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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 613 records · Page 34
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Coupling of CTF and TRACE for Modeling of Transients

This report documents the improvements that have been made to the capabilities for coupling CTF to systems codes-specifically, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) TRACE code. An initial systems coupling capability had been set up previously using a nonoverlapping domain approach with the codes exchanging data at the core boundaries. The present work adds a new approach using overlapping domains, in which the system code models the core as well. A new input format has been added to allow the user to specify the physical quantities to be exchanged and their location in the system model, which gives the flexibility of applying one-way or two-way coupling between the codes using the desired data exchanges. In addition to applying thermal-hydraulics (T/H) boundary condition (BC) values obtained from TRACE, a capability was added to allow CTF to apply flow resistance feedback to TRACE to match the CTF core pressure drop. Support was added for executing parallel CTF models within the CTF-systems coupling. The system coupling capability was successfully applied to a parallel MSLB transient, demonstrating that both the one-way and two-way coupling behaved as expected and provided substantial improvements to numerical stability and routine compared to the previous nonoverlapping domain coupling. An initial capability was also developed for performing restart calculations in CTF which will be used in the future for restarting CTF-TRACE simulations at specific points in the transient simulation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Development and Use of an Ultra-High Resolution Electron Scattering Apparatus

In this LDRD project, we developed a versatile capability for high-resolution measurements of electron scattering processes in gas-phase molecules, such as ionization, dissociation, and electron attachment/detachment. This apparatus is designed to advance fundamental understanding of these processes and to inform predictions of plasmas associated with applications such as plasma-assisted combustion, neutron generation, re-entry vehicles, and arcing that are critical to national security. We use innovative coupling of electron-generation and electron-imaging techniques that leverages Sandia’s expertise in ion/electron imaging methods. Velocity map imaging provides a measure of the kinetic energies of electrons or ion products from electron scattering in an atomic or molecular beam. We designed, constructed, and tested the apparatus. Tests include dissociative electron attachment to O2 and SO2, as well as a new method for studying laser-initiated plasmas. This capability sets the stage for new studies in dynamics of electron scattering processes, including scattering from excited-state atoms and molecules.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Gaussian process regression for radiological contamination mapping- Applied to optimal motion planning for mobile sensor platforms [Slides]

Want to achieve best representative characterization of the entire area efficiently and accurately-Unmanned aerial/ground vehicles (UAV/UGVs) for contamination mapping. Some major challenges include: Limited battery life (move smart), Human operated (fully autonomous controls) and Many measurements (predictive mapping capabilities). The objective: Develop fully autonomous controls for mobile sensor platforms to improve efficiency and maintain performance.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Surface 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography Inversion of 2005 BC Cribs and Trenches Datasets

Hydrogeophysics, Inc. (HGI) conducted an electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) dataset at the BC Cribs and Trenches site, located in the Central Plateau of the Hanford Site. The 20 trenches and 6 cribs received large volumes of liquid inorganic waste in the 1950s, resulting in a large inventory of contaminants in the vadose zone. The objective of the ERT survey was to map plume extents resulting from the legacy discharges. The HGI interpretation of the resistivity data was performed using geometric inversion to interpolate 2D lines into a 3D image. To demonstrate a newly developed geophysical code capability (E4D), the resistivity data were re-processed to fit a full 3D model of the bulk electrical conductivity. This proof-of-concept model inversion was executed in calendar year 2011, as the large dataset was well-suited for the use of high-performance computing. The 3D re-processing of the BC Cribs and Trenches ERT data conducted in 2011 resolved the true bulk electrical conductivity. This means that all of the resistivity data were fit to a single model of the bulk electrical conductivity, with true horizontal and vertical dimensions. This differed from the HGI data interpretation approach that used geometric inversion to process 2D lines independently, which were then interpolated into a 3D image. Both the full 3D re-processing and the 2D interpolation to a 3D image demonstrated a higher electrical conductivity observed immediately beneath the trenches and cribs. The electrical conductivity is strongly correlated with nitrate concentrations, indicating the presence of nitrate and other co-located contaminants.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

3D Equilibrium Reconstruction and MHD Studies in Stellarators (Final Report)

This is the final technical report for the grant Three Dimensional Equilibrium Reconstruction and MHD Studies in Stellarators. The major goals of this project were to: further develop V3FIT code capabilities, continue to support experiments using the V3FIT code, continue theoretical support for the CTH experiment at Auburn, particularly in the area of NIMROD simulations of CTH discharges. Dr. Lopez Ortiz has made significant progress on his analysis of NIMROD simulations of CTH MHD phenomena. In particular, his study has focused on the fixed point dynamics and energy flow amongst toroidal Fourier modes in sawtooth oscillations simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Eddy Current Flow Meter Measurements and Modeling Validation

The goal of the eddy current flow meter (ECFM) is to monitor velocities and temperatures of conductive liquid metals. The ECFM can also detect voids in two-phase liquid metal flows. Measurement of these flows can greatly improve the accuracy of the empirical formulas used for fluid dynamics near the reactor core and aid in mapping any non-uniformities in fluid flow such as estimates of temperature and phase. While the eventual goal is to develop the ECFM for the liquid sodium surrounding the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) core, this report focuses on modeling and experimental validation of ECFM for a moving solid test rod and for liquid mercury in the Target Test Facility (TTF) flow loop to better understand and further develop ECFM measurement capabilities by validating model predictions with benchmark experiments. Eventually the models could be used to design and optimize future ECFMs for specific applications such as monitoring flow within the VTR pool.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

SEIN: Breaking Barriers Resilient Energy System Analysis [Slides]

The Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN) is a collaborative research program that supports multi-stakeholder teams in researching and sharing solutions to real-world challenges associated with solar energy adoption. The Breaking Barriers project was selected to participate in the Solar Energy Innovation Network, Round 2, and was led by Groundswell, a D.C.-based clean energy project developer. The Breaking Barriers team included Partnership for Southern Equity, Atlanta University Center campus facility managers and professors, the City of Atlanta's Neighborhood Planning Unit T, and Georgia Power Company. The project aimed to design and construct innovative urban energy resiliency hubs integrating microgrid technology, solar generation, and energy storage in Atlanta colleges and communities. The hubs will help these historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the energy-burdened broader community in West Atlanta be more resilient, in addition to informing new course curricula at Atlanta University Center campuses. With many possible options for the system's battery size, the Breaking Barriers team needed insight into the relationships between BESS size, economic performance, and resilience at Spelman College's Manley Center. These insights are crucial for entering procurement negotiations with project developers, establishing resilience capabilities that the HBCU campuses can plan around, and guiding the team's fundraising targets. This analysis includes estimates of PV and battery performance, costs, savings, and resilience for multiple battery sizes. In order to provide power during a grid outage, the resilient energy system also needs to be connected to the Manley Center in a safe and island-able manner (electrically isolated from the grid). Analysis of potential electrical configurations and estimated setup costs is key to successfully entering a required interconnection agreement with Georgia Power, as well as informing requests for engineering firms to construct the system. This analysis includes conceptual options and rough order of magnitude cost estimates for electrically interconnecting the resilient energy system to the Manley Center and the grid. The Breaking Barriers team used this analysis to select preferred system characteristics and design for the resilient energy system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Complex-Valued Signal Denoising and Bayesian Optimization for Detection of Synthetic Opioids [Slides]

Overseas manufacturers ship synthetic opioids into the United States through international mail. Synthetic opioids are largely responsible for the overdose crisis in the United States. Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) spectroscopy is a chemical analysis technique used for detection. The ultimate goal is to develop a technology capable of detecting the presence of synthetic opioids in unopened packages using NQR spectroscopy.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Supply Chain Road Map for Offshore Wind Energy in the United States

"A Supply Chain Road Map for Offshore Wind Energy in the United States" identifies pathways to developing a domestic offshore wind supply chain that can manufacture and deploy the major components needed to set the United States on a pathway to installing 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 110 GW by 2050. The report estimates that this supply chain could require an investment of at least $\$$22.7 billion this decade to meet an annual demand for components, ports, and vessels in 2030. Although this is a considerable investment, it could allow the industry to install around $\$$100 billion worth of offshore wind this decade by reducing risk of delays due to global supply chain bottlenecks and creating a robust network of assets that will continue to be effective well beyond 2030. The United States would need at least 34 manufacturing facilities employing 10,000 workers, 39,000 jobs in the supporting supply chain, 10 marshaling ports, 4-6 dedicated wind turbine installation vessels, 4-6 dedicated heavy-lift vessels, and 4-8 U.S.-flagged specialized feeder barges to come online this decade to support an average annual deployment of 4-6 gigawatts offshore wind capacity per year. This supply chain could be developed in 6-9 years, but would require near-term decision making and efficient permitting and planning to strategically develop these resources by 2030. Additional investment and expansion would be required in the 2030s as the sector expands into new regions (such as the Gulf of Mexico) and new technologies (such as larger wind turbines and floating wind energy projects). Furthermore, the planning process needs to meaningfully engage with communities that will be impacted by supply chain expansion to achieve just outcomes and maximize benefits to these stakeholders, which will result in a more equitable and sustainable supply chain. While U.S. offshore wind has made significant progress in recent years, remaining supply chain challenges include uncertainty surrounding deployment and procurement timelines; a lack of port and vessel infrastructure; and limitations in the available workforce, supporting supplier networks, and energy justice best practices. However, many of these problems can be addressed through improved communication between key stakeholder groups, support from federal and state governments, and forward-thinking designs of supply chain assets to accommodate future technology changes for fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind. Although it is a significant task, developing these domestic capabilities represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute to a decarbonized energy future and also create massive economic benefits that are distributed throughout the country.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Volume 4: Detection Systems and Ultra-Cold Neutrons

As part of the Sustaining and Enhancing Nuclear Science (SENSe) initiative at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the prospect of adding new detection systems to support High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) operations and to advance scientific research has prompted many ideas and discussions regarding potential features, configurations, locations, and applications. A working group of ORNL staff members was organized to further develop the concepts and recommending one or more configurations to best support future HFIR operations and scientific capacities and to provide order-of-magnitude cost estimates and timing. The areas of investigation included fast access detection systems, non-scattering beamline instruments, shielded detection instruments, and an ultracold neutron source. In each case, the focus was to develop world leading capabilities that would be unmatched by any other facility.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Mitigation of cross-beam energy transfer with laser bandwidth [Slides]

Control of laser-plasma instabilities (LPI) is critical for inertial fusion. Future stockpile stewardship experiments on the NIF will require increased fusion yield (up to 10 MJ), which will require higher laser energy and intensity and will have a higher LPI risk. To be successful, we need to understand the nonlinear behavior of LPI and develop an improved capability for modeling and mitigating LPI in ICF experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Summary of Methodology for Mitigating Risks Associated with Licensing and Qualifying AM Nuclear Materials

The US Department of Energy’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies (AMMT) program focuses on accelerating the development, qualification, demonstration, and deployment of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies to enable reliable and economical nuclear energy. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the most popular additive manufacturing (AM) processes for fabricating components with intrinsically complex geometries. LPBF was extensively explored for nuclear applications under the previous Transformational Challenge Reactor program. Additionally, Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed and licensed the Peregrine software and larger digital platform that couples machine learning and in situ data collection during AM to detect anomalies and any evolved defects. The digital platform will be critical to (1) the qualification of AM components for nuclear applications that link location-specific data to macroscopic properties and (2) predict final component performance. Current in situ process monitoring tools are valuable for observing the formation of stochastic flaws, but additional data are needed to predict the resulting microstructures and associated material performance. Rapid cooling rates and large thermal gradients have caused large heterogeneities in the microstructure, which cause anisotropy in mechanical performance. The AMMT program is evaluating the best approaches for addressing these heterogeneities and their effect on component performance using a combination of multiscale modeling, enhanced in situ process monitoring, and high throughput experimental testing. This report summarizes strategies for mitigating the risks associated with qualifying AM components, including developing new sensing capabilities for in situ process monitoring and characterizing melt pool solidification and residual stresses to inform multiscale modeling efforts.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

CRADA Number NFE-20-08283 with Actinic LLC (CRADA Final Report)

Significant advances have been made in the additive manufacturing (AM) of thermoplastics and optically cured thermosets; however, AM of thermally cured thermosets has lagged. Materials belonging to this class of thermosets, such as silicone rubbers and polyurethanes, are not well represented in the AM space despite their widespread use in medical, defense, and other fields. Ideally, a solution would enable AM of current commercially viable thermally cured thermosets with a speed that is comparable to those already realized for thermoplastics and optically cured thermosets. Realizing this goal will provide several benefits, including: 1. Make thermally cured thermoset designs impossible via casting. 2. Iteration of part designs without investment in new molds. 3. Devices and personal protection equipment, custom-fit to the end-user. 4. Ability to print multifunctional composite materials. 5. Rapid production ability for DoD personnel deployed at forward locations. 6. Simplify supply chains and replace multiple parts with a single raw material. These benefits motivate the development of a commercially viable 3D printer for thermally cured thermosets, based on the technique of photothermal curing. This project further developed a printer capable of printing composites containing commercially available thermally cured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), directly yielding cured parts such as boxes, walls, and free-standing overhangs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Gamma Converter Box Preliminary Design [Slides]

Objective: Develop a test capability near Godiva IV fast burst reactor to maximize gamma dose to neutron dose ratio and gain increase in gamma dose over free field. Goal: Maximize gamma dose to neutron dose ratio and gain increase in gamma dose over free field.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

5G Open Core Hardware

This project aimed to develop an experimentation platform for 5G using commercially available software, firmware and hardware that is being used to standup experimental 5G Stand Alone (5G SA) networks. The commercially available systems are not natively set up for experimentation design and this work would develop a system capable of performing experimentation. This platform will need to be easily reconfigurable for each experiment, capture all configurations across key equipment before running an experiment, record and store the data during an experiment and be able to recall settings and data from prior experiments while being able to emulate and replay prior experiments. The project began in the process of creating this platform.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dynamic Beam Shape Sensing and Control in an Open Architecture Metal AM System for Microstructure Manipulation

Most commercially available metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems are closed-architecture, meaning that the system manufacturer limits the ability of the user to directly control the process conditions and can modify the specified inputs using proprietary methods. Unfortunately, this approach severely limits or confounds the ability for users to perform research on fundamental aspects of additive manufacturing. ARCTOS Technology Solutions (ARCTOS) produces an open-architecture laser powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing system that allows the user to fully control all aspects of the process control and monitoring. The purpose of this project is to help develop beam shaping capabilities and controls within the ARCTOS open-architecture system for control of microstructure evolution during metal AM.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

An Extensible High Energy Density Modeling Tool for Extreme Regimes

The overreaching goal of the project is to develop a simulation capability to model an entire High Energy Density (HED) target heated by an X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) beam including the surrounding material with a focus on target material associated with subsequent shots. Our primary objective is to study target fratricide problems, where radiation/debris from the current shot degrade the target for subsequent shots. This work will have a large impact on research being conducted at HED facilities where the quality of data is directly related to the effective repetition rate of the driver, which is often limited by target fratricide problems. This project focuses on a stream of closely spaced droplet targets that are appropriate for new very high repetition rate sources such as the ~1 MHz LCLS-II upgraded XFEL. The capability of the PISALE (Pacific Island Structured-AMR with ALE) code is extended to model this class of problems. We summarize the capability and improvements made to the HED branch of the PISALE code. We discuss our simulations of target fratricide for small (5 micron) hydrogen droplets heated by an XFEL beam at SLAC. We also compare simulations of the initial dynamics of larger (50 micron) water droplets, heated by the same XFEL beam, with experimental data. We briefly discuss training, dissemination, and related activities associated with this project.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗