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At least 37 records · Page 2

Online and Offline Data Quality Monitoring for the Mu2e Calorimeter

This thesis presents the design, implementation, and validation of a calorimeter Data Quality Monitoring (DQM) toolchain for the Mu2e experiment at Fermilab. Mu2e searches for charged lepton flavor violation via coherent muon-to-electron conversion in the field of an aluminum nucleus, $\mu^- Al \rightarrow e^-Al$, a process whose observation would constitute clear evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. Achieving target sensitivity requires stringent control of detector performance and data integrity during acquisition, as subtle issues in readout configuration, data formatting, or electronics behavior can compromise reconstruction and bias downstream analyzes. To address these challenges, this work develops a multi-layer DQM approach spanning both raw data validation and reconstructed digi-level diagnostics. At the low level, a fragment analysis component performs word- and bit-field decoding of calorimeter readout blocks, enabling sanity checks of the expected structure and producing detailed error and integrity statistics useful for commissioning and troubleshooting. At the digi level, the CaloDigiDQM analyzer is implemented within the art framework and transforms each CaloDigiCollection into a structured hierarchy of ROOT histograms designed for fast drill-down diagnostics. The module generates coherent monitoring views at global, disk, board, and channel granularity, including occupancy, waveform-derived features (baseline, RMS, peak amplitude and position), and left-right sensor consistency metrics. Detector-aware channel-to-electronics mapping is performed through the conditions system (CaloDAQMap), ensuring that diagnostics remain aligned with hardware identifiers used in operations. For end-to-end testing without reliance on live DAQ data, a synthetic CaloDigi producer is developed to generate realistic waveforms with controlled noise and pulse shapes. The resulting system supports both offline ROOT-file production and online operation, including optional histogram streaming through otsdaq via ots::HistoSender. This toolchain provides a practical and scalable foundation for calorimeter commissioning and stable data collection, enabling early detection of anomalies and reducing operational risk for Mu2e.

Vakulenko, Mark [Drew U.] (ORCID:0009000276197818)

Assessment of Heavy-Duty Fueling Methods and Components-Modeling and Analysis

The goal of the Assessment of Heavy-Duty Fueling Methods and Components project was to comprehensively assess heavy-duty (HD) fuel cell electric vehicle fueling protocols and their effects on techno-economic assessments (TEA) and total cost of ownership (TCO). The project leveraged and built upon ongoing international HD fueling protocols and fueling component development activities to deliver component performance assessments, modeling tools and methods evaluations, TEA of industry-selected protocol structures, and experimental validations of the strategies at the station scale. The effects of the protocols on the fueling times, station costs, and TCO were explored. Fueling time, which was influenced by temperature and protocol selection, had a large impact on the station cost due to component sizing and satisfying hourly demand. As the fleet size increased, the station cost was shown to exponentially decrease by achieving economies of scale. Technology year and fuel economy were the largest contributors to the TCO; however, the choice of fueling protocol had a minor impact on the TCO.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Development and Evaluation of a Novel Fuel Injector Design Method using Hybrid-Additive Manufacturing (Final Report)

The widespread application of metal additive manufacturing (AM) technologies has enabled exploration of complex design spaces to achieve optimally performing components. Current optimization techniques make use of several advanced methods to provide designs that are superior to existing versions. However, they seldom discuss the manufacturability of the optimal designs. The objective of this project was to develop a design optimization tool that simultaneously optimizes fuel injector hardware and the combustor flow field with optimization functions and constraints that consider both combustor performance and manufacturability using advanced AM methods and post-processing. In this way, the resultant hardware design is inherently imbued with our most advanced knowledge of combustion physics and AM methods from its conception.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Vehicle Technologies Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment Topic 5 Natural Gas Engine Enabling Technologies

A 10 liter natural gas engine has been developed with significant improvements in efficiency while maintaining ultra low NOx emissions and meeting all other EPA criteria emissions limits. This was accomplished through design and analysis of performance components specifically for operation with natural gas in contrast to current production engines which are a minimally modified diesel engine that retain most diesel design features including a flat deck swirl head. The architecture developed here includes a pent roof cylinder head with tumble charge motion and cooling passages specifically optimized for effective cooling around the spark plug and valve bridges. Also in contrast to current production natural gas engines, EGR was not used, in part to avoid the initial cost and warranty expense associated with EGR systems, but also for performance benefits of faster combustion, reduced risk of misfire and high open cycle efficiency due to the turbocharger’s ability to extract energy from the high temperature exhaust. The exhaust manifold uses high temperature material and thermal mechanical fatigue analysis was completed to ensure the ability to withstand high exhaust temperatures without EGR. Other features include dual overhead cam with late intake valve closing Miller cycle and 14:1 compression ratio steel pistons. Low NOx emissions are achieved with stoichiometric combustion and application of a close coupled plus underfloor three way catalysts. The program target of peak brake thermal efficiency of 42% has been demonstrated along with bsNOx of 0.02 g/hp-hr over HD-FTP and RMCSET emissions cycles.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS

CMB-PAInT: An inpainting tool for the cosmic microwave background

Abstract The presence of astrophysical emissions in microwave observations forces us to perform component separation to extract the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) signal. However, even in the most optimistic cases, there are still strongly contaminated regions, such as the Galactic plane or those with emission from extragalactic point sources, which require the use of a mask. Since many CMB analyses, especially the ones working in harmonic space, need the whole sky map, it is crucial to develop a reliable inpainting algorithm that replaces the values of the excluded pixels by others statistically compatible with the rest of the sky. This is especially important when working withQandUsky maps in order to obtainE- andB-mode maps which are free fromE-to-Bleakage. In this work we study a method based on Gaussian Constrained Realizations (GCR), that can deal with both intensity and polarization. Several tests have been performed to asses the validation of the method, including the study of the one-dimensional probability distribution function (1-PDF),E- andB-mode map reconstruction, and power spectra estimation. We have considered two scenarios for the input simulation: one case with only CMB signal and a second one including also Planck PR4 semi-realistic noise. Even if we are limited to low resolution maps, N side = 64 ifT,QandUare considered, we believe that this is a useful approach to be applied to future missions such as LiteBIRD, where the target are the largest scales.

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Mesoporous Thin Film Architectures: Addressing Material Demands through Molecular Self-Assembly

Mesoporous thin films spark interest across a wide range of disciplines due to their tunable nanostructures, large internal surface areas, and strong compatibility with planar optical, electronic, and microfluidic devices. While attention in the porous materials community has shifted toward macroporous or disordered nanoporous systems, a resurgence in mesoporous thin film research is underway, driven by new molecular self-assembly methods, advanced materials chemistry, and improved characterization techniques. The integration of high-χN block copolymer design, kinetically persistent micelle templating, and postdeposition processing protocols now allows control over structural parameters such as pore size, wall thickness, porosity, and connectivity. These advances have overcome many of the thermodynamic and processing constraints that previously limited widespread adoption. Rather than serving only as high-surface-area supports, mesoporous thin films are engineered as active interfaces where responsive chemistries and nanoscale confinement act in tandem. Embedding switchable ligands, thermoresponsive polymers, redox mediators, or ion-selective groups directly within the pore walls enables real-time control over transport, optical, and electrochemical properties. These capabilities open up new directions in adaptive coatings, gated membranes, and fast-response biosensors. To further expand their functional scope, mesoporous films are integrated into hierarchical and multicomponent architectures. Techniques such as triblock terpolymer templating, crack-directed assembly, and nanoimprint lithography allow for control over spatial organization on the micron and submicron scale and pore system orientation. This enables programmable anisotropy, enhanced molecular diffusion, and wavelength-selective photonic behavior, essential for next-generation sensing, catalysis, and energy applications. Such structural and functional complexity requires equally sophisticated characterization. Multimodal and in situ techniques can track material dynamics under operational conditions. Recent progress includes extended-range ellipsometric porosimetry (EP) for hierarchical architectures, vacuum EP for interface energetics, time-resolved EP for diffusion kinetics, and correlative AFM-SAXS mapping. The introduction of advanced neutron-based spectroscopies, particularly quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS), promises to provide real-time access to ion transport dynamics and segmental motion under nanoscale confinement, offering a path toward deeper mechanistic understanding of structure-performance correlations in mesoporous systems. This Account reflects the technical advances made and the interdisciplinary collaborations that have shaped our collective vision. The particular dimensions of mesopores enable us to subtly tune interactions at the molecular, interfacial, and mesoscopic levels that permit us to harness nanoconfinement. What emerges is a versatile, modular platform capable of chemical gating, energy transduction, and sensing with a level of tunability unmatched by other porous materials. We highlight critical challenges including the need for more robust large-area processing, a deeper understanding of dynamic behavior under cycling, and better integration with device-level architectures. Our strategies support the transition of mesoporous thin films into active high-performance components in next-generation energy, environmental, and biomedical systems.

oxides

Design Assessment of Brayton Cycles for Combined Heat and Power from Nuclear Power Plants

Brayton cycles (BCs) are gaining renewed interest for use in high-temperature nuclear reactors for power production. This study explores the potential of nuclear Brayton systems in industrial combined heat and power (CHP) production. After a review of the historical deployment and technical development of BC systems for nuclear and cogeneration applications several BCs in CHP configurations are assessed when applied to representative high-temperature reactor types. The analysis emphasizes process heat delivery options, electrical efficiency, and component performance for the case of a direct cycle—Helium BC in a high temperature gas reactor, and an open-air Brayton cycle with a high temperature gas reactor. The results highlight thermodynamic trade-offs in cogeneration operation, particularly in recuperated configurations, and compare BC-based CHP with conventional Rankine cycle (RC) performance. Key findings suggest Helium BCs offer viable CHP performance primarily at lower process heat temperatures, with open air cycles being less efficient. The work also demonstrates trade-off between CHP performance and power production performance with a detailed comparison to where steam RC has better performance. The work is designed to be used as a reference work when cogeneration is proposed from high temperature reactors alongside the use of BCs.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS

U.S. Efforts in Support of Examinations at Fukushima Daiichi - September 2024 Meeting Notes

Information obtained from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (Daiichi) is required to inform future Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) activities, improving the ability of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Incorporated (TEPCO Holdings) to characterize potential hazards and to ensure the safety of workers involved with cleanup activities. This information also has important implications for the safety and operation of U.S. Commercial nuclear power plants. A collaborative U.S. and Japanese effort was initiated in 2014 by the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy to identify Daiichi examination needs and evaluate recent Daiichi examination data to address these needs. This document summarizes information presented at and findings, action items, and recommendations by U.S. and Japanese experts in reactor safety and plant operations during the September 2024 Forensics Effort meeting. Significant safety insights were obtained in several areas: system and component performance, radionuclide surveys and sampling, debris end-state location, combustible gas effects, and plant operations and maintenance. In addition to reducing uncertainties and knowledge gaps in severe accident modeling progression, these insights continue to be used to assess whether additional updates are needed in guidance for severe accident prevention, mitigation, and emergency planning. Furthermore, Daiichi-related activities, such as code modeling improvements and analysis, testing, and new technology deployment efforts, have the potential to offer additional safety and economic benefits to the operating fleet and new light water reactor (LWR) and non-LWR designs.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W

Assessment of Heavy-Duty Fueling Methods and Components

Chevron, NLR, ANL, and NextEnergy partnered in the development of a comprehensive assessment of heavy-duty (HD) fuel cell electric vehicle fueling protocols. The project leveraged and built upon existing international heavy-duty (HD) fueling protocols and fueling component development activities to deliver component performance assessments, modeling tools and methods evaluations, techno-economic assessments of industry-selected protocol structures and experimental validations of the strategies performed at NLR's HD hydrogen fueling station.

08 HYDROGEN

NRC Reactor Operating Experience Analysis and Trend Summary: 2024 Update

This report presents a summary of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) reactor operating experience analyses with data through 2024 as well as the reliability and frequency trends identified in the 2024 update reports for the component performance studies, loss-of-offsite power analysis, initiating events analysis, and system studies provided on the NRC Reactor Operating Experience Results and Databases website (https://nrcoe.inl.gov/).

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS

Preliminary Plan to Inform Testing of a Heat Exchanger Test Article

This report presents a preliminary plan to guide the qualification testing of advanced heat exchanger (HX) components for nuclear-to-industrial heat transfer applications. The objective is to establish a defensible, physics-based methodology that integrates computational modeling, targeted experimentation, and in-service inspection considerations to demonstrate component performance and reliability under representative reactor conditions. The analysis identifies Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) and High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) systems as reference configurations in terms of temperature, pressure, and chemical environment. Within these operating envelopes, dominant degradation mechanisms— including creep–fatigue interaction, flow-induced vibration, corrosion, and diffusion-bond deterioration—were evaluated to define test requirements. A comprehensive computationalexperimental framework is proposed to support life prediction and qualification activities. The framework couples high-fidelity structural-mechanics, thermal-hydraulic, and fluid-structure interaction models with accelerated degradation testing to produce a traceable linkage between microstructural evolution, mechanical performance, and remaining useful life (RUL). The approach adheres to established Verification, Validation, and Uncertainty Quantification (VVUQ) standards (ASME V&V 10/20; NUREG-2152) and incorporates a digital-twin architecture for continuous model refinement through data assimilation. The plan further outlines testing methodologies, including pre-test analyses, test-loop design parameters, and sensor placement strategies that maximize information yield while maintaining mechanistic fidelity. Complementary sections describe in-service inspection (ISI), on-line monitoring (OLM), and structural-health-monitoring (SHM) techniques applicable to compact HX geometries typical of advanced reactors. Collectively, these activities establish the technical foundation for demonstrating 40-60-year equivalent service life of advanced heat exchangers in support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor and Integrated Energy Systems programs. The forthcoming phase will execute the defined pre-test analyses, initiate hardware fabrication, and implement the integrated testing campaign to validate the proposed qualification methodology.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS

SULI Report - Development of a Molten Salt Circulation Loop for in-situ Spectroscopy

This project supports the development of real time optical monitoring capabilities for molten salt reactor (MSR) environments by designing, testing, and refining a molten salt circulation loop suitable for combined laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and ultraviolet visible (UV Vis) absorption measurements. Online spectroscopic monitoring is increasingly important for nuclear safeguards, corrosion tracking, and material accountancy, yet MSR process fluids present substantial challenges due to their chemical complexity and hazards such as high temperatures and radiation. To address these needs, this work focuses on Phase I, the development of a room temperature aqueous circulation loop that serves as a surrogate platform for evaluating flow behavior, optical access, and component performance prior to high temperature salt operation. Initial testing identified several practical issues—including leaks, obstructions, and two-phase flow through the absorption cell—that were systematically resolved through hardware replacement, flow path redesign, and venturi pressure optimization. Relocating the flow cell upstream of the primary venturi enabled periods of stable single-phase flow, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating optical diagnostics into a circulation system. The results of Phase I provide essential design insight for Phase II, which will incorporate furnace compatible materials and LiCl KCl eutectic salt. Completion of the molten salt system will deliver a reusable testbed for evaluating multimodal spectroscopic techniques, advancing nondestructive, real time monitoring tools for future MSR and nuclear fuel cycle applications.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL

Machine Learning for Additive Manufacturing of Functionally Graded Materials

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a transformative manufacturing technology enabling direct fabrication of complex parts layer-by-layer from 3D modeling data. Among AM applications, the fabrication of Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) has significant importance due to the potential to enhance component performance across several industries. FGMs are manufactured with a gradient composition transition between dissimilar materials, enabling the design of new materials with location-dependent mechanical and physical properties. This study presents a comprehensive review of published literature pertaining to the implementation of Machine Learning (ML) techniques in AM, with an emphasis on ML-based methods for optimizing FGMs fabrication processes. Through an extensive survey of the literature, this review article explores the role of ML in addressing the inherent challenges in FGMs fabrication and encompasses parameter optimization, defect detection, and real-time monitoring. The article also provides a discussion of future research directions and challenges in employing ML-based methods in the AM fabrication of FGMs.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE

From Machine Learning to Machine Reasoning: A Model-based Approach to Analyze Equipment Reliability Data

In current nuclear power plants (NPPs) a large amount of condition-based data which can be used to assess and monitor component health and performance. Assessing component health from such data can be performed with a large variety of methods. While the analysis of numeric data can be performed with several methods, the extraction of information from textual data remains a challenge. Currently employed natural language processing (NLP) methods do not really provide quantitative information that might be contained in IRs. In addition, the integration of numeric and textual data to identify possible causal relationships between data elements is still an unresolved challenge. This paper presents an approach to extract information from textual (e.g., incident or maintenance reports) and numeric data that relies on model based system engineer (MBSE) models. MBSE are diagrams designed to represent system and component dependencies (from both a form and functional point of view). In our approach, MBSE models emulate system engineer knowledge about component/system architecture. NLP methods are employed to perform syntactic and semantic analyses. Syntactic analysis analyzes the grammatical structure of a sentence while semantic analysis is designed to analyze the logic structure of a sentence. An innovative element of our approach is that semantic analysis uses MBSE models to identify links between textual elements. Similarly, numeric data is directly linked to elements of the MBSE models in order to map which functions are being monitored.

97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING

Testing of Participant's Power Electronics Component for Circuit Performance and Efficiency (CRADA Final Report)

The "Solar SEED Smart Controller is a charge control device to condition solar power to load voltage with or without Battery (also called a "DC Power Platform") invented by David Gibbs and T4D Labs Inc. T4D Inc. and the SEED Smart Controller invention were selected for American Made Challenges Solar Prize, which includes voucher for NREL to provide technical assistance.

14 SOLAR ENERGY

A Computational Tool Compatible with NEAMS Code Packages for Optimizing the Shape of Nuclear Reactor Components and of Whole Core Performance

We designed and implemented a shape optimization tool that functions with NEAMS codes, and that nuclear scientists and engineers can employ to optimize the shape of individual components and the whole core under the applicable single- or multi-physics model comprising the employed code(s). The shape-optimization tool enables varying the geometric shape itself as well as its dimensions to yield, potentially, new component designs that are not limited by the designer’s intuition and previous experience. In cases where the optimal-shape object is an individual component, we provide the capability for additional verification that the whole-core performance using the optimized component performs better, under the prescribed optimization criteria, than the initial design. Our shape-optimization tool couples to NEAMS codes via a flexible input- composer interface and enables the user to constrain the shape’s evolution to ensure the component’s manufacturability. Finally, we demonstrate our shape-optimization tool with single- and multi-physics NEAMS codes. This objective is motivated by the recent advances in manufacturing technology that, combined with rising interest in novel reactor concepts, are creating new opportunities for innovation in the design of individual components that affect the performance of the full reactor system. In particular, Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables mass production of highly precise, intricate and complex component shapes that are not feasible with traditional manufacturing techniques. To accomplish this goal we developed and implemented in MOOSE: (1) discrete shape optimization capability based on a state-space search that uses Artificial Intelligence strategies to find the optimal state/shape; (2) smooth shape optimization tool that employs PETSc’s toolkit for advanced optimization (TAO) to optimize node-displacement of the components’ model sidesets; (3) hierarchical core optimization workflow that recognizes the repeating patterns typical in a nuclear reactor and performs the optimization one level at a time with increasing length scale. Each of these tools is equipped with user-specified constraints to avoid optimal shapes that are not manufacturable. The developed shape optimization tool is verified and demonstrated on various nuclear reactor core components and models. The optimization process accounts for tightly coupled physics that govern the behavior of these target reactors, and exercises several NEAMS codes in a coupled multiphysics fashion. The impact of the delivered shape optimization tool will materialize in the optimal design, from the outset, of advanced reactors currently contemplated to regain the US’s leadership in nuclear energy R&D. Novel reactor concepts, e.g. Molten Salt Reactors, and sizes/capacities, e.g. micro- reactors, provide a unique opportunity to optimize performance from the early stages of development, before the investment in components’ production lines, validation experiments, and licensing regimes make future improvements in performance prohibitively expensive and force sub-optimal performance on the affected reactor concept in perpetuity. This benefit will be realized by the delivered shape optimization tool regardless of the applicable manufacturing process whether traditional or AM, thereby broadening the impact of this project on current and future reactor concepts and technologies

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS

Performance of the spin-component-scaled methods for energy bands

The performance of various spin-component-scaled parameterisations is examined for the second-order many-body Green's-function [MBGF(2)] calculations of valence energy bands, taking three of the experimentally well-characterised polymers as examples: polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and polyacetylene. The parameterisations considered are Grimme's original SCS parameter set, Jung et al.'s original SOS set (retaining the opposite-spin component only), Śmiga et al.'s SCS(IP) set (calibrated specifically for ionization energies), and Śmiga et al.'s SOS(IP) set (calibrated for ionization energies with the opposite-spin component only; implicit in the os-D2 model of Opoku et al.). The SCS(IP) and SOS(IP) parameterisations are found to shift both outer and inner valence bands by up to a few electronvolts away from the experimental data. The original SCS and SOS parameter sets do not improve upon, but largely maintain the accuracy of the unscaled MBGF(2) methods. Given that the SOS-MBGF(2) method can be implemented in a quartic-scaling algorithm (for all roots), it is most promising for solid-state applications. Furthermore this observation is consistent with the success of the quartic-scaling GW methods without the vertex correction based on a density-functional theory reference.

Green’s-function theory

Force-triggered, Bio-based, Sealants for Prefabricated Building Components: Towards Improved Efficiency, Performance and Sustainability

The prefabricated building construction industry has made extensive progress in expediting the manufacture of prefabricated components at offsite plants. However, this progress has not translated to the assembly of the prefabricated components at the construction site. Case in point, sealing the joints between components to prevent air leaks requires the manual application of tape, caulk, or spray foam at the jobsite, and performance is highly dependent on the skills of the installer. To reduce assembly time and improve the airtightness and waterproofness of prefabricated components, we developed a sealant that can be installed at the plant and have its curing reaction triggered at the jobsite. Additionally, we used this opportunity to explore the use of bio-based feedstocks that are abundant and not used for food. We evaluated a series of force-triggered, bio-based, high strength, and fast curing sealants, consisting of a one-part heterogeneous system. These sealants are derived from formulations with ≥80% of bio-based components, consisting of a cardanol derived diepoxy that is microencapsulated in a polymer shell and embedded in a cardanol derived amine curing agent. The microcapsule shell allows separation of the reactive species in the one-part sealant allowing a fast-curing system to remain unreacted until the right trigger is applied. When the microcapsules are activated and broken by force, the highly reactive species mix and cure, exhibiting peel strengths up to 143 ppi. The open-air shelf stability of the sealant complexes was demonstrated by peel strength values of ~16 ppi when triggering the curing reaction even after being exposed for 8 months to open air and humidity. The successful on-demand triggering of curing reactions and the shelf stability provide efficacy of these force-triggered sealants for installation on prefabricated components, storage for months prior to delivery, and assembly at the jobsite. These force-triggered bio-based sealants for prefabricated buildings could result in lower installation time and cost as well as better performance than tapes and caulks at the jobsite.

Cortes Guzman, Karen [ORNL] (ORCID:000000028793468