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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Method for the determination of lignin content of a sample by flash pyrolysis in an atmosphere of hydrogen or helium and method therefor

The lignin content of wood, paper pulp or other material containing lignin (such as filter paper soaked in black liquor) is more readily determined by flash pyrolysis of the sample at approximately 550.degree. C. in a reducing atmosphere of hydrogen or in an inert atmosphere of helium followed by a rapid analysis of the product gas by a mass spectrometer. The heated pyrolysis unit as fabricated comprises a small platinum cup welded to an electrically-heated stainless steel ribbon with control means for programmed short duration (1.5 sec, approximately) heating and means for continuous flow of hydrogen or helium. The pyrolysis products enter an electron-ionization mode mass spectrometer for spectral evaluation. Lignin content is obtained from certain ratios of integrated ion currents of many mass spectral lines, the ratios being linearly related to the Kappa number of Klason lignin.

Shakkottai, Parthasarathy↗
DOE OSTI2019

Helium pressure increase inside GPHS clads: implications for formation of distended clads

Distension of GPHS clads has generally been attributed to gas buildup inside the clad. The bulging vent frit cover can be caused only by gas pressure, since the vent cover is isolated from the fuel by the vent frit. Gas generation is the only change expected as the oxide fuel ages. However, several data suggest that gas pressure is not the origin of the distension of the clad body. Gas pressure sufficient to distend the iridium body of the clad would be on the order of 1500 psi. This high pressure is very unlikely to be reached inside a GPHS clad, because the vent frit cover weld cannot sustain high pressures. Every distended clad that has been examined has an open vent frit, suggesting that the vent frit cover eventually opens on all distended GPHS clads. No gas pressure has been observed in any distended clad. In addition, the vent frit cover is sufficiently thin, about 2 grains thick, that diffusion of helium through the intact cover is possible and almost certainly occurs. Conversely, no clad has ever been definitively observed to distend after venting. Removal of the vent cover allows free escape of any radiolytically generated helium. However, there is little data on the behavior of vented GPHS. The vent cover is seldom removed at LANL, and vent covers are not removed on clads that will be stored. The vent covers are known to have been removed from the four clads residing in a module which was stored for 8 years. Expansion of the fuel is more likely to provide sufficient force on the iridium clad to distort the iridium metal. Radiographs indicate that the fuel inside a distended GPHS clad is also distended, filling all or most of the interior volume of the GPHS. No radiograph shows the fuel expanded and in contact with the weld shield and the distorted side of the GPHS clad without distension. However, radiography is infrequently done on stored clads unless they exhibit distension, so the dimensions of fuel in normal clads are not generally known.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cold Spray Deposition of 304L Stainless Steel to Mitigate Chloride-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Canisters for Used Nuclear Fuel Storage

A feasibility study of the cold spray deposition process of 304L stainless steel on 304L stainless steel substrates as a mitigation method for chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) has been investigated under various substrate conditions. The study is aimed at the application of this technology to mitigate CISCC that may potentially occur in or nearthe fusion welded regions of stainless steel canisters in Dry Cask Storage System (DCSS) for used nuclear fuels. Spherical gas-atomized 304L stainless steel powder, in the size range of 25 µm to 44 µm, was used as a feedstock powder for the cold spray process. The powder was deposited on four types of 304L substrates with various surface conditions: as-polished, oxidized, cold-rolled, plates with prototypical CISCC. The effects of cold spray parameters on quality of cold spray coatings were investigated. Thickness, porosity, and phases in the as-deposited materials were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and correlated with microhardness and adhesion strength measured via micro-indentation and ASTM C633 pulling test, respectively. XRD analysis of the coatings was also conducted to examine the effects of cold spray condition on residual stress state in the coating. Detailed cross-sectional examination of coating/substrate interfaces was performed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Dense and continuous coatings with good adhesion strength and hardness were produced for the various substrate conditions by adjusting cold spray parameters. The results demonstrate that cold spray stainless steel coating is a viable option to provide a physical barrier against CISCC in fusion weld regions of stainless steel in corrosive chloride salt-bearing environments.

Dry Cask Storage Systems, cold spray, 304L stainle↗
NASA NTRS1972

Development of a gas pressure bonded four-pole alternator rotor

Methods were developed for fabrication of a solid four pole alternator rotor by hot isostatic pressure welding. The rotor blanks welded in this program had complex geometrical mating interfaces and were of considerable bulk, being approximately 3-1/2 inches (0.089 meters) in diameter and 14 inches (0.356 meters) long. Magnetic end pieces were machined from AlSl 4340 steel, while the non-magnetic central section was of Inconel 718. Excellent welds were produced which were shown to be responsive to post weld heat treatments which substantially improved joint strength. Prior to welding the rotors, test specimens of complex geometry were welded to demonstrate that complex surfaces with intentional mechanical misfit could be readily joined using HIP welding. This preliminary work demonstrated not only that interface compliance is achieved during welding but that welding pressure is developed in these thick sections sufficient to produce sound joints. Integral weld-heat treatment cycles were developed that permitted the attainment of magnetic properties while minimizing residual stress associated with the allotropic transformation of 4340 steel.

Lessmann, G. G.↗
DOE OSTI2025

An approach for spent nuclear fuel containment integrity verification using gas tagging

Verification of containment integrity is required for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) managed by the commercial nuclear industry and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), especially after extended storage. Certain SNF storage systems, such as the DOE road-ready dry storage system, hold several packaged containments within a welded over-canister. These packaged containments are called Department of Energy Standard Canisters (DOESCs). DOESC leakage identification is challenging because their containment boundary cannot be accessed for testing and their contents (i.e., SNF and fill gas) are often similar. There are concerns that this could result in costly characterization and repackaging operations of DOE road-ready dry storage systems if compromised DOESCs are suspected. Here, to address these concerns, this paper presents an approach for applying a gas tagging process using xenon to uniquely identify compromised inaccessible containments following extended storage. The containments considered for this application are seven DOESCs, each packaged within a single over-canister. Two different SNF loading configurations from the Advanced Test Reactor and Fort Saint Vrain nuclear power plant are considered. These configurations are used to represent research reactor aluminum-clad spent nuclear fuel (ASNF) and TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) SNF types. Results for this application show that for ASNF and TRISO type fuels for which the selected fuels are representative, the volume of taggant required at loading is determined primarily by the lower detection limit and leak rate of taggant from a compromised DOESC, rather than the amount of fission-generated xenon in the loaded fuel. While the application presented is suited for larger leaks, smaller leaks could be detected by modifying certain design parameters. This gas tagging approach can also be applied to other DOE containments and advanced reactor SNF storage systems.

07 - ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nonequilibrium Phenomena in (Quasi-)thermal Plasma Flows

Thermal plasmas are utilized in diverse applications that require high power densities or throughputs, such as metal cutting, welding, spraying, metallurgy, and materials synthesis. Thermal plasma applications involve interactions between the highly energetic plasma and working gas streams, confining devices, or processing materials. Whereas thermal plasma implies a state of equilibrium (i.e. Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium, LTE), due to the above interactions, thermal plasma flows depict nonequilibrium phenomena of two types: kinetic and dissipative. Kinetic nonequilibrium manifests microscopically and is caused by localized imbalances between particles and fields interactions. Its occurrence is illustrated, for example, as deviations from thermal equilibrium between heavy-species and electrons or from mass-action laws. In contrast, dissipative nonequilibrium reveals macroscopically and is produced by external driving forces that incite distributed responses, such as the growth of instabilities, the occurrence of self-organization, or the establishment of turbulence. While kinetic nonequilibrium has been increasingly incorporated in thermal plasma flow models (e.g. finite-rate chemistry, two-temperature models), it is the great advances in numerical computing that is enabling the exploration of dissipative nonequilibrium (e.g. pattern formation, small-scale turbulent features). Both types of nonequilibrium are reviewed, including their estimation and incidence, within the context of computational models and their relevance to thermal plasma sources and processes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Synthesis of nanoscale magnesium diboride powder

A procedure has been developed for the preparation of small grained magnesium diboride (MgB 2 ) powder by reacting nanometer size boron powder in a magnesium vapor. Plasma synthesized boron powder that had particle sizes ranging from 20 to 300nm was mixed with millimeter size chunks of Mg by rolling stoichiometric amounts of the powders in a sealed cylindrical container under nitrogen gas. This mixture then was placed in a niobium reaction vessel, evacuated, and sealed by e-beam welding. The vessel was typically heated to approximately 830°C for several hours. The resulting MgB 2 particles have a grain size in the 200 nm to 800 nm range. Agglomerates of loosely bound particles could be broken up by light grinding in a mortar and pestle. At 830°C, many particles are composed of several grains grown together so that the average particle size is about twice the average grain size. Furthermore, experiments were conducted primarily with undoped boron powder, but carbon-doped boron powder showed very similar results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1999

Low-Pressure Gas Effects on the Potency of an Electron Beam Against Ceramic Cloth

An 8-kv electron beam with a current in the neighborhood of 100 mA from the Ukrainian space welding "Universal Hand Tool" (UHT) burned holes in Nextel AF-62 ceramic cloth designed to withstand temperatures up to 1,427 C. The burnthrough time was on the order of 8 scc at standoff distances between UHT and cloth ranging from 6-24 in. At both closer (2 in.) and farther (48 in.) standoff distances the potency of the beam against the cloth declined and the burnthrough time went up significantly. Prior to the test it had been expected that the beam would lay down a static charge on the cloth and be deflected without damaging the cloth. The burnthrough is thought to be an effect of partial transmission of beam power by a stream of positive ions generated by the high-voltage electron beam from contaminant gas in the "vacuum" chamber. A rough quantitative theoretical computation appears to substantiate this possibility.

Nunes, A. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Zoom Vision System For Robotic Welding

Rugged zoom lens subsystem proposed for use in along-the-torch vision system of robotic welder. Enables system to adapt, via simple mechanical adjustments, to gas cups of different lengths, electrodes of different protrusions, and/or different distances between end of electrode and workpiece. Unnecessary to change optical components to accommodate changes in geometry. Easy to calibrate with respect to object in view. Provides variable focus and variable magnification.

Gilbert, Jeffrey L.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Safety Interlock for Angularly Misdirected Power Tool

A proposed safety system would effect an inhibitory action whenever a power tool was aimed in a direction outside a prescribed range of allowable directions. The power tool could be a welding torch, blowtorch, laser, drill, or gun, for example. The inhibitory action could be turning off the supply of gas or electric power to the tool; in the case of a gun, the inhibitory action could be actuation of a mechanical trigger stop.

Li, Larry C.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Sampling and Analysis of the Headspace Gas in 3013 Type Plutonium Storage Containers at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Department of Energy (DOE) sites have packaged approximately 5200 3013 containers to date. One of the requirements specified in DOESTD-3013, which specifies requirements for packaging plutonium bearing materials, is that the material be no greater than 0.5 weight percent moisture. The containers are robust, nested, welded vessels. A shelf life surveillance program was established to monitor these cans over their 50 year design life. In the event pressurization is detected by radiography, it will be necessary to obtain a head space gas sample from the pressurized container. This technique is also useful to study the head space gas in cans selected for random destructive evaluation. The atmosphere is sampled and the hydrogen to oxygen ratio is measured to determine the effects of radiolysis on the moisture in the container. A system capable of penetrating all layers of a 3013 container assembly and obtaining a viable sample of the enclosed gas and an estimate of internal pressure was designed.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multichannel gas-uptake/evolution reactor for monitoring liquid-phase chemical reactions

The design of a headspace pressure-monitoring reactor for measuring the uptake/evolution of gas in gas–liquid chemical transformations is described. The reactor features a parallel setup with ten-reactor cells, each featuring a low working volume of 0.2–2 ml, a pressure capacity from 0 to 150 PSIa, and a high sensitivity pressure transducer. The reactor cells are composed of commercially available disposable thickwalled glassware and compact monolithic weld assemblies. The software interface controls the reactor temperature while monitoring pressure in each of the parallel reactor cells. Reactions are easy to set up and yield high-density gas uptake/evolution data. This instrument is especially well suited to acquire quantitative time-course data for reactions with small quantities of gas consumed or produced.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2015

Electrically driven rapidly vaporizing foils, wires and strips used for collision welding and sheet metal forming

A method for forming a piece of a sheet metal is performed by positioning a consumable body, made of metal, proximate to the piece of the sheet metal. The consumable body is rapidly vaporized, and the gas pressure generated thereby is directed into the piece of the sheet metal. This results in acceleration of the piece of sheet metal, and it is collided into a stationary body at a velocity, generally in excess of 200 m/s. Depending upon the type of stationary body, the piece of sheet metal is deformed into a predetermined shape or is welded onto the stationary body. The vaporization is accomplished by passing a high current of electricity into the consumable body. The effect of the vaporized metal may be augmented by additional components in the consumable body.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Using Additive Manufacturing to Repair Gas Turbine Hot Section Components

Ni-based superalloys are used in the hot sections of gas turbine engines due to their excellent high temperature performance. During service the material degrades due to exposure at high temperature and mechanical loads. Hence, utility provides often inspect, service, and repair components in gas turbine engines to ensure safe operation. A major challenge, however, is that the most heat-resistant alloys are generally considered ‘non-weldable’ rendering them difficult to repair via welding operations. In these cases components are often scrapped and then replaced by parts which must be re-manufactured. This burdens utilities with additional cost and supply chain issues can result in long term outages or reduced operating limtis. In this work EPRI and ORNL investigated a proposed repair strategy for gas turbine hot section components. Hot section superalloy GTD-111 was selected as a candidate repair material system and AM material ABD-900 the repair material. Sandwich structures were fabricated via electron beam melting additive manufacturing (EBM-AM) producing tensile bars with gage sections consisting of dissimilar ABD-900 / GTD-111 / ABD-900 material. Metallography revealed that the interface exhibited no deleterious phases or processing defeats. Creep rupture experiments on heat treated material demonstrates that the emulated repair coupons exhibit creep resistance between GTD-111 and ABD-900. This study demonstrates that the proposed EBM-AM repair strategy presents a viable opportunity towards enabling AM repair of gas turbine engine components.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Using Additive Manufacturing to Repair Gas Turbine Hot Section Components

Ni-based superalloys are used in the hot sections of gas turbine engines due to their excellent high temperature performance. During service the material degrades due to exposure at high temperature and mechanical loads. Hence, utility provides often inspect, service, and repair components in gas turbine engines to ensure safe operation. A major challenge, however, is that the most heat-resistant alloys are generally considered ‘non-weldable’ rendering them difficult to repair via welding operations. In these cases components are often scrapped and then replaced by parts which must be re-manufactured. This burdens utilities with additional cost and supply chain issues can result in long term outages or reduced operating limits. In this work EPRI and ORNL investigated a proposed repair strategy for gas turbine hot section components. Hot section superalloy GTD-111 was selected as a candidate repair material system and AM material ABD-900 the repair material. Sandwich structures were fabricated via electron beam melting additive manufacturing (EBM-AM) producing tensile bars with gage sections consisting of dissimilar ABD-900 / GTD-111 / ABD-900 material. Metallography revealed that the interface exhibited no deleterious phases or processing defeats. Creep rupture experiments on heat treated material demonstrates that the emulated repair coupons exhibit creep resistance between GTD-111 and ABD-900. This study demonstrates that the proposed EBM-AM repair strategy presents a viable opportunity towards enabling AM repair of gas turbine engine components.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Modeling Long-term Creep Performance for Welded Nickel-base Superalloy Structures for Power Generation Systems

The goal of this project is to model long-term creep performance for nickel-base superalloy weldments in high temperature power generation systems. The project uses physics-based modeling methodologies and algorithms for predicting alloy properties in heterogeneous material structures. The modeling methodology will be demonstrated on a gas turbine combustor liner weldment of Haynes 282 precipitate-strengthened nickel-base superalloy. The major developments are: (1) microstructure-property relationships under creep conditions and microstructure characterization (2) modeling inhomogeneous microstructure in superalloy weld (3) modeling mesoscale plastic deformation in superalloy weld and (4) a constitutive creep model that accounts for weld and base metal microstructure and their long term evolution. The developed modeling technology is aimed to provide a more efficient and accurate assessment of a material’s long-term performance compared with current testing and extrapolation methods. This modeling technology will also accelerate development and qualification of new materials in advanced power generation systems. This document is a final technical report for the project, covering efforts conducted from October 2014 to December 2016.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1977

Flange weld pressure testing

Device allows localized high-pressure proof test. Use of tool eliminates need to block off far end of pipe; only small amount of pressurizing gas is needed; only small area needs to be cleared of personnel for proof test.

Holden, C. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Variable polarity plasma arc welding on the Space Shuttle external tank

Variable polarity plasma arc (VPPA) techniques used at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center for the fabrication of the Space Shuttle External Tank are presentedd. The high plasma arc jet velocities of 300-2000 m/s are produced by heating the plasma gas as it passes through a constraining orifice, with the plasma arc torch becoming a miniature jet engine. As compared to the GTA jet, the VPPA has the following advantages: (1) less sensitive to contamination, (2) a more symmetrical fusion zone, and (3) greater joint penetration. The VPPA welding system is computerized, operating with a microprocessor, to set welding variables in accordance with set points inputs, including the manipulator and wire feeder, as well as torch control and power supply. Some other VPPA welding technique advantages are: reduction in weld repair costs by elimination of porosity; reduction of joint preparation costs through elimination of the need to scrape or file faying surfaces; reduction in depeaking costs; eventual reduction of the 100 percent-X-ray inspection requirements. The paper includes a series of schematic and block diagrams.

Nunes, A. C., Jr.↗