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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 1,063 records · Page 59

Duluth Transit Authority Battery-Electric Bus Evaluation

Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate a fleet of seven battery-electric buses (BEBs) in revenue service in Duluth, Minnesota. The focus of the evaluation was to compare performance and cost of the BEBs to that of conventional technology buses in similar service and track progress over time. DTA enlisted the help of the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) to manage the project and provide technical services with the BEB fleet and infrastructure. This report summarizes the results of the BEB evaluation and contains a combination of analyses performed by NREL and by CTE during the overall data collection period of December 2018 through February 2022.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Technical Basis for Extended Dry Storage of Aluminum-Clad Spent Nuclear Fuel

This report addresses previously identified technical knowledge and technology gaps and presents the key findings of the multiyear, EMTD-funded research efforts with the goal of evaluating whether ASNF can be safely stored dry for many decades and whether changes to existing ASNF management practices are appropriate. The findings formulate the technical basis for the extended dry storage of ASNF, leading to the main conclusion: All completed work to close the identified knowledge gaps on extended (>50 years) ASNF dry storage supports the conclusion that extended ASNF dry storage is both safe and viable.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Design of Modular Test Facility for Particle/sCO2 Heat Exchanger Evaluation

Heliogen has designed a 1.3 MW particle and supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) test loop to retire technical and manufacturing risks. The data from this facility will be used to validate near commercial-scale particle heat exchanger modules. The heat exchanger is scaled to capture all features of the full-scale modules. Testing will be conducted with CARBOBEAD HSP 16/30, a larger particle size than other recent testing. The system was designed to ASME codes with the constraint that sCO2 piping and other major components are stainless steels.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Fleet Efficiency and Electrification Technical Assistance and Tools

Private enterprises, transit agencies, and governments around the world rely on NREL to evaluate their fleet electrification needs. From testing vehicle charging equipment in the lab, to working with fleets to adopt new types of vehicles, to helping agencies develop electric vehicle (EV) plans, NREL transportation analysts address a range of electrification challenges.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Replacement of Wooden Wing Walls and Deteriorated Concrete Pad at Manhattan Project Era Magazine TA-16-58

The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos Field Office (Field Office) proposes to replace missing and broken asbestos shingles, reconstruct deteriorated wooden wing walls, and remove and replace a concrete pad on Building 58 in Technical Area (TA) 16 at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Building TA-16-58 is a Manhattan Project Era magazine that was evaluated and determined eligible, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (June 5, 2003 and June 22, 2003, respectively), for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (Register) in ESA Division’s Five-Year Plan: Consolidation and Revitalization at Technical Areas 3, 8, 11, and 16 and in Sentinels of the Atomic Dawn: A Multiple -Property Evaluation of the Remaining Manhattan Project Properties at Los Alamos (1942–1946) (McGehee et al. 2003a, 2003b). The building is a LANL candidate for preservation as identified in A Plan for the Management of the Cultural Heritage at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico (LANL 2017a ). It is also eligible for inclusion in the Manhattan Project National Historical Park (i.e., identified in the Park legislation), and is located within the TA-16 potential Cold War historic district (McGeh ee 1995a, 1995b; LANL 2012,).

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Regional Geologic Evaluations for Disposal of HLW and SNF: The Pierre Shale of the Northern Great Plains

The DOE Spent Fuel and Waste Technology (SWFT) R&D Campaign is supporting research on crystalline rock, shale (argillite) and salt as potential host rocks for disposal of HLW and SNF in a mined geologic repository. The distribution of these three potential repository host rocks is limited to specific regions of the US and to different geologic and hydrologic environments (Perry et al., 2014), many of which may be technically suitable as a site for mined geologic disposal. This report documents a regional geologic evaluation of the Pierre Shale, as an example of evaluating a potentially suitable shale for siting a geologic HLW repository. This report follows a similar report competed in 2016 on a regional evaluation of crystalline rock that focused on the Superior Province of the north-central US (Perry et al., 2016).

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Experiment-Based Verification of the SAFR/V1 Module of the EVKLID/V2 Integral Code for Thermal Breakdown of Fuel Pins in a Fast Reactor

The results of verification of the IBRAE-developed SAFR/V1 module, describing in the EVKLID/V2 integral code the thermal breakdown of fuel pins, on the basis of data obtained using experimental facilities. The experiments performed on the TREAT and DEH facilities at the Argonne National Laboratory and on a bench at the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University were picked for the verification process. The computational error was evaluated for individual parameters on the basis of the verification results. The impact of the uncertainties in the initial data on the computational results was analyzed.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Cost-optimal evaluation of centralized and distributed microgrid topologies considering voltage constraints

Optimal design of hybrid renewable mini-grids requires both economic and power quality considerations. Existing modeling approaches address these considerations via separate or loosely coupled models. Here, we extend REopt—a techno-economic optimization model developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory—to consider both within a single model. REopt formulates the design problem as a mixed-integer linear program that solves for a site's optimal technology mix, sizing, and operation to minimize life cycle cost. REopt has traditionally assumed a single node system. In the work presented here, we expand the REopt platform to consider multiple connected nodes with associated voltage constraints. In order to do this, we model power flow using a fixed-point linear approximation method. Additionally, we then use the model to explore design considerations of mini-grids in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, we evaluate under what combinations of transmission line distance and capacity it is technically viable and economically preferable to build multiple isolated mini-grids versus an interconnected, centralized system.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

The North Dakota integrated carbon storage complex feasibility study

Here, the Energy & Environmental Research Center is investigating the feasibility of safely, permanently, and economically storing 50 million tonnes of CO 2 in central North Dakota, United States, over a 25-year operational period, should a business case for CO 2 storage emerge. The study is part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory CarbonSAFE initiative and addresses the technical and nontechnical challenges of commercially deploying a CO 2 storage project. Evaluation of cores from two stratigraphic test wells demonstrate that the Broom Creek Formation (sandstone) is an excellent candidate for the geologic storage of CO 2 and the overlying Opeche Formation a competent cap rock.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Dataset for Biorefinery-specific feedstock price variability, Part 1: Corn stover

This dataset was utilized in a report to highlight parameters that affect near-term sustainable supply of corn stover and forest resources at $56 and $74 per dry ton delivered. While the report focus is restricted to 2018, the modeling runs are available from 2016-2022. In the 2016 Billion-ton Report (BT16), two stover cases were presented. In this dataset, we vary technical levels of those assumptions to measure stover supply response and to evaluate the major determinants of stover supply. In each of these cases, the supply is modeled first at the farmgate at prices up to $80 per dry ton for five deterministic scenarios. Building on this dataset, a supplementary dataset of delivered supply was modeled for 800k dry ton per year capacity facilities in two facility siting approaches. Results were summarized across delivered supply curves for twelve scenarios. The resulting supply curves are highly elastic, resulting in a range of potential supplies across scenarios at specified prices. Interactive visualization of these data allows exploration into any specified nth plant supply sensitivity to key variables and spatial distribution of stover resources. The analysis is economic supply risk and doesn’t account for disruptions from competing demands, namely livestock feed and bedding markets. Scenario ending in _BC3080 is a reference scenario consistent with BT16 Basecase (BC1), but with corn stover price isolation. Scenario ending in _OHB080 includes high operational efficiency constraints for corn stover. Scenario ending in _OLB080 includes low operational efficiency constraints for corn stover. Scenario ending in _PLB080 includes low opportunity cost. Scenario ending in _PHB080 includes high opportunity cost. No Land Rental costs are applied to these scenarios. All scenarios were under an exogenous price simulation using POLYSYS (v2017).

Agricultural residues, biomass resources, 2018, bi↗

TEAMER: Biofouling Analysis for Wave Energy Piston Design - Load Cell Data

Biofouling and corrosion are a major concern for all ocean-deployed components, especially when mechanical motion is involved. Triton has developed the concept of a biofouling mitigation seal as part of the piston sealing assembly for the Triton Wave Energy Converter (TSI-WEC). This mitigation seal has the purpose of preventing the formation of a biofilm on the inside of the piston cylinder. It is hypothesized that the prevention of a biofilm will reduce the amount of macro-biofouling that can occur in the piston assembly. The mitigation seal can also reduce the wear on the main dynamic seal, helping to maintain smooth operation and water-tightness. The cylinder is made from a thermoset composite epoxy, which is resistant to corrosion. However, no studies have researched the material's performance with biofouling. Triton placed two prototype Power Take-Off (PTO) assemblies in a PNNL biofouling tank, one with a biofouling mitigation seal and one without, allowing for an evaluation of seal effectiveness at the prevention of biofouling. In actual WEC operation, wave action would react against the piston, which would drive the linear actuator and electric generator, providing electrical power. In the test setup, this was reversed; a linear actuator was powered to drive the piston in a consistent motion within the cylinder. There are two assemblies: one has a biofouling mitigation seal, the other (control) does not. The following data encompasses a 4 month test period, with load cells being used to monitor piston friction force. Results from this testing will be used to improve seal design and material selection, mitigating risk of premature failure during open water testing and evaluation. This project is part of the TEAMER RFTS 3 (request for technical support) program.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Safety and Security Defense-in-Depth for Nuclear Power Plants

This report describes the risk-informed technical elements that will contribute to a defense-in-depth assessment for cybersecurity. Risk-informed cybersecurity must leverage the technical elements of a risk-informed approach appropriately in order to evaluate cybersecurity risk insights. HAZCADS and HAZOP+ are suitable methodologies to model the connection between digital harm and process hazards. Risk assessment modeling needs to be expanded beyond HAZCADS and HAZOP+ to consider the sequence of events that lead to plant consequences. Leveraging current practices in PRA can lead to categorization of digital assets and prioritizing digital assets commensurate with the risk. Ultimately, the culmination of cyber hazard methodologies, event sequence modeling, and digital asset categorization will facilitate a defense-in-depth assessment of cybersecurity.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Modular space station phase B extension period executive summary

A narrative summary is presented of technical, programmatic, and planning information developed during the space station definition study extension period. The modular space station is emphasized, but tasks pertaining to shuttle sorties missions and information management advanced development are included. A series of program options considering technical, schedule, and programmatic alternatives to the baseline program are defined and evaluated.

Tischler, A. A.↗

The development and flight test of an electronic integrated propulsion control system

Advanced technical features of the electronic integrated propulsion control system (IPCS) and flight evaluation tests of IPCS (F-111E with TF30-P-9 engines as test vehicle) are described. Nine baseline flight tests and 15 IPCS flight tests were conducted. Instrumentation, data acquisition and data processing systems, software maintenance procedures, flight test procedures, flight safety criteria, flight test results, and ground and flight testing of the aircraft system are described. Advantages conferred by IPCS include: faster accelerations (both gas generator and afterburner performance), better thrust and flight control, reduced flight idle thrust, reduced engine ground trim, extended service ceiling, automatic stall detection, and stall recovery detection.

Johnson, H. J.↗

Thermal energy storage systems using fluidized bed heat exchangers

The viability of using fluidized bed heat exchangers (FBHX) for thermal energy storage (TES) in applications with potential for waste heat recovery was investigated. Of the candidate applications screened, cement plant rotary kilns and steel plant electric arc furnaces were identified, via the chosen selection criteria, as having the best potential for successful use of FBHX/TES system. A computer model of the FBHX/TES systems was developed and the technical feasibility of the two selected applications was verified. Economic and tradeoff evaluations in progress for final optimization of the systems and selection of the most promising system for further concept validation are described.

Ramanathan, V.↗