Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Diverse Impacts Of Commercial Ev Charging Load Infrastructure On Electric Power Grid, Antonio Avila

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

With the rising prominence of electric vehicles (EVs) in the transportation sector, this thesis delves into the critical nexus between commercial EVs, charging infrastructure, and their consequential impacts on the power grid. As commercial EVs, particularly medium and heavy-duty variants, gain traction as viable alternatives in the commercial transportation landscape, understanding the intricacies of their charging requirements becomes paramount. This thesis critically examines the technological and logistical dimensions of the charging infrastructure for supporting commercial EVs, evaluating the consequential implications on the power grid and proposing strategies for mitigation through the utilization of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). In tandem with …

Design And Development Of Transition Metal-Based Electrocatalysts For Environmentally Friendly And Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reactions (Her), Navid Attarzadeh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hydrogen fuel is a clean energy source primarily because it emits no carbon dioxide (CO2). Sustainable energy alternatives have attracted the scientific community and policymakers as concerns over global warming and depletion of fossil fuels have increased significantly. Substituting H2 gas as a primary source for our daily energy consumption under the guideline of the hydrogen economy concept has not progressed as anticipated because of inadequate efficiency associated with the generation (electrolyzer) and utilization (fuel cell) devices. However, there are challenges associated with hydrogen that must be overcome for it to become a truly sustainable and widespread energy source. The …

Addressing The Challenged Of Dcop Based Decision-Making Algorithms In Modern Power Systems, Luis Daniel Ramirez Burgueno

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Natural disasters have been determined as the leading cause of power outages, causing not only huge economic losses, but also the interruption of crucial welfare activities and the arise of security concerns. Because of the later, decision-making considering grid modernization, power system economics, and system resiliency has been a crucial theme in power systemsâ?? research. The need to better withstand catastrophic events and reducing the dependency of bulky generating units has propelled the development and better management of behind-the-meter generation or distributed energy resources (DERs). DERs can assist in the grid in different manners, not only by meeting energy demand …

The Qualification Of Sealability And Creep Relaxation Of Additively Manufactured Zytel Gaskets For Pem Fuel Cells, Robert Lazarin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to study the feasibility of low-cost additive manufacturing of gaskets for proton exchange membrane fuel cells exposed to extreme temperature conditions ranging from -55°C to 100°C. With the growing popularity and decreasing costs of additive manufacturing technologies, specifically Material Extrusion (ME), research is being conducted to determine the feasibility of ME components. Thermally cycled PEMFCs may exhibit accelerated gasket deterioration, therefore, the mechanical stability of material extruded gaskets following a harsh thermal cycle must be assessed. The feasibility of the material extruded gaskets will be proven by manufacturing optimization and mechanical testing. The target …

A Case Study In Design, Construction, And Operation Of A Meromictic Solar Pond In Texas, Usa, Bianca Paola Meneses Brassea

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Over the last four decades, meromictic solar ponds have been the subject of limnological studies and engineering research. A case of practical interest is the salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP). SGSP science and technologies have been systemically advanced in El Paso, Texas. This dissertation aims to share lessons learned in designing, constructing, and operating the El Paso Solar Pond, a NaCl-based solar pond that achieved high-temperature performance over two decades, commencing in 1984. Many of the practical lessons learned have not been published and are thus not readily available in archival journals, and this contribution provides a remedy. The value …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Iron-Based Catalysts For The Dehydrogenation Of Fossil Fuels, Victoria Isabel Reyes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

For a prosperous and sustainable future, hydrogen is an encouraging solution due to its simple transition for industrial decarbonization and synergy for economic development. Paradoxically, current hydrogen production pathways release substantial amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere contributing to climate change. To keep up with increasing demand, hydrogen could be produced through microwave-assisted thermocatalytic dehydrogenation of fossil fuels without emitting carbon dioxide. This requires specified catalysts to meet the requirements of hydrogen yield and selectivity. The objective of the present research is to fabricate, characterize, and compare iron-based alumina (FeAl_x O_y) catalysts produced via solution combustion synthesis and iron-based …

Rational Design Of Precisely Tailored Electrocatalysts For Efficient And Durable Electrocatalytic Devices, Mohmed Sanad Noufal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Due to their superior conversion efficiency, high power density, and green nature, sustainable energy technologies such as Fuel cells and Zinc-air batteries, once installed to produce green hydrogen fuel as well as energy storage devices, are expected to play an essential role in reducing the environmental effect of human transportation by replacing fossil fuels. However, the current bottleneck for the low-temperature polymer membrane fuel cells that dominate the fuel cell vehicle market is the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode. The slow ORR kinetics significantly reduce the efficiency of chemical-electrical energy conversion. Similarly, hydrogen production …

Infiltration-Controlled Combustion Of Lithium And Magnesium Powders And Reactions Of Lithium With Oxygen And Carbon Dioxide, Kevin Samuel Estala Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chemical heat integrated power systems are of great interest for space missions where solar energy, nuclear energy, and batteries are not available or are not practical to use. A new concept of a power system is a metal combustor coupled with a chemical oxygen generator, where the generated oxygen infiltrates through the metal powder or combustion products. The combustion of lithium and magnesium powders under these conditions has not been studied yet. The present work investigates combustion of magnesium powder and stabilized lithium metal powder (SLMP) ignited by a laser inside a closed chamber filled with O2 or CO2. It …

Diverse Effects Of Ev Charging Infrastructure On Electric Power Distribution Systems, Travis Michael Moore Newbolt

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The advanced technology of today has allowed for an avenue into cleaner forms of energy that will not only protect our environment but also continue to advance our society. Among the many forms of clean energy, electric vehicles (EV) have the potential to mitigate our consumption of fossil fuels in vehicle transportation industries. In the U.S. for 2021, EVs account for approximately 700,000 registrations. That number is projected to increase to 2 million by 2030. Although EVs do reduce the number of emissions when compared to an internal combustion engine, they do however shift the responsibility to utility companies to …

Characterization Of A Flex-Fuel Oxy-Combustion System Through Experimental Investigation And Computational Modeling, Md Mohieminul I. Khan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Oxy-fuel combustion has the potential to offer high thermal efficiency and lower pollutants emission compared to other existing combustion technologies. More than 63% of the worldâ??s electricity is produced by fossil fuel combustion which also is the major reason for greenhouse gas emissions. Oxy combustion offers a solution to it. Oxy combustion uses pure oxygen as an oxidizer instead of air which eliminates the NOx and SOx products from the exhaust. In oxy-combustion flue gas mainly consists of CO2 and water vapor. Furthermore, combustion in presence of pure oxygen results in higher flame temperature and hence promises higher thermal efficiency. …

Grid-Connected Renewable Energy Systems For Residential Hvac Load Management, Oscar Samuel Acosta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

With an ongoing mission of utility operators to maintain a resilient and reliable power grid in the face of continuously increasing load demand, it is essential that advancements be made in developing both technology and methodology to help account for the increasing energy requirements. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Information Administration (EIA), the residential end-use sector alone counted for 22% of all electricity used in the U.S. in 2020. Of this, approximately 32% of household electricity load is the direct result of air conditioning and space heating units (HVAC). One way to account for this …

Suitability Of Low-Cost Additive Manufacturing For Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells, David Alexander

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to study the feasibility of low-cost additive manufacturing to fabricate polymer electrolyte fuel cell bipolar plate materials. Traditional manufacturing techniques include molding, milling, hollow embossing, hydro-forming, rolling, and electromagnetic forming. These processes are employed when a design has been selected due to higher costs at low volumes. The combination of high initial costs and bipolar plates being the most expensive component of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell creates incentive to mitigate this obstacle. The feasibility of low-cost additive manufactured bipolar plates will be proven by fabrication, post-processing, and characterization of printed test specimen. The …

Supercritical Co2 Recompression Closed Brayton Cycle Analysis, Andres Eduardo Gutierrez Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

On this research, the results of an analysis made of a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) Recuperated Closed Brayton Cycle (RCBC) done by performing theorical calculations and comparing it to the results obtained with the use of the software ASPEN Plus will be presented. To demonstrate and determine that this software is a useful tool for modeling the proposed type of cycle, a preliminary comparison was made to verify with previous studies found in literature. A comparison and analysis between the possible working fluids and thermal energy sources was also performed to emphasize the decision of using CO2 as the cycle …

Microgrid Design And Component Replacement Analysis, Jose Trinidad Reyes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study focuses on developing specific methods that can be friendly applied to obtain efficient usage and maintenance of electricity production in a micro-grid used in a residence or stand-alone building to determine long-term component replacement strategies for aging components. After designing the best option to produce electricity by installing green energies such as photovoltaic panels and their proper devices such as inverters and batteries, this work has developed electric power reliability models to approximate the most efficient component replacement accurately. Due to the nature of the components of this study, repair time is not a substantial part of the …

Small Commercial And Industrial Electricity Consumption In Las Cruces, New Mexico, Andrew Taylor Yurachek

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Research examining small commercial and industrial electricity usage patterns have historically received less attention than residential electricity consumption patterns. This study examines electricity as an input to commercial and industrial production in Las Cruces, New Mexico using annual frequency data from 1978 to 2018. Those data examined include labor, per capita personal income, price measures for electricity and natural gas, and weather variables. The long-run and short-run elasticities of the data are then estimated using an autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL). In the long run, CIS customers in Las Cruces respond to natural gas a complimentary good, and the derived-demand …

A Study Of The Frustrated Honeycomb Battery Material Na2ni2teo6, Nathan Christopher Episcopo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The P2-type layered hexagonal compound Na2Ni2TeO6 with Ni2+ on a honeycomb lattice was synthesized by the standard solid-state route. Structural characterization chemical phase purity was confirmed by Rietveld refinement of laboratory and synchrotron data. The crystal structure refines well in the P63/mcm space group. Single crystal growth trials using the self-flux-melt method were conducted with limited success. The magnetic transition temperature pertaining to Ni2+ lattice was confirmed by analysis of specific heat capacity to be . The magnetic susceptibility remains largely unchanged in magnetic field of and external pressure of . There is an almost linear response in isothermal magnetization …

Photovoltage Enhancement For Stable Perovskite Solar Cells With A Temperature-Controlled Grain Growth Technique, Luis Eduardo Valerio

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

By performing strong characterizations methods, one can begin to fully understand the chemistry and composition behind a great performing perovskite solar cell. Understanding how the interaction between layers inside a solar cell is driven by the temperature and overall environment is a key element to improve the fabrication process and overall efficiency of such cells. This Thesis will present a study of the hybrid organic-inorganic, mixed-cation, mixed-halide, temperature and thickness-controlled perovskite solar cell. A constant power conversion efficiency (PCE) ranging between 15-17% and an open circuit voltage V¬oc above 1.05 V for a wide-band gap perovskite cell is presented.

The Effect Of K2co3 Concentration In Kerosene Emulsions On Spray Droplet Sizes For A Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generator, Alejandra Castellano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is an effective seeding material to introduce potassium vapor in oxy-fuel combustion to create a conductive plasma. Injecting potassium carbonate before combustion promotes particle volatilization and improves the generation of potassium vapor. This can be achieved by emulsifying a potassium carbonate solution with kerosene. Several studies have investigated creating stable emulsions with kerosene with water by using differing surfactants. However, the effects of using varying concentrations of K2CO3 dissolved in deionized water have not been fully explored. Based on methods of creating successful emulsions, the development of a successful mixture comprised of kerosene and K2CO3 solution is …

The Rhetoric Of Low Carbon Energy Technology Scientists And Engineers, Nicolas Cesar Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Scholars in the burgeoning field of Energy Communication have successfully contributed to communication studies and environmental communication practice. However, energy communication scholars have largely focused on energy of media coverage, corporate communication and decision making in the context crisis. While rich and informative, this tendency has left quotidian aspects of energy communication rather understudied. As such, this Thesis contributes to the understanding of the internal, non-untechnical rhetoric of low carbon energy technology (LCET) scientists and engineers (herein LCET professionals). Textual analysis was used to examine LCET professionals' internal rhetoric at professional trade conferences and through long form, semi-structured interviews. Wind …

Strategies To Improve The Electrochemical Of Performance Transition Metal Compounds As Anode Materials For Li-Ion Batteries, Noemi Dominguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Nowadays, our society depends on fossil fuels as the main energy source. However, depletion, price fluctuations, and other concerns, such as global warming, have led to an exhaustive research for renewable energy resources. Here is where electrochemical energy systems play a critical role since they can provide power when renewable energy is not available. Among these electrochemical energy storage systems Li-ion batteries (LIBs) have shown higher volumetric, gravimetric, and power density capacities over other battery systems.

However, commercial LIBs are still relying on graphite base materials for the anode. However, graphite possesses a low specific capacity. Recently, transition metal compounds …

A Study Of Solvent Effects On The Ground And Excited States Of Endohedral Tri-Scandium Nitride C80 Fullerene Coupled With Zinc Phthalocyanine And Metal-Free Phthalocyanine Using Dft-Pcm Method, Timilsina Prasad Timlsina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The photovoltaic active materials composed of endohedral metafullerene and phthalocyanine derivatives are known as excellent electron donor-acceptor pairs. The tri-metallic nitride endohedral C80 fullerene exhibits high absorption coefficients in the visible region of the spectrum and has similar electron-accepting abilities as that of C60 fullerene, which can allow for higher efficiencies in OPV devices. In this study, we examine the effect of solvent on the charge transfer excitation energies of Sc3N@C80-ZnPc and Sc3N@C80-H2Pc donor-acceptor molecular complexes. Three different solvents with different polarity - water, toluene, and acetone are used. The solvent is modeled as a polarizable continuum as implemented in …

Energy Efficiency And Fatigue Failure On Gears And Bearings For Processing Rebar Steel, Jesus Gabriel Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Steel industry is a major emitter of air pollutants, a leading industrial consumer of water, a minor source of contaminated liquids, a massive producer of solid waste, and a significant source of CO2. The objective on this thesis work is to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions when processing steel. Gears and bearings were evaluated based on their performance when exposed to cyclic stresses. The importance for having a proper set up on rolling mills to increase efficiency for processing rebar steel has been detailed on paper. In contrast, mechanical vibration has been measured on gears and bearings to determine efficiency …

A Coupled Modeling Framework For Allocation Design In Land-Use And Land-Cover Changes To Optimize Biofuel Feedstock Production, Ana C. Cram

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Environmental awareness has increased the demand for renewable energy. Notably, the production of biofuels from feedstock is gaining interest as a viable measure to reduce fossil fuels consumption. Nevertheless, it is crucial to identify the trade-offs between bioenergy crop cultivation and the environmental impact on land, water, and atmosphere.

Intensifying biofuel cultivation trigger effects associated with Land Use and Land-use-change, which are complex to assess. While hydrological models had been used to investigate the environmental impacts of land-use changes on water and soil quality, their quantitative assessment is often incomplete. Changes in land use and agricultural activities also contribute to …

Stratigraphic And Structural Characterization And Evolution Of Exposed Megaflaps Flanking Salt Diapirs, Cora Evelyn Gannaway Dalton

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

A Neoproterozoic salt system exposed in the Willouran Ranges of South Australia and a Mesozoic salt system in the south-central Pyrenees of Spain provide natural laboratories to investigate the stratigraphic and structural development of megaflaps flanking salt diapirs. Megaflaps are near-vertical to overturned, deep minibasin stratal panels that extend far up the flanks of steep diapirs or their equivalent welds. Megaflaps can form by halokinetic drape-folding, contraction, or a combination of these processes. The existing models of megaflap development are based primarily on seismic data, well penetrations, cross-section restorations, and numerical and analog modeling. Investigation of the sedimentology, stratigraphy, and …

Grenvillian Tectonomagmatic Evolution Of Southwestern Laurentia; Virtual Tour Of Multidimensional Orders Of Scale; Two Methods To Describe The Vastness Of Time; Math Concepts Utilizing Google Earth; Systematic Approach To Motion Analyses; Mathematics And Earth Science-Based Knowledge And Learning, Anthony M. Alvarez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Dissertation is the product of several individual multi-disciplinary investigations that cover a variety of topics in mathematics, physics, geology, and geoscience education. The first chapter formulates a better understanding of the timings, magma source, and relationships between dikes and associated magmatic bodies of the Red Bluff Granitic Complex to provide a clearer picture of the evolution of post-Grenville magmatism and tectonism of southwestern USA. The second chapter provides an improved method for representing spatial information in the form of a multidimensional virtual tour where the background map is used as a central object. The third chapter describes two methods …

Quantifying The Characteristic Length Of A Combustor For An Ionic Liquid Monopropellant Thruster, Kimberly Marie Hogge

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Ionic liquid monopropellants are currently being researched as a promising alternative to hydrazine in propulsion systems. This report presents a flame study that delineates the flame length of the expected decomposition products from an ionic liquid monopropellant. Through these studies, the characteristic length of a combustion chamber will be defined through calculations and empirical correlations. There is limited information on designing a propulsion system for an ionic liquid monopropellant. Therefore, defining the magnitude for an effective characteristic length serves as beneficial in designing a propulsion system for an ionic liquid monopropellant thruster.

Renewable Energy Systems Optimization Using Monte Carlo Simulation And Evolutionary Algorithms, Nicolas Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Dissertation explores the Renewable Energy Integration Problem, and proposes a Genetic Algorithm embedded with a Monte Carlo simulation to solve large instances of the problem that are impractical to solve via full enumeration. The Renewable Energy Integration Problem is defined as finding the optimum set of components to supply the electric demand to a hybrid

microgrid. The components considered are solar panels, wind turbines, diesel generators, electric batteries, connections to the power grid and converters, which can be inverters and/or rectifiers. The methodology developed is explained as well as the combinatorial formulation. In addition, 2 case studies of a …

Depositional Controls And Sequence Stratigraphy Of Lacustrine To Marine Transgressive Deposits In A Rift Basin, Lower Cretaceous Bluff Mesa, Indio Mountains, West Texas, Andrew Anderson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Successful hydrocarbon exploration in former rift basins of the South Atlantic pre-salt has generated interest in understanding depositional, diagenetic, and stratigraphic controls on pre-salt deposits. However, most studies to date have focused on attributes and controls on presalt lacustrine carbonate reservoir systems and little work has been done on the overlying marine sealing facies. Currently our standard sequence stratigraphic model of marine transgression of rift systems involves a single pulse of marine flooding over fluvially-incised valleys resulting in backstepping of fluvial and estuarine siliciclastic facies within the erosionally confined zone of an incised valley. However, the pre-salt systems of the …

Gypsum, Calcite, And Dolomite Caprock Fabrics And Geochemistry From The Gypsum Valley Salt Diapir, Paradox Basin, Southwestern Colorado, Kevin Lerer

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Caprocks are found on top of or in a lateral position relative to salt diapirs. The caprocks predominantly comprise sulfate minerals such as anhydrite or gypsum, which presumably accreted during the dissolution of salt from evaporite sediments. In some cases, the sulfate minerals are replaced by carbonate minerals, referred to as "carbonate caprock". Carbonate caprocks associated with salt diapirs are important because they can act as reservoirs or conduits for hydrocarbons, and because they can be easily misidentified as carbonate lithologies belonging to the stratigraphy of the sedimentary sequences adjacent to the diapir, which can jeopardize the accurate interpretation of …

Genesis Of Unique Carbonate Fans In A Pre-Salt Reservoir Analogue, Indio Mountains, West Texas, Andre Llanos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hydrocarbon exploration in pre-salt sediments of rift basins on the South Atlantic Margin have proven to be successful major oil plays. Located on the western margin of the rift, the Brazilian pre-salt reservoirs of the Santos, Campos, and Espirito Santo Basins are hosted by lacustrine/marine-influenced carbonates that comprise laterally extensive, laminated microbialite facies. The Indio Mountains, located in West Texas, provide well-exposed outcrops of Lower Cretaceous marine and non-marine rift basin strata that can be considered a reservoir-analog to the South Atlantic Margin pre-salt facies. Of particular interest for hydrocarbon exploration are unique carbonate features that have been discovered in …