Global environmental concerns associated with conventional energy generation have led to the rapid growth of wind energy applications in electric power systems. Growing demand for electrical energy and concerns associated with limited reserves of fossil fuels are also responsible for the development and increase in wind energy utilization. Many jurisdictions around the world have set high wind penetration targets in their energy generation mix.<p> The contribution of wind farms to the overall system reliability is limited by the uncertainty in power output from the highly variable energy source. High wind penetration can lead to high risk levels in power system reliability and stability. In order to maintain the system stability, wind energy dispatch is usually restricted and energy storage is considered to smooth out the fluctuations and improve supply continuity. The research work presented in this thesis is focused on developing reliability models for evaluating the benefits associated with wind power and energy storage in electric power generating systems. An interactive method using a sequential Monte Carlo simulation technique that incorporates wind farm and energy storage operating strategies is developed and employed in this research. Different operating strategies are compared and the resulting benefits are evaluated. Important system impacts on the reliability benefits from wind power and energy storage are illustrated. Hydro facilities with energy storage capability can alleviate the impact of wind power fluctuations and also contribute to system adequacy. A simulation technique for an energy limited hydro plant and wind farm coordination is developed considering the chronological variation in the wind, water and the energy demand. The IEEE four-state model is incorporated in the developed technique to recognize the intermittent operation of hydro units. Quantitative assessment of reliability benefits from effective utilization of wind and water resources are conducted through a range of sensitivity studies. The information provided and the examples illustrated in this thesis should prove useful to power system planners and wind developers to assess the reliability benefit from utilizing wind energy and energy storage and the coordination between wind and hydro power in electric power systems.

The focus of this research was to create and characterize high temperature alumina and nitrate salt eutectic nanofluids for use in thermal energy storage (TES) systems. The nitrate eutectic was originally used in the TES system demonstrated as part of the Solar Two power tower and is currently employed as the TES material at Andasol 1 in Spain. Concentrations of alumina nanoparticles between 0.1% and 10% by weight were introduced into the base material in an effort to create nanofluids which would exhibit improved specific heat capacity to reduce the $/kWht thermal energy storage system costs. The composite materials were created using an aqueous mixing method in which both the nanoparticles and nitrate eutectic were placed into solution using acidic water. This solution was then sonicated in an ultrasonic bath in an effort to reduce nanoparticle agglomeration and to improve homogeneity. After boiling off the excess water, the nanoparticle-nitrate eutectic composite was recovered for characterization. The thermal properties of both the composite and base materials were characterized using the differential scanning calorimetry techniques outlined in ASTM E 1269. The created nanofluids were not stable and did not offer a cost-effective alternative to the current nitrate eutectic TES material. Despite these setbacks, a positive correlation between alumina concentration and nanofluid specific heat was demonstrated. Additionally, the specific heat capacities of the created nanofluids exceeded that predicted by the current theoretical models. These findings suggest that further work in the field of high temperature nanofluids for use in TES systems is warranted.

Thermal energy storage(TES) air-conditioning system is a electrical load management technology with great potential to shift load from peak to off-peak utility periods. TES is now in widespread use for electric rate structures and energy policies and becomes a great contribution to energy conservation. However, TES is more complicated than conventional air-conditioning system in design and control strategies. According to practical field operation, the control of dynamic characters is especially difficult, and so are storage capacity design , discharging rate and charging capacity selection. This study set an example how to improve the energy performance of a retrofitted thermal energy storage air-conditioning system of a marine museum. Through full-scale experiment, historical air-conditioning operation data and computer simulation, the solution is provided on condition of unchanging major water pipe and equipment. This example can be a good demonstration for upping performance of TES. After testing and recording data for one year, this case indicates the investigation is effective and valuable to electric power management and green technology.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Unilateral below-knee amputees commonly experience asymmetrical gait patterns and develop comorbidities in their intact (non-amputated) and residual (amputated) legs, with the mechanisms leading to these asymmetries and comorbidities being poorly understood. Prosthetic feet have been designed in an attempt to minimize walking asymmetries by utilizing elastic energy storage and return (ESAR) to help provide body support, forward propulsion and leg swing initiation. However, identifying the influence of walking speed and prosthetic foot stiffness on amputee gait mechanics is needed to develop evidence-based rationale for prosthetic foot selection and treatment of comorbidities. In this research, experimental and modeling studies were performed to identify the influence of walking speed and prosthetic foot stiffness on amputee walking mechanics. The results showed that when asymptomatic and relatively new amputees walk using clinically prescribed prosthetic feet across a wide range of speeds, loading asymmetries exist between the intact and residual knees. However, knee intersegmental joint force and moment quantities in both legs were not higher compared to non-amputees, suggesting that increased knee loads leading to joint disorders may develop in response to prolonged prosthesis usage or the onset of joint pathology over time. In addition, the results showed that decreasing ESAR foot stiffness can increase prosthesis range of motion, mid-stance energy storage, and late-stance energy return. However, the prosthetic foot contributions to forward propulsion and swing initiation were limited due to muscle compensations needed to provide body support and forward propulsion in the absence of residual leg ankle muscles. A study was also performed that integrated design optimization with forward dynamics simulations of amputee walking to identify the optimal prosthetic foot stiffness that minimized metabolic cost and intact knee joint forces. The optimal stiffness profile stiffened the toe and mid-foot while making the ankle less stiff, which decreased the intact knee joint force during mid-stance while reducing the overall metabolic cost of walking. These studies have provided new insight into the relationships between prosthetic foot stiffness and amputee walking mechanics, which provides biomechanics-based rationale for prosthetic foot prescription that can lead to improved amputee mobility and overall quality of life. / text

This thesis details a three dimensional model for simulating the operation of two particular configurations of a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO¬4) battery. Large-scale lithium iron phosphate batteries are becoming increasingly important in a world that demands portable energy that is high in both power and energy density, particularly for hybrid and electric vehicles. Understanding how batteries of this type operate is important for the design, optimization, and control of their performance, safety and durability. While 1D approximations may be sufficient for small scale or single cell batteries, these approximations are limited when scaled up to larger batteries, where significant three dimensional gradients might develop including lithium ion concentration, temperature, current density and voltage gradients. This model is able to account for all of these gradients in three dimensions by coupling an electrochemical model with a thermal model. This coupling shows how electrochemical performance affects temperature distribution and to a lesser extent how temperature affects electrochemical performance. This model is applicable to two battery configurations — spirally wound and prismatically wound. Results generated include temperature influences on current distribution and vice versa, an exploration of various cooling environments’ effects on performance, design optimization of current collector thickness and current collector tab placement, and an analysis of lithium plating risk. / text

The demand for electrical energy storage has increased tremendously in recent years, especially in the applications of portable electronic devices, transportation and renewable energy. The performances of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries depend on their electrode materials. In commercial Li-ion batteries with graphite anodes the intercalation potential of lithium in graphite is close to the reversible Li/Li⁺ half-cell potential. The proximity of the potentials can result in unintended electroplating of metallic instead of intercalation of lithium in the graphite anode and frequently leads to internal shorting and overheating, which constitute unacceptable hazards, especially when the batteries are large, as they are in cars and airplanes. Moreover, graphite cannot be readily used as the anode material of Na-ion batteries, because electroplating of metallic sodium on graphite is kinetically favored over sodium intercalation in graphite. This dissertation examines safer Li-ion and Na-ion battery anode materials. / text

Entering a new era of green energy, several criteria such as cost, cycle life, safety, efficiency, energy, and power need to be considered in developing electrical energy storage systems for transportation and grid storage. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are one of the prospective candidates in this regard as sulfur offers a high theoretical capacity of 1675 mAh g⁻¹ at a safer operating voltage range of ~ 2.1 V and low-cost benefit. This dissertation explores various original designs of novel electrodes, new cell configurations, and recharge strategies that can boost the cycle performance of Li-S cells. An in situ sulfur deposition route has been developed for synthesizing sulfur-carbon composites as cathode materials. This facile synthesis method involves the precipitation of elemental sulfur at the interspaces between carbon nanoparticles in aqueous solution at room temperature. Thus, a sulfur/multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite cathode with high-rate cyclability has been synthesized by the same process. Due to the self-weaving behavior of MWCNTs, extra cell components such as binders and current collectors are rendered unnecessary, thereby streamlining the electrode manufacturing process and decreasing the cell weight. A novel Li-S cell configuration with a carbon interlayer inserted between the separator and cathode has been designed to enhance the battery cyclability as well. A conductive MWCNT interlayer acting as a pseudo-upper current collector not only reduces the charge transfer resistance of sulfur cathodes significantly, but also localizes and retains the dissolved active material during cycling. Moreover, with a bi-functional microporous carbon paper intrerlayer, we observe a significant improvement not only in the active material utilization but also in capacity retention, without involving complex synthesis or surface modification. The kinetics of the sulfur/long-chain polysulfide redox couple (S₈ [double-sided arrow] Li₂S₄, theoretical capacity = 419 mAh g⁻¹) is experimentally proven to be very fast in the Li-S system. The Li-S cell with a blended carbon interlayer retains excellent cycle stability and possesses a high percentage of active material utilization over 250 cycles at high C rates (up to 15C). The meso-/micro- pores in the interlayer are in charge of accommodating the shuttling polysulfides and offering sufficient electrolyte accessibility. An appropriate and applicable way to recharge Li-S cells within the lower plateau region has been designed to offer tremendous improvement with various Li-S battery systems. Adjusting the charging condition led to long cycle life (over 500 cycles) with excellent capacity retention (> 99%) by inhibiting the electrochemical reactions along with polysulfide dissolution. In addition, the redox products determined by ex situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) further clarify the mechanism of polysulfide formation upon cycling, which is partially different from the general consensus. These approaches of novel electrode designs, new cell configurations, charging strategy, and understanding of the reactions in different discharge steps could progress the development and advancement of Li-S batteries. / text

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<p>Energy storage systems are critically important for many areas in modern society including consumer electronics, transportation and renewable energy production. This dissertation summarizes our efforts on improving the performance metrics of energy storage and conversion devices through rational design and fabrication of hybrid nanomaterial systems. </p><p>This dissertation is divided into five sections. The first section (chapter 2) describes comparison of graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on improving the specific capacitance of MnO2. We show that CNTs provided better performance when used as ultrathin electrodes but they both show similar performance with rapid MnO2 specific capacitance decrease as electrodes become thicker. We further designed ternary composite electrodes consisting of CNTs, graphene and MnO2 to improve thick electrode performance (chapter 3). We demonstrate that these electrodes were flexible and mechanically strong, had high electrical conductivity and delivered much higher capacity than electrodes made without CNTs. </p><p>Chapter 4 describes assembly of flexible asymmetric supercapacitors using a graphene/MnO2/CNTs flexible film as the positive electrode and an activated carbon/CNTs flexible film as the negative electrode. The devices were assembled using roll-up approach and can operate safely with 2 V in aqueous electrolytes. The major advantage of these devices is that they can deliver much higher energy under high power conditions compared with those designed by previous studies, reaching a specific energy of 24 Wh/kg at a power density of 7.8 kW/kg. </p><p>Chapter 5 describes our approach to improve the energy and power densities of nickel hydroxides for supercapacitors. This was done by assembling CNTs with Co-Ni hydroxides/graphene nanohybrids as freestanding electrodes. The assembled electrodes have dramatically improved performance metrics under practically relevant mass loading densities (~6 mg/cm2), reaching a specific capacitance of 2360 F/g at 0.5 A/g and 2030 F/g even at 20 A/g (~86% retention). </p><p>Finally, we discuss our efforts on designing highly active electrocatalysts based on winged nanotubes for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). The winged nanotubes were prepared through controlled oxidization and exfoliation of stacked-cup nanotubes. When doped with nitrogen, they exhibited strong activity toward catalyzing ORR through the four-electron pathway with excellent stability and methanol/carbon monoxide tolerance owning to their unique carbon structure.</p> / Dissertation