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At least 73 records · Page 4

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2024

Soil Water Percolation Flux, April 2017 to March 2019, BR-Ma2, Manaus

Soil water percolation flux measurements derived from six passive wick flux meters across three topographic positions (valley, slope and plateau). Data has been processed to compute the mean for each topographic position where two flux meters were installed at each topographic position. Missing data represented a few percent of the total data set and were filled using two approaches. In the event one of the flux meters malfunctioned, we used data from the other sensor from the same topographic position without averaging. When both sensors were not working, such as during the period from September to October 2017 for the slope and valley and July 2018 for the plateau, data was filled using a nonlinear regression model that was based on local precipitation data and coefficients that were empirically derived for each topographic position. The metadata tab included in the .csv has additional information on locations where the sensors were installed, and other installation/maintenance details. Contact ksolander@lanl.gov if you need to use this dataset for additional information.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Soil Water Percolation Chemistry, April 2017 to March 2019, BR-Ma2, Manaus

Soil water percolation chemistry including major cations, anions and isotope geochemistry. Samples were collected from six passive wick flux meters across three topographic positions (valley, slope and plateau). Data has been processed to compute the monthly mean for each topographic position where two flux meters were installed at each topographic position. All samples were processed at the Geology, Geochemistry and Geomaterials Research Laboratory (GGRL) in Los Alamos, NM USA. The metadata tab included in the .csv has additional information on locations where the sensors were installed, and other installation/maintenance details. Contact ksolander@lanl.gov if you need to use this dataset for additional information.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Datasets for DOE 2021 Communities LEAP Pilot

This submission offers data aligned to each of the four eligibility criteria outlined in the United States Department of Energy (DOE) 2021 Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) Pilot. Please visit the LEAP website (https://www.energy.gov/communitiesLEAP/communities-leap) to learn more about LEAP and gain additional contextual information for how these data may be used. The data provided in the file approximates how the eligibility criteria apply at the census tract level across the United States (U.S.). The excel file available for download provides information pertaining to each of the four criteria outlined (average energy burden, percent low income, historic fossil energy communities) for all census tracts within the 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia (D.C.), and Puerto Rico. The tabs within the excel file provide a file description, a summary data table (a simplified, easy to use presentation of the four eligibilities criteria), metadata (description, source, and other pertinent details for all variables provided), and a full, detailed data table. Please note that while these data are provided at the census tract level, census tracts do not necessarily have the same physical boundaries as a community but were used as they provide the closest proxy based on publicly available information collected using an empirically robust method. U.S. territories are not listed but are eligible to apply to Communities LEAP. As stated in the Opportunity Announcement, applying communities should describe how they meet the eligibility criteria in their application even if these data do not specifically show that they are eligible.

Communities↗

DOE OSTI2023

NEWTS EPA Gasification Dataset and Case Studies

Data from the US EPA Gasification Database containing gasification effluent data from selected U.S. coal power plants. Original data from: Nguyen, Dan-Tam, Eastern Research Group. Sep 29, 2015. Analytical Database for the Steam Electric Rulemaking - DCN SE05359. https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0819-5640 Files include: Original data tab, processed data and charge balance information in "NEWTS_EPA_Gasification_Effluent_Dataset_all_tabs.xlsx" Individual .csv files for data in format for input into aqueous chemistry modeling software (OLI Systems and Geochemist's Workbench) Data input templates for modeling streams in OLI Systems and Geochemist's Workbench Case studies for selected solved streams modeled in OLI Systems and Geochemist's Workbench

gasification↗

DOE OSTI2020

GADRAS Batch Inject Tool User Guide

Gamma Detector Response and Analysis Software (GADRAS) is used by the radiation detection and emergency response community to perform modeling and spectral analysis for gamma detector systems. Built into GADRAS is the ability to define a detector, geometry, background characteristics and source composition to generate synthetic spectra for drills and exercises (injects). Consequence Management is currently in development of a sample result data simulator tool in which a deposition model is probed for source conditions at moments in time and locations in space. These values are used to generate realistic sample results for use in drills and exercises. In addition to sample results, there is a need to simulate the actual spectra that would be observed in the field by downlooking HPGe instruments given a deposition activity. This way, the FRMAC Gamma Spectroscopist can practice their process of generating quantified results from spectra on realistic data as well. Recognizing the decades of work done in GADRAS to accurately generate synthetic spectra, this team decided to build a link between the new simulator and GADRAS to generate these spectra quickly and easily. The simulator tool will generate a file that specifies the name of the spectra, its location, date/time of measurement, duration of measurement, height off the ground, and the deposition activity and age for every radionuclide in the simulation. Then, a new tool within the Inject Tab of GADRAS was developed to read in this file given a detector selection and generate In-Situ spectra for each row in the file in any file format the user chooses. This way, simulation cell staff can take these files and then upload them to the appropriate data system (RAMS or RadResponder) for use during drills and exercises. An advanced feature of this tool allows for generating any spectra given an appropriate model and mapping of source to model layer in the batch inject tool. This way, spectra from field sample counts, mobile laboratories, or even fixed laboratories can be generated in bulk given an estimate of the radioactivity concentration or total radioactivity in an import file. This expands the capabilities of this tool a great deal and will make it a more useful tool for CM and others to help estimate detector response for nearly any situation. This user guide will explain the steps needed to perform a batch inject file generation.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Minimum Resolution Requirements for Gamma Identification Algorithms

Each year there are millions of dollars spent on the research and production of high-resolution detectors. This research indicates that the pursuit of higher resolution detectors is not always necessary. The terminal resolution of a NaI detector, or highest detector resolution, at which identification algorithms fail to identify highly enriched uranium (HEU) was evaluated using GADRAS, Genie, and GammaVision. GADRAS employs a template matching algorithm, while Genie and GammaVision utilize a mathematical approach for peak search and identification. The NaI spectra utilized for evaluation were generated using the GADRAS Inject tab and source modeling functions. Each spectrum included terrestrial and cosmic background from Dallas, TX. The resolutions for each spectrum were increased from a default 8.92% to a point where each algorithm would fail to identify 235 U from a HEU source. Six different source configurations were used in this research: bare HEU, 50% shielded HEU, 90% shielded HEU, bare HEU with an interference source of 99 mTc, bare HEU with 99 mTc both shielded 50%, and bare HEU with 99 mTc both shielded 90%. T

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2022

Solid Oxide Cell and Stack Manufacturing Cost Tool

This is the user manual for the SOC Manufacturing Cost Tool spreadsheet. The manual details the use and meaning of each tab, color scheme, and spreadsheet operation. Also detailed are specific instructions for end-user modification and inputs to tailor the tool to their specific technology. To access the cost tool, please visit: <a href="https://netl.doe.gov/energy-analysis/details?id=d224ad08-6a38-402a-9cad-907db19e394f" rel="noopener noreferrer">Energy Analysis | netl.doe.gov</a>.

cost modeling↗

DOE OSTI2022

Decay Curve Correction Analysis Report

The decay curve analysis that is done on the short-lived radionuclide gas samples is used to differentiate between gaseous radionuclides that have the same characteristic gamma decay energy, 511 kiloelectron-volts (keV). A sample of stack gas is isolated and the total counts in the 511 keV peak are counted repeatedly in 10-second intervals to evaluate the decay rate of the sample over time. Analysis of this decay data required a series of steps. First, a raw data report is generated by the gamma acquisition system, based on an analysis template within the acquisition software. The data report file was then loaded into Microsoft Word, and a macro was used to perform minor formatting (remove colons and insert tabs between data columns) to allow analysis within Excel. The file is then saved as a text file at this point. The text file is then uploaded into Excel and a series of macros are used to add labels, calculate radioactive decay constants, and analyze the gamma decay data using linear regression techniques. The analysis template has been used since 1998 for stack 53000303 (TA-53, building 0003, exhaust stack 03) and 2000 for stack 53000702. The overall process, including the gamma report format and the macros used in Word and Excel for processing the report, had remained unchanged until 2015. In October of 2015, staff made a change to the report template in the gamma acquisition software which resulted in an error in the calculations later performed by the Excel macro. This error was not caught until a more in-depth review of the analysis took place regarding 2020 data. This report covers a much more complete review of the issue that occurred regarding the decay curve analysis, a review of the calculations completed to correct the issue, a review of the updated decay curve analysis process, and recommendations for moving forward.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Development of a Prototype Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavity for Conduction-Cooled Accelerators

Recent progress in the development of high-quality Nb?Sn film coatings along with the availability of cryocoolers with high cooling capacity at 4 K makes it feasible to operate SRF cavities cooled by thermal conduction at relevant accelerating gradients for use in accelerators. We have developed a prototype single-cell cavity to prove the feasibility of operation up to the accelerating gradient required for 1 MeV energy gain, cooled by conduction with cryocoolers. The cavity has a ~3 ¿m thick Nb?Sn film on the inner surface, deposited on a ~4 mm thick bulk Nb substrate and a bulk ~7 mm thick Cu outer shell with three Cu attachment tabs. The cavity was tested up to a peak surface magnetic field of 53 mT in liquid He at 4.3 K. A horizontal test cryostat was designed and built to test the cavity cooled with three cryocoolers. The rf tests of the conduction-cooled cavity achieved a peak surface magnetic field of 50 mT and stable operation was possible with up to 18.5 W of rf heat load. The peak frequency shift due to microphonics was 23 Hz. These results represent the highest peak surface magnetic field achieved in a conduction-cooled SRF cavity to date

Ciovati, Gianluigi↗

DOE OSTI2023

Local Modification of Cast Aluminum Alloys via the Cast-and-Print Process

Casting of aluminum alloys is a cost-effective way to mass manufacture bulk aluminum parts for automotive applications. However, the casting process requires filling of a mold, which imposes some limitations on the geometries that can be successfully cast and limits parts to be a uniform material. Therefore, we proposed that a hybrid casting plus additive manufacturing approach, Cast-and-Print, which could be used to locally modify the properties and geometry of cast parts to create difficult-to-cast, functional features. Here, we report the results of the properties of deposited materials on cast substrate, the properties of the interface of the deposited and cast material, and the application of the Cast-and-Print method to deposit rivet tabs on high-pressure die cast plates. Ultimately, the approach appears viable, but there are engineering challenges present to reliable additive processing of aluminum wires that need to be overcome for successful implementation of the technology.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2024

LDRD Quarterly Highlights (FY24 Q4)

This newsletter, published quarterly, features LDRD and SDRD work done by Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, Nevada National Security Site and Sandia. To see a PDF with all articles referenced in this newsletter or review past issues, visit NNSA-LDRD.lanl.gov and click on the Quarterly Highlights tab.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Life Cycle Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Clean Fuels with the R&D GREET 2024 Model

This document summarizes research on the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rates from the production and use of clean fuels to support a new version of the Research and Development Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (R&D GREET) model, R&D GREET 2024 In this effort, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) focuses on clean fuel pathways that are readily available in the market or are emerging in the near term. The selected pathways represent clean fuel technologies that convert biomass- and/or waste-based feedstocks to liquid and/or gaseous fuels for the transportation sector and other potential uses. The pathways are configured in R&D GREET 2024 with up-to-date feedstock-to-fuel life cycle inventory (LCI) data. Additionally, a new tab has been added to R&D GREET 2024 called “Clean Fuels” which allows the user to easily change inputs and access LCA results. Argonne does not warrant that the results presented in this report are consistent with the requirements of any particular regulatory or incentive program. Users interested in specific programs that reference GREET are encouraged to review guidance specific to those programs if and when it is available to determine appropriate means of compliance and contact the relevant responsible agencies for those specific policies or programs.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2025

FY25 MOOSE Usability Improvements: 3D Meshing Capabilities, Initiation of Geometry Support for Monte Carlo Tools, and Enhancement of MOOSE/Workbench User Input Interactions

Usability improvements have been made to MOOSE and Workbench in FY25 to enhance usability and user workflows. Assorted enhancement have been made to MOOSE’s intrinsic meshing capabilities in order to enable more flexible and complex meshing of nuclear reactor systems, in particular for 3D applications. Mesh generators have been added to perform operations such as batch mesh generation, surface mesh generation, and creation of 3D transition layers. These mesh generation capabilities make it much easier to generate high quality non-extruded 3D meshes. Additionally, work to integrate Monte Carlo reactor physics simulations into MOOSE-based multi-physics workflows has reached another milestone with the implementation of the Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) base framework. This framework lays the foundation for mesh generators to offer the user a generic CSG output option (as opposed to a finite element mesh). To support users, workshop on the MOOSE Reactor Module was delivered which featured hands-on examples using the NEAMS Workbench on INL’s High Performance Computing system. Recent updates to the NEAMS Workbench, WASP, and the MOOSE language server have introduced several improvements aimed at making MOOSE-based simulation setup and input management faster, more accurate, and easier to use. Key capabilities that have been added include multi-tab-stop autocompletion, visual input diagnostics, developer-directed data visualizations, upgraded ParaView integration, and Workspace-level file tracking. Together, these changes make it easier for users to build, validate, and manage complex MOOSE-based simulation models — especially those involving reusable components, included files, and datasets. The improvements are designed to save time, reduce input errors, and help users get to a successful simulation run faster, with more confidence in the results.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Queued Up: 2025 Edition – Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection As of the End of 2024 [Slides]

Electric transmission system operators (ISOs, RTOs, or utilities) require proposed power plants seeking to connect to the transmission grid to undergo a series of impact studies before they can be built. This process establishes what new transmission equipment or upgrades may be needed before a project can connect to the system and assigns the costs of that equipment. The lists of projects in this process are known as “interconnection queues”. In collaboration with interconnection.fyi, Berkeley Lab compiled, aggregated, and cleaned interconnection queue data from >50 transmission grid operators (7 ISO/RTOs and 49 non-ISO balancing areas), which collectively represent ~97% of currently installed U.S. electric generating capacity. The dataset includes requests submitted to queues through the end of 2024, and only includes requests seeking to connect to the transmission grid (not distribution-connected or behind-the-meter projects). The files below include both a PDF report and an Excel data file. The PDF report analyzes interconnection data and metrics through the end of 2024. The Excel data file includes (a) the full project-level interconnection queue dataset through 2024, (b) a codebook (data dictionary) describing each data field, and (c) 35 additional tabs featuring tables summarizing a range of interconnection metrics. Key highlights from the Queued Up: 2025 Edition (featuring data through 2024) include: • As of the end of 2024, there were ~10,300 projects actively seeking grid interconnection in the U.S., representing 1,400 GW of generation and approximately 890 GW of storage. • Historic withdrawal rates alongside relatively fewer new requests resulted in a 12% decrease in total active queue volume compared to the prior year. • Active natural gas capacity (136 GW, +72% year-over-year) increased in 2024, while solar (956 GW, -12%), storage (890 GW, -13%), and wind (271 GW, -26%) capacity decreased. • 408 GW of capacity already has a draft or executed interconnection agreement (IA) but has not yet reached commercial operations. • The time projects spend in queues before reaching COD is increasing. For the regions with available data, the median duration from IR to COD has doubled from <2 years for projects built in 2000-2007 to over 4 years for those built in 2018-2024. • Ultimately, most of this proposed capacity will not be built. Only 13% of capacity that submitted interconnection requests from 2000-2019 had reached commercial operations by the end of 2024; 77% of that capacity had been withdrawn and 10% was still active. • FERC Order 2023 and various other reforms are being implemented. These are important measures to reduce interconnection bottlenecks and enhance grid system reliability, but it is too early to measure and assess their full impact. • New additions for the 2025 edition include: (a) additional detail on data processing and gaps; (b) updates on interconnection reforms; (c) new analysis on interconnection agreements, and more.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2026

Multi-physics Preconditioning for Thermally Activated Batteries

Thermal batteries, also known as molten-salt batteries, are single-use reserve power systems activated by pyrotechnic heat generation, which transitions the solid electrolyte into a molten state. The simulation of these batteries relies on multiphysics modeling to evaluate performance and behavior under various conditions. This paper presents advancements in scalable preconditioning strategies for the Thermally Activated Battery Simulator (TABS) tool, enabling efficient solutions to the coupled electrochemical systems that dominate computational costs in thermal battery simulations. We propose a hierarchical block Gauss-Seidel preconditioner implemented through the Teko package in Trilinos, which effectively addresses the challenges posed by tightly coupled physics, including charge transport, porous flow, and species diffusion. The preconditioner leverages scalable subblock solvers, including smoothed aggregation algebraic multigrid (SA-AMG) methods and domain-decomposition techniques, to achieve robust convergence and parallel scalability. Strong and weak scaling studies demonstrate the solver’s ability to handle problem sizes up to 51.3 million degrees of freedom on 2048 processors, achieving near sub-second setup and solve times for the end-to-end electrochemical solve. These advancements significantly improve the computational efficiency and turnaround time of thermal battery simulations, paving the way for higher-resolution models and enabling the transition from 2D axisymmetric to full 3D simulations.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Generator Interconnection Costs to the Transmission System in non-ISO Balancing Authorities [Slides]

Electric transmission system operators—including Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), and utilities—require proposed power plants to undergo a series of interconnection studies before connecting to the grid. These studies assess what transmission upgrades or new infrastructure may be necessary and assign the associated costs to the project. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has compiled, aggregated, and cleaned interconnection cost data, originally for ISOs/RTOs, and now for five non-ISO Balancing Authorities: PacifiCorp, Bonneville Power Authority, Duke Energy Progress, Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Florida. Insufficient transparency in interconnection cost data may contribute to rapidly expanding interconnection queues, with active queue capacities tripling between 2020 and 2024 in the studied BAs. Most projects withdraw after receiving high interconnection cost estimates. Interconnection costs have increased since the early 2000s, with average costs for "complete" projects reaching $194/kW between 2018 and 2024. Active queue projects and withdrawn projects incur substantially higher costs, primarily due to rising network upgrade costs. Recent interconnection costs in non-ISO balancing authorities are higher than in ISO regions, potentially due to a greater willingness to pay among developers. Utility-scale solar, wind, and storage projects have interconnection costs that exceed those for natural gas. However, when focusing on projects that do not withdraw from the queue, the interconnection costs for these technologies are more similar to natural gas projects. Other key findings include: (1) Larger generation projects benefit from lower proportional interconnection costs, (2) capacity transmission service (NRIS) often requires additional network investments, and (3) projects with high network upgrade costs are often clustered geographically. The dataset includes results from 2,104 interconnection studies conducted between 2000 and 2024, covering projects that are operational, withdrawn, or still progressing through the study process. The Excel file contains (a) the complete project-level interconnection cost dataset, and (b) seven additional tabs summarizing cost metrics across dimensions such as time, market structure, cost category (point of interconnection vs. broader network upgrades), fuel type, service type (ERIS vs. NRIS), generator size, and geography.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Buoy - Massachusetts - Wind Sentinel (130) - Raw Data

This is the data collected during the validation period. The buoy is scheduled to be deployed near Martha's Vinyard in mid-January 2020. Data collected from buoy instruments are contained in two files labeled “primary” and secondary.” Header information for these files can be found in the respective tabs in the Excel spreadsheet under Attachments.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Buoy - Massachusetts - Wind Sentinel (120) - Raw Data

17 WIND ENERGY↗