grid disturbance tests, the diesel generator consistently stands out as the most robust and reliable GFM unit in the system. Overall, insights from these hardware experiments shed light on the response characteristics of different generation types during grid disturbances and identify potential stability concerns in such hybrid microgrid systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

xSDK: Building an ecosystem of highly efficient math libraries for exascale

Current efforts to build increasingly powerful computer architectures are opening up new avenues for more complex and higher fidelity simulations coupled with data analytics and learning, leading to new scientific insights and deeper understanding. At one extreme, exascale computers will be much faster than previous computer generations (performing 10 18 operations per second—that is, 1,000 times faster than petascale). To achieve these performance improvements, computer architectures are becoming increasingly complex, with deep memory hierarchies, very high node and core counts, and heterogeneous features such as graphics processing units (GPUs). Such architectural changes impact the full breadth of computing scales, as heterogeneity pervades even current-generation laptops, workstations, and moderate-sized clusters. While emerging advanced architectures provide unprecedented opportunities, they also present significant challenges for developers of scientific applications, such as multiphysics and multiscale codes, who must adapt their software to handle disruptive changes in architectures and new programming models that have not yet stabilized. Developers must consider increasing concurrency while reducing communication and synchronization, and other complexities such as the potential for using mixed precision to leverage the compute power available in low-precision tensor cores. On one hand, developers must implement new scientific capabilities, which in turn increase code complexity. On the other hand, the codes must be ported to new architectures, requiring the inclusion of new programming models and the restructuring of code to achieve good performance. Addressing these issues is beyond the capability of any single person or team—leading to the need for collaboration among many teams, who encapsulate their expertise in reusable software and work together to create sustainable software ecosystems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transient Stability Enhancement via a Scalable RL Method with VSG Parameter Tuning

This paper presents a reinforcement learning (RL)-driven strategy to improve the transient stability of power systems via tuning parameters of multiple virtual synchronous generators (VSGs). We proposed a scalable method to support RL training convergence probability and speed, even when a large number of contingencies are considered. The proposed scalable RL framework first decomposes the large number of contingencies into multiple groups and then conducts parallel training for each group, decreasing the state space and complexity of each training. Additionally, we propose a contingency grouping algorithm to streamline the RL action space and facilitate the training. The proposed method is validated across various standard test systems.

Huang, Xiaoge↗
DOE OSTI2021

Adaptive critic design-based reinforcement learning approach in controlling virtual inertia-based grid-connected inverters

In this report, an adaptive critic design (ACD) approach is proposed to control the phase and voltage of a grid-connected virtual synchronous generator (VSG). The penetration of fast responding inertia-less power converters significantly affect the stability of the power system, especially weak systems such as micro grids. The concept of virtual inertia addresses this concern by virtually emulating the behavior of a synchronous generator. However, the conventional VSG is designed based on two conditions: (i) fixed operating point and (ii) inductive grid connections. The performance of VSGs in low-voltage semi-resistive microgrids is far from optimal. To overcome the aforementioned concerns, a heuristic dynamic programing (HDP) approach is proposed to optimally control grid-connected VSGs. The neural-network-based inherence of the HDP enables the proposed technique to adapt to any impedance angle. The HDP controller includes two subnetworks: (i) the action network that controls the system optimally and (ii) the critic network, which evaluates the effectiveness of the action network. The simulation and experimental results are provided to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed technique. As shown, the HDP-based approach illustrates a better performance in comparison with the conventional PI-based VSG in various operating conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Guide to Current Limiting and Stability with Grid-Forming Inverters

The electric power grid is changing. For many decades, the synchronous generator - an electromechanical device invented in 1887 - has been the workhorse and backbone of power grids across the globe. Our entire infrastructure is built around it. But times change, and so does the power grid. Since the early 21st century, we have seen a gradual shift in modern power grids away from synchronous generators to ones dominated by power electronic inverter-based resources (IBRs). Sources such as photovoltaics, wind turbines, battery storage, fuel cells, and other technologies like high-voltage DC transmission interconnections all rely on an inverter to connect and interface with the grid. They are increasingly being installed on the grid to augment, or even replace, traditional energy sources. This change is a fundamental shift that brings tremendous technical challenges and questions: Can a power grid remain stable with many more inverter-based resources? How do we avoid more blackouts on the grid? How do we keep the grid secure and resilient during disturbances? After all, power electronic inverters are nothing like the big, rotating, iron-and-copper machines that the grid heavily relies on. Many of these questions can be answered by using grid-forming (GFM) inverters, yet many research challenges remain. This document explores GFM inverters and how they can help stabilize the future grid, especially during disturbances and contingencies. It summarizes a two-year research and development fellowship program at NREL. We point interested readers to more detailed works developed during the project along the way. Let's dive in

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Type 5 Wind Turbine Technology: How Synchronised, Synchronous Generation Avoids Uncertainties About Inverter Interoperability under IEEE 2800:2022

Degradation of system strength because of inverter-based resources (IBRs) is a major concern facing the zero-carbon transition. A new standard released this year, IEEE Standard 2800, attempts to codify the relationship between IBRs and the Transmission System Operator (TSO). It is apparent from IEEE 2800:2022 that there remain fundamental problems with quantifying whether source impedance (the measure of "system strength" with which the standard is concerned) will present a problem for allowing an IBR to connect. This is "because of complex interdependencies between IBR and power system characteristics". So developers are increasingly required to adopt mitigation options such as adding synchronous condensers or curtailing IBRs. A proven Type 5 (synchronous) wind turbine exists and has been running at 0.5 MW scale in a 46 MW wind farm in New Zealand since 2006 and eight turbines in Scotland since 2013. The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is conducting a study of the impacts on grid reliability, stability, and resilience of Type 5 wind turbines. The project has both simulation and testing tasks and will result in proposing a variable generation solution that will help system operators and utilities address all reliability and most resilience challenges in the evolving grid.

grid stability↗
DOE OSTI2022

Feedback Control Strategy for Transient Stability Application

Power systems are subjected to a wide range of disturbances during daily operations. Severe disturbances, such as a loss of a large generator, a three-phase bolted fault on a generator bus, or a loss of a transmission line, can lead to the loss of synchronism of a generator or group of generators. The ability of a power system to maintain synchronism during the few seconds after being subjected to a severe disturbance is known as transient stability. Most of the modern methods of controlling transient stability involve special protection schemes or remedial action schemes. These special protection schemes sense predetermined system conditions and take corrective actions, such as generator tripping or generation re-dispatch, in real time to maintain transient stability. Another method is the use of a real-time feedback control system to modulate the output of an actuator in response to a signal. This paper provides a fundamental evaluation of the use of feedback control strategies to improve transient stability in a power system. An optimal feedback control strategy that modulates the real power injected and absorbed by distributed energy-storage devices is proposed. Its performance is evaluated on a four-machine power system and on a 34-machine reduced-order model of the Western North American Power System. The result shows that the feedback control strategy can increase the critical fault clearing time by 60%, thereby improving the transient stability of the power system.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Toward 100% Renewable Power Grids: A Review

The transition to a 100% renewable power grid remains beset by significant technical challenges. This paper critically examines the obstacles arising from the variability and unpredictability of renewable energy sources (RES), which complicate the real-time balancing of power generation and load demand. In addition to traditional stability concerns (e.g., rotor angle, voltage, and frequency stability), the increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) introduces novel challenges, including resonance stability issues and converter-driven dynamics. Moreover, the dynamic behavior and fault response of IBRs diverge markedly from those of conventional synchronous generators, rendering traditional protection schemes increasingly inadequate. This paper reviews state-of-the-art solutions in power balancing, grid flexibility, stability enhancement, and advanced protection strategies, discussing their implications for future grid design. The analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of recent technological advancements, thereby outlining critical research directions essential for achieving a resilient, 100% renewable power grid.

100% renewable power grid↗
DOE OSTI2024

Introduction to Grid Forming Inverters: A Key to Transforming our Power Grid [Slides]

A grid-forming (GFM) inverter-based resource (IBR) controls maintain an internal voltage phasor that is constant or nearly constant in the sub-transient to transient time frame. This definition means that the GFM IBR will nearly immediately respond to changes in the external system and attempt to maintain IBR control during challenging network conditions to maintain grid stability. In GFM IBR, the voltage phasor is controlled to maintain synchronism with other devices in the grid while regulating the active and reactive power appropriately to support the grid. This contrasts with conventional GFL IBR controls wherein immediately after a disturbance (0-5 cycles), within the normal operating range of voltage, the output current phasor magnitude and angle remain unchanged, and the current phasor begins changing only within the transient time frame (tens of cycles) to strictly control the active and reactive power being injected into the network. This presentation gives an introduction to GFM IBR and presents the current state of the art in this area.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Improving power grid transient stability and transfer capability using HVDC emergency power controls

In the future, with high levels of renewable energy sources penetration, the transmission corridors will have to be flexible to operate under faster transients and variable power flows. Fast power ramping and overloading capabilities of HVDC system can be utilized to ensure transient stability of the interconnected power grid. In this paper, HVDC auxiliary controllers have been studied that can provide the power grid with additional synchronizing torques through fast DC power changes in response to arising system conditions. The effectiveness of the auxiliary controllers in improving transient stability is demonstrated by performing dynamic simulations on the detailed model of the Western Interconnection system (WECC).

Sundaresh, Lakshmi↗