Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “task work”

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.

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

At least 667 records · Page 37

Towards Scalable Optimal Sequence Homology Detection

Abstract—The field of bioinformatics and computational biol- ogy is experiencing a data revolution — experimental techniques to procure data have increased in throughput, improved in accuracy and reduced in costs. This has spurred an array of high profile sequencing and data generation projects. While the data repositories represent untapped reservoirs of rich information critical for scientific breakthroughs, the analytical software tools that are needed to analyze large volumes of such sequence data have significantly lagged behind in their capacity to scale. In this paper, we address homology detection, which is a funda- mental problem in large-scale sequence analysis with numerous applications. We present a scalable framework to conduct large- scale optimal homology detection on massively parallel super- computing platforms. Our approach employs distributed memory work stealing to effectively parallelize optimal pairwise alignment computation tasks. Results on 120,000 cores of the Hopper Cray XE6 supercomputer demonstrate strong scaling and up to 2.42 × 107 optimal pairwise sequence alignments computed per second (PSAPS), the highest reported in the literature.

Daily, Jeffrey A.↗

A Synchronization-Avoiding Distance-1 Grundy Coloring Algorithm for Power-Law Graphs

In this paper, we propose a distributed, unordered, label-correcting distance-1 Grundy (vertex) coloring algorithm, namely, Distributed Control (DC) coloring algorithm. Our algorithm eliminates the need for vertex-centric barriers and global synchronization for color refinement, relying only on atomic operations and local termination detection to update vertex color. DC proceeds optimistically, correcting the colors asynchronously as the algorithm progresses and depends on local ordering of tasks to minimize the execution of sub-optimal work. We implement our DC coloring algorithm and the well-known Jones-Plassmann algorithm and compare their performance with 4 different types of standard RMAT graphs and real-world graphs. We show that the elimination of waiting time of global and vertex-centric barriers and investing this time for local ordering leads to improved scaling for graphs with prominent power-law characteristics and densely interconnected local subgraphs.

Firoz, Jesun S.↗

Human Health Risk Assessment for Improper Landfill Disposal of End-of-Life CdTe PV

The present work is a continuation of the 2020 IEA PVPS Task 12 Human Health Risk Assessment Methods for PV Part 3: Module Disposal Risks. The 2020 report performed a human health risk assessment (HHRA) for disposal of a cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV module in an unlined landfill, focusing solely on risks from cadmium. This study extends the 2020 HHRA on CdTe PV, analyzing eleven constituent elements: Cd, Se, Te, Cu, Si, Cr(III), Mo, Sn, Zn, Ni, and Al. The present HHRA was performed through two methods: utilization of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Delisting Risk Assessment Software (DRAS V.4.0) on eight exposure pathways for cancer risk and non-cancer hazards; and comparison of exposure point concentrations to federal standards for groundwater, surface water, air, and soil exposure pathways. Cancer risks and non-cancer hazards posed by elemental leaching through all evaluated exposure pathways, using both methods, were found to be several orders of magnitude below USEPA health-protective thresholds. Cadmium exhibited both the highest risks and lowest uncertainty considering data availability on chemical content, leachate, and federal screening levels.

chemicals↗

Revisiting Theoretical Limits for One Degree-of-Freedom Wave Energy Converters

This work revisits the theoretical limits of one degree-of-freedom wave energy converters (WECs). This work considers the floating sphere used in the OES Task 10 WEC modeling and verification effort for analysis. Analytical equations are derived to determine bounds on displacement amplitude, time-averaged power (TAP), and power-take-off (PTO) force. A unique result found shows that the TAP absorbed by a WEC can be defined solely by the inertial properties and radiation hydrodynamic coefficients. In addition, a unique expression for the PTO force was derived that provides lower and upper bounds when resistive control is used to maximize power generation. For complex conjugate control, this same expression only provides a lower bound, as there is theoretically no upper bound. These bounds assist in comparing the performance of the floating sphere if it were to extract energy using surge or heave motion. The analysis shows because of differences in hydrodynamic coefficients for each oscillating mode, there are different frequency ranges that provide better power capture efficiency. The influence of a motion constraint on TAP while utilizing a nonideal power take-off is examined and found to reduce the losses associated with bidirectional energy flow. The expression to calculate TAP with a nonideal PTO is modified by the electrical conversion efficiency and the ratio of the PTO spring and damping coefficients. Furthermore, the PTO spring and damping coefficients were separated in the expression, allowing for limits to be set on the PTO coefficients to ensure net power generation.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Randomized Algorithms for Symmetric Nonnegative Matrix Factorization

Symmetric Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (SymNMF) is a technique in data analysis and machine learning that approximates a matrix with a product of a nonnegative, low-rank matrix and it transpose. To design faster and more scalable algorithms for SymNMF we develop two randomized algorithms for its computation. The first method uses randomized matrix sketching to compute an initial low-rank approximation to the input matrix and proceeds to uses this as a low-rank input to rapidly compute a SymNMF. The second methods uses randomized leverage score sampling to approximately solve constrained least squares problems. Many successful methods for SymNMF rely on (approximately) solving sequences of constrained least squares problems. Here, we prove theoretically that leverage score sampling can approximately solve constrained least squares problems to e-accuracy. Finally we demonstrate both methods work in practice by applying them to graph clustering tasks on large real world data sets. These experiments show that our methods approximately maintain solution quality and achieve significant speed ups for both large dense and large sparse problems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Single Component Sorption-Desorption Test Experimental Design Approach Discussions

A task was identified within the fission-product-transport work package to develop a path forward for doing testing to determine behavior of volatile fission products behavior and to engage members of the NGNP community to advise and dissent on the approach. The following document is a summary of the discussions and the specific approaches suggested for components of the testing. Included in the summary isare the minutes of the conference call that was held with INL and external interested parties to elicit comments on the approaches brought forward by the INL participants. The conclusion was that an initial non-radioactive, single component test will be useful to establish the limits of currently available chemical detection methods, and to evaluated source-dispersion uniformity. In parallel, development of a real-time low-concentration monitoring method is believed to be useful in detecting rapid dispersion as well as desorption phenomena. Ultimately, the test cycle is expected to progress to the use of radio-traced species, simply because this method will allow the lowest possible detection limits. The consensus of the conference call was that there is no need for an in-core test because the duct and heat exchanger surfaces that will be the sorption target will be outside the main neutron flux and will not be affected by irradiation. Participants in the discussion and contributors to the INL approach were Jeffrey Berg, Pattrick Calderoni, Gary Groenewold, Paul Humrickhouse, Brad Merrill, and Phil Winston. Participants from outside the INL included David Hanson of General Atomics, Todd Allen, Tyler Gerczak, and Izabela Szlufarska of the University of Wisconsin, Gary Was, of the University of Michigan, Sudarshan Loyalka and Tushar Ghosh of the University of Missouri, and Robert Morris of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Validation of Numerical Simulations of Explosion Fields

This report describes test problems that can be used to validate numerical simulations of nuclear explosion fields. A particular emphasis is placed on turbulent mixing and other “non-ideal” effects (thermal layer precursors, turbulent wall jets and dusty boundary layer flows) created by the interaction of the explosion wave with ground surfaces. The importance of such effects is illustrated by a comparison of the peak stagnation pressure versus ground range. In the precursor regime ( HOB < 700 ft / KT 1/3 and GR <1100 ft / KT 1/3 ) stagnation pressures from non-ideal effects are an order of magnitude larger that the corresponding ideal-surface case. Seven problems are considered: (i) blast waves from nuclear explosions, (ii) blast wave reflections from ideal surfaces, (iii) blast wave reflections from ground surfaces, (iv) spherical mixing layers, (v) Kelvin-Helmholtz mixing layers, (vi) wall-bounded mixing layers, and (vii) height of burst curves. The need for additional work is described in the Recommendations section, which includes tasks in support of the V&V, Complex Hydro and Output and Effects Programs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Investigations Into the Nature of Alkaline Soluble, Non-Pertechnetate Technetium

This report summarizes work accomplished in fiscal year (FY) 2013, exploring the chemistry of a low-valence technetium(I) species, [Tc(CO) 3 (H 2 O) 3 ] + , a compound of interest due to its implication in the speciation of alkaline-soluble technetium in several Hanford tank waste supernatants. Various aspects of FY 2013’s work were sponsored both by Washington River Protection Solutions and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of River Protection; because of this commonality, both sponsors’ work is summarized in this report. There were three tasks in this FY 2013 study. The first task involved examining the speciation of [(CO) 3 Tc(H 2 O) 3 ] + in alkaline solution by 99 Tc nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The second task involved the purchase and installation of a microcalorimeter suitable to study the binding affinity of [(CO) 3 Tc(H 2 O) 3 ] + with various inorganic and organic compounds relevant to Hanford tank wastes, although the actual measure of such binding affinities is scheduled to occur in future FYs. The third task involved examining the chemical reactivity of [(CO) 3 Tc(H 2 O) 3 ] + as relevant to the development of a [(CO) 3 Tc(H 2 O) 3 ] + spectroelectrochemical sensor based on fluorescence spectroscopy.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Scoping Studies to Evaluate the Benefits of an Advanced Dry Feed System on the Use of Low-Rank Coal

This report describes the development of the design of an advanced dry feed system that was carried out under Task 4.0 of Cooperative Agreement DE-FE0007902 with the US DOE, “Scoping Studies to Evaluate the Benefits of an Advanced Dry Feed System on the use of Low-Rank Coal.” The resulting design will be used for the advanced technology IGCC case with 90% carbon capture for sequestration to be developed under Task 5.0 of the same agreement. The scope of work covered coal preparation and feeding up through the gasifier injector. Subcomponents have been broken down into feed preparation (including grinding and drying), low pressure conveyance, pressurization, high pressure conveyance, and injection. Pressurization of the coal feed is done using Posimetric Feeders sized for the application. In addition, a secondary feed system is described for preparing and feeding slag additive and recycle fines to the gasifier injector. This report includes information on the basis for the design, requirements for down selection of the key technologies used, the down selection methodology and the final, down selected design for the Posimetric Feed System, or PFS.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Report on the Joint EU-US Workshop on Microbial Community Dynamics: Cooperation and Competition

The European Commission (EC)-United States (US) Task Force on Biotechnology Research has a longstanding joint Working Group on Biotechnology for the Environment whose mission is to foster collaborations between researchers in the European Union (EU) and US in the field of environmental biotechnology. A special focus of the Working Group is to increase scientific interchange between early career scientists in the US and EU. Such interactions initiate a foundation of respect and trust needed to develop long-term collaborations. In order to realize the full potential for the application of modern technologies to obtain a sustainable biosphere, it is vital to create conduits for knowledge exchange among scientists worldwide engaged in environmental microbial biotechnology research. Since its formation in 1994, the Working Group has organized many activities for early career scientists designed to promote this scientific exchange, including two week courses with hands-on research experience, intensive workshops of two or three days, and research scholar exchanges of one to six months. These interactions are focused on environmental problems that respect no international boundaries.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Development and Testing of Prototype Commercial Gasifier Sensor

This report presents the results of the sensor development and testing at the Wabash River gasifier. The project work was initiated with modification of the sensor software (Task 2) to enable real time temperature data acquisition, and to process and provide the obtained gasifier temperature information to the gasifier operators. The software modifications were conducted by the North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers. The modified software was tested at the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) combustion laboratory to assess the temperature recognition algorithm accuracy and repeatability. Task 3 was focused on the sensor hardware modifications needed to improve reliability of the sensor system. NCSU conducted numerical modeling of the sensor probe’s purging flow. Based on the modeling results the probe purging system was redesigned to prevent carbon particulates deposition on the probe’s sapphire window. The modified design was evaluated and approved by the Wabash representative. The modified gasifier sensor was built and installed at the Wabash River gasifier on May 1 2014. (Task 4) The sensor was tested from the startup of the gasifier on May 5, 2015 until the planned autumn gasifier outage starting in the beginning of October, 2015. (Task 5) The project team successfully demonstrated the Gasifier Sensor system’s ability to monitor gasifier temperature while maintaining unobstructed optical access for six months without any maintenance. The sensor examination upon completion of the trial revealed that the system did not sustain any damage.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

30 cm Drop Modeling

This report documents modeling and analysis of the 30 cm cask drop scenario for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) casks. The 30 cm drop is an important hypothetical dynamic loading scenario for SNF because 10 CFR 71.71 defines testing requirements for normal conditions of transport (NCT) of SNF packages, and free drop (of 30 cm for the heaviest packages) tests are required. Other NCT conditions specified in 10 CFR 71.71 include vibration normally incident to transport, and DOE’s multimodal transportation test (MMTT) and related analysis concluded that mechanical shock and vibration incident to transportation is negligible for SNF structural integrity because the loads are so small. The SNF cask 30 cm drop has a lot more potential to cause damage to SNF because the kinetic energy and momentum of the system is stopped abruptly during the cask impact event. Test data and model predictions both agree that the SNF assemblies are subjected to significantly higher loads in a cask drop event than normal transportation shock and vibration, but currently there is no reason to expect gross structural damage of the fuel assembly or widespread SNF cladding failure as a result of a 30 cm cask drop. The ultimate goal of this work is to close the knowledge gap of stress profiles on SNF rods and fuel assembly components during NCT, and this report describes the progress toward reaching that goal as well as a plan for finishing this work over the next year or two. Key remaining tasks include refining the fuel assembly model, calculating a selection of specific fuel assembly cases to populate the damage model, and finally running the damage model to predict the full general response range of 30 cm drop loads on SNF.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Metal Bellows Valve Reliability Testing - Copper Stem Tip Testing

SRNL was funded in Mid-Year FY20 by NNSA NA-231 to continue evaluation of alternate valves for use in tritium service to support domestic Mo-99 production. The focus of the effort was to identify valve cycle life as a function of actuator size and stem tip material. Using the minimum size actuator to reliability open and close valves can reduce glovebox size and thus support domestic companies to “come to market” faster in supplying Mo-99 to the US market. This report serves as a continuation to the FY19 report and summarizes the task activities completed in FY20 after authorization to start work was obtained on May 5 th , 2020. Copper stem tips were tested on the Swagelok 1C and 5C actuated metal bellows valves. With ambitions to cycle each set 150,000 times, both 1C and 5C valves were met with high failure rates. The smaller 1C actuated valves required additional closing pressure to form a seal with the Cu stem tips installed however, excessive stem tip deformation may be the root cause of the majority of the valves failing before 500 cycles. The larger 5C actuated valves were cycled 150,000 times but still resulted in 80% failure rate, suspected of metal fatigue in the bellows due to high cycling frequencies.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

FY2020 Rotating Bed Reactor for Iodine Removal from WTP Melter Effluent to Support DFLAW Start-Up

In Performance Assessment (PA) of the Hanford Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF), 129 I is a significant contributor to the risk. The 2017 IDF PA accounted for 0.22% of the total 129 I inventory in Hanford tank waste as residing in the solidified liquid waste from the Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF). However, recent estimates suggest that higher percentages of the iodine processed at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) may be present in the liquid waste routed to the Liquid Effluent Retention Facility (LERF) for eventual treatment at the ETF. In addition, a recent integrated melter test performed at the Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL) at The Catholic University of America (CUA) showed the possibility that a significant fraction (>50%) of the total iodine in the melter feed could be present in the aqueous waste stream destined for the ETF. This stream represents a combination of the Effluent Management Facility (EMF) evaporator overhead condensate and the liquid waste from the WTP off-gas caustic scrubber. Higher levels of 129 I in this stream could affect the LERF and ETF Hazard Categorizations as well as the acceptability of the solidified ETF liquid secondary waste brine for disposal at the IDF. Accordingly, there is a need to investigate and develop potential methods and processes to mitigate this risk. Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC (WRPS) tasked Atkins and VSL to perform development and testing work to evaluate potential methods for removal of iodine species from the waste stream routed to the LERF. In particular, the testing investigated the use of an Atkins-SpinIonic™ Rotating Bed Reactor (RBR) system as a potential alternative to conventional column-based ion exchange or absorption processes. The present report provides results obtained from testing with an RBR system for the removal of iodine from simulants of the projected WTP waste stream that discharges to the LERF.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Analysis of the ASME Code Rules for Subsection III-5-HHB (Composite Materials) for Current HTR Design Requirements

This document includes the critical analysis review of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section III Division 5 Subsection HH Subpart B (HHB), including Mandatory Appendices, that was published in 2023. In the context of this document, reference to “the code” is specific to this subsection unless otherwise specified. A specific composites task group within the ASME Nonmetallic Design and Materials Working Group, with the support of external experts, was established to perform a gap analysis review. The significant findings are summarized here. The committee response with suggested action items are detailed in the body of the report.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Technical Track on Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS): Mapping bioresources, phase 1 - Consistency check comparing Mission Innovation’s Data Visualization Tool for Bioresources and the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Initiative Global Biomass data accessible via the US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework (KDF)

The Mission Innovation (MI) Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Mission, Technical Track on Biomass Carbon Dioxide Removal and Storage (BiCRS), has produced a biomass resource database for its members. In parallel, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed the International Feedstock Reporting data portal—herein referred to as the CEM Biofuture-KDF data—on behalf of the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Initiative (CEM Biofuture), as a specific task under Biofuture’s 2024–25 Action Plan. This work was conducted at the request of CEM Biofuture and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy in support of that initiative, and it is hosted within DOE’s Knowledge Discovery Framework (KDF).

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

ASME Composite Code Rule Development Status

This report provides an update on the status of the composite code rule development for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler Pressure Vessel (BPV) code Section III Division 5 Subsection HA Subpart B (HAB) and Subsection HH Subpart B (HHB) during FY 2025 (from October 2024 to September 2025). In the context of this document, reference to “the code” is specific to these subsections unless otherwise specified. A composites task group under the ASME Nonmetallic Design and Materials Working Group (WG-NDM), with the support of external experts, was established and is now working toward addressing previously identified areas.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

HYPHY: Deep Generative Conditional Posterior Mapping of Hydrodynamical Physics

Generating large-volume hydrodynamical simulations for cosmological observables is a computationally demanding task necessary for next-generation observations. In this work, we construct a novel fully convolutional variational autoencoder (VAE) to synthesize hydrodynamic fields conditioned on dark matter fields from N -body simulations. After training the model on a single hydrodynamical simulation, we are able to probabilistically map new dark-matter-only simulations to corresponding full hydrodynamical outputs. By sampling over the latent space of our VAE, we can generate posterior samples and study the variance of the mapping. We find that our reconstructed field provides an accurate representation of the target hydrodynamical fields as well as reasonable variance estimates. This approach has promise for the rapid generation of mocks as well as for implementation in a full inverse model of observed data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗