Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Central Receiver”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Modeling receiver flux of commercial power tower concentrating solar power plants using ray tracing: a round-robin comparison of SolTrace, Solstice, and TieSOL

This study presents a multi-stage, cross-validation comparison of three software packages for Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT) applied to central tower concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. The three packages evaluated are: (1) SolTrace, an open-source tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); (2) Solstice, an open-source program created by CNRS-PROMES and Meso-Star, with enhancements for CSP applications (called solsticepy) from the Australian National University; and (3) TieSOL, a commercial software developed by Tietronix. This investigation extends previous ray tracing comparisons by incorporating models of multi-facet heliostats within a commercial-scale solar field, taking into account zoned focal lengths and canting configurations. Receiver flux distributions were compared across the tools using a series of case studies, including single-heliostat scenarios, isolated blocking situations, and comprehensive full-field simulations. The case studies were designed to diagnose differences across the models at varying levels of complexity, and to identify and resolve discrepancies as additional parameters were introduced. Key factors examined in the analysis include sun positions, heliostat location, facet and canting focus, and aimpoint strategies. The comparison aims to improve the accuracy and reliability of these tools while providing benchmark cases for validating future optical modeling tools.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

COGIHTO: Comprehensive Geothermal Integrated HVAC Retrofits in Disadvantaged Communities

Geothermal heating and cooling (GHC) systems offer one of the most efficient approaches to provide space conditioning and water heating in buildings. Due to the relatively stable temperature of the ground year-round, these systems can provide an efficient solution to decarbonize heating systems. Yet this technology has faced limited market adoption due to its high first cost. This project seeks to address this barrier by designing a community GHC system at a public housing development in New York, taking advantage of load diversity (in terms of the timing and amount of heating / cooling used per person) that a larger community offers to reduce the size and thus first cost of a GHC system. Project success would result in societal benefit from reduced energy and fossil fuel use, reduced local emissions, and improved comfort, which would positively impact the health and well-being this community. This report presents the findings from Phase 1 project supported by the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office and includes the technical design of a GHC at a public housing development in New York. To support the success of a potential deployment of a GHC system, the team conducted community engagement and prepared an assessment of the local workforce needs. The project team, led by EPRI, considered a subset of NYCHA housing developments that were previously identified by NYCHA as suitable for GHC retrofits. This report presents the site selection criteria the team developed and the overall score assigned to each of the eight developments considered. One site was selected for focus of the technical design: Stapleton Houses in Staten Island, a mid-size development with roughly 700 apartments across 6 buildings. The site has an existing hot water hydronic loop served by natural gas boilers for space heating and water heating. The technical design partner assessed baseline energy consumption at the site and established thermal models of the apartment buildings to assist in the design. The team considered several GHC system configurations and selected a hybrid geothermal design fed from water-source heat pumps with auxiliary gas boilers in a central plant. This design best leveraged the existing site configuration and minimized costs due to additional electrical infrastructure upgrades. The report also details the feedback received from community engagement efforts and the findings from the workforce needs assessment and workforce transition plan. Members of the site maintenance staff and the resident advisory council were interviewed for their input and feedback about both the site’s existing heating/cooling infrastructure and how a construction project would impact resident life. This feedback was taken into consideration when completing the geothermal system design. Research was conducted into existing workforce development opportunities available to NYCHA residents. A workforce development plan was established using information from NYCHA’s resident economic empowerment and sustainability group, along with training material and curriculum from the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA).

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Prototype Modeling for a Light-Trapping Planar-Cavity Enclosed Particle Solar Receiver

Concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems present a promising avenue for affordable and reliable energy production. Solar receivers are key components that determine the efficiency and longevity of these systems. Particle-based solar receivers have emerged as a compelling alternative to traditional technologies, offering several advantages that address limitations in current CST systems. This is especially true as next-generation CST technologies target applications including electricity generation, thermochemical processes, and industrial process heat, many of which necessitate higher operating temperatures than current commercial molten salt systems. Molten-salt thermal energy storage (TES) systems, commonly used in CSP, face challenges related to freezing and corrosion. Particle-based TES systems, in contrast, do not experience these issues, as particles are stable at high temperatures, exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius. This capability allows for a wider range of applications, including those requiring higher temperatures for industrial processes and efficient electricity generation. A novel innovation in particle-based solar receiver technology is the light-trapping planar cavity receiver (LTPCR) configuration developed by NREL. The LTPCR design consists of small cavity-like structures using opaque planar surfaces, enabling efficient capture and absorption of solar energy. A high incident flux concentration at the cavity aperture is absorbed on the receiver walls, and subsequently transferred to particles on the inside of cavities. The particles flow through the system, forming a fluidized bed inside of the receiver panels, effectively capturing the absorbed solar heat. Air is used as a fluidizing medium in this process to enhance particle heat transfer and mixing. The effectiveness of this design lies in its ability to manage solar flux conditions and ensure high solar-to-thermal receiver efficiency. A 100-kW prototype is currently being tested at the King Saud University in Saudi Arabia to assess the receiver performance. A range of modeling analyses for the optical, thermal, and mechanical effects were conducted to assess the performance of the receiver under on-sun conditions. The solar flux resulting from the KSU heliostat field was modeled using NREL SolTrace software and produced up to 600 kW/m2 at the receiver aperture. The solar flux absorbed on the receiver walls was then used within a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to predict wall temperature distributions along with radiation and convection loss. A two-phase CFD model was developed for the fluidized bed of silica sand inside the receiver panels to predict local wall-to-particle heat transfer coefficients, particle temperature distributions, and outlet temperature of the particles. We have also conducted analyses to understand the thermomechanical behavior of these innovative enclosed light-trapping solar receivers optimized for particle heating. We used finite element analysis (FEA) to predict the receiver's performance using temperature distributions obtained from CFD and based on the resulting stress profiles, evaluated creep-fatigue damage with a goal of achieving a 30-year service life. Analysis showed a significant impact of the particle-to-wall heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) on receiver performance, with higher HTCs resulting in reduced stress and increased lifespan. For instance, when using Inconel 740H, increasing the HTC from 800 W/m2 K to 1400 W/m2 K increased the creep life from 4,000 hours to over 100,000 hours. This highlights the importance of understanding and optimizing heat transfer in the design of high-efficiency receivers.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Isochronous and period-doubling diagrams for symplectic maps of the plane

Symplectic mappings of the plane serve as key models for exploring the fundamental nature of complex behavior in nonlinear systems. Central to this exploration is the effective visualization of stability regimes, which enables the interpretation of how systems evolve under varying conditions. While the area-preserving quadratic Hénon map has received significant theoretical attention, a comprehensive description of its mixed parameter-space dynamics remain lacking. This limitation arises from early attempts to reduce the full two-dimensional phase space to a one-dimensional projection, a simplification that resulted in the loss of important dynamical features. Consequently, there is a clear need for a more thorough understanding of the underlying qualitative aspects. This paper aims to address this gap by revisiting the foundational concepts of reversibility and associated symmetries, first explored in the early works of G.D. Birkhoff. We extend the original framework proposed by Hénon by adding a period-doubling diagram to his isochronous diagram, which allows to represents the system’s bifurcations and the groups of symmetric periodic orbits that emerge in typical bifurcations of the fixed point. A qualitative and quantitative explanation of the main features of the region of parameters with bounded motion is provided, along with the application of this technique to other symplectic mappings, including cases of multiple reversibility. Modern chaos indicators, such as the Reversibility Error Method (REM) and the Generalized Alignment Index (GALI), are employed to distinguish between various dynamical regimes in the mixed space of variables and parameters. These tools prove effective in differentiating regular and chaotic dynamics, as well as in identifying twistless orbits and their associated bifurcations. Additionally, we discuss the application of these methods to real-world problems, such as visualizing dynamic aperture in accelerator physics, where our findings have direct relevance.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Superiority of compensatory reserve measurement compared with the Shock index for early and accurate detection of reduced central blood volume status

Shock index (SI) equals the ratio of heart rate (HR) to systolic blood pressure (SBP) with clinical evidence that it is more sensitive for trauma patient status assessment and prediction of outcome compared with either HR or SBP alone. We used lower body negative pressure (LBNP) as a human model of central hypovolemia and compensatory reserve measurement (CRM) validated for accurate tracking of reduced central blood volume to test the hypotheses that SI: (1) presents a late signal of central blood volume status; (2) displays poor sensitivity and specificity for predicting the onset of hemodynamic decompensation; and (3) cannot identify individuals at greatest risk for the onset of circulatory shock. We measured HR, SBP, and CRM in 172 human subjects (19–55 years) during progressive LBNP designed to determine tolerance to central hypovolemia as a model of hemorrhage. Subjects were subsequently divided into those with high tolerance (HT) (n = 118) and low tolerance (LT) (n = 54) based on completion of 60 mm Hg LBNP. The time course relationship between SI and CRM was determined and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for sensitivity and specificity of CRM and SI to predict hemodynamic decompensation using clinically defined thresholds of 40% for CRM and 0.9 for SI. The time and level of LBNP required to reach a SI = 0.9 (~60 mm Hg LBNP) was significantly greater (p < 0.001) compared with CRM that reached 40% at ~40 mm Hg LBNP. Shock index did not differ between HT and LT subjects at 45 mm Hg LBNP levels. ROC AUC for CRM was 0.95 (95% CI = 0.94–0.97) compared with 0.91 (0.89–0.94) for SI (p = 0.0002). Despite high sensitivity and specificity, SI delays time to detect reductions in central blood volume with failure to distinguish individuals with varying tolerances to central hypovolemia.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Aerosol Optical Depth Best Estimate Value-Added Product Report

Four aerosol optical depth (AOD) products are offered by four collocated ground-based instruments deployed at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory (SGP Central Facility 1 [C1] and Extended Facility 13 [E13]) for more than two decades. Two of these instruments, the multifilter rotating shadowband radiometers (MFRSRs C1 and E13), are sensors with horizontal hemispherical receivers shaded by rotating shadowbands.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Two-loop radiative jet function for exclusive B-meson and Higgs decays

The rare radiative B -meson decay \( {B}^{-}\to \gamma {\mathrm{\ell}}^{-}\overline{v} \) and the radiative Higgs-boson decay h → γγ mediated by light-quark loops both receive large logarithmic corrections in QCD, which can be resummed using factorization theorems derived in soft-collinear effective theory. In these factorization theorems the same radiative jet function appears, which is a central object in the study of factorization beyond the leading order in scale ratios. We calculate this function at two-loop order both in momentum space and in a dual space, where its renormalization-group evolution takes on a simpler form. We also derive the two-loop anomalous dimension of the jet function and present the exact solution to its evolution equation at two-loop order. Another important outcome of our analysis is the explicit form of the two-loop anomalous dimension of the B -meson light-cone distribution amplitude in momentum space.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Next Generation Thin-Film Solar Absorbers Based on Chalcogenides

Harvesting solar energy has never been more important than today as the world is combating the implications of global climate change. Grid decarbonization is a central component of efforts to keep the global temperature increase below 2 °C following the 2015 Paris Agreement. The Sun is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source with the Earth’s surface receiving enough energy in an hour to meet the world’s annual energy demands. Therefore, we need to take advantage of the essentially limitless clean solar energy for powering our society; this can be achieved using photovoltaics (PV), direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials. To gain full advantage of this technology, however, the cost of PV must be competitive with the more traditional carbon-based sources (coal, oil, and natural gas). Most recent developments on this front, including the current state-of-the-art solar cell technologies and ongoing work on a new generation of light absorbing chalcogenide materials, are discussed by Lydia Wong and colleagues in a comprehensive new review article (10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00301). The Review covers a broad class of materials and provides a comparison between different materials on the basis of diode parameters and DFT calculations. Furthermore, this Highlight will focus specifically on copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Collaboration and Negotiation

Collaboration and Negotiation is a critical high-level function of an Autonomous Intelligent Cyber-Defense Agent (AICA) that enables communication among agents, central cyber C2, and human operators. Maintaining the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) triad while achieving mission goals requires stealthy AICA agents to exercise: 1) minimal communication as needed for avoiding detection, 2) verification of information received with possibly limited resources, and 3) active learning during operations to address dynamic conditions. Moreover, negotiations to jointly identify and execute a Course of Action (COA) solution will require building consensus under distributed and/or decentralized multiagent settings with information uncertainties. This chapter presents algorithmic approaches for enabling the collaboration and negotiation function. Strengths and limitations of potential techniques are identified, and a representative example is illustrated. Recommendations for future development are also discussed.

Chatterjee, Samrat↗
DOE OSTI2020

Editorial: Viruses, Genetic Exchange, and the Tree of Life

We live in exciting times for microbiology research. The significant technological and scientific advancements in the past decades have now enabled scientists to pursue discovery and description of novel microbial and viral linages from previously uncharted Earth habitats. Two such discoveries are particularly exciting and noteworthy in this regard. First, the discovery of the first ‘giant virus’, Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus, in 2003, and several others thereafter, posed intriguing questions regarding virus origins, evolution, classification, and their place in the ‘tree of life’. Second, the discoveries of ‘Lokiarchaeota’ and several other closelyrelated archaeal members that encode several eukaryote-specific proteins challenged the threedomain canonical structure of the tree of life. These discoveries have reopened debates on central questions in evolutionary biology research such as the origin of viruses, the origin of eukaryotes, evolutionary relationship between Archaea and Eukarya, and the structure and topology of the tree of life. In this Research Topic, we received a broad range of contributions addressing these and other related questions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Developmental Ethanol Exposure Impacts Purkinje Cells but Not Microglia in the Young Adult Cerebellum

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) caused by developmental ethanol exposure lead to cerebellar impairments, including motor problems, decreased cerebellar weight, and cell death. Alterations in the sole output of the cerebellar cortex, Purkinje cells, and central nervous system immune cells, microglia, have been reported in animal models of FASD. To determine how developmental ethanol exposure affects adult cerebellar microglia and Purkinje cells, we used a human third-trimester binge exposure model in which mice received ethanol or saline from postnatal (P) days 4–9. In adolescence, cerebellar cranial windows were implanted and mice were aged to young adulthood for examination of microglia and Purkinje cells in vivo with two-photon imaging or in fixed tissue. Ethanol had no effect on microglia density, morphology, dynamics, or injury response. However, Purkinje cell linear frequency was reduced by ethanol. Microglia–Purkinje cell interactions in the Purkinje Cell Layer were altered in females compared to males. Overall, developmental ethanol exposure had few effects on cerebellar microglia in young adulthood and Purkinje cells appeared to be more susceptible to its effects.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Verifying the Computational Integrity of Power Grid Controls with Zero-Knowledge Proof

The control of future power grids is migrating from a centralized to a distributed/decentralized scheme to enable a massive penetration of distributed energy resources with rising dependence on communication infrastructure. A common assumption made for most existing distributed/decentralized controllers is that local controllers would faithfully follow the designated controller dynamics based on the data received from communication channels. However, with increased probability of cyberattacks on Operational Technology infrastructure, such an assumption could be risky because proper execution of the controller dynamics is then built on trust in secure communication and computation. In this work, we leverage a cryptography technology known as zero-knowledge scalable transparent arguments of knowledge (zk-STARK) to verify the computational integrity of power grid control algorithms, with projected linear dynamics-based control schemes as the initial proof-of-concept test case. The method presented here converts the cybersecurity challenge of data integrity for grid control into a subset of computational integrity.

computational integrity↗
DOE OSTI2020

Spark-ignited direct-injection engine combustion systems

A direct-injection stratified charge internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder to receive an air-fuel mixture, and an air intake port to inlet air into the combustion cylinder. The direct-injection engine also includes a fuel injector configured to deliver fuel within the cylinder in a spray pattern substantially aligned to a cylinder central axis to create the air-fuel mixture. A spark igniter is located within a path of the spray pattern to ignite combustion of the air-fuel mixture. The direct-injection engine further includes a movable piston defining a lower boundary of the combustion cylinder to contain the combustion of the air-fuel mixture. The piston is configured to include a bowl portion having local geometric features located on an intake port side of the combustion cylinder to redirect fluid flow towards a vortex in fluid communication with a combustion location near the cylinder central axis.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Sensing Electrical Networks Securely & Economically (SENSE)

The growing adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) like battery energy storage systems and roof top solar/PV and the rapid penetration of electric vehicles (EVs), the electric grid is undergoing a major transformation with elevated stress on legacy grid assets. Despite a lot of expenditure to address these challenges, both in dollars and manpower, utilities have not been able to receive the value that was promised. The gains have been most visible at the transmission and substation level, especially where the main objective was improving operational and economic efficiency for the utility. Improving visibility and control at a few select points enhances the existing and established paradigm of centralized command and control. With changing load patterns, load types and the overall transition to an “active grid”, the centralized control and coordination paradigm gets challenged. To address the challenges, a new architecture and mechanism is needed, one that supports decentralized control and decision making, extracting value streams at the grid edge, particularly as the changes are fueled by transitions occurring in the distribution system. To address this, a communications and data processing platform, “GAMMA” was developed and demonstrated through the project. At the heart of the platform, are distributed, intelligent edge nodes with sensing and compute capabilities, that can record and analyze information locally. They are embedded in sensors and actuators specific to different distribution system applications. Phase 1 of the project focused on developing novel sensor technology that can be used for monitoring utility pole top distribution transformers. The sensors were designed with the objective of being low-cost, communicating with the GAMMA cloud using novel “delay-tolerant” networking using Bluetooth and a secure mobile application. They were non-intrusive in nature so that they can be installed quickly in the field, resulting in overall low cost of deployment and operations. Following the successful completion of Phase 1, the team manufactured 100 units for a field demonstration in Phase 2. The field demonstration was carried out on two real feeder systems with the local utility partner. In total, 100 sensors were installed and operated over a period of 6 months in the state of Georgia. The platform is operational end to end, with the cloud infrastructure deployed on a distributed, serverless environment that can serve multiple data streams, an analytics engine and a portal to securely view the data from multiple assets. The data collected through the GAMMA Mobile Phone app showcased the viability of the novel delay tolerant networking architecture, and the data processing algorithms developed through the course of the project, were successful in extracting important information about the overall network, improving the utility’s visibility and situational awareness in the distribution feeder.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Smart Building Start (SBS) (CRADA 480)

The idea of Smart Building Start (SBS) is to manage the on/off scheduling of HVAC equipment in buildings in an optimal way in order to achieve comfort conditions at the designated times with the minimal use of energy. This concept is also known as Optimal Start and it has typically been used in buildings to start up equipment based on predictions made for a representative (or average) zone in a building. This means that zones that could have waited longer to receive conditioned air are activated too early leading to unnecessary energy loss. The approach proposed in this project is to develop and implement a distributed version of optimal start that will consider the individual requirements of all treated zones. The developed control strategy will enable smart start of the central plant as well as further localized control over each individual zone by means of setpoint adjustment so that zones are not conditioned too early thereby reducing energy use compared to the current state of the art. This project is a collaboration between PNNL and Verdicity with the goal being to bring the research concept of SBS to commercialization. The SBS algorithm(s) will be implemented and hosted on the PNNL-developed open-platform VOLTTRON which will accelerate bringing the research to practice. It is anticipated that this project will lead to new IP surrounding the algorithm and its decentralized deployment. The project will also further demonstrate the success of VOLTRON as a flexible platform for implementation of innovative algorithms for improving energy efficiency in buildings. Previous studies on smart building start carried out by PNNL have indicated potential energy savings on the order of 10-15% for multi-zone buildings compared to conventional strategies. Verdicity currently has a number of customers who can benefit from the use of this technology. PNNL will work with Verdicity to identify any key gaps in the integrated software and jointly work to enhance and customize it for Verdicity and to integrate it with their existing products for use at their customers’ sites. The proposed work will help previously funded Federal research and development technology investments find their way into a viable commercial market.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hanford Site Rare Plant Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2022

Rare plants are monitored on the Hanford Site as distribution and abundance data of current and historic rare plant populations are necessary to make well-informed environmental and ecological resource management decisions. The Central Hanford Rare Plant Management Plan (DOE/RL-2021-35) guides rare plant monitoring methodology in the context of resource management at the Hanford Site. In 2022, a rare plant monitoring effort occurred on the portion of the Hanford Site (referred to herein as Central Hanford) managed by the U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office (DOE-RL; Figure 1). The goal of this effort was to revisit known occurrences of upland rare plant populations on Central Hanford to improve baseline information on locations of rare plant populations on the Hanford Site. Rare upland plants were thoroughly surveyed in 2021 but unusually low precipitation that year limited germination of many upland annual plants. Surveys in 2022 focused on rare upland annual species after the Hanford Site received higher than average spring precipitation that was expected to increase germination. Rainfall from April 2022 to June 2022 was 76% higher than average; however, these months were also colder than average. Winter rainfall from January 2022 to March 2022 was 84% lower than average. The high spring precipitation in 2022 appears to have triggered the germination of some populations of rare upland annuals but the dry winter and cold spring may have inhibited others. Population stability, viability, and threats were evaluated and will be used to inform future management of rare plant species.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Advancing Concentrating Solar Thermal Modeling Using System Advisor Model (SAM)

Concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies play a critical role in enabling dispatchable power and high-temperature industrial heat applications. Accurate and flexible modeling tools are essential for evaluating system performance, guiding technology research and development, and informing investment decisions. The National Laboratory of the Rockies's System Advisor Model (SAM) is a widely used techno-economic simulation platform for CST systems, providing detailed performance and financial modeling capabilities for multiple CST system configurations. SAM integrates physics-based performance models with financial analysis to simulate the behavior of complex energy systems under realistic operating conditions. For CST technologies (including tower, parabolic trough, and linear Fresnel), SAM enables hourly simulations using site-specific weather data that ensure feasible operating conditions and convergence of mass and energy between core system components (i.e., solar field, receiver, thermal energy storage, and power cycle). These capabilities allow researchers and developers to evaluate annual energy production, capacity factors, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and system dispatch strategies. A key advantage of SAM lies in its flexibility for parametric analysis and large-scale computational studies. Users can vary system design parameters such as heliostat field layout, receiver dimensions, thermal energy storage capacity, power block sizing, and installation cost assumptions to investigate their impact on system performance and financial metrics. When combined with automated scripting through LK, SDKTool, or Python interfaces, SAM enables high-throughput simulation workflows that support sensitivity analysis, technology benchmarking, and optimization studies. These approaches are particularly valuable for next-generation CST concepts, where design spaces are large and system interactions are complex. Another important capability of SAM is its support for dispatch optimization and thermal energy storage modeling, which are central to the value proposition of CST technologies. The ability to simulate integrated storage and flexible power generation allows researchers to explore strategies that maximize grid value, improve capacity utilization, and enhance integration with variable resources such as photovoltaic and wind generation. This poster will present an overview of SAM's thermal system modeling capabilities including concentrating solar. Additionally, we will highlight new feature developments including: 1) implementing Google's OR-Tools optimization platform for faster and more robust dispatch optimization, 2) developing a new power load following controller for modeling behind-the-meter applications, 3) enabling direct modeling of CSP-PV hybrid systems with the inclusion of battery storage, and 4) developing a multi-receiver falling particle Gen3 system model.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Hybrid Framework Combining Model-Based and Data-Driven Methods for Hierarchical Decentralized Robust Dynamic State Estimation

This paper combines model-based and data-driven methods to develop a hierarchical, decentralized, robust dynamic state estimator (DSE). A two-level hierarchy is proposed, where the lower level consists of robust, model-based, decentralized DSEs. The state estimates sent from the lower level are received at the upper level, where they are filtered by a robust data-driven DSE after a principled sparse selection. This selection allows us to shrink the dimension of the problem at the upper level and hence significantly speed up the computational time. The proposed hybrid framework does not depend on the centralized infrastructure of the control centers; thus it can be completely embedded into the wide-area measurement systems. This feature will ultimately facilitate the placement of hierarchical decentralized control schemes at the phasor data concentrator locations. Also, the network model is not necessary; thus, a topology processor is not required. Finally, there is no assumption on the dynamics of the electric loads. The proposed framework is tested on the 2,000-bus synthetic Texas system, and shown to be capable of reconstructing the dynamic states of the generators with high accuracy, and of forecasting in the advent of missing data.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗