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At least 415 records · Page 23

A Transient Reactor Physics Experiment with High-Fidelity, 3-D Flux Measurements for Validation and Verification

This project led to the design and construction of a system of novel micro-pocket fission detectors (MPFDs) and their deployment as part of a series of steady-state and transient experiments at the University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor (UWNR). The data acquired during these experiments is intended for use in validation of reactor-physics models, including those developed as part of the NEAMS Toolkit (e.g., PROTEUS) and others. Part of the work led to a completely new computational model of UWNR based on Python-automated input generation for both MCNP and Serpent, and preliminary efforts have been made to develop a mesh for models in PROTEUS and other deterministic tools.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Basin-Wide Approaches to Hydropower Relicensing: Case Studies and Considerations

This report analyzes basin-wide approaches to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process for non-federal hydropower projects. In the United States there are 1,044 active FERC-licensed hydroelectric projects with a total capacity of 56,103 MW. Of those FERC-licensed hydropower projects, 647 with a total capacity of 21,870 MW have license expiration dates from 2018-2037. FERC anticipates receiving a total of 1,012 hydropower filings for relicense through September 2032. Of those total filings, 551 are expected to be notices of intent for relicense and 461 are expected to be applications for a new license.The expected workload in conjunction with the time, cost, and complexity associated with issuing a single new license has led to initiatives that aim to increase the efficiency of the relicensing process. Federal and state regulators and licensees in states such as California, Maine, New York, and Wisconsin have begun to develop approaches to look at hydropower relicensing as part of a larger system - a river basin. Recognizing the number of hydropower projects within a shared waterway, these basin-wide approaches seek to coordinate different stages of the relicensing process for multiple projects at the same time.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Final Report for Large Scale Laboratory Experiments on Kinetic Magnetic Reconnection

Magnetic reconnection plays a fundamental role in nearly all magnetized plasmas as it enables magnetic energy to be converted into high speed flows, and thermal energy. It allows the magnetic field lines to change topology in collisionless plasmas, and it thereby controls the spatial and temporal evolution of explosive phenomena such as solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and internal disruptions in fusion devices. Because of its strong impact on the plasma dynamics, understanding the physics of magnetic reconnection is one of the most important topics in plasma physics. New frontiers have now emerged in reconnection research with an emphasis on particle energization, reconnection with multiple X-lines in large systems, and the role of kinetic effects in collisionless reconnection. These research topics are closely linked and large scale computer simulations show that 3D effects are likely important to explain the detailed observations of reconnection in solar, interplanetary and magnetospheric plasmas. For experiments to remain relevant in this maturing field of research and help push forward the new frontiers, new devices are needed which access the regimes of large system size and low normalized collisionallity. To address this need, the project the new Terrestrial Reconnection EXperiment (TREX), which is spatially the largest dedicated reconnection experiment constructed to date. With the use of the 3m diameter spherical vacuum vessel of the Madison Plasma Dynamo Experiment (MPDX), the TREX is highly leveraged by earlier NSF investments. MPDX was constructed with funds from NSF's MRI program and is now being operated as a multi-investigator facility, which we name the Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL). The project was carried out mainly by two UW-Madison graduate students, for reconnection in parameter regimes and configurations in TREX not attainable by previous experiments. The implementation of TREX within WiPPL renders the upgraded facility unique in its capabilities to extend the frontiers of experimental reconnection research, including access to reconnection in the collisionless regime at large system sizes and compatible with three-dimensional configurations. The theoretical teams in reconnection research have been given full access to the experimental results. Our experimental results havel allowed us to test existing theoretical models, provide resolution to controversy, and stimulate new understanding of magnetic reconnection. The WiPPAL, with its large basic plasma physics device, is largely operated by graduate and undergraduate students. It has proven an ideal facility for students to become immersed in state of the art research while learning the fundamental principles of plasma physics. The program has also proven effective in attracting new outstanding students into plasma physics and providing them with exciting learning experiences. While our research program and experimental results successfully compete with those of professional scientists at national labs, the most important legacy of our research is, perhaps, the broad training in experimental plasma physics of the large number of students affiliated with our program.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Potential Impacts of Accelerated Climate Change: Third Annual Report of Work

This study is part of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Probabilistic Flood Hazard Assessment (PFHA) research program that aims to develop regulatory tools and guidance to support and enhance the NRC’s capacity to perform thorough and efficient risk-informed reviews of license applications and license amendment requests. The NRC asked Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to prepare a summary of current climate research and results regarding hydrometeorological phenomena that are of interest in safety assessments and environmental impact assessments for commercial nuclear power plants. In Year 1, PNNL staff prepared an annual report that summarized recent scientific findings about global and regional climate change, with a particular focus on climatic elements that are relevant to NRC concerns on a national level (i.e., increasing air and water temperatures, decreasing water availability, increasing frequency and intensity of storms and flooding, and sea-level rise). In Year 2 activities, PNNL staff summarized recent research findings about climate change for the Southeast Region of the United States (i.e., historical and projected changes in air temperature, precipitation, hurricanes, sea-level rise, storm surge, tornadoes, flooding, and low flows). This current report summarizes Year 3 activities, which focused on reviewing region-specific scientific findings about climate change for the Midwest Region. Consistent with the U.S. Global Change Research Program Third National Climate Assessment (NCA3) and the Climate Science Special Report for the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4, Volume I), this report defines the Midwest Region to comprise eight states—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Except for Indiana, the states in the Midwest Region have operating nuclear power plants. Further, new nuclear power reactor permit and license applications have been submitted to the NRC in the recent past for sites located in two midwestern states. Therefore, having an improved understanding of potential climate changes and their hydrologic impacts in the Midwest Region is important to informing the PFHA research program.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Magnetic Optimization of the SST-EPU60 for NSLS-II

The SST-EPU60 is a pure permanent magnet Elliptically Polarized Undulator (EPU) APPLE-II* type developed at Advanced Design Consulting (ADC) for the Synchrotron Radiation Center at University of Wisconsin–Madison [1]. This device was selected to be reused for the Spectroscopy Soft and Tender (SST) beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II). However, due to the more stringent performance requirements of the NSLS-II storage ring, magnetic field tuning was necessary to achieve required specification. This paper reports the details of the SST-EPU60 refurbishment activities including the additional magnetic field measurements and the final results of the magnetic adjustment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Coupling Mechanistically the Convective Motions and Cloud Macrophysics in a Climate Model (Final Technical Report for CM4 Project)

Global climate models fail to adequately represent shallow cumulus conditions. The activities at the University of Texas at Austin focus on deploying advanced statistical approaches to identify linkages between numerical models and observations using the E3SM-Single Column Model (SCM) and different ARM campaigns focused on shallow cumulus conditions at SGP. The current version of the SCM uses CLUBB to represent shallow cumulus. The parameterization represents a significant evolution from older generation parameterizations insofar as it contains a number of prognostic equations that keep track of the turbulent nature of the environment that are carried forward in time. The parameters associated with this scheme address the rate at which different prognostic quantities that determine vertical turbulent fluxes of heat and moisture decay with time. The large number of parameters gives the CLUBB scheme a lot of flexibility. The expectation of its developers is that it should represent any shallowly convective environment. The concern among developers and other theorists was not whether it could represent any one environment, but whether a single judicious choice of parameters would allow it to predict the turbulent characteristics of a range of environments. Through several exhaustive studies that made use of Bayesian statistical calibration, tens of thousands of SCM experiments, and ensembles of observations of shallow cumulus at SGP that were also modeled using Large Eddy Simulations (LES), we have only achieved partial success in using CLUBB within SCM to capture important aspects of what has been observed and modeled with LES at SGP. Even as we worked to improve observational tests and make a more scientifically focused attempt at modifying subsets of CLUBB parameters, model performance continues to be lacking in some important respects. In one calibration, we were able to achieve a near perfect match to observed properties of liquid water path, cloud radiative effects, and cloud fraction but with clouds that were trapped within a shallow layer and without the highly turbulent fluxes and vertical extent observed with ARM data and modeled with LES (Figure 1). The conclusion we are reaching is that shallow cumulus conditions are much more challenging to represent than was previously thought. This result is also prompting us to consider some aspects of the experiment design that may be limiting the performance of SCM in this case. The work has garnered the attention of Vincent Larson (CLUBB developer at Univ. Wisconsin – Milwaukee) and model developers Steven Klein and Yunyan Zhang (LLNL) with whom this work and will continue.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Collaborative Research: Understanding Sheaths and Presheaths in Magnetized and Unmagnetized Plasmas

The common states of matter on Earth are solids, liquids and gases. Putting energy into gases can result in the 4th state of matter known as plasma, which consists of electrically charged particles (electrons and ions, both positive and negative) and neutral atoms and molecules. While uncommon on the Earth, plasma makes up more than 99% of the visible matter in the universe. Where plasma comes in contact with material boundaries, a thin region near the plasma boundary usually forms to isolate the plasma from the boundary. This thin region is called the plasma sheath. Experiments performed under aimed at improving our understanding of plasma sheaths and associated phenomena as fundamental to understanding all bounded plasmas. Plasma studied in this work are similar to those used in plasma applications such as the etching of semiconducting materials to make computer chips, in plasma space propulsion satellite engines, and used in experimental plasma fusion devices. The majority of experimental studies were carried out at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in close collaboration with Dr. Severn at the University of San Diego (USD), where most of diagnostic development for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements were carried out. USD is primarily an undergraduate institution. The award made possible outreach activities that promoted engagement of undergraduate students with diverse backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Modeling Impacts of Resilience Architectures for Extreme-Scale Storage Systems

The Scientific Modeling and Simulation of Storage project focused on improving our ability to store information reliably. The project, done jointly at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Los Alamos National Laboratories, and Sandia National Laboratories, had the main goal of transforming the art of reliable storage system construction into a more precise science. Along those lines, the project developed numerous tools to expose problems in existing systems; these tools, when applied to the state of the art, uncovered numerous flaws in existing approaches, showing that they both are error prone and in some cases contain serious design flaws. The project also led to the creation of new approaches in reliable system construction. One such approach shows how a storage system can adapt its behavior on the fly to deliver higher performance when there are few underlying failures, but then act more conservatively when more failures are occurring to ensure the safe storage of user data. Another approach develops a storage system consistency model which both delivers high performance but high levels of reliability, a significant advance over previous approaches. Overall, the tools developed within the project advanced the science of reliable storage design, and the new approaches that resulted advanced the science of storage system construction.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Integrated Data Analysis to Improve Te and Zeff Measurement on NSTX-U

The multi-energy soft x-ray (ME-SXR) camera is a new concept for a fusion plasma diagnostic based on a pixelated detector with adjustable photon cutoff thresholds. It is a single, compact, solid-state detector which combines spatial and spectral sensitivity and can be configured remotely at run time, making it ideal for a fusion environment. The detector can be configured for application to a wide range of physics problems including impurity transport, electron temperature profiles, and non-thermal effects. The detector has been installed on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) as part of a collaboration between Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin–Madison to develop the technology and analysis techniques. A full diagnostic forward model of the ME-SXR diagnostic has been developed to enable analysis of the raw photon count data. This model incorporates the atomic physics underlying the plasma emission, diagnostic geometry, and detector response characteristics. Employing this model, a Bayesian analysis approach is used to extract electron temperature from the raw data. This analysis approach uses all available information, clearly quantifies prior information, and handles uncertainties transparently. The ME-SXR camera is being used to study the 3D (helical, stellarator-like) state that forms in the MST device. This helical core structure has improved energy confinement. The transition to the helical state is accompanied by a rise in electron temperature in the central part of the helical structure, but then this enhancement fluctuates. The characteristics of this fluctuation are being compared to a magneto-hydrodynamics model.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Reversed Field Pinch Research in MST (Final Technical Report)

This is the Final Technical Report for the cooperative agreement DE-FC02-05ER54814 titled “Reversed Field Pinch Research in MST” spanning the funding period 4/1/2005 to 12/14/2019. It summarizes key results from MST research, major publications and presentations, and the mentoring of graduate students and postdocs. The Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) is unique within the U.S. and world fusion plasma program. As one of just five operating reversed field pinch (RFP) experiments, and the only one in the U.S., MST has had an important role in advancing the fundamental understanding of the RFP plasma configuration. The MST research program targets topics that intersect with all three goals. While MST provides a unique opportunity to advance the science and fusion potential of the RFP, as a cousin to the tokamak and stellarator plasma configurations the RFP is a valuable partner in establishing validated predictive capability for fusion science more generally. Specific combinations of the major variables in toroidal confinement, like magnetic field strength, plasma current, and shaping, define the different configurations. By exploring adjacent regions in this major variable parameter space, the RFP exposes dependencies not otherwise accessible in the tokamak and stellarator. This diversity enlarges the arena for scientific discovery, both for fusion and plasma physics. The basic science emphasis for MST research has been the self-organizing behavior of RFP plasmas. This inspired MST’s participation in the NSF Physics Frontier Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas (CMSO), which ran from 2004-2016 and motivated a substantial fraction of MST’s research goals and capabilities. By all measures the MST Program has been remarkably successful in publications, community engagement, and mentoring of young scientists. While the DOE-FES’s proof-of-principle program for the RFP now languishes through the cessation of this cooperative agreement, operation of MST continues as one of two devices included in the new Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL) basic science user facility. The scope of present research for MST in WiPPL is narrowed to the basic science associated with the RFP magnetic configuration and the advancement of specific fusion topics, which now includes studies of disruptions in tokamak plasmas. The world’s effort in RFP fusion research continues, despite a lack of U.S. federal support to investigate the RFP configuration for fusion application, most notably through a major upgrade to the RFX-mod2 facility in Italy [1] and the recent construction of the KTX facility at USTC in China. First plasmas for RFX-mod2 are anticipated in 2021.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

SIMS Analysis of d18O and d13C of Carbonate Cements in Shale & Mudstone. Final report

This project has had two primary goals: 1) improving new technology for in situ microanalysis of stable isotope ratios by SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) and 2) evaluating the importance of in situ analysis for studies of carbonate cements within shales of the Bakken Petroleum System. The systematic relations of stable isotope ratios provide an important tool to help resolve critical questions in geology. Stable isotope analysis of carbonate cements in shale constrain many topics of interest to DOE including: CO2 sequestration, climate change, and the genesis and quality of rock reservoirs for petroleum, natural gas, and water. However, this evidence is often preserved as fine-scale zonation, which is homogenized by conventional bulk analysis of powders. Recently, analysis of ultra-small spots in polished samples at the University of Wisconsin WiscSIMS Lab. has documented stable isotope zoning in carbonates and other diagenetic cements at smaller scales than previously possible. We have made detailed studies of oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in diagenetic cements from shales of the Bakken Formation from the Williston basin and elsewhere. The Bakken contains both reservoir and source rocks for petroleum. Hydrofracturing has greatly enhanced production of oil in these tight reservoirs. The sediments contain zoned carbonate cements with growth textures that record multiple events. The growth of carbonate (dolomite) cements has been proposed to control reservoir quality, but previous stable isotope studies of homogenized powders could not resolve individual generations of cement and this proposal remains untested. Our better characterization of the multiple growth zones in these carbonates will aid in understanding the genesis of these tight reservoirs and the production of unconventional oil and gas. This study has also developed SIMS standards for analysis of all compositions of Ca-Mg-Fe carbonate and selected Mn-carbonates and hydromagnesite. We have refined techniques for improved accuracy of SIMS stable isotope analysis, and for sub-1-micron spot sizes. We have established protocols for mapping and correlating sample analyses at micron-scale using QGIS software.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗

Novel Homogeneous Electrocatalysts for the Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

This project funded a broad range of fundamental studies in the research labs of Prof. John Berry at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The overall goals of this research are to identify and explore promising new fundamental chemistry of metal-metal bonded coordination compounds in catalysis, with a particular focus on exploring the technologies needed for the transition to a nitrogen economy. We focus on two key technologies for this overall goal: Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and water, and Electrochemical ammonia oxidation to produce nitrogen. Ammonia is the most hydrogen-rich material known aside from hydrogen itself, and is therefore an ideal fuel unit. Currently, ammonia synthesis uses significant fossil fuel inputs, has a large carbon footprint, and is performed in large, centralized facilities, mandating the exploration of carbon-neutral approaches that can be done in a distributable manner so that ammonia transportation does not pose a bottleneck. Our work towards these goals is organized as follows: Goal 1: Synthesis and characterization of new catalysts and N2RR intermediates; Goal 2: Thermodynamic investigations of all catalysts and intermediates; Goal 3: Exploration of the electrocatalytic N¬2RR using new catalysts. We additionally made progress toward a related Goal 4: Exploration of new types of catalysts with other, cheaper transition metals. We had a major setback in year 1 of the grant due to the student driving this project (Tristan Brown) contracting an incurable disease that made it impossible for him to perform lab work. Tristan transitioned to a computational chemistry project and was subsequently able to complete his PhD.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Production of Radiohalogens: Bromine and Astatine for Imaging and Therapy

Over the course of this two year grant, we have developed and optimized new methods for the production of clinical quality 76 Br, 77 Br, and 80m Br at the University of Wisconsin. This includes the synthesis of a novel isotopically enriched cobalt-selenium intermetallic compound, its fabrication into robust cyclotron targets, and the chemical isolation of the resulting bromine radionuclide. Compared with the previous state-of-the-art, these methods demonstrate a six-times larger 76 Br and three-times larger 77 Br production capacity for a 3-hour cyclotron irradiation. Additionally, the cyclotron targets are exceptionally robust to this process, allowing for their reuse for dozens of radiobromine productions.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Midwest EVOLVE (Midwest Electric Vehicle Opportunities: Learning, eVents, Experience)

The Midwest Electric Vehicle Opportunities: Learning, eVents, Experience (Midwest EVOLVE) project was a 45 month, seven-state effort to introduce electric vehicles to the public, workplaces, corporate fleets and auto dealership staff. Midwest EVOLVE projects were planned and completed in the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The project was coordinated by the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest (ALAUM), dba Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition (TC4).

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Estimating Surface Solar Irradiance Using Meteosat-8 Satellite for India and Surrounding Regions (2017-2019)

Using the Physical Solar Model, Version 3 (PSM V3), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory—in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Solar Consulting Services—produced modeled surface solar irradiance based on Meteosat-8 satellite cloud information. PSM V3 implements a physics-based radiative transfer approach to model surface solar irradiance using cloud properties processed from raw satellite data and ancillary data such as aerosol optical depth and precipitable water vapor from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2). Further, the modeled surface solar irradiance was validated using 10 high-quality ground measurement data from the Baseline Surface Radiation Network. The modeled data showed good correlation with the ground measurement, and the overall uncertainty is less than 35% for all validation locations. Because of the satellite viewing geometry, the Indian and European locations demonstrated higher uncertainties than the African locations, where the Meteosat-8 satellite has a more nadir viewing geometry. Further, instruction on how to access the data is provided.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Advancements Toward ASME Nuclear Code Case for Compact Heat Exchangers

Our research team proposes to advance the state of the ASME section III code (nuclear service) for Compact Heat Exchangers (CHX). This work will improve the technical state of CHXs and lay the foundation necessary for these heat exchangers to be certified for use in nuclear service. During the course of this work, we will advance the understanding of the performance, integrity, and lifetime of the CHXs for use in any industrial application, making their use more attractive and accessible to the industry. We will do this by developing qualification and inspection procedures that utilize Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and advanced in-service inspection techniques, with insight from the industrial utility leader EPRI. We have enlisted colleagues at MPR Associates (MPR), an elite nuclear code consulting firm, who are experts on the ASME section III code and who, with input from members of the ASME section III committee, will direct the testing and help develop a series of documents that define the rules and regulations for use of the CHX. Colleagues at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Oregon State University (OSU) will conduct extensive tensile, creep, and fatigue experiments on diffusion bonded samples (manufactured by US-based Vacuum Process engineering) along with modeling using the elastic perfectly plastic assumptions and comprehensive full inelastic finite element analysis (FEA). This work will allow analysis by design and confidence in the strength of different internal structures. To ensure industry acceptance and long term confidence, team members at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW), University of Michigan (UM), Georgia Tech (GT), and the University of Idaho (UI) will extensively test prototypic heat exchangers manufactured by US-based manufactures CompRex and Vacuum Process Engineering (VPE), a leader in the development of advanced CHX. This testing will include the use of various working fluids (salt, sodium, helium, and sCO2) to evaluate operational issues as well as structural integrity under the most severe conditions. Post-test analysis of the tested CHXs coupled with pre/in-service/post NDE (ultrasonic and radiography) led by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will be incorporated into the development of the rules and regulations for their use in nuclear service.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Deferred Payment Loans for Energy Efficiency: Case Study of a Low- and Moderate-Income Home Improvement Financing Model and Potential Application to Energy Efficiency Projects

Energy efficiency can provide important benefits for low- and moderate-income households such as lower utility bills and healthier, more comfortable homes, but the upfront costs of efficiency improvements are often a barrier. Extending financing to these households can help overcome this barrier but presents its own challenges, including the financial burden of monthly payments and the risk of incurring the repercussions of nonpayment. The deferred payment loan model can give low- and moderate-income households access to energy efficiency without the financial burden of monthly payments while mitigating the risk of nonpayment. From a program sponsor perspective, when grant funds are limited or unavailable, the model provides certain advantages of both grants and financing. Like a grant, target recipients have minimal risk, but like a loan, funds can serve multiple participants since the funding can be revolved. Organizations in several parts of the country have employed the model to provide safe, healthy homes by paying for home repair and home improvement. This case study provides a detailed overview of the deferred payment loan program for home improvements known as the Home Repair Program run by the Opportunity Council, a Community Action Agency (CAA) serving three counties in Washington State. This case study also considers two other CAA-administered deferred payment loan programs – one in Wisconsin and another in Michigan.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗