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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Understanding the Molecular‐level Interactions Between Ionic Liquids and Molecular Species to Design and Develop Novel Solvent Systems for Environmental and Energy Applications (DOE-EPSCoR – DE‐SC0020282 Final Technical Report)

The central theme of the work is to develop an understanding of the molecular-level interactions between ionic liquids and molecular species that govern a specific set of separations (aliphatic/aromatic, Topic I), reactions (SNAr, high-temp reactions, Topic II) and polymer (ultrahigh performance polymers, Topic III) synthesis processes through the synergistic application of synthesis, characterization and simulation. Understanding these interactions will provide significant insight into how to optimize these and other processes that are influenced by these interactions. An important additional goal is to build the collaborative infrastructure to enable the cluster researchers to develop professional relationships to enhance this and future research endeavors. This collaboration, the Alabama Advanced Solvents Cluster (AASC) is on ongoing collaborative effort between many of the investigators.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1996

Human-Centered Technologies and Procedures for Future Air Traffic Management: A Preliminary Overview of 1996 Studies and Results

In this project, we have been exploring the use of a general methodology to predict the impact of future Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts and technologies. In applying this methodology, our emphasis has been on the importance of modeling coordination and cooperation among the multiple agents within this system, and on understanding how the interactions among these agents will be influenced as new roles, responsibilities, procedures and technologies are introduced. To accomplish this, we have been collecting data on performance under the current air traffic management system, trying to identify critical problem areas and looking for exemplars suggestive of general approaches for solving such problems. Based on the results of these field studies, we have developed a set of scenarios centered around potential future system designs, and have conducted studies using these scenarios involving a total 40 controllers, dispatchers, pilots and traffic managers. The purpose of this report is to provide NASA with an early summary of the major recommendations that have resulted from our research under the AATT Program thus far. Recommendations 1-3 deal with general approaches that our findings suggest should be incorporated in future AATT Program activities, while Recommendations 4-11 identify some specific topics and technologies that merit research and development activities. Detailed technical reports containing supporting data, as well as the results of our still ongoing analyses, will be provided at a later date. The remainder of this report is organized as follows. Section 1 briefly describes the general design philosophy supported by our empirical studies. Section 2 presents the research methods we have used for identifying requirements for future system designs and for evaluating alternative design solutions. Section 3 discusses preliminary results from an initial set of investigations that we have conducted using these research methods. Section 4 then provides an overall summary. An outline of the rest of this preliminary project summary is provided on the following page.

Smith, Philip↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development and Bench-Scale Testing of a Novel Biphasic Solvent-Enabled Absorption Process for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture (Final Technical Report)

A new class of biphasic solvents was developed, and the concept of the enabled carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) absorption process was tested for post-combustion carbon capture in our previous lab-scale research. The primary goals of this project were to advance the development of the novel biphasic CO 2 absorption process (BiCAP) and validate its technical advantages by testing the integrated technology at a 40 kWe bench-scale with actual coal-derived flue gas in a power plant environment. The project was led by the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign (UIUC), and Trimeric Corporation served as a sub-awardee providing support in basic design and techno-economic studies. To achieve the project goals and objectives, solvent management studies, process modeling and optimization, bench-scale equipment design, construction and testing, and technical, economic and environmental assessments have been conducted. The two top-performing biphasic solvents developed in our previous research were used in this project. Biphasic solvent emissions and control were investigated in the laboratory. The emissions of the biphasic solvents from the absorber were comparable to or lower than the reference 30 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA) solution, while they could be more effectively removed in the water wash column. Lab-scale testing of solvent degradation reclamation has revealed that vacuum distillation was feasible for biphasic solvent reclamation. Aspen Plus models were used to optimize the BiCAP, and a CO 2 stripping configuration introducing a secondary cold solvent feed to the stripper was identified to be the most energy efficient. A 40 kWe bench-scale, integrated BiCAP system was successfully designed, fabricated, and installed at the UIUC’s Abbott Power Plant. Parametric testing with synthetic flue gas has demonstrated that the two biphasic solvents required a more than 40% lower heat duty for CO 2 desorption as compared to the reference MEA tested on the same bench-scale skid. Slipstream testing with actual coal flue gas for a total of 31 days in two test campaigns has further demonstrated stable operation of the bench-scale skid. During the first campaign targeting 90% CO 2 removal, the heat duty averaged at 2,183 MJ/tonne of CO 2 captured and during the second campaign targeting 95% removal, the heat duty averaged at 2,450 MJ/tonne of CO 2 captured. A techno-economic analysis has revealed that for integration of the BiCAP into a 650-MWe pulverized coal-fired power plant, the parasitic power loss was reduced by ~20%, and the cost of CO 2 capture was reduced by ~21% ($36.3/tonne on a December 2018 dollar basis) compared to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s baseline Case B12B. As progression from this bench-scale development effort, a new project “Engineering-Scale Testing of the Biphasic Solvent Based CO 2 Absorption Capture Technology at a Covanta Waste-to-Energy Facility” was awarded by the DOE, launched in February 2023, to allow the team to further test the technology and demonstrate its technical and economic advantages at a pilot scale.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Monolithic Bifacial Halide Perovskite-Cadmium Selenide Telluride (CST) Tandem Thin-Film Solar Cells (Final Technical Report)

In this project, we develop a bifacial tandem design for monolithic metal halide perovskite-cadmium selenide telluride (CST) tandem solar cells. The bifacial tandem design not only enables the monolithic integration of perovskite-CST tandems but also delivers high efficiency by harvesting the albedo light. It also allows better current match and thus enables higher power output of the tandem devices than conventional tandem cells. We worked on understanding the critical factors limiting bifacial CST cells and developing strategies to improve their bifaciality. We also developed efficient wide-bandgap perovskite subcells and interconnecting layers that enable the monolithic perovskite-CST tandem solar cells. We successfully demonstrated prototype monolithic bifacial perovskite-CST tandem solar cells with bifacial equivalent efficiencies of more than 25% under an albedo of 0.4. Additionally, we optimized the wide-bandgap perovskite to realize four-terminal perovskite-CST tandem devices with efficiencies of 25.5% under monofacial illumination. The team disseminated these results to stakeholders in the PV academic and industry and discussed the challenges and major technical barriers for their market entry. The technologies developed in the project are promising but are not yet ready for immediate commercialization. Future fundamental study and R&D work are needed to advance these promising technologies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Developing a peptide concatemer (PepCon) as a process control for LC-MS based proteomics

Quantitative concatenated peptide (QconCAT) technology is currently used for the absolute quantification of proteins of interest in a biological sample. It relies on artificially created proteins that are concatenations of different, isotopically labeled peptides. Because these isotopically labeled peptides are at a 1:1 ratio and correspond to naturally occurring peptides in the biological sample, each peptide can be used as a standard for the absolute quantitation of all proteins of interest at once. Although the QconCAT technology has utility for quantitation of known peptides in a mixture, it is not helpful for scientists who need a proteomics standard (1) that can be spiked into a protein mixture at an extremely low level, (2) that can be co-purified during sample fractionation, and (3) that is optimized for ESI used in mass spectrometry. Thus, there exists a need for an ideal standard protein that is large enough to behave as a protein but consists of multiple, concatenated copies of the same peptide, which, upon digestion, amplifies (e.g., >10-fold) into a detectable peptide species. Here, this technical report describes the development of “PepCon”, a peptide concatemer that fulfills this unmet need.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1998

Development of a teaching tool to encourage high school students to study aerospace technical subjects

This report details the efforts to develop a design competition aimed at high school students which will encourage them to study aerospace technical subjects. It has been shown that such competitions - based on an industry simulation game - are valuable ways to energize high school students to study in this area. Under the grant, a new competition scenario was developed, in keeping with NASA-Dryden's mission to develop aircraft and foster knowledge about aeronautics. Included are preliminary background materials and information which, if the grant is continued, would form the basis of a national competition for high school students, wherein they would design an Aerospaceport in a future year, taking into consideration the requirements of aircraft, spacecraft- ground transportation systems, passengers who use the facility, and employees who operate it. Many of the Competition methods were studied and tested during two existing local competitions in the disadvantaged communities of Lancaster and Victorville, California.

Gale, Anita↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal Energy Grid Storage (TEGS) Using Multi-Junction Photovoltaics (MPV) (Final Technical Report)

The project aimed to develop a thermal energy storage battery that converts electricity to heat and stores heat at ultra-high temperatures (>2000°C) in graphite blocks. The thermal battery discharge uses TPV cells that directly convert thermal energy to electrical energy without any moving parts. All components of this technology were successfully demonstrated at the laboratory scale in this project. Development of extremely low cost (< $20/kWh) grid level energy storage is a crucial necessity to reach high penetrations of renewables. The thermal battery technology developed in this project is expected to meet the cost targets that would enable full renewable penetration. The project focused on four key aspects of this technology: Converting electricity to ultra-high temperature heat: This was done through development of graphite Joule heaters. Major issues related to arcing, heater evaporation and deterioration due to long term oxidation were addressed to ensure lifetime exceeding the service lifetime of the battery. Converting ultra-high temperature heat back to electricity: This was done through development of beyond state-of-the-art TPV cells. We demonstrated energy conversion efficiency of >40% that is a world record and exceeds the average energy conversion efficiency of turbines in the USA. The findings are peer-reviewed and published in Nature, and received a wide media attention globally. Protecting the TPV cells to ensure lifetime: Deposition of volatilized material, such as sublimated material or particles, on the TPV cell could greatly reduce the efficiency and lifetime of the TPV cells by blocking their view to the heat source and causing cell overheating. In this project we developed and demonstrated an approach that reduces the deposition rate, ensuring long > 30 year life. Technoeconomic feasibility and commercialization: In collaboration with the project’s technical advisory board, we developed a technoeconomic model. The model shows that, at large scales (> 1GWh) the thermal battery technology is projected to reach a cost of energy stored below $10/kWh-e, with a cost per unit power < $0.5/W-e and a roundtrip efficiency of 50%. These results, along with the technical achievements in the project led to the creation of a startup company (i.e., Fourth Power) that is pursuing commercialization of the technology.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Scalable/Secure Cooperative Algorithms and Framework for Extremely-high Penetration Solar Integration (SolarExPert) (Final Technical Report)

This SolarExPert project has developed a Sustainable Grid Platform (SGP) with scalable architecture of distributed control and optimization. The SGP consists of the following major functions: 1) an advanced grid architecture with hierarchical and distributed communication and control, combined with the OpenFMB standard and implemented on the Multi-Agent OpenDSS (MA-OpenDSS) platform; 2) an online distributed stochastic optimal power flow; 3) an online distributed system state estimation algorithm; 4) the distributed Volt/VAR optimization and frequency control algorithms; 5) the distributed distribution system restoration strategy. The developed SGP together with advanced functions are tested in 1 million (1M)-node distribution system on the MA-OpenDSS platform. Furthermore, the models and algorithms are tested in 100,000-node system HiL simulation, and also in P-HiL implementation with 100 physical devices. The developed functions haven been validated and tested on the selected actual distribution feeder with the data collected from the field of Maui Meadows in Hawaii. The distributed PV hosting capacities with cooperative Volt/VAR and Volt/VAR/Watt control are estimated and compared to provide recommendations for customers and the utility company.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Indirect Liquefaction, Ex Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis, Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2020 State-of-Technology Cases

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) aims to develop and deploy technologies to transform renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower through public and private partnerships (U.S. Department of Energy, 2016). BETO and its national laboratory teams conduct in-depth techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biomass feedstock supply and logistics and conversion technologies to produce biofuels. There are two general types of TEAs: A design case outlines a target case (future projection) for a particular biofuel pathway. It enables identification of data gaps and research and development needs and provides goals and benchmarks against which technology progress is assessed. A state of technology (SOT) analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual results at current experimental scales relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases, and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available. In addition to developing a TEA for a pathway of interest, BETO also performs a supply chain sustainability analysis (SCSA). The SCSA takes the life-cycle analysis approach that BETO has been supporting for about 20 years. It enables BETO to identify energy consumption, environmental, and sustainability issues that may be associated with biofuel production. Approaches to mitigate these issues can then be developed. Additionally, the SCSA allows for comparison of energy and environmental impacts across biofuel pathways in BETO’s research and development portfolio. This technical report describes the SCSAs for the production of renewable hydrocarbon transportation fuels via a range of conversion technologies in the 2020 SOTs: (1) renewable high octane gasoline (HOG) via indirect liquefaction (IDL) of woody lignocellulosic biomass (note that the IDL pathway in this SCSA represents the syngas conversion design [Harris et al. 2021]); (2) renewable gasoline (RG) and diesel (RD) blendstocks via ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of woody lignocellulosic biomass [Abhijit et al. 2021]; (3) RD via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet sludge from a wastewater treatment plant; (4) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via biochemical conversion of herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass (Davis et al. 2021; Lin et al. 2021); (5) renewable diesel via HTL of a blend of algae (Davis and Klein, 2021) and woody biomass (Hartley et al. 2020); and (6) renewable diesel via combined algae processing (CAP) (Wiatrowski and Davis, 2021). This technical report focuses on the environmental performance of these six biofuel production pathways in their 2020 SOT cases. The results of these renewable hydrocarbon fuel pathways in these SCSA analyses update those for the respective 2019 SOT cases (Cai et al. 2020). They also provide an opportunity to examine the impact of technology improvements in both biomass feedstock production and biofuel production that have been achieved in 2020 SOTs on the sustainability performance of these renewable transportation fuels. The SCSA results also reflect updates to Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET®) model, which was released in October 2020 (Wang et al. 2020). These GREET updates include the production of natural gas, electricity, and petroleum-based fuels that can influence biofuels’ supply chain greenhouse gas (GHG) (CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O) emissions, water consumption, and air pollutant emissions. GHG emissions, water consumption, and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions are the main sustainability metrics assessed in this analysis. In this analysis, we define water consumption as the amount of water withdrawn from a freshwater source that is not returned (or returnable) to a freshwater source at the same level of quality. Life-cycle fossil energy consumption and net energy balance, which is the life-cycle fossil energy consumption deducted from the renewable biofuel energy produced, are also assessed.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

High-Luminance LED Platform for Improved Efficacy in Directional Applications (Final Technical Report)

In this project, Lumileds developed a platform of high-luminance LEDs and LED light engines to increase efficacy and reduce energy consumption of directional lighting applications. The platform was developed through innovations in three key areas: (1) epi and device architectures optimized for high drive current density, breaking through the tradeoff in efficacy (lm/W) vs. emittance (lm/mm 2 ) exhibited by state-of-the-art products; (2) a compact chip-scale package allowing high packing density and thus high overall luminance in multi-emitter arrays; and (3) phosphor technology to enable correlated color temperature (CCT) tuning in multi-emitter arrays with optimized LED utilization, efficacy, color uniformity and color quality. Directional indoor and outdoor lighting applications make up a major portion of the total lighting energy consumption in the U.S, accounting for >40% of the energy savings potential of solid-state lighting. Success of this project helps accelerate the realization of these energy savings both through higher system efficacy and adoption due to new functionality, and thus contributes significantly to realizing the DOE Lighting program goals.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Regulation of Chloroplast Division and Compartment Size (Final Technical Report)

During leaf growth and development, chloroplasts numbers increase as cells expand to maximize energy capture and photosynthetic capacity. Chloroplasts proliferate by dividing in the middle, producing a large population of small organelles of similar size and shape. This process is orchestrated by macromolecular complexes located both inside and outside the chloroplast whose assembly and contractile activity across the two envelope membranes must be coordinated and spatially regulated. Through research supported by our DOE funding, and by exploiting the powerful model system Arabidopsis thaliana, we have significantly advanced our knowledge of how coordination of the division complexes is achieved and how division-site placement is spatially restricted to the middle of the chloroplast. Using chloroplast division mutants, we gained new understanding of how chloroplast size and shape influence chloroplast movement and photosynthetic performance. We identified a gene contributing to natural variation in chloroplast size. Major findings are highlighted.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2022 State-of-Technology Cases

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) aims to develop and deploy technologies to transform renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower through public and private partnerships. BETO and its national laboratory teams conduct in-depth techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biomass feedstock supply and logistics and conversion technologies to produce biofuels. There are two general types of TEAs: A design case outlines a target case (future projection) for a particular biofuel pathway. It informs R&D priorities by identifying areas in need of improvement, tracks sustainability impact of R&D, and provides goals and benchmarks against which technology progress is assessed. A state of technology (SOT) analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual results at current experimental scales relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases, and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available. In addition to developing a TEA for a pathway of interest, BETO also performs a supply chain sustainability analysis (SCSA). The SCSA takes the life-cycle analysis approach that BETO has been supporting for over 20 years. It enables BETO to identify energy consumption, environmental, and sustainability issues that may be associated with biofuel production. Approaches to mitigating these issues can then be developed. Additionally, the SCSA allows for comparison of energy and environmental impacts across biofuel pathways in BETO's research and development portfolio. This technical report describes the SCSAs for the production of renewable hydrocarbon transportation fuels via a range of conversion technologies in the 2022 SOTs: (1) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet sludge from a wastewater treatment plant; (2) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via biochemical conversion of herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass; (3) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via HTL of an algae/woody biomass blend; and (4) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via combined algae processing (CAP).

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

CalWave's xWave Design for PacWave (Final Technical Report)

CalWave Inc. (CalWave) is developing a wave energy converter (WEC) technology that can generate electricity from ocean waves. CalWave’s design offers a unique approach to wave energy conversion that operates fully submerged and can actively adjust the wave excitation. This capability gives the architecture enhanced survivability in ocean storms without adding significant costs. Prior to this project, CalWave had completed a demonstration of a fully functional WEC system in an open ocean demonstration at nominal 1:5 scale under FOA 1663. The goal of this project was the detailed design, following relevant standards and industry best-practices, of a variant of the xWave WEC technology that can safely and efficiently operate at the DOE’s PacWave South test site for a targeted deployment of up two years. The WEC design and associated review processes proceeded in two distinct project phases: a ‘Preliminary’ and a ‘Final’ design phase. The first phase of the project consisted of the systematic design of the WEC’s key features with regards to appropriate IEC standards. The work resulted in a preliminary design of the xWave hull including structural and Power Take-Off (PTO) load estimates, as well as performance estimates for all ocean conditions the WEC would operate in at PacWave South. Following the first open-water demonstration of CalWave’s small-scale “x1” device under FOA 1663, lessons learned were fed directly into a comprehensive review of the xWave design in the second design phase of this FOA project. CalWave’s work was supported by Sandia National Lab (SNL) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) on the holistic WEC design, and detailed feedback from specialized partners on hull design, mooring and anchoring specification, and electrical grid interconnection. Optimization of the WEC system was performed using a novel numerical optimization tool developed by Sandia and optimization trends were confirmed via an experimental model scale tank test campaign. Performance estimates for PacWave and a detailed xWave design including integration of all relevant system components were concluded. The mooring design was also concluded in the Final design phase using the most up to date sea floor characterization (CPT) data.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2024

High Temperature Additive Architectures for 65% Efficiency (Final Technical Report)

This project aimed to develop advanced high-temperature additive components that contribute towards the DOE’s goal for advanced gas turbines that are capable of at least 65% efficiency in combined cycle application. The objective was to leverage state-of-the-art additive manufacturing to develop an innovative stage 1 turbine nozzle (S1N) that can provide cooling flow savings while maintaining the component durability expected in today’s gas turbines. The program had two phases. Phase I was a conceptual phase for novel advanced cooling designs enabled by additive manufacturing, as well as proposals for validation. Phase II included execution of the Phase I conceptual design, including manufacturing of prototype hardware and validation within an environment that is similar to engine operation. During Phase I of the program, the team devised a concept to reduce cooling air usage. The cooling air used in the side walls is filmed out along the side walls, while the cooling air used in the airfoil is eventually directed to near-wall channels and exits holes along the airfoil trailing end. During this program, the team performed additive trials to analyze the geometric limitations of additive manufacturing. This helped the team understand minimum wall thicknesses, hole sizes, and cooling channel dimensions among other limits. Phase II of this program pushed GE Vernova beyond its previous experience of designing and manufacturing an additively manufactured hot gas path component. Modern hot gas path components utilize material chemistries that are traditionally hard to weld, such as cast Renè 108, and exhibit solidification cracking when additively manufactured using Direct Metal Laser Melting (DMLM). Note that AM108 is a powder form of Renè 108. A S1N with advanced cooling is larger and more complex than parts previously built by additive manufacturing and required new learnings to resolve risks around solidification cracking. Finally, the team validated the design in a combustion rig that replicated operation in a gas turbine. In order to properly quantify the benefits of the new additive design, a baseline was also tested in the rig and operated under the same conditions. In addition, an uncertainty analysis was done to quantify any sources of error that could impact the results. At the end of the validation effort, it was determined that the additive nozzle exceeded the 15% reduction in cooling flow goal even with the worst-case assumptions for uncertainty.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Modeling The Nucleosynthetic Imprint of Stellar Merger Phenomena - Final Technical Report

This DOE CAREER project developed a comprehensive, multi-physics framework for modeling stellar mergers and their observable consequences. The work successfully integrated analytical models, three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations, stellar evolution calculations, nucleosynthesis, and radiation transport into a unified pipeline. Key scientific advances include demonstrating stellar mergers as a unifying explanation for systems such as Betelgeuse and R Coronae Borealis stars, quantifying merger-driven chemical signatures, and establishing the connection between merger physics and circumstellar environments. A major outcome of the project is the development of SuperLite, an open-source Monte Carlo radiation transport code that enables the generation of synthetic spectra for astrophysical transients. This work bridges dynamical, thermal, and radiative timescales and provides a powerful, DOE-relevant computational framework for interpreting observations of supernovae and related transient phenomena, while also contributing to workforce development through the training of postdoctoral researchers and graduate students.

Chatzopoulos, Emmanouil [Louisiana State Universit↗