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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 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

MAGNETIC HYGIENE CONTROL ON LCLS-II CRYOMODULES FABRICATED AT JLAB

Jefferson Lab (JLab) is in collaboration with Fermi Na-tional Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) to build 18 cryomodules to install at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory?s tunnel as part of the Linac Coherent Light Source upgrade project (LCLS-II). Each LCLS-II cry-omodule hosts 8 superconducting niobium cavities that adopt the nitrogen doping technique, which aims to en-hance the cavity quality factor Qo to reduce the consumption of liquid helium used to cool down the cavities. It is known that the Qo of niobium cavities is affected by cavity surface magnetic field. Traditionally, magnetic shields made of high magnetic permeability mu-metals are employed as a passive shielding of the ambient magnetic fluxes. During the LCLS-II cryomodule development, magnetic hygiene control that includes magnetic shielding and demagnetization of parts and the whole-machine is implemented. JLab and Fermilab worked closely on developing magnetic hygiene control procedures, identifying relevant tools, investigating causes of magnetization, magnetic field monitoring, etc. This paper focuses on JLab?s experiences with LCLS-II cryomodule magnetic hygiene control during its fabrication.

Cheng, Guangfeng↗
DOE OSTI2012

Integrated Genome-Based Studies of Shewanella Ecophysiology

Integration of bioinformatics and experimental techniques was applied to mapping and characterization of the key components (pathways, enzymes, transporters, regulators) of the core metabolic machinery in Shewanella oneidensis and related species with main focus was on metabolic and regulatory pathways involved in utilization of various carbon and energy sources. Among the main accomplishments reflected in ten joint publications with other participants of Shewanella Federation are: (i) A systems-level reconstruction of carbohydrate utilization pathways in the genus of Shewanella (19 species). This analysis yielded reconstruction of 18 sugar utilization pathways including 10 novel pathway variants and prediction of > 60 novel protein families of enzymes, transporters and regulators involved in these pathways. Selected functional predictions were verified by focused biochemical and genetic experiments. Observed growth phenotypes were consistent with bioinformatic predictions providing strong validation of the technology and (ii) Global genomic reconstruction of transcriptional regulons in 16 Shewanella genomes. The inferred regulatory network includes 82 transcription factors, 8 riboswitches and 6 translational attenuators. Of those, 45 regulons were inferred directly from the genome context analysis, whereas others were propagated from previously characterized regulons in other species. Selected regulatory predictions were experimentally tested. Integration of this analysis with microarray data revealed overall consistency and provided additional layer of interactions between regulons. All the results were captured in the new database RegPrecise, which is a joint development with the LBNL team. A more detailed analysis of the individual subsystems, pathways and regulons in Shewanella spp included bioinfiormatics-based prediction and experimental characterization of: (i) N-Acetylglucosamine catabolic pathway; (ii)Lactate utilization machinery; (iii) Novel NrtR regulator of NAD biosynthesis; (iv) HexR-controlled global regulon in central metabolism. In addition to numerous specific findings contributing to basic understanding of ecophysiology and evolution of Shewanella, the key components of the integrative genomic methodology of general utility for the community were optimized, validated and disseminated.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

BC Transit Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation Results: Second Report

Second report evaluating a fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) demonstration led by British Columbia Transit (BC Transit) in Whistler, Canada. BC Transit is collaborating with the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate the buses in revenue service. NREL published its first report on the demonstration in February 2014. This report is an update to the previous report; it covers 3 full years of revenue service data on the buses from April 2011 through March 2014 and focuses on the final experiences and lessons learned.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2014

Investigation of Micro- and Macro-Scale Transport Processes for Improved Fuel Cell Performance

This report documents the work performed by General Motors (GM) under the Cooperative agreement No. DE-EE0000470, “Investigation of Micro- and Macro-Scale Transport Processes for Improved Fuel Cell Performance,” in collaboration with the Penn State University (PSU), University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK), Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and University of Rochester (UR) via subcontracts. The overall objectives of the project are to investigate and synthesize fundamental understanding of transport phenomena at both the macro- and micro-scales for the development of a down-the-channel model that accounts for all transport domains in a broad operating space. GM as a prime contractor focused on cell level experiments and modeling, and the Universities as subcontractors worked toward fundamental understanding of each component and associated interface.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2015

Automated Work Packages Prototype: Initial Design, Development, and Evaluation. Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program

The goal of the Automated Work Packages (AWP) project is to demonstrate how to enhance work quality, cost management, and nuclear safety through the use of advanced technology. The work described in this report is part of the digital architecture for a highly automated plant project of the technical program plan for advanced instrumentation, information, and control (II&C) systems technologies. This report addresses the DOE Milestone M2LW-15IN0603112: Describe the outcomes of field evaluations/demonstrations of the AWP prototype system and plant surveillance and communication framework requirements at host utilities. A brief background to the need for AWP research is provided, then two human factors field evaluation studies are described. These studies focus on the user experience of conducting a task (in this case a preventive maintenance and a surveillance test) while using an AWP system. The remaining part of the report describes an II&C effort to provide real time status updates to the technician by wireless transfer of equipment indications and a dynamic user interface.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Neutron based evaluation in support of NEAMS

The primary objective of the Advanced Non-Destructive fuel Examination (ANDE) work package is to develop capability that has the potential to accelerate insight and development of ceramic and metallic fuels. Establishing unique validation opportunities for new models is a key component of this effort. To explore opportunities a series of interactions were held with NEAMS modelers at LANL. The focus was to identify experiments that draw on the unique capabilities of neutron scattering and imaging for studies of nuclear fuel particularly in areas where experimental data can be valuable for of models validation. The neutron characterization techniques applied in the ANDE program span length scales from millimeter to micrometer to angstroms. Spatial heterogeneities of interest include cracks, pores and inclusions, crystal structure, phase composition, stoichiometry texture, chemistry and atomic thermal motion. Neutrons offer characterization opportunities that are distinct from other probes such as X-rays, electrons or protons. This report describes a variety of opportunities whereby neutron data can be related to models and lists some opportunities.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Precision Measurements with Low Energy Neutrons (Final Report)

This project encompassed fives years of effort in three areas of precision measurements with low energy neutrons: a) hadronic weak interactions, b) decay correlations, and c) electric dipole moment. These experiments encompass the scientific program of the Fundamental Neutron Physics Beamline (FnPB) at the SNS, ORNL. This grant supported our responsibilities in each of the approved experiments at the FnPB (in order of schedule): NPDGamma (post run), n- 3 He (taking data), Nab (Jan 2016), and nEDM, in addition to the BL3 beamline lifetime experiment at NIST. We focused on three principal activities: a) development of techniques for the design a fabrication of low-field precision surface current electromagnetic coils, b) development of high-speed digital acquisition systems involving real-time digital pulse processing, and high-volume offline waveform processing, and c) experimental data analysis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effects of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) on Turbulent Combustion and Emissions in Advanced Gas Turbine Combustors with High-Hydrogen-Content (HHC) Fuels (Final Report)

This Final Report documents the entire four years of the Cooperative Agreement DE-FE0011822, from October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2017, that was competitively awarded under Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0000795 in support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR) Program. Under the UTSR Program, DOE typically issues Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicitations every 1-2 years so that U.S. colleges/universities may propose research & development (R&D) projects in specific technical topic areas (e.g., combustion, aerodynamics/heat transfer, advanced materials) that have been identified as both scientifically and industrially relevant to the gas turbine industry. The primary objectives of this Purdue University project (in collaboration with Princeton University through a sub-award) was to develop experimental methods, kinetic models, and numerical tools to help quantify and predict the impact of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on NOx and CO emissions, combustion kinetics, radiation heat transfer, turbulent combustion, and combustion instabilities for natural gas and high hydrogen content (HHC) fuels by using laminar and turbulent flow reactors and gas turbine combustors operating at high temperatures and pressures. This project has obtained detailed data for improving chemical kinetic models to study EGR effects and provide insight into the effects of EGR on flame speeds and turbulent flame structure, as well as assessing the impact of EGR on emissions in a high-pressure combustion test rig. The project was divided into six primary tasks: 1) Project Management and Program Planning; 2) Flow Reactor Investigation of EGR Chemical Kinetics; 3) Combustion Bomb Investigation of EGR Effects on Flame Speed; 4) Investigation of EGR Effects on Turbulent Flame Structure in Reactor-Assisted Turbulent Slot (RATS) Burner; 5) Investigation of EGR Effects in Purdue Staged Combustion Test Rig; and 6) Development and Validation of a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) Tool for Gas Turbine Combustion and Emission Modeling using HHC Fuels. Details on the execution and results of each of these tasks are provided in the main report. To assist the reader, each task is described in a chapter-like format with its own separate listing of tables, figures, and references so that the results of each task/subtask (i.e., technical sections covering various experiments and modeling work focused on a specific area) can be quickly obtained while also getting an overall feel of the project execution. This chapter-like format also allows for acknowledgement of support from other programs relative to specific tasks. In this manner, the reader can more conveniently digest the R&D results in the various task/subtask sections that may be of most interest to the reader. In addition to this Final Report, the Purdue/Princeton team was able to publish 7 journal articles and provide 7 presentations at national scientific meetings/conferences to disseminate results. A listing of these journal articles and presentations is provided at the end of this report

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Geophysical Retrievals in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework for Illuminating Processes Controlling Water Cycle

Focal Area(s): This white paper responds to Focal Area #3: Insight gleaned from complex data (both observed and simulated) using AI, big data analytics, and other advanced methods, including explainable AI and physics- or knowledge-guided AI. Science Challenge: This white paper addresses the water-cycle and data-model integration grand challenge. It leverages data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility, and Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiment (NGEE), and Science Focus Area (SFA). The white paper focuses on controlling cloud, precipitation, and radiative properties as observed and simulated by the Earth System Models (ESM). The described framework can be readily applied to any other ensemble of instruments, including satellites and other ground-based networks.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Appropriateness and Readiness of Cold Crucible Vitrification of Calcine Solids at the Idaho Site and H-Canyon Effluent at the Savannah River Site

This report summarizes the results from an assessment of the technology readiness and deployment of cold crucible induction melter (CCIM) technology to vitrify high level waste (HLW) calcine solids at the Idaho Site and H-Canyon liquid effluent at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The assessment was requested by the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), but is not a DOE 413-3-4a assessment for technology deployment. A joint Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and Fluor Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) team with subject matter experts evaluated the existent literature and experience both within the DOE as well as relevant external experience. The technology assessment focused on the site-specific technology readiness and appropriateness based on a number of system factors including feasibility and appropriateness of the technology for the specific site application, the potential extent of the regulatory and design challenges, and evaluation of the ability to deploy within the treatment needs of each site. This initial assessment provides information to support DOE-EM in making a go/no-go decision to carry out additional work on the technology maturation for critical decisions and planning.

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

Exploring Advanced Computational Tools and Techniques with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Operating Nuclear Plants

This report presents the project Idaho National Laboratory conducted for Nuclear Regulatory Commission to explore the advanced computational tools and techniques, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), for operating nuclear plants. The report reviews the nuclear data sources, with the focus on the operating experience data, that could be applied by advanced computational tools and techniques. Plant-specific and generic (national and international) data from different sources are described. The report describes the relationships between statistics and AI/ML and then introduces the most widely used AI/ML algorithms in both supervised and unsupervised learning. The report reviews the recent applications of advanced computational tools and techniques in various fields of nuclear industry, such as reactor system design and analysis, plant operation and maintenance, and nuclear safety and risk analysis. Finally, the report presents the insights from the project on the potential applicability of AI/ML techniques in improving advanced computational capabilities, how the advanced tools and techniques could contribute to the understanding of safety and risk, and what information would be needed to provide meaningful insights to decision makers. The report also documents an NRC survey on the current state of commercial nuclear power operations relative to the use of AI and ML tools as well as the role of AI/ML tools in nuclear power operations was published by the NRC as in FRN NRC-2021-0048 in April 2021. A summary of the survey including the survey questions, survey participants, survey responses, and the conclusions and insights derived from the survey is provided in the report. Finally, the report investigates potential applications of using AI/ML in operating NPPs and advanced reactors (both advanced LWRs and advanced NLWRs) to improve nuclear plant safety and efficiency. Three main application fields are defined and discussed: (1) plant safety and security assessments; (2) plant degradation modeling, fault and accident diagnosis and prognosis; and (3) plant operation and maintenance efficiency improvement.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Accelerating Low-Income Financing and Transactions (LIFT) for Solar Access Everywhere (Final Technical Report)

The Accelerating Low-Income Financing and Transactions (LIFT) for Solar Access Everywhere project’s goal was to expand Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) solar access for homeowners and renters. The LIFT project researched and gathered data on 453 LMI community solar project across the country. Following three years of research, the project delivered three groundbreaking research papers in June 2022, focused on 1) customer experience, 2) the growth of community solar programs, and 3) project-level financial best practices for serving LMI communities. These were followed by a user-friendly web-based Toolkit allowing users to interact with project data and key findings in November 2022. The customer experience research examined community solar subscribers’ primary motivations to join and remain satisfied with projects. Our research identified 453 projects across the country that dedicated some portion of the system capacity to LMI households. Seventeen of these projects participated in the LIFT customer experience research, allowing the project team to survey their customers and gain insight into how LMI subscribers feel about community solar and the programs that serve them. Subscribers in our sample indicated that the most critical issue that motivated them to participate in their program, however, was not savings but helping the environment. This was true for both LMI and non-LMI subscribers. Helping the environment was also the most important issue for LMI subscribers to measure how well their program was working for them. LIFT also explored how rapidly community solar has grown since its inception in 2006, publishing results in the Growth of U.S. Community Solar Serving LMI Households report. The results showed that community solar projects serving LMI households are one of the fastest growing segments of the solar industry. The report identifies and recommends ways developers should overcome real or perceived risks to LMI customer acquisition and subscriber management. Through the analysis of community solar project finance research, LIFT showed that most community solar projects serving LMI households are financed in the same ways mainstream community solar projects are financed. The value stacks and financial returns are no different, although LMI inclusion and participation rate varied across programs in our sample, ranging from between 10% and 100%. Based on the findings from the LIFT research, the team built a web-based user-friendly Toolkit, consisting of case studies, project finance best practices, and several tools built around the national dataset of 453 community solar projects that serve LMI households. These allow users to engage with the dataset in multiple ways; to explore the landscape of LMI community solar in the U.S., and to design community solar projects to optimize LMI inclusion, equity, and savings levels. The Toolkit also includes a library of LIFT-generated and LIFT-curated resources for users to learn more about how to best serve LMI communities through community solar. LIFT officially published the Toolkit on October 31, 2022, followed by a launch event (public webinar) on November 17, 2022. The core LIFT partners continue to engage in outreach and dissemination efforts to promote the LIFT Toolkit and research publications. Our driving motivation is to continue enabling solar developers to leverage the findings of this three-year research effort. By implication, the LIFT Toolkit is designed for use by utilities, energy service providers, and financiers or investors as a learning and decision-making tool to rapidly scale project models that optimize LMI inclusion and maximize real household savings.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Stress Testing the Standard Model of Particle Physics at the Large Hadron Collider

Final technical report for the DOE grant "Stress Testing the Standard Model of Particle Physics at the Large Hadron Collider", awarded to Prof. Aram Apyan at Brandeis University. The work focused on the ATLAS experiment at LHC. During the award period the group worked on ATLAS physics analyses, all-silicon Inner Tracker (ITk) detector upgrade, and reconstruction and calibration.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1987

The oxidation degradation of aromatic compounds

A series of experiments were conducted which focused on understanding the role that the O atom addition to aromatic rings plays in the oxidation of benzene and toluene. Flow reactor studies of the oxidation of toluene gave an indication of the amount of O atoms available during an oxidation and the degree to which the O atom adds to the ring. Flow reactor studies of the oxidation of toluene and benzene to which NO2 was added, have shown that NO2 appears to suppress the formation of O atoms and consequently reduce the amount of phenols and cresols formed by O atom addition. A high temperature pyrolysis study of phenol has confirmed that the major decomposition products are carbon monoxide and cyclopentadiene. A preliminary value for the overall decomposition rate constant was also obtained.

Brezinsky, Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS1991

The effect of zinc additions on the environmental stability of Alloy 8090 (Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr)

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) remains a problem in both Al-Li and conventional Al heat treatable alloys. It has recently been found that relatively small additions (less than or approximately 1 wt-percent) of Zn can dramatically improve the SCC performance of alloy 8090 (Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr). Constant load time to failure experiments using cylindrical tensile samples loaded between 30 and 85 percent of TYS indicate improvements of orders of magnitude over the baseline 8090 for the Zn-containing alloys under certain aging conditions. However, the toughnesses of the alloys were noticeably degraded due to the formation of second phase particles which primarily reside on grain and subgrain boundaries. EDS revealed that these intermetallic particles were Cu and Zn rich. The particles were present in the T3 condition and were not found to be the result of quench rate, though their size and distribution were. At 5 hours at 160 C, the alloys displayed the greatest susceptibility to SCC but by 20 hours at 160 C the alloys demonstrated markedly improved TTF lifetimes. Aging past this time did not provide separable TTF results, however, the alloy toughnesses continued to worsen. Initial examination of the alloys microstructures at 5 and 20 hours indicated some changes most notably the S' and delta' distributions. A possible model by which this may occur will be explored. Polarization experiments indicated a change in the trend of E(sub BR) and passive current density at peak aging as compared to the baseline 8090. Initial pitting experiments indicated that the primary pitting mechanism in chloride environments is one occurring at constituent (Al-Fe-Cu) particles and that the Cu and Zn rich boundary precipitates posses a breakaway potential similar to that of the matrix acting neither anodic or cathodic in the first set of aerated 3.5 w/o NaCl experiments. Future work will focus on the identification of the second phase particles, evaluation of K(sub 1SCC) and plateau da/dt via both DCB and slow strain rate techniques. A lower Zn content variant will be examined in the near future in hopes of optimizing toughness, density and SCC performance.

Kilmer, Raymond J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Indium Helps Strengthen Al/Cu/Li Alloy

Experiments on Al/Cu/Li alloys focus specifically on strengthening effects of minor additions of In and Cd. Indium-bearing alloy combines low density with ability to achieve high strength through heat treatment alone. Tensile tests on peak-aged specimens indicated that alloy achieved yield strength approximately 15 percent higher than baseline alloy. Alloy highly suitable for processing to produce parts of nearly net shape, with particular applications in aircraft and aerospace vehicles.

Blackburn, Linda B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Longevity Of Dry Film Lubricants

Report describes evaluation of dry film lubricants candidate for use in rotary joints of proposed Space Station. Study included experiments and theoretical analyses focused on longevity of sputtered molybdenum disulfide films and ion-plated lead films under conditions partially simulating rolling contact.

Kannel, J. W.↗