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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Electric Power Grid and Natural Gas Network Operations and Coordination

In this report, we present findings from three studies related to the coordination of natural gas and electricity system operations. We first propose and demonstrate a modeling platform for examining the interdependence of natural gas and electricity networks based on a direct current unit-commitment and economic dispatch model for the power system and a transient hydraulic gas model for the gas system. We use this platform to analyze the value of day-ahead coordination of power and natural gas network operations and to show the importance of considering gas system constraints when analyzing power systems operation with high penetration of gas generators and variable renewable energy sources. In the second study, we utilize our modeling platform to consider the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 809, issued in 2015 to improve day-ahead and intraday coordination of power and gas systems. Finally, in the third study we expand our modeling platform to focus on market-based coordination of electricity and natural gas system operations for a real system, namely a subset of the power and gas networks in the Front Range region of Colorado. We use real system data to evaluate the benefits of coordination operations under different conditions, including different levels of renewable penetration and the use of time-variant, shaped flow nominations. Our results indicate that coordination at various timescales can contribute to a reduction in curtailed gas in high-stress periods (such as those with large ramps in gas offtakes) and a reduction in energy consumption of gas compressor stations. We find that intraday coordination can reduce total power system production costs and natural gas deliverability constraints, yielding cost and reliability benefits. We observe these benefits for the test system as well as in the Colorado case study, where we find that coordination and shaped flows may provide additional value for systems with high penetration of variable renewable energy. Together, these three studies demonstrate a pathway for integrated gas and electricity grid modeling and for studying the benefits of coordinated operations of these increasingly interdependent energy systems.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Coordinated Modeling of Electric Grid and Natural Gas Network Operations

Presentation based upon full report of a Colorado case study and coordination framework, which is available at https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy20osti/77096.pdf. JISEA analysts Brian Sergi, Omar Guerra, and Bri-Mathias Hodge will present on recent JISEA work on coordination between the natural gas and electricity sectors. Power and gas are becoming increasingly interdependent but weren't designed to function together. How does greater coordination impact system operations with different levels of solar and wind penetrations? This free JISEA presentation will take place in a Webinar on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 12 p.m.: Learn how greater coordination between the natural gas and electricity sectors impacts system operations with different levels of solar and wind penetrations. Presentation information includes: Historical and projected data for natural gas consumption and power generation in the United States as demonstrated by 2014 East Coast Polar Vortex, 2021 Texas Winter Storm Uri. Showing coupling points, FERC identified need for better coordination, different levels of coordination (decision making and optimization control), coordination framework. Case study on Colorado Front Range, ramping requirements and gas nominations, real-time dispatch (June and December scenarios), results of analysis of impacts of coordination on unserved load. Total real-time gas offtakes by node, impacts on unserved gas, effect on CO2 emissions. Discussions on clusions drawn from Colorado Case study expanded co-simulation via HELICS, objectives of the HELICS+ natural gas use case, modeling of hydrogen blending, techno economic assessment of blending, and blending impacts on energy content and pressure.

analysis↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Hidden Flexibility of the Natural Gas Network for Electric Power Operations: A Case Study of a Near-Miss Winter Event

The U.S. power sector has become increasingly reliant on gas pipeline networks to deliver fuel to natural gas power plants. In addition to supplying relatively low-cost fuel, gas networks offer generators flexibility in their operations through the ability to deliver fuel when needed by using gas storage facilities or linepack if the gas network is at an operating point below its design capacity. However, disruptions or stress events on the gas network - like those occurring in the Northeast and Texas in recent years - can result in limitations on gas availability to generators at times when generation is in short supply. Here we examine a period of stress that occurred in the winter of 2022 in the Western United States. Using data on the region's natural gas pipeline network and electric generators, we build an integrated gas and electric model that closely replicates the actual dispatch of the period. We then evaluate the implications of removing flexibility employed by the gas network operator, which during that period curtailed scheduled gas deliveries to other parties to increase deliveries to natural gas power plants, which requested more gas than initially forecasted. We find that without the flexibility supplied by the gas network operator, there would have been curtailment of gas generation due to gas offtake constraints, requiring the power system operator to redispatch relying on more expensive generation or to potentially shed load. A sensitivity exploring a wind drought further exacerbates the strain, illustrating the potential challenge of managing gas and grid interactions as systems move to higher shares of variable renewable electricity. Based on this example, we discuss potential coordination strategies between the two system operators to ensure that the power system can successfully utilize and rely on the flexibility offered by natural gas networks.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Operation of Natural Gas Pipeline Networks With Storage Under Transient Flow Conditions

Here, we formulate a nonlinear optimal control problem for intraday operation of a natural gas pipeline network that includes storage reservoirs. The dynamics of compressible gas flow through pipes, compressors, reservoirs, and wells are considered. In particular, a reservoir is modeled as a rigid, hollow container that stores gas under isothermal conditions and uniform density, and a well is modeled as a vertical pipe. For each pipe, flow dynamics are described by a coupled partial differential equation (PDE) system in density and mass flux variables, with momentum dissipation modeled using the Darcy–Wiesbach friction approximation. Compressors are modeled as scaling up the pressure of gas between the inlet and outlet. The governing equations for all network components are spatially discretized and assembled into a nonlinear differential-algebraic equation (DAE) system, which synthesizes above-ground pipeline and subsurface reservoir dynamics into a single reduced-order model. We seek to maximize an objective function that quantifies economic profit and network efficiency subject to the flow equations and inequalities that represent operating limitations. The problem is solved using a primal–dual interior point solver, and the solutions are validated in computational experiments and simulations on several pipeline test networks to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Leveraging Existing Assets for Long Duration Energy Storage

Increased renewables penetration to electrical grid is necessary to reduce overall emissions from the electrical power generation sector. Nonetheless, its integration creates challenges to grid operators who must match the power being generated by intermittent renewables and other traditional energy sources with the demand from consumers, while ensuring the reliability and power quality for the entire system. Energy storage has been proposed as an alternative to natural gas peaking plants and a form to deliver excess renewable energy generation at times of peak demand. For energy storage to provide benefits to end customers (energy consumers), it must be reliable, efficient, and cost effective. The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), one of the surveys that integrate the Prairie Research Institute (PRI), aims to develop a Center for Energy Storage at Existing Assets (CESEA) at UIUC with the participation of Waste Pressure Corp and Ecotek Engineering USA LLC. CESEA will focus on LDES systems that can integrate to existing infrastructure in a manner that reduces the initial capital expenditure and demonstrates the ability to repurpose fossil assets that would otherwise become stranded, to serve the energy transition. CESEA aims to leverage UIUC’s unique facilities to validate LDES systems performance at a relevant operating environment. UIUC’s facilities include a 85-MW combined heat and power (CHP) power plant, two (2) solar PV plants totaling over 18 MWdc of installed capacity, an electrical grid along with a substation at transmission and distribution voltages, a 22-mile gas pipeline network operating at two pressure levels, along with steam and chilled water distribution networks. The new LDES systems will connect to the existing UIUC grid through a new test electrical station, which will have the capacity to accommodate additional connections to test new devices and technologies as part of future CESEA R&D activities. The test electrical station will contain meters, instrumentation, and controls to accurately capture data and allow optimization of control algorithms. CESEA will initially focus on technologies that: i) utilize existing equipment or facilities to perform at least one of the process steps in LDES (charging, storage, or discharging), ii) leverage mature or commercially available components or controls, iii) show potential for cost-leadership in 10+ hour storage at a commercial scale. Initial technologies that were identified to meet these criteria include Compressed Gas Energy Storage (CGES), and TES. CGES stores electricity by raising the pressure of a compressible gas inside a control volume and converting the stored energy to electricity via expansion-generation. CGES is a generalization of CAES that covers any working gas (not just air). A successful CGES demo will help to circumvent many challenges faced by CAES (long development times due to site prospecting, high cost of compression and storage, heat recovery management, etc.) by: 1) utilizing existing infrastructure (compressors, pipelines, underground storage or pressure vessels) used in the transportation and storage of industrial gases for LDES charging and storage; 2) deploying over sites already-developed for industrial applications with minor additional work; 3) leveraging the price structure of commercial industrial gas to cover the costs of electricity used during charging. A previous DOE-sponsored conceptual study (DE-FE-0032018) estimated the levelized cost of energy of a 1.1 MW / 17 MWh CGES system at $0.08/kWh, with a commercial 10x scale system cost estimated at <$0.04/kWh (Giardinella, 2022). The pilot-sized system was estimated to avoid up to 2693 tons of CO2/year.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multistage economic MPC for systems with a cyclic steady state: A gas network case study

Multistage model predictive control (MPC) provides a robust control strategy for dynamic systems with uncertainties and a setpoint tracking objective. Moreover, extending MPC to minimize an economic cost instead of tracking a pre-calculated optimal setpoint improves controller performance. This paper presents a novel multistage economic nonlinear model predictive control (E-NMPC) framework for dynamic systems operating under uncertainty, with specific application to natural gas transmission networks. A key innovation lies in the integration of cyclic steady-state (CSS) constraints within the multistage MPC formulation, enabling the controller to manage periodic operating conditions commonly observed in energy systems. A Lyapunov-based descent condition is enforced to ensure robust stability of the controller. The multistage economic MPC framework is validated on two gas pipeline case studies, where it successfully minimizes net energy consumption, respects operational constraints under uncertain demand profiles, and guides the network to optimal cyclic operation. The Lyapunov function remains bounded in both case studies, validating the robust stability of multistage E-NMPC.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Natural gas maximal load delivery for multi-contingency analysis

An increasing dependence on natural gas has amplified existing vulnerabilities to the power grid, including disruptions to gas transmission networks from natural and man-made disasters. To address the operational challenges arising from these disruptions, we, in this study, consider the problem of estimating the steady-state operating capacity of a damaged gas pipeline network while ensuring the maximal delivery of load. Specifically, we formulate the mixed-integer nonconvex maximal load delivery (MLD) problem, which proves difficult to solve on large-scale networks. To address this challenge, we present a relaxation of the MLD problem and use it to determine bounds on the transport capacity of a gas pipeline system. A rigorous computational evaluation over network models ranging in size from 11 to 4,197 junctions shows that the relaxation-based method is suitable for analyzing the impacts of multi-contingency network disruptions, often converging to the optimal solution of the relaxation in less than ten seconds.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Description of the Gas Sampling and Circulation System for the LYNM PE1-A Experiment

A series of multiphysics experiments, referred to as Physics Experiment 1 (PE1) is underway at the U.S. Nevada National Security Site. The PE1 series includes detonations of three underground chemical explosions. As the name implies, there are a number of experiments investigating the signals generated by the explosion. The experiment series objectives are outlined in a report from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.1 One of the experiments is a gas migration experiment. Gas tracers were imbedded in the explosives and gas sampling boreholes were installed in the formation in the test bed. Connected to the monitoring points is a circulation system that moves gas to a central measurement location. This report does not describe the gas analysis or collection systems, but rather the circulation system that provides the gas for measurement. Here, we have combined four project documents into a single report that describes the design, build, installation, testing, and operation of the gas sampling network.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Neural-network based collision operators for the Boltzmann equation

Kinetic gas dynamics in rarefied and moderate-density regimes have complex behavior associated with collisional processes. These processes are generally defined by convolution integrals over a high-dimensional space (as in the Boltzmann operator), or require evaluating complex auxiliary variables (as in Rosenbluth potentials in Fokker-Planck operators) that are challenging to implement and computationally expensive to evaluate. In this work, we develop a data-driven neural network model that augments a simple and inexpensive BGK collision operator with a machine-learned correction term, which improves the fidelity of the simple operator with a small overhead to overall runtime. The composite collision operator has a tunable fidelity and, in this work, is trained using and tested against a direct-simulation Monte-Carlo (DSMC) collision operator.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

An Evaluation of Co-Simulation for Modeling Coupled Natural Gas and Electricity Networks

Reliance on natural gas for power generation has increased the coupling between gas and power networks. While this coupling can bring operational and economic benefits, it can also yield challenges, as the constraints in one system can impact the other. Co-simulation can capture the constraints and interactions between these systems, but so far, there has been limited comparison of co-simulation results to those of an integrated model. In this work, we develop a new co-simulation framework using the HELICS platform and the SAInt tool for modeling transient gas and AC optimal power flow. We evaluate this co-simulation framework against a fully integrated version of the SAInt power and gas simulators, thus providing a benchmarking of the co-simulation approach. We compare results across the two approaches for two test networks and a network representing the Belgian power and gas networks, testing both normal operating conditions and cases with compressor disruptions. In each of the cases tested, we find nearly identical results from the two approaches across various metrics of interest, such as nodal pressure, gas flow rates, and active power generation. This alignment suggests that co-simulation can yield comparable results to fully integrated models for modeling coupled gas and electricity networks.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hydrogen Blending into Natural Gas Pipeline Infrastructure: Review of the State of Technology

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that could play an important role in reducing emissions associated with difficult-to-decarbonize sectors including peaking and load-following electricity and industrial heating. Blending hydrogen into the natural gas pipelines has been proposed as an approach for achieving near-term emissions reductions and early-market access for hydrogen technologies such as electrolyzers. Numerous challenges and uncertainties complicate this approach to natural gas decarbonization, however, and this review summarizes current research on the material, economic, and operational factors that must be considered for hydrogen blending. First, this review explores previous research regarding the effects of blending hydrogen on gas mixture fluid and thermodynamic properties, pipeline materials and equipment performance within transmission and distribution networks, and supporting facilities such as underground storage and end-use hydrogen separation. We also investigate and summarize studies that developed mathematical models of natural gas pipeline networks with hydrogen blending, and the operational and techno-economic findings of these network studies. Finally, we discuss notable hydrogen blending demonstrations and their key outcomes. Many blending demonstrations internationally have proven that low hydrogen percentage blending is feasible under very specific scenarios with limited end-usage applications on both high-pressure transmission lines and low-pressure distribution lines. This report summarizes findings from literature into key areas of consensus and disagreement. Research gaps and disagreements between the literature are highlighted to provide directions for future hydrogen blending research.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2024

BlendPATH (Blending Pipeline Analysis Tool for Hydrogen) [SWR-24-10]

BlendPATH provides case-by-case techno-economic analysis for potential projects where hydrogen is blended into a natural gas transmission pipeline. BlendPATH estimates 1) the transmission pipeline modifications and operating conditions necessary to blend hydrogen to a user specified volume faction of hydrogen in pipeline gas and 2) the incremental capital and operating expenses to prepare said transmission pipeline for hydrogen blending. BlendPATH is developed in Python and requires SAInt, a underlying commercial natural gas pipeline network modeling software, to run. Pipeline modification and operation condition estimation is guided by ASME B31.12. The intent of this software is to target application for projects in the initial project assessment stage and provide the user with the capability of assess promising opportunities before the use proceeds with further detailed pipeline evaluation based on a probable economic outcome.

Kee, Jamie↗
DOE OSTI2023

Creating an Advanced Sensor Network to calculate real-time, mass-weighted flue gas composition and air heater leakage of a coal-fired utility boiler under dynamic operating conditions

Utilization of renewable energy sources to minimize the environmental impact of energy production has changed the way utility boilers operate, requiring frequent load cycling between full load and partial loads as low as 30%. Dynamic operation of coal-fired utility boilers significantly reduces boiler efficiency when compared to steady state at full load. Data-driven plant optimization has shown success with coal-fired utility boilers under dynamic operating conditions. The purpose of this work was to create an Advanced Sensor Network (ASN) to provide more extensive real-time data to inform dynamic plant optimization of Net Unit Heat Rate (NUHR). The ASN consists of gas sampling grids in the convective pass of the boiler and downstream of the air heater. These sampling grids allow for quantification of spatial variation of flue gas within the boiler and calculation of mass-weighted composition of flue gas through the combination of composition, velocity, and temperature measurements. The comparison of O 2 between the inlet and outlet of the air heater is used to calculate air leakage in real time. Flue gas composition and air heater leakage are both important factors in boiler efficiency and NUHR. Further, the results of this work support the value of mass-weighted averages for determining flue gas composition accurately. The measurements from the ASN show increased composition stratification during dynamic operation, with an average standard deviation 38% higher than observed during steady-state operation. Air heater leakage was also observed to increase from 2.8% to 5.1% following a load change. Prior to the installation of the ASN, these data would not have been available for dynamic control. These real-time data will be leveraged to calculate and optimize for NUHR during dynamic operation in future work.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Resilience-Motivated Distribution System Restoration Considering Electricity-Water-Gas Interdependency

A major outage in the electricity distribution system may affect the operation of water and natural gas supply systems, leading to an interruption of multiple services to critical customers. Therefore, enhancing resilience of critical infrastructures requires joint efforts of multiple sectors. In this paper, a distribution system service restoration method considering the electricity-water-gas interdependency is proposed. The objective is maximizing the supply of electricity, water, and gas to critical customers after an extreme event. The operational constraints of electricity, water, and natural gas networks are considered. Additionally, the characteristics of electricity-driven coupling components, including water pumps and gas compressors, are also modeled. Relaxation techniques are applied to non convex constraints posed by physical laws of those networks. Consequently, the restoration problem is formulated as a mixed-integer second-order cone program, which can readily be solved by the off-the-shelf solvers. The proposed method is validated by numerical simulations on an electricity-water-gas integrated system, developed based on benchmark models of the subsystems. The results indicate that considering the interdependency refines the allocation of limited generation resources and demonstrate the exactness of the proposed convex relaxation

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

A tri-level optimization model for interdependent infrastructure network resilience against compound hazard events

Resilient operation of interdependent infrastructures against compound hazard events is essential for maintaining societal well-being. To address consequence assessment challenges in this problem space, we propose a novel policy-guided tri-level optimization model applied to a proof-of-concept case study with fuel distribution and transportation networks – encompassing one realistic network; one fictitious, yet realistic network; as well as networks drawn from three synthetic distributions. Mathematically, our approach takes the form of a defender-attacker-defender (DAD) model—a multi-agent tri-level optimization, comprised of a defender, attacker, and an operator acting in sequence. Here, in this study, our notional operator may choose proxy actions to operate an interdependent system comprised of fuel terminals and gas stations (functioning as supplies) and a transportation network with traffic flow (functioning as demand) to minimize unmet demand at gas stations. A notional attacker aims to hypothetically disrupt normal operations by reducing supply at the supply terminals, and the notional defender aims to identify best proxy defense policy options which include hardening supply terminals or allowing alternative distribution methods such as trucking reserve supplies. We solve our DAD formulation at a metropolitan scale and present practical defense policy insights against hypothetical compound hazards. We demonstrate the generalizability of our framework by presenting results for a realistic network; a fictitious, yet realistic network; as well as for three networks drawn from synthetic distributions. Additionally, we demonstrate the scalability of the framework by investigating runtime performance as a function of the network size. Steps for future research are also discussed.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development and Test of High Temperature Surface Acoustic Wave Gas Sensors

The demand for sensors in hostile environments, such as power plant environments, aerospace environments, oil and gas extraction, and high-temperature metallurgy environments, has risen over the past decades in a continuous attempt to increase process control, improve energy and process efficiency in production, reduce operational and maintenance costs, increase safety, and perform condition-based maintenance in equipment and structures operating in high-temperature harsh-environment conditions. The increased reliability, improved performance, and development of new sensors and networks with a multitude of components, especially wireless networks, are the target for operation in harsh environments. Gas sensors, in particular H2 sensors, operating above 200 C are required in the instrumentation, process control and general safety of a number of industries including coal, natural gas, and nuclear power generation facilities, the aerospace and automotive industries, metallurgical production and defense-related applications. The surface acoustic wave (SAW) platform is a particularly promising option for high-temperature, harsh-environment gas sensing applications since the platform exhibits advantages, such as battery-free and wireless operation, small size, possibility for scale production using well-developed technologies from the semiconductor industry, and low cost of installation and operation. In this work, one-port SAW resonators (SAWRs) operating along five different orientations on a commercially available langasite (LGS) wafer employing Pt-Al2O3 electrodes and reflectors were designed, fabricated, and used as high-temperature H2 sensors. Two of the selected orientations were predicted and confirmed to have temperature-compensated operation above 150 C. A gas sensor test setup was developed, capable of gas cycling between N2, O2 and N2/H2 mixtures under extended high-temperature periods (up to 650 C for over 20 hours). Thin film Pt-Al2O3 was used as the electrode material for the transducers and reflectors capable of high-temperature operation, and also as H2 sensing film. In addition, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin films with Pt decoration were tested as sensing films aimed to enhance the SAWR sensor response to H2. The SAW devices were monitored in excess of 1700 hours in real-time during gas cycling sequences up to 600 C, leading to the following findings: i) the Pt-Al2O3 electrodes performed better for H2 sensing than the Pt-decorated YSZ sensing film, showing as much as 50% higher frequency variation response in the 200 C to 400 C range; ii) different crystallographic orientations operating on the same LGS wafer experienced different responses to H2 exposures up to 500 C; iii) the surface oxidation state of the SAWR sensors was shown to have an important impact on subsequent H2 exposure responses. In addition, a sensor system employing two LGS SAWRs, aligned along two different orientations, has been developed to simultaneously determine H2 presence and temperature. Finally, wireless interrogation of a SAWR sensor was successful within the gas cycling test fixture, and successful wireless H2 detection was achieved above 400 C.

Ayes Moncada, Armando↗
DOE OSTI2020

Chapter Ten - Power, Buildings, and Other Critical Networks: Integrated Multisystem Operation

The electrifying transportation sector, the increasing grid interactivity of the built environment, the rapidly expanding number of devices within the Internet-of-Things, and the overall trend toward highly connected systems and interdependent networks is revolutionizing the operation of the electric power grid. While these changes are presenting grid operators with new challenges to ensure an efficient, reliable, and sustainable operation of the grid, they also enable a new suite of resources that can be utilized for assisting the grid in times of need. In this chapter, we explore how these recent changes and trends are affecting modern power systems and discuss the benefits and challenges of an increasingly electrified and interconnected world. We will observe how various critical infrastructure, that is, buildings, water and gas, transportation, and telecommunication networks are highly dependent on power network operations but, with improved coordination and control, can also provide valuable assets to the grid in times of need.

electricity markets↗