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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 1,045 records · Page 58

Combinatorial appraisal of transition states for in situ pair distribution function analysis

In situ total scattering measurements are increasingly utilized to follow atomic and nanoscale structural details of phase transitions and other transient processes in materials. This contribution presents an automated method and associated tool set to analyze series of diffraction and pair distribution function data with a linear combination of end-member states. It is demonstrated that the combinatorial appraisal of transition states (CATS) software tracks phase changes, relative phase fractions and length scales of interest in experimental data series. Here it is further demonstrated, using a series of local structure data simulations, that the misfit of such a model can reveal details of phase aggregation and growth related to the pair distribution function's sensitivity to interphase correlations. CATS may be applied to quantitative evaluation of many transient processes, including amorphous-to-crystalline phase transitions, the evolution of solid-solution behaviors, the precipitation and growth of aggregates, and other atomic to nanoscale details of crystallization and phase transformation phenomena.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Wavelength-resolved Neutron Tomography for Crystalline Materials

Wavelength-resolved (WR) neutron transmission tomography is an emerging technique to characterize engineering materials. While tomographic reconstruction for amorphous samples is straightforward, it is challenging to reconstruct samples with single-crystal domains because the attenuation of the sample varies as a function of its orientation with respect to the incident beam due to Bragg scattering. In this paper, we present an algorithm that can reconstruct samples with single-crystal domains from WR neutron tomographic measurements. In particular, we use a model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) technique that reconstructs the volume by identifying and leaving out the regions of the measurement that are affected by Bragg scatter. We combine the output of the MBIR method with an algorithm that matches the reconstruction to the identified Bragg scatter to reconstruct a feature that corresponds to the local crystallography of the sample being measured. Using simulated data, we demonstrate how our algorithm can reconstruct materials with single-crystal domains, thereby adding a powerful new capability for WR neutron imaging instruments.

Singanallur Vaidyanathan, Venkatakrishnan↗

Model-less Source Location for Forced Oscillation based on Synchrophasor and Moving Fast Fourier Transformation

Forced oscillations in power systems occur when the grid is driven by an external and periodic force. To quickly detect and locate the source of the forced oscillation is critical in terms of ensuring the reliability of an interconnected power grid. This paper explores the electromechanical wave propagation theory and the Fast Fourier Transformation to analyze the forced oscillations. It proposes a model-less, adaptive, fast, and accurate source location algorithm. The proposed algorithm is extensively evaluated through simulation data from a 70k-bus U.S. Eastern Interconnection test system and field-collected synchrophasor data from the distribution-level wide-area monitoring system, FNET/GridEye. The evaluation results demonstrate the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed model-less forced oscillation source location algorithm.

Wang, Weikang↗

Marine Animal Classification With Correntropy-Loss-Based Multiview Learning

To analyze marine animals' behavior, seasonal distribution, and abundance, digital imagery can be acquired by a camera or a Lidar. Depending on the quantity and properties of acquired imagery, the animals are characterized as either features (shape, color, texture, etc.) or dissimilarity matrices derived from different shape analysis methods (shape context, internal distance shape context, etc.). For both cases, multiview learning is critical in integrating more than one set of feature/dissimilarity matrix for higher classification accuracy. This paper adopts correntropy loss as the cost function in multiview learning, which has favorable statistical properties for rejecting noise. For the case of features, the correntropy-loss-based multiview learning and its “entrywise” variation are developed based on the multiview intact space learning algorithm. For the case of dissimilarity matrices, the robust Euclidean embedding algorithm is extended to its multiview form with the correntropy loss function. Results from simulated data and real-world marine animal imagery show that the proposed algorithms can effectively enhance classification rate as well as suppress noise under different noise conditions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Interconnection Standard Grid-Support Function Evaluations Using an Automated Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed

Grid operators are increasingly turning to advanced grid-support functions in distributed energy resources (DER) to assist with distribution circuit voltage regulation, bulk system frequency control, and power system protection. The U.S. DER certification standard, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1741, was revised in September 2016 to add test procedures for multiple grid-support functions. Sandia National Laboratories, SunSpec Alliance, and growing community of collaborators have undertaken a multiyear effort to create an open-source system validation platform (SVP) that automates DER interconnection and interoperability test procedures by communicating with grid simulators, photovoltaic (PV) simulators, data acquisition systems, and interoperable equipment under test. However, the power hardware required for generating the test conditions may be untenable for many organizations. In this paper, we discuss development of the SVP testing capabilities for UL 1741 tests utilizing a controller hardware-in-the-loop testbed that precludes the need for power hardware using a 34.5 kW Austrian Institute of Technology smart grid controller. Finally, analysis of normal ramp rate, soft start ramp rate, specified power factor, volt-VAr, and frequency-watt advanced grid functions, and the effectiveness of the UL 1741 test protocols are included.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

The Origins of the ParaView and VisIt Scientific Visualization Tools

ParaView and VisIt play a key role in the visual understanding of scientific simulation data. These tools are open source, designed to handle extremely large datasets, and can run on supercomputers and large-scale display walls. They are in daily use by scientists, practitioners, and students at supercomputing centers, in industry, and at universities. In conclusion, this article gives personal accounts of the origins of these visualization tools.

Ahrens, James [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LAN↗

Visual Steering and Modeling Environment for Smart Grid Models and Simulations

We are developing the Visual Steering and Modeling Environment (VSME) to enable the visual control and steering of smart grid simulations as well as the visualization of simulation behaviors, conditions, and results. Visual steering will allow planners and operators to visually adjust the parameters to a suite of coordinated and dynamic smart grid simulations and immediately see the effects in multi-perspective visualizations. A configurable dashboard connects and integrates parameters, simulations, data, and visualizations into a combined and coherent display.

Power grid, smart grid, visualization, data visual↗

A Load Switching Group based Feeder-level Microgrid Energy Management Algorithm for Service Restoration in Power Distribution System

This paper presents a load switching group based energy management system (LSG-EMS) for operating microgrids on a distribution feeder powered by one or multiple grid-forming distributed energy resources. Loads on a distribution feeder are divided into load switching groups that can be remotely switched on and off. The LSG-EMS algorithm, formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem, has an objective function of maximizing the served loads while minimizing the total number of switching actions. A new set of topology constraints are developed for allowing multiple microgrids to be formed on the feeder and selecting the optimal supply path. Customer comfort is accounted for by maximizing the supply duration in the customer preferred service period and enforcing a minimum service duration. The proposed method is demonstrated on a modified IEEE 33-bus system using actual customer data. Simulation results show that the LSG-EMS successfully coordinates multiple grid-forming sources by selecting an optimal supply topology that maximizes the supply period of both the critical and noncritical loads while minimizing customer service interruptions in the service restoration process.

Hu, Rongxing↗

Grid Utility Asset Vulnerability Assessment (GUAVA) Software Tool

Increasing demand and changes in generation portfolios is pushing power grid to operate towards the limit. However, due to lack of analytical tools for understanding various scales of impact on grid, it is becoming more vulnerable to wide scale power outages and blackouts. A vulnerable grid operating at its limit can be easily disrupted by asset failures caused by devastating hurricanes which has been known to damage transmission and distribution lines along its track. In this direction, researchers have focused on determining these assets by conducting Monte Carlo simulations of hurricanes with uncertainties and collected a large set of simulation data. To determine the infrastructure updates necessary for mitigating wide scale impact of hurricanes on the grid, we propose a software tool named “Grid Utility Asset Vulnerability Analysis” (GUAVA) framework. GUAVA presents a novel data-driven probabilistic analytical approach to (1) post-process hurricane failure scenarios, (2) identify/rank assets that are most vulnerable and critical to failing and are associated with highest impact/risk, and (3) to inform system upgrade decisions & prioritization. Based on the observed results and employed data-driven methodology, it is expected GUAVA can be adapted to provide power system planners with a recommendation engine for making informed decisions to improve resilience of grid.

Mahapatra, Kaveri↗

Balancing Needs Assessment Using Advanced Probabilistic Forecasts

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to predict Balancing Authority (BA) regulation and load following requirements in order to improve BA control performance. In this paper the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) “ramp and uncertainty prediction tool (RUT) and day-ahead regulation prediction (DARP) tool” were upgraded to incorporate advanced probabilistic forecast information provided by AWS Truepower. The proposed methodology has been tested and validated using actual California Independent System Operator (CAISO) data. Simulation confirmed that integration probabilistic forecast information can reduce the predicted regulation range by about 12-31%. This means that BAs can procure fewer balancing resources without compromising their reliability and control performance requirements.

Regulation, Solar Generation, Wind Generation, Con↗

zPerf: A Statistical Gray-Box Approach to Performance Modeling and Extrapolation for Scientific Lossy Compression

With the scaling up of simulation-based scientific discovery on high-performance computing systems, the disparity between compute and I/O has increased, forcing domain scientists to save only a small amount of simulation data to persistent storage. This can result in the loss of essential physics fields that are needed for data analysis. While error-bounded lossy compression has made tremendous progress in bridging the gap between compute and I/O, the lack of understanding of compression performance remains a key hurdle to its wide adoption. Here, in this work, we present zPerf, a statistical gray-box performance modeling approach for scientific lossy compression. Our contributions are threefold: 1) We develop zPerf to estimate the performance of lossy compression techniques, based on in-depth understanding and statistical modeling for data features and core compression metrics; 2) We demonstrate the in-detailed implementation of zPerf using two case studies, where we derive the performance modeling for SZ and ZFP, two leading lossy compressors; 3) We evaluate the effectiveness of zPerf on real-world datasets across various domains. Based on the evaluation, we demonstrate the efficacy of the zPerf performance model; 4) We further discuss three case studies where zPerf is applied to extrapolate the compression ratio of SZ and ZFP with alternative encoding schemes as well as ZFP with an alternative transform scheme. Through the case studies, we demonstrate the potential of zPerf for exploring the design space of lossy compression, which has hardly been studied in the literature.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

X-ray and Neutron Radiography for Quantitative Material Reconstructions

Radiography is a powerful tool to determine the interior structure of objects. X-ray radiography is widely used and provides high-resolution images, though X-rays have limited transmission through materials of high atomic number (Z) and density. In contrast, neutrons can penetrate many materials that are heavily attenuating to X-rays, such as metals, providing contrast in the inner layers of highly attenuating items. Past work has shown the value in using both X-ray and neutron radiography for estimating material thicknesses, though that work was limited to simulated data. Here, we demonstrate quantitative material reconstructions using experimental X-ray and neutron radiography data from lab-based systems, accurately modeling radiography system responses to within a few percent to enable quantitative measures of material thickness. We demonstrate the utility of neutron radiography and X-ray radiography for these quantitative reconstructions and introduce methods for using their complementarity to improve image quality and optimize experimental design.

Gilbert, Andrew J.↗

Electromechanical Mode Estimation in the Presence of Periodic Forced Oscillations

Electromechanical modes are inherent to any inter-connected power systems which provide a measure of the small-signal stability margin of the system. A number of algorithms have been developed for the estimation of these modes using synchrophasor measurements. However, most of these algorithms are not designed to operate in the presence of forced oscillations (FO). These FOs are results of periodic rogue input driving the system. When FOs are present, estimates of system modes can be biased depending on the frequency and the amplitude of the FOs. To tackle this problem, a new algorithm is proposed in this paper to estimate system modes in the presence of FOs. In the proposed method, the over-determined modified Yule-Walker method which is used to estimate AR coefficients of an ARMA (Auto-Regressive Moving-Average) signal model is extended to an ARMA with exogenous input (ARMAX) model that incorporates the presence of FOs. Two versions of the proposed method are included in this paper based on the requirement of the information of the duration of FOs in the signal. Furthermore, the results obtained by implementing the proposed algorithm on simulated data and real-world data validate the effectiveness of both versions of the proposed method.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Modified Eigen-Decomposition-based Interval Analysis (MEDIA) for Power System Dynamic State Estimation

The Bayesian approach has been used for the dynamic state estimation (DSE) of a power system. However, due to the complexity of noise resources, it is difficult to quantify measurement and process noise using probability density functions (PDFs). To overcome the difficulty, the authors of this paper propose a modified eigen-decomposition-based interval analysis (MEDIA) method, which employs bounds instead of PDFs to quantify the noise, and uses the eigen decomposition method to reduce the negative impact of the overestimation problem. Using the simulation data generated from IEEE 16-machine and IEEE 10-machine systems, it is shown that the proposed MEDIA method can estimate the hard boundaries of dynamic states in real time. Furthermore, comparison with the forward-backward propagation method and the extended set-membership filter also shows that the proposed MEDIA method performs better by providing narrower boundaries in the DSE.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Forced Oscillation Source Location in Power Systems Using MVMD-assisted DEF in TF Plane

Fast and accurate forced oscillation source location (FOSL) is critical for mitigating forced oscillations in power systems. Here, to overcome the shortcomings of traditional dissipating energy flow (DEF) in decomposing the forced oscillation components from the measurement responses, a multivariate variational mode decomposition (MVMD)-assisted FOSL is proposed in this paper to locate the forced oscillation sources from measurements in time-frequency (TF) plane. The multi-channel measurement matrix of each generator is formed, then the multi-channel modes are decomposed from the formed multi-channel measurement matrix using the MVMD. Further, the intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) associated with the forced oscillation mode are distinguished from the decomposed modes according to the relative energy weights. With the distinguished IMFs, the MVMD-assisted DEF calculation method is developed to locate the forced oscillation source. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is evaluated using the simulation data of the WECC 179-bus test system and IEEE-NASPI Oscillation Source Location Contest as well as the actual PMU data of ISO New England. The results validated the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method in the FOSL.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

FIRE: A Failure-Adaptive RL Framework for Edge Computing Migrations

In edge computing, users' service profiles are migrated between edge servers due to user mobility. Reinforcement Learning (RL) frameworks have been proposed to do so, often trained on simulated data. However, existing RL frameworks overlook occasional server failures, which although rare, impact latency-sensitive applications like AR/VR and real- time obstacle detection. These rare failures, being not adequately represented in historical training data, pose a challenge for data-driven RL algorithms. We introduce FIRE, a framework that adapts to rare events by training a RL policy in an edge computing digital twin environment. We propose FIRE-ImRE, an importance sampling-based Q-learning algorithm, which samples rare events proportionally to their impact on the value function. FIRE considers delay, migration, failure, and backup placement costs across individual and shared service profiles. We prove FIRE-ImRE's boundedness and convergence to optimality. Next, we introduce novel deep Q-learning (FIRE-ImDQL) and actor critic (FIRE-ImACRE) versions of our algorithm to enhance scalability. Here, we extend our framework to accommodate users with varying risk tolerances of rare failure events. Through trace-driven experiments, we show that FIRE reduces edge computing costs compared to vanilla RL and the greedy baseline in the event of failures.

Edge computing↗

Detection and Characterization of Intrusions to Network Parameter Data in Electric Power Systems

Combating cyberattacks is an emerging challenge in maintaining the reliable and economic operation of electric power systems. Possible cyberattacks include intrusions to the parameter data at a control center. In this class of attacks, algorithms at the control center are correctly executed, but the attacker's modification of the associated parameter data yields improper results. This paper proposes an algorithm for detecting and characterizing cyberattacks to network parameter data, with specific application to optimal power flow problems. The proposed algorithm evaluates whether historical operating point data are consistent with the network parameters. Inconsistencies indicating potential cyberattacks are characterized using historical operational data (power injections and voltage phasors) along with network parameter data. Simulated test cases illustrate the proposed algorithm's detection and characterization capabilities.

cybersecurity↗

Learning Behavior of Distribution System Discrete Control Devices for Cyber-Physical Security

Conventional cyber-security intrusion detection systems monitor network traffic for malicious activity and indications that an adversary has gained access to the system. The approach discussed here expands the idea of a traditional intrusion detection system within electrical power systems, specifically power distribution networks, by monitoring the physical behavior of the grid. This is achieved through the use of high-rate distribution Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), alongside SCADA packets analysis, for the purpose of monitoring the behavior of discrete control devices. In this work we present a set of algorithms for passively learning the control logic of voltage regulators and switched capacitor banks. Upon detection of an abnormal operation, the operator is alerted and further action can be taken. Finally, the proposed learning algorithms are validated on both simulated data and on measured PMU data from a utility pilot deployment site.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗