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At least 1,657 records · Page 92

Improved Wave Energy Production Forecasts for Smart Grid Integration

Integration of renewable power sources into electrical grids remains an active research and development area, particularly for less developed renewable energy technologies, such as wave energy converters (WECs). High spatio-temporal resolution and accurate wave forecasts at a potential WEC (or WEC array) lease area are needed to improve WEC power prediction and to facilitate grid integration, particularly for microgrid locations. The availability of high quality measurement data from recently developed low-cost buoys allows for operational assimilation of wave data into forecast models at remote locations where real-time data have previously been unavailable. This work includes the development and assessment of a wave modeling framework with real-time data assimilation capabilities for WEC power prediction. Spoondrift wave measurement buoys were deployed off the coast of Yakutat, Alaska, a microgrid site with high wave energy resource potential. A wave modeling framework with data assimilation was developed and assessed, which was most effective when the incoming forecasted boundary conditions did not represent the observations well. For that case, assimilation of the wave height data using the ensemble Kalman filter resulted in a reduction of wave height forecast normalized root mean square error from 27% to an average of 16% over a 12-hour period. This results in reduction of wave power forecast error from 73% to 43%. In summary, the use of the low-cost wave buoy data assimilated into the wave modeling framework improved the forecast skill and will provide a useful development tool for the integration of WECs into electrical grids.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Improved Wave Energy Production Forecasts for Smart Grid Integration

Integration of renewable power sources into electrical grids remains an active research and development area, particularly for less developed renewable energy technologies, such as wave energy converters (WECs). High spatio-temporal resolution and accurate wave forecasts at a potential WEC (or WEC array) lease area are needed to improve WEC power prediction and to facilitate grid integration, particularly for microgrid locations. The availability of high quality measurement data from recently developed low-cost buoys allows for operational assimilation of wave data into forecast models at remote locations where real-time data have previously been unavailable. This work includes the development and assessment of a wave modeling framework with real-time data assimilation capabilities for WEC power prediction. Spoondrift wave measurement buoys were deployed off the coast of Yakutat, Alaska, a microgrid site with high wave energy resource potential. A wave modeling framework with data assimilation was developed and assessed, which was most effective when the incoming forecasted boundary conditions did not represent the observations well. For that case, assimilation of the wave height data using the ensemble Kalman filter resulted in a reduction of wave height forecast normalized root mean square error from 27% to an average of 16% over a 12-hour period. This results in reduction of wave power forecast error from 73% to 43%. In summary, the use of the low-cost wave buoy data assimilated into the wave modeling framework improved the forecast skill and will provide a useful development tool for the integration of WECs into electrical grids.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Turbo FRMAC Implemetation of IAEA Radiological Assessment Methodologies for Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies.

This report documents the findings of an assessment of the Turbo FRMAC software's ability to implement International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidance for calculating Operational Intervention Levels (OIL) 1 & 2 for nuclear and radiological emergencies. The IAEA OIL and U.S. Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC) Derived Response Level methodology and implementation in respective tools were compared, as demonstrated through benchmarking activities for a nuclear power plant source term and potential radionuclides of concern for radiological dispersal devices. This comparison revealed some shortcomings in Turbo FRMACs ability to perform IAEA OIL calculations and resulted in recommended software modifications to be considered for future development.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Demonstrate embedding of sensors in a relevant microreactor component

This report describes the first successful embedding of sensors in stainless steel pipe specimens and a miniature hex block to support structural health monitoring of microreactor components during electrically heated testing in non-nuclear testbed facilities. Sensors were embedded with an ultrasonic additive manufacturing process that uses a combination of downward pressure and an ultrasonic scrubbing motion to bond stainless steel foils to underlying materials. After placing sensors within cavities that have been machined to the size of the sensors, the ultrasonic bonding process fills the gaps around the sensors and embeds them within the part. Both Type K thermocouples and spatially distributed fiber-optic strain sensors were successfully embedded within two pipe specimens and a miniature hex block. After the fiber-optic sensors were embedded, they were interrogated and found to have minimal signal attenuation within the embedded region—a significant improvement compared to previous trials. This is likely because of the low-bend-loss fiber that was used, which greatly reduces microbending losses that occur after the embedding process. In addition to showing minimal signal attention, the fibers also showed adequate compressive strain, which is a strong indication that the sensors are physically embedded in the parts as opposed to simply being loosely contained inside the machined cavities. The embedded fibers were able to capture the strain induced in one of the pipe specimens while the pipe was actively heated with a moving heat source.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Elastic Stochastic Full Waveform Inversion (eSFWI)

This collaboration between Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) as manager and operator of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Chevron USA Inc., acting through its Chevron Technical Center division, aimed at developing next-generation computational methods for the Elastic Stochastic Full Waveform Inversion (eSFWI). Seismic imaging is heavily used in the oil and gas industry for identifying and operating subsurface reservoirs. Improved seismic imaging methods can improve productivity, lower costs, and improve operational and environmental safety. This CRADA demonstrated that new high-performance computing (HPC) architectures being rolled out over the next five years can enable unprecedented seismic imaging resolution when using eSFWI techniques to process active seismic data. An open-source computational mini-application was developed, capable of demonstrating near-peak performance for eSFWI algorithms on CPU and GPU enabled HPC platforms. Performance was demonstrated on LLNL HPC systems such as Lassen, as well as on Chevron systems. This project benefited Chevron USA Inc. by demonstrating the potential computational efficiency of their full waveform inversion capabilities used to characterize oil/gas reservoirs, which in turn benefits the public through potential increases in capabilities to perform analysis of leasing sites.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗

Application of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Systems for Powering Safety Monitoring Systems of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations. OESI 2.0 M-1 T-1-P1.1 – Objective 1 Interim Report: Summary of Offshore Oil and Gas Well Monitoring Systems and Process Power Requirements

This report is part of a comprehensive research initiative aimed at evaluating the technoeconomic feasibility of deploying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions monitoring systems powered by small-scale renewable energy sources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The study has three primary objectives: summarizing available GHG monitoring systems for the OCS, modeling a renewable marine energy source (specifically ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC), and modeling the collocation of OTEC power sources with offshore oil and gas activities to offset power demand.

02 PETROLEUM↗

STILGAR: Subsurface Models for Graymont Pleasant Gap Mine

The detection, location, and monitoring of underground structures are of great importance to national and global security. Tunnels and voids generate seismic signatures detectable at the surface, but using non-invasive seismic data to image near-surface presents several challenges in real-world applications. In this report, we describe the use of a dense surface seismic deployment to generate subsurface models of the Graymont Pleasant Gap mine - a single-layer mine with a complex structure embedded in a high-velocity P-wave limestone bedrock. Our approach consists of three key methods. We use P-wave arrival times from local blast events to perform a tomography inversion with the tomoTD method, constructing a P-wave velocity model of the subsurface. We model the layer above the mine using Rayleigh wave ellipticity and inversion techniques. We leverage ongoing anthropogenic activities to identify and locate noise sources both on the surface and within the subsurface. With this integrated approach we aim to overcome the challenges and enhance our ability to non-invasively characterize underground structures, contributing to improved seismic monitoring techniques.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

FOCAL Campaign IV: Integrated System Control: Turbine + Hull

Campaign IV of the Floating Offshore-wind Controls Advanced Laboratory Experimental Program (FOCAL) aimed to generate a dataset enabling the validation of a floating offshore wind turbine with turbine and hull controls. The turbine considered in this campaign is the scaled IEA 15MW Reference Wind Turbine similar to the setup considered in FOCAL Campaign I. This turbine is mounted on the VolturnUS platform with integrated hull controls similar to the hull considered in FOCAL Campaign II/III. This system is deployed for a fully-coupled wind and wave testing campaign at the University of Maine's Harold Alfond Wind and Wave (W2) facility. System dynamics and turbine characteristics are measured to determine global performance and assess the effect of the control strategies employed. NREL's reference open-source controller (ROSCO) is used for active blade pitch control and hull structural control is examined through the use of tuned mass dampers (TMD's) tuned to the systems pitch and tower-bending natural frequency. The naming convention of the load cases considered are described in the data details section. Detailed properties on the modeled system are found in the following reference: Lenfest E., Floating Offshore-wind Controls Advanced Laboratory (FOCAL) Experimental Program - Campaign IV: 1:70 Model-scale Testing of the IEA-Wind 15MW Reference Turbine and the VolturnUS-S Platform. UMaine ASCC Report Number 23-57-1183.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

WHY IS A FLARE-RICH ACTIVE REGION CME-POOR?

Solar active regions (ARs) are the major sources of two of the most violent solar eruptions, namely flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The largest AR in the past 24 years, NOAA AR 12192, which crossed the visible disk from 2014 October 17 to 30, unusually produced more than one hundred flares, including 32 M-class and 6 X-class ones, but only one small CME. Flares and CMEs are believed to be two phenomena in the same eruptive process. Why is such a flare-rich AR so CME-poor? We compared this AR with other four ARs; two were productive in both and two were inert. The investigation of the photospheric parameters based on the SDO /HMI vector magnetogram reveals that the flare-rich AR 12192, as with the other two productive ARs, has larger magnetic flux, current, and free magnetic energy than the two inert ARs but, in contrast to the two productive ARs, it has no strong, concentrated current helicity along both sides of the flaring neutral line, indicating the absence of a mature magnetic structure consisting of highly sheared or twisted field lines. Furthermore, the decay index above the AR 12192 is relatively low, showing strong constraint. These results suggest that productive ARs are always large and have enough current and free energy to power flares, but whether or not a flare is accompanied by a CME is seemingly related to (1) the presence of a mature sheared or twisted core field serving as the seed of the CME, or (2) a weak enough constraint of the overlying arcades.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Sensitivity of the cherenkov telescope array to the detection of intergalactic magnetic fields

Very high energy (VHE; energy E ≳ 100 GeV) γ-rays originating from extragalactic sources undergo pair production with low-energy photons of background radiation fields. These pairs can inverse-Compton-scatter background photons, initiating an electromagnetic cascade. The spatial and temporal structure of this secondary γ-ray signal is altered as the e{sup +}e{sup −} pairs are deflected in an intergalactic magnetic field (IGMF). We investigate how VHE observations with the future Cherenkov Telescope Array, with its high angular resolution and broad energy range, can potentially probe the IGMF. We identify promising sources and simulate γ-ray spectra over a wide range of values of the IGMF strength and coherence length using the publicly available ELMAG Monte Carlo code. Combining simulated observations in a joint likelihood approach, we find that current limits on the IGMF can be significantly improved. The projected sensitivity depends strongly on the time a source has been γ-ray active and on the emitted maximum γ-ray energy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Star formation in intermediate redshift 0.2 < z < 0.7 brightest cluster galaxies

We present a multi-wavelength photometric and spectroscopic study of 42 Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) in two samples of galaxy clusters chosen for a gravitational lensing study. The study’s initial sample combines 25 BCGs from the Cluster Lensing and Supernova Survey with Hubble sample and 37 BCGs from the Sloan Giant Arcs Survey with a total redshift range of 0.2<z<0.7. Using archival GALEX, Hubble Space Telescope, Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, Herschel, and Very Large Array data we determine the BCGs’ stellar mass, radio power, and star formation rates. The radio power is higher than expected if due to star formation, consistent with the BCGs being active galactic nucleus (AGN)-powered radio sources. This suggests that the AGN and star formation are both fueled by cold gas in the host galaxy. The specific star formation rate (sSFR) is low and constant with redshift. The mean sSFR is 9.42 × 10{sup −12} yr{sup −1}, which corresponds to a mass doubling time of 105 billion years. These findings are consistent with models for hierarchical formation of BCGs, which suggest that star formation is no longer a significant channel for galaxy growth for z ⩽ 1. Instead, stellar growth (of the order of a factor of at least two) during this period is expected to occur mainly via minor dry mergers.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

X-Ray Spectral Properties of Seven Heavily Obscured Seyfert 2 Galaxies

We present the combined Chandra and Swift -BAT spectral analysis of seven Seyfert 2 galaxies selected from the Swift -BAT 100 month catalog. We selected nearby ( z ≤ 0.03) sources lacking a ROSAT counterpart that never previously been observed with Chandra in the 0.3–10 keV energy range, and targeted these objects with 10 ks Chandra ACIS-S observations. The X-ray spectral fitting over the 0.3–150 keV energy range allows us to determine that all the objects are significantly obscured, with N{sub H} ≥ 10{sup 23} cm{sup −2} at a >99% confidence level. Moreover, one to three sources are candidate Compton-thick Active Galactic Nuclei (CT-AGNs; i.e., N{sub H}≥10{sup 24} cm{sup −2}). We also test the recent spectral curvature method developed by Koss et al. to find candidate CT-AGNs, finding a good agreement between our results and their predictions. Because the selection criteria we adopted were effective in detecting highly obscured AGNs, further observations of these and other Seyfert 2 galaxies selected from the Swift -BAT 100 month catalog will allow us to create a statistically significant sample of highly obscured AGNs, therefore providing a better understanding of the physics of the obscuration processes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Workshop to develop deep-life continental scientific drilling projects

The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) has long espoused studies of deep subsurface life, and has targeted fundamental questions regarding subsurface life, including the following: "(1) What is the extent and diversity of deep microbial life and what are the factors limiting it? (2) What are the types of metabolism/carbon/energy sources and the rates of subsurface activity? (3) How is deep microbial life adapted to subsurface conditions? (4) How do subsurface microbial communities affect energy resources? And (5) how does the deep biosphere interact with the geosphere and atmosphere?" (Horsfield et al., 2014) Many ICDP-sponsored drilling projects have included a deep-life component; however, to date, not one project has been driven by deep-life goals, in part because geomicrobiologists have been slow to initiate deep biosphere-driven ICDP projects. Therefore, the Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) recently partnered with the ICDP to sponsor a workshop with the specific aim of gathering potential proponents for deep-life-driven ICDP projects and ideas for candidate drilling sites. Twenty-two participants from nine countries proposed projects and sites that included compressional and extensional tectonic environments, evaporites, hydrocarbon-rich shales, flood basalts, Precambrian shield rocks, subglacial and subpermafrost environments, active volcano–tectonic systems, megafan deltas, and serpentinizing ultramafic environments. The criteria and requirements for successful ICDP applications were presented. Deep-life-specific technical requirements were discussed and it was concluded that, while these procedures require adequate planning, they are entirely compatible with the sampling needs of other disciplines. As a result of this workshop, one drilling workshop proposal on the Basin and Range Physiographic Province (BRPP) has been submitted to the ICDP, and several other drilling project proponents plan to submit proposals for ICDP-sponsored drilling workshops in 2016.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Minor and trace elements in some meteoritic minerals.

Despite the information available (Mason, 1971) on trace elements in different types of meteorites, relatively little is known about the distribution of these elements among the individual mineral phases. The mineral phases including olivine, orthopyroxene, clinipyroxene, troilite, nickel-iron, plagioclase, chromite, and the phosphates were separated from several meteorites. The purified minerals were analyzed for trace and minor elements by spark source mass spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis. The elements are classified as siderophile, lithophile, and chalcophile.

Allen, R. O., Jr.↗

Joint Conference on Sensing of Environmental Pollutants, 2nd, Washington, D.C., December 10-12, 1973, Proceedings

Subjects considered are related to the remote passive sensing of atmosphere pollutants, the extension of laboratory measurement techniques for field use, instrument quality and measurement standardization, the remote active sensing of atmospheric pollutants, stationary source sensing, and air quality standards and measurement accuracy. Aspects of radiological, electromagnetic, and acoustic pollution monitoring are discussed together with new methods in particulate analysis, the measurement of meteorological variables that impact on atmospheric pollutants, and the impact of meteorological parameters on pollution analysis. The in-situ sensing of acoustic chemical and biological pollutants is reported along with global scale pollution monitoring and the remote sensing of water pollutants. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Source record↗

Limits on rapid X-ray pulsing in X-ray binaries

A recent sounding rocket experiment in which the X-ray variations of Cir X-1 and Vela X-1 were investigated at time resolutions down to 1 msecond is described. Sporadic flaring activity in the X-ray sources was observed on time scales from 1 to several seconds, corresponding to intensity changes of about 20% in Cir X-1 and up to 100% in Vela X-1. Periodic, aperiodic, or quasi-periodic pulsations were not detected with time constants less than 1 second. The limits of rapid X-ray pulsations are shown to range from 3 to 15% for Cir X-1, Cyg X-1, Vela X-1, and 3U 1700-37.

Spada, G.↗