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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 991 records · Page 55

Evaluation of DIII-D plasmas for Future Measurements of the Driven Current Density in the DIII-D High Field Side Lower Hybrid Experiment

High field side (HFS) lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) is a promising method for efficiently driving off-axis current in steady state tokamak power plants. The first test of this technology is underway at the DIII-D tokamak. The initial physics goal is to measure the LH-driven current density profile in order to validate the ray-tracing/Fokker-Plank codes GENRAY/CQL3D and gain confidence in their ability to predict LH deposition in future DIII-D experiments and fusion power plants. DIII-D’s motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic will be used to constrain the magnetic equilibrium reconstructions. From these reconstructions, the ohmic, bootstrap, and driven non-inductive components of the current density profile can be extracted. Several recent DIII-D plasmas have been identified in which GENRAY/CQL3D predict measurable amounts of current with only 100 kW of coupled power.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Voltage Stability Analysis of Power Systems With Induction Motors Based on Holomorphic Embedding

Load characteristics have substantial influence on the voltage stability of power systems. The self-restorative characteristic and stalling of induction motor loads can deteriorate the voltage stability, so it is necessary to develop accurate and efficient dynamic analysis methods for voltage stability analysis of systems with induction motor loads. In this paper, a set of methods based on holomorphic embedding is proposed, which is able to solve steady states and dynamics of a power system with induction motors. The paper is the first work that applies holomorphic embedding to dynamic problems of power systems. Here, the test cases on the IEEE 14-bus system, the NPCC 140-bus system, and the Polish 2383-bus system verify both accuracy and efficiency of the proposed methods.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

980-nm, 15-W cw laser diodes on F-mount-type heat sinks

We have studied the key optical emission parameters of laser diodes (emission wavelength, 980 nm; stripe contact width, 95 μm) mounted directly on F- and C-mount-type copper heat sinks, without intermediate elements (submounts). When effectively cooled by a thermoelectric microcooler, the lasers on the F-mount operated stably at output powers up to 20 W. The lasers were tested for reliable operation at an output power of 15 W for 100 h, and no decrease in output power was detected to within measurement accuracy. The experimentally determined maximum total efficiency is 71.7% and the efficiency at a nominal output power of 15 W is 61%. We compare parameters of the laser diodes mounted on C- and F-mounts and discuss the advantages of the F-mounts. (lasers)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Trial Implementation of the High-Impact, Low-Frequency Power Grid Event Risk Framework to Support Informed Decision-Making

In 2015, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) developed a multi-hazard risk-assessment framework for modeling high-impact, low-frequency (HILF) power grid events to support risk-informed decisions for power grid management and emergency planning. The identified framework elements are based on a systematic and comprehensive characterization of hazards to the level of detail required for modeling risk. In 2016, PNNL performed a trial implementation of the framework for a single hazard category and a set of key power grid asset types as a way to test the framework. A specific realization of a HILF event is referred to as an initiating event, or initiator. An initiating event is the manifestation of a hazard, and can be, for example, an earthquake of specified magnitude at a specified epicenter. Other examples of HILF events include geomagnetic disturbances and pandemics. For this test implementation, grid assets of a benchmark power system transmission network were assigned proxy geographical coordinates associated with Washington State locations; and real-world seismic hazard information was used for those locations. Based on the fragility of the grid assets to events of different severities, the set of possible failure scenarios (i.e., combinations of different asset failures) and their associated probabilities were determined, and recovery of grid assets and restoration of the network were considered. These combinations of failures and their subsequent recovery constitute a HILF event sequence that results in a given level of consequence, such as loss of power over a given geographic area for a given duration. The concurrent quantitative consideration of event probabilities and event consequences characterizes a risk model. For HILF event sequences, risk was expressed as expected unserved energy per year. This implementation demonstrates the feasibility and value of using the HILF event risk framework despite some of the identified challenges. This report discusses this trial implementation and presents risk results and insights from the implementation.

Veeramany, Arun↗

Disconnected covariance of 2-point functions in large-scale structure

Optimal analyses using the 2-point functions of large-scale structure probes require accurate covariance matrices. A covariance matrix of the 2-point function comprises the disconnected part and the connected part. While the connected covariance only becomes important on small scales, the disconnected covariance is dominant on large scales, where the survey window has a significant impact. In this work, we develop an analytical method to compute the disconnected covariance, accounting for the window effect. Derived under the flat-sky approximation, our formalism is applicable to wide surveys by swapping in the curved-sky window functions. Our method works for both the power spectrum and the correlation function, and applies to the covariances of various probes including the multipoles and the wedges of 3D clustering, the angular and the projected statistics of clustering and shear, as well as the cross covariances between different probes. We verify the analytic covariance against the sample covariance from the galaxy mock simulations in two test cases: (1) the power spectrum multipole covariance, and (2) the joint covariance of the projected correlation function and the correlation function multipoles. Our method achieve good agreement with the mocks, while at a negligible computational cost. Unlike mocks, our analytic covariance is free of sampling noise, which often leads to numerical problems and the need to inflate the errors. In addition, our method can use the best-fit power spectrum as input, in contrast to the standard procedure of using a fiducial model that may deviate significantly from the truth. We also show that a naive diagonal power spectrum covariance underestimates the signal-to-noise ratio compared to our analytic covariance. The code that accompanies this paper is available at https://github.com/eelregit/covdisc.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

WBG-Enabled Current-Source Inverters for Integrated PM Motor Drives

This project takes advantage of the special capabilities of wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices to develop innovative power electronics in the form of new current-source inverters (CSIs) that offer promising advantages over the dominant voltage-source inverter (VSI) topology. These CSIs, in turn, are extremely well-suited for integration into the housings of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) to form integrated motor drives (IMDs). These new IMDs offer great promise for achieving major energy savings in a wide variety of applications that benefit from adjustable-speed control, including air conditioners, laundry appliances, industrial pumps/compressors, electric vehicles, and aerospace drives. WBG devices play a critical enabling role in these new IMDs because of their transformative features including much higher switching frequencies, lower losses, and compatibility with high operating temperatures. When incorporated into new CSI-based IMDs with PM machines, these WBG switches open the door to achieving major increases in power density, drive system efficiency, and fault tolerance, as well as substantial reductions in electromagnetic interference (EMI), manufacturing cost, and temperature-induced failures. The higher operating temperature capability of WBG devices compared to conventional silicon power devices is very appealing in IMD applications because the power electronics is mounted in close proximity to the motors which typically operate at temperatures well above the maximum limits of today’s silicon-based power electronics. This project has succeeded in designing, building, and testing multiple prototype versions of this CSI-IMD that have overcome many technical challenges in order to demonstrate the impressive performance improvements that can be achieved by the WBG-enabled CSI-IMD. The preliminary demo and bench-top versions of the current-source inverter developed during the first two years of the project were critical to laying the technical foundations for the 3 kW prototype CSI-IMD unit that was successfully built and tested during the third year. This prototype CSI-IMD unit was designed to fit within the housing envelope of the original permanent magnet (PM) synchronous machine in order to meet the demanding power density requirements that were set at the beginning of the project. All of the remaining performance objectives set for the prototype CSI-IMD unit including efficiency and electromagnetic interference (EMI) were also met. The last 18 months of the project were devoted to developing further enhancements of the WBG-enabled CSI-IMD technology that better prepare it for commercial production. More specifically, an upgraded version of the prototype CSI-IMD unit was developed that moved the power electronics into the same machine housing chamber as the motor, substantially raising the thermal demands on the power electronics. Tests with five different combinations of motor enclosure types and air cooling configurations were evaluated. Importantly, this work confirmed that the power electronics can deliver its full rated power and still operate well within its maximum temperature limits even for worst-case conditions when the housing is “totally-enclosed” without any openings for air to enter or exit the enclosure, and no blower/fan is provided to blow air over the outside surface of the enclosure. Reaching the full performance and energy-savings potential of this disruptive CSI-IMD motor drive technology is highly consistent with ARPA-E’s stated mission to “enhance the economic and energy security of the United States” while also supporting its commitment to “ensure that the U.S. maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies”. Follow-on projects are under way to explore the scalability of WBG-enabled CSI-IMD technology to 100 kW (peak) electric vehicle traction drives and fault-tolerant modular motor drives for future electrified aircraft propulsion applications.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Day-Ahead Optimal Operation for Multi-Energy Residential Systems with Renewables

The intermittency and stochasticity nature of distributed renewable energy sources has introduced great challenges to the efficiency and security of energy distribution system operations. To address the negative impacts of intermittent renewable energy sources, this paper proposes here a day-ahead optimal operation strategy utilizing distributed energy resources based on the framework of the interconnected multi-energy system. First, a framework and mathematical models of multi-energy residential systems (MERS) are proposed. Based on the characteristics of residential energy distribution networks, the complex MERS models are reformulated to relieve the computational burden. Furthermore, the uncertainty factors such as renewable energy generation fluctuations and demand variations are handled by a reformulated chance con-strained programming technique. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are validated through a combined electric power and natural gas test system. Compared to similar models and methods in the existing literature, the proposed method performs better in terms of solution time, model scalability, and robustness in handling uncertainties.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Summary of Nuclear Regulatory Commission Flood Barrier Testing Strategies Workshop

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) organized a half-day workshop on flood barrier testing strategies (FBTS) at NRC Headquarters in Rockville, MD, via a webinar as well, on March 12, 2020. The workshop was a public meeting attended by members of the public and staff from NRC, INL, and other agencies. The workshop served multiple objectives: (1) present preliminary research results from the FBTS research project conducted by INL for NRC, and (2) engage industry stakeholders and technical experts to provide inputs and insights on testing strategies. This letter report documents the materials presented, participant questions and answers, and summaries of an open discussion during this FBTS workshop.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Stochastic Short-term High-resolution Prediction of Solar Irradiance and Photovoltaic Power Output

The increased penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy sources into electric grids has increased the need for accurate modeling and prediction of solar irradiance and power production. Existing modeling and prediction techniques focus on long-term low-resolution prediction over minutes to years. This paper examines the stochastic modeling and short-term high-resolution prediction of solar irradiance and PV power output. We propose a stochastic state-space model to characterize the behaviors of solar irradiance and PV power output. This prediction model is suitable for the development of optimal power controllers for PV sources. A filter-based expectation-maximization and Kalman filtering mechanism is employed to estimate the parameters and states in the state-space model. The mechanism results in a finite dimensional filter which only uses the first and second order statistics. The structure of the scheme contributes to a direct prediction of the solar irradiance and PV power output without any linearization process or simplifying assumptions of the signal’s model. This enables the system to accurately predict small as well as large fluctuations of the solar signals. The mechanism is recursive allowing the solar irradiance and PV power to be predicted online from measurements. The mechanism is tested using solar irradiance and PV power measurement data collected locally in our laboratory.

Olama, Mohammed M.↗

A Study of Propane Combustion in a Spark-Ignited Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) Engine

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), whose primary composition is propane, is a promising candidate for heavy-duty vehicle applications as a diesel fuel alternative due to its CO 2 reduction potential and high knock resistance. To realize diesel-like efficiencies, spark-ignited LPG engines are proposed to operate near knock-limit over a wide range of operating conditions, which necessitates an investigation of fuel-engine interactions that leads to end-gas autoignition with propane combustion. This work presents both experimental and numerical studies of stoichiometric propane combustion in a sparkignited (SI) cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine. Engine experiments are initially conducted at different compression ratio (CR) values, and the effects of CR on engine combustion are characterized. A three-pressure analysis (TPA) model based on the two-zone combustion concept is developed in GT-Power and validated using test results to estimate in-cylinder wall temperatures, residual gas fraction, etc. This model is further utilized to examine end-gas chemistry by enabling the SI turbulent flame combustion and unburned gas chemical kinetics modules. Finally, a three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of the CFR engine is developed in CONVERGE, where the G-equation and SAGE detailed chemical kinetics models are implemented for combustion modeling. Here, a 153 species reduced chemical kinetics mechanism derived from the detailed NUIGMech1.1 mechanism based on the ignition delay and laminar flame speed (LFS) studies is used to generate an LFS lookup table and to describe end-gas autoignition chemistry. Multi-cycle Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations are then performed for the tested CRs, and the numerical model is shown to be capable of predicting the propane combustion characteristics, particularly the end-gas autoignition behavior.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

A Compact Wireless Charging System for Electric Vehicles

In this paper, a compact high efficiency wireless power transfer system has been designed and developed. The detailed gate drive design, cooling system design, power stage development, and system assembling are presented. The successful tests verified the feasibility of wireless power transfer system to achieve over-all 90% efficiency.

inverter design↗

A Compact Wireless Charging System for Electric Vehicles

In this paper, a compact high efficiency wireless power transfer system has been designed and developed. The detailed gate drive design, cooling system design, power stage development, and system assembling are presented. The successful tests verified the feasibility of wireless power transfer system to achieve over-all 90% efficiency.

Ning, Puqi↗

Stochastic Short-term High-resolution Prediction of Solar Irradiance and Photovoltaic Power Output

The increased penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy sources into electric grids has increased the need for accurate modeling and prediction of solar irradiance and power production. Existing modeling and prediction techniques focus on long-term low-resolution prediction over minutes to years. This paper examines the stochastic modeling and short-term high-resolution prediction of solar irradiance and PV power output. We propose a stochastic state-space model to characterize the behaviors of solar irradiance and PV power output. This prediction model is suitable for the development of optimal power controllers for PV sources. A filter-based expectation-maximization and Kalman filtering mechanism is employed to estimate the parameters and states in the state-space model. The mechanism results in a finite dimensional filter which only uses the first and second order statistics. The structure of the scheme contributes to a direct prediction of the solar irradiance and PV power output without any linearization process or simplifying assumptions of the signal’s model. This enables the system to accurately predict small as well as large fluctuations of the solar signals. The mechanism is recursive allowing the solar irradiance and PV power to be predicted online from measurements. The mechanism is tested using solar irradiance and PV power measurement data collected locally in our lab.

Melin, Alexander M.↗

Open V2X at ESIF: June 2015 - February 2017 (Final Report)

The University of Delaware (UD), and their industrial partners, have carried out testing, documentation, and standards development at ESIF. These activities are intended to help meet the objective of NREL's INTEGRATE program, to enable clean energy technologies to increase the hosting capacity of the grid, by providing grid services in a holistic manner using an open source, interoperable platform. In particular, the 'Open V2X at ESIF' project worked to facilitate standardization and interoperability for Electric Vehicle technologies, including battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles (hence EV) to provide grid services. This was done by interconnecting and testing EV and EVSE (charging station) hardware from different manufacturers, by developing standards and test protocols for standards, and by documenting new protocols to be proposed as standards. Contractor-supplied equipment used in the testing included Vehicle Smart Links (VSLs) installed in an EV and School Bus, single-phase and three-phase charging stations, and an optimizing aggregator (software running on a server, hence just 'Aggregator'). The Aggregator software was developed by U of Delaware and is now licensed to Nuvve Corp for commercial development, and licensed to NRG/EVgo for demonstrations. The Aggregator monitors capacity and operations of the EVs and EVSEs, dispatches them in response to requests, and reports their operations and metered power flow. In operation, as vehicles move, plug-in and unplug, the aggregator tracks the total capacity available within a defined jurisdiction or RTO (Regional Transmission Organization, synonym for ISO or TSO), and dispatches part or all of that capacity based on market or direct dispatch signals from a grid entity. The VSL is the data acquisition and control module in the resource itself (EVSE or EV), with rich communication between a single Optimizing Aggregator and many VSL (one in each resource). All requests and dispatch events are also logged by the aggregator to make the provision of grid power auditable. For these tests, the dispatch was typically a recorded signal, the VSL was in the EV or EVSE, and the recording of experimental performance was often carried out by the normal logging functions of the aggregator.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

RELAP5-3D Resolution of Known Restart/Backup Issues

The state-of-the-art nuclear reactor system safety analysis computer program developed at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), RELAP5-3D, continues to adapt to changes in computer hardware and software and to develop to meet the ever-expanding needs of the nuclear industry. To continue at the forefront, code testing must evolve with both code and industry developments, and it must work correctly. To best ensure this, the processes of Software Verification and Validation (V&V) are applied. Verification compares coding against its documented algorithms and equations and compares its calculations against analytical solutions and the method of manufactured solutions. A form of this, sequential verification, checks code specifications against coding only when originally written then applies regression testing which compares code calculations between consecutive updates or versions on a set of test cases to check that the performance does not change. A sequential verification testing system was specially constructed for RELAP5-3D to both detect errors with extreme accuracy and cover all nuclear-plant-relevant code features. Detection is provided through a “verification file” that records double precision sums of key variables. Coverage is provided by a test suite of input decks that exercise code features and capabilities necessary to model a nuclear power plant. A matrix of test features and short-running cases that exercise them is presented. This testing system is used to test base cases (called null testing) as well as restart and backup cases. It can test RELAP5-3D performance in both standalone and coupled (through PVM to other codes) runs. Application of verification testing revealed numerous restart and backup issues in both standalone and couple modes. This document reports the resolution of these issues.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Comparison of Sequence Component-Based Fault Detection and Relay Coordination Algorithms in Inverter-Based Networks

Protection of inverter-based microgrids using sequence component-based relaying schemes is a promising solution. These methods offer several advantages, including lower computational requirements, compatibility with commercial relay systems, and cost-effectiveness compared to communication-based approaches. This article investigate the performance of various sequence component based schemes with the objective of identifying the algorithms that provide the best fault detection and relay coordination, solely relying on local voltages and current at relay terminals. Positive, negative and zero sequence impedance, admittance and power detection algorithms were tested on modified IEEE 13 bus test network for various shunt faults (LG, LL, LLG, LLL). Hardware-in-the-loop validation was achieved using the Typhoon real-time simulator, interfacing with a SEL 751 relay. This research demonstrates that while several algorithms are capable of detecting faults with sufficient accuracy, only a few are effective in achieving proper coordination. Validation results indicate that the negative sequence power approach provides the best performance in both fault detection and coordination.

Patel, Deepika [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000341099994)↗

Wave Energy Prize - 1/20th Testing - CalWave Submerged Pressure Differential WEC

Data from the 1/20th scale testing data completed on the Wave Energy Prize for the CalWave Power Technologies team, including the 1/20th scale test plan, raw test data, video, photos, and data analysis results. The top level objective of the 1/20th scale device testing is to obtain the necessary measurements required for determining Average Climate Capture Width per Characteristic Capital Expenditure (ACE) and the Hydrodynamic Performance Quality (HPQ), key metrics for determining the Wave Energy Prize (WEP) winners.

1/20th scale↗

NWEI Azura July 2015 Data

Data files for the NWEI Azura grid-connected deployment at the 30-meter berth of the US Navy's Wave Energy Test Site (WETS 30m Site) at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) on the windward (northeast) coast of the island of Oahu, HI. See general documentation describing specifics of the data files and formats in a separate submission.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗