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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

NPTFit: A Code Package for Non-Poissonian Template Fitting

We present NPTFit, an open-source code package, written in Python and Cython, for performing non-Poissonian template fits (NPTFs). The NPTF is a recently developed statistical procedure for characterizing the contribution of unresolved point sources (PSs) to astrophysical data sets. The NPTF was first applied to Fermi gamma-ray data to provide evidence that the excess of ∼GeV gamma-rays observed in the inner regions of the Milky Way likely arises from a population of sub-threshold point sources, and the NPTF has since found additional applications studying sub-threshold extragalactic sources at high Galactic latitudes. The NPTF generalizes traditional astrophysical template fits to allow for the ability to search for populations of unresolved PSs that may follow a given spatial distribution. NPTFit builds upon the framework of the fluctuation analyses developed in X-ray astronomy, thus it likely has applications beyond those demonstrated with gamma-ray data. The NPTFit package utilizes novel computational methods to perform the NPTF efficiently. The code is available at http://github.com/bsafdi/NPTFit and up-to-date and extensive documentation may be found at http://nptfit.readthedocs.io.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Validation and Code-to-Code Verification of FAST for a Megawatt-Scale Wind Turbine with Aeroelastically Tailored Blades

This paper presents validation and code-to-code verification of the latest version of the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory wind turbine aeroelastic engineering simulation tool, FAST v8. A set of 1,141 test cases, for which experimental data from a Siemens 2.3 MW machine have been made available and were in accordance with the International Electrotechnical Commission 61400-13 guidelines, were identified. These conditions were simulated using FAST as well as the Siemens in-house aeroelastic code, BHawC. This paper presents a detailed analysis comparing results from FAST with those from BHawC as well as experimental measurements, using statistics including the means and the standard deviations along with the power spectral densities of select turbine parameters and loads. Results indicate a good agreement among the predictions using FAST, BHawC, and experimental measurements. Here, these agreements are discussed in detail in this paper, along with some comments regarding the differences seen in these comparisons relative to the inherent uncertainties in such a model-based analysis.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Review of the 10 th Non-LTE Code Comparison Workshop

This work reports on the results of the 10 th Non-LTE code comparison workshop, which was held at the University of San Diego campus November 28 through December 1, 2017. Non-equilibrium collisional-radiative models predict the electronic state populations and attendant emission and absorption characteristics of hot, dense matter and are used to help design and diagnose high-energy-density experiments. At this workshop, fifteen codes from eleven institutions contributed results for steady-state and time-dependent neon, aluminum, silicon, and chlorine cases relevant to a variety of high-density experimental and radiation-driven astrophysical systems. We focus on differences in the predictions from codes with different internal structure, completeness, density effects, and rate fidelity and the impact of those differences on hot, dense plasma diagnostics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Exploring the MeV sky with a combined coded mask and Compton telescope: the Galactic Explorer with a Coded aperture mask Compton telescope (GECCO)

The sky at MeV energies is currently poorly explored. Here we present an innovative mission concept that builds upon the heritage of past and current missions improving the sensitivity and, very importantly, the angular resolution. This consists in combining a Compton telescope and a coded-mask telescope. We delineate the motivation for such a concept and we define the scientific goals for such a mission. The Galactic Explorer with a Coded Aperture Mask Compton Telescope (GECCO) is a novel concept for a next-generation telescope covering hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray energies. The potential and importance of this approach that bridges the observational gap in the MeV energy range are presented. With the unprecedented angular resolution of the coded mask telescope combined with the sensitive Compton telescope, a mission such as GECCO can disentangle the discrete sources from the truly diffuse emission. Individual Galactic and extragalactic sources are detected. This also allows to understand the gamma-ray Galactic center excess and the Fermi Bubbles, and to trace the low-energy cosmic rays, and their propagation in the Galaxy. Nuclear and annihilation lines are spatially and spectrally resolved from the continuum emission and from sources, addressing the role of low-energy cosmic rays in star formation and galaxy evolution, the origin of the 511 keV positron line, fundamental physics, and the chemical enrichment in the Galaxy. Such an instrument also detects explosive transient gamma-ray sources, which, in turn, enables identifying and studying the astrophysical objects that produce gravitational waves and neutrinos in a multi-messenger context. By looking at a poorly explored energy band it also allows discoveries of new astrophysical phenomena.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Comprehensive comparison of two tracking codes for single-particle dynamics evaluation of a next-generation storage ring light source

Next-generation light sources based on the multibend achromat concept place great reliance on the accuracy of beam dynamics modeling. To ensure the success of such light sources, confirmation of design performance with at least two independent codes is prudent. The APS Upgrade (APS-U) lattice has been designed using the code ELEGANT, which has existing and new features that are needed by the design. Corresponding, independent improvements have recently been made to the accelerator toolbox (AT), in order to permit an independent check of nonlinear dynamics predictions. The new developments include the modeling of combined-function bending magnets with straight geometry and improved fringe field effects of quadrupole magnets. Calculations of linear and nonlinear lattice parameters and particle tracking results were compared, showing remarkable agreement was found between the two independently developed codes. This provides significant confirmation of the feasibility of the APS-U design.

storage ring↗
DOE OSTI2017

Two-dimensional implosion simulations with a kinetic particle code [2D implosion simulations with a kinetic particle code]

Here, we perform two-dimensional implosion simulations using a Monte Carlo kinetic particle code. The application of a kinetic transport code is motivated, in part, by the occurrence of nonequilibrium effects in inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions, which cannot be fully captured by hydrodynamic simulations. Kinetic methods, on the other hand, are able to describe both continuum and rarefied flows. We perform simple two-dimensional disk implosion simulations using one-particle species and compare the results to simulations with the hydrodynamics code rage. The impact of the particle mean free path on the implosion is also explored. In a second study, we focus on the formation of fluid instabilities from induced perturbations. We find good agreement with hydrodynamic studies regarding the location of the shock and the implosion dynamics. Differences are found in the evolution of fluid instabilities, originating from the higher resolution of rage and statistical noise in the kinetic studies.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories Code-to-Code Comparison of Inter Lab Test Problem 1 for Asteroid Impact Hazard Mitigation

The NNSA Laboratories have entered into an interagency collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to explore strategies for prevention of Earth impacts by asteroids. Assessment of such strategies relies upon use of sophisticated multi-physics simulation codes. This document describes the task of verifying and cross-validating, between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), modeling capabilities and methods to be employed as part of the NNSA-NASA collaboration. The approach has been to develop a set of test problems and then to compare and contrast results obtained by use of a suite of codes, including MCNP, RAGE, Mercury, Ares, and Spheral. This document provides a short description of the codes, an overview of the idealized test problems, and discussion of the results for deflection by kinetic impactors and stand-off nuclear explosions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

User’s Manual for RESRAD-BUILD Code V.4: Vol. 1 – Methodology and Models Used in RESRAD-BUILD Code

The RESRAD-BUILD computer code models radionuclide release and transport in indoor environments and performs pathway analyses to evaluate the potential radiological dose and risk incurred by an individual who works or lives in a building contaminated with radioactive material or housing radioactively contaminated furniture or equipment. The code provides four geometries to characterize a radiation source: point, line, area, and volume, in which radionuclides are homogeneously distributed. Radionuclides contained in a source are considered to be released to the indoor air due to various processes including erosion (mechanically or weathering), diffusion (for tritium and radon in a volume source), or emanation (radon in a point, line, or area source). The release can proceed through different time phases with different rates. In RESRAD-BUILD Version 4.0, a dynamic ventilation model is implemented to simulate the fate and transport of source material particles and radionuclides after their releases. This dynamic ventilation model considers (1) air exchange between rooms in the building and between the rooms and the outdoor environment, (2) deposition from air to floor, (3) resuspension from the floor to the air, and (4) periodical vacuuming that reduces the floor deposition. The fate and transport modeling provides estimates of radionuclide concentrations in the source, in the air, and on the floor at different times, which are then integrated over the exposure duration for the calculation of radiation doses and cancer risks. A single run of the RESRAD-BUILD code can model a building with up to 9 rooms, 10 sources, and 10 receptors. The potential radiation dose and cancer risk incurred by each receptor are calculated for seven exposure pathways: (1) external radiation directly from the sources (accounting for shielding), (2) external radiation from radioactive particles deposited on the floors, (3) external radiation from airborne radionuclides, (4) inhalation of airborne radionuclides, (5) inhalation of radon and radon progenies, (6) inadvertent ingestion of radioactive particles directly from the source, and (7) ingestion of radioactive particles deposited on the floors. Various exposure scenarios can be modeled with RESRAD-BUILD, including but are not limited to, office worker, renovation worker, decontamination worker, building visitor, and resident. Both deterministic and probabilistic analyses can be performed to obtain results in both text reports and graphic displays.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Commercial Zero Code Plug-In: Zero Energy and Operational Emissions Overlay for Model Energy Codes (Technical Brief)

Model energy codes (MEC) describe requirements needed to demonstrate building energy performance compliance. They can be readily adopted by states and local jurisdictions to support desirable energy efficiency investment in new buildings and major renovations. This report provides commercial building energy code language as an overlay to current MEC, which is recognized by the U.S. DOE as ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2022. The code language provides a performance-based compliance path for achieving net zero energy or net zero operational energy emissions buildings with MEC. The path requires meeting two compliance metric target values: 1) a required minimum level of efficiency and 2) a measure of zero energy or emissions. The supporting documentation illustrates the magnitude of needed efficiency improvement and the additional offsets to be achieved from renewable energy sources.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2017

A validation and code-to-code verification of FAST for a megawatt-scale wind turbine with aeroelastically tailored blades

Abstract. This paper presents validation and code-to-code verification of the latest version of the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory wind turbine aeroelastic engineering simulation tool, FAST v8. A set of 1141 test cases, for which experimental data from a Siemens 2.3 MW machine have been made available and were in accordance with the International Electrotechnical Commission 61400-13 guidelines, were identified. These conditions were simulated using FAST as well as the Siemens in-house aeroelastic code, BHawC. This paper presents a detailed analysis comparing results from FAST with those from BHawC as well as experimental measurements, using statistics including the means and the standard deviations along with the power spectral densities of select turbine parameters and loads. Results indicate good agreement among the predictions using FAST, BHawC, and experimental measurements. These agreements are discussed in detail in this paper, along with some comments regarding the differences seen in these comparisons relative to the inherent uncertainties in such a model-based analysis.

Guntur, Srinivas↗
DOE OSTI2016

Verification of the Time-dependent Transport Code TDKENO with the Monte Carlo Code KENO-VI

In this paper we focus on the computer code TDKENO that employs a hybrid methodology for solving the time dependent, three-dimensional Boltzmann transport equation. Originally, TDKENO used the Monte Carlo Transport code KENO V.a from SCALE to calculate flux shapes and fixed sources. KENO V.a is quick to compute these quantities but is limited to simple geometries. For this work TDKENO has been modified to support the Monte Carlo Transport code KENO-VI in addition to KENO V.a. KENO-VI allows generalized geometry input not possible in KENO V.a inputs. In order to verify the changes we ran TDKENO using KENO V.a and KENO-VI inputs then compared the results. Three different inputs were analyzed, the 16a1 benchmark,a simple TREAT model, and a transient model (2855) from the M8 calibration tests performed at INL.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2017

HELIOS vs. DRAGON – Code-to-Code Comparison for High Temperature Gas Reactors

Full core neutronics modeling for depletion and transient analysis in commercial and test reactors requires a lattice physics code to obtain material homogenized and energy group condensed cross- sections at an assembly level. These cross-sections are then used in a full-core model for depletion and transient analysis. HELIOS and DRAGON are two popular lattice physics codes that are capable of modeling the HTGR, which is not straight forward due to the large neutron mean free path in graphite, the presence of burnable poisons, proximity to reflectors, and the double heterogeneous nature of prismatic TRISO fuel. To understand on how HELIOS and DRAGON perform, a simple hexagonal fuel pin cell based on the MHTGR design was analyzed. In total, there are three benchmark cases, with each case increasing in complexity. These cases were selected to help distinguish and identify limitations and benefits of each reactor physics code.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A code-to-code benchmark for magneto-convection in a horizontal duct

Liquid metals and magnetic fields are used in many technical applications such as metallurgy, crystal growth and nuclear fusion reactors. When an electrically conducting fluid moves in a magnetic environment, electric currents and electromagnetic forces are generated that affect velocity and pressure losses in the flow. These magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) interactions have to be investigated to optimize the engineering processes. The characteristics of MHD flows depend on the geometrical configuration, the strength of the applied magnetic field, the electrical properties of fluid and structural materials and the thermal conditions. In the so-called blankets for fusion reactors, where liquid metals are used to breed the plasma fuel component tritium and to extract the generated heat, magneto-convective flows play a crucial role in determining heat and mass transfer. Therefore, the availability of numerical codes to simulate this type of flow is mandatory and their validation is a necessary step to guarantee the reliability of the results. For that reason, a benchmark problem has been defined to simulate liquid metal flows in a horizontal rectangular duct heated from below and exposed to a non-uniform magnetic field. Results obtained by five research groups using different codes are compared.

benchmark↗
DOE OSTI2020

Code-to-code-to-experiment validation of LES-ALM wind farm simulators

The aim of this work is to present a detailed code-to-code comparison of two Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) solvers. Corresponding experimental measurements are used as a reference to validate the quality of the CFD simulations. The comparison highlights the effects of solver order on the solutions, and it tries to answer the question of whether a high order solver is necessary to capture the main characteristics of a wind farm. Both solvers were used on different grids to study their convergence behavior. While both solvers show a good match with experimental measurements, it appears that the low order solver is more accurate and substantially cheaper in terms of computational cost.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Open Data, Models, and Codes for Vanadium Redox Batch Cell Systems: A Systems Approach Using Zero-Dimensional Models

Abstract In this paper, we study, analyze, and validate some important zero-dimensional physics-based models for vanadium redox batch cell (VRBC) systems and formulate an adequate physics-based model that can predict the battery performance accurately. In the model formulation process, a systems approach to multiple parameters estimation has been conducted using VRBC systems at low C-rates (~C/30). In this batch cell system, the effect of ions' crossover through the membrane is dominant, and therefore, the capacity loss phenomena can be explicitly observed. Paradoxically, this means that using the batch system might be a better approach for identifying a more suitable model describing the effect of ions transport. Next, we propose an efficient systems approach, which enables to help understand the battery performance quickly by estimating all parameters of the battery system. Finally, open source codes, executable files, and experimental data are provided to enable people's access to robust and accurate models and optimizers. In battery simulations, different models and optimizers describing the same systems produce different values of the estimated parameters. Providing an open access platform can accelerate the process to arrive at robust models and optimizers by continuous modification from the users' side.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Functional coding and non-coding variants in human BRCA1 gene and their use in genetic screening

BRCA1 is involved in double-strand DNA damage repair pathways, and mutations in the gene are associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. With great help of the development of high-throughput DNA sequencing techniques numerous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertion deletion (Indel) mutations are detected on both coding and non-coding/regulatory regions of the BRCA1. Mutations may cause pathogenic or benign changes on the protein function or affect its expression. In the last decade, use of genetic screening tests to detect mutations on such genes has become greatly popular. However, it is very important to know the effect of the detected mutations, which is mostly possible by the use of predictive softwares, and also the related family history to be able to correctly analyse the screening results and to inform the patient. Therefore, use of in silico and in vitro techniques to score the pathogenicity of detected variants on genes like BRCA1 is now of great importance. Otherwise, results obtained from screening tests and family history cannot be analysed precisely.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗