Browsing by Author "Quinn, Jason, advisor"
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Item Open Access Comparison of design and implementation of hybrid systems in prototype vehicles(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Mckenney, Benjamin, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Bradley, Thomas, committee member; Windom, Brett, committee memberWith the continual increased concern with vehicle emissions, the automotive industry is focused on the advancement of new technology to reduce fuel consumption and curb emissions. The Colorado State University (CSU) Vehicle Innovation Team (VIT) has recently constructed two separate vehicle prototypes that utilize state of the art automotive technology for the purpose of furthering automotive research, specifically in the area of new controls techniques. The focus of these two projects have been on the integration of hybrid powertrains into traditional combustion engine driven vehicles. The vision, scope, and overall goals of each research project vary drastically, and thus the design choices vary as well. The contents of this paper will focus on the two separate hybrid vehicle projects and seek to capture the design and integration decisions that were made and provide insight and reasoning as to why the choices were made. This process first begins with the background and scope of each project, which lays the groundwork for the design requirements that will drive each of the vehicle's overall architecture, design, function, and performance. Once these design requirements are understood, the component selection process is then examined for each vehicle. Fabrication and integration of the hybrid powertrain within the vehicle is also explored in a similar manner, in which the techniques and methodologies give an insight into the prototyping process. Throughout the sections the two different vehicle projects will be compared to one another and the differences are discussed in detail as it pertains to the design requirements of each project. Finally, the testing procedures as well as results from the hybrid systems are presented.Item Open Access Control of an 8L45 transmission inside the Colorado State University EcoCAR 3 2016 Chevrolet Camaro(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Knackstedt, Clinton, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Bradley, Thomas, committee member; Marchese, Anthony, committee memberThe hybridization and electrification of vehicles brings new challenges to the engineering and development of automotive control systems. Parallel, single motor pre-transmission hybrid electric vehicles are a preferred design for hybrid vehicles because of the mechanical simplicity, in that the electric motor and engine are on a common axis, connected to the transmission. Mechanically, this configuration enables the electric motor to take advantage of the torque multiplication of the final drive gear and transmission. From a controls perspective, this configuration is complicated because the engine, motor and transmission must work together to achieve the system-level objectives of fuel economy and driveability. These challenges are exemplified in the development of the hybrid 2016 Chevy Camaro developed by the Colorado State University (CSU) EcoCAR 3 team. The results of this thesis demonstrate model development, model validation, and controls development to control the operation of the electric motor and engine together for driveability and performance during transmission gear changes. A model was developed in MATLAB Simulink to predict the behavior and performance of the 8-speed automatic transmission 8L45 that is stock to the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The performance of this model was validated by comparison to on-track vehicle data with <0.3m/s average error in prediction of the vehicle speed trace. A control system was developed to enable control of electric motor torque during shifts which eliminates ignition timing-based torque requests while maintaining driveability-derived shift dynamics. This work has implications for the design of automatic transmission hybrid electric vehicles with discussion focusing on the potential for integration of learning technologies and minimization of gear lash.Item Open Access Development of a scalable, high throughput, low energy consuming, rapid vaccine production device(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Andraski, Andrew J., author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Mizia, John, advisor; Goodrich, Raymond, committee memberProducing vaccines rapidly and efficiently is an incredibly important task. To accomplish this, we are required to develop novel vaccine manufacturing methods and technologies. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged struggle to mitigate its spread and devastating impacts, an entirely new approach to making an inactivated, whole virus vaccine was pioneered by a team of researchers at Colorado State University's (CSU) Infectious Disease Research Center (IDRC). The novel method employs ultraviolet light and riboflavin (Vitamin B2) to inactivate the virus so that it is suitable for use as a vaccine candidate. The novel method has been coined the "SolaVAX" process, and the efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine produced using the SolaVAX process was proven in an animal challenge study during pre-clinical testing. An existing pathogen reduction technology (PRT) called Mirasol PRT was capable of manufacturing small batches of vaccine material in the laboratory. The Mirasol PRT was developed for inactivating pathogen in blood products. The technology's batch processing design is not suitable for efficiently producing large quantities of vaccine material and meeting the needs for current and future pandemic preparedness. To safely and efficiently inactivate large volumes of pathogen for vaccine production, flow-through processing rather than batch processing is necessary. In a collaborative effort, a team of engineering researchers at CSU's Energy Institute developed a device called the VacciRAPTOR that is estimated to be capable of processing 71 liters of pathogen solution per hour. This processing rate equates to producing over 100,000 human COVID-19 vaccine doses per hour. The VacciRAPTOR uses 18 broadband UV lamps to illuminate and inactivate a flowing solution of whole virus. It has reliably and repeatably inactivated Zika virus during preliminary testing. In addition to using broadband UV lamps for pathogen inactivation, high intensity narrowband UV LEDs were also explored. Both broadband UV emission from lamps and narrowband UV emission from LEDs proved to effectively inactivate whole Zika virion. Since both broadband and narrowband UV light emission from lamps and LEDS effectively inactivated Zika virus during lab testing, a combined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Technoeconomic Analysis (TEA) was performed to compare the differences in global warming potential (GWP) and economic impact as a result of utilizing UV lamps versus UV LEDs for illumination. The LCA results indicate that using UV lamps is 24x less impactful (5.7 g-CO2-eq per liter of treated virion solution produced) than using UV LEDs (136 g-CO2-eq per liter of treated virion solution produced) when considering use-phase GWP. The TEA results indicate that using UV lamps is 14x less expensive ($6,300) than using UV LEDs ($87,600) when considering overnight capital and lifetime use-phase energy consumption costs. Since the SolaVAX method and VacciRAPTOR technology utilize ultraviolet light and Vitamin B2 rather than hazardous chemicals such as Formalin, this technology can be integrated into production centers without requiring that the center to be capable of handling the toxic and environmentally hazardous materials that are often associated with vaccine production. The device is scalable, compact, and low energy consuming. Scalability, compact design, and chemical-free processing opens the potential to distribute vaccine production capabilities when and where it is needed throughout much of the world.Item Open Access Economic and environmental evaluation of emerging electric vehicle technologies(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Horesh, Noah, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Bradley, Thomas, committee member; Jathar, Shantanu, committee member; Willson, Bryan, committee memberAs the transportation sector seeks to reduce costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising solution. The continuous growth of the EV market necessitates the development of technologies that facilitate an economically comparable transition away from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). Moreover, it is essential to incorporate sustainability considerations across the entire value chain of EVs to ensure a sustainable future. The sustainability of EVs extends beyond their usage and includes factors such as battery production, charging infrastructure, and end-of-life management. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are key methodologies used to evaluate the economic and environmental components of sustainability, respectively. This dissertation work uses technological performance modeling combined with TEA and LCA methods to identify optimal deployment strategies for EV technologies. A major challenge with the electrification of transportation is the end of life of battery systems. A TEA is utilized to assess the economic viability of a novel Heterogeneous Unifying Battery (HUB) reconditioning system, which improves the performance of retired EV batteries before their 2nd life integration into grid energy storage systems (ESS). The modeling work incorporates the costs involved in the reconditioning process to determine the resale price of the batteries. Furthermore, the economic analysis is expanded to evaluate the use of HUB reconditioned batteries in a grid ESS, comparing it with an ESS assembled with new Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The minimum required revenue from each ESS is determined and compared with the estimated revenue of various grid applications to assess the market size. The findings reveal that the economical market capacity of these applications can fully meet the current supply of 2nd life EV batteries from early adopters in the United States (U.S.). However, as EV adoption expands beyond early adopters, the ESS market capacity may become saturated with the increased availability of 2nd life batteries. Despite the growing interest in EVs, their widespread adoption has been hindered, in part, by the lack of access to nearby charging infrastructure. This issue is particularly prevalent in Multi-Unit Dwellings (MUDs) where the installation of chargers can be unaffordable or unattainable for residents. To address this, TEA methodology is used to evaluate the levelized cost of charging (LCOC) for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) at MUD charging hubs, aiming to identify economically viable charger deployment pathways. Specifically, multiple combinations of plug-in charger types and hub ownership models are investigated. Furthermore, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is assessed, encompassing vehicle depreciation, maintenance and repair, insurance, license and registration, and LCOC. The study also conducts a cradle to grave (C2G) LCA comparing an average passenger BEV and a gasoline conventional vehicle (CV) using geographical and temporal resolution for BEV charging. The TCO is coupled with the C2G GHG emissions to calculate the cost of GHG emissions reduction. The analysis demonstrates that MUD BEVs can reduce both costs and GHG emissions without subsidies, resulting in negative costs of GHG emissions reduction for most scenarios. However, charging at MUDs is shown to be more expensive compared to single-family homes, potentially leading to financial inequities. Additional research is required to assess the advantages of public charging systems and commercial EVs. While home charging is typically the primary option for EVs, public charging infrastructure is necessary for long-distance travel and urgent charging. This is especially important for commercial vehicles, which rely on public charging to support their operational requirements. Various charging systems have been proposed, including Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC), Battery Swapping (BSS), and Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). This work includes a comparison of the TCO and global warming potential (GWP) of EVs of various sizes, specifically examining the charging systems utilized to determine precise location-specific sustainability outcomes. Nationwide infrastructure deployment simulations are conducted based on the forecasted geospatial and temporal demand for EV charging from 2031 to 2050. The TEA and LCA incorporate local fuel prices, electricity prices, electricity mixes, and traffic volumes. To account for the adaptability of variables that highly influence TCO and GWP, optimistic, baseline, and conservative scenarios are modeled for EV adoption, electricity mixes, capital costs, electricity prices, and fuel prices. The change to TCO by switching from ICEVs to EVs is shown to vary across scenarios, vehicle categories, and locations, with local parameters dramatically impacting results. Further, the EV GWP depends on local electricity mixes and infrastructure utilizations. This research highlights the dynamic nature of EV benefits and the potential for optimal outcomes through the deployment of multiple charging technologies. In conclusion, this research underscores the significance of strategically deploying EV charging infrastructure and utilizing retired EV batteries for grid energy storage. Instead of posing a challenge at end of life, these batteries are shown to be a solution for grid energy storage. The study also highlights the economic advantages of different charging infrastructure types for EVs and their role in driving EV adoption, resulting in potential GHG emissions reductions and consumer savings. Ultimately, widespread EV adoption and decarbonization of electrical grids are pivotal in achieving climate goals.Item Open Access Evaluating the sustainability performance of U.S. biofuel in 2017 with an integrated techno-economic and life cycle assessment framework(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Smith, Jack Philip, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Simske, Steve, committee member; Bandhauer, Todd, committee memberThe United States produced more than 66.2 million m3 of biofuel for the transportation industry in 2017. Most of that volume (60.6 million m3) was produced in the form of corn ethanol and the majority of the remaining volume (4.2 million m3) was produced in the form of soybean-based biodiesel. Numerous works have assessed the economic and environmental performance of these two biofuel types. However, no work exists which evaluates both the economic and environmental outcomes of these two fuels with adequate geospatial resolution and national scope. In this study, a model framework is constructed that performs concurrent Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using high-resolution input datasets to provide a granular estimation of sustainability performance of every county in the United States. This work presents results that include sector wide estimates and highlights the importance of capturing geographic heterogeneity. Results show a total emission volume of 55 MMT CO2-eq produced by the 2017 US biofuel industry, with 7 MMT CO2-eq of that amount resulting from Land Use Change effects. Nationwide weighted mean Global Warming Potential results are 38 gCO2-eq/MJ and 37 gCO2-eq/MJ for corn ethanol and soybean biodiesel, respectively, when Land Use Change emissions are included. Minimum Fuel Selling Price results are $0.0208/MJ ($2.52/GGE) and $0.0225/MJ ($2.72/GGE) for corn ethanol and soybean biodiesel, respectively. A Zero-Emissions Cost (ZEC) metric is applied, which combines the economic and environmental performance of a fuel into its analysis. Specifically, the cost associated with offsetting all fuel production and use emissions through Direct Air Capture (DAC) is added to the standard price of the fuel. Mean ZEC results are $0.037/MJ ($4.53/GGE) for corn ethanol and $0.039/MJ ($4.69/GGE) for soybean biodiesel which are lower than the ZEC of conventional gasoline of $0.062/MJ ($7.45/GGE). Finally, the cost of Direct Air Capture which results in ZEC parity between each biofuel and its petroleum-based counterpart is assessed to be $49/MT CO2-eq.Item Open Access Geographically-resolved evaluation of economic and environmental services from renewable diesel derived from attached algae flow-ways across the United States(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Banks, Austin Brice, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Peebles, Christie, committee member; Windom, Bret, committee memberHarmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming more invasive and ever more prevalent due to rises in nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in watersheds. Nitrogen and phosphorus leakages primarily occur from non-point sources like agricultural runoff, but also point sources like wastewater treatment facilities. Previous efforts to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loadings and mitigate HABs have largely been ineffective despite investment in nutrient reduction technologies. As the population grows, our consumption and dispersal of nitrogen and phosphorus is expected to compound, and HABs will continue to wreak havoc on our aquatic ecosystems. Herein, we introduce a novel biorefinery that taps into the vast sources of nitrogen and phosphorus in watersheds while simultaneously producing biofuels. Contaminated water is diverted to flow over attached algae systems, feeding native, periphytic algal cultures and scrubbing excessive nutrients from the water. Hydrothermal liquefaction converts the algal biomass into renewable fuels, nutrient-rich fertilizers, and carbonaceous char. The evaluation of the biorefinery concept is done through integrating geographically-resolved growth modeling with nutrient resource availability based on all Hydrologic Unit Code-8 (HUC8) in the contiguous US which is integrated into sustainability models to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of the proposed system. Life cycle analysis results demonstrate a global warming potential of 25 g CO2-eq MJ-1, a eutrophication potential of 1.3*10-5 kg N eq MJ-1, and a net energy ratio 0.33 of MJ MJ-1 in the Santa Monica Bay, CA subbasin. Technoeconomic assessments found that renewable diesel can be produced for $1.20 per cubic decimeter (dm-3) or $4.56 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (GGE-1) under optimal conditions in the Santa Monica Bay, CA subbasin, with results dramatically varying across the US. Water quality trading was also incorporated into the analysis. Using modest nutrient credit values of $4.5 per kg of total nitrogen (kg-TN-1) and $4.5 per kg total phosphorus (kg-TP-1) removed enabled the renewable diesel to achieve parity with conventional diesel, $1.01 dm-3 ($3.84 GGE-1) in the Santa Monica Bay, CA subbasin. A more aggressive credit value of $45 kg-TN-1 and $45 kg-TP-1 made the price of the renewable diesel negative in Santa Monica Bay, CA, roughly $-4.45 dm-3 ($-16.8 GGE-1), and across the Midwest, the Gulf of Mexico, and major cities on the East and West Coast. This means the value of the service that the algae provide in remediating watersheds covers all costs of the system to the point where the renewable diesel represents a product with negligible value. These results highlight a path forward for mitigating eutrophication while also creating a sustainable fuel. Discussion focuses on the service that large-scale deployment of attached algae flow-ways provide to remediate excessive nutrients from watersheds and generate biofuels at a cost-effective price point when water quality trading credits are incorporated into the system economics.Item Open Access Implications of cell composition and size on the performance of microalgae ultrasonic harvesting(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Aligata, Alyssa Jean, author; Marchese, Anthony, advisor; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Peebles, Christie, committee memberSubstantial economic challenges exist across the value chain for microalgae-based biofuels and bioproducts. Acoustic harvesting could dramatically reduce harvesting costs and directly address current energy barriers to separating algae from growth media. This technology utilizes ultrasonic standing waves to create an acoustic radiation force that, due to differences in the acoustic properties of the cells and media, causes the microalgae cells to agglomerate and settle out of the solution. The magnitude of the acoustic radiation force is directly related to the cell radius and acoustic contrast factor (ACF), the latter of which is a function of the density and compressibility of the cell. These properties can vary widely depending on the algae species, cultivation conditions, and growth stage—all of which affect the composition of the microalgae cells (e.g., lipid, carbohydrate, protein content). In this work, two methods were used to determine the ACF of microalgal cells: 1) a property measurement approach and 2) a particle tracking approach. The first method involved experimentally measuring the size distribution, density and compressibility of the cells and calculating the ACF. The second method utilized particle tracking velocimetry and a COMSOL Multiphysics model to estimate the ACF. The ACF was characterized, using both techniques, for three species—Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Nannochloropsis salina, and Tetraselmis chuii—as a function of dynamic cellular composition over a 2-week growth period. For C. reinhardtii the lipid content increased from 26% ± 1% to 40% ± 1% from day 3 to 9, which resulted in a 43% decrease in ACF (0.056 ± 0.003 to 0.032 ± 0.001). For N. salina the lipid content increased from 25% ± 1% to 33% ± 1% from day 3 to 10, which also resulted in a 43% decrease in ACF (0.040 ± 0.002 to 0.023 ± 0.001). For T. chuii the lipid content remained relatively stable (~10%) throughout the growth period so the ACF (~0.3) did not change significantly. ACF decreases as lipid content increases because lipids have a negative ACF in growth media, whereas carbohydrates and proteins have a positive ACF. However, cell size can have a greater impact on an algal strains' responsiveness to acoustic harvesting because the net force is proportional to Φa2. Furthermore, acoustic harvesting works best for large diameter cells, provided that those cells have a nonzero ACF. T. chuii had the largest cell diameter of approximately 12 µm, while C. reinhardtii and N. salina had cell diameters of 8.5 µm and 4.3 µm, respectively. The Φa2 values for T. chuii were approximately 50× higher than the values for N. salina, which is largely due to T. chuii cells having a diameter that is 3× the diameter of N. salina cells. Composition also contributed to the higher Φa2 values for T. chuii since these cells were composed of mostly carbohydrates and had an ACF that was an order of magnitude higher than the ACF of N. salina. This research shows that acoustic harvesting has the potential to positively impact the algal biofuels value chain through the reduction of energy required for harvesting.Item Open Access Long duration measurements of pneumatic controller emissions on onshore natural gas gathering stations(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Luck, Benjamin Kendell, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Zimmerle, Daniel, advisor; Marchese, Anthony, committee member; von Fischer, Joseph, committee memberOver the last 15 years, advances in hydraulic fracturing have led to a boom of natural gas production the United States and abroad. The combustion of natural gas produces less carbon dioxide (CO2) than the combustion of other fossil fuels per unit of energy released, making it an attractive option for reducing emissions from power generation and transportation industries. Uncombusted methane (CH4) has a global warming potential (GWP) of 86 times that of CO2 on 20 year time scales and a GWP of global warming potential 32 times greater than CO2 on a 100 year time scale. The increase in supply chain throughput has led to concerns regarding the greenhouse gas contributions of CH4 from accidental or operational leaks from natural gas infrastructure. Automated, pneumatic actuated valves are used to control process variables on stations in all sectors of the natural gas industry. Pneumatic valve controllers (PCs) vent natural gas to the atmosphere during their normal operation and are a significant source of fugitive emissions from the natural gas supply chain. This paper outlines the work that was done to improve the characterization of emissions from PCs using long duration measurements. This work was performed as part of the Department of Energy funded Gathering Emission Factor (GEF) study. A thermal mass flow meter based emission measurement system was developed to perform direct measurements of pneumatic controller emissions over multiday periods. This measurement system was developed based on methods used in previous studies, with design modifications made to meet site safety regulations, power supply constraints and measurement duration targets. Emissions were measured from 72 PCs at 16 gathering compressor stations between June, 2017 and May, 2018. The average emission rate of 72 PCs was 10.86 scfh [+4.31/-3.60], which is 91.2% of the EPA's current emission factor for PCs on gathering compressor stations. The mean measurement duration of these 72 samples was 76.8 hours. Due to potential biases associated with flow meter errors, updates to EPA emission factors based on these data are not proposed. However, because all previous studies to quantify PC emissions used short sampling times (typically ≤15 minutes) the long duration measurements provided insight into previously unobserved PC emissions behavior. A panel of industry experts assessed the emissions recordings and found that 30 PCs (42% of measured devices) had emissions patterns or rates that were inconsistent with their design. 73% of emissions measured during this study were attributed to these 30 PCs that were malfunctioning from an emissions perspective. It was also found that PC emission rates are more variable over time than previously thought. Due to this high temporal variability, the short duration observations currently used by leak detection programs to identify malfunctioning equipment have a low probability of providing accurate characterizations of PC emissions. Many natural gas companies are investigating ways to improve the efficiency of their operations and reduce rates of natural gas leakage in their systems. The data presented in this paper improves the characterization of emissions behavior from a significant emission source in the production, processing and transmission sectors of the natural gas supply chain and has implications for organizations with an interest in reducing emissions from PCs.Item Open Access Post-transmission parallel hybrid vehicle design and validation for predictive acceleration event energy management strategies(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Adelman, Derek, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Windom, Bret, committee member; Bradley, Thomas, committee memberHybrid and electric vehicle technologies provide automotive engineers with the potential to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy through control systems that can utilize optimal energy management strategies (EMS), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and predictive controls [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. As described in previous work [7], one such EMS being studied is predictive acceleration events (PAEs), a method that derives optimal energy management for a set of pre-defined AEs and applies said management during AEs to realize real-time energy consumption savings. To further this concept, a hybrid test vehicle platform (TVP) was constructed to test the validity of the EMS strategy, as well as to serve as a test bed for future V2X and prediction technologies being researched at Colorado State University. This thesis covers the design, manufacture, and testing of the TVP as it pertains to the hybrid powertrain, high voltage cooling systems, low voltage control hardware, and controller area network (CAN) communication. Powertrain component design and modeling via finite element analysis (FEA), manufacture and cryogenic assembly, validity of economical identification of low-alloy steels, and heat treatment theory in inert atmospheres and methodology is discussed. Quasi-equilibrium modeling of interconnected cooling loops to predict steady-state operating temperatures is presented along with construction and experimental results during EMS implementation. The sections on low voltage design and integration into the TVP discuss the details of power distribution and consumption of third-party system controllers and high voltage components, accelerator pedal signal modification via frequency modulation and signal conditioning, and off-schedule transmission shifting through modification of the stock vehicle sport mode. Finally, qualitative and quantitative testing of vehicle networking and communication through CAN under electromagnetic interference is presented.Item Open Access Renewable energy in community: economic impacts of the grid(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Saarloos, Benjamin Alexander, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Bradley, Thomas, committee member; Burkhardt, Jesse, committee member; Olsen, Daniel, committee memberThe U.S. energy grid is a complex system that supports everyday lives. Grid energy has traditionally flowed in one direction from large, centralized power plants through transmission and distribution networks to corporate and residential consumers. However, with a growth in renewable energy systems (RES), energy flow has begun to take on a more bi-directional character with distributed generation, including excess energy generated by consumers being fed back to the energy grid. The breadth of individual energy use impacts and societal benefits attributed to growth in RES calls for analysis and development of RES on the community scale. Beyond the physical energy connection it provides, the grid can serve as an economic mechanism whereby RES can be sustainably developed through the grid, rather than an alternative to the grid. Measures have been developed to advance RES toward sustainability targets, recognizing that the grid plays an important enabling role. Net-zero energy is a classification system designed to reduce energy consumption in buildings and communities in support of climatic goals to reduce greenhouse emissions. A hierarchy of renewable energy supply options is established with a preference for on-site renewable energy over off-site supply options. Value of Solar (VOS) is an electric rate design mechanism intended to determine the true value of solar photovoltaic (PV) generated electricity. Beyond the obvious benefit of fossil fuel saved, VOS includes cost savings associated with avoided capacity, transmission & distribution cost deferral, and environmental benefits. Net-zero energy and VOS methodology are both identified as sustainability measures within a broader RES design process. Sustainable RES design recognizes that harmonizing economic, environmental, and social interests is a community effort. Case-studies present an opportunity to further develop a consistent set of design principles while simultaneously presenting unique and important results. In this work, a net-zero energy analysis is conducted for the National Wester Center in Denver, CO. A coupled energy and economic analysis demonstrates the critical role played by the grid in the economic feasibility of achieving net-zero energy, as well as the mutual benefit of on-site energy storage. A VOS case study is performed for Sioux Center Municipal Utilities in northwest Iowa leveraging five years of municipal power consumption coupled with real PV electricity generation data. A dual optimization approach develops an electric rate structure that best aligns with and incentivizes development toward optimal VOS design. Together, these studies affirm that while local technical solutions and optimal designs may differ, the principles of sustainable design can be applied and followed consistently such that RES can grow and flourish in communities across the globe.Item Open Access Sustainability implications of carbon delivery in microalgae cultivation for the production of biofuel(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Somers, Michael D., author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Marchese, Anthony, committee member; Reardon, Kenneth, committee memberSupplementation of carbon is critical for high productivity cultivation of most microalgae. Moreover, using microalgae for atmospheric CO2 mitigation to combat climate change is promising, as waste sources and atmospheric CO2 can be utilized to produce useful products. The challenge is developing technologies, processes, and strategies that utilize carbon effectively such that the overall system is sustainable. Through engineering systems modeling combined with techno-economic and life-cycle assessments, this study examined the implications of various delivery methods of carbon to a production-scale algal biorefinery. Five primary carbon sources were considered: atmospheric CO2; CO2 from direct chemical or power plant waste emissions; CO2 that has been concentrated from waste sources and compressed; inorganic carbon in the form of sodium bicarbonate salt; and organic carbon in the form of cellulosic sugars derived from corn stover. Each source was evaluated assuming co-location as well as pipeline transportation up to 100 km. The sensitivity of results to carbon utilization efficiency was also considered. Sustainability results indicate that economics are more prohibitive than energy and emissions. Of the scenarios evaluated, only two met both the economic and environmental criteria of contributing less than $0.50 GGE−1 and 20 gCO2-eq MJ−1 to the overall system, respectively: uncompressed, pure sources of gaseous CO2 with pipeline transportation of 40 km or less; and compressed, supercritical CO2 from pure sources for pipeline transportation up to 100 km. The scalability of algal biofuels based on these results shows carbon to be the limiting nutrient in an algal biorefinery with a total US production capability of 360 million gallons of fuel per year.Item Open Access Techno-economic analysis of advanced small modular nuclear reactors(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Asuega-Souza, Anthony, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Simske, Steve, committee member; Bandhauer, Todd, committee memberSmall modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) represent a robust opportunity to develop low-carbon and reliable power with the potential to meet cost parity with conventional power systems. This study presents a detailed, bottom-up economic evaluation of a 12x77 MWe (924 MWe total) light-water SMR (LW-SMR) plant, a 4x262 MWe (1,048 MWe) gas-cooled SMR (GC-SMR) plant, and a 5x200 MWe (1,000 MWe total) molten salt SMR (MS-SMR) plant. Cost estimates are derived from equipment costs, labor hours, material inputs, and process-engineering models. The advanced SMRs are compared to natural gas combined cycle plants and a conventional large reactor. Overnight capital cost (OCC) and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) estimates are developed. The OCC of the LW-SMR, GC-SMR, and MS-SMR are found to be $4,844/kW, $4,355/kW, and $3,985/kW respectively. The LCOE of the LW-SMR, GC-SMR, and MS-SMR are found to be $89.6/MWh, $81.5/MWh, and $80.6/MWh respectively. A Monte Carlo analysis is performed, for which the OCC and construction time of the LW-SMR is found to have a lower mean and standard deviation than a conventional large reactor. The LW-SMR OCC is found to have a mean of $5,233/kW with a standard deviation of $658/kW and a 90% probability of remaining between $4,254/kW and $6,399/kW, while the construction duration is found to have a mean of 4.5 years with a standard deviation of 0.8 years and a 90% probability of remaining between 3.4 and 6.0 years. The economic impact of economies of scale, simplification, modularization, and construction time are evaluated for SMRs. Policy implications for direct capital subsidies and a carbon tax on natural gas emissions are additionally explored.Item Open Access Techno-economic analysis of ash removal in algal biomass(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Hess, Derek E., author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Willson, Bryan, committee member; Peebles, Christie, committee memberLarge-scale microalgae cultivation for biodiesel production is expected to be performed utilizing open air growth infrastructure which will inherently introduce ash into the system. High ash content biomass represents a significant challenge for the production of biofuel as it increases processing capital and operational costs. This study directly assesses the economic viability of pretreatment processes focused on the removal of ash from biomass grown with an algal turf scrubber (ATS) unit. An engineering process model of biofuel production was developed based on an ATS growth architecture followed by an ash removal process and conversion of the biomass to fuels through hydrothermal liquefaction. The model was validated with literature for the growth and conversion processes and validated with experimental data for the de-ashing process. A total of 14 different scenarios were investigated based on two different ash removal techniques, water wash and alkaline extraction treatment operated at various temperatures and alkaline levels. The engineering process model was integrated with techno-economic modeling to investigate the impact of ash on the required biomass and fuel selling price for economic viability. Capital costs associated with the conversion of biomass to biofuel were found to double as ash content increased from 0% to 70%, correlating to a 21% increase in fuel selling price. Integrating an ash removal step resulted in reduced conversion capital costs. However, only the water wash at 25°C scenario was found to reduce the overall fuel selling price. Operational expenses associated with required waste water treatment, chemical cost associated with the alkaline extraction de-ashing technology, and heating of the microalgae slurry during the de-ashing process were found to significantly increase the overall fuel selling price of the microalgae biofuel.Item Open Access Towards enabling predictive optimal energy management systems for hybrid electric vehicles with real world considerations(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Rabinowitz, Aaron, author; Quinn, Jason, advisor; Bradley, Thomas, advisor; Windom, Bret, committee member; Pasricha, Sudeep, committee memberIn the pursuit of greater vehicle fleet efficiency, Predictive Optimal Energy Management Systems (POEMS) enabled Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) have shown promising theoretical results. In order to enable the practical development of POEMS enabled PHEV technology, if must first be determined what method and what data is needed is for providing optimal predictions. Research performed at Colorado State University and partner institutions in 2019 and 2020 pursued a novel course in considering the widest range of possible data and methods of prediction currently available including a survey of all feasible Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I), Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V), Advance Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and Ego vehicle CAN data streams with classical and novel machine learning methods. Real world vehicle operation data was collected in Fort Collins Colorado, processed, and used in the development of optimal prediction methods. From the results of this research, concrete conclusions on the relative value of V2I, V2V, and ADAS information for prediction, and high fidelity predictions were obtained for 10 second horizons using specialized Artificial Neural Networks.