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Results for “Optimal configuration”

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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

HYPSTAT (Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Transmission Analysis Tool) [SWR-23-04]

The Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Transmission Analysis Tool (HYPSTAT) is a modeling framework developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to support the analysis of hydrogen systems. HYPSTAT focuses on key components of hydrogen infrastructure, particularly electrolytic hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen transmission, as part of the transition to decarbonized energy systems HYPSTAT operates as a supply-to-demand model, taking a fixed exogenous demand as input and optimizing the design and operation of the hydrogen system to meet that demand. It determines cost-optimal configurations based on specified technology options and system constraints.

Brauch, Joseph [National Renewable Energy Laborato↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dataset for Blueprinting Electrified Transit System Implementation

This dataset contains the figures and tabulated results generated from a system-level optimization study of transit fleet electrification planning. The dataset does not include executable modeling code required to reproduce the optimization. The dataset includes results for optimized charging infrastructure deployment by location and power level and service block assignments by fuel type, battery capacity selections, and distributed energy resource sizing. It also contains aggregated financial results, capital expenditures, operating cost summaries, net present cost comparisons across scenarios, and quantified air quality impacts. Results are structured to reflect multiple planning scenarios, including heuristic electrification plans, system-optimized configurations, and sensitivity cases with alternative objective weightings. The modeling was developed using publicly available General Transit Feed Specification data from Omnitrans and standardized modeling assumptions.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dataset for Blueprinting Electrified Transit System Implementation

This dataset contains the figures and tabulated results generated from a system-level optimization study of transit fleet electrification planning. The dataset does not include executable modeling code required to reproduce the optimization. The dataset includes results for optimized charging infrastructure deployment by location and power level and service block assignments by fuel type, battery capacity selections, and distributed energy resource sizing. It also contains aggregated financial results, capital expenditures, operating cost summaries, net present cost comparisons across scenarios, and quantified air quality impacts. Results are structured to reflect multiple planning scenarios, including heuristic electrification plans, system-optimized configurations, and sensitivity cases with alternative objective weightings. The modeling was developed using publicly available General Transit Feed Specification data from Omnitrans and standardized modeling assumptions.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Space charge dominated momentum spread and compensation strategies in the post-linac section of Proton Improvement Plan-II at Fermilab

The upcoming Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II), designated for enhancements to the Fermilab accelerator complex, features a new 800 MeV superconducting linac and a Beam Transfer Line (BTL) to transport the beam to the existing Booster synchrotron. To mitigate the space charge tune shift associated with a high intensity accumulated beam, the low emittance linac beam is used to paint the ring phase space both transversely and longitudinally. To prevent losses caused by particles injected outside the rf separatrix while painting longitudinal phase space, the momentum spread of the incoming beam should not exceed 2.1 x 10^-4. Detailed simulations showed that due to space charge, the rms momentum spread increases to 4 x 10^-4 while it is transported in the BTL --about twice the allowable limit. In this paper, we outline a mitigation strategy involving a debuncher cavity. We discuss location, operating frequency, and gap voltage under both nominal and perturbed beam conditions, specifically accounting for momentum jitter. The impact of cavity misalignments is also assessed. The paper concludes by recommending an optimized configuration.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

CFD and systems engineering to minimize membrane-based carbon capture costs

In this study, we propose a superstructure for membrane-based carbon capture, addressing these challenges through the formulation of an optimization problem. The case study considers a flue gas with a flowrate of 1000 mol/s and a 30 % CO2 (molar basis), which is representative of steel plants. Reduced models, derived from rigorous CFD simulations of membrane modules, are utilized to enhance the efficiency of the optimization process. The reduced model includes specific input variables such as inlet flow rate, retentate and permeate pressures, and inlet CO2 concentration; while the CO2 recovery and purity in the permeate side are considered as output variables. In this way, we exploit the information from the CFD simulations in the superstructure, aiding in the selection of the optimal configuration for the multi-stage membrane process. The results underscore the efficiency of a multi-stage membrane design, showing capture costs around 45 $/t-CO2.

Pedrozo, Hector A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrating Chemical Catalysis and Biological Conversion of Carbon Intermediates for Deriving Value-Added Products from Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide valorization represents an appealing approach to reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While electrocatalysis is an effective tool to reduce CO 2 into small carbon compounds, it becomes increasingly challenging to efficiently produce compounds with more carbon atoms. In contrast, while biological systems struggle to utilize CO 2 , they can readily upcycle other small carbon compounds. This project explores the use of a two-stage process that electrocatalytically converts CO 2 into methanol, formate, or acetate which is subsequently utilized by Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z to produce medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate. A techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment evaluates the commercial viability of the process as well as its carbon emissions. We show here an enhanced CO 2 -to-methanol electroconversion step coupled with the use of a microbial culture adapted to the process conditions to be the optimal configuration for economic potential.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Simultaneous Reduction of NOx and Fuel Consumption for Off-Road Powertrains

Simultaneously reducing criteria pollutants and fuel consumption is important for clean air and improving vehicle total cost of ownership. The goal of this effort was focused on a 90% NOx reduction and 10% fuel savings for an off-road 407 kW diesel engine. The baseline was a production Fiat Powertrain 13L engine and aftertreatment system meeting 0.4 g/kW-hr NOx. The baseline system was quantified over the NRTC, RMC, new low load cycle and five field cycles. A next generation engine was built incorporating several fuel-efficient design features, including a higher compression ratio, increased fuel-rail pressure, low-friction piston rings, and a high-efficiency variable-geometry turbocharger. Cylinder deactivation and EGR pump technologies were added to this engine as well. The combination was optimized prior to adding advanced aftertreatment systems, showing the trade-off of engine out NOx and exhaust temperature. Two next-generation catalyst technologies were employed into a LO-SCR plus main SCR system, both with and without an electric heater upstream of the LO-SCR. These catalysts were hydrothermally aged to simulate significant field use. Dual SCR dosing with newly developed controls played a critical role in achieving the proper split between the upstream LO-SCR and the downstream main SCR. Adding a next generation mixer for the downstream SCR proved essential in obtaining the final results. The optimal configuration required adding an electric heater to elevate the exhaust temperature at the LO-SCR for early cycle NOx reduction. The final results showed a 94.8% NOx reduction and 15.7% fuel savings on the composite NRTC.

McCarthy, James [Eaton Corporation]↗
NASA NTRS1970

Radioisotope thermionic generator /RTIG/

Impact resistant power packages for unmanned planetary probe landers, discussing radioisotope thermionic multiconverter array optimal configuration

Rouklove, P.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Transonic transport study: Structures and aerodynamics

The structural and aerodynamic aspects of a general study of advanced transonic transports are presented. Aircraft designed to cruise at Mach numbers of 0.90, 0.98, and 1.15 were comparatively analyzed. The wings of all three aircraft employ supercritical sections, and the two aircraft with the highest cruise Mach numbers also employ fuselage area ruling. Structural/aerodynamic characteristics and interactions are investigated both parametrically and with the aid of an automated configuration optimization program. The effects of replacing conventional aluminum airframe structure by advanced filamentary composite (carbon/epoxy) structure receive particular attention. The methods employed in the structural/aerodynamic analysis are discussed.

Ardema, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Ablative heat shield design for space shuttle

Ablator heat shield configuration optimization studies were conducted for the orbiter. Ablator and reusable surface insulation (RSI) trajectories for design studies were shaped to take advantage of the low conductance of ceramic RSI and high temperature capability of ablators. Comparative weights were established for the RSI system and for direct bond and mechanically attached ablator systems. Ablator system costs were determined for fabrication, installation and refurbishment. Cost penalties were assigned for payload weight penalties, if any. The direct bond ablator is lowest in weight and cost. A mechanically attached ablator using a magnesium subpanel is highly competitive for both weight and cost.

Seiferth, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A study to identify and compare airborne systems for in-situ measurements of launch vehicle effluents

An in-situ system for monitoring the concentration of HCl, CO, CO2, and Al2O3 in the cloud of reaction products that form as a result of a launch of solid propellant launch vehicle is studied. A wide array of instrumentation and platforms are reviewed to yield the recommended system. An airborne system suited to monitoring pollution concentrations over urban areas for the purpose of calibrating remote sensors is then selected using a similar methodology to yield the optimal configuration.

Thomas, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

An investigation of the optimization of parameters affecting the implementation of fourier transform spectroscopy at 20-500 micron from the C-141 airborne infrared observatory

A program for 20-500 micron spectroscopy from the NASA flying C141 infrared observatory is being carried out with a Michelson interferometer. The parameters affecting the performance of the instrument are studied and an optimal configuration for high performance on the C-141 aircraft is recommended. As each parameter is discussed the relative merits of the two modes of mirror motion (rapid scan or step and integrate) are presented.

Thompson, R. I.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Optimal platform skewing for Space Shuttle inertial measurement unit redundancy management

Constraints are applied to a general quaternion which describes the skewing between platforms of the Space Shuttle IMU. Once a skewing is derived, the use of the failure magnitude to threshold ratio makes possible predictions of the identification sensitivities for various failure modes. This in turn simplifies analyses and identifies portions of the flight envelope where second failure coverage is lacking. The square root of 6 and square root of 2 skewings have been baselined for use during nominal entry; the realignment software will be used on orbit to reskew the IMUs to the optimal configuration.

Rasmussen, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Sensitivity of optimum solutions to problem parameters

In an aircraft configuration optimization, the information of interest is the sensitivity of optimal block fuel consumption and wing aspect ratio and area, to variations of required range and payload. The objectives of this study are: (1) to show how the equations capable of yielding the sensitivity derivatives (the sensitivity equations) can be obtained for a constrained optimum regardless of the type of optimization algorithm that was used to arrive at the optimum point, (2) to review the solvability of the sensitivity equations and (3) to report on applications on structural optimization. Numerical examples, which demonstrate the sensitivity analysis, include a tubular column and a three-bar truss for which closed form solutions are obtained, a ten-bar truss that requires the use of a finite element analysis, and a thin-walled beam characterized by strongly nonlinear constraints for local buckling. It is concluded that a practically significant extrapolation accuracy may be obtained for a reasonably broad range of parameter changes; and that accuracy does not depend strongly on the degree of convergence of the optimum solution from which the sensitivity derivatives are obtained.

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Helicopter terminal approach using differential GPS with vertical-axis enhancement

The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) in differential mode (DGPS) has been shown to be least accurate in the vertical axis. The vertical axis also has the most stringent accuracy requirements for aircraft precision approach and landing. A series of flight tests were conducted to evaluate a concept for improving the DGPS vertical axis navigation performance. These tests incorporated augmentation sensors to aid the DGPS navigation solution during terminal approach operations. A GPS receiver was installed on board a NASA helicopter and interfaced with a real-time digital computer system. A reconfigurable navigation filter programmed in the digital computer provided an augmented DGPS solution, with selectable inputs from a low-cost vertical accelerometer, a barometric altimeter, and the aircraft attitude gyros. The reference aircraft position was determined by a laser tracker. Extensive post-test analysis was done to optimize the filter performance during the terminal approach operation. Test results show that baro-altimeter aiding can significantly improve vertical axis performance. Follow-on tests are planned for the optimized configurations.

Edwards, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Design optimization and testing of a pump wear ring labyrinth seal

It has been demonstrated that design optimization of labyrinth seals using the present numerical model is quite beneficial. The results shown include important, but previously unknown effects on the leakage rate, especially that of step height. Further, complete details are given of a very effective seal designed using this technique for the SSME high pressure hydrogen turbopump. Measurements using turbine flow meters revealed that the optimized configuration gives 67 percent leakage reduction over the original design. These measurements also reveal important leakage effects of the axial straining of the stator, which begins during pump start-up.

Rhode, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

U.S. Space Station platform - Configuration technology for customer servicing

Features of the Space Station coorbiting and polar orbiting platforms (COP and POP, respectively) are described that will allow them to be configured optimally to meet mission requirements and to be assembled, serviced, and modified on-orbit. Both of these platforms were designed to permit servicing at the Shuttle using the remote manipulator system with teleoperated end effectors; EVA was planned as a backup and for unplanned payload failure modes. Station-based servicing is discussed as well as expendable launch vehicle-based servicing concepts.

Dezio, Joseph A.↗