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DOE OSTI2024

The Digital Engineering Vision for DOME: Facilitating Design, Deployment, and Operations [Poster]

DOME is a planned microreactor test facility at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex. It is a complex system with several interdependent sub-systems such as the reactor (up to 20 MWth), radioactive confinement, temperature and pressure regulation system, ventilation system, etc. The engineering design process for such a system traditionally involves several documents from various sources and the system information is scattered across these documents. Digital engineering represents a paradigm shift through which systems are designed using digital models and integrated data. The digital engineering vision for DOME utilizes a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approach. The system architecture, physical components, control logic, and verification experiments are all designed using MathWorks MATLAB and Simulink. This hierarchical model can combine data from multiple sources at various levels of abstraction. It can be used to simulate the facility’s operations and to test the system using different sets of parameters. Its capabilities can be expanded by interfacing it with high-fidelity multi-physics models, risk analysis tools, etc. The same model can evolve into a digital twin that can monitor operations and conduct predictive analysis using real-time sensor data from the facility. The eventual goal of this effort is to transform the end-to-end engineering of nuclear facilities in every phase of their lifecycle, including design, deployment, and operations.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2024

SinhaRoy_TechPresentation_2024 [Slides]

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Report on the Use and Function of the Integrated Operations Capability Analysis Platform (ICAP) and the LWRS Innovation Portal (IP)

The commercial nuclear power industry has achieved excellent safety and reliability performance but is struggling to survive in an electricity market that is increasingly dominated by subsidized renewables and cheap natural gas. These challenges have forced utilities to explore previously uncharted avenues to drastically reduce the operations and maintenance costs of their plants which are the primary drivers of the total cost to produce electricity. The petrochemical industry faced similar challenges some years ago as the costs of extraction and processing were rising while their reservoirs were being depleted along with a drop-in commodity prices that resulted in unsustainable operations. In this challenging climate, they developed a business model called Integrated Operations (IO) that sought to utilize technology to enable news ways of working through the integration of people, technology, process and governance changes. The Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program, working with IFE have developed an operating model via transferable learnings from the North Sea O&G industry. This framework is termed “Integrated Operations for Nuclear” (ION). ION is a transformation model that integrates the benefits and features of four principal factors: People, Technology, Process and Governance. The purpose of this report is to describe how to generate an ION business process analysis and utilize this information to reduce O&M costs. In order to make this job easier, DOE LWRS has created a suite of tools that will allow a person who is involved in a transformation effort at their company to build a solid documented business case for embarking on a major transformation effort. These tools, the Integrated Operations Capability Analysis Model (ICAP) and the LWRS Innovation Portal (IP) are described herein with instructions on their use. Instructions on how the interface with the EPRI Business Case Analysis Method (BCAM) are also provided.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Thermochemical Transformation of Calcium during Biomass Burning and the Effects on Postfire Aqueous Dissolution of Macronutrients

Calcium is commonly the most abundant element in fire residues and its speciation largely determines the geochemical properties of fire residues and their effects on postfire soil chemistry. To explore the effects of biomass composition and fire conditions on ash Ca speciation, this study characterizes the speciation of Ca in charcoal and ash samples that were derived from different plant compartments and thermal conditions, using Ca K-edge X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. Results showed that biomass contains abundant organic Ca complexes, which were mineralized into fairchildite and calcite after heating at 450 to 600 °C and then CaO, as temperature increased to 750 °C. Apatite could be an abundant Ca species in fire residues if the Ca/P molar ratio of the biomass is small (<2). The mineralization of organic Ca to the identified Ca minerals during burning was negligibly affected by the oxygen level. Calcium speciation in prescribed fire residues resembled that of biomass ash burned at 550 °C with similar Ca/P molar ratios. Batch experiments showed that macronutrients (Ca, Mg, K, and P) were differentially released, as a result of different solubility of minerals in ashes and reprecipitation of minerals. The aqueous solubility of Ca, Mg, and P decreased as pH increased from 5 to 9, while K showed no pH dependency and was almost completely soluble. Results from this study improve our understanding of the chemistry of fire residues and their geochemical behaviors, which can help evaluate the impact of fire on postfire soil properties and macronutrient cycling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Engineering Scale Testing of Transformational Non-Aqueous Solvent-Based CO 2 Capture Process at Technology Center Mongstad

Progress is reported for the period from August 8, 2018 to June 30, 2023. This final report involves work performed under ten tasks spanning two budget periods. The tasks are Task 1 Project Management, Task 2 TCM EH&S Risk Evaluation and Permitting, Task 3 Solvent Qualification, Task 4 Preliminary Design of NAS Optimized System, Task 5 TCM Amine Plant Equipment Procurement, Modification and Commissioning, Task 6 Solvent Production, Task 7 NAS Modified Amine Plant Test Plan Development, Testing, and Data Analysis, Task 8 Decommissioning and Waste Handling, Task 9 Final Techno-Economic Assessment and EH&S Risk Assessment, and Task 10 Cost Benefit Analysis and Technology Maturation Planning.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

DOE OSTI2021

Analysis of microplastics in bivalves along Fourmile Branch

Microplastics are commonly found near wastewater treatment facilities with the source originating typically from fibers associated with laundry detergents. Fourmile branch would have limited laundry associated effluent and does not receive any input from water originating from upstream industry sources, therefore microplastics would have originated from Site operations or through atmospheric deposition which are both unexplored pathways. In order to assess environmental inventory effects on the biota, water samples were collected from sampling locations along Fourmile Branch on the Savannah River Site using plankton nets and grab samples at Fourmile Branch locations (i.e., FM-2B, FM-A7, and FM6). Fourmile Branch has a long history of receiving industrial effluents from site operations as well effluent from the site’s wastewater treatment plant. Water samples and the debris collected in the nets were rinsed with deionized water and sieved to remove the larger fractions of plastics (4000-2000 µm) and retain fractions <500 µm. The water samples were analyzed for the type and size of plastics by μ-Raman, mass spectrometry, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. Previously collected bivalves were prepared into thin sections and analyzed using microscopy.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

Transformative Impacts of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy on Environmental and Biological Research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

This manuscript will present an advancement of transformative research that has been conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) over a 25-year period (2000–2025) on a variety of environmental and biological matrices. These investigations derived a fundamental understanding of how elemental detection and analysis of these matrices led to the knowledge and discovery of natural processes in plants and the environment. Each project led to the initiation of a new research area which unearthed awesome and novel breakthroughs. Highlights are listed below: 1. The preliminary research at ORNL centered on the detection of aerosols utilizing Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology. The Clean Air Act Amendment (CAAA) of 1990 highlighted the importance of identifying hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) due to their impact on environmental and human health, thereby underscoring the need to detect various toxic elements. Research in aerosol chemistry aimed to identify these harmful elements released by factories during periods of increased emissions in their manufacturing processes. LIBS emerged as the most effective method for real-time, in situ measurements of metal species in both gaseous and aerosol phases. 2. An understanding of the presence of total carbon in soils gives perspective on how to develop carbon sequestration strategies. The recognition that carbon sinks can evolve back to carbon sources to emit back to the atmosphere was an important consideration. Also, the concentration of carbon in soil indicates the health of land areas for growing crops successfully. 3. The direct detection of most of the elements in a wood sample in a single emission spectrum, without sample preparation, encouraged the research to use the LIBS technique for preservative treated wood coupled with use of multivariate statistical methodology. Additionally, it encouraged the researchers to try to differentiate natural woods from different parts of the country, and it was successfully demonstrated that LIBS coupled with MVA analysis could differentiate wood of different species from each other and of similar species grown in different environments based on their elemental spectra. This was a breakthrough since it revealed a systematic approach to connect elemental scarcity and abundance to either drought or typical rainfall conditions for the hardwood trees grown in specific areas. 4. Furthermore, the research progressed to reveal physiological and developmental processes contributing to biomass production such that the variation in leaf elemental composition increases our understanding of terrestrial nutrient cycles, as well as tracking the transfer of toxic elements from soils to living organisms. 5. Recently another breakthrough viz., ionomics initiated the correlation of elements to specific genes, uncovering the function that the element performed in the plant. More recently, this has been extended from plants to fungi as well as fungi growing in symbiotic relations with plants.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Transgenic Mixed‐Linkage‐Glucan Enhancement Affects Root Characteristics and Decomposition in Soils of Contrasting Vegetation History

ABSTRACT Development of transgenic bioenergy sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] with increased contents of mixed‐linkage (1,3;1,4)‐β‐glucan (MLG) is an important step towards enhancing quality of bioenergy feedstocks. Since MLG‐enhancement leads to greater biomass digestibility, our overarching hypothesis is that root residues of MLG‐enhanced plants may be more readily decomposed in the soil, potentially creating new opportunities for optimizing soil carbon (C) sequestration, nutrient cycling, and overall agricultural sustainability. The study examined morphological, chemical, and enzymatic characteristics of fine and coarse roots of four bioenergy sorghum genotypes. Then, we incubated the roots within soils with contrasting vegetation histories while measuring C mineralization, microbial biomass C (MBC), and activity of hydrolytic enzymes and calculating vector length and vector angle enzymatic stoichiometry parameters. The results indicated that MLG‐enhancing transformations increased root total nitrogen (N) contents, decreased C/N ratios, and were associated with higher MLG concentrations in fine than in coarse roots. Incubations with transgenic roots led to 16%–38% higher MBC and 19%–41% lower microbial metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ). While enzyme activity differed markedly among the studied genotypes, it did not directly respond to MLG levels in root tissues. The increase in MBC without concurrent increases in C mineralization or hydrolytic enzyme activities in transgenic genotypes suggests that MLG enhancement promoted microbial anabolic retention of root‐derived C rather than stimulating catabolic decomposition. Enzymatic vector results indicated that these parameters reflect a variety of drivers behind microbial enzyme production, including availability of specific substrates, such as MLG here, and/or deficiency in specific nutrients, such as phosphorus (P). The study confirms the positive impacts from the roots of engineered MLG‐enhanced bioenergy plants on soil microbial activity and highlights the interactive influences on the MLG‐enhancement effects from root size and inherent soil properties.

Mahmoodabadi, Majid [Department of Plant, Soil, an↗

DOE OSTI2023

Solar Energy from a Big Picture Perspective to Nanoscale Insights via TOF-SIMS

The world is undergoing a rapid transformation in the ways that we generate and store energy. This has been driven not only by concerns about the climate but by simple economic factors due to the dramatic cost decreases in wind in solar power. In most places of the world where one would now want to build a new power plant, the cheapest option is to use wind of solar for power generation. Abundant clean energy when the sun shines most is driving new research for daily and seasonal energy storage in many different technologies. Here, we will briefly these discuss energy trends as a whole, before diving into our recent contributions to the field using time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) to improve the performance and reliability of solar cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Direct Synthesis of Ammonia from Nitrate on Amorphous Graphene with Near 100% Efficiency

Abstract Ammonia is an indispensable commodity in the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. Direct nitrate‐to‐ammonia electroreduction is a decentralized route yet challenged by competing side reactions. Most catalysts are metal‐based, and metal‐free catalysts with high nitrate‐to‐ammonia conversion activity are rarely reported. Herein, it is shown that amorphous graphene synthesized by laser induction and comprising strained and disordered pentagons, hexagons, and heptagons can electrocatalyze the eight‐electron reduction of NO 3 − to NH 3 with a Faradaic efficiency of ≈100% and an ammonia production rate of 2859 µg cm −2 h −1 at −0.93 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. X‐ray pair‐distribution function analysis and electron microscopy reveal the unique molecular features of amorphous graphene that facilitate NO 3 − reduction. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations establish the critical role of these features in stabilizing the reaction intermediates via structural relaxation. The enhanced catalytic activity enables the implementation of flow electrolysis for the on‐demand synthesis and release of ammonia with >70% selectivity, resulting in significantly increased yields and survival rates when applied to plant cultivation. The results of this study show significant promise for remediating nitrate‐polluted water and completing the NO x cycle.

Huang, Libei↗

DOE OSTI2024

A comparative study on deep learning models for condition monitoring of advanced reactor piping systems

Advanced nuclear reactors offer innovative applications due to their portability, reliability, resiliency, and high capacity factors. To operate them on a wider scale, reducing maintenance life-cycle costs while ensuring their integrity is essential. Autonomous operations in advanced nuclear reactors using augmented Digital Twin (DT) technology can serve as a cost-effective solution by increasing awareness about the system’s health. A key component of nuclear DT frameworks is the condition monitoring of safety systems, such as piping-equipment systems, which involves acquiring and monitoring the plant’s sensor data. Here, this research proposes a condition monitoring methodology utilizing deep learning algorithms, such as multilayer perceptions (MLP) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs), to detect degradation and its severity in nuclear piping-equipment systems. Sensor signals are processed to obtain the power spectral density and the Short-Time Fourier transform, and feature extraction methodologies are proposed to develop degradation-sensitive data repositories. The performance of MLP, one-dimensional (1D) CNN, and 2D CNN within the proposed condition monitoring framework is compared using a finite element model of a 3D piping system subjected to seismic loads as the application case study. Various approaches, such as dropout, k-Fold validation, regularization, and early stopping of training the network, are investigated to avoid overfitting the models to the input sensor data. The predictive capability and computational capacity of the deep learning algorithms are also compared to detect degradation in the Z-pipe system of the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBRII). The Z-pipe system is subjected to harmonic excitations that represent normal operating loads, such as pump-induced vibrations. The findings of the study indicate that the proposed artificial intelligence (AI)-driven condition monitoring framework demonstrates superior prediction accuracies with a 2D CNN, whereas the MLP exhibits higher computational efficiency.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Microstructural Simulation of Ion-Irradiated Natural Rocks and Minerals

This report details the contribution of Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) project, "Rapid Characterization of Concrete Mineralogy using Multi-Scale Tools" led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. To support the subsequent license renewal (SLR) of the US nuclear power plants (NPPs) fleet, the performance of concrete-forming aggregates against neutron irradiation needs to be assessed. Ion irradiation is proposed as a rapid, cost-effective surrogate method to full neutron irradiation testing. To complement the characterization of ion-irradiated rock specimens, ORNL has run finite-elements and fast-Fourier transform (FFT-based) simulations using the codes MARS and Microstructure-Oriented Scientific Analysis of Irradiated Concrete (MOSAIC). The main conclusion of this analysis is that the apparent post–ion-irradiation step-height underestimates the accumulated free radiation-induced volumetric expansion (RIVE) in the ion-implanted depth by about 15% at full amorphization and about 25% toward the beginning of the ion irradiation experiment. The discrepancy is explained by the fact that the step height is proportional to the sum of the RIVE (i.e., one third of the RIVE) and the irradiation-assisted plastic strains in the vertical direction (lower than two thirds of the RIVE). Because of the large lateral compressive stresses caused by the restraining effect of the unirradiated substrate, the stress field in the mineral grains and at the grain boundary (GB) in the ion-implanted layer is much different than the comparable stress field occurring during neutron irradiation. Hence, the mismatch RIVE causing cracks in the rock-forming minerals leads to different cracking patterns. Ion irradiation continues to be used as a rapid technique to assess the RIVE potential of rocks.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Laboratory Instrument Software Controlled Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry for Electrical Cable Testing

This research discusses development of a software-controlled laboratory instrument based spread spectrum time domain reflectometry system (SSTDR). This constitutes one task within PNNL’s Light Water Sustainability Program (LWRS) whose mission includes advancing nondestructive examination (NDE) techniques for off-line and on-line in-situ cable condition monitoring. In 2022, PNNL evaluated SSTDR for detection and characterization of a number of cable anomalies (Glass et al. 2022). The review included comparison of SSTDR to Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) techniques which have enjoyed encouraging feedback and are starting to be used in nuclear power plants for periodic cable condition monitoring of cable systems as part of the plant’s overall cable aging management program. The FDR test introduces a broad-band chirp onto the cable at the cable end then listens for any reflection from a change of impedance along the cable caused by a damaged conductor or insulation, splices, contact with moisture, or other cable anomalies. The signal is captured in the frequency domain then transformed back to the time domain using an inverse Fourier transform (IFT). Based on the velocity of propagation, the impedance response signal is plotted against distance along the cable. Peak locations along the X-axis indicate the distance along the cable where a portion of the signal has been reflected back to the instrument as a result of a cable anomaly. The FDR test is considered the gold standard of reflectometry however it does require the cable to be de-energized to perform the test. The LIVEWIRE commercial SSTDR produces a similar plot to the FDR however all processing is in the time domain. A pseudo-random noise code (PN code) is input onto the cable conductor and the instrument listens for any reflected response from cable anomalies. The SSTDR processes the signal as an autocorrelation comparing the input PN code to any reflected signal detected. The autocorrelation analysis for thermal aging, water and water ingress detection, ground fault and phase-to-phase fault detection at various locations along the cable and with the cable attached and detached from a motor load, and on both energized and un-energized conditions were performed. These results were contrasted to Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) measurements of the un-energized cable. Results were encouraging but indicated more work was warranted – particularly with the SSTDR, it seemed that the insulation damage would likely be better evaluated with multiple bandwidth cable tests particularly including larger bandwidths than were possible with the current commercial instrument. The commercial instrument’s bandwidth was set at 6, 12, 24, and 48MHz but note that SSTDR and FDR definitions of bandwidth trend similarly but are not the same. The FDR response could be more broadly adjusted, and the bandwidth of 100 to 500 MHz produced the best responses. FDR responses to anomalies were clearer than SSTDR responses and indications were that a broader bandwidth SSTDR may lead to improved SSTDR detection capability. This project used a laboratory instrument based SSTDR (primarily using an Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) and a digital oscilloscope plus Python in-house software) that allowed software adjustment of the SSTDR bandwidth, window functions applied to the exciting Pseudo-random Noise (PN) code plus and other aspects of the SSTDR signal processing. Hereafter, this will be referred to as the PNNL SSTDR. Evaluating specific performance of the PNNL SSTDR is left to a separate report. This report documents hardware and software development to produce the SSTDR cable test system.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2022

High Energy Systems for Transforming CO 2 to Valuable Products (Final Report)

The objective of this project is to develop the Direct E-Beam Synthesis (DEBS) process that uses high-energy electron beams (E-Beam) to break chemical bonds. This allows the production of valuable chemicals, such as acetic acid, methanol, and carbon monoxide, at relatively low severity (pressure near one atmosphere and temperatures <150°C) from near-pure CO 2 captured from a pulverized coal-fired power plant and methane, imported as natural gas. Creating such valuable products will offset the cost of carbon capture and storage. Through this project, we have designed, constructed, and operated an E-Beam reactor to examine the feasibility of performing dry reforming reaction without a catalyst using only DEBS. We have verified the production of syngas with 1:1 H2:CO ratio and calculated that the energy cost for conversion is about 5.2 eV/molecule of product for dry reforming reaction which is similar to the energy cost for conversion using conventional thermochemical conversion but under significantly milder conditions (room temperature and atmospheric pressure). We have performed a technoeconomic analysis (TEA) to estimate the total capital requirement and the cost of production for a 99.4 MMSCFD syngas production plant via non-catalytic Direct E-Beam Synthesis (DEBS) technology utilizing a high-energy electron beam (E-Beam) accelerator. No assumption is made for syngas utilization downstream, and the incoming reactants are pure CO 2 from carbon capture (assumed to be at zero cost) and natural gas. The Total As-Spent Cost (TASC) was calculated to be $\$242.5$ million, resulting in a levelized cost of syngas (LCOS) of $\$175.84$/tonne (metric) at a natural gas price of $\$6.24$/MMBTU1. The cost of syngas is primarily determined by the price of natural gas. If the cost of the CO 2 feedstock is assumed to be non-zero, then the price of the CO 2 feed also heavily influences the levelized cost of syngas. The potential impact on the cost of electricity from syngas revenue is significant. Following DOE NETL’s guidance, a lifecycle analysis (LCA) was conducted to compare the cradle-to-gate life cycle emissions of GTI Energy’s novel Direct E-Beam Synthesis (DEBS) process that produces syngas via the reaction of methane and carbon dioxide to the emissions of a state-of-the-art Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) process that also produces syngas via the reaction of methane and steam. The DEBS process results in less GHG emissions than SMR (with CO product as the basis of comparison). openLCA was used for the LCA and the results show that the total global warming potential (GWP) of DEBS is 0.981 kg CO 2 e per kg CO product, while the SMR process has a global warming potential of 2.573 kg CO 2 e per kg CO product. The ratio of the GWP of the proposed product system to the comparison product system is 0.381. This percent change is 61.9% lower GWP than SMR.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Report on Thermal Cycling Testing and Bimaterial Weld Development for a Passively Actuated Materials Surveillance Test Article

This report describes the continuation and conclusion of a thermal cycling test program designed to evaluate a family of passively actuated material surveillance test articles. Additionally, the report details a preliminary study of bimetallic welding between 316 stainless steel and TZM (tungsten-zirconium-molybdenum) alloy. The test program was ultimately successful in demonstrating the basic viability of the passively actuated test article concept as well as specifically validating the procedures developed to size specimens to mimic the mechanical response of operating components. The report discusses and summarizes the results of the complete test program which tested samples for more than 1,000 controlled thermal cycles. The weld development program included both stir friction and electron beam joining. The stir friction welding was ultimately successful, while the electron beam welding would require additional development. Ultimately, these test programs pave the way for implementing a materials surveillance program in future molten salt reactors (MSRs). The report conclusions outline a plan for transforming the research and developed described here into a definite set of practices and procedures for a surveillance program at a future operating reactor.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Structure-guided utilization of lignocellulose for catalysis, energy, and biomaterials

As a complex composite of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, plant lignocellulose has long served as a major resource for biomass conversion, materials engineering, and bio-based product development. High-resolution structural insights enabled by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) now allow the mapping of polymer interfaces, identification of functional group accessibility, and tracking of molecular organization during processing, all of which are critical factors for optimizing catalytic strategies. These insights could drive transformative progress in lignocellulose-based applications, including selective depolymerization, improved pretreatment design, and efficient upcycling of lignin into resins, plastics, and biomedical materials. In industry-relevant contexts, such as biofuel generation and renewable material manufacturing, understanding the hydration dynamics, cross-linking patterns, and structural heterogeneity is also essential. The ability to visualize these features in native biomass presents a unique opportunity to develop new strategies for sustainability and performance. As the structural toolbox continues to expand, it is becoming a central enabler for innovations in renewable energy, green chemistry, and advanced bioproducts.

bioproduct↗

DOE OSTI2025

ARCADE Analysis Methods & Validation Pathway

The Advanced Reactor Cyber Analysis and Development Environment (ARCADE) provides an automated analysis system which supports risk-informed performance based (RIPB) evaluations of nuclear control systems. Every possible cyber threat which could lead to consequence is identified by simulating the unsafe control action sequences which transform digital harm into physical harm. Eliminating the simulation of complex digital cyber attack chains cuts out unnecessary computational overhead and focuses directly on the physics of cyber-physical attacks. This focus enables designers to make informed decisions which can entirely eliminate categories of cyber threats against advanced reactors through the physical nature of the plant design. This narrowing of cyber threat against nuclear power plants through the physics of the system is intended to make any remaining threat management and cost efficient. This is the goal of the Tiered Cyber Analysis (TCA) outlined in NRC Draft Regulation Guide (RG) 5.96, which provides a RIPB cybersecurity approach for new reactors. ARCADE has been custom developed to meet the demands of the rigorous analysis required in Tier 1 of the TCA, which forms the foundation of the TCA process. Currently, ARCADE is still under development, but has made significant leaps in capability. A pilot analysis on the opensource Asherah simulator was performed which demonstrated key functionality goals. The next stage of ARCADE development involves improvements to the applications which support the analysis system, and enabling the analysis system to utilize the full suite of unsafe control action simulations. Since the analysis method’s core functions are complete, validation of the analysis method will be started concurrent to the next development stages. The automated analysis ARCADE will provide can radically change the cybersecurity design process for advanced reactors, reducing the cost of security implementation while enhancing cyber resilience. The pathway for ARCADE’s development to this goal has become much clearer. The majority of technical hurdles have been cleared, and the remaining development needs have been solidified. ARCADE is now capable of assisting the advanced reactor design process and directly support advanced reactor industry RIPB practices.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Crystallographic stability of the BCC phase during quenching of metastable beta titanium alloy Ti-5553 and comparison of structural criteria for the predictive capability of α” martensite

This work evaluates the compositional standard currently developed for Ti-5553 powder and explores the metastable β region for sensitivity to martensitic formation during rapid quenching from the melt. Ti-5553 is a beta-stabilized titanium alloy that is increasingly being used in additive manufacturing applications. A series of alloys within the Ti-5553 compositional space was processed using two-piston spat quenching to perform rapid solidification and quenching for each of these alloy compositions. Typical empirical models such as molybdenum equivalency are not able to fully separate the retained BCC and martensitic compositions. Further, the use of thermodynamic data to estimate the transformation energy needed to form martensite can differentiate the alloys and provide a metric to further develop compositional limits for metastable beta titanium alloy development.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗