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At least 415 records · Page 23

Great Basin Ecological Forecasting II: Assessing and Forecasting Live Fuel Moisture Content of Wildfire Fuels for the Eastern Great Basin to Improve Wildfire Timing and Severity Predictions

The eastern Great Basin (EGB) extends throughout the states of Arizona, Colorado,Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, covering approximately 411,000 km2. In recent years, wildfires in the EGB have increased in frequency and size, representing a growing concern for our partners at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the Great Basin Coordination Center (GBCC). Live fuel moisture (LFM) is an important factor in predicting wildfire risk, as dry vegetation requires less energy to combust than wet vegetation. Land managers currently derive LFM levels from just 165 in situ sites in the EGB. In order to provide partners with a more accurate assessment of LFM, the team used data from the National Elevation Dataset, Aqua and Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. These datasets include vegetation indices, evapotranspiration, and topographic variables, which were used to create biweekly forecasts of LFM throughout the EGB. An accuracy assessment was conducted using historical in situ data from our partners at the BLM and the GBCC. This model allowed our partners to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation in response to the predicted timing and severity of wildfires in the EGB.

Ecological Forecasting↗

Great Basin Ecological Forecasting II: Assessing and Forecasting Live Fuel Moisture Content of Wildfire Fuels for the Eastern Great Basin to Improve Wildfire Timing and Severity Predictions

The eastern Great Basin (EGB) extends throughout the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, covering approximately 411,000 sq.km. In recent years, wildfires in the EGB have increased in frequency and size, representing a growing concern for our partners at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the Great Basin Coordination Center (GBCC). Live fuel moisture (LFM) is an important factor in predicting wildfire risk, as dry vegetation requires less energy to combust than wet vegetation. Land managers currently derive LFM levels from just 165 in situ sites in the EGB. In order to provide partners with a more accurate assessment of LFM, the team used data from the National Elevation Dataset, Aqua and Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. These datasets include vegetation indices, evapotranspiration, and topographic variables, which were used to create biweekly forecasts of LFM throughout the EGB. An accuracy assessment was conducted using historical in situ data from our partners at the BLM and the GBCC. This model allowed our partners to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation in response to the predicted timing and severity of wildfires in the EGB.

Ecological Forecasting↗

Characterization of Fuel and Cladding In and Near the Pellet-Pellet Gap of a High-Burnup Pressurized Water Reactor Fuel Rod

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is performing extensive destructive examinations of 15 high-burnup (HBU) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) rods from the North Anna Power Station (NAPS), which is operated by Dominion Energy Virginia [1]. The examinations are being conducted to obtain a baseline condition of the HBU rods before dry storage and are focused on understanding overall SNF rod strength and durability [2,3]. The HBU rods, referred to as sister rods or sibling rods, are similar to rods placed into dry storage at NAPS that are planned to be examined after one decade. The sister rods include several ZIRLO®-clad rods manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Company. One of the ZIRLO®-clad rods examined includes a pellet-pellet gap of 1 mm that was identified during the nondestructive examinations (NDEs) [4]. The rod was sectioned axially at that elevation to reveal the pellet-pellet interfaces and the pellet-pellet gap. The section was mounted and polished to reveal the distribution of hydride precipitates in the cladding above, below, and within the gap [5]. Total cladding hydrogen measurements will be performed to quantify the total cladding hydrogen through the gap and any additional in-solution or precipitated hydrogen in the pellet-pellet gap region

Montgomery, Rose↗

Fuel cell cathode and fuel cell system including a polymeric additive

A cathode configured for use within a fuel cell system is provided. The cathode includes a cathode substrate. The cathode further includes a coating disposed upon the cathode substrate and including a fluorocarbon polymer additive configured for sintering at a temperature of less than 200° C. The fluorocarbon polymer additive may be mixed with a catalyst ink coating or may be applied separately as a topcoat layer.

Ramaswamy, Nagappan↗

Characterization of Fuel and Cladding In and Near the Pellet-Pellet Gap of a High-Burnup Pressurized Water Reactor Fuel Rod

At TopFuel 2021, we reported on metallographic examinations of a high burnup ZIRLO-clad spent fuel rod operated at the North Anna Power Station having a 3-mm gap between pellets at an elevation of ~1,403 mm. The rod was sectioned axially at that elevation to reveal the pellet-pellet interfaces and the pellet-pellet gap. Sections were mounted and polished to reveal the distribution of cladding inner and outer oxide layer thicknesses above, below, and within the gap. Since then, total cladding hydrogen measurements have been performed to quantify the cladding hydrogen content through the gap and above and below the pellet-pellet gap region. This paper provides the cladding hydrogen concentrations and discusses the overall findings regarding cladding waterside oxidation and cladding hydrogen diffusion to a pellet-pellet gap.

Montgomery, Rose↗