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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.

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At least 541 records · Page 30

Extreme-scale stochastic optimization and simulation via learning-enhanced decomposition and parallelization (Final Technical Report)

Stochastic optimization and simulation models ubiquitously arise in designing and operating complex service/engineering systems. They can be extreme in scale due to high-dimensional data and decisions, and can also involve decisions made sequentially in response to newly revealed data, both causing significant computational challenge. The objective of this research is to explore a unified framework that integrates machine learning with discrete optimization and risk-averse modeling, to improve the efficiency of decomposition paradigms for stochastic optimization and simulations at extreme scale. The models we consider represent a broad class of complex decision-making problems, where 0-1 or continuous decisions are made before and/or after knowing multiple sources of uncertainties that could be correlated. We will employ machine learning methods to dynamically decide and prioritize computational procedures, including cut generation, branching, and bounding of the optimal objective. Furthermore, the research will shed new lights on the traditional decomposition algorithms for extreme-scale computing. Deliverables of the research include new modeling and computational methods for advancing the state-of-the-art research in optimization and simulation, bringing many relevant risk-averse, data-driven optimization problems in practice within the range of tractability. Examples include distributed computing server scheduling and sensor deployment for monitoring critical infrastructures. Success in this effort will enable progress in solving multiple extreme-scale problems in the complex system design and operations arising from DoE missions in energy, environment, and national security.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Advanced Laboratory and Field Arrays (ALFA)/Lab Collaboration Project (LCP) for Marine Energy (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

The objective of the Advanced Laboratory and Field Arrays (ALFA) project was to reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) energy by leveraging research, development, and testing capabilities at Oregon State University, University of Washington, and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. ALFA is a project within the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC; formerly NNMREC), a multi-institution entity with a diverse funding base that focuses on research and development for marine renewables. The ALFA project aimed to accelerate the development of next-generation arrays of wave energy conversion (WEC) and tidal energy conversion (TEC) devices through a suite of field-focused R&D activities spanning a broad range of strategic opportunity areas identified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement: • Device and/or array operation and maintenance (O&M) logistics development; • High-fidelity resource characterization and/or modeling technique development and validation; • Array-specific component technology development (e.g. moorings and foundations, transmission, and other offshore grid components); • Array performance testing and evaluation; and • Novel cost-effective environmental monitoring techniques and instrumentation testing and evaluation. The objective of the Lab Collaboration Project (LCP) was to accelerate the development of next-generation marine energy conversion systems. The LCP aimed to achieve these project objectives in collaboration with the national laboratories by: • Developing concept generation and assessment tools; • Improving access to existing testing resources; • Validating collision risk models between fish and turbines; and • Advancing analysis and simulation capabilities for wave-WEC interactions and PTO analysis in nonlinear ocean waves. The ALFA portion of the project was comprised of six overarching technical tasks: • Task 1: Debris Modeling, Detection and Mitigation; • Task 2: Autonomous Monitoring & Intervention; • Task 3: Resource Characterization for Extreme Conditions; • Task 4: Robust Models for Design of Offshore Anchoring and Mooring Systems; • Task 5: Performance Enhancement for Marine Energy Converter (MEC) Arrays; and • Task 6: Evaluating Sampling Techniques for MHK Biological Monitoring. The LCP was divided into four overarching technical tasks: • Task 7: Project Management and Reporting • Task 8: Novel Design and Assessment Methodologies for Wave Energy Converter Design (Wave- SPARC) • Task 9: Testing Access for Commercial Marine Renewable Energy Technology Developers • Task 10: Quantifying Collision Risk for Fish and Turbines • Task 11: Nonlinear Ocean Waves and PTO Control Strategy Each ALFA/LCP task listed above functioned as a separate and discreet project. A final Technical Report was written for each individual task and these reports were uploaded to OSTI, after receiving DOE approval. The following document is a compilation of each of these final, approved reports arranged as individual chapters.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. XXXII - A new era in international technical communication: American-Russian collaboration

Until the recent dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Communist Party exerted a strict control of access to and dissemination of scientific and technical information. This article presents models of the Soviet-style information society and the Western-style information society and discusses the effects of centralized governmental control of information on Russian technical communication practices. The effects of political control on technical communication are then used to interpret the results of a survey of Russian and U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists concerning the time devoted to technical communication, their collaborative writing practices and their attitudes toward collaboration, the kinds of technical documents they produce and use, their views regarding the appropriate content for an undergraduate technical communication course, and their use of computer technology. Finally, the implications of these findings for future collaboration between Russian and U.S. engineers and scientists are examined.

Flammia, Madelyn↗

Aluminum Clad Spent Nuclear Fuel Task 3: Sealed and Vented Systems Episodic Breathing and Gas Generation Modeling Plan

This document presents the test plan for Task 3 of the Aluminum Clad Spent Nuclear Fuel Long Term Dry Storage Technical Issues Action Plan, which covers modeling and predictions of the generations of corrosive gases within both sealed and vented, subject to episodic breathing, storage systems. This includes aluminum clad spent nuclear fuel (ASNF) that is currently or may in the future be held in dry storage for an extended period. The overall objectives of the Task 3 modeling plan are to: 1. Comprehensively model the combined effects of episodic breathing in vented storage systems/canisters using INL INTEC CPP-603 facility as an example. Both bulk gas phase radiolysis reactions and aluminum cladding surface gas generation reactions will be included into a 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to model and predict long-term evolutions of the temperature and concentrations of corrosive gases within unsealed canisters subjected to episodic breathing. 2. Comprehensively model sealed and inert canister storage system using DOE standard canister as an example. 3. Closely integrate with Task 1 and Task 2 for identification of main gas-generation reactions and kinetics and provide simulation results back to Task 1 and 2 to further refine experimental designs. This test plan lays out the technical activities that will be performed to achieve the test objectives described above. Simulations will be performed using the Idaho National Laboratory super computer Falcon.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Preliminary design specifications of a calcium model

A list of objectives, requirements, and guidelines are given for a calcium model. Existing models are reviewed and evaluated in relation to the stated objectives and requirements. The reviewed models were either too abstract or apparently invalidated. A technical approach to the design of a desirable model is identified.

Source record↗

Atmospheric numerical modeling resource enhancement and model convective parameterization/scale interaction studies

Research will be undertaken in this contract in the area of Modeling Resource and Facilities Enhancement to include computer, technical and educational support to NASA investigators to facilitate model implementation, execution and analysis of output; to provide facilities linking USRA and the NASA/EADS Computer System as well as resident work stations in ESAD; and to provide a centralized location for documentation, archival and dissemination of modeling information pertaining to NASA's program. Additional research will be undertaken in the area of Numerical Model Scale Interaction/Convective Parameterization Studies to include implementation of the comparison of cloud and rain systems and convective-scale processes between the model simulations and what was observed; and to incorporate the findings of these and related research findings in at least two refereed journal articles.

Cushman, Paula P.↗

Data-Driven Modeling and Control of Systems with Plasma-Surface Interactions (Final Technical Report)

This final technical report summarizes the activities and accomplishments in the period from February 2023 thru January 2026. The objective of the proposed research is to investigate the physical mechanisms and processes underlying the formation of structures and patterns in systems with plasma-surface interactions. In the past decades, there have been extensive studies on the interaction of glow discharges, dielectric barrier discharges, and arc discharges with confining or intervening surfaces. The advancement of the understanding of these phenomena is not only of fundamental scientific interest and relevance to the knowledge of the plasma state, but also with profound implications in various technological applications. The research will integrate theoretical, computational, and experimental work within an innovative framework of data assimilation, i.e., optimally combining model predictions with measurements. The scientific merit of this research has three aspects. Firstly, it extends the studies of plasma-surface interactions to systems with insulator surfaces and multi-layer systems, while existing studies are predominantly on electrode surfaces. Secondly, it expects to develop a novel data-driven modeling approach based on data assimilation to enhance the predictive and control capabilities, which could make transformative contributions to basic plasma research. Thirdly, it will shed new light on outstanding problems related to formation of patterns interfacing plasmas. This project also aims to launch an education and outreach initiative at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a non-R1, minority-serving institution in South Texas. The initiative is structured as a four-tier pyramid. Tier one will be a webinar series for culture and capacity building to inform broader audience in the region about the research fields of plasma science and engineering. Tier two will be the creation and offering of an upper-level undergraduate course on introductory plasma physics, which will help with the recruitment for the upper tiers. On tier three, we will engage and mentor senior design students to conduct work toward the research goal of this project. There will also be a certificate program on general plasma science for undergrad and graduate students, part of which will be lab training at Princeton University. Tier four will be the supervision and mentoring of Ph.D. students. Therefore, this project will systematically expand the talent pipeline, broaden participation from communities historically and geographically underrepresented in DOE SC research portfolio, significantly improve the research and education capacity at the PI’s institution, and contribute to developing a diverse workforce in plasma science and engineering.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Validating a Dynamic PWR Safety and Security Model?

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) are assessed for safety and security using separate models that cannot capture how an attacker's decisions and a plant's response unfold together in real time, leaving regulators and operators without a complete picture of true plant vulnerability. Traditional probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methods treat adversarial events as fixed initiators with predetermined outcomes, and are structurally incapable of representing the time-dependent interplay between physical security events, safety system response, and operator mitigative actions. At Idaho National Laboratory (INL), I contributed to the development and validation of Modeling and Analysis for Safety and Security using the Dynamic EMRALD Framework (MASS-DEF). Where static PRA relies on event-tree logic that cannot evolve mid-scenario, MASS-DEF couples a time-dependent dynamic PRA tool EMRALD (Event Modeling Risk Assessment using Linked Diagrams) with attack simulation software, allowing attacker behavior, plant system states, and operator actions to interact across time. My work focused on validating a general Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) model. I traced model logic against PWR plant to identified errors in logic and confirm accuracy. I then built and tested attack scenarios against a general PWR model to verify that the model produced expected outcomes across all logical pathways. I also contributed a section to a related technical paper applying the same EMRALD platform to radiation dose modeling. Results show that MASS-DEF can quantitatively demonstrate that many plants exceed their regulatory security thresholds. This demonstrated margin provides a technically defensible basis for reducing the number of guards without compromising regulatory compliance. Physical security costs represent roughly 10% of annual operating budgets, making such reductions directly meaningful to INL's mission of sustaining existing commercial NPPs. This internship strengthened my understanding of nuclear systems, probabilistic modeling, and technical writing, and has solidified my pursuit of a career at a national laboratory.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗

Application of a Null-Space Monte Carlo Flow Model Set to the Composite Analysis Base Case Fate and Transport Modeling

The Plateau to River Groundwater Model (P2R Model) is a groundwater flow and contaminant fate and transport (F&T) simulation model used to support remedial activities conducted by CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company at the Hanford Site in Washington State. Figure 1-1 illustrates the P2R Model extents, discretization, and boundary conditions. The P2R Model is utilized in the Composite Analysis (CA) for the Hanford Site as the computational engine for computing F&T predictions as described in CP-60406, Hanford Site Composite Analysis Technical Approach Description: Groundwater. The model simulates contaminants of concern within the saturated zone of the uppermost aquifer beneath the Central Plateau and downgradient to the Columbia River. CP-57037, Model Package Report for the Plateau to River Model Version 8.3, documents the current version of the P2R Model including a description of the conceptual site model, model development and calibration, and limitations to the model application. The overall objective of the saturated zone modeling effort is to provide a basis for making informed remedial action decisions based on descriptions of current and expected future contaminant concentrations in groundwater at decision points within and downgradient of the Central Plateau of the Hanford Site. Specifically, the purpose of this environmental calculation is to describe the application of the hydraulic property fields and recharge parameters documented in ECF-HANFORD-20-0027, Null Space Monte Carlo Evaluation of the Plateau to River Model, to the CA flow and fate and transport simulation results to quantify the uncertainty in the simulated results due to input parameter selection. Use of numerical groundwater models is always accompanied with uncertainty in the results produced by a model because models are approximations of reality. Thus, by definition, models lack the detail to fully represent observed behavior. Use of numerical techniques, such as a NSMC analysis, can help in identifying and quantifying the potential uncertainties associated with a numerical model such as the P2R Model. The result of NSCM analysis is a set of F&T simulations that provide an estimate of the range of possible outcomes that are used to quantify the uncertainty in simulated concentrations produced using the base case simulations. The simulated concentrations from all simulations will support calculation of the uncertainty of the total dose calculated in a separate calculation.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Application of a Null-Space Monte Carlo Flow Model Set to the Composite Analysis Base Case Fate and Transport Modeling

The Plateau-to-River (P2R) Model is a groundwater flow and contaminant fate and transport (F&T) simulation model used to support remedial activities conducted by Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) at the Hanford Site in Washington State. Figure 1 illustrates the P2R Model extents, discretization, and boundary conditions. The P2R Model is utilized in the composite analysis (CA) for the Hanford Site as the computational engine for computing F&T predictions as described in CP-60406, Hanford Site Composite Analysis Technical Approach Description: Groundwater. The model simulates contaminants of concern within the saturated zone of the uppermost aquifer beneath the Central Plateau and downgradient to the Columbia River. CP-57037, Model Package Report for the Plateau to River Model Version 8.3 documents the current version of the P2R Model including a description of the conceptual site model, model development and calibration, and limitations to the model application.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Predictive Contaminant Transport Simulation with P2R Model for the Composite Analysis Limited Source Sensitivity Case.

The Plateau to River (P2R) is a groundwater flow and contaminant fate and transport (F&T) simulation model used to support remedial activities conducted by the Central Plateau Cleanup Company at the Hanford Site in Washington State. Figure 1 illustrates the P2R Model extents, discretization, and boundary conditions. The P2R Model is utilized in the Composite Analysis (CA) for the Hanford Site as the computational engine for computing F&T predictions as described in CP-60406, Hanford Site Composite Analysis Technical Approach Description: Groundwater. The model simulates contaminants of concern within the saturated zone of the uppermost aquifer beneath the Central Plateau and downgradient to the Columbia River. CP-57037, Model Package Report for the Plateau to River Model Version 8.3 documents the current version of the P2R Model including a description of the conceptual site model, model development and calibration, and limitations to the model application. Simulations conducted to support the dose calculations required by the CA are documented in ECF-HANFORD-19-0119, Predictive Flow Simulation with the P2R Model for the Composite Analysis Base Case and ECF-HANFORD-19-0120, Contaminant Transport Simulation with the P2R Model for the Composite Analysis Base Case.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

NukeLM: Pre-Trained and Fine-Tuned Language Models for the Nuclear and Energy Domains

Natural language processing (NLP) tasks (text classification, named entity recognition, etc.) have seen amazing improvements over the last few years. This is due to models such as BERT that achieve deep knowledge transfer by using a large pre-trained model, then fine-tuning the model on specific tasks. The BERT architecture has shown even better performance on domain-specific tasks when the model is pre-trained using domain-relevant texts. Here, inspired by these recent advancements, we have developed NukeLM, a nuclear-domain BERT model pre-trained on 1.5 million abstracts from the DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) database. This NukeLM model is then fine-tuned for the classification of research articles into either binary classes (related to the nuclear fuel cycle (NFC) or not) or multiple categories related to the subject of the article. We show that continued pre-training of a BERT-style architecture prior to fine-tuning results in greater performance in both article classification tasks. This information is critical for properly triaging manuscripts, a necessary task for better understanding citation networks that publish in the nuclear space and uncovering new areas of research in the nuclear (or nuclear relevant) domain.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Functional-type modeling approach and data-driven parameterization of methane emissions in wetlands (Final Technical Science Report)

Our goals are to improve understanding and quantitative representation of the multiple processes that affect methane emissions at a high (patch level, vertically detailed) spatial resolution, and translate this understanding to improved modeling capability of coastal wetland fluxes using the E3SM Land Model (ELM v1) wetland CH4 biogeochemistry module. We propose an experimental approach to identify and parameterize uncertainties in ELM. Understanding of methane emissions can be improved along three conceptual axes: (i) horizontal (ecohydrological patch resolution), (ii) vertical (through the depth of the soil column), and (iii) process level (e.g., resolving microbial pathways, vegetation specific transport pathways). Along each of the three axes, we will characterize, quantify, and model, the key ecological, hydrological, and meteorological controls of methane (CH4) flux heterogeneity in four model coastal wetlands.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

EnergyPlus Model Context Protocol Server (EnergyPlus-MCP) v0.1

EnergyPlus-MCP is the first open-source Model Context Protocol server specifically designed for EnergyPlus building energy simulation. This innovative software enables AI assistants and other applications to interact programmatically with EnergyPlus through a standardized, secure interface, eliminating traditional technical barriers in building energy modeling. The software provides specialized tools across five functional domains: server management, model configuration and loading, comprehensive building component inspection, systematic model modification, and simulation execution with results visualization. Key features include automated HVAC system discovery and topology mapping, advanced schedule analysis, intelligent model validation, and interactive visualization capabilities. EnergyPlus-MCP's layered architecture ensures robust separation between protocol communication and domain expertise, enabling scalable deployment across organizations, educational institutions, and research teams. Unlike direct LLM approaches that suffer from inconsistent results and security gaps, EnergyPlus-MCP provides validated, reliable interactions while maintaining scientific rigor. This democratizes sophisticated building energy analysis, making EnergyPlus accessible to broader audiences through conversational interfaces and streamlined workflows.

Li, Han [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LB↗

Work Plan for the Site-wide SSHAC Level 3 Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis at INL

This work plan provides the overall framework, key activities, key tasks, and schedule for the execution of a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The probabilistic seismic hazard analysis will follow processes and procedures appropriate for the Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee (SSHAC) Level 3 study provided in U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission guidance, NUREG-2213. The SSHAC Level 3 probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) is being conducted as an INL site-wide effort. The work plan was developed and revised by participants who will perform the SSHAC Level 3 PSHA. The work plan also includes the quality assurance requirements commensurate with American Society of Mechanical Engineers Nuclear Quality Assurance NQA 1 2008/2009 and 2011 Addendum for design nuclear facilities under the U.S. Department of Energy and U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The scope of the SSHAC Level 3 PSHA is designed to produce the mean-centered definition of the seismic hazard with the appropriate treatment of uncertainties supported by the associated technical justifications. The SSHAC Level 3 study will properly implement and completely document the activities of evaluation, integration, and documentation. The evaluation process will consider data, models, and methods proposed by the larger technical community that are relevant to the PSHA at INL. The integration process will build seismic-source and ground-motion characterization models that represent the center, body, and range of technically defensible interpretations, taking into consideration the outcomes of the evaluation process. Key tasks and activities—such as a project kickoff meeting, three workshops, four formal working meetings, and a briefing meeting with the Participatory Peer Review Panel—will occur for the seven-member technical integration teams to construct seismic-source and ground-motion-characterization models. Both preliminary and final hazard-input documents will be developed to perform sensitivity analyses and the final PSHA, respectively. The entire study will be thoroughly documented in draft and final reports. The Participatory Peer Review Panel will review the SSHAC Level 3 study from start to finish, including the draft and final INL Site-wide PSHA reports, so they can provide a closure letter documenting the study’s adherence to SSHAC processes and technical adequacy of the final products.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Comprehensive analysis of technical efficiency of business establishments in Santa Barbara County: Evaluation of spatial and aspatial stochastic frontier models

One of the main objectives of land-use and transport models is to accurately describe the organization and composition of the regional economy. However, these models currently lack the integration of competitiveness and performance of the regional economy, which in-turn is dependent on performance and efficiency of business establishments in the region. In this study, we present a framework that integrates the aspects of economic efficiency of business establishments within the context of land-use and transport models. For this purpose, we comprehensively assess the impacts of both internal and external attributes of business establishment on its efficiency. In this process, we specifically focus on aspects of incorporating locational characteristics using two frameworks - (a) measuring locational attributes using link-based multiple centrality indicators (L-MCI) and (b) measuring neighborhood effects of business establishments through spatial proximity that account for co-location and competition. We make use of the stochastic frontier modeling framework to investigate the factors impacting business establishment-level output measured as sales per unit area. Specifically, the aspatial stochastic frontier (ASF) model incorporates L-MCI measures as covariates and the spatial stochastic frontier (SSF) model incorporates neighborhood effects of business establishments through network distance measured using the roadway network for Santa Barbara County.Overall, the empirical results suggest that there exist significant inefficiencies across all business establishment types that are mainly impacted by internal attributes of the business. For example, larger and older business establishments are more efficient than business establishments that are smaller in size and younger in age. Furthermore, the results also suggest that locational impacts are better captured using the ASF specification when compared with SSF specification. For instance, the spatial correlation estimate (from SSF) although statistically significant, is very weak. Thereby, indicating a lack of spatial structure in technical efficiency of businesses manifested in the form of co-location and competition. In contrast, the ASF model captures spatial structure of technical efficiency thoroughly with inclusion of the L-MCI measures. This indicates that L-MCI measures have varying levels of impact on efficiency (positive or negative) depending on its relative location in the region. For instance, retail trade businesses have higher levels of revenue (or sales per unit area) when located along links in a grid-network like structure e.g. downtown areas. Additionally, businesses in professional services have no impact on their efficiency based on the configuration and structure of the regional transportation network. However, results from both specifications indicate that there exist major benefits on efficiency of business establishments from local competition for retail trade and healthcare services.

Ravulaparthy, Srinath↗

Vadose Zone Flow and Transport Parameters Data Package for the Hanford Site Composite Analysis

This report provides a description of the basis for the development and implementation of a conceptual model for vadose zone flow and transport for the Hanford Site composite analysis (CA) groundwater pathway analysis. The parameterization for a numerical model is intimately linked to the conceptual model framework. This report describes the basis for the selection of hydraulic and transport parameters for the hydrostratigraphic units (HSUs) identified in the 200 East and 200 West Areas. The following three-step process was used to develop the hydraulic properties and transport parameters for the CA modeling: 1. Breakdown of existing database on hydraulic properties by HSUs 2. Constitutive model parameters for laboratory, core-scale hydraulic properties 3. Upscaling for macroscopic, field-scale flow, and transport parameters This document provides data and information on the following items: A brief description and technical basis for the conceptual model selected to represent vadose zone flow and transport for the CA modeling. Variation in sediment particle size distribution for representative sites in the 200 East and West Areas. A summary of effective (upscaled) moisture retention, and saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity estimates for the HSUs in the 200 East and West Areas. A summary of effective transport parameters, including sediment bulk density and macrodispersivity estimates for various HSUs. The 200 East Area B Complex perched water aquifer hydraulic properties

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗