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At least 451 records · Page 25

Radio Frequency Field Programable Gate Array Implementation of Reflectometry Cable Monitoring

This document describes the development of a field programable gate array (FPGA) radio frequency system on a chip (RF SoC) adaptation and evaluation of the single-board device to perform both Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) and Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) for offline and online cable testing. The work builds on and leverages the work of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in airport millimeter wave technology by using the same development hardware employed in that program. The work is performed under sponsorship from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program and the task objective is to confirm and demonstrate feasibility to adapt FPGA technology for a cost-effective multiplexed single-board electronic module to perform cable tests that are equivalent to commercial and laboratory test instruments for FDR and SSTDR cable tests. The developed 2-channel (extendable to 7 channels) system was compared to dedicated and proven test instruments and shown to produce equivalent results on a range of cables and with a range of damage types. The FPGA reflectometry test board is one of several technologies that could facilitate implementation of online monitoring of safety critical cable systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗

FERC order 2222 & DER policy and implementation report: May 2025

FERC and several states took action on distributed energy resource (DER) policy, the implementation of virtual power plants (VPPs), and FERC Order 2222 in the last several months. A summary of the actions is listed below.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Data Management for Digital Twin Implementation: Enhancing Existing SCADA Architecture for INL's CITRC Test Distribution System

The United States power grid will continue to experience stress from aging infrastructure, extreme weather, and increasing loads. In order to strengthen resiliency, researchers need to run tests and simulations that model real-life infrastructure. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is creating a digital twin of its Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex (CITRC). CITRC is an at-scale grid testbed which can be configured in utility-realistic distribution scenarios for a variety of tests, such as advanced grid protection and control. A digital twin of this infrastructure would support in-depth tests/simulations without risking physical consequences, before trialing devices under test at-scale. This project focuses on the data acquisition part of constructing a digital twin. It investigates the Supervisory Data Acquisition and Control (SCADA) system of CITRC and explores ways to utilize this system for the twin. Future “ideal” at-scale implementations such as upgraded equipment, modern communication protocols, and automation applications are also explored.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Development and Implementation of a New AI-Based Tool to Support Fast Reactor Software Model Generation and Validation

This report summarizes FY26 work to develop Maggie, an artificial intelligence-based assistant designed to support software model generation and validation activities for fast reactor analysis codes. The project established a modular, code-agnostic software architecture that separates reusable agent capabilities from code-specific knowledge and tools, with initial implementation focused on the FRP-supported fast reactor safety analysis code SAS4A/SASSYS1 (SAS). A curated SAS-specific knowledge base was assembled from the code manual, training materials, historical analysis reports, and representative input files, and was integrated through retrieval-augmented generation to ground Maggie’s responses in authoritative sources. Maggie was deployed on the internal Argonne network, where it demonstrated practical user-facing capability as a chatbot for answering natural language questions about SAS and retrieving relevant technical information. Demonstration cases also showed that Maggie can generate useful snippets of SAS input for selected modeling tasks, while highlighting current limitations in reliability and consistency for more complex input generation tasks. Overall, the FY26 effort established the technical foundation for an AI-assisted capability intended to improve the efficiency, consistency, and accessibility of fast reactor software model development at Argonne and, with further improvements, to support eventual use by the broader fast reactor community, including industry users of FRP-supported analysis tools.

Thomas, Rachel [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL),↗

Hardware Implementation of Grover's Search Algorithm

Grover's algorithm searches through an unstructured database, offering a quadratic speedup over classical search algorithms. We implement it, as well as two deterministic variants, on IBM (Kingston) and IQM (Garnet) hardware. Additionally, we test dynamical decoupling as an error mitigation technique. We compare our results to a classical, brute force approach to evaluate current hardware capabilities.

Pressman, Daniel [Fermilab]↗

Development and implementation of high-throughput proteomic and metabolomics assays by using advanced chromatographic and mass spectrometric systems (CRADA Final Report)

The mission of this CRADA with Agilent was to couple powerful MS platforms (QQQ, IM-QTOFMS) with Agilent’s novel Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) fast metabolomic workflows and perform ABF Machine Learning (ML) to generated datasets. Agilent transferred UHPLC methods to PNNL and LBNL and methods were implemented and demonstrated in both labs, achieving total acquisition times of < 10 min. Metabolites analyzed using Agilent’s shared methods included metabolites from central carbon metabolism, common across hosts, and metabolites unique to engineered strains. Standards were acquired in an UHPLC-Drift Tube Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer (DTIMS) system for the first time within the context of ABF and methods were optimized based on Agilent’s protocols. Samples from ABF hosts Pseudomonas putida, Aspergillus pseudoterreus, Aspergillus niger and Rhodosporidium toruloides were analyzed using the UHPLC-DTIMS platform for a total of 276 runs. A data analysis workflow compatible with the Experimental Data Depot (EDD) and completely shareable was developed for the acquired UHPLC-DTIMS data. Samples were analyzed using a Data Independent Acquisition Approach (DIA), which for most of the standards provided more transitions therefore increasing detection confidence. Using the data acquired by PNNL, LBNL, and Agilent’s specifications from previous ML projects, SNL applied an ensemble ML strategy to pick the best performing model for automated LC-method selection. Finally, with the contribution of the participant labs and Agilent, SNL developed an Automated Method Selection (AMS) software tool to predict the best liquid chromatography method for analysis of any new molecules of interest. Samples with novel pathways and new metabolite targets of interest are generated at a high pace in the ABF. Overall, the project advanced rapid metabolomics by combining liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and data-independent mass spectrometry with machine learning. This multidimensional approach uses retention time, collision cross-section, precursor mass, and fragment-ion information to distinguish chemically similar metabolites that can be difficult to resolve using conventional liquid- or gas-chromatography methods. The resulting workflow also provided automated metabolite-identification error estimates, addressing a recognized need for statistical confidence measures in metabolomics.

Petzold, Christopher [Lawrence Berkeley National L↗

A Modelica Implementation of an Organic Rankine Cycle

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems generate power from low-grade heat sources, such as geothermal sources and industrial waste heat. A key feature is that a working fluid is selected to match the temperature of the source. With the vast pool of candidate working fluids comes the challenge of developing a large number of robust thermodynamic media models. We implemented a subcritical ORC model in Modelica that uses working fluid data records and interpolation schemes in lieu of thermodynamic medium evaluation for energy recovery estimation. This is a component model that can be integrated into a larger energy system model. It does not require detailed thermodynamic, heat transfer, or machine analysis. Our ORC model fills a gap where working fluids are ready to choose or easy to add, and at the same time can be integrated into an energy system.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Emerging Themes and Future Directions of Multi-Sector Nexus Research and Implementation

Water, energy, and food are all essential components of human societies. Collectively, their respective resource systems are interconnected in what is called the “nexus”. There is growing consensus that a holistic understanding of the interdependencies and trade-offs between these sectors and other related systems is critical to solving many of the global challenges they present. While nexus research has grown exponentially since 2011, there is no unified, overarching approach, and the implementation of concepts remains hampered by the lack of clear case studies. Here, we present the results of a collaborative thought exercise involving 75 scientists and summarize them into 10 key recommendations covering: the most critical nexus issues of today, emerging themes, and where future efforts should be directed. We conclude that a nexus community of practice to promote open communication among researchers, to maintain and share standardized datasets, and to develop applied case studies will facilitate transparent comparisons of models and encourage the adoption of nexus approaches in practice.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Implementing Chiral Three-Body Forces in Terms of Medium-Dependent Two-Body Forces

Three-nucleon (3N) forces are an indispensable ingredient for accurate few-body and many- body nuclear structure and reaction theory calculations. While the direct implementation of chiral 3N forces can be technically very challenging, a simpler approach is given by employing instead a medium-dependent NN interaction V med that reflects the physics of three-body forces at the two-body normal-ordered approximation. We review the derivation and construction of Vmed from the chiral 3N interaction at next-to-next-to-leading order (N2LO), consisting of a long-range 2π-exchange term, a mid-range 1π-exchange component and a short-range contact-term. Several applications of V med to the equation of state of cold nuclear and neutron matter, the nucleon single-particle potential in nuclear matter, and the nuclear quasiparticle interaction are discussed. We also explore differences in using local vs. nonlocal regulating functions on 3N forces and make direct comparisons to exact results at low order in perturbation theory expansions for the equation of state and single-particle potential. We end with a discussion and numerical calculation of the in-medium NN potential V med from the next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N3LO) chiral 3N force, which consists of a series of long-range and short-range terms.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The PENELOPE Physics Models and Transport Mechanics. Implementation into Geant4

A translation of the PENELOPE physics subroutines to C++, designed as an extension of the GEANT4 toolkit, is presented. The Fortran code system PENELOPE performs Monte Carlo simulation of coupled electron-photon transport in arbitrary materials for a wide energy range, nominally from 50 eV up to 1 GeV. PENELOPE implements the most reliable interaction models that are currently available, limited only by the required generality of the code. In addition, the transport of electrons and positrons is simulated by means of an elaborate class II scheme in which hard interactions (involving deflection angles or energy transfers larger than pre-defined cutoffs) are simulated from the associated restricted differential cross sections. After a brief description of the interaction models adopted for photons and electrons/positrons, we describe the details of the class-II algorithm used for tracking electrons and positrons. The C++ classes are adapted to the specific code structure of GEANT4. They provide a complete description of the interactions and transport mechanics of electrons/positrons and photons in arbitrary materials, which can be activated from the G4ProcessManager to produce simulation results equivalent to those from the original PENELOPE programs. The combined code, named PENG4, benefits from the multi-threading capabilities and advanced geometry and statistical tools of GEANT4.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Implementation of Smart Materials for Actuation of Traditional Valve Technology for Hybrid Energy Systems

The ever-changing nature of the power industry will require the implementation of hybrid energy systems. Integration of tightly coupled components in hybrids often involves the diversion of exhaust gas flow. An innovative smart material actuation technology is proposed to replace traditional electro-mechanical actuated valve mechanisms with lighter and less expensive actuators. A shape memory alloy (SMA) spring-actuated valve was designed for high-temperature service to demonstrate the promise of smart materials in control valve applications. With SMA springs only generating a maximum force of 3.2 N, an innovative valve design was necessary. To demonstrate the concept, a 3-inch Nominal Pipe Size valve was designed, and 3D printed using the stereolithography technique. Increasing the electrical current to actuate the SMA springs reduced actuation time. The maximum current of 10 A produced the lowest actuation time of 2.85 s, with an observed maximum stroke rate of more than 100 stroke completion %/s (considering actuation open/close as 100% stroke) at the midrange. The final assembly of the valve was estimated to provide a cost reduction of more than 30% and a weight reduction of more than 80% compared to the other available automatic valves in the present market.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Implementation Aspects of Smart Grids Cyber-Security Cross-Layered Framework for Critical Infrastructure Operation

Communication networks in power systems are a major part of the smart grid paradigm. It enables and facilitates the automation of power grid operation as well as self-healing in contingencies. Such dependencies on communication networks, though, create a roam for cyber-threats. An adversary can launch an attack on the communication network, which in turn reflects on power grid operation. Attacks could be in the form of false data injection into system measurements, flooding the communication channels with unnecessary data, or intercepting messages. Using machine learning-based processing on data gathered from communication networks and the power grid is a promising solution for detecting cyber threats. In this paper, a co-simulation of cyber-security for cross-layer strategy is presented. The advantage of such a framework is the augmentation of valuable data that enhances the detection as well as identification of anomalies in the operation of the power grid. The framework is implemented on the IEEE 118-bus system. The system is constructed in Mininet to simulate a communication network and obtain data for analysis. A distributed three controller software-defined networking (SDN) framework is proposed that utilizes the Open Network Operating System (ONOS) cluster. According to the findings of our suggested architecture, it outperforms a single SDN controller framework by a factor of more than ten times the throughput. This provides for a higher flow of data throughout the network while decreasing congestion caused by a single controller’s processing restrictions. Furthermore, our CECD-AS approach outperforms state-of-the-art physics and machine learning-based techniques in terms of attack classification. The performance of the framework is investigated under various types of communication attacks.

cross-layered↗

Design and Implementation of Smart Buildings: A Review of Current Research Trend

The building sector is one of the largest contributors to the world’s total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Advancements in building energy technologies have played a critical role in enhancing the energy sustainability of the built environment. Extensive research and new techniques in energy and environmental systems for buildings have recently emerged to address the global challenges. This study reviews existing articles in the literature, mostly since 2000, to explore technological advancement in building energy and environmental systems that can be applied to smart homes and buildings. This review study focuses on an overview of the design and implementation of energy-related smart building technologies, including energy management systems, renewable energy applications, and current advanced smart technologies for optimal function and energy-efficient performance. To review the advancement in building energy-related technologies, a systematic review process is adopted based on available published reviews and research types of articles. Review-type articles are first assessed to explore the current literature on the relevant keywords and to capture major research scopes. Research-type papers are then examined to investigate associated keywords and work scopes, including objectives, focuses, limitations, and future needs. Throughout the comprehensive literature review, this study identifies various techniques of smart home/building applications that have provided detailed solutions or guidelines in different applications to enhance the quality of people’s daily activities and the sustainability of the built environmental system. This paper shows trends in human activities and technology advancements in digital solutions with energy management systems and practical designs. Understanding the overall energy flow between a building and its environmentally connected systems is also important for future buildings and community levels. This paper assists in understanding the pathway toward future smart homes/buildings and their technologies for researchers in related research fields.

renewable system integration↗

High y + Shear-Stress Turbulence Implementation for High Flux Isotope Reactor Narrow Channel Flows

The research objective of this work was to improve the engineering predictions of the turbulence characteristics of flows in curved narrow channels. Such channel flows are commonly encountered in nuclear research and test reactors, with one of them being the high-flux isotope reactor (HFIR). Research reactors bear high heat fluxes, and the proper computing of turbulence is paramount for safe and reliable reactor operation. The study builds on the results of a previous direct numerical simulation of turbulence to inform a well-known Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes shear-stress turbulence model and improves its accuracy in simulating parallel channel flows. A new formulation of the loss term in the dissipation conservation equation is suggested. Combined with high wall distance computational grids, the new implementation provides a fast-running flow solution, suitable for engineering purposes. Model generalization for parallel channel flows, in a broader range of frictional Reynolds numbers, is suggested by introducing a new form of the model constants.

CFD↗

Implementation of Sacrificial Support Structures for Hybrid Manufacturing of Thin Walls

Thin-walled features can be difficult to produce with traditional machining methods which often rely on excess stock material for stiffness. This challenge is increased in hybrid manufacturing where the feature is already near net shape before machining. Significant workpiece deflection can result in poor geometric and surface finish tolerances on the finished part. A potential solution to this problem is to implement sacrificial support structures to the as-printed geometry. The supports are then machined away during the finishing portion of the hybrid process. In the present work, several different design parameters for these sacrificial supports were evaluated to determine their impact on the quality of representative thin wall geometry samples. The angle, height, and spacing of triangular support structures were varied for each sample and then machined and examined. The addition of these supports relative to an unsupported configuration provided a deflection reduction of around 0.2 mm. Surface roughness was improved by approximately 1.5 µm. Increasing values of support height were found to correspond to reduced wall deflection. Similarly, decreasing values of support angle and support spacing improved geometric accuracy. Efficiency comparisons showed that increases in print time corresponded to rapidly diminishing gains in geometric accuracy but continued to improve surface roughness. Implications for hybrid finishing of additively manufactured thin-walled structures is briefly discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A SSTDR Methodology, Implementations, and Challenges

Sequence time-domain reflectometry (STDR) and spread spectrum time-domain reflectometry (SSTDR) detect, locate, and diagnose faults in live (energized) electrical systems. In this paper, we survey the present SSTDR literature for discussions on theory, algorithms used in its analysis, and its more prominent implementations and applications. Our review includes both scientific litera-ture and selected patents. We also discuss future applications of SSTDR.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗