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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Nine Canyon Long-Duration Energy Storage: A Feasibility Study

The Nine Canyon Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Feasibility Study explores the technical and economic viability of deploying advanced energy storage technologies at Energy Northwest's (EN) Nine Canyon (9C) Wind Project site in Benton County, Washington. Supported by the Washington State Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity under its LDES Voucher Program, the study represents a collaborative effort between EN, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and ARES North America. At the core of this effort is the development of a generalized techno-economic modeling framework and evaluation tool designed to assess the value proposition of LDES projects across a variety of contexts. The modeling tool is technology-agnostic and accommodates user-defined parameters such as rated power, energy duration, round-trip efficiency, capital and operational costs, and dispatch constraints. It also integrates economic inputs, including market prices, energy revenue structures, and financing parameters to evaluate performance through key metrics. The tool provides utilities with a transparent, adaptable platform to support decision-making, investment prioritization, and portfolio planning for various storage technologies. To guide scenario design and interpretation, the study first surveyed the LDES technology landscape, including lithium-ion batteries, flow batteries, non-hydro gravity storage, and thermo-mechanical systems, comparing cost trajectories, technical performance, safety and hazards, materials sourcing and recyclability, and spatial/siting considerations. This literature-grounded review highlights technology trade-offs and reinforces the need to align technology choice with site characteristics, use cases, and project objectives. A companion chapter examines ownership structures (EN ownership, third-party ownership, shared models) and offtake options (energy marketing, capacity/energy PPAs, time-of-use PPAs, block-delivery PPAs, and tolling), where PPAs (power purchase agreements) represent contractual arrangements for buying and selling electricity. The chapter also highlights implications for risk allocation, capital access, operational control, and revenue certainty. The study also evaluates supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and transmission interconnection pathways, options include upgrading the existing SCADA or deploying a dedicated LDES controller, with attention to protection schemes, data telemetry, cybersecurity, and regulatory coordination with BPA. In addition, an ARES-specific geotechnical and hydrology assessment presented in the appendix screens multiple corridors for slope stability, bearing capacity, cut-and-fill magnitude, and stormwater behavior.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Techno-Economic Analysis and Global Warming Potential of a Novel Offshore Macroalgae Biorefinery

The success of a large scale macroalgae-based biorefinery is dependent on the demonstration of favorable system economics and environmental sustainability. This study uses detailed process modeling to quantify the mass and energy flows through the various unit operations required for a novel free-floating macroalgae biorefinery concept. The modular process model served as the foundation for the techno-economic and global warming potential analyses used to quantify the sustainability of the proposed concept. This work includes detailed techno-economic results for a complete macroalgae cultivation and conversion system with multiple hatchery configurations and several emerging technologies. System optimization was achieved through the evaluation of various technology options for each unit operation. Technologies considered include traditional twine and textile substrate hatchery configurations, drone assisted seeding and biomass transport, mechanized line seeding and harvesting, adhesive spore mixtures that simplify seeding operations and improve hatchery energetics, and hydrothermal liquefaction to produce upgradable biocrude. Outputs from the system include renewable diesel (R100), naphtha, biochar, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, and aqueous/solid waste streams. Three different system pathways were explored, yielding a biomass production cost ranging from $210 to $565 per dry metric ton and a minimum fuel selling price from $1.35 to $2.91 per liter of gasoline equivalent. Stochastic manipulation of the process model and sensitivity analyses support these results. The global warming potential analysis shows net greenhouse gas emissions ranging from 14 to 29 gCO2-eq MJ-1, supported by stochastic and sensitivity analyses. The recommendations from this work highlight critical areas for research and development investment such that a sustainable macroalgae cultivation and conversion system can be realized.

NOMAD seaweed cultivation, techno-economic analysi↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Overview of Experiments in The Entry Systems Modeling Project

The Entry Systems Modeling (ESM) project has invested in experiments designed to enhance understanding of salient interactions between thermal protection materials (TPS) and mission-relevant planetary entry environments. An arc-jet campaign has been carried out at the Aerodynamic Heating Facility (AHF) to investigate the spallation of fiber particles as a function of gas composition and to measure the effect of pyrolysis gas flow on the in-depth temperature response of phenolic impregnated carbon ablator (PICA). Moreover, fundamental insights into the pyrolysis and oxidation mechanisms of the phenolic binding agent of FiberForm will be discussed. Finally, two new apparatus developed at NASA will be presented that were designed to interrogate phenomena associated with the production of gases and particles generated under simulated flight conditions.

Varcum↗
DOE OSTI2025

Innovative approach to counterfeit and noncompliant refrigerant detection: A cost-effective, portable solution

The increasing prevalence of counterfeit and incompatible refrigerants presents significant risks to Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems, including compromised equipment performance, safety hazards, and non-compliance. This article details the development of a novel, cost-effective, and portable detection device designed to accurately verify refrigerants. The device utilizes a controlled gas sampling and analysis system within a sealed chamber, ensuring precise measurements while maintaining safety through a purging mechanism. The system features a high-sensitivity sensor integrated with an onboard control module that analyzes gas composition in real-time, providing feedback within a 2-minute duration. Laboratory validation demonstrated the device’s high accuracy (>95 % based on correct identification of compliant vs. non-compliant blends) in detecting unauthorized refrigerant blends. The projected cost of the product stands at ∼ $150, based on the retail pricing of individual components. Laboratory validation demonstrated the device’s high accuracy (>95 % for composition identification, 100 % rejection of tested counterfeit/incorrect blends) in detecting unauthorized refrigerant blends with a response time <2 min. The device correctly identified authentic R-454A/B/C blends and reliably rejected R-407F and closely related counterfeit mixtures. Key advantages include affordability, ease of use, rapid response time, and compatibility with a wide range of refrigerants. This solution supports compliance with regulatory frameworks, enhances safety in HVAC&R operations, and mitigates the risks associated with counterfeit refrigerants.

Counterfeit refrigerants↗
DOE OSTI2023

Catalytic upgrading of ethanol to C8+ distillate range ethers via Guerbet coupling and etherification

In this presentation we describe the catalytic approaches for conversion of ethanol into diesel fuel ethers. This involves first alcohol oligomerization, followed by acid-catalyzed dehydration. As we will show in this presentation, ethanol can be converted to higher linear and α-branched alcohols by C-C coupling reactions (ethanol oligomerization) as well as to high molecular weight esters by C-O coupling reactions with Cu/MgxAlOy (CuHT) catalysts. Alcohols may be converted to ethers via bimolecular dehydration in a subsequent step. We have identified more than 160 number of species in the products including alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones, and olefins. Alcohols range from C4 to C10. Both alcohols and esters follow a Schulz-Flory chain growth model. We show the relationship between the catalyst properties (BET surface area, acid and base site count and Cu loading and synthesis method) and the performance in the reactions. We also show that physical mixtures of CuHT and HT can have similar product selectivity of low loading CuHT catalysts. The selectivity towards diesel fuel precursor compounds (hereafter ‘DFPC’) increased with conversion until reaching a plateau at high ethanol conversion (~70%). Alcohol selectivity follows a Schultz-Flory distribution at all studied conversions, and that adsorbed ethanol-derived species may undergo surface oligomerization into 1-butanol and higher alcohols before desorbing in a chain-growth mechanism. Zeolite catalysts convert the C4+ alcohols into C8+ ethers in both batch and continuous flow reactors. Selectivities of up to 80% to C8+ ethers at around 70% conversion using a single pass continuous flow system are achieved. The final product feedstocks obtained from etherification have been used in technoeconomic (TEA) and lifecycle analysis (LCA), which indicate a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 50% relative to conventional diesel and diesel fuel prices that are lower than biodiesel. These final feedstocks are undergoing engine testing to elucidate the physiochemical properties and compare well to diesel #2 ASTM standards.

Huber, George↗
NASA NTRS1984

Basic principles of coaxial launch technology

Already in the 1930s, a discrete-coil mechanically synchronized launcher was built. At the present time, research is almost entirely directed towards railguns. However, although coaxial accelerators are more complex than railguns, they have certain unique advantages. Some of these advantages are related to the absence of physical contact requirements with the projectile, the possibility of a scale-up to very large projectile size, and the availability of up to 100 times more thrust for a given current. The price of the advantages is the need for a drive current in the form of pulses synchronized precisely with transit of each projectile coil through each drive coil. At high velocities, high voltages are required, and high voltage switching represents the technology limit on launch velocity. Attention is given to inductance gradients, the double hump, methods of excitation, methods of synchronization, projectile configuration, energy supply, fundamental limits, trends, and research needs.

Kolm, H.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Ridge Waveguide Structures in Magnesium-Doped Lithium Niobate

This work proposes to establish the feasibility of fabricating isolated ridge waveguides in 5% MgO:LN. Ridge waveguides in MgO:LN will significantly improve power handling and conversion efficiency, increase photonic component integration, and be well suited to spacebased applications. The key innovation in this effort is to combine recently available large, high-photorefractive-damage-threshold, z-cut 5% MgO:LN with novel ridge fabrication techniques to achieve high-optical power, low-cost, high-volume manufacturing of frequency conversion structures. The proposed ridge waveguide structure should maintain the characteristics of the periodically poled bulk substrate, allowing for the efficient frequency conversion typical of waveguides and the high optical damage threshold and long lifetimes typical of the 5% doped bulk substrate. The low cost and large area of 5% MgO:LN wafers, and the improved performance of the proposed ridge waveguide structure, will enhance existing measurement capabilities as well as reduce the resources required to achieve high-performance specifications. The purpose of the ridge waveguides in MgO:LN is to provide platform technology that will improve optical power handling and conversion efficiency compared to existing waveguide technology. The proposed ridge waveguide is produced using standard microfabrication techniques. The approach is enabled by recent advances in inductively coupled plasma etchers and chemical mechanical planarization techniques. In conjunction with wafer bonding, this fabrication methodology can be used to create arbitrarily shaped waveguides allowing complex optical circuits to be engineered in nonlinear optical materials such as magnesium doped lithium niobate. Researchers here have identified NLO (nonlinear optical) ridge waveguide structures as having suitable value to be the leading frequency conversion structures. Its value is based on having the low-cost fabrication necessary to satisfy the challenging pricing requirements as well as achieve the power handling and other specifications in a suitably compact package.

Himmer, Phillip↗
DOE OSTI2022

Characterizing the Payback and Profitability for Automated Heavy Duty Vehicle Platooning

Heavy duty vehicle platooning under highway operating conditions has been projected to provide significant fuel economy gains based on aerodynamic drag improvements of the platooning vehicles. Realizing these benefits and the economic viability under real-world operating conditions presents several challenges. The objective of this paper (the third as part of a series) is to analytically quantify the payback and profitability of heavy-duty vehicles platooning across the U.S. Interstate highway system. In this paper, a rigorous assessment of several factors that influence the platooning system payback for an end-user as well as the revenue potential for suppliers who may be utilizing an equipment lease model dependent on end-user savings, is presented. In this assessment key interactions explored include market adoption rates, platooning velocities, platoon-able daily mileage, platooning likelihood, variations in baseline powertrain fuel economy (diesel or electric), price of fuel (diesel or electricity), platooning fuel economy benefits, price of the added technology, and the impact of natural platooning due to traffic interactions. Further, the paper explores the economic impact of higher levels of vehicle automation for the trailing vehicles in the platoon, where extending the driver Hours of Service (HoS) may provide additional financial benefits. While the approach makes use of a limited fidelity vehicle analytical model for longitudinal dynamics and operations economics, the narrative provides application decision personnel with a mechanism and well-defined set of impact factors to consider as part of their architectural selection process.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Developing Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain Architectures for Commercial Vehicles

Here, this article addresses the architecture development for a commercial vehicle fuel cell electric powertrain by establishing a clear multi-step formalized workflow that employs a unique technoeconomic solution for architecture selection. The power capability of the fuel cell, the energy capacity and chemistry of the electrical energy storage (battery), the DC-DC converter (including the input current rating and isolation resistance requirements), the traction drive solution, the on-board hydrogen storage solution, and the real-time power-split management of the fuel cell and the battery are all considered and developed in this effort. The methods were used to select architecture for Class 8 urban, regional, and line haul applications. When compared to traditional load-following power-split controllers, an energy management power-split controller can increase system energy efficiency by up to 19.5%. The energy-efficient power-split controller may increase the required battery capacity for an equivalent life by up to 2.6 times. The impact on the total cost of ownership (TCO) for a variety of financial cases demonstrates that high C-rate capable batteries have the potential to provide better TCO solutions over a six-year vehicle life than low C-rate capable batteries. To achieve TCO parity with the 600 A non-isolated DC-DC converter case, the specific choice of the fuel cell DC-DC converter to achieve a target power output based on current levels (from 500 A to 2400 A) shows that efficiency decreases and cost increases due to the higher current, requiring fuel cell prices to decrease by $50–$100/kW, $60–$110/kW, and $100–$220/kW for urban, regional, and line haul applications, respectively. Key recommendations for powertrain system architectures are provided, with specifics based on vehicle dynamics, mission and application characteristics, end customer use-case profile, critical powertrain component costs, and architecture selection cost function. This study rigorously demonstrates the interplay of the above parameters, with a focus on TCO, and provides application decision-makers with a mechanism and well-defined set of impact factors to consider as part of their architecture selection process.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Large-scale Genetic Characterization of a Model Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium

ABSTRACTSulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are obligate anaerobes that can couple their growth to the reduction of sulfate. Despite the importance of SRB to global nutrient cycles and their damage to the petroleum industry, our molecular understanding of their physiology remains limited. To systematically provide new insights into SRB biology, we generated a randomly barcoded transposon mutant library in the model SRB Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) and used this genome-wide resource to assay the importance of its genes under a range of metabolic and stress conditions. In addition to defining the essential gene set of DvH, we identified a conditional phenotype for 1,137 non-essential genes. Through examination of these conditional phenotypes, we were able to make a number of novel insights into our molecular understanding of DvH, including how this bacterium synthesizes vitamins. For example, we identified DVU0867 as an atypical L-aspartate decarboxylase required for the synthesis of pantothenic acid, provided the first experimental evidence that biotin synthesis in DvH occurs via a specialized acyl carrier protein and without methyl esters, and demonstrated that the uncharacterized dehydrogenase DVU0826:DVU0827 is necessary for the synthesis of pyridoxal phosphate. In addition, we used the mutant fitness data to identify genes involved in the assimilation of diverse nitrogen sources, and gained insights into the mechanism of inhibition of chlorate and molybdate. Our large-scale fitness dataset and RB-TnSeq mutant library are community-wide resources that can be used to generate further testable hypotheses into the gene functions of this environmentally and industrially important group of bacteria.

Trotter, Valentine V↗
DOE OSTI2023

Large-scale genetic characterization of the model sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are obligate anaerobes that can couple their growth to the reduction of sulfate. Despite the importance of SRB to global nutrient cycles and their damage to the petroleum industry, our molecular understanding of their physiology remains limited. To systematically provide new insights into SRB biology, we generated a randomly barcoded transposon mutant library in the model SRB Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) and used this genome-wide resource to assay the importance of its genes under a range of metabolic and stress conditions. In addition to defining the essential gene set of DvH, we identified a conditional phenotype for 1,137 non-essential genes. Through examination of these conditional phenotypes, we were able to make a number of novel insights into our molecular understanding of DvH, including how this bacterium synthesizes vitamins. For example, we identified DVU0867 as an atypical L-aspartate decarboxylase required for the synthesis of pantothenic acid, provided the first experimental evidence that biotin synthesis in DvH occurs via a specialized acyl carrier protein and without methyl esters, and demonstrated that the uncharacterized dehydrogenase DVU0826:DVU0827 is necessary for the synthesis of pyridoxal phosphate. In addition, we used the mutant fitness data to identify genes involved in the assimilation of diverse nitrogen sources and gained insights into the mechanism of inhibition of chlorate and molybdate. Our large-scale fitness dataset and RB-TnSeq mutant library are community-wide resources that can be used to generate further testable hypotheses into the gene functions of this environmentally and industrially important group of bacteria.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1979

Cosmic ray-induced soft errors in static MOS memory cells

Previous analytical models were extended to predict cosmic ray-induced soft error rates in static MOS memory devices. The effect is due to ionization and can be introduced by high energy, heavy ion components of the galactic environment. The results indicate that the sensitivity of memory cells is directly related to the density of the particular MOS technology which determines the node capacitance values. Hence, CMOS is less sensitive than e.g., PMOS. In addition, static MOS memory cells are less sensitive than dynamic ones due to differences in the mechanisms of storing bits. The flip-flop of a static cell is inherently stable against cosmic ray-induced bit flips. Predicted error rates on a CMOS RAM and a PMOS shift register are in general agreement with previous spacecraft flight data.

Sivo, L. L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

A scalable solid-state nanoporous network with atomic-level interaction design for carbon dioxide capture

Carbon capture and sequestration reduces carbon dioxide emissions and is critical in accomplishing carbon neutrality targets. Here, we demonstrate new sustainable, solid-state, polyamine-appended, cyanuric acid–stabilized melamine nanoporous networks (MNNs) via dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) at the kilogram scale toward effective and high-capacity carbon dioxide capture. Polyamine-appended MNNs reaction mechanisms with carbon dioxide were elucidated with double-level DCC where two-dimensional heteronuclear chemical shift correlation nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed to demonstrate the interatomic interactions. We distinguished ammonium carbamate pairs and a mix of ammonium carbamate and carbamic acid during carbon dioxide chemisorption. The coordination of polyamine and cyanuric acid modification endows MNNs with high adsorption capacity (1.82 millimoles per gram at 1 bar), fast adsorption time (less than 1 minute), low price, and extraordinary stability to cycling by flue gas. This work creates a general industrialization method toward carbon dioxide capture via DCC atomic-level design strategies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

GEESS as a Mechanism to Facilitate the Commercialization of Geologic Carbon Sequestration

This is a presentation featuring an overview of the Geoanalytical Economic Evaluation of Saline Storage (GEESS) project and latest results. The GEESS project has worked towards characterizing 57 geologic saline formations targeted for geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) using publicly available datasets. The GEESS system consists of high spatial resolution datasets (up to a 5 km grid spacing) that characterize critical geologic parameters such as depth, thickness, porosity, permeability, fracture pressure, and more. Further, GEESS geologic data were exercised using the FECM/NETL Saline Storage Cost Model (CO2_S_COM) to estimate CO2 plume sizes and the first-year break-even price of CO2 at the grid point level. GEESS is now available on NETL’s Energy Data Exchange (EDX).

Eppink, Jeffrey↗
DOE OSTI2024

Biogeochemical and community ecology responses to the wetting of non-perennial streams

Transitions between dry and wet hydrologic states are the defining characteristic of non-perennial rivers and streams, which constitute the majority of the global river network. Although past work has focused on stream drying characteristics, there has been less focus on how hydrology, ecology and biogeochemistry respond and interact during stream wetting. Wetting mechanisms are highly variable and can range from dramatic floods and debris flows to gradual saturation by upwelling groundwater. This variation in wetting affects ecological and biogeochemical functions, including nutrient processing, sediment transport and the assembly of biotic communities. Here, in this work, we synthesize evidence describing the hydrological mechanisms underpinning different types of wetting regimes, the associated biogeochemical and organismal responses, and the potential scientific and management implications for downstream ecosystems. This combined multidisciplinary understanding of wetting dynamics in non-perennial streams will be key to predicting and managing for the effects of climate change on non-perennial ecosystems.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1978

Associative programming language and virtual associative access manager

APL provides convenient associative data manipulation functions in a high level language. Six statements were added to PL/1 via a preprocessor: CREATE, INSERT, FIND, FOR EACH, REMOVE, and DELETE. They allow complete control of all data base operations. During execution, data base management programs perform the functions required to support the APL language. VAAM is the data base management system designed to support the APL language. APL/VAAM is used by CADANCE, an interactive graphic computer system. VAAM is designed to support heavily referenced files. Virtual memory files, which utilize the paging mechanism of the operating system, are used. VAAM supports a full network data structure. The two basic blocks in a VAAM file are entities and sets. Entities are the basic information element and correspond to PL/1 based structures defined by the user. Sets contain the relationship information and are implemented as arrays.

Carol Price↗