Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “conversion technology”

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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Project Liberty: Launch of an Integrated Bio-Refinery with Eco-Sustainable and Renewable Technologies. Conversion of Corn Stover Biomass to Bio-Ethanol, Final Report

POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, in collaboration with parent companies, POET and DSM, has successfully designed, constructed, and continuously operated Project Liberty, a 770 bone-dry ton per day (tpd) nameplate capacity, 20 million gallon (cellulosic bioethanol) per year demonstration scale integrated biorefinery (IBR). The IBR produced cellulosic bio-ethanol from agriculture waste (corn stover) feedstock using next-generation pretreatment and enzymatic conversion technologies. The IBR plant was built and demonstrated operations in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The schedule for this IBR project is illustrated in Figure E1. Due to uncontrollable market factors and COVID-19 pandemic, cellulosic bioethanol production ceased near the end of 2019 and remaining operations were idled June of 2020.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Quality Guidelines for Energy System Studies: Performing a Techno-Economic Analysis for Carbon Conversion Technologies (Final Report)

This document provides DOE-FECM specific guidance for conducting techno-economic analysis (TEA) on carbon conversion technologies using NETL's established TEA methodology. The intent is to provide guidance to develop a consistent methodology for evaluating carbon conversion technologies within the DOE-FECM portfolio. The document provides guidance on the analysis methodology, evaluation metrics including performance, cost, emissions, and market considerations, and ample references to guide the end user in the development of consistent TEA of carbon conversion technologies.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Carbon Conversion Technologies - NETL Techno-Economic Analysis Guidelines

This presentation was delivered as part of the Global CO2 Initiative and NETL sponsored workshop, 2022 CCU TEA and LCA Guidance - A Harmonized Approach. The presentation highlights the intent and content of forthcoming NETL guidance documents and toolsets on conducting techno-economic analysis on carbon conversion technologies. Specifically discussed are the "Performing a TEA for Carbon Conversion Technologies" guidance document, the "Cost Scaling Methodology Specific to Carbon Conversion Technologies," and brief highlights of upcoming work products.

Henry, Samuel↗
DOE OSTI2024

LCA Tools for Carbon Conversion Technology Appraisals

This paper communicates an overview of NETL LCA Tools for carbon conversion technology appraisals, differences in applications, and the utilities of these LCA tools to support DOE, other federal organizations, and the overall LCA community.

Guglielmi, Giovanni↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Feasibility of Direct CO2 Conversion Technologies on Impacting Mid-Century Climate Goals

Recent IPCC modeling suggests that to limit global warming below 2 degrees C, "unprecedented" reductions in CO2 emissions will be required during the 2030-2050 time frame. The direct conversion of CO2 to fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity has garnered interest as one route to draw down emissions with the ability to synthesize products at a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional methods. However, most direct CO2 conversion pathways are only in the early stages of development and face technical and market hurdles prior to scale-up, bringing into question what role they may play in influencing global CO2 emissions within this critical two-decade window. In this perspective, we highlight low-temperature electrolysis as a promising technology for direct CO2 conversion, including discussion on the products that could most impact global emission levels, and importantly, offer insight into the timeline, required advancements, and specific technical targets needed to successfully scale and deploy these technologies at the commercial level.

chemicals↗
DOE OSTI2023

Enhanced microbial production of protocatechuate from engineered sorghum using an integrated feedstock-to-product conversion technology

Building a stronger bioeconomy requires production capabilities that are largely generated through microbial genetic engineering. Plant feedstocks can additionally be genetically engineered to generate desirable feedstock traits and provide precursors for direct microbial conversion into desired products. The oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides is a promising organism for this type of conversion as it can grow on a wide range of deconstructed biomass and consume a variety of carbon sources. Here, we leveraged R. toruloides native p-coumaric acid consumption pathway to accumulate protocatechuate (PCA) from 4-hydroxybenzoate (4HBA) released from a sorghum feedstock line genetically engineered to overproduce 4HBA. We did so by generating and evaluating an R. toruloides strain that accumulates PCA, RSΔ12623. We then show that at two scales a cholinium lysinate pretreatment with enzymatic saccharification successfully extracts 95% of the 4HBA from the engineered sorghum biomass while producing deconstructed lignin that can be more efficiently depolymerized in a subsequent thermochemical reaction. We also demonstrate that strain RSΔ12623 can convert more than 95% of 4HBA to PCA while consuming >95% of the glucose and >80% of the xylose present in sorghum hydrolysates. Finally, to evaluate the scalability of such fermentations, we conducted the conversion of 4HBA to PCA in a 2 L bioreactor under controlled conditions. Importantly, this work demonstrates the potential of purposefully producing aromatic precursors in planta that can be liberated during biomass deconstruction for direct microbial conversion to desirable bioproducts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Very High Temperature Lead Cooled Microreactor Concept using Advanced Materials and Thermophotovoltaics Direct Energy Conversion Technology

Recently, significant advances have been made in designing high-temperature capable nuclear fuels. In parallel, important advances have occurred in design of nanophotonic structures (coatings) with ability to shape the frequencies of light being emitted from hot surfaces. In this project, we bring these materials advances together into a design for a new direct conversion nuclear powered system with high thermodynamic efficiency, inherent safety, and unprecedented reduction in size and weight relative to current designs. The concept involves using the heat generated from nuclear fission to raise the temperature of a selective thermal emitter to >800°C. The selective emitter shifts the normal broad brand emissions of light from its hot surface into the correct near- and mid-IR bands that produce electricity with inexpensive photovoltaic cells. We have designed a new annular flow Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) that minimizes overall reactor/power conversion footprint. The results indicate that the overall microreactor/power-system design offers a 2X reduction in size over existing technology that is based on the sCO 2 reverse compression Brayton cycle. Additionally, the only moving part in our design is a circulation pump to cool the PVT panels.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Chapter 3: Power Conversion Technologies: The Advent of Power-to-Gas, Power-to-Liquid, and Power-to-Heat

Decreasing levelized costs of renewable electricity coupled with expanding deployment are enabling a rapid reduction in the carbon intensity of the electrical grid. However, this transition is occurring more slowly in other sectors, including transportation and manufacturing. Power-to-X technologies provide a means to accelerate this transition in those sectors by converting renewable electricity into chemical energy and heat. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the existing and emerging Power-to-X technologies covering the production of methane (hydrogen is covered in Chapter 5) (i.e. Power-to-Gas), chemicals and fuels (e.g. ammonia, carbon monoxide, ethylene, methanol, ethanol, and formic acid), and heat (e.g. for industrial and building applications); discuss the overarching and technology-specific challenges and opportunities; and highlight the implications of deployment of Power-to-X technologies on power generation. We emphasize that Power-to-X technologies do exist today at various stages of development and commercialization and that a transition to lower carbon intensity for the transportation and manufacturing sectors is possible, but it requires immense growth of the electrical grid and appropriate systems design and operations.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Analysis of power conversion technology options for a self-powered furnace

A self-powered furnace is defined as one that imports no electricity: a power cycle integrated into the furnace generates all the electrical power needed, and the heat rejected by the power cycle contributes to space heating. This paper presents criteria for selection of suitable power generation technology for such a furnace. A weighting system was presented to assign weight to each criterion based on its importance to the success of a self-powered furnace implementation. Power generation candidates were reviewed and scored based on the selection criteria. The top five candidates were analyzed to quantitatively compare the additional heat exchange requirements they impose on a baseline furnace. Air-cooled internal combustion engines and microturbine generators had negligible impact on the heat exchange requirement compared to a baseline furnace. Liquid-cooled internal combustion engines increased the heat exchange requirement by a factor of 1.5. Thermoelectric generators and thermophotovoltaic increased the heat exchange requirement by a factor of roughly 2.5. Organic Rankine cycle increased the heat exchange requirement by a factor of 5.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Hydrogen Shot Technology Assessment: Thermal Conversion Approaches

In July 2021 the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) launched the first of a series of Department-wide Energy Earthshot™ goals designed to accelerate breakthroughs of more abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy solutions within the decade. The Hydrogen Shot goal seeks to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen to $\$$1 per 1 kilogram in 1 decade ("1 1 1"). Today, thermal conversion of fossil fuels represents the predominant, lowest cost method of hydrogen production. In 2020 approximately 75 percent of global, dedicated hydrogen production was produced via fossil fuels using thermal conversion approaches such as steam reforming and gasification. However, carbon management techniques such as CO 2 capture and sequestration (CCS) and pyrolysis are not widely represented in the current fossil-based hydrogen production fleet. Lowering the cost of clean hydrogen production from commercial and advanced thermal conversion-based technologies is critical for successfully achieving the Hydrogen Shot goal. This report presents the findings from an initial screening analysis of several scenarios that explore cost drivers related to clean hydrogen production. The screening encompasses commercially available and developing thermal conversion technology alternatives as well as factors exogenous to the plant such as feedstock/byproduct pricing, CO 2 pipeline and storage infrastructure costs, and scale to assess potential pathways towards meeting the Hydrogen Shot goal. Additionally, this report presents initial Research and Development (R&D) strategies to advance thermal conversion technology towards meeting the Hydrogen Shot™ goal.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2021

Distributed Embedded Energy Converters for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting: Enabling a Domain of Transformative Flexible Technologies

Distributed embedded energy conversion technology (DEEC-Tec) is a very promising - but underdeveloped - domain in marine renewable energy research. The technology utilizes small distributed embedded energy converters (DEECs) that, in aggregate, form a much larger energy harvesting-converting structure. Each DEEC is a small transducer - an individual mechanism that converts one form of energy into another. A transducer's specific mode of operation can be based upon any number of physical phenomena, including variable capacitance, variable magnetic fields, or piezoelectrics. It is the dynamic deformation of a structure made from such DEECs (a DEEC-Tec structure) that provides the needed physical phenomena (the external energy source) for the underlying transducers to intake and convert energy into another form, such as electricity. DEEC-Tec structures designed specifically to dynamically deform in the presence of ocean wave energy - for the purpose of harvesting and converting that energy - can be called flexWECs. A flexWEC's gross shape (topology) and its compliant characteristics (morphologies) are chiefly determined by how the DEECs making up its structure are arranged and implemented. In turn, those corresponding topologies and morphologies will largely determine how a flexWEC interacts with - and dynamically deforms within - the presence of ocean wave energy. FlexWECs appear to have many attractive features, including broad-banded ocean energy conversion, in situ energy conversion throughout an entire flexWEC structure, inherent redundancy, and appealing material and manufacturing costs. To this end, the design and development of any particular flexWEC or flexWEC feature is a revolutionary opportunity for how we conceptualize and envision the future of ocean wave energy conversion.

DEEC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Catalyst Deactivation and Its Mitigation during Catalytic Conversions of Biomass

Biofuel or biochemical production from biomass, especially lignocellulosic biomass, is the most promising option to replace fossil-based products to achieve sustainability. However, biomass is currently under-utilized because biomass conversion technologies have faced significant challenges to compete with incumbent petroleum technologies. Advancement in catalysis plays a central role in increasing the readiness of biomass conversion technologies. In this respect, improving catalyst stability is one of the well-known grand challenges for biomass conversion catalysis, which impedes the scaling up and commercialization of many biomass conversion techniques. In comparison to conventional processing of fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, and natural gas), biomass conversion is largely challenged by three unique properties of biomass-derived feedstocks—high water and oxygen content, high degree and reactivity of oxygen functionalization, and high contamination by minerals and heteroatoms—which all cause greater catalyst deactivation in different ways. Therefore, research on catalyst deactivation mitigation and catalyst regeneration is extremely important for the development of biomass conversion technologies. This review aims to highlight studies on catalyst deactivation and mitigation for catalytic processes in biomass conversion, with emphasis on the deactivation caused by the three unique characteristics of biomass-derived feedstocks. Further, this work will provide information on correlating the characteristics of biomass-derived streams, their potential impact on catalyst lifetime, and a potential mitigation approach, which could guide a more rational design of a robust catalyst and processes for biomass conversion.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Distributed Embedded Energy Converters for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting: Enabling a Domain of Transformative Technologies: Preprint

Distributed embedded energy conversion technology (DEEC-Tec) is a very promising - but underdeveloped - domain in marine renewable energy research. The technology utilizes small distributed embedded energy converters (DEECs) that, in aggregate, form a much larger energy harvesting-converting structure. Each DEEC is a small transducer - an individual mechanism that converts one form of energy into another. A transducer's specific mode of operation can be based upon any number of physical phenomena, including variable capacitance, variable magnetic fields, or piezoelectrics. It is the dynamic deformation of a structure made from such DEECs (a DEEC-Tec structure) that provides the needed physical phenomena (the external energy source) for the underlying transducers to intake and convert energy into another form, such as electricity. DEEC-Tec structures designed specifically to dynamically deform in the presence of ocean wave energy - for the purpose of harvesting and converting that energy - can be called flexWECs. A flexWEC's gross shape (topology) and its compliant characteristics (morphologies) are chiefly determined by how the DEECs making up its structure are arranged and implemented. In turn, those corresponding topologies and morphologies will largely determine how a flexWEC interacts with - and dynamically deforms within - the presence of ocean wave energy. FlexWECs appear to have many attractive features, including broad-banded ocean energy conversion, in situ energy conversion throughout an entire flexWEC structure, inherent redundancy, and appealing material and manufacturing costs. To this end, the design and development of any particular flexWEC or flexWEC feature is a revolutionary opportunity for how we conceptualize and envision the future of ocean wave energy conversion.

50 EE - Wind and Water Power Program - Water (EE-4↗