SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Laboratory analysis”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 505 records · Page 28

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2015

Overview of zion comparative analysis project for assessment of Boral{sup R} neutron absorber material performance and monitoring in spent fuel pools - 14618

Neutron absorber materials are used in spent fuel pool (SFP) storage racks to control reactivity. In the United States, about half of the operating plants currently use BORAL{sup R} neutron absorber material in SFP racks. Although operational experience spanning more than 25 years has not shown any loss of the BORAL{sup R} core material, corrosion effects, including blisters and pits, have been observed and reported. To improve understanding for the behavior of BORAL{sup R} in SFPs and evaluate the performance of monitoring approaches, EPRI initiated the Zion comparative analysis project in 2014. The Zion project involves three phases. During the first phase of the project, in situ measurements were performed on selected SFP rack panels in December 2014. Panels for in situ measurements were selected after an extensive analysis of each panel in the pool to ensure that the selected panels represented the pool in terms of variation in neutron and gamma dose values. As part of the second phase of the project, the remaining 10 coupons from the Zion SFP were shipped to a Penn State University (PSU) laboratory for analysis in January 2015. During the final phase of the project, a subset of the panels for which in situ measurements were performed will be harvested from the Zion SFP, cut into samples, and analyzed at PSU. The overall scope of this project will allow comparison of in situ measurements to real panel data as well as data obtained from coupon analysis. In this paper, an overview of the Zion comparative analysis project, the criteria and procedure for panel selection for in situ measurements and harvesting, preliminary coupon analysis results and in situ measurement results are presented. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS1999

The Return of Astromaterials to Earth Over the Next Decade

We are entering a new and golden age of sample return missions. In the coming decade we will harvest samples from Comet P/Wild II and interstellar dust courtesy of the STARDUST Mission (Brownlee et al., 1997), an asteroid (probably 4660 Nereus or 1989ML) by the ISAS MUSES-C Mission (ISAS, 1997), and solar wind by the Genesis Mission. A sample return from Mars is also envisioned as early as 2008, and possibly one from the two moons of Mars. It is, however, sobering to realize that MUSES-C aims to return 3-10 g of sample, STARDUST will provide micrograms of comet and interstellar dust, and Genesis will harvest only few micrograms of atoms. The diminutive size of the returning samples may be a source of concern for petrologists used only to looking at hefty lunar rocks and meteorites. How much sample is really needed to achieve prime science objectives, while maintaining a cost effective mission? The range of geological processes that we will want to address with these samples is staggering, encompassing not merely the entire history of the Solar system, but the history of the elements themselves. The interstellar processes include element formation, production and interactions with radiation, formation of organics, grain condensation and evolution, and interactions with magnetic fields. In the pre-accretionary (nebular) environment we wish to understand grain condensation, evaporation and recondensation, shock, radiation processing, solar energetic particle implantation, gas composition, the magnetic environment, and the evolution of organics. Finally, for solid bodies we wish to examine accretion history, shock, brecciation, impact gardening, metamorphism, aqueous alteration, weathering, exposure history, volcanism, fumarolic activity, differentiation, the magnetic environment, atmosphere evolution, and the evolution of organics. Since 1981, NASA has supported asteroid and comet science by collecting dust grains from these bodies in the stratosphere, and making them available for analysis in laboratories worldwide (Warren and Zolensky, 1994). Over the succeeding 17 years, many new techniques have been developed for these painstaking analyses, by at least 24 different laboratories across the globe. Despite the fact that the particle supply has always exceeded the demand, the painstaking efforts required for most of the nano-scale analyses have resulted in only 1520 grains having been analyzed, with a total mass of only 0.52 micrograms. Thus we really require less sample for analysis than one might imagine.

Zolensky, Michael E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Results of the second Round Robin on opening-load measurement conducted by ASTM Task Group E24.04.04 on crack closure measurement and analysis

A second experimental Round Robin on the measurement of the crack opening load in fatigue crack growth tests has been completed by the ASTM Task Group E24.04.04 on Crack Closure Measurement and Analysis. Fourteen laboratories participated in the testing of aluminum alloy compact tension specimens. Opening-load measurements were made at three crack lengths during constant Delta K, constant stress ratio tests by most of the participants. Four participants made opening-load measurements during threshold tests. All opening-load measurements were based on the analysis of specimens compliance behavior, where the displacement/strain was measured either at the crack mouth or the mid-height back face location. The Round Robin data were analyzed for opening load using two non-subjective analysis methods: the compliance offset and the correlation coefficient methods. The scatter in the opening load results was significantly reduced when some of the results were excluded from the analysis population based on an accept/reject criterion for raw data quality. The compliance offset and correlation coefficient opening load analysis methods produced similar results for data populations that had been screened to eliminate poor quality data.

Phillips, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Meteorological Instruction Software

At Florida State University and the Naval Postgraduate School, meteorology students have the opportunity to apply theoretical studies to current weather phenomena, even prepare forecasts and see how their predictions stand up utilizing GEMPAK. GEMPAK can display data quickly in both conventional and non-traditional ways, allowing students to view multiple perspectives of the complex three-dimensional atmospheric structure. With GEMPAK, mathematical equations come alive as students do homework and laboratory assignments on the weather events happening around them. Since GEMPAK provides data on a 'today' basis, each homework assignment is new. At the Naval Postgraduate School, students are now using electronically-managed environmental data in the classroom. The School's Departments of Meteorology and Oceanography have developed the Interactive Digital Environment Analysis (IDEA) Laboratory. GEMPAK is the IDEA Lab's general purpose display package; the IDEA image processing package is a modified version of NASA's Device Management System. Bringing the graphic and image processing packages together is NASA's product, the Transportable Application Executive (TAE).

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2020

Analysis of Dust Samples Collected from an Inland ISFSI Site (Site A)

In September of 2020, dust samples were collected from the surface of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) dry storage canisters during an inspection at an inland Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. The purpose of the sampling was to assess the composition and abundance of the soluble salts present on the canister surface, information which provides a metric for potential corrosion risks. The samples were delivered to Sandia National laboratories for analysis. At Sandia, the soluble salts were leached from the dust and quantified by ion chromatography. In addition, subsamples of the dust were taken for scanning electron microscope analysis to determine the texture and mineralogy of the dust and salts. The results of those analyses are presented in this report.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2014

Portable total reflection x-ray fluorescence analysis in the identification of unknown laboratory hazards

In this study, a portable total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer was used to analyze unknown laboratory hazards that precipitated on exterior surfaces of cooling pipes and fume hood pipes in chemical laboratories. With the aim to examine the accuracy of TXRF analysis for the determination of elemental composition, analytical results were compared with those of wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry, energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, x-ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Detailed comparison of data confirmed that the TXRF method itself was not sufficient to determine all the elements (Z > 11) contained in the samples. In addition, results suggest that XRD should be combined with XPS in order to accurately determine compound composition. This study demonstrates that at least two analytical methods should be used in order to analyze the composition of unknown real samples.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2015

Hydrogen Financial Analysis Scenario Tool (H2FAST); NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

This presentation describes the Hydrogen Financial Analysis Scenario Tool, H2FAST, and provides an overview of each of the three H2FAST formats: the H2FAST web tool, the H2FAST Excel spreadsheet, and the H2FAST Business Case Scenario (BCS) tool. Examples are presented to illustrate the types of questions that H2FAST can help answer.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

NASA NTRS1981

Gem Analysis

World Gem Laboratory, Inc.'s cathodoluminoscope is an instrument that magnifies a specimen and produces heat-generated light emissions that bring out features important in gemological analysis. It can indicate whether a stone can be successfully cut, useful in the study of growth and strain patterns in diamonds, detection of dyes in jade, and analysis of the growth and structure of rubies and sapphires. In combination with other tests these analyses can separate synthetic from natural gems.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2020

Analysis of Dust Samples Collected from an Inland ISFSI Site (''Site B'').

In October of 2020, dust samples were collected from the surface of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) dry storage canisters during an inspection at an inland Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, the second inland site at which surface deposits have been sampled. The purpose of the sampling was to assess the composition and abundance of the soluble salts present on the canister surface, information which provides a metric for potential corrosion risks. The samples were delivered to Sandia National laboratories for analysis. At Sandia, the soluble salts were leached from the dust and quantified by ion chromatography. In addition, subsamples of the dust were taken for scanning electron microscopy to determine the texture and mineralogy of the dust and salts. The results of those analyses are presented in this report.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2015

2015 Long-Term Hydrologic Monitoring Program Sampling and Analysis Results Report for Project Rulison, Co

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management conducted annual sampling at the Rulison, Colorado, Site for the Long-Term Hydrologic Monitoring Program (LTHMP) on May 20–22 and 27, 2015. Several of the land owners were not available to allow access to their respective properties, which created the need for several sample collection trips. This report documents the analytical results of the Rulison monitoring event and includes the trip report and the data validation package (Appendix A). The groundwater and surface water monitoring were shipped to the GEL Group Inc. laboratories for analysis. All requested analyses were successfully completed. Samples were analyzed for gamma-emitting radionuclides by high- resolution gamma spectrometry. Tritium was analyzed using two methods, the conventional tritium method, which has a detection limit on the order of 400 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), and the enriched method (for selected samples), which has a detection limit on the order of 3 pCi/L.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2014

The Investigation of Chlorates as a Possible Source of Oxygen and Chlorine Detected by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument in Gale Crater, Mars

Sutter, B.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Dust Samples Collected from a Near-Marine East Coast ISFSI Site ("Site C")

In June of 2022, dust samples were collected from the surface of an in-service spent nuclear fuel dry storage canister during an inspection at an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. The site is anonymous but is a near-marine or brackish water east coast location referred to here as "Site C". The purpose of the sampling was to assess the composition and abundance of the soluble salts present on the canister surface, information that provides a metric for potential corrosion risks. Following collection, the samples were delivered to Sandia National Laboratories for analysis. At Sandia, the soluble salts were leached from the dust and quantified by ion chromatography. In addition, subsamples of the dust were taken for scanning electron microscopy to determine the particle sizes, morphology, and mineralogy of the dust and salts. The results of those analyses are presented in this report.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2015

Nuclear Security Education Program at the Pennsylvania State University

The availability of trained and qualified nuclear and radiation security experts worldwide has decreased as those with hands-on experience have retired while the demand for these experts and skills have increased. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) has responded to the continued loss of technical and policy expertise amongst personnel and students in the security field by initiating the establishment of a Nuclear Security Education Initiative, in partnership with Pennsylvania State University (PSU), Texas A and M (TAMU), and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This collaborative, multi-year initiative forms the basis of specific education programs designed to educate the next generation of personnel who plan on careers in the nonproliferation and security fields with both domestic and international focus. The three universities worked collaboratively to develop five core courses consistent with the GTRI mission, policies, and practices. These courses are the following: Global Nuclear Security Policies, Detectors and Source Technologies, Applications of Detectors/Sensors/Sources for Radiation Detection and Measurements Nuclear Security Laboratory, Threat Analysis and Assessment, and Design and Analysis of Security Systems for Nuclear and Radiological Facilities. The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Nuclear Engineering Program is a leader in undergraduate and graduate-level nuclear engineering education in the USA. The PSU offers undergraduate and graduate programs in nuclear engineering. The PSU undergraduate program in nuclear engineering is the largest nuclear engineering programs in the USA. The PSU Radiation Science and Engineering Center (RSEC) facilities are being used for most of the nuclear security education program activities. Laboratory space and equipment was made available for this purpose. The RSEC facilities include the Penn State Breazeale Reactor (PSBR), gamma irradiation facilities (in-pool irradiator, dry irradiator, and hot cells), neutron beam laboratory, radiochemistry laboratories, and various radiation detection and measurement laboratories. A new nuclear security education laboratory was created with DOE NNSA- GTRI funds at RSEC. The nuclear security graduate level curriculum enables the PSU to educate and train future nuclear security experts, both within the United States as well as worldwide. The nuclear security education program at Penn State will grant a Master's degree in nuclear security starting fall 2015. The PSU developed two courses: Nuclear Security- Detector And Source Technologies and Nuclear Security- Applications of Detectors/Sensors/Sources for Radiation Detection and Measurements (Laboratory). Course descriptions and course topics of these courses are described briefly: - Nuclear Security - Detector and Source Technologies; - Nuclear Security - Applications of Detectors/Sensors/Sources for Radiation Detection and Measurements Laboratory.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NASA NTRS1987

Measurement uncertainty for the Uniform Engine Testing Program conducted at NASA Lewis Research Center

An uncertainty analysis was conducted to determine the bias and precision errors and total uncertainty of measured turbojet engine performance parameters. The engine tests were conducted as part of the Uniform Engine Test Program which was sponsored by the Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD). With the same engines, support hardware, and instrumentation, performance parameters were measured twice, once during tests conducted in test cell number 3 and again during tests conducted in test cell number 4 of the NASA Lewis Propulsion Systems Laboratory. The analysis covers 15 engine parameters, including engine inlet airflow, engine net thrust, and engine specific fuel consumption measured at high rotor speed of 8875 rpm. Measurements were taken at three flight conditions defined by the following engine inlet pressure, engine inlet total temperature, and engine ram ratio: (1) 82.7 kPa, 288 K, 1.0, (2) 82.7 kPa, 288 K, 1.3, and (3) 20.7 kPa, 288 K, 1.3. In terms of bias, precision, and uncertainty magnitudes, there were no differences between most measurements made in test cells number 3 and 4. The magnitude of the errors increased for both test cells as engine pressure level decreased. Also, the level of the bias error was two to three times larger than that of the precision error.

Abdelwahab, Mahmood↗

NASA NTRS1975

Pyrotechnic shock measurement and data analysis requirements

An investigation is described into the laboratory measurement and analysis of pyrotechnic shock which was prompted at JPL when two separate facilities generated discrepant pyrotechnic shock data while testing Mariner Jupiter/Saturn 1977 spacecraft hardware. Both of the testing facilities were surveyed. The only difference noted was in the FM tape recorders used to record the data. One facility used a tape recorder operating at 60 in./sec with a frequency response of 20 kHz; the other used a tape recorder operating at 120 in./sec with a frequency response of 80 kHz. The accelerometers, cables, charge amplifiers, and mechanical setups were identical.

Albers, L.↗

NASA NTRS2014

The Investigation of Magnesium Perchlorate/Iron Phase-mineral Mixtures as a Possible Source of Oxygen and Chlorine Detected by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument in Gale Crater, Mars

The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument onboard the Curiosity rover detect-ed O2 and HCl gas releases from the Rocknest (RN) eolian bedform and the John Klein (JK) and Cumber-land (CB) drill hole materials in Gale Crater (Fig. 1) [1,2]. Chlorinated hydrocarbons have also been detect-ed by the SAM quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GCMS) [1,2,3,4]. These detections along with the detection of perchlorate (ClO4(-)) by the Mars Phoenix Lander's Wet Chemistry Laboratory (WCL) [5] suggesting perchlo-rate is a possible candidate for evolved O2 and chlorine species. Laboratory thermal analysis of individual per-chlorates has yet to provide an unequivocal tempera-ture match to the SAM O2 and HCl release data [1,2]. Catalytic reactions of Fe phases in the Gale Crater ma-terial with perchlorates can potentially reduce the de-composition temperatures of these otherwise pure per-chlorate/chlorate phases [e.g., 6,7]. Iron mineralogy found in the Rocknest materials when mixed with Ca-perchlorate was found to cause O2 release temperatures to be closer match to the SAM O2 release data and enhance HCl gas releases. Exact matches to the SAM data has unfortnunately not been achieved with Ca-perchlorate-Fe-phase mixtures [8]. The effects of Fe-phases on magnesium perchlorate thermal decomposi-tion release of O2 and HCl have not been evaluated and may provide improved matches to the SAM O2 and HCl release data. This work will evaluate the thermal decomposition of magnesium perchlorate mixed with fayalite/magnetite phase and a Mauna Kea palagonite (HWMK 919). The objectives are to 1) summarize O2 and HCl releases from the Gale Crater materials, and 2) evaluate the O2 and HCl releases from the Mg-perchlorate + Fe phase mixtures to determine if Mg-perchlorate mixed with Fe-phases can explain the Gale Crater O2 and HCl releases.

Sutter, B.↗

DOE OSTI2019

H β and H γ Absorption-line Profile Inconsistencies in Laboratory Experiments Performed at White Dwarf Photosphere Conditions

The spectroscopic method relies on hydrogen Balmer absorption lines to infer white dwarf (WD) masses. These masses depend on the choice of atmosphere model, hydrogen atomic line shape calculation, and which Balmer series members are included in the spectral fit. In addition to those variables, spectroscopic masses disagree with those derived using other methods. Here we present laboratory experiments aimed at investigating the main component of the spectroscopic method: hydrogen line shape calculations. These experiments use X-rays from Sandia National Laboratories’ Z-machine to create a uniform ~15 cm 3 hydrogen plasma and a ~4 eV backlighter that enables recording high-quality absorption spectra. The large plasma, volumetric X-ray heating that fosters plasma uniformity, and the ability to collect absorption spectra at WD photosphere conditions are improvements over past laboratory experiments. Analysis of the experimental absorption spectra reveals that electron density (n e ) values derived from the Hγ line are ~34% ± 7.3% lower than from Hβ. Two potential systematic errors that may contribute to this difference were investigated. A detailed evaluation of self-emission and plasma gradients shows that these phenomena are unlikely to produce any measurable Hβ–Hγ n e difference. WD masses inferred with the spectroscopic method are proportional to the photosphere density. Hence, the measured Hβ–Hγ n e difference is qualitatively consistent with the trend that WD masses inferred from their Hβ line are higher than that resulting from the analysis of Hβ and Hγ. In conclusion, this evidence may suggest that current hydrogen line shape calculations are not sufficiently accurate to capture the intricacies of the Balmer series.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

October 2025 Semiannual Composite Salt Waste Processing Facility Decontaminated Salt Solution Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure Results

The aqueous waste from the Salt Waste Processing Facility is sampled semiannually for transfers to the Saltstone Disposal Facility. Salt solution is treated at the Saltstone Production Facility and disposed of in the Saltstone Disposal Facility. Per request of customer, X-TTR-Z-00027, Revision 0, one Saltstone Processing Facility Decontaminated Salt Solution and Z area premix material for the October 2025 semiannual Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure sample. The sample contained 60:40 (by weight) of slag and fly ash (referred to as the “Cement-Free grout sample”). Results from the technical report support Task 2: ‘Grout Leaching Analyses’ of the Task Technical Request prepared by Savannah River Mission Completion. At 51 days cured, the Saltstone sample was collected and shipped to a certified laboratory for analysis using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. The October 2025 Semiannual Cement-Free grout sample met 61 79.268.48 requirements for a non-hazardous waste form with respect to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act metals and Underlying Hazardous Constituents and met the Saltstone Production Facility Waste Acceptance Criteria that was in effect at the time of the sample collection at the Salt Waste Processing Facility.

Hsieh, Madison [Savannah River National Laboratory↗