News Archive
June 2009
Center for Transportation Analysis by Pat Hu
Center for Transportation Analysis Lecture Series
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Dr. Jack Wells
Chief Economist, USDOT
June 19, 2009
Building 4500N, Weinberg Auditorium
The Administration's Transportation Priorities and the
Implications for Research and Analysis
9:00 am – 10:00 am
4500N, Weinberg Auditorium
Host: Pat Hu (hups@ornl.gov), (865)946-1349
Abstract
The Obama Administration is setting the following key transportation priorities in order to build a safe, clean and smart transportation system for the 21st Century:
- Economic recovery
- Energy conservation
- Environmental protection
- Slowing climate change
- Attention to distributional impacts
- Impacts on livability and community
- Improving transportation security
In his presentation, Dr. Wells will discuss these priorities and highlight some of the program and funding implications, as well as implications for research and analysis.
Biographical Sketch
John V. (“Jack”) Wells is the Director of the Office of Economic and Strategic Analysis in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Dr. Wells has been the USDOT Chief Economist since November 2004. He was previously (from 2001-2004) Chief Economist at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Dr. Wells was formerly the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (2000–2001), Democratic Staff Director of the House Subcommittee on Railroads (1995–2000), and Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee (1993–1995). From 1979 to 1993 he was an economist at the U.S. General Accounting Office, working on a wide range of issues in transportation, regulation, and science and technology. From 1975 to 1979 Dr. Wells was Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University. Dr. Wells has a B.A. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Yale University, both in Economics.
Reprinted from: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy -- WEEKLY REPORT -- June 12, 2009
Office of Vehicle Technologies Program
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Identifies Cylinder-to-Cylinder Differences in Particle Emissions.
Researchers at ORNL have developed an optical backscatter probe to characterize the amount of particulate matter (PM) emitted by individual cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine. The ability to rapidly monitor PM variations from each cylinder is valuable as it enables engine calibrators to balance cylinder combustion to minimize emissions while maximizing fuel efficiency. The probe, based on fiber optics, is relatively non-invasive and allows sampling at various points in the exhaust manifold through a quarter-inch diameter port. Cycle-resolved measurement of each cylinder’s specific PM plumes have been demonstrated in the exhaust manifold (pre-turbocharger) of a light-duty four-cylinder engine at ORNL’s Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center. This development was performed in conjunction with Cummins Inc. in a DOE-funded Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
Media Interest: Trade press
Program Contact: Gurpreet Singh, 202-586-2333
Power Electronics and Electrical Power Systems Research Center by Mitchell Olszewski
GE and ORNL Partner on Hybrid Water Heaters
About 400 jobs will be created at a Louisville General Electric plant where a new electric water heater will be built.
The technology was developed through a collaboration between the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and GE. Oak Ridge's Patrick Hughes said the water heater will benefit consumers with its energy efficiency and cost savings.
"It will give you as much hot water and have the same recovery times so you won't run out of hot water, but it will use half the energy to do so," Hughes said. "A typical family of four based on national averages would save between $250 to $300 per year. The device will qualify for the personal tax credits. It will pay for itself in about three years."
Hughes hopes that as word spreads about the new efficiency doubling water heaters, demand will skyrocket.
"Annually, about four and a half to five million electric storage water heaters are shipped," Hughes said. "Given that now when this becomes commercially available, I would hope that there would be a growth in the share of those four to five million units that become hybrid electric water heaters that provide the same amenity, but use half the energy while doing it."
GE's hybrid electric water heaters may be available to consumers as early as October and production starts in Louisville in 2011.
ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy.
Posted Jun 5, 2009 (AZo Journal of Materials)
ORNL Scientists developing more fuel efficient, cleaner cars
Posted: June 3, 2009
By ANN KEIL
6 News Reporter (WATE.COM)
OAK RIDGE (WATE) -- Scientists and engineers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are investing time and money into project that could produce cleaner and more fuel-efficient cars, as U.S. automakers struggle financially.
As 6 News reported two weeks ago, President Obama has given automakers until 2016 to conform to strict national standards for fuel efficiency to save energy and protect the climate.
"What you're looking at is a dynamometer, which is a treadmill for cars," says Tim Theiss, a manager at Fuels, Engines and Emissions Research Center.
Theiss points out a Dodge Charger scientists are using to test kits meant to covert regular car engines to run on ethanol. Most of that information is coming right out of the pipes.
"All the equipment you're seeing around us allows us to measure normal pollutants and the unregulated pollutants that maybe more toxic," Theiss says.
Not only is ORNL's research aimed at improving biofuels and reducing emissions, scientists are advancing engines, developing hybrids and creating cost-effective, environmentally sound materials that will help create the cars of the future.
"It's not going to be easy. We don't have one single solution so we have to work on a suite of technologies," says Richard Boeman, director of the Transportation Program at ORNL.
Inside one of the numerous labs, scientists are trying to develop a material to be used for car parts that's as strong as steel. but much lighter in weights so the vehicle can be more fuel efficient.
With much of the U.S. auto industry in the red, Boeman says ORNL plays an even greater role in its partnerships with car and gas companies.
Boeman says much of the technology being tested in ORNL's labs could produce cars that far surpass President Obama's terms, which raise the average fuel economy standards for cars and trucks by 2016.
Under the changes, the overall fleet average would have to be 35.5 mpg by 2016, with cars reaching 39 mpg and light trucks hitting 30 mpg.
"We are the largest funded program within the DOE system and we have seen boosts in our funding," says Boeman.
While he admits some technologies might take years to develop, Boeman says small advances under the hood have been adding up and will ultimately help develop cars Americans want and need.
If President Obama's proposal works it would save close to 2 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years.
It would be similar to removing 177 million cars from the roads over the next six-and-a-half years.
Before the proposal, automakers were dealing with a patchwork of state laws.
In Tennessee, there are no state laws governing vehicle emissions. They vary by county.
More on the Web
ORNL Vehicle Technologies Program
May 2009
Power Electronics and Electrical Power Systems Research Center by Mitchell Olszewski
May 19, 2009 -- Oak Ridge scientists working to meeting Obama's vehicle standards
Power Electronics and Electrical Power Systems Research Center
WATE Interview
On May 19 Mitch Olszewski was interviewed by WATE TV regarding the announcement by the Obama administration raising the efficiency standards for automobiles and light duty trucks. The interview focused on ORNL activities in the power electronics and electric motors area that could contribute to achieving the fuel efficiency standards required in 2016. The interview piece was aired at 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm that day. The progress in inverters, converters, and motors achieved by ORNL was highlighted. The interview also pointed to the fact that to meet the higher efficiency standards will require hybrid electric vehicles (such as the Ford Escape) be a large fraction of the vehicle fleet. To make this an option favored by the consumer will require significant decreases in the cost for the electric traction drive systems and the ORNL work will provide opportunities to capture cost savings.
John Kueck was requested by the Energy Foundation to prepare a report on "A Review of Barriers and Opportunities for the Integration of Renewable Energy Resources in the South East." John will be working with Ben McConnell and Stan Hadley to prepare the report. A unique aspect of the report will be the potential for biomass in the South East, this portion of the work will be done by Tristam West in Biology and Environmental Sciences. A description of existing base of renewable electricity installations in the region will be given. The possible barriers and considerations for renewable energy resources will be listed in terms of availability, investment and maintenance costs, reliability, installation requirements, policies, and energy market. In Phase 1, a summary report based on a literature review will be prepared. In Phase 2, a systematic cost analysis, using NEMS, will be performed of the various generation options. A coordination meeting was held at Georgia Tech on May 29 to coordinate this work with concurrent reports being prepared by Duke, Georgia Tech and EPRI.
ZEBRAlliance Project Progress
The initial project of the Zero Energy Building Research Alliance (ZEBRAlliance) is in full swing. The project is a public/private partnership between ORNL and Schaad Companies. Schaad is sponsoring the land, bricks and mortar for four research houses and ORNL is being sponsored by DOE and TVA to share expertise and expand the collaboration to include ORNL’s industry partners, many of whom are providing in-kind engineering assistance and their latest (in some cases pre-commercial) technologies. The pie chart below acknowledges the relative contributions of sponsors for the project as of FY 2008-09. The project will demonstrate four different strategies for achieving full-sized, appealing homes that use half the energy yet cost the same to own and operate. Cost neutrality is possible when lower utility bills offset the incrementally higher mortgage. The project also strives to educate consumers to increase demand for such homes, and to educate builders and contractors so the market place can deliver them. A web site (www.zebralliance.com) has been established to support the education mission of the project. Contact: Patrick Hughes, 865-574-9337, hughespj1@ornl.gov; William Miller, 865-574-2013, millerwa1@ornl.gov.
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Reprinted from: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy -- WEEKLY REPORT -- May 15, 2009
Office of Vehicle Technologies Program
12th CLEERS (Cross-Cut Lean Exhaust Emissions Reduction Simulations) Workshop. Deerborn, MI, April 28-30.
Developments in emission control technologies were discussed at the 12th CLEERS Workshop in Dearborn, MI on April 28-30, organized by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, General Motors, and others. There were approximately 100 attendees from industry, universities and national labs. In addition to focusing on diesel particle filters and catalytic nitrogen oxides control, a special panel discussion of on-board diagnostics (OBD) for diesel engines was held that included industry representative presentations on this critical subject. OBD is generally seen as a very challenging task that will affect all aspects of future engine system design; activities presented at CLEERS will aid OBD compliance and system efficiency improvements by providing fundamental mechanisms and models to assist OBD approaches.
Media Interest: None
Program Contacts: Gurpreet Singh, 202-586- 2333; Ken Howden, 202-586-3631
Commercial Motor Vehicle Research Government Agency Synergy Meeting
The first commercial motor vehicle (CMV) research synergy meeting was held at the Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters in Washington, DC on March 24, 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to initiate sharing of information on CMV research and to seek collaborative inter-agency research opportunities. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s Joint Program Office, the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Vehicle Technologies, DOE’s 21st Century Truck Partnership, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ORNL. DOE representatives included Pat Davis, Lee Slezak and Ken Howden. ORNL representatives included Ray Boeman, Keith Kahl, Bill Knee, Gary Capps, and Tim LaClair. Bill Knee provided a presentation of on-going research and a review of the Heavy Truck Duty Cycle (HTDC) project.
April 2009
Power Electronics and Electrical Power Systems Research Center
On April 7 and 8, the quarterly meeting of the GridApps consortium has held at ORNL. The goal of the consortium is to help modernize the U.S. electrical grid. The consortium provides members with the technical and financial resources to develop and deploy grid modernization technologies in a collaborative effort enhancing the individual resources contributed by each utility, provides best technologies and practices with a viable market size for commercialization success, and provides a collective voice of the utility industry on the importance of technology investments. There were 13 visitors representing 10 utility companies present at the meeting. The group's discussion included demand side management, dynamic rating of transformers, dynamic line rating, integrated distributed energy resources and distribution equipment management, and fleet application of electric vehicles. Presentations and tours were made by ORNL staff on the VERDE project (Visualizing Energy Resources Dynamically on Earth), superhydrophobic technology demonstration, power line conductor accelerated testing, Campbell Creek homes in West Knoxville, Buildings Technology Research Integration Center, Distributed Energy Communication & Controls Lab, High Temperature Superconductivity Cable Test Facility, and - National Transportation Research Center.
Dr. Green participates in NAE's German-American Frontiers in Engineering Program
Dr. Johney Green
Dr. Johney Green, Director, Energy and Transportation Science Division, has been selected to participate in the National Academy of Engineering German-American Frontiers of Engineering (GAFOE) Program. The GAFOE Program was started in 1998 and the GAFOE symposia is held every year in locations alternating between Germany and the United States. GAFOE brings together outstanding, early-career German and American engineers from industry, universities, and other research institutions to introduce their areas of engineering research and technical work, thereby facilitating an interdisciplinary transfer of knowledge and methodology that could eventually lead to collaborative networks of engineers from the two countries. Approximately 60 participants are invited to participate, 30 engineers from each country. This year’s symposium will be held in Potsdam Germany, April 22-25.
Energy savings from Extended Daylight Saving Time report highlighted in Scientific American and other report
Stan Hadley of the Power and Energy Systems Group, Shih-Mao Chin of the Transportation Technology Group, and David Belzer of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory wrote a DOE report to Congress last fall that examined the energy savings from extending Daylight Saving Time three weeks in the spring and one week in the fall. The DOE program manager, Jeff Dowd, was interviewed by Scientific American, and an article highlighting the results was published in the March 2009 issue. A number of other magazines, newspapers, and television stations also reported the results in early March, at the time of the switch to Daylight Saving Time. Congressman Markey issued a press release about the savings and the report, although some of their numbers were not based on our analysis.
Key results of the study were:
- The total electricity savings of Extended Daylight Saving Time were about 1.3 Tera Watt-hour (TWh). This corresponds to 0.5 percent per each day of Extended Daylight Saving Time, or 0.03 percent of electricity consumption over the year. In reference, the total 2007 electricity consumption in the United States was 3,900 TWh.
- In terms of national primary energy consumption, the electricity savings translate to a reduction of 17 Trillion Btu (TBtu) over the spring and fall Extended Daylight Saving Time periods, or roughly 0.02 percent of total U.S. energy consumption during 2007 of 101,000 TBtu.
- During Extended Daylight Saving Time, electricity savings generally occurred over a three- to five-hour period in the evening with small increases in usage during the early-morning hours. On a daily percentage basis, electricity savings were slightly greater during the March (spring) extension of Extended Daylight Saving Time than the November (fall) extension. On a regional basis, some southern portions of the United States exhibited slightly smaller impacts of Extended Daylight Saving Time on energy savings compared to the northern regions, a result possibly due to a small, offsetting increase in household air conditioning usage.
- Changes in national traffic volume and motor gasoline consumption for passenger vehicles in 2007 were determined to be statistically insignificant, and, therefore, could not be attributed to Extended Daylight Saving Time.
Publications:
“Does Daylight Saving Time Conserve Energy?” Scientific American, March 2009.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=does-daylight-saving-times-save-energy
“Daylight Saving Time: How Much Energy Does It Really Save?” U.S. News and World Report, March 6, 2009.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/fresh-greens/2009/03/06/daylight-savings-times-true-energy-savings.html
Mar. 5, 2009 - Markey & Upton: Time Really is Money with Daylight (and Energy) Saving Bill, “DOE report vindicates money and energy savings from Markey-Upton legislation extending Daylight Saving Time”
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3550&Itemid=125
Department of Energy, 2008, Impact of Extended Daylight Saving Time on National Energy Consumption, Report to Congress, Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section 110, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington D.C., October http://www.eere.energy.gov/ba/pba/pdfs/epact_sec_110_edst_report_to_congress_2008.pdf
Belzer, David B., Stanton W. Hadley, and Shih-Miao Chin, 2008, Impact of Extended Daylight Saving Time on National Energy Consumption: Technical Documentation, prepared for U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, October. http://www.eere.energy.gov/ba/pba/pdfs/epact_sec_110_edst_technical_documentation_2008.pdf
Air Barrier Test Facility Completed
Air leakage is responsible for up to 25 percent of the energy loss through building envelope components. The inclusion of air tightness as a requirement in building codes and standards has been a controversial topic with adversaries indicating that there are no well documented studies that can be cited to prove the cost effectiveness of this requirement. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Program and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), along with the Air Barrier Association of America, their industry members, and the Syracuse University have completed the construction of a new outdoor test facility in December 2008 that will be employed to address this issue. The test facility is located on the grounds of Syracuse University. This facility can be employed to evaluate up to 34 different building envelope components simultaneously. Data acquisition systems and test specimens for the first round of tests are being installed in Winter and Spring 2009. Contact: Patrick Hughes, 865-574-9337, hughespj1@ornl.gov or André Desjarlais, 865-574-0022, desjarlaisa@ornl.gov.
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New Highly Versatile Single-Cylinder Gasoline Research Platform Operational at ORNL (Jim Szybist - March 19, 2009)
Background
A new gasoline engine research platform is now operational at ORNL. The research platform is based on a production GM Ecotec direct injection (DI) engine, and with three deactivated cylinders it will operate as a single-cylinder engine. The engine has also undergone additional significant modifications to make it a unique and highly versatile research platform capable of HCCI combustion strategies, as well as other unconventional engine cycles. The new capability will be used for several projects, and is available for use in joint research programs with industry partners.
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Sturman Hydraulically Actuated Valve |
Unique Capabilities
- Infinitely variable valve actuation: The engine is equipped with a hydraulic valve actuation (HVA) system from Sturman Industries instead of a cam-based valve train. The two intake valves and two exhaust valves can all be actuated independently, making it an ideal research tool to study charge motion, HCCI combustion, over-expanded cycles, as well as other unconventional engine cycles.
- Fully flexible engine controller: A LabVIEW-based engine controller using 3rd party hardware from DRIVVEN allows for full access to all engine controls. This includes spark timing, fuel trim, and valve events. In addition, the integrated combustion analysis system has the capability to provide fast enough analysis for cycle-to-cycle control. This capability makes the engine an ideal tool to study control algorithms during unstable operation, such as during the SI-HCCI transition, and for unstable lean-burn combustion.
Engine Installation at ORNL
Modified Engine Head with
Sturman HVA modules
- Direct and port fuel injection: Both a DI fuel injector as well as a PFI injector are installed on the engine. This will allow for direct comparisons between the two fuel injection techniques, which may be particularly interesting for studying the charge-cooling effects of ethanol. In addition, studies of dual-fuel combustion techniques can be studied on this platform.
Engine Control System with Integral Combustion Analysis
Summary
The new gasoline research platform that has been commissioned at ORNL is a highly versatile tool that significantly expands the research capability at ORNL. The new research capabilities enabled by this platform are as follows:
- HCCI combustion and fuel effects: The HVA valvetrain enables investigations of negative valve overlap and exhaust rebreathing HCCI in-house at ORNL.
- Effects of charge motion on combustion: By controlling each valve individually, varying amounts of charge motion can be imparted. The capability to perform charge motion studies will be available for conventional SI combustion as well as HCCI combustion techniques.
- Unique and unconventional engine cycles: The infinitely variable valvetrain enables investigations into unconventional engine cycles in the pursuit of higher efficiency.
- Engine control algorithm development: The cycle-to-cycle control capability of the engine controller allows for the implementation of control strategies for unstable engine operation.
- Fuel effects research: In addition to fuels work in advanced combustion regimes, the dual DI and PFI injectors on this engine make it ideal to study the differing effects of intake charge cooling for SI engine conditions.
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