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Texas Legislative Council Annual Financial Report: 2011 (open access)

Texas Legislative Council Annual Financial Report: 2011

Annual financial report of the Texas Legislative Council documenting income, expenditures, and other relevant financial information for fiscal year 2011.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Texas. Legislature. Legislative Council.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Solar Schools Assessment and Implementation Project: Financing Options for Solar Installations on K-12 Schools (open access)

Solar Schools Assessment and Implementation Project: Financing Options for Solar Installations on K-12 Schools

This report focuses on financial options developed specifically for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in three California public school districts. Solar energy systems installed on public schools have a number of benefits that include utility bill savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and other toxic air contaminants, job creation, demonstrating environmental leadership, and creating learning opportunities for students. In the 2011 economic environment, the ability to generate general-fund savings as a result of reducing utility bills has become a primary motivator for school districts trying to cut costs. To achieve meaningful savings, the size of the photovoltaic (PV) systems installed (both individually on any one school and collectively across a district) becomes much more important; larger systems are required to have a material impact on savings. Larger PV systems require a significant financial commitment and financing therefore becomes a critical element in the transaction. In simple terms, school districts can use two primary types of ownership models to obtain solar installations and cost savings across a school district. The PV installations can be financed and owned directly by the districts themselves. Alternatively, there are financing structures whereby another entity, such as a solar developer or its investors, actually …
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Coughlin, J. & Kandt, A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Optical Characterization Laboratory (Fact Sheet) (open access)

Optical Characterization Laboratory (Fact Sheet)

This fact sheet describes the purpose, lab specifications, applications scenarios, and information on how to partner with NREL's Optical Characterization Laboratory at the Energy Systems Integration Facility. The Optical Characterization Laboratory at NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) conducts optical characterization of large solar concentration devices. Concentration solar power (CSP) mirror panels and concentrating solar systems are tested with an emphasis is on measurement of parabolic trough mirror panels. The Optical Characterization Laboratory provides state-of-the-art characterization and testing capabilities for assessing the optical surface quality and optical performance for various CSP technologies including parabolic troughs, linear Fresnel, dishes, and heliostats.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Toyota Prius Plug-In HEV: A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car in NREL's Advanced Technology Vehicle Fleet (Fact Sheet) (open access)

Toyota Prius Plug-In HEV: A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car in NREL's Advanced Technology Vehicle Fleet (Fact Sheet)

This fact sheet highlights the Toyota Prius plug-in HEV, a plug-in hybrid electric car in the advanced technology vehicle fleet at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In partnership with the University of Colorado, NREL uses the vehicle for grid-integration studies and for testing new hardware and charge-management algorithms. NREL's advanced technology vehicle fleet features promising technologies to increase efficiency and reduce emissions without sacrificing safety or comfort. The fleet serves as a technology showcase, helping visitors learn about innovative vehicles that are available today or are in development. Vehicles in the fleet are representative of current, advanced, prototype, and emerging technologies.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
San Diego, California: Solar in Action (Brochure) (open access)

San Diego, California: Solar in Action (Brochure)

This brochure provides an overview of the challenges and successes of San Diego, CA, a 2007 Solar America City awardee, on the path toward becoming a solar-powered community. Accomplishments, case studies, key lessons learned, and local resource information are given.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
CRADA Final Report for CRADA Number ORNL00-0605: Advanced Engine/Aftertreatment System R&D (open access)

CRADA Final Report for CRADA Number ORNL00-0605: Advanced Engine/Aftertreatment System R&D

Navistar and ORNL established this CRADA to develop diesel engine aftertreatment configurations and control strategies that could meet emissions regulations while maintaining or improving vehicle efficiency. The early years of the project focused on reducing the fuel penalty associated with lean NOx trap (LNT), also known as NOx adsorber catalyst regeneration and desulfation. While Navistar pursued engine-based (in-cylinder) approaches to LNT regeneration, complementary experiments at ORNL focused on in-exhaust fuel injection. ORNL developed a PC-based controller for transient electronic control of EGR valve position, intake throttle position, and actuation of fuel injectors in the exhaust system of a Navistar engine installed at Oak Ridge. Aftertreatment systems consisting of different diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) in conjunction with a diesel particle filter and LNT were evaluated under quasi-steady-state conditions. Hydrocarbon (HC) species were measured at multiple locations in the exhaust system with Gas chromatograph mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Under full-load, rated speed conditions, injection of fuel upstream of the DOC reduced the fuel penalty for a given level of NOx reduction by 10-20%. GC-MS showed that fuel compounds were 'cracked' into smaller hydrocarbon species over the DOC, particularly light alkenes. GC-MS analysis of HC species entering and …
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Pihl, Josh A; West, Brian H; Toops, Todd J; Adelman, Brad & Derybowski, Edward
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Loads Analysis of Several Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Concepts (open access)

Loads Analysis of Several Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Concepts

This paper presents a comprehensive dynamic-response analysis of six offshore floating wind turbine concepts.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Robertson, A. N. & Jonkman, J. M.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Berkeley, California: Solar in Action (Brochure) (open access)

Berkeley, California: Solar in Action (Brochure)

This brochure provides an overview of the challenges and successes of Berkeley, CA, a 2007 Solar America City awardee, on the path toward becoming a solar-powered community. Accomplishments, case studies, key lessons learned, and local resource information are given.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Structural Design of a Horizontal-Axis Tidal Current Turbine Composite Blade (open access)

Structural Design of a Horizontal-Axis Tidal Current Turbine Composite Blade

This paper describes the structural design of a tidal composite blade. The structural design is preceded by two steps: hydrodynamic design and determination of extreme loads. The hydrodynamic design provides the chord and twist distributions along the blade length that result in optimal performance of the tidal turbine over its lifetime. The extreme loads, i.e. the extreme flap and edgewise loads that the blade would likely encounter over its lifetime, are associated with extreme tidal flow conditions and are obtained using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. Given the blade external shape and the extreme loads, we use a laminate-theory-based structural design to determine the optimal layout of composite laminas such that the ultimate-strength and buckling-resistance criteria are satisfied at all points in the blade. The structural design approach allows for arbitrary specification of the chord, twist, and airfoil geometry along the blade and an arbitrary number of shear webs. In addition, certain fabrication criteria are imposed, for example, each composite laminate must be an integral multiple of its constituent ply thickness. In the present effort, the structural design uses only static extreme loads; dynamic-loads-based fatigue design will be addressed in the future. Following the blade design, we compute the …
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Bir, G. S.; Lawson, M. J. & Li, Y.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq liquid radioactive waste tanks maintenance and monitoring program plan. (open access)

Iraq liquid radioactive waste tanks maintenance and monitoring program plan.

The purpose of this report is to develop a project management plan for maintaining and monitoring liquid radioactive waste tanks at Iraq's Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center. Based on information from several sources, the Al-Tuwaitha site has approximately 30 waste tanks that contain varying amounts of liquid or sludge radioactive waste. All of the tanks have been non-operational for over 20 years and most have limited characterization. The program plan embodied in this document provides guidance on conducting radiological surveys, posting radiation control areas and controlling access, performing tank hazard assessments to remove debris and gain access, and conducting routine tank inspections. This program plan provides general advice on how to sample and characterize tank contents, and how to prioritize tanks for soil sampling and borehole monitoring.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Dennis, Matthew L.; Cochran, John Russell & Sol Shamsaldin, Emad (Iraq Ministry of Science and Technology)
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hydrogen Production Cost Estimate Using Biomass Gasification: Independent Review (open access)

Hydrogen Production Cost Estimate Using Biomass Gasification: Independent Review

This independent review is the conclusion arrived at from data collection, document reviews, interviews and deliberation from December 2010 through April 2011 and the technical potential of Hydrogen Production Cost Estimate Using Biomass Gasification. The Panel reviewed the current H2A case (Version 2.12, Case 01D) for hydrogen production via biomass gasification and identified four principal components of hydrogen levelized cost: CapEx; feedstock costs; project financing structure; efficiency/hydrogen yield. The panel reexamined the assumptions around these components and arrived at new estimates and approaches that better reflect the current technology and business environments.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Ruth, M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dynamical coupled-channels study of meson production reactions from EBAC@Jlab (open access)

Dynamical coupled-channels study of meson production reactions from EBAC@Jlab

We present the current status of a combined and simultaneous analysis of meson production reactions based on a dynamical coupled-channels (DCC) model, which is conducted at Excited Baryon Analysis Center (EBAC) of Jefferson Lab.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Kamano, Hiroyuki
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
RADIATION DOSE ASSESSMENT FOR THE BIOTA OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SHORELINE ZONE OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT COOLING POND (open access)

RADIATION DOSE ASSESSMENT FOR THE BIOTA OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SHORELINE ZONE OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT COOLING POND

Radiation exposure of the biota in the shoreline area of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Pond was assessed to evaluate radiological consequences from the decommissioning of the Cooling Pond. The article addresses studies of radioactive contamination of the terrestrial faunal complex and radionuclide concentration ratios in bodies of small birds, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles living in the area. The data were used to calculate doses to biota using the ERICA Tool software. Doses from {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs were calculated using the default parameters of the ERICA Tool and were shown to be consistent with biota doses calculated from the field data. However, the ERICA dose calculations for plutonium isotopes were much higher (2-5 times for small mammals and 10-14 times for birds) than the doses calculated using the experimental data. Currently, the total doses for the terrestrial biota do not exceed maximum recommended levels. However, if the Cooling Pond is allowed to drawdown naturally and the contaminants of the bottom sediments are exposed and enter the biological cycle, the calculated doses to biota may exceed the maximum recommended values. The study is important in establishing the current exposure conditions such that a baseline exists from which …
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Farfan, E. & Jannik, T.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mitsubishi iMiEV: An Electric Mini-Car in NREL's Advanced Technology Vehicle Fleet (Fact Sheet) (open access)

Mitsubishi iMiEV: An Electric Mini-Car in NREL's Advanced Technology Vehicle Fleet (Fact Sheet)

This fact sheet highlights the Mitsubishi iMiEV, an electric mini-car in the advanced technology vehicle fleet at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's fast-charging research efforts, NREL engineers are conducting charge and discharge performance testing on the vehicle. NREL's advanced technology vehicle fleet features promising technologies to increase efficiency and reduce emissions without sacrificing safety or comfort. The fleet serves as a technology showcase, helping visitors learn about innovative vehicles that are available today or are in development. Vehicles in the fleet are representative of current, advanced, prototype, and emerging technologies.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Madison, Wisconsin: Solar in Action (Brochure) (open access)

Madison, Wisconsin: Solar in Action (Brochure)

This brochure provides an overview of the challenges and successes of Madison, WI, a 2007 Solar America City awardee, on the path toward becoming a solar-powered community. Accomplishments, case studies, key lessons learned, and local resource information are given.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fast neutron environments. (open access)

Fast neutron environments.

The goal of this LDRD project is to develop a rapid first-order experimental procedure for the testing of advanced cladding materials that may be considered for generation IV nuclear reactors. In order to investigate this, a technique was developed to expose the coupons of potential materials to high displacement damage at elevated temperatures to simulate the neutron environment expected in Generation IV reactors. This was completed through a high temperature high-energy heavy-ion implantation. The mechanical properties of the ion irradiated region were tested by either micropillar compression or nanoindentation to determine the local properties, as a function of the implantation dose and exposure temperature. In order to directly compare the microstructural evolution and property degradation from the accelerated testing and classical neutron testing, 316L, 409, and 420 stainless steels were tested. In addition, two sets of diffusion couples from 316L and HT9 stainless steels with various refractory metals. This study has shown that if the ion irradiation size scale is taken into consideration when developing and analyzing the mechanical property data, significant insight into the structural properties of the potential cladding materials can be gained in about a week.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Buchheit, Thomas Edward; Kotula, Paul Gabriel; Lu, Ping; Brewer, Luke N. (Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA); Goods, Steven Howard (Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA); Foiles, Stephen Martin et al.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Using Waste Heat for External Processes (English/Chinese) (Fact Sheet) (open access)

Using Waste Heat for External Processes (English/Chinese) (Fact Sheet)

Chinese translation of the Using Waste Heat for External Processes fact sheet. Provides suggestions on how to use waste heat in industrial applications. The temperature of exhaust gases from fuel-fired industrial processes depends mainly on the process temperature and the waste heat recovery method. Figure 1 shows the heat lost in exhaust gases at various exhaust gas temperatures and percentages of excess air. Energy from gases exhausted from higher temperature processes (primary processes) can be recovered and used for lower temperature processes (secondary processes). One example is to generate steam using waste heat boilers for the fluid heaters used in petroleum crude processing. In addition, many companies install heat exchangers on the exhaust stacks of furnaces and ovens to produce hot water or to generate hot air for space heating.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ongoing Space Nuclear Systems Development in the United States (open access)

Ongoing Space Nuclear Systems Development in the United States

Reliable, long-life power systems are required for ambitious space exploration missions. Nuclear power and propulsion options can enable a bold, new set of missions and introduce propulsion capabilities to achieve access to science destinations that are not possible with more conventional systems. Space nuclear power options can be divided into three main categories: radioisotope power for heating or low power applications; fission power systems for non-terrestrial surface application or for spacecraft power; and fission power systems for electric propulsion or direct thermal propulsion. Each of these areas has been investigated in the United States since the 1950s, achieving various stages of development. While some nuclear systems have achieved flight deployment, others continue to be researched today. This paper will provide a brief overview of historical space nuclear programs in the U.S. and will provide a summary of the ongoing space nuclear systems research, development, and deployment in the United States.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Bragg-Sitton, S.; Werner, J.; Johnson, S.; Houts, Michael G.; Palac, Donald T.; Mason, Lee S. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library

Wind Turbine Gearbox Failure Modes - A Brief

Wind turbine gearboxes are not always meeting 20-year design life. Premature failure of gearboxes increases cost of energy, turbine downtime, unplanned maintenance, gearbox replacement and rebuild, and increased warranty reserves. The problem is widespread, affects most Original Equipment Manufacturers, and is not caused by manufacturing practices. There is a need to improve gearbox reliability and reduce turbine downtime. The topics of this presentation are: GRC (Gearbox Reliability Collaborative) technical approach; Gearbox failure database; Recorded incidents summary; Top failure modes for bearings; Top failure modes for gears; GRC test gearbox; Bearing nomenclature; Test history; Real damage; Gear sets; Bearings; Observations; and Summary. 5 refs.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Sheng, S.; McDade, M. & Errichello, R.
Object Type: Presentation
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effect of Ambient Design Temperature on Air-Cooled Binary Plant Output (open access)

Effect of Ambient Design Temperature on Air-Cooled Binary Plant Output

Air-cooled binary plants are designed to provide a specified level of power production at a particular air temperature. Nominally this air temperature is the annual mean or average air temperature for the plant location. This study investigates the effect that changing the design air temperature has on power generation for an air-cooled binary plant producing power from a resource with a declining production fluid temperature and fluctuating ambient temperatures. This analysis was performed for plants operating both with and without a geothermal fluid outlet temperature limit. Aspen Plus process simulation software was used to develop optimal air-cooled binary plant designs for specific ambient temperatures as well as to rate the performance of the plant designs at off-design operating conditions. Results include calculation of annual and plant lifetime power generation as well as evaluation of plant operating characteristics, such as improved power generation capabilities during summer months when electric power prices are at peak levels.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Wendt, Dan & Mines, Greg
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Wind Turbine Drivetrain Condition Monitoring - An Overview (open access)

Wind Turbine Drivetrain Condition Monitoring - An Overview

This paper provides an overview of wind turbine drivetrain condition monitoring based on presentations from a condition monitoring workshop organized by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 2009 and on additional references.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Sheng, S. & Veers, P.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Photovoltaics (Fact Sheet) (open access)

Photovoltaics (Fact Sheet)

DOE works with national labs, academia, and industry to support the domestic photovoltaics (PV) industry and research enterprise. SunShot aims to achieve widespread, unsubsidized cost-competitiveness through an applied research and development (R&D) portfolio spanning PV materials, devices, and manufacturing technologies.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dynamic heat capacity of the east model and of a bead-spring polymer model. (open access)

Dynamic heat capacity of the east model and of a bead-spring polymer model.

In this report we have presented a brief review of the glass transition and one means of characterizing glassy materials: linear and nonlinear thermodynamic oscillatory experiments to extract the dynamic heat capacity. We have applied these methods to the east model (a variation of the Ising model for glass forming systems) and a simple polymeric system via molecular dynamics simulation, and our results match what is seen in experiment. For the east model, since the dynamics are so simple, a mathematical model is developed that matches the simulated dynamics. For the polymeric system, since the system is a simulation, we can instantaneously 'quench' the system - removing all vibrational energy - to separate the vibrational dynamics from dynamics associated with particle rearrangements. This shows that the long-time glassy dynamics are due entirely to the particle rearrangements, i.e. basin jumping on the potential energy landscape. Finally, we present an extension of linear dynamic heat capacity to the nonlinear regime.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: McCoy, John Dwane (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM); Brown, Jonathan R. (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM) & Adolf, Douglas Brian
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Integration of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Technology with Oil Sands Processes (open access)

Integration of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Technology with Oil Sands Processes

This paper summarizes an evaluation of siting an HTGR plant in a remote area supplying steam, electricity and high temperature gas for recovery and upgrading of unconventional crude oil from oil sands. The area selected for this evaluation is the Alberta Canada oil sands. This is a very fertile and active area for bitumen recovery and upgrading with significant quantities piped to refineries in Canada and the U.S Additionally data on the energy consumption and other factors that are required to complete the evaluation of HTGR application is readily available in the public domain. There is also interest by the Alberta oil sands producers (OSP) in identifying alternative energy sources for their operations. It should be noted, however, that the results of this evaluation could be applied to any similar oil sands area.
Date: October 1, 2011
Creator: Demick, L. E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library