Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Regular Grid”

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

Optimized allocation method of the VSC-MTDC system for frequency regulation reserves considering the cost

In recent years, the interconnection of asynchronous power grids through the VSC-MTDC system has been proposed and extensively studied in light of the potential benefits of economical bulk power exchanges and frequency regulation reserves sharing. This paper proposed an optimized allocation method for sharing frequency regulation reserves among the interconnected power systems and the corresponding frequency regulation control of the VSC-MTDC system under emergency frequency deviation events. Firstly, the frequency regulation reserve classification is proposed. In the classification, the available frequency response capacity reserves of each interconnection are divided into commercial reserves and regular reserves. While the commercial reserves are procured through long-term contracts, the regular reserves are purchased based on market prices of frequency regulation services. Secondly, based on the proposed frequency regulation reserve classification, a novel frequency regulation control is then introduced for the VSC-MTDC system. This control method could minimize the costs of the disturbed power grid for the needed frequency response supports from the other power grids. Simulation verifications are performed on a modified IEEE 39 bus system and a highly reduced power system model representing the North American grids. The simulation verification indicates that the developed frequency regulation control significantly reduced ancillary service costs of the disturbed power grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Satellite-based Investigation of Power-Line Vegetation Encroachment in the US (SILVANUS)

Rapid wide-area assessments of vegetation encroachment on transmission and distribution line rights-of-way (ROW) is a highly desirable capability for understanding risks to the power grid during severe weather and wildfire events. Conventional assessments are time-consuming and expensive due to the need for in-situ inspections and the use of aerial assets. Performing conventional assessments on a wide area would require immense resources and time that might not be available within the horizon of an expected adverse event. Developing a capability to accurately assess vegetation encroachment into ROWs will enable faster analysis of potential grid vulnerabilities in NAERM. This project sought to develop a prototype capability for rapid ROW vegetation encroachment assessments by using Puerto Rico as a test case. Puerto Rico is a heavily forested island territory frequently impacted by tropical cyclones that threaten the electric grid by downing trees across transmission and distribution lines. Multispectral satellite imagery (MSI) enable very high resolution (i.e., 0.5 - 2 meter) assessment of vegetation conditions at scale and with revisit times appropriate for regular monitoring (e.g., weekly to quarterly, depending on cloud cover) of the entire island. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from satellites was also investigated as solution to the cloud-cover issue as they are active sensors that emit and receive a microwave signal rather than relying on solar illumination, and are therefore unaffected by cloud cover and can collect data during day or night. Finally, MSI-derived digital surface models (DSMs) map the height of objects relative to sea level, and were assessed for their ability to estimate the height of forest canopies relative to coincident transmission lines. The results of the mapping investigation are described in this report.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Frame invariant neural network closures for Kraichnan turbulence

Numerical simulations of geophysical and atmospheric flows have to rely on parameterizations of subgrid scale processes due to their limited spatial resolution. Despite substantial progress in developing parameterization (or closure) models for subgrid scale (SGS) processes using physical insights and mathematical approximations, they remain imperfect and can lead to inaccurate predictions. In recent years, machine learning has been successful in extracting complex patterns from high-resolution spatio-temporal data, leading to improved parameterization models, and ultimately better coarse grid prediction. However, the inability to satisfy known physics and poor generalization hinders the application of these models for real-world problems. In this work, we put forth a frame invariant closure approach to improve the accuracy and generalizability of deep learning-based subgrid scale closure models by embedding physical symmetries directly into the structure of the neural network. Specifically, we utilized specialized layers within the convolutional neural network in such a way that desired constraints are theoretically guaranteed without the need for any regularization terms. We demonstrate our framework for a two-dimensional decaying turbulence test case mostly characterized by the forward enstrophy cascade. We show that our frame invariant SGS model (i) accurately predicts the subgrid scale source term, (ii) respects the physical symmetries such as translation, Galilean, and rotation invariance, and (iii) is numerically stable when implemented in coarse-grid simulation with generalization to different initial conditions and Reynolds number. This work opens up a possibility of connecting physics-based theories and data-driven modeling paradigms, and thus represents a promising step towards the development of physically consistent data-driven turbulence closure models.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Newly reconstructed Arctic surface air temperatures for 1979–2021 with deep learning method

A precise Arctic surface air temperature (SAT) dataset, that is regularly updated, has more complete spatial and temporal coverage, and is based on instrumental observations, is critically important for timely monitoring and improving understanding of the rapid change in the Arctic climate. In this study, a new monthly gridded Arctic SAT dataset dated back to 1979 was reconstructed with a deep learning method by combining surface air temperatures from multiple data sources. The source data include the observations from land station of GHCN (Global Historical Climatology Network), ICOADS (International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set) over the oceans, drifting ice station of Russian NP (North Pole), and buoys of IABP (International Arctic Buoy Programme). The last two are crucial for improving the representation of the in-situ observed temperatures within the Arctic. The newly reconstructed dataset includes monthly Arctic SAT beginning in 1979 and daily Arctic SAT beginning in 2011. This dataset would represent a new improvement in developing observational temperature datasets and can be used for a variety of applications.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Electrifying Transit: A Guidebook for Implementing Battery Electric Buses

This guidebook is organized to give transit decision-makers and relevant stakeholders an overview of BEB facts, data, and considerations important for planning their implementation in a variety of jurisdictions. First, the benefits and barriers for BEB are identified. Second, BEB basics in terms of the major components, including a) the bus, b) the battery, and c) the numerous charging options. BEB introduces new, high demand loads as the buses are charging and thus have a number of interactions with the electricity grid and the utility, which are explored third. Operation and maintenance of BEBs are considered fourth as BEBs should not be operated and maintained in the same approach as diesel buses. Fifth, the costs of BEB prices are summarized – and the choices of bus and battery are explored in how they impact BEB prices. Funding and financing options that support BEBs and their charging stations are also explored. Safety is a key consideration for BEBs and the guidebook touches upon codes and standards, hazards, and emergencies. The final section examines project execution, bringing together information from all the other sections so that long-term planning, route analysis, and fleet and infrastructure planning can be considered in the preparation of BEB deployment, and then deployment can be evaluated on a regular basis. A final conclusion revisits the information covered in the guidebook.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Single-shot in-line x-ray phase-contrast imaging of void-shockwave interactions in fusion energy materials

Recent breakthroughs in nuclear fusion, specifically the report of reactions exceeding scientific breakeven at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), highlight the potential of inertial fusion energy (IFE) as a sustainable and virtually limitless energy source. However, further progress in IFE requires characterization of defects in ablator materials and how they affect fuel capsule compression. Voids within the ablator can degrade energy yield, but their impact on the density distribution has primarily been studied through simulations, with limited high-resolution experimental validation. To address this, we used the x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) at the matter in extreme conditions (MECs) instrument at the Linac coherent light source (LCLS) to capture 2D x-ray phase-contrast (XPC) images of a void-bearing sample with a composition similar to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) ablators. By driving a compressive shockwave through the sample using MEC's long-pulse laser system, we analyzed how voids influence shockwave propagation and density distribution during compression. To quantify this impact, we extracted phase information using two phase retrieval algorithms. First, we applied the contrast transfer function (CTF) method, paired with Tikhonov regularization and a fast optimization approach to generate an initial phase estimate. We then refined the result using a projected gradient descent (PGD) method that works directly with the sample's refractive index. Comparing these results with radiation adaptive grid Eulerian (xRAGE) radiation hydrodynamic simulations enables identification of model validation needs or improvements. By calculating phase maps in situ, it becomes possible to reconstruct areal density maps, improving understanding of laser-capsule interactions and advancing IFE research.

Hodge, D. S. [Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, ↗

Reducing impacts of artificial ponding in modeling salt marshes using a conductivity-formulated subgrid model

The landforms of salt marsh systems are rather complex, with meandering channel networks cutting through low-lying, extensive marsh platforms. Some small-scale topographic details are critical to flooding and draining processes but cannot be reflected in the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) due to limited measurement resolution and vegetation bias. Numerical models need a grid with high enough resolution to capture the small-scale connectivity to correctly model the small-scale flow processes, making the model computationally unaffordable. Here, in this study, we derived a subgrid model, which couples two flow components, one is the regular subgrid model for simulating the subgrid-resolved flows, and the other is a conductivity-formulated porous flow model for modeling small-scale gut flows unresolved at the subgrid level. The model validation was performed using an idealized case with a narrow slot that was unresolved in the coupled flow model. Model results were compared with a slot-resolved regular subgrid model where only surface flows are solved and suggested that, with a proper model parameterization, the coupled flow model is capable of reproducing flooding and draining processes similar to the slot-resolved subgrid model of surface flow. The model was applied to simulating flooding and draining processes in a meso-tidal salt marsh. The model results demonstrate that the coupled subgrid model can be used to reduce the impacts of artificial ponding that usually occur in numerical simulations of salt marshes with numerous narrow gullies and creeks.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A robust spectral element implementation of the $k - τ$ RANS model in Nek5000/NekRS

The $k - ω$ Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) model is one of the industry standard approaches for modeling of turbulent flows. It performs better than the $k - ϵ$ model for low Reynolds number flows and is also more suitable for boundary layers with adverse pressure gradients. Major drawback of the model, however, is that the asymptotic value of $ω$ at the walls is singular, necessitating the use of a contrived “sufficiently” large value for $ω$ as the boundary condition for its transport equation. Here, this invariably leads to the solution being sensitive to near wall grid spacing. While an acceptable solution for low order (finite volume) methods, the excessive near wall gradients lead to persistent numerical stability issues in high order codes. To alleviate the problem, specifically in the context of the high order spectral element code Nek5000, a regularized $k - ω$ approach was formulated in our prior work (Tomboulides et al., 2018). The formulation, however, relies on the use of wall distance and its gradients for modeling the closure terms and can pose problems for simulations in complex geometries. This work presents a novel implementation of the $k - τ$ RANS model in Nek5000, where $τ = 1/ω$, eliminating the need for regularization, owing to the asymptotically bounded behavior of the source terms in the $τ$ transport equation, and also eliminating dependence on wall distance. Robustness and stability of the $k - τ$ model is ensured through implicit treatment of the source terms and their careful numerical implementation and demonstrated through several cases aimed at verification and validation. Studies include both canonical and engineering relevant problems, viz., turbulent channel flow, pipe flow, backward facing step, flow over NACA 0012 airfoil and flow in a T-junction. Results from the $k - τ$ model are shown to be consistent with regularized $k - ω$ model and also with the $k - ω$ SST model in OpenFOAM (for select studies). Comparison with experimental data is also shown, where available, to bolster validation efforts for the $k - τ$ model implementation through prediction of key turbulent quantities of interest.

Nek5000↗

A New Semistructured Algebraic Multigrid Method

Multigrid methods are well suited to large massively parallel computer architectures because they are mathematically optimal and display good parallelization properties. Since current architecture trends are favoring regular compute patterns to achieve high performance, the ability to express structure has become much more important. The hypre software library provides high-performance multigrid preconditioners and solvers through conceptual interfaces, including a semistructured interface that describes matrices primarily in terms of stencils and logically structured grids. This paper presents a new semistructured algebraic multigrid (SSAMG) method built on this interface. The numerical convergence and performance of a CPU implementation of this method are evaluated for a set of semistructured problems. In conclusion, SSAMG achieves significantly better setup times than hypre’s unstructured AMG solvers and comparable convergence. In addition, the new method is capable of solving more complex problems than hypre’s structured solvers.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Cardinality-Regularized Hawkes-Granger Model

We propose a new sparse Granger-causal learning framework for temporal event data. We focus on a specific class of point processes called the Hawkes process. We begin by pointing out that most of the existing sparse causal learning algorithms for the Hawkes process suffer from a singularity in maximum likelihood estimation. As a result, their sparse solutions can appear only as numerical artifacts. In this paper, we propose a mathematically well-defined sparse causal learning framework based on a cardinality-regularized Hawkes process, which remedies the pathological issues of existing approaches. We leverage the proposed algorithm for the task of instance-wise causal event analysis, where sparsity plays a critical role. We validate the proposed framework with two real use-cases, one from the power grid and the other from the cloud data center management domain.

Ide, Tsuyoshi↗

HPC resources for CMS offline computing: An integration and scalability challenge for the Submission Infrastructure

The computing resource needs of LHC experiments are expected to continue growing significantly during the Run 3 and into the HL-LHC era. The landscape of available resources will also evolve, as High Performance Computing (HPC) and Cloud resources will provide a comparable, or even dominant, fraction of the total compute capacity. The future years present a challenge for the experiments’ resource provisioning models, both in terms of scalability and increasing complexity. The CMS Submission Infrastructure (SI) provisions computing resources for CMS workflows. This infrastructure is built on a set of federated HTCondor pools, currently aggregating 400k CPU cores distributed worldwide and supporting the simultaneous execution of over 200k computing tasks. Incorporating HPC resources into CMS computing represents firstly an integration challenge, as HPC centers are much more diverse compared to Grid sites. Secondly, evolving the present SI, dimensioned to harness the current CMS computing capacity, to reach the resource scales required for the HLLHC phase, while maintaining global flexibility and efficiency, will represent an additional challenge for the SI. To preventively address future potential scalability limits, the SI team regularly runs tests to explore the maximum reach of our infrastructure. In this note, the integration of HPC resources into CMS offline computing is summarized, the potential concerns for the SI derived from the increased scale of operations are described, and the most recent results of scalability test on the CMS SI are reported.

Pérez-Calero Yzquierdo, Antonio↗

Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework and Cyber Range Integration

Distributed energy resource (DER) systems feature complex, data-driven communications networks that require careful system coordination and constant vigilance to ensure that grid assets are secure. Because DERs are an important component of the decarbonization strategy, agencies need to secure energy data that could implicate issues of national security if compromised. To help federal energy managers assess, monitor, and manage cybersecurity while achieving decarbonization, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework (DER-CF) offers a comprehensive, web-based assessment tool focusing on cyber governance or policies, technical management, and physical security. The DER-CF currently presents users with a series of pertinent cybersecurity questions that are used to generate a site-specific report and recommendations. This paper outlines a plan to integrate the DER-CF with another key asset-NREL's cyber range-to visualize cybersecurity resilience and compliance and to enhance the usability and accessibility of the DER-CF for federal facility energy managers and planners. This integration will result in a visualization environment to interpret and interact with compliance data. Its development will include regular conversations with stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of these efforts, refine the visualization capability, and ensure its value to our partners.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Numerical Analysis of Regular Material Point Method and its Application to Multiphase Flows

The material point method (MPM) is gaining wide popularity in engineering research to model and simulate complex multiphase flow dynamics. The method relies on solving the governing equations of motion and transport in a Lagrangian framework using particles also known as material points. The fluid and kinematic properties are stored on the material points while the spatial gradient calculation and temporal integration are performed on a background grid. This Lagrangian framework allows for large deformations, easy integration of constitutive models, and direct import of complex geometries as particles. However, despite their increasing popularity, very few studies have addressed the issues of numerical resolution and stability of MPM techniques. The presence of additional factors such as the number of material points-per-cell, the location of the material points, the CFL-like condition used in time update, and the grid shape functions also increase the complexity of the error analysis when compared to other finite element methods. In this presentation, we analyze the various forms of error incurred in the application of MPM to continuum mechanics and multiphase flows. The effect of the previously mentioned factors on the error dynamics is studied. The application of these principles to canonical and industrial problems is also presented.

high pressure reverse osmosis↗

Probabilistic Day-Ahead Forecasting Using an Analog Ensemble Approach for Wind Farm Grid Services

Wind resource assessment and wind power forecasting are used in research and industry to anticipate future power output at scales ranging from individual wind turbines to entire wind farms. Probabilistic day-ahead wind forecasting is useful for anticipating how a wind farm could potentially participate in the day-ahead market by providing upper and lower bounds for expected power generation, thus informing grid operators of its uncertainty. Understanding this uncertainty is part of a larger project focused on building a platform that combines efforts in weather forecasting, aerodynamic and economic modeling to create maximum value of a wind plant to better provide services to the grid. This effort is also known as the Atmosphere to Electrons to Grid (A2E2G) project. One method for producing a probabilistic forecast is through the analog ensemble approach (Delle Monache et al., 2011). This method leverages historical forecasts and their corresponding observations as a training data set from which future forecasts can be made. For some future forecast, the most similar historical forecasts (analogs) are identified on a regular time basis such as once per a 3-hour window. The most similar analogs, based on a metric such as root mean square error (RMSE), are recorded and their corresponding verifying observations are used as an ensemble member for this future forecast. Prior work in this area demonstrates improvements over raw Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) forecasts and shows skill similar to techniques such as logistic regression and machine learning (Delle Monache et al., 2013; Alessandrini et al., 2015). Here, we take the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model (HRRR) day-ahead forecast (0-36 hours) to create a probabilistic day-ahead forecast using an analog ensemble approach. The HRRR has an hourly temporal resolution, with a spatial resolution of 3 km. The 12 UTC HRRR model run is downloaded every day for one year from August 2019 - July 2020, with the first 11 months serving as a bank of analogs from which the forecasting algorithm can create a probabilistic forecast. Once downloaded, the original HRRR forecast is temporally interpolated to 5-minutes, aligning with both the temporal resolution of the observations as well as the timescale relevant for day-ahead power forecasts. The forecast is validated at the M2 tower at the Flatirons Campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at a typical wind turbine height of 80 m. Variables such as wind speed, wind direction, and turbulence intensity are incorporated into the probabilistic forecast model and weighted according to their relative importance to the forecast. Based on metrics such as mean bias error (MBE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error, the analog ensemble forecast outperforms the raw HRRR forecast during the testing period of July 2020. Figure 1 illustrates an example day-ahead forecast compared against the verifying observations. The general variability and ramps are captured throughout the day, with potential to further improve the analog ensemble model through machine learning techniques.

numerical weather prediction↗

The National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) Fiscal Years 2019-2021(Final Report)

The National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) is the leading public source of high-resolution solar resource data in the United States, with more than 166,000 users annually. This database represents the state of the art in satellite-based estimation of solar resource information and uses a unique physics-based modeling approach that enables improvements in accuracy with the deployment of the next-generation geostationary satellites. Making the highest quality, state-of-the-art, regularly updated data sets available on a timely basis for users reduces costs of solar deployment by providing accurate information for siting studies and system output prediction, and thereby reduces levelized cost of energy. Also, high-resolution information from the NSRDB enables moving beyond levelized cost of energy when valuing the impact of renewables on the grid. Additionally, the NSRDB enables the integration of large amounts of solar on the grid by providing critical information about solar availability and variability that is used to enhance grid reliability and power quality.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Spectral Analysis of Regular Material Point Method and its Application to Study High Pressure Reverse Osmosis Membrane Compaction and Embossing

Material Point Method (MPM) is gaining widespread interest in applied continuum mechanics. The fact that all the continuum properties are stored on the particles (or material points) and the governing equations are solved on these material points makes MPM extremely suited to problems involving severe material deformations, such as crack propagation, soil movement, and fluid flows. Despite its popularity, only a few studies have focused on the numerical properties of MPM. This presentation introduces a global spectral analysis of the regular material point method. Contrary to previous studies, the analysis focuses on the numerical properties of the method in the spectral space. The amplification factor is derived as a function of the non- dimensional wave numbers. It provides insights into the stability and dissipative properties of the method for various CFL and Fourier numbers. The effect of the grid shape functions, number of particles per cell and their locations inside the grid cell are also analyzed. The EXAGOOP MPM solver (https://github.com/NREL/Exagoop.git) is developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a part of the NAWI UHPRO project and is based on the AMReX framework. A single-level, uniform cartesian grid is used as the background mesh, while the particle class in AMReX is used to manage the material point operations. Linear hat and B-splines are used as grid shape functions, while the time integration is performed using explicit Euler time integration. EXAGOOP is both CPU and GPU compatible and has been demonstrated to work well on multiple compute architectures. The performance of EXAGOOP on various computing architectures is presented along with its application to study compaction and embossing of high-pressure reverse osmosis membranes. The MPM solution accurately reproduces the membrane deformation. The deformed pore size and structure simulated using MPM also agree well with experimental SEM images.

material point method↗

Efficiency and Demand Flexibility in Large Office Buildings: The Potential for Cost Savings and CO 2 Reductions from Lighting and Cooling Measures

This report presents the estimated impact of lighting and cooling efficiency and demand flexibility measures in large office buildings in each state in the contiguous United States. It provides modeled results for three different metrics: bill savings, regional grid operational costs savings, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions reductions. Lighting efficiency and demand flexibility are estimated to reduce load by up to 80 MWh/yr in a single large office building. These load reductions result in customer bill savings of up to $8,800/yr per building, with the highest savings in southern and midwestern states. Grid operating cost savings are estimated at up to $3,240/yr/building, with greatest benefit in southern and northeastern states. CO 2 emissions reduction potential is highest in the Dakotas, Nebraska, across the Midwest, in West Virginia, and in Mississippi (<48,200 kg/yr/building). Comparatively, cooling measures are found to have less load reduction potential (<28.5 MWh/yr/building), with the greatest potential in southern states including Texas, which ranks top of the list across several of the metrics studied. In numerous states, shifting cooling load to off-peak hours is found to increase costs and CO 2 emissions because precooling results in increased load during high-cost or high-CO 2 emissions periods. In general, focusing on cooling efficiency and load shedding has the potential for more savings. In all cases, the specific rate structure is a significant determinant in actual bill savings, which are up to $4,000/yr/building. To realize the full potential for bill savings through an energy measure, building operators must identify how the measure will change the building load pattern and the interaction of this load change with the applicable rate tariff. To realize CO 2 emissions reductions, industry and state coordination is needed to verify which fuel source is on the margin and then to create incentives for end users to reduce load during high-CO 2 emissions hours. Regular updates to data sets and analyses are critical. Regulators and policymakers are well positioned to facilitate the necessary coordination between the electric industry and building energy managers to develop appropriate price signals and incentives.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

CFD-DEM study of bubble properties in a cylindrical fluidized bed of Geldart Group D particles and comparison with prior MRI data

Numerical simulations of a freely bubbling cylindrical fluidized bed are carried out using a coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) model and compared to recent experimental data. The experiments were conducted using high-resolution and high-frequency magnetic resonance imaging providing high-fidelity data of the bubbling within a central 10 mm slice of the bed. Qualitatively, we nd more regular (i.e., less chaotic) structures in the simulated beds than observed experimentally. Quantitatively, however, the bubble diameter and number of bubbles as a function of height within the bed is predicted well by the base model. Unfortunately, the regularity in the simulations manifests as a considerable discrepancy in the speed of the (dense) emulsion phase. The simulated velocity probability distribution functions show an accumulation of low-speed regions and deficiency of high-speed regions. A simple parametric study of the base model is also carried out considering many of the most common CFD-DEM modeling parameters. It is found that the fluid grid size, geometry resolution, transfer kernel and drag law did not have a significant effect on bubble or particle dynamics.

42 ENGINEERING↗