Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “BALANCES”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records

Balancing Authority Cooperation Concepts to Reduce Variable Generation Integration Costs in the Western Interconnection: Consolidating Balancing Authorities and Sharing Balancing Reserves

The study described in this chapter demonstrates the benefits of BA consolidation with the help of a detailed WECC system model and advanced methodology, which is also described in this chapter. The study aims to determine the potential savings in production cost and reduction in balancing reserve requirements in the WECC system. The study has found that effective use of the diversity in load and variable generation over a wide area can indeed help to achieve significant savings. The implementation cost for the consolidation was beyond the scope of this study. The analysis was performed for two different scenarios of VG penetration: 11% (8% wind and 3% solar) and 33% (24% wind and 9% solar) of WECC projected energy demand in 2020. In analysis of balancing reserves, the objective was to determine the reduction in balancing reserve requirements due to BA consolidation, in terms of required capacity and ramp-rates. Hour-ahead and 10-minute ahead forecast errors for load, wind, and solar were simulated. In addition, 1-minute resolution load, wind and solar data were used to derive balancing reserve requirements i.e. load-following and regulation requirements for each individual BA and for the consolidated BA (CBA). The reduction in balancing reserves was determined by calculating the difference between total reserve requirements that need to be carried by different BAs if they operate individually, and reserve requirements that need to be carried by the CBA. The study results show that the consolidated WECC system would have about a 50% overall reduction in balancing reserves for the 11% penetration scenario and a 65% reduction for the 33% penetration scenario in comparison with total reserve requirements that need to be carried by different BAs if they operate individually.

balancing authorities consolidation↗

DC Link Voltage Balancing of the Active Front-End for the Extreme Fast Charging Stations

One of the most important challenges of the extreme fast charging (XFC) stations is to balance the DC link voltages of the active front-end (AFE). The multilevel cascaded H-bridge (CHB) converter is a great topology for the AFE applications due to the high power density, low total harmonic distortion (THD), and a low number of active and passive components. In this paper, a technique is proposed for balancing DC-link capacitor voltages of a three-phase CHB converter, when a phase shiftPWM modulation technique is used on all cells of the converter. To reach this goal, the redundant states of the CHB converters are used for generating different AC voltage levels by sorting the voltages of the converters. The proposed voltage balancing technique uses the principles that are employed for the DC link voltage balancing of the low-frequency modulation techniques to balance the DC link voltages of the CHB converter. As shown in this paper, the DC link voltages of the CHB converter can accurately be balanced very fast without using PI controllers, which are used in the conventional DC link voltage balancing techniques. A controller also is proposed which will be used to control the dq currents of the CHB converter. To verify the advantages of the proposed technique, the simulation results of the proposed technique will be carried out in a three-phase 7-cell CHB AFE.

Grid-tied converters, cascaded H-bridge, DC link v↗

Dynamic Load Balancing Based on Constrained K-D Tree Decomposition for Parallel Particle Tracing

Particle tracing is a fundamental technique in flow field data visualization. In this work, we present a novel dynamic load balancing method for parallel particle tracing. Specifically, we employ a constrained k-d tree decomposition approach to dynamically redistribute tasks among processes. Each process is initially assigned a regularly partitioned block along with duplicated ghost layer under the memory limit. During particle tracing, the k-d tree decomposition is dynamically performed by constraining the cutting planes in the overlap range of duplicated data. This ensures that each process is reassigned particles as even as possible, and on the other hand the new assigned particles for a process always locate in its block. Result shows good load balance and high efficiency of our method.

Zhang, Jiang↗

Deflection Shape Balancing: An Alternative to Modal Balancing

Rotor balancing is the final step in the rotor manufacturing process and may be necessary during rotor refurbishment. The process can be time consuming and costly, especially for supercritical monolithic rotors, impacting schedule and increasing costs. Modal balancing is a commonly used practice and is effective but requires multiple runs and at least one high-speed run. Deflection shape balancing is introduced as an alternative that may offer a more efficient method of balancing making the process faster with potentially fewer balancing runs. This paper explores the performance of the deflection shape fit balancing technique by utilizing MATLAB code simulations.

Morrell, William Jason↗

Data for "Quantifying the Propagation of Parametric Uncertainty on Flux Balance Analysis"

In the repository are example scripts that perform uncertainty injection and propagation to flux balance analysis with outputs for a small sample size (for demonstration purpose only). For proper analysis, user should download the scripts and run for a large sample size (e.g., 10,000 samples). If you use the scripts, please cite the following Metabolic Engineering article: “Quantifying the propagation of parametric uncertainty on flux balance analysis” (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2021.10.012) There are two subdirectories: /uncFBA/uncBiom: injection of normally distributed noise to biomass precursor coeffcients and ATP maintenance (growth-associated ATP maintenance (GAM) and non-growth associated ATP maintenance (NGAM)) /uncFBA/uncRHS: departure from steady-state by adding noise drawn from normal distribution to the RHS terms of mass balance constraints

Metabolomics↗

Strain-gage balance calibration of a magnetic suspension and balance system

A load calibration of the NASA 13-in magnetic suspension and balance system (MSBS) is described. The calibration procedure was originally intended to establish the empirical relationship between the coil currents and the external loads (forces and moments) applied to a magnetically suspended calibrator. However, it was discovered that the performance of a strain-gage balance is not affected when subjected to the magnetic environment of the MSBS. The use of strain-gage balances greatly reduces the effort required to perform a current-vs.-load calibration as external loads can be directly inferred from the balance outputs while a calibrator is suspended in MSBS. It is conceivable that in the future such a calibration could become unnecessary, since an even more important application for the use of a strain-gage balance in MSBS environment is the acquisition of precision aerodynamic force and moment data by telemetering the balance outputs from a suspended model/core/balance during wind tunnel tests.

Roberts, Paul W.↗

Improving Balance Function Using Low Levels of Electrical Stimulation of the Balance Organs

Crewmembers returning from long-duration space flight face significant challenges due to the microgravity-induced inappropriate adaptations in balance/sensorimotor function. The Neuroscience Laboratory at JSC is developing a method based on stochastic resonance to enhance the brain's ability to detect signals from the balance organs of the inner ear and use them for rapid improvement in balance skill, especially when combined with balance training exercises. This method involves a stimulus delivery system that is wearable/portable and provides imperceptible electrical stimulation to the balance organs of the human body. Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon whereby the response of a nonlinear system to a weak periodic input signal is optimized by the presence of a particular non-zero level of noise. This phenomenon of SR is based on the concept of maximizing the flow of information through a system by a non-zero level of noise. Application of imperceptible SR noise coupled with sensory input in humans has been shown to improve motor, cardiovascular, visual, hearing, and balance functions. SR increases contrast sensitivity and luminance detection; lowers the absolute threshold for tone detection in normal hearing individuals; improves homeostatic function in the human blood pressure regulatory system; improves noise-enhanced muscle spindle function; and improves detection of weak tactile stimuli using mechanical or electrical stimulation. SR noise has been shown to improve postural control when applied as mechanical noise to the soles of the feet, or when applied as electrical noise at the knee and to the back muscles. SR using imperceptible stochastic electrical stimulation of the vestibular system (stochastic vestibular stimulation, SVS) applied to normal subjects has shown to improve the degree of association between the weak input periodic signals introduced via venous blood pressure receptors and the heart-rate responses. Also, application of SVS over 24 hours improves the long-term heart-rate dynamics and motor responsiveness as indicated by daytime trunk activity measurements in patients with multi-system atrophy, Parkinson s disease, or both, including patients who were unresponsive to standard therapy for Parkinson s disease. Recent studies conducted at the NASA JSC Neurosciences Laboratories showed that imperceptible SVS, when applied to normal young healthy subjects, leads to significantly improved balance performance during postural disturbances on unstable compliant surfaces. These studies have shown the benefit of SR noise characteristic optimization with imperceptible SVS in the frequency range of 0-30 Hz, and amplitudes of stimulation have ranged from 100 to 400 microamperes.

Bloomberg, Jacob↗

Improving Balance Function Using Low Levels of Electrical Stimulation of the Balance Organs

Crewmembers returning from long-duration space flight face significant challenges due to the microgravity-induced inappropriate adaptations in balance/ sensorimotor function. The Neuroscience Laboratory at JSC is developing a method based on stochastic resonance to enhance the brain s ability to detect signals from the balance organs of the inner ear and use them for rapid improvement in balance skill, especially when combined with balance training exercises. This method involves a stimulus delivery system that is wearable/portable providing imperceptible electrical stimulation to the balance organs of the human body. Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon whereby the response of a nonlinear system to a weak periodic input signal is optimized by the presence of a particular non-zero level of noise. This phenomenon of SR is based on the concept of maximizing the flow of information through a system by a non-zero level of noise. Application of imperceptible SR noise coupled with sensory input in humans has been shown to improve motor, cardiovascular, visual, hearing, and balance functions. SR increases contrast sensitivity and luminance detection; lowers the absolute threshold for tone detection in normal hearing individuals; improves homeostatic function in the human blood pressure regulatory system; improves noise-enhanced muscle spindle function; and improves detection of weak tactile stimuli using mechanical or electrical stimulation. SR noise has been shown to improve postural control when applied as mechanical noise to the soles of the feet, or when applied as electrical noise at the knee and to the back muscles.

Bloomberg, Jacob↗

A valence balanced rule for discovery of 18-electron half-Heuslers with defects

Using first-principles DFT we systematically investigate the thermodynamic stability and off-stoichiometry in 108 nominal 19-electron half-Heusler (hH) compounds. We demonstrate unambiguously that considering a cation deficiency towards the off-stoichiometric valence balanced, VEC = 18 composition is necessary for explaining the stability of all previously reported nominal VEC = 19 compounds. This is understandable in terms of an energy benefit from valence balance considering the valence of each atom using Zintl chemistry that offsets the energy penalty of forming defects in nearly all cases. Thus, we propose a valence balanced rule to understand the ground state stability of half-Heuslers irrespective of stoichiometry and nominal electron count (8, 18 or 19). Using this generalized rule we (a) predict 16 previously unreported nominal 19-electron XYZ half-Heuslers and (b) rationalize the reports of giant off-stoichiometries in compounds such as Ti (1–x) NiSb which has been known for over 50 years. Of the 16 new compounds predicted here, Ti (1–x) PtSb was synthesized and the half-Heusler phase confirmed through X-ray studies. Here, the flexibility in stoichiometry of the half-Heusler systems to attain a stable valence balanced composition by accommodating large defect concentrations opens up multiple dimensions for discovery of multi-component defective half-Heuslers based on intrinsic and extrinsic defects which compensate for the nominally non-18-electron count of the structure.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Life Balancing -- A Better Way to Balance Large Batteries

A new cell balancing technology was developed under a Department of Energy contract which merges the DC/DC converter function into cell balancing. Instead of conventional passive cell balancing technology which bypasses current through a resistor, or active cell balancing which moves current from one cell to another, with significant cost and additional inefficiencies, this concept takes variable amount of current from each cell or small group of cells and converts it to current for the low voltage system.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Responses of Lithium-Modified Bath to a Shift in Heat Input/Output Balance and Observation of Freeze-Lining Formation During the Heat Balance Shift

In the aluminum electrolysis process, new industrial aluminum/electricity power markets demand a new cell technology to extend the cell heat balance and amperage operating window of smelters by shifting the steady states. The current work investigates the responses of lithium-modified bath system when the input/output balance is shifted in a laboratory analogue to the industrial heat balance shift. Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} is added to the cryolite-AlF{sub 3}-CaF{sub 2}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} system as a bath modifier. A freeze deposit is formed on a ‘cold finger’ dipped into the bath and investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The macro- and micro-structure of the freeze lining varies with the bath superheat (bath temperature minus bath liquidus temperature) and an open crystalline layer with entrapped liquid dominates the freeze thickness. Compared with the cryolite-AlF{sub 3}-CaF{sub 2}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} bath system, the lithium-modified bath freeze is more sensitive to the heat balance shift. This freeze investigation provides primary information to understand the variation of the side ledge in an industrial cell when the lithium-modified bath system is used.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Maintaining Balance: The Increasing Role of Energy Storage for Renewable Integration

For nearly a century, global power systems have focused on three key functions: generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity as a real-time commodity. Physics requires that electricity generation always be in real-time balance with load-despite variability in load on time scales ranging from subsecond disturbances to multiyear trends. With the increasing role of variable generation from wind and solar, the retirement of fossil-fuel-based generation, and a changing consumer demand profile, grid operators are using new methods to maintain this balance.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Tundra landscape heterogeneity, not interannual variability, controls the decadal regional carbon balance in the Western Russian Arctic

Across the Arctic, the net ecosystem carbon (C) balance of tundra ecosystems is highly uncertain due to substantial temporal variability of C fluxes and to landscape heterogeneity. We modeled both carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes for the dominant regional land cover types in a sub-Arctic tundra region in northeast European Russia for the period of 2006-2015 using coupled biogeochemical and permafrost models. Modeled net annual CO2 fluxes ranged from -300 g C m-2 y-1 [net uptake] in a willow fen to 3 g C m-2 y-1 [net source] in dry lichen tundra. Modeled annual CH4 emissions ranged from -0.2 to 22.3 g C m-2 y-1 at a peat plateau site and a willow fen site, respectively. Interannual variability over the decade was relatively small (20-30%) in comparison to variability among the land cover types (120-225%). Using high-resolution land cover classification, the region was a net sink of atmospheric CO2 across most land cover types but a net source of CH4 to the atmosphere due to high emissions from permafrost-free fens. Using a lower-resolution for land cover classification resulted in a 20-65% underestimation of regional CH4 flux and smaller (10%) overestimation of regional CO2 uptake, leading to an overall overestimation of the regional GHG sink by 90% due to the underestimation of wetland extent by 60%. Accurately capturing the relative fraction of uplands versus wetlands was key to determining the net regional C balance but required high (<25-30 m) spatial resolution.

Treat, Claire↗

Evaluation of a Material Balance Only and Material Balance with Real-Time In-line Monitoring Approaches for DFLAW Processing

The Assistant Manager, WTP chartered an Integrated Technical Team (ITT), which includes personnel from the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), from the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Bechtel National, Inc., and DOE-ORP, to evaluate the capability and potential benefits of replacing sample collection/analyses requirements with real-time, in-line monitoring. The initial focus of the ITT is the Direct Feed Low Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program. This work scope is being performed in multiple phases. The Phase 2 work scope contains tasks to evaluate a materials balance only approach as well as continuing scoping evaluations for instruments that could be used for Real-Time In-Line Monitoring (RTIM). The Phase 2 work scope for evaluation of a materials balance approach was completed by both SRNL and PNNL and is documented in this report. The material balance evaluation included a review of the WTP Low Activity Waste (LAW) vitrification process as well as the WTP Effluent Management Facility (EMF) process. Sampling requirements and unit operations were reviewed to determine which sample requirements could be met with a material balance without significantly increasing processing or reporting uncertainties.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Balancing Vibrations at Harmonic Frequencies by Injecting Harmonic Balancing Signals into the Armature of a Linear Motor/Alternator Coupled to a Stirling Machine

Vibrations at harmonic frequencies are reduced by injecting harmonic balancing signals into the armature of a linear motor/alternator coupled to a Stirling machine. The vibrations are sensed to provide a signal representing the mechanical vibrations. A harmonic balancing signal is generated for selected harmonics of the operating frequency by processing the sensed vibration signal with adaptive filter algorithms of adaptive filters for each harmonic. Reference inputs for each harmonic are applied to the adaptive filter algorithms at the frequency of the selected harmonic. The harmonic balancing signals for all of the harmonics are summed with a principal control signal. The harmonic balancing signals modify the principal electrical drive voltage and drive the motor/alternator with a drive voltage component in opposition to the vibration at each harmonic.

Holliday, Ezekiel S.↗

Balancing activity, stability and conductivity of nanoporous core-shell iridium/iridium oxide oxygen evolution catalysts [Balancing activity, stability and conductivity of nanoporous core-shell Ir/IrO 2 oxygen evolution catalysts]

The selection of oxide materials for catalyzing the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in acid-based electrolyzers must be guided by the proper balance between activity, stability and conductivity – a challenging mission of great importance for delivering affordable and environmentally friendly hydrogen. Here we report that the highly conductive nanoporous architecture of an iridium oxide shell on a metallic iridium core, formed through the fast dealloying of osmium from an Ir 25 Os 75 alloy, exhibits an exceptional balance between oxygen evolution activity and stability as quantified by the Activity-Stability FactorASF. Based on this metric, the nanoporous Ir/IrO 2 morphology of dealloyed Ir 25 Os 75 shows a factor of ~30 improvement ASFrelative to conventional Ir-based oxide materials and a ~8 times improvement over dealloyed Ir 25 Os 75 nanoparticles due to optimized stability and conductivity, respectively. Here, we propose that the Activity-Stability FactorASF is the key “metric” for determining the technological relevance of oxide-based anodic water electrolyzer catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗