PNNL @ Waterpower Week and the International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE)
PNNL staff are presenting at Waterpower Week and the International Conference on Ocean Energy.
Night Vision for Bird- & Bat-Friendly Offshore Wind Power
PNNL's ThermalTracker software analyzes video with night vision, the same technology that helps soldiers see in the dark, to help offshore wind power be bird- and bat-friendly.
Realistic Data Needed to Evolve the 21st Century Power Grid
PNNL is helping to create open-access power grid datasets for use in testing new grid technologies.
HARMONIC ADSORPTION RECUPERATIVE POWER SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A new power generation thermodynamic cycle is described that eliminates need for bulk liquid condensation and vaporization steps required in conventional ORC power systems. An exemplary harmonic adsorption recuperative power cycle system offers more efficient power generation as compared with conventional ORC systems. A multibed adsorption system is used to provide thermal compression for the cycle. An adsorption compressor contains a sorbent with strong adsorption affinity for the working fluid in the pores while well outside the P-T conditions needed to condense the liquid phase, allowing the adsorption compressor to reduce operating pressure exiting the expander.
Intelligent Sensor and Controller Framework for the Power Grid
The number of sensors connected to the electric power sys- tem is expected to grow by several orders of magnitude by 2020. However, the information networks which will transmit and an- alyze the resulting data are ill-equipped to handle the resulting volume with reliable real-time delivery. Without the ability to manage and use this data, deploying sensors such as phasor measurement units in the transmission system and smart meters in the distribution system will not result in the desired improve- ments in the power grid. The ability to exploit the massive data being generated by new sensors would allow for more efficient flow of power and increased survivability of the grid. Addition- ally, the power systems of today are not capable of managing two-way power flow to accommodate distributed generation ca- pabilities due to concerns about system stability and lack of sys- tem flexibility. The research that we are performing creates a framework to add ”intelligence” to the sensors and actuators being used today in the electric power system. Sensors that use our frame- work will be capable of sharing information through the various layers of the electric power system to enable two-way informa- tion flow to help facilitate integration of distributed resources. Several techniques are considered including use of peer-to-peer communication as well as distributed agents. Specifically, we will have software agents operating on sys- tems with differing levels of computing power The agents will cooperate to bring computation closer to the data. The types of computation considered are control decisions, data analysis, and demand/response. When paired with distributed autonomous controllers, the sensors form the basis of an information system that supports deployment of both micro-grids and islanding. Our efforts in the area of developing the next generation information infrastructure for sensors in the power grid form the basis of a broader strat- egy that enables better integration of distributed generation, dis- tribution automation systems and decentralized control (micro- grids).
Sustaining U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Could be Key to Decarbonization
As the world races to discover solutions for reaching net zero carbon emissions, a PNNL analysis quantifies the economic value of the existing nuclear power fleet and its carbon-free energy contributions.
Two PNNL Staff Receive Clean Energy Education and Empowerment Awards
PNNL Chief Diversity Officer and Director for STEM Education and PNNL Battery Materials and System group leader will receive Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) awards at the 2023 C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium.
Even with Months-Long “Energy Droughts,” the Power Grid Remains Resilient
A new analysis shows how renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower respond to climate patterns, and how utilities can use this data to save money and invest in energy storage.
Collaborative Effort Empowers Disadvantaged Communities to Join the Clean Energy Revolution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Launch Point CDC, Inc. are developing a framework to empower disadvantaged communities with clean energy technology—along with a set of resources to give other community organizations a head start.