Motivations and options for deploying hybrid generator-plus-battery projects within the bulk power system
Not Available
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
SEARCH · Search NASA
Results for “Deployable Power Systems”
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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America's Lunar Roving Vehicle
Lunar roving vehicle for Apollo 15 mission, discussing power, control, navigation and deployment systems in relation to lunar exploration requirements
Adams, W. R.↗
The 25 kW power module evolution study. Part 3: Conceptual designs for power module evolution. Volume 2: Program plans
A plan is presented for the evolutionary development and deployment of the power module system with performance capabilities required to support the 1983 to 1990 user requirements. Aspects summarized include program functional, operational, and hardware elements; program work breakdown and specification items; development plans and schedules for developmental and technology milestones; test concepts and timeliness; and ground and orbit operations concepts.
Source record↗
Concentrator-enhanced photovoltaic arrays for deep space applications
The useful operational range of photovoltaic solar arrays has been limited to 1.5 AU (Mars orbit) due primarily to solar intensity constraints. Preliminary results indicate that the use of concentrator mirrors in conjunction with solar arrays can extend the practical operating range of photovoltaic space power sources to at least 9.5 AU (Saturn orbit). Various aspects of concentrator-enhanced photovoltaic arrays such as size, structure, thermal characteristics, intensity uniformity, pointing accuracy requirements, deployment methods, power performance and system mass are presented. Based on this information, concentrator-enhanced photovoltaic arrays are superior, with respect to power-to-mass and cost, to existing power sources used for deep space missions. The sensitivity of concentrator-enhanced solar arrays to particulate radiation was also examined for representative deep space missions. Results are presented which show that a radiation-degraded, deep space, concentrator-enhanced solar array's performance exceeds that of existing RTG power sources.
Rockey, D. E.↗
Micro Weather Stations for Mars
A global network of weather stations will be needed to characterize the near-surface environment on Mars. Here, we review the scientific and measurement objectives of this network. We also show how these objectives can be met within the cost-constrained Mars Surveyor Program by augmenting the Mars Pathfinder-derived landers with large numbers of very small (less than 5 liter), low-mass (less than 5 kg), low-power, low-cost Mini-meteorological stations. Each station would include instruments for measuring atmospheric. pressures, temperatures, wind velocities, humidity, and airborne dust abundance. They would also include a data handling, telemetry, power, atmospheric entry, and deployment systems in a rugged package capable of direct entry and a high-impact landing. In this paper, we describe these systems and summarize the data-taking strategies and data volumes needed to achieve the surface meteorology objectives for Mars.
Crisp, David↗
A Deployable 40 kWe Lunar Fission Surface Power Concept
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
FSP↗
Machine learning for modern power distribution systems: Progress and perspectives
The application of machine learning (ML) to power and energy systems (PES) is being researched at an astounding rate, resulting in a significant number of recent additions to the literature. As the infrastructure of electric power systems evolves, so does interest in deploying ML techniques to PES. However, despite growing interest, the limited number of reported real-world applications suggests that the gap between research and practice is yet to be fully bridged. To help highlight areas where this gap could be narrowed, this article discusses the challenges and opportunities in developing and adapting ML techniques for modern electric power systems, with a particular focus on power distribution systems. These systems play a crucial role in transforming the electric power sector and accommodating emerging distributed technologies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future. The objective of this article is not to provide an exhaustive overview of the state-of-the-art in the literature, but rather to make the topic accessible to readers with an engineering or computer science background and an interest in the field of ML for PES, thereby encouraging cross-disciplinary research in this rapidly developing field. To this end, the article discusses the ways in which ML can contribute to addressing the evolving operational challenges facing power distribution systems and identifies relevant application areas that exemplify the potential for ML to make near-term contributions. At the same time, key considerations for the practical implementation of ML in power distribution systems are discussed, along with suggestions for several potential future directions.
Marković, Marija (ORCID:0000000247839837)↗
Nuclear reactor power for a space-based radar. SP-100 project
A space-based radar mission and spacecraft, using a 300 kWe nuclear reactor power system, has been examined, with emphasis on aspects affecting the power system. The radar antenna is a horizontal planar array, 32 X 64 m. The orbit is at 61 deg, 1088 km. The mass of the antenna with support structure is 42,000 kg; of the nuclear reactor power system, 8,300 kg; of the whole spacecraft about 51,000 kg, necessitating multiple launches and orbital assembly. The assembly orbit is at 57 deg, 400 km, high enough to provide the orbital lifetime needed for orbital assembly. The selected scenario uses six Shuttle launches to bring the spacecraft and a Centaur G upper-stage vehicle to assembly orbit. After assembly, the Centaur places the spacecraft in operational orbit, where it is deployed on radio command, the power system started, and the spacecraft becomes operational. Electric propulsion is an alternative and allows deployment in assembly orbit, but introduces a question of nuclear safety.
Bloomfield, Harvey↗
Assessing the sensitivity of aerosol mass budget and effective radiative forcing to horizontal grid spacing in E3SMv1 using a regional refinement approach
Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols have important impacts on air quality and the Earth–atmospheric energy balance. However, as computing power is limited, Earth system models generally use coarse spatial grids and parameterize finer-scale atmospheric processes. These parameterizations and the simulation of atmospheric aerosols are often sensitive to model horizontal resolutions. Understanding the sensitivities is necessary for the development of Earth system models at higher resolutions with the deployment of more powerful supercomputers. Using the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) version 1, this study investigates the impact of horizontal grid spacing on the simulated aerosol mass budget, aerosol–cloud interactions, and the effective radiative forcing of anthropogenic aerosols (ERFaer) over the contiguous United States. We examine the resolution sensitivity by comparing the nudged simulation results for 2016 from the low-resolution model (LR) and the regional refinement model (RRM). As expected, the simulated emissions of natural dust, sea salt, and marine organic matter are substantially higher in the RRM than in the LR. In addition, RRM simulates stronger aqueous-phase production of sulfate through the enhanced oxidation of sulfur dioxide by hydrogen peroxide due to increased cloud liquid water content. In contrast, the gas-phase chemical production of sulfate is slightly suppressed. The RRM resolves more large-scale precipitation and produces less convective precipitation than the LR, leading to increased (decreased) aerosol wet scavenging by large-scale (convective) precipitation. Regarding aerosol effects on clouds, RRM produces larger temporal variabilities in the large-scale liquid cloud fractions than LR, resulting in increased microphysical cloud processing of aerosols (more interstitial aerosols are converted to cloud-borne aerosols via aerosol activation) in RRM. Water vapor condensation is also enhanced in RRM compared to LR. Consequently, the RRM simulation produces more cloud droplets, a larger cloud droplet radius, a higher liquid water path, and a larger cloud optical depth than the LR simulation. A comparison of the present-day and pre-industrial simulations indicates that, for this contiguous United States domain, the higher-resolution increases ERFaer at the top of the model by about 12 %, which is mainly attributed to the strengthened indirect effect associated with aerosol–cloud interactions.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Power Extension Package (PEP) system definition extension, orbital service module systems analysis study. Volume 1: Executive summary
An array deployment assembly, power regulation and control assembly, the necessary interface, and display and control equipment comprise the power extension package (PEP) which is designed to provide increased power and duration, as well as reduce fuel cell cryogen consumption during Spacelab missions. Compatible with all currently defined missions and payloads, PEP imposes minimal weight and volume penalties on sortie missions, and can be installed and removed as needed at the launch site within the normal Orbiter turnaround cycle. The technology on which it is based consists of a modified solar electric propulsion array, standard design regulator and control equipment, and a minimally modified Orbiter design. The requirements from which PEP was derived, and the system and its performance capabilities are described. Features of the recommended project are presented.
Source record↗
Evaluating Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on the U.S. Power System
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, commonly referred to as the 'Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL),' collectively represent the largest commitment of the U.S. Federal Government to invest in the modernization and decarbonization of the U.S. energy system. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that total support for the broad range of climate and clean energy programs, tax credits, and other incentives authorized through the two laws will exceed $430 billion from 2022 through 2031 (CRS 2022; CBO 2021, 2022). While the climate and clean energy provisions are numerous and have the potential to impact all aspects of the U.S. energy system from fuel and electricity production to final consumption in industry, transportation, and buildings, the provisions relevant to the electricity sector - in particular the suite of tax credits for clean generation, storage, and carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) capture and storage - are expected to be some of the most consequential in terms of emissions reduction and clean energy deployment (Larsen et al. 2022; Jenkins, Mayfield, et al. 2022; Mahajan et al. 2022; Zhao et al. 2022). In this report, we detail the methods and results of a study estimating the potential impacts of key provisions of IRA and BIL on the contiguous U.S. power sector from present day through 2030. The analysis employs an advanced power system planning model, the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS), to evaluate how major provisions from both laws impact investment in and operation of utility-scale generation, storage, and transmission, and, in turn, how those changes impact power system costs, emissions, and climate and health damages. While not exhaustive in capturing every provision, the analysis estimates the possible scale of power-sector impacts that could result from the modeled provisions in IRA and BIL. The study is structured around two scenarios to evaluate the potential impacts of both laws on the power sector: 1) No New Policy: A counter-factual scenario that reflects all Federal and state policies enacted as of September 2022, with exception to IRA and BIL, and assumes load growth consistent with the Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook 2022 (AEO22) Reference case (EIA 2022a); 2) IRA-BIL: A scenario reflecting all Federal and state policies enacted as of September 2022, including key IRA and BIL provisions, most notably the investment and production tax credits for zero-carbon emitting electricity generation and storage (ITC and PTC), the tax credit for CO 2 capture and storage (45Q), and the tax credit for existing nuclear plants (described further in Section 2.3). To account for the impacts of IRA and BIL on electrification, assumes increased load growth consistent with a scaled version of the Medium Electrification scenario from the Electrification Futures Study (Mai et al. 2018). These scenarios are simulated across seven sets of assumptions with varying projected future electricity market conditions, including technology costs and performance, natural gas prices, and the degree of availability, feasibility, and cost of development of renewable resources, electricity transmission, and CO 2 pipeline, injection, and storage infrastructure. In addition, we simulate two sensitivities on the 'policy' treatment in which we vary key assumptions pertaining to the realized value of the clean electricity ITC and PTC: 1) the cost of monetization of tax credits, and 2) the level of bonus crediting realized by project developers. We demonstrate that IRA and BIL have the collective potential to drive substantial growth in clean electricity by 2030, while reducing costs for consumers, mitigating climate change, and decreasing the human health impacts of power sector emissions. However, we also demonstrate that if expected cost improvements of clean technologies are not realized and/or constraints on deployment driven by factors such as supply-chain challenges, regulatory hurdles, and the social acceptability of energy infrastructure development limit the rate of clean energy and associated infrastructure deployment (such as transmission), then the share of clean generation achieved and the associated emissions benefits realized may be substantively reduced.
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
Energy Storage as an Equity Asset
Abstract Purpose of Review This review offers a discussion on how energy storage deployment advances equitable outcomes for the power system. It catalogues the four tenets of the energy justice concept—distributive, recognition, procedural, and restorative—and shows how they relate to inequities in energy affordability, availability, due process, sustainability, and responsibility. Recent Findings Energy storage systems have been deployed to support grid reliability and renewable resource integration, but there is additional emerging value in considering the connections between energy storage applications and equity challenges in the power system. Through a thorough review of the energy justice and energy transitions literature, this paper offers the equity dimensions of storage project design and implementations. Summary Emerging energy programs and projects are utilizing energy storage in pursuit of improved equity outcomes. Future research and policy design should integrate energy justice principles to align storage penetration with desired equity outcomes.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
A Notional Artemis Lunar Surface Exploration Package (ArLSEP) based on the Gandalf Staff Platform
Introduction: The Artemis program is planning to deliver crew and cargo to the lunar surface, but there is no current package for supporting lunar in-struments and experiments similar to the Apollo Lunar Surface Exploration Package (ALSEP). This abstract provides a possible concept for such a package using the Gandalf Staff Platform as a common core. Gandalf Staff: The Gandalf Staff is an early prototype system developed over FY’21/FY’22 using NASA Science Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Center Information Fund (CIF) grants to de-sign, build and test “proof-of-concept” components. These components include a 24v battery powered monopole that powers a suite of subsystems, including a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for crew, surface voice and data communications, Lunar Search and Rescue (LunaSAR) navigation and communications, LiDAR, field site external lighting, 360-degree camera, and a geothermal instrument for measuring sub-surface temperature gradient. The staff can be carried independently by an Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) astronaut, or can be mounted into a tripod for “hands free” support at a surface site being investigated. The staff can be attached to an external solar array and power storage system for long-duration operations. [1,2] ALSEP: An ASLEP flew on each mission Apollo 12 to Apollo 17. For Apollo 11, a simplified packaged called the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Pack-age (EASEP) was flown. Each package included a “Central Station” that provided the power and communications connected to a variety of instruments and sensors. The power was provided by a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) fueled by Plutoni-um-238 generating 70 watts of power (initially, decayed over time) [3]. The communications system provide for direct to Earth data transfer from the lunar surface. Each pack-age was stowed externally in the Lunar Module (LM) Scientific Equipment (SEQ) bay with a mass up to 163 kg (Apollo 17). The crew unloaded the ALSEP from the LM and deployed the instruments on the lunar surface. Although designed to operate for only 1 year, many sites operated for up to 8 years successfully [4]. The Active Seismic Experiment (ASE) included 3 geophones for detecting seismic waves created by mortars and thumpers deployed by the crew. Other active experiments measured the lunar atmosphere, the heat flow in the subsurface, the lunar gravity and potential gravity waves, the lunar magnetic field, the solar wind and plasma interactions in cislunar space. Passive experiments included collectors for dust and cosmic rays, and retroreflectors for precise measurements of distance using a laser from Earth. The ALSEP program continues to generate insights into lunar formation and evolution. ArLSEP Concepts: The lunar surface science package for the Artemis program will hopefully exceed the capability of the ALSEP. There are multiple issues for discussion leading to the design of a new ArLSEP, needing requirements definition from the science community, NASA mission architecture, and NASA budget planners. 1. Delivery Mechanism Two possible projects currently provide capability to deliver scientific cargo to the lunar surface: 1) the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) [5] and the Human Landing System (HLS) [6, 7]. Each project is controlled by a different organization within NASA and budgeted with different criteria although both support lunar exploration. The HLS system delivers crew (and potentially cargo) to human landing sites. If an ArLSEP is “predeployed” to such a site, the design must include power (either from the vehicle or independently) to keep the electronics functioning until deployed by the crew. If an ArLSEP is delivered on a vehicle after the crew is present on the lunar surface, safety protocols require adequate distance from the humans for impact from descent propelled sur-face regolith ejecta. This distance can not exceed the capability of the crew to walk (if no rover) to the vehicle for ArLSEP deployment. 2. Overall Guidelines The general design of ArLSEP will likely follow the ALSEP with a common system for communications and power; however, significant architecture differences between Apollo and Artemis exist. Power: The RTG will not be available for early Artemis missions nor likely follow-on Lunar Exploration Transportation Services (LETS) missions [8]. Thus, ArLSEP power must be supplied by solar arrays with sufficient battery capability to “keep alive” necessary electronics during any lunar surface eclipse period. Communication: The Artemis program is developing a series of communications satellites for lunar orbit to provide surface transmission of data and voice to Earth. Called “LunaNET”, this network is component useful for ArLSEP since south polar locations may not always have direct “line-of-sight” to Earth [9]. 3. Concept of Operations (ConOps) The general ConOps for ArLSEP is to deliver the package to lunar surface before the crew arrives, and then have the crew deploy the package after some period of time. This requires coordinated design (for power systems) and launch window (for schedule) on both the cargo and crew missions. Once the ArLSEP is deployed, it will operate autonomously for a number of years. It should be designed to be EVA compatible for crew maintenance and upgrade. 4. Notional Design (for discussion purpose only) The landing site near the South Pole is expected to have no eclipse cycle exceeding 5 days, so the “keep alive” power is 144 hours (6 days to include margin). A 12v ArLSEP will use rechargeable LiFePO4 cells, which are common in the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry. With a current of 5 amps and a 125 watt system, the mass is about 90kg. The comm. system and structure adds another 10kg, thus the “Central Station” is approximately 100kg. The solar power is collected on four arrays (each 2m above the surface), and the entire ArLSEP is designed to stow in a 2m x 1m x 1m volume. The experiment and instrument design will vary for each installation and add mass to the total (although they are expected to fit within the 2m3 volume). Seismic wave generation will likely not be provided with mortars, thus an electric “thumper” will be required. Active instruments such as imaging systems and sensing instruments will benefit from the additional power and communication capability provided by ArLSEP. Passive systems such as retroreflectors, witness plates, and cosmic dust collectors can be added to either the landing vehicle and/or the ArLSEP. With repeated HLS missions to the same human site, the ArLSEP can be expanded and easily maintained for long duration science collection on the lunar surface.
ALSEP↗
Korean Power System Challenges and Opportunities, Priorities for Swift and Successful Clean Energy Deployment at Scale
With South Korea’s electricity demand expected to grow 30% by 2035, transitioning to clean energy resources will be critical in reducing the electric sector emissions and achieving national climate goals. Rapid technological improvements can help keep costs low and maintain grid reliability, if Korea’s government takes a coordinated approach to the clean energy transition. This policy brief identifies key barriers to Korea’s shift toward clean energy, based on the authors’ companion report (A Clean Energy Korea by 2035: Transitioning to 80% Carbon-Free Electricity Generation ), interviews with experts, and the most recent data and literature. It then explores policy solutions for overcoming these technological, economic, and institutional barriers, and suggests market transformation strategies to speed the adoption of clean energy technologies. Amid ongoing cost and technological improvements in wind, solar, and energy storage, advancing this report’s recommended policy actions with maximum coordination among government officials can meaningfully accelerate Korea’s clean energy transition.
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) for Emerging Power Needs of Deep Space Cubesats, Smallsats and Deployed Payloads
No abstract available
Lee, Young H.↗
Radiation Effects Considerations for Instrumentation and Control in Space Nuclear Systems
Radiation effects in electrical, electronic, electro-motive, and electro-optical (EEEE) hardware encompass a complex variety of interactions, processes, environments, and an evolving landscape of relevant hardware. Appropriately mitigating the effects of radiation in sensors, data acquisition, and control hardware is among the most significant challenges associated with deploying space nuclear power and propulsion systems. The expertise within EEEE radiation effects disciplines require working knowledge that is at least as complex and diverse as the problem itself, but that should not dissuade stakeholders and engineers in adjacent disciplines from attempting to understand the general principles associated with the problem at hand. This brief overview seeks to bring to the foreground a set of relevant topics that are of special importance for space nuclear propulsion applications that involve high rates of neutron and gamma radiation. The unique set of environments and design requirements for space nuclear systems mean that the experience and utility for methods applied to typical spaceflight hardware or terrestrial nuclear systems must not be applied naively. Forward consideration on the applicability of testing methods applied to either existing or bespoke hardware is likely to drive early decisions on system-wide radiation effects mitigation strategies, and will influence procurement requirements for providers of radiation tolerant hardware who are unlikely to have experience in this unique set of environments. Radiation hardness assurance (RHA) guidance should be adapted and emphasize the importance of hardware testing in the relevant environment. These must consider the combined effects of temperature, total ionizing dose (TID), non-ionizing/displacement damage (TNID/DD), and single event effects (SEE), and should consider the impacts of flux (rate) in addition to cumulative effects.
Radiation↗
An evaluation of power conversion systems for land-based nuclear microreactors: Can aeroderivative engines facilitate near-term deployment?
Not Available
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
Postdisaster Routing of Movable Energy Resources for Enhanced Distribution System Resilience: A Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Approach
The deployment of movable energy resources (MERs) can be an effective strategy to restore critical loads to enhance power system resilience when no other energy sources are available after the occurrence of an extreme event. Since the optimal locations of MERs following an extreme event are dependent on system operating states (e.g., the loads at each node, on/off status of system branches, and so on), existing analytical and population-based approaches must repeat the entire analysis and calculation when the system operating states change. On the contrary, if deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based algorithms are sufficiently trained with a wide range of scenarios, they can quickly find optimal or near-optimal locations irrespective of changes in system states. A deep Q-learning-based approach is proposed for optimal MER deployment to enhance power system resilience. MERs can be also utilized to complement other types of resources, if available. The proposed approach operates in two stages after the occurrence of extreme events. In the first stage, the distribution network is represented as a graph, and the network is then reconfigured using tie switches by using Kruskal’s spanning forest search algorithm (KSFSA). To maximize critical load recovery, the optimal or near-optimal locations of MERs are chosen in the second stage. Further, case studies on a 33-node distribution system and a modified IEEE 123-node system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for postdisaster routing of MERs.
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗