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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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DOE OSTI2023

Considering the Variability of Soiling in Long-Term PV Performance Forecasting: Preprint

This study presents the development of a methodology for evaluating the variability associated with soiling on long-term PV forecasting. Independent engineering firms typically build P50 forecasts for large PV plants through the use of the PVsyst software, where monthly soiling losses are one of many inputs to the P50 model. Subsequently, long-term performance distributions, or Pvalues, are constructed through a Monte Carlo analysis that includes various factors such as: satellite irradiance modeling uncertainty, uncertainty in the PVsyst model, and long-term irradiance variability. Often the PVsyst model uncertainty is increased to account for sites with significant soiling concerns but no systematic method has been presented in the literature to specifically include soiling variability within Pvalues. In this work soiling information from 16 sites in the U.S. Southwest are combined with 20 years of rainfall data to generate 20 years of energy production with soiling losses and then subsequently generate Pvalues. The results show that the spread of Pvalues (P1-P99) can increase from 0-13% when interannual soiling variability is included.

interannual variability↗
DOE OSTI2024

The PHASE Project: New Research and Tools to Inform Pollinator Habitat on Utility-Scale Solar

The solar industry is responding to demand for building a clean energy future. At the same time, pollinator declines and habitat losses are resulting in listing consideration for once-common species like monarch butterflies, plus petitions to list bees and other species. How can projects responsibly co-locate pollinator plantings at solar facilities? What ecological and performance benefits can be realized from pollinator plantings? How do developers and owners weigh the costs and challenges of maintaining pollinator plantings and determine the effects it has on power generation, community acceptance, and operations? The Pollinator Habitat Aligned with Solar Energy (PHASE) project is a four-year research project that aims to answer these questions and better support the solar industry in successfully implementing pollinator plantings. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office. In collaboration with an advisory group composed of industry and technical professionals, the PHASE team developed methodologies to evaluate the impacts of plantings on both biodiversity and the facility operations, including the diversity of plant and insect communities, pollinator services being provided by the site, and the effects of pollinator vegetation on panel temperature and efficiency. The PHASE team also used data to develop tools designed to better support solar industry decision-making on pollinator vegetation including a Pollinator Planting Implementation Manual, a Cost Comparison Tool, a Seed Selection Tool, and Habitat Assessment Module Guidance. Final versions of the four tools will be released this year.

agrivoltaic↗
DOE OSTI2024

Long-Term Assessment of Commercial Building Energy and Carbon Emissions in the Northwestern Region Under Future Weather Trend

The future climate significantly impacts building performance and increases uncertainties in energy simulations. A rising temperature trend is expected to heighten cooling loads during summer and result in more carbon emissions. Understanding the impact of future climate on building performance is significant for policymakers to make informed decisions. Building retrofit measures can improve building energy efficiency and reduce operational carbon emissions, yet their effects under future climate conditions have not been fully investigated so far. Thus, we proposed an assessment methodology for evaluating long-term energy consumption and operational carbon reduction potential using a building stock dataset. For this study, commercial buildings in the northwestern (NW) region were utilized to assess the impacts of future climate and building retrofit. In addition, we selected Montana with a cold and dry climate as an example to analyze and discuss the carbon emission reduction potential in buildings. The main findings are: (1) Under future climate trends, changes in energy use intensity (EUI) will fluctuate due to variations in heating and cooling degree-days (HDDs and CDDs) and increasing HDDs will lead to increasing EUI. (2) After applying annual building retrofitting, the long-term EUI reduction potential of buildings in the NW region will decrease with the increasing retrofitting degree, and the short-term EUI reduction potential will be impacted by the change of heating and cooling degree days. (3) In Montana, the long-term carbon intensity reduction potential of retrofitted buildings will decrease under future climate trends with the increasing renewable energy penetration.

building energy modeling↗
DOE OSTI2023

Improving the Advancement of Women in Computer and Computational Science Research with the CRA-W Career Mentoring Workshops (Final Report)

The mission of the Computing Research Association’s Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research (CRA-WP) is to widen the participation and improve the access, opportunities, and positive experiences of individuals from groups underrepresented in computing research and education. CRA-WP programs serve this overarching goal at all career stages; in addition, CRA-WP, through the formation of the CRA Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP), has developed a methodology for thoroughly evaluating the success of its programs by comparing a nationwide sample of students, researchers, and faculty (non-participants) to program participants. Achieving these objectives requires that an increasing number of individuals from populations underrepresented in computing start and progress to the next stage while understanding and supporting the myriad computing pathways. CRA-WP offers programs for participants from undergraduate to senior professional levels. Different career stages need different types of interventions, and the goal of all Alliance program activities can be described within the unifying framework of Social Cognitive Career Theory, which finds that interest in and choice of a particular career path will be increased by interventions that improve one or more of the following: (1) outcome expectations (understanding and valuing the rewards of a particular outcome), (2) self-efficacy (a belief that one can successfully achieve an outcome), and (3) social supports that help one persist and overcome obstacles.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Evaluate the impact of sensor accuracy on model performance in data-driven building fault detection and diagnostics using Monte Carlo simulation

The performance of data-driven fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) is heavily dependent on sensors. However, sensor inaccuracy and sensor faults are pervasive in building operation: inaccurate and missing sensor readings deteriorate FDD performance; sensor inaccuracy will also affect the selection of sensor for data-driven FDD in the model training process, which is another key factor of data-driven FDD performance. Sensor accuracy and sensor selection individually are well-studied research topics in this field, but the impact of sensor accuracy on sensor selection and its further impact on FDD performance has not been evaluated and quantified. In this paper, we developed a novel analysis methodology that comprehensively evaluates sensor fault on sensor selection and FDD accuracy. Monte Carlo simulation is applied to deal with multiple stochastic sensor inaccuracy and provide probabilistic analysis results of the impact of sensor inaccuracy on sensor selection and FDD accuracy. This methodology focuses on the net impact of fault states across a full sensor set. The developed methodology can be used for the early-stage sensor design and operation-stage sensor maintenance. Furthermore, a case study is conducted to demonstrate the analysis methodology using a commercial building model crated to Flexible Research Platform located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exploring Microsimulation Process for Energy Impact Evaluation of Connected and Automated Vehicles

In this paper, the authors present a microsimulation-based methodological approach for evaluating the energy impact of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). They use an open-source micro-simulator, SUMO, and provide a way to set up a simulation environment that emulates real-world traffic dynamics. They also employ the Intelligent Driver Model to represent human drivers and calibrate its driving behavior using real-world traffic data and driving statistics. The authors conduct extensive simulation studies considering different penetration rates of CAVs, different car-following models, and varying car-following model parameters. Using the state-of-the-art Future Automotive System Technology Simulator (FASTSim), they estimate the fuel economy of each vehicle and analyze the energy impact of the given CAV implementation. Finally, the authors analyze the possible factors affecting the simulation results, and also discuss limitations and future work.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Technical Specification Surveillance Interval Extension Using Self-Diagnostics

As part of the Light Water Reactor Sustainability program, an ongoing research effort is being conducted on technical specifications surveillance interval extension of digital equipment in nuclear power plants. The research team is led by Idaho National Laboratory and includes Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Technology Resources, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This research focuses on developing methods for applying the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)–approved guidance to implement a licensee-controlled, risk-informed surveillance frequency change program in digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems that include self-diagnostics and online monitoring (OLM) capabilities. Although approved methods exist for extending technical specifications (TS) surveillance test intervals (STIs) for general equipment, including analog I&C equipment, gaps remain in technology and guidance on crediting newer digital equipment’s internal self-diagnostics and OLM characteristics. Previous research described a general methodology for crediting internal self-diagnostics for extending surveillance test intervals. The methodology used self-diagnostics to detect—and credited recovery from—failure. Self-diagnostics were also applied for performance monitoring during the extended surveillance interval. This report discusses the status of recent activities to evaluate the previously developed methodology using a pilot study. Although both a utility partner for a pilot study and a specific digital asset were identified in FY2020, delays in obtaining proprietary information resulted in a limited ability to fully evaluate the methodology, and further interactions were complicated by the COVID pandemic. Therefore, at that time, the use of public-domain information—along with current processes for surveillance interval extension through a surveillance frequency control program—identified the need to fully assess diagnostic coverage as part of the pilot study. Furthermore, self-diagnostics were also identified as a potential option to replace the drift analyses conducted as part of current STI extension procedures. In FY2022, the project was reconstituted with the industry partner, and information and data were made available by the industry partner to the research team for review. The shared information included failure event descriptions and data for a digital I&C system since its implementation, as well as recent STI extension interval reports developed by the utility partner on that digital I&C system. This report presents an evaluation of this information and data and describes an application of the proposed methodology cited above. The methodology seeks to take advantage of the self-diagnostics and OLM capabilities to reduce risk or reduce the level of qualitative monitoring assessment needed to perform a risk-informed STI extension using existing NRC approved guidance or both. Addressing these issues of STI extension by crediting self-diagnostics is likely to result in benefits for current and future nuclear power plant (NPP) operations, including lowering the barriers to adoption of digital I&C systems and increasing cost savings by deferring or eliminating unneeded preventive maintenance (tasks or checks or activities). Specifically, self-diagnostic and OLM capabilities of newer digital equipment being installed in non-safety and safety applications are designed to detect failures, provide early warning of potential failures, and notify plant operators to take appropriate action to reduce out of service (OOS) time thus protecting safety margins. Moreover, the equipment is expected to provide information that time-related operational degradation is identified early to ensure timely and planned corrective actions instead of a reactive and unplanned approach ahead of an extended-surveillance interval.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Evaluation of Heat Exchanger Technology for Integrated Energy System: Methodology and Preliminary Application

This report proposes a novel heat exchanger evaluation method, based on integrated QFD-AHP technique, to support strategic optimal selection of heat exchanger (HX) technology for integrated energy systems. The term “optimal selection” is defined as selecting a product (i.e., HX) that best meets various aspects of end user demand, including both technical and economic requirements. Compared to previous HX evaluation methods, the proposed approach allows decision makers to explicitly take into account the practical demand of customers (i.e., HX end users) which may vary depending on the HX application target. In addition, the proposed evaluation method can be used not only for high-level decisions to select HX type, but also for low-level decisions such as the selection of the key components including HX material or heat transfer fluid. The focus of this study is to describe the new HX evaluation method and to illustrate the overall HX evaluation and selection processes using the three nuclear heat application cases that represent the thermal integration between advanced nuclear reactors and industrial processes. As a preliminary study, three different types of HX, i.e., shell-and-tube heat exchanger, printed circuit heat exchanger, and heat pipe heat exchanger, were compared.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Recommended Practices for Managing Induced Seismicity Risk Associated with Geologic Carbon Storage

The geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is one method to help reduce or eliminate atmospheric CO 2 emissions. The sequestered CO 2 is originally captured from the atmosphere or from a stationary industrial source and subsequently injected into a deep subsurface porous rock formation. To facilitate the successful deployment of field scale carbon storage projects, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is developing tools and protocols for defensible, science-based frameworks to quantify and mitigate risks associated with the long-term storage of CO 2 . This protocol specifically addresses the risk of induced seismicity due to injection in a geologic carbon storage (GCS) site. This integrated and risk-based protocol is a product of the U.S. DOE Fossil Energy’s National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP), a multi-year collaborative research effort of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). These recommended practices describe a set of 7 steps to evaluate, manage, communicate, and mitigate the risk of induced seismicity at GCS sites. The base methodology of the recommended practices follows a framework similar to the Protocol for Addressing Induced Seismicity Associated with Enhanced Geothermal Systems (Majer et al., 2012), developed for the Geothermal Technology Office of the U.S. DOE. These recommended practices present a framework to systematically assess the induced seismicity risk and quantify the associated uncertainties. These recommendations are based on current research and are sufficiently general to allow for modification and application to a variety of different types of sites. The substance of the recommended practices contained herein includes both technical and non-technical issues, and covers all operational stages of the GCS project lifecycle. They start at the preliminary risk assessment phase, continue through site assessment and characterization, include best practice communication and seismic monitoring plan methodologies, discuss the evaluation and mitigation of seismic hazard and risk, and closes with an exploration of operational management plans, which conclude when the induced seismicity risk abates back to background level. The focus of these recommendations is on actively managing the risks associated with induced seismicity by developing an actionable risk management plan that starts at the project proposal stage and continues through site closure through an iterative assessment and improvement process. The audience of this document is expected to include all interested stakeholders (e.g., operators, project developers, regulators, and the general public) and is expressly written to be accessible to this broad range of partners. This document is intended to disseminate knowledge gained through recent advances in the science of induced seismicity hazard and risk assessments, to provide updates based on recent experience gained by similar corollary injection-induced seismicity cases, and most importantly to establish a uniform framework to carry out a successful induced seismicity risk management plan for carbon storage projects in the future. These recommendations do not directly address any domestic or international regulations or standards. A complementary NRAP report makes recommendations for the assessment and management of environmental subsurface risks associated with unwanted fluid migration at GCS sites (Thomas et al., 2021) and should be referred to in order to address those additional GCS site risks.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Recommended Practices for Managing Induced Seismicity Risk Associated with Geologic Carbon Storage

The geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is one method to help reduce or eliminate atmospheric CO 2 emissions. The sequestered CO 2 is originally captured from the atmosphere or from a stationary industrial source and subsequently injected into a deep subsurface porous rock formation. To facilitate the successful deployment of field scale carbon storage projects, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is developing tools and protocols for defensible, science-based frameworks to quantify and mitigate risks associated with the long-term storage of CO 2 . This protocol specifically addresses the risk of induced seismicity due to injection in a geologic carbon storage (GCS) site. This integrated and risk-based protocol is a product of the U.S. DOE Fossil Energy’s National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP), a multi-year collaborative research effort of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). These recommended practices describe a set of 7 steps to evaluate, manage, communicate, and mitigate the risk of induced seismicity at GCS sites. The base methodology of the recommended practices follows a framework similar to the $\textit{Protocol for Addressing Induced Seismicity Associated with Enhanced Geothermal Systems}$ (Majer et al., 2012), developed for the Geothermal Technology Office of the U.S. DOE. These recommended practices present a framework to systematically assess the induced seismicity risk and quantify the associated uncertainties. These recommendations are based on current research and are sufficiently general to allow for modification and application to a variety of different types of sites. The substance of the recommended practices contained herein includes both technical and non-technical issues, and covers all operational stages of the GCS project lifecycle. They start at the preliminary risk assessment phase, continue through site assessment and characterization, include best practice communication and seismic monitoring plan methodologies, discuss the evaluation and mitigation of seismic hazard and risk, and closes with an exploration of operational management plans, which conclude when the induced seismicity risk abates back to background level. The focus of these recommendations is on actively managing the risks associated with induced seismicity by developing an actionable risk management plan that starts at the project proposal stage and continues through site closure through an iterative assessment and improvement process. The audience of this document is expected to include all interested stakeholders (e.g., operators, project developers, regulators, and the general public) and is expressly written to be accessible to this broad range of partners. This document is intended to disseminate knowledge gained through recent advances in the science of induced seismicity hazard and risk assessments, to provide updates based on recent experience gained by similar corollary injection-induced seismicity cases, and most importantly to establish a uniform framework to carry out a successful induced seismicity risk management plan for carbon storage projects in the future. These recommendations do not directly address any domestic or international regulations or standards. A complementary NRAP report makes recommendations for the assessment and management of environmental subsurface risks associated with unwanted fluid migration at GCS sites (Thomas et al., 2021) and should be referred to in order to address those additional GCS site risks

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Plan evaluation for heat resilience: complementary methods to comprehensively assess heat planning in Tempe and Tucson, Arizona

Abstract Escalating impacts from climate change and urban heat are increasing the urgency for communities to equitably plan for heat resilience. Cities in the desert Southwest are among the hottest and fastest warming in the U.S., placing them on the front lines of heat planning. Urban heat resilience requires an integrated planning approach that coordinates strategies across the network of plans that shape the built environment and risk patterns. To date, few studies have assessed cities’ progress on heat planning. This research is the first to combine two emerging plan evaluation approaches to examine how networks of plans shape urban heat resilience through case studies of Tempe and Tucson, Arizona. The first methodology, Plan Quality Evaluation for Heat Resilience, adapts existing plan quality assessment approaches to heat. We assess whether plans meet 56 criteria across seven principles of high-quality planning and the types of heat strategies included in the plans. The second methodology, the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard™ (PIRS™) for Heat, focuses on plan policies that could influence urban heat hazards. We categorize policies by policy tool and heat mitigation strategy and score them based on their heat impact. Scored policies are then mapped to evaluate their spatial distribution and the net effect of the plan network. The resulting PIRS™ for Heat scorecard is compared with heat vulnerability indicators to assess policy alignment with risks. We find that both cities are proactively planning for heat resilience using similar plan and strategy types, however, there are clear and consistent opportunities for improvement. Combining these complementary plan evaluation methods provides a more comprehensive understanding of how plans address heat and a generalizable approach that communities everywhere could use to identify opportunities for improved heat resilience planning.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental Studies and Energy Modeling for Evaluating Performance of Various Deep Wall Retrofits

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Minnesota conducted a three-year, multipart study on residential retrofit wall assemblies. The project, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technology Office, aimed to compare a range of residential wall retrofit systems that prioritized affordability, durability, and energy savings potential. The research team identified, constructed, tested, simulated, and analyzed the feasibility and economics of 16 wall retrofit assemblies (14 test configurations and two baseline configurations) that can be applied to the exterior side of existing walls (either with or without the existing cladding). The 16 wall assemblies were installed in an in-situ laboratory environment, to evaluate the ease of construction and study the thermal and hygrothermal performance of the walls. This paper presents the methodology used to evaluate the thermal performance of the walls and discusses the energy modeling results of the study. The results from the experiments were used to calibrate a THERM model of each wall assembly, which was then applied to a whole building using the EnergyPlus 8.6 simulation engine. A residential prototype building was used to extrapolate whole-building energy savings in each U.S. climate zone. To capture the conditions of the largest number of homes in the United States, the most frequent building characteristics (e.g., attic insulation level, window specifications, foundation insulation, etc.) were extracted from ResStock data and applied to the prototype model. Results from the energy modeling showed that the climate zones with the highest potential for retrofit savings are those which are heating-dominated (i.e., Cold and Very Cold climate designations). In these climate zones, heating and cooling energy savings due to the wall retrofits alone ranged from 21.5% to 38.2%.

Nagda, Harshil↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evaluation of the Sum-of-Fractions Methodology for Water and Polyethylene Moderated Systems

Sum-of-Fractions is a method intended to assure a subcritical margin for aqueous solutions and slurries of fissionable isotopes. The method indicates that a system is subcritical if the sum of the ratios of the mass of each isotope in a mixture to its individual minimum subcritical mass limit is less than or equal to one. The basis of the Sum-of Fractions has historically been derived from allowances given in ANSI/ANS-8.15-1981. However, the allowance was removed in ANSI/ANS-8.15-2014 due to a lack of technical basis. A methodology was developed to assess the validity of using the Sum-of-Fractions for water or polyethylene moderated systems for the following nuclides: 232 U, 233 U, 234 U, 235 U, 237 Np, 236 Pu, 238 Pu, 239 Pu, 240 Pu, 241 Pu, 242 Pu, 241 Am, 242 mAm, 243 Am, 242 Cm, 243 Cm, 244 Cm, 245 Cm, 246 Cm, 247 Cm, 249 Cf, and 251 Cf. The methodology uses available benchmark data for mixtures of 233 U, 235 U, and 239 Pu to establish the calculational margin, and a mass limit reduction to establish the margin of subcriticality. Water or polyethylene moderated and reflected mixtures containing the nuclides are evaluated with SCALE 6.2.4. Including the calculational margin, subcritical mass limits for each nuclide were computed for optimally water or polyethylene moderated and fully reflected systems. These masses were used to create nuclide mixtures in which the sum of the mass to subcritical mass limit ratios is one. The various nuclide mixtures were modeled over a range of moderation and demonstrate the k eff does not exceed the calculational margin. For additional assurance of subcriticality, a significant mass reduction is applied to each computed minimum critical mass of the nuclides without adequate benchmark data consistent with the method in ANSI/ANS-8.15-2014.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

A risk-informed assessment tool to support review of license amendment requests for spent nuclear fuel dry cask storage systems

We report that while risk-informed safety evaluations are common methodologies used by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), their application in the field of commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF) dry storage has received limited attention. For instance, license amendment requests (LARs) for SNF dry cask storage systems (DCSSs) are evaluated according to U.S. NRC standard review plans (SRPs). However, risk-informed LAR review strategies could improve the understanding of critical system modifications, and lead to more predictable, efficient, and consistent LAR review processes. A methodology to develop a risk-informed LAR review tool is presented. Although focused on DCSSs, this methodology can be used to develop similar tools for a broad spectrum of safety-relevant systems. The end product (i.e., the tool) includes a tree diagram to help visualize the review risk significances assigned to a predefined set of system modifications and supporting rationale documentation. Instructions support correct tool application and provide the user with a path to incorporate currently unevaluated modifications in the tool structure. The demonstration of the methodology leads to the conclusion that risk-informed reviews of DCSS LARs are possible, although the tool precision could benefit from additional risk information. Further, the results indicate that many typical LARs involve low-risk or medium-risk modifications.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sandia's Integrated Methodology for Energy and Infrastructure Resilience Analysis

Sandia National Laboratories' (Sandia) Resilient Energy Systems (RES) Strategic Initiative is establishing a strategic vision for U.S. energy systems' resilience through threat-informed research and development, enabling energy and interdependent infrastructure systems to successfully adapt in an environment of accelerating change. A key challenge in promoting energy systems resilience lies in developing rigorous resilience analysis methodologies to quantify system performance. Resilience analysis methodologies should enable evaluation of the consequences of various disruptions and the relative effectiveness of potential mitigations. To address this challenge, RES synthesized the common components of Sandia's resilience frameworks into an integrated methodology for energy and infrastructure resilience analysis. This report documents, demonstrates, and extends this methodology.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Review of the Evaluation of Building Energy Code Compliance in the United States

Building energy codes are essential tools for achieving energy efficiency in buildings. However, the full energy savings potential of these codes can only be realized if buildings are constructed in compliance with them. Therefore, evaluating building energy code compliance is crucial in bridging the gap between the energy efficiency requirements set by energy codes and the actualized energy savings achieved. An energy code compliance evaluation serves as a mechanism to assess construction practices, evaluate the effectiveness of code enforcement, identify gaps in compliance, and guide strategies for improvement through training and education. Conducting code compliance evaluation activities involves field studies that require careful design and significant resources. Historically, more emphasis has been placed on developing and adopting building energy codes, while efforts to evaluate compliance have been relatively limited and lacking consistent approaches. The passage of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which mandated that states create plans for achieving 90% compliance within eight years, stimulated the need for an energy code compliance evaluation. As a result, federal, state, and local governments, and utilities have invested in the development of methodologies and tools for code compliance evaluation studies. This paper reviews the code compliance evaluation studies conducted in the United States over the past three decades. It describes and compares the methodologies and metrics used to assess building energy code compliance, summarizes the general elements and steps involved in the evaluation process, and discusses common issues in these studies. Over time, code compliance evaluation methodologies have evolved from isolated development within individual states, regions, and utilities, to widely accepted protocols applicable across different states and local jurisdictions. There has been a transition in compliance metrics, shifting from historical compliance rates to energy-consumption-oriented approaches.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Development of an Assessment Methodology That Enables the Nuclear Industry to Evaluate Adoption of Advanced Automation

Nuclear power has a crucial role in providing safe, reliable, and economical carbon-free electricity for today and the future. For continued operation, many of the existing United States nuclear power plants will begin the subsequent license renewal process for extending their operating license periods. As plants extend their expected operating lifetimes, there is a significant opportunity to modernize. These plants have a much stronger business case with these extended mission periods to modernize and significantly enhance their economic viability in current and future energy markets by implementing digital technologies that support innovation, efficiency gains, and business-model transformation. Ensuring continued safety and reliability is crucial. Transformative digital technologies—including automation—that fundamentally change the concept of operation for the nuclear power plant operating model requires a critical focus on the human and technology integration element. Further, the nuclear industry has historically been reluctant to modernize due to having a risk adverse culture and lack of clarity for a transformative new state vision (Joe & Remer, 2019; Thomas et al., 2020). Common barriers include (1) the perceived value and return on investment (ROI) of digital technology, (2) the perceived risk associated with licensing, regulatory, and cybersecurity, and (3) insufficient guidance for performing digital modifications to power generation systems. This work presents a methodology to address these barriers and support the industry in adopting advanced automation and digital technology through developing a transformative vision and implementation strategy that will address the human and technology integration element. This research leverages previous LWRS Program and industry results. It draws specifically on previous LWRS Program research in the areas of advanced alarm systems, computer-based procedures, model informed decision support, and advanced human-system interface displays (e.g., overviews and task-based). The modernization methodology can be used to guide transformative thinking when integrating a set of vendor-specific capabilities to support a new concept of operations and a utility’s end-state vision. The results of this research are organized into six major sections: - Section 1 introduces the need for supporting large-scale digital modifications that will renew the technology base for extended operating life beyond 60 years - Section 2 describes the challenges that the nuclear industry is enduring with modernizing. - Section 3 summarizes the primary standards and guidance. - Section 4 presents earlier work from the LWRS Program regarding the development of a transformative conceptual design for an advanced control room of a hybrid plants. - Section 5 presents a methodology that is designed at addressing the challenges in the industry today in achieving a transformative new state vision and concept of operations. - Conclusions and next steps of this research are provided in Section 6.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Automated generation of scientific workflow generators with WfChef

Scientific workflow applications have gained significant importance, and their automated and efficient execution on large-scale computing platforms has been the subject of extensive research and development. For these efforts to be successful, a solid experimental methodology is needed to evaluate workflow algorithms and systems. A foundation for this methodology is the availability of realistic workflow instances. Although public repositories provide workflow instances for a few scientific applications, these are limited in scope, and workflow instances are not available for all application scales of interest. To address this limitation, previous work has developed generators of synthetic workflow instances of arbitrary scales. Despite being popular, the implementation of these generators is a manual and labor-intensive process that requires expert application knowledge. As a result, these generators only target a handful of applications, even though there are hundreds of workflow applications in production. Here, we introduce WfChef , a fully automated framework for constructing a synthetic workflow generator for any scientific application. Based on an input set of workflow instances for a particular application, WfChef automatically produces a synthetic workflow generator. To measure the realism of the generated workflows, we define and evaluate several metrics. Using these metrics, we compare the realism of the workflows generated by WfChef generators to that of the workflows generated by the previously available, hand-crafted generators. We find that WfChef generators not only require zero development effort (because they are automatically produced), but also generate workflows that are more realistic than those generated by hand-crafted generators.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗