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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 1,207 records · Page 67
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Modular high temperature gas reactor core modeling with RELAP5-3D/PHISICS – Optimization schemes for load following

The objective of this study is to develop a 3D/NK model to study the load following operation of a Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR). The selected design is the 350 MW prismatic, graphite moderated, helium cooled thermal reactor based on the MHTGR-350 transient benchmark led by the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) Methods Core Simulation Group at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in the framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA). This kind of reactor usually reacts very slowly to the perturbation of the core parameters due to the large amount of graphite in the core. This kind of behavior promotes the reactor stability but on the other hand limits the reactor load-following operability. Recently advances in gas reactor designs have made load-following in gas reactors a feasible and achievable goal. Modern nuclear reactors (such as the MHTGR-350) are designed to withstand the structural stresses associated with load-following. Operating the reactor in load-following mode will inevitably reduce the load factor. Although a higher load factor means more revenue and the best usage of the fuel, following the variable energy demand will increase the maximum achievable fraction of generated nuclear power, being no more limited to the base load power generation. In general, if low impact on material aging and the safe operability are demonstrated the plant economics will be minimally affected. In order to ensure that the system can be safely operated in a load-following mode an extensively study has been carried out. Some tests with linear coolant mass flow rate change demonstrated that the reactor behavior is suitable for operation in load following mode. This assumption has been confirmed by a 4 days load following transient test in which the reactor supplied the requested power with a negligible error.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Supplemental Reactor Physics Calculations and Analysis of ELF Mk 1A Fuel

These calculations supplement previous the reactor physics work evaluating the Enhanced Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Fuel (ELF) Mk 1A element. This includes various additional comparisons between the current Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) and LEU along with further characterization of the performance of the ELF fuel. The excess reactivity to be held down at BOC for ELF Mk 1A fuel is estimated to be approximately $2.75 greater than with HEU for a typical cycle. This is a combined effect of the absence of burnable poison in the ELF fuel and the reduced neck shim worth in LEU fuel compared to HEU. Burnable poison rods were conceptualized for use in the small B positions containing Gd2O3 absorber. These were shown to provide $2.37 of negative reactivity at BOC and to burn out in less than half of a cycle. The worth of OSCCs is approximately the same between HEU and ELF Mk 1A (LEU) fuels in the representative loading evaluated. This was evaluated by rotating all banks simultaneously. The safety rod worth is relatively unchanged between HEU and ELF Mk 1A (LEU) fuels in the representative loading evaluated. However, this should be reevaluated with different loadings. Neutron flux, both total and fast (>1 MeV), is either the same or reduced upon changing from HEU to ELF Mk 1A (LEU) fuels in the representative loading evaluated. This is consistent with the well-established trend of lower neutron fluxes for a given power in LEU than HEU.The IPT loop void reactivity is approximately the same or less positive with ELF Mk 1A (LEU) fuel than HEU in the representative loading evaluated.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
NASA NTRS1984

Shock-induced CO2 loss from CaCO3: Implications for early planetary atmospheres

Recovered samples from shock recovery experiments on single crystal calcite were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis to determine the amount of post-shock CO2, the decarbonization interval and the activation energy, for the removal of remaining CO2 in shock-loaded calcite. Comparison of post-shock CO2 with that initially present determines shock-induced CO2 loss as a function of shock pressure. Incipient to complete CO2 loss occurs over a pressure range of approximately 10 to approximately 70 GPa. Optical and scanning electron microscopy reveal structural changes, which are related to the shock-loading. The occurrence of dark, diffuse areas, which can be resolved as highly vesicular areas as observed with a scanning electron microscope are interpreted as representing quenched partial melts, into which shock-released CO2 was injected. The experimental results are used to constrain models of shock-produced, primary CO2 atmospheres on the accreting terrestrial planets.

Lange, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Shock-induced CO2 loss from CaCO3 - Implications for early planetary atmospheres

Recovered samples from shock recovery experiments on single crystal calcite were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis to determine the amount of post-shock CO2, the decarbonization interval and the activation energy, for the removal of remaining CO2 in shock-loaded calcite. Comparison of post-shock CO2 with that initially present determines shock-induced CO2 loss as a function of shock pressure. Incipient to complete CO2 loss occurs over a pressure range of approximately 10 to approximately 70 GPa. Optical and scanning electron microscopy reveal structural changes which are related to the shock-loading. The occurrence of dark, diffuse areas, which can be resolved as highly vesticular areas as observed with a scanning electron microscope are interpreted as representing quenched partial melts, into which shock-released CO2 was injected. The experimental results are used to constrain models of shock-produced, primary CO2 atmospheres on the accreting terrestrial planets.

Lange, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Skeletal Adaptation to Daily Activity: A Biochemical Perspective

Musculoskeletal forces generated by normal daily activity on Earth maintain the functional and structural properties of muscle and bone throughout most of one's adult life. A reduction in the level of cumulative daily loading caused by space flight, bed rest or spinal cord injury induces rapid muscle atrophy, functional changes in muscle, and bone resorption in regions subjected to the reduced loading. Bone cells in culture and bone tissue reportedly respond to a wide variety of non-mechanical and mechanical stimuli ranging, from electromagnetic fields, and hormones to small amplitude, high frequency vibrations, fluid flow, strain rate, and stress/strain magnitude. However, neither the transduction mechanism that transforms the mechanical input into a muscle or bone metabolic response nor the characteristics, of the loading history that directly or indirectly stimulates the cell is known. Identifying the factors contributing to the input stimulus will have a major impact on the design of effective countermeasures for long duration space flight. This talk will present a brief overview of current theories of bone remodeling and functional adaptation to mechanical loading. Work from our lab will be presented from the perspective of daily cumulative loading on Earth and its relationship to bone density and structure. Our objective is to use the tibia and calcaneus as model bone sites of cortical and cancellous bone adaptation, loaded daily by musculoskeletal forces in equilibrium with the ground reaction force. All materials that will be discussed are in the open scientific literature.

Whalen, Robert T.↗
NASA NTRS1957

Aerodynamic Loads on Tails at High Angles of Attack and Sideslip

Results are presented for the loads and moments acting on the individual tail surfaces of a body-tail combination over a wide range of angles of attack and sideslip. The effects of forebody length and panel-panel interference on the characteristics are included. It is shown that large nonlinear variations in these loads and moments, which occur at some combinations of angle of attack and sideslip, cannot be predicted by low-angle theory. A relatively simple, but general, theoretical method for calculating these load and moment characteristics is described, and the results from this method are found to be in good agreement with experiment provided the initial positions of the forebody vortices are known. It is shown that a simple application of slender-body theory can be used to predict the side loads due to sideslip that are contributed by a vertical tail on a wide variety of wing-body-tail combinations at low angles of attack. For several configurations, changes are indicated which reduced the vertical-tail loads per unit yawing moment of each complete configuration at large angles of attack. Some results are presented on the effect of high angle of attack on the induced-flow field and tail loads due to a wing at supersonic speed.

SLENDER BODY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Intraday Water Quality Patterns in East Fork Poplar Creek with an Emphasis on Mercury and Monomethylmercury

We conducted a diel sampling campaign at three locations along the Hg contaminated East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to (i) quantify diel patterns of particulate and dissolved mercury (Hg) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) (Hg D , Hg P , MMHg D , and MMHg P , respectively) and associated water quality parameters along a longitudinal gradient of EFPC during the summer season, (ii) determine if diel patterns in Hg and/or MMHg are related to the daily photocycle or any other short term cycle, such as wastewater treatment plant discharge, (iii) determine if diel variability in turbidity and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition correspond to particulate Hg P or MMHg P and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or dissolved Hg D or MMHg D . Samples were collected every two hours for a 30 hour period. The farthest upstream site was located at the boundary of Y-12 and the City of Oak Ridge (EFK 23.4) while two additional sites were located 7.2 kilometers (Wiltshire Drive, EFK 16.2) and 18 kilometers (Horizon Center, EFK 5.4) downstream of EFK 23.4). Hg P and MMHg P concentrations increased overnight at EFK 16.2 and EFK 5.4 coincident with increases in turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS). These overnight increases were likely due to diel changes in the activity of macrobiota (re)suspending contaminated sediments in the creek. Both Hg D and MMHg D were higher during the day at EFK 23.4 and EFK 5.4. The underlying causes for the patterns in Hg D and MMHg D are less clear but correspond with similar patterns in DOC concentration and DOM composition. Photochemical reactions may also play a role in these Hg D , MMHg D , DOC, and DOM patterns. Total loads of both Hg and MMHg increased with downstream distance. The greatest increase in loading occurred in the reach from EFK 23.4 to EFK 16.2 which encompasses areas where the Historic Release Deposits (HRD) have been identified. These results demonstrate that diffuse legacy sources of Hg, outside of Y-12, contribute Hg load to EFPC. Both total and dissolved MMHg loads increased approximately linearly with downstream distance. Particluate MMHg loading increased in the upper reach but did not change over the lower reach. The HRD may contribute to MMHg P load in the upper reach but most of the total, dissolved, and particulate MMHg appears to originate from in-stream production. Due to intraday patterns in concentration and flow rate, loading estimates are best derived from diel sampling campaigns. Intraday patterns in Hg and MMHg concentration and speciation have implications with respect to biotic exposure. Greater biotic activity and feeding during times of higher concentration would correspond to greater exposure than estimated from daily or longer-term averages. Both Hg and MMHg responded rapidly to processes governing their concentration. This latter point is encouraging from the perspective of site remediation as it suggests that MMHg concentrations and flux in EFPC would respond rapidly to appropriate remedial actions.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1996

Effects of Fiber Content on Mechanical Properties of CVD SiC Fiber-Reinforced Strontium Aluminosilicate Glass-Ceramic Composites

Unidirectional CVD SiC(f)(SCS-6) fiber-reinforced strontium aluminosilicate (SAS) glass-ceramic matrix composites containing various volume fractions, approximately 16 to 40 volume %, of fibers were fabricated by hot pressing at 1400 C for 2 h under 27.6 MPa. Monoclinic celsian, SrAl2Si2O8, was the only crystalline phase formed, with complete absence of the undesired hexacelsian phase, in the matrix. Room temperature mechanical properties were measured in 3-point flexure. The matrix microcracking stress and the ultimate strength increased with increase in fiber volume fraction, reached maximum values for V(sub f) approximately equal to 0.35, and degraded at higher fiber loadings. This degradation in mechanical properties is related to the change in failure mode, from tensile at lower V(sub f) to interlaminar shear at higher fiber contents. The extent of fiber loading did not have noticeable effect on either fiber-matrix debonding stress, or frictional sliding stress at the interface. The applicability of micromechanical models in predicting the mechanical properties of the composites was also examined. The currently available theoretical models do not appear to be useful in predicting the values of the first matrix cracking stress, and the ultimate strength of the SCS-6/SAS composites.

Bansal, Narottam P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A finite element analysis of fatigue crack closure

Experiments have shown that fatigue cracks close at positive loads during constant-amplitude load cycling. The crack-closure phenomenon is caused by residual plastic deformations remaining in the wake of an advancing crack tip. The present paper is concerned with the application of a two-dimensional, nonlinear, finite-element analysis for predicting crack-closure and crack-opening stresses during cyclic loading. A two-dimensional finite-element computer program, which accounts for both elastic-plastic material behavior and changing boundary conditions associated with crack extension and intermittent contact of the crack surfaces under cyclic loading, has been developed. An efficient technique to account for changing boundary conditions was also incorporated into the nonlinear analysis program. This program was subsequently used to study crack extension and crack closure under constant-amplitude and two-level block loading. The calculated crack-closure and crack-opening stresses were qualitatively consistent with experimental observations.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Characterizing patterns and variability of building electric load profiles in time and frequency domains

The rapid development of advanced metering infrastructure provides a new data source—building electrical load profiles with high temporal resolution. Electric load profile characterization can generate useful information to enhance building energy modeling and provide metrics to represent patterns and variability of load profiles. Such characterizations can be used to identify changes to building electricity demand due to operations or faulty equipment and controls. In this study, we proposed a two-path approach to analyze high temporal resolution building electrical load profiles: (1) time-domain analysis and (2) frequency-domain analysis. Furthermore, the commonly adopted time-domain analysis can extract and quantify the distribution of key parameters characterizing load shape such as peak-base load ratio and morning rise time, while a frequency-domain analysis can identify major periodic fluctuations and quantify load variability. We implemented and evaluated both paths using whole-year 15-minute interval smart meter data of 188 commercial office building in Northern California. The results from these two paths are consistent with each other and complementary to represent full dynamics of load profiles. The time- and frequency-domain analyses can be used to enhance building energy modeling by: (1) providing more realistic assumptions about building operation schedules, and (2) validating the simulated electric load profiles using the developed variability metrics against the real building load data.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1990

Buckling and postbuckling behavior of square compression-loaded graphite-epoxy plates with circular cutouts

Results are presented for unidirectional (0, 10)(sub s) and (90,10)(sub s) plates, ((0/90)(sub 5)(sub s)) plates, and for aluminum plates. Results are also presented for ((+/- theta)(sub 6)(sub s)) angle-ply plates for values of theta = 30, 45, and 60 degrees. The results indicate that the change in axial stiffness of a plate at buckling is strongly dependent upon cutout size and plate orthotropy. The presence of a cutout gives rise to an internal load distribution that changes, sometimes dramatically, as a function of cutout size coupled with the plate orthotropy. In the buckled state, the role of orthotropy becomes more significant since bending in addition to membrane orthotropy is present. Most of the plates with cutouts exhibited less postbuckling stiffness than the corresponding plate without a cutout, and the postbuckling stiffness decreased with increasing cutout size. However, some of the highly orthotropic plates with cutouts exhibited more postbuckling stiffness than the corresponding plate without a cutout. These results suggest the possibility of tailoring the cutout size and the stacking sequence of a composite plate to optimize postbuckling stiffness. It was found that plates with large radius cutouts do exhibit some postbuckling strength. The results also indicate that a cutout can influence modal interaction in a plate. Specifically, results are presented that show a plate with a relatively small cutout buckling at a higher load than the corresponding plate without a cutout, due to modal interaction. Other results are presented that indicate the presence of nonlinear prebuckling deformations, due to material nonlinearity, in the angle-ply plates with theta = 45 and 60 degrees. The nonlinear prebuckling deformations are more pronounced in the plates with theta = 45 degrees and become even more pronounced as the cutout size increases. Results are also presented that show how load-path eccentricity due to improper machining of the test specimens affects the buckling behavior. Some of the plates with cutouts and eccentricity exhibited a snap-through type of buckling behavior.

Nemeth, Michael P.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Codisposal Waste Package Loading Options for DOE SNF and HLW

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for managing spent nuclear fuel (SNF) that is currently in, or will in the future come into, its possession. DOE must continue to safely store that SNF, transport it to an interim storage site or a repository, and dispose of it. These fuels come from a wide range of reactor types, such as light- and heavy-water-moderated reactors, graphite-moderated reactors, and breeder reactors, with various cladding materials and enrichments. Many of these reactors, now decommissioned, had unique design features, such as core configuration, fuel element and assembly geometry, moderator and coolant materials, operational characteristics, and neutron spatial and spectral properties resulting in a large diversity of reactor and fuel designs. Because of the wide variety and condition of SNF, a robust canister termed the DOE Standardized SNF Canister was proposed that would confine radionuclides and preclude moderator. The DOE Standard SNF Canister had four variations consisting of a 10- or 15-foot length and an 18- or 24-inch diameter. For ultimate disposal in the Yucca Mountain Repository these canisters were to be grouped with 24-inch diameter HLW canisters in a codisposal waste package. The 18-inch DOE Standardized SNF Canister could be placed in the middle of five HLW canisters. The 24-inch DOE Standardized SNF Canister would take the place of one the five HLW canister on the outer ring in the codisposal waste package. No DOE Standardized SNF Canisters have been loaded, and many fuel types can be loaded in multiple canisters. Depending on the selected diameter of the DOE Standardized SNF Canister for a particular fuel, the number of potential codisposal waste packages could vary. In addition, different types of DOE SNF may be able to be combined in a single canister. This could significantly change the number of DOE SNF canisters that are loaded and result in a decrease of the number of total potential codisposal waste packages. Ultimately, if too many HLW canisters need disposition, then a reduction in the number of DOE Standardized SNF Canisters will change the final total of codisposal waste packages very little. Likewise, if the ratio of DOE Standardized SNF Canisters to HLW canister produced is too high, then DOE Standardized SNF Canisters will not have enough HLW canisters to surround them in the codisposal waste package. This paper examines the results of differing loading strategies for a few DOE SNFs. It also compares the ranges of DOE Standardized SNF Canisters that may be produced to the ranges of HLW canisters that may be produced in order to determine potential scenarios.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1989

Phase-Change Heat-Storage Module

Heat-storage module accommodates momentary heating or cooling overload in pumped-liquid heat-transfer system. Large heat-storage capacity of module provided by heat of fusion of material that freezes at or near temperature desired to maintain object to be heated or cooled. Module involves relatively small penalties in weight, cost, and size and more than compensates by enabling design of rest of system to handle only average load. Latent heat of fusion of phase-change material provides large heat-storage capacity in small volume.

Mulligan, James C.↗
DOE OSTI2012

In situ Characterization of Pt Catalysts Supported on Ceria Modified TiO(2) for the WGS reaction: Influence of Ceria Loading

This work analyzes the influence of cerium content (6-15 wt%) on a TiO{sub 2} support over the structure and water gas shift (WGS) activity of Pt catalysts. The structural properties of these Pt/Ce-TiO{sub 2} catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM and XANES. Physicochemical characterization of the catalysts showed differences in the structure and dispersion of Ce entities on the support with Ce loading. For the samples with low ceria content (6 wt%), cerium is deposited on the support in the form of CeO{sub x} clusters in a highly dispersed state in close interaction with the Ti atoms. The formation of CeO{sub x} clusters at low Ce-loading on the support facilitates the dispersion of small particles of Pt and improves the reducibility of ceria component at low temperatures. The changes in platinum dispersion and support reducibility with Ce-loading on the TiO{sub 2} support lead to significant differences in the WGS activity. Pt supported on the sample with lower Ce content (6 wt%) shows better activity than those corresponding to catalysts with higher Ce content (15 wt%). Activity measurements coupled with catalysts characterization suggest that the improvement in the reducibility of the support with lower Ce content was associated with the presence of CeO{sub x} clusters of high reducibility that improve the chemical activity of the oxide-metal interfaces at which the WGS reaction takes place.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1995

The Role of Nutrition in the Changes in Bone and Calcium Metabolism During Space Flight

On Earth, the primary purpose of the skeleton is provide structural support for the body. In space, the support function of the skeleton is reduced since, without gravity, structures have only mass and no weight. The adaptation to space flight is manifested by shifts in mineral distribution, altered bone turnover, and regional mineral deficits in weight-bearing bones. The shifts in mineral distribution appear to be related to the cephalic fluid shift. The redistribution of mineral from one bone to another or to and from areas in the same bone in response to alterations in gravitational loads is more likely to affect skeletal function than quantitative whole body losses and gains. The changes in bone turnover appear dependent upon changes in body weight with weight loss tending to increase bone resorption as well as decrease bone formation. During bedrest, the bone response to unloading varies depending upon the routine activity level of the subjects with more active subjects showing a greater suppression of bone formation in the iliac crest with inactivity. Changes in body composition during space flight are predicted by bedrest studies on Earth which show loss of lean body mass and increase tn body fat in adult males after one month. In ambulatory studies on Earth, exercising adult males of the same age, height, g weight, body mass index, and shoe size show significantly higher whole body mineral and lean body mass. than non-exercising subjects. Nutritional preference appears to change with activity level. Diet histories in exercisers and nonexercisers who maintain identical body weights show no differences in nutrients except for slightly higher carbohydrate intake in the exercisers. The absence of differences in dietary calcium in men with higher total body calcium is noteworthy. In this situation, the increased bone mineral content was facilitated by the calcium endocrine system. This regulatory system can be by-passed by raising dietary calcium. Increased calcium intake can increase the calcium content in normally loaded bone. However, bone with a higher calcium content still decreases proportionally to normal bone during unloading. Nutritional requirements in space should be reevaluated with respect to these adaptive changes to loading and physical activity.

Morey-Holton, Emily R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structure–property relationships of reduced graphene oxide membranes intercalated with polycyclic aromatics

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes intercalated with various organic moieties have shown excellent potential for a range of water processing applications. However, microstructure–functional property relationships in these structurally disordered membranes are not well understood. We demonstrate a practical methodology for developing such relationships for GO membranes intercalated with molecular species, with polycyclic aromatic toluidine blue O (TBO) as an example functional intercalant. We use solid-state UV–vis absorbance and fluorescence measurements to quantitatively track the arrangements of TBO in a series of TBO-loaded reduced GO (rGO) membranes. This study reveals the evolution of diverse arrangements including TBO monomers, lateral and stacked dimers, and other aggregates, as a function of overall TBO loading. These microstructures are then correlated to changes in overall properties such as interlayer d-spacings, permeate fluxes, and solute rejections. The characterization of these different intercalant microstructures explains non-intuitive flux and rejection trends, which can circumvent flux and solute rejection trade-offs.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2018

Automated Model Updating Effect on the Linear and Nonlinear Dynamic Responses of Historical Masonry Structures

Finite element models supply the simulation of the problems to obtain the structural behaviors under different loading conditions. The updating processes based on changing the uncertain parameters such as material properties, boundary conditions, meshing size etc. are made to create actual finite element models in order to represent the real conditions of the problems. This procedure can be made using two methods, namely manual model updating and global/local automatic model updating. The global/local automatic model updating procedures are very popular owing to the applicability to all kind of engineering structures, minimizing the differences nearly to zero, availability of damage localization and structural health monitoring. In this paper a historical masonry armory building selected as an application and its finite element analyses, experimental measurements and automated model updating processes are carried out. The finite element model of the structures was developed with ANSYS software and first three natural frequencies are attained. The experimental dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes are obtained using ambient vibration method. The differences between experimental and numerical frequencies are minimized up to the range of 0–1%, by using local updating procedure. The linear and nonlinear seismic analyses of the building are conducted on initial and updated models. At the end of the analyses, maximum displacements, principal stresses and strains are given with detail. In addition, crack distributions diagrams are attained to validate the stresses accumulation points. It can be seen that there is an increasing trend in the displacement, stress and strain values after finite element model updating both linear and nonlinear analysis. In addition, linear and nonlinear analysis results are compared with each other to evaluate the nonlinear analysis effect. It is concluded that the displacement and strain values are increased after nonlinear analysis. But, there is not any agreement in stress values.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Technical, economic, and load-following capabilities assessment of grid-connected geothermal and geothermal-solar hybrid systems

The technical and economic performance as well as the load-following capabilities of grid-connected geothermal hybrid systems were assessed in this work. The analyzed geothermal hybrid configuration is composed of a binary geothermal plant integrated with a concentrating solar-thermal system and underground thermal energy storage (UTES) through a primary heat exchanger. Physics-based models for the hybrid system for plant generation capacities of 1, 25, and 50 MW were developed from validated models for each subsystem. Also, an economic model was developed that accounts for different hybrid system capabilities, solar field sizes, and thermal storage duration. The advantage of the geothermal hybrid system was assessed by comparing the performance with the baseline benchmark geothermal plant with a similar configuration and generation capacity. It was found that hybridizing geothermal plants with concentrating solar and thermal energy storage not only improves the thermal efficiency by up to 8 percentage points when additional heat from the solar-UTES loop rises the evaporator temperatures from 70 to 125 °C, but also enhances the load-following capability for the geothermal plant, which can meet a typical residential load profile with a power rate of change 0.25 kW/s with an absolute error under 13 kW for a 1 MW plant. Other benefits of hybridization include resource preservation and a potential LCOE reduction of up to 56% for a 50 MW geothermal hybrid plant having a 50% solar share, a 1.4 solar multiple, and 24-h storage capacity. The results presented in this work demonstrate that hybridizing geothermal systems transforms them into a flexible and cost-effective solution for addressing the dynamic requirements of modern electric grids.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗