Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Modularity”

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 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Hybrid energy systems (HESs) using small modular reactors (SMRs)

Large-scale nuclear reactors are traditionally operated for a singular purpose: steady-state production of dispatchable baseload electricity that is distributed broadly on the electric grid. While this implementation is key to a sustainable, reliable energy grid, small modular reactors (SMRs) offer new opportunities for increased use of clean nuclear energy for both electric and thermal ap plications in more locations – while still accommodating the desire to support renewable production sources.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Advanced Nuclear Technology: Advanced Light Water Reactors Utility Requirements Document Small Modular Reactors Inclusion Summary

This report summarizes a project by EPRI to include requirements for small modular light water reactors (smLWR) into the EPRI Utility Requirements Document (URD) for Advanced Light Water Reactors. The project was jointly funded by EPRI and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The report covers the scope and content of the URD, the process used to revise the URD to include smLWR requirements, a summary of the major changes to the URD to include smLWR, and how to use the URD as revised to achieve value on new plant projects.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Next Generation Solvent Performance in the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Process - 15495

Changes to the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU) flow-sheet were implemented in the facility. Implementation included changing the scrub and strip chemicals and concentrations, modifying the O/A ratios for the strip, scrub, and extraction contactor banks, and blending the current BoBCalixC6 extractant-based solvent in MCU with clean MaxCalix extractant-based solvent. During the successful demonstration period, the MCU process was subject to rigorous oversight to ensure hydraulic stability and chemical/radionuclide analysis of the key process tanks (caustic wash tank, solvent hold tank, strip effluent hold tank, and decontaminated salt solution hold tank) to evaluate solvent carryover to downstream facilities and the effectiveness of cesium removal from the liquid salt waste. Results indicated the extraction of cesium was significantly more effective with an average Decontamination Factor (DF) of 1,129 (range was 107 to 1,824) and that stripping was effective. The contactor hydraulic performance was stable and satisfactory, as indicated by contactor vibration, contactor rotational speed, and flow stability; all of which remained at or near target values. Furthermore, the Solvent Hold Tank (SHT) level and specific gravity was as expected, indicating that solvent integrity and organic hydraulic stability were maintained. The coalescer performances were in the range of processing results under the BOBCalixC6 flow sheet, indicating negligible adverse impact of NGS deployment. After the Demonstration period, MCU began processing via routine operations. Results to date reiterate the enhanced cesium extraction and stripping capability of the Next Generation Solvent (NGS) flow sheet. This paper presents process performance results of the NGS Demonstration and continued operations of MCU utilizing the blended BobCalixC6-MaxCalix solvent under the NGS flowsheet.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2013

On Enhancing Risk Monitors for Advanced Small Modular Reactors

Advanced small modular reactors (AdvSMRs) can contribute to safe, sustainable, and carbon-neutral energy production. However, the economics of AdvSMRs suffer from the loss of economy-of-scale for both construction and operation. The controllable day-to-day costs of AdvSMRs are expected to be dominated by operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. These expenses could potentially be managed through optimized scheduling of O&M activities for components, reactor modules, power blocks, and the full plant. Accurate, real-time risk assessment with integrated health monitoring of key active components can support scheduling of both online and offline inspection and maintenance activities.

Advanced SMR↗
DOE OSTI2015

Modular microfluidic system for biological sample preparation

A reconfigurable modular microfluidic system for preparation of a biological sample including a series of reconfigurable modules for automated sample preparation adapted to selectively include a) a microfluidic acoustic focusing filter module, b) a dielectrophoresis bacteria filter module, c) a dielectrophoresis virus filter module, d) an isotachophoresis nucleic acid filter module, e) a lyses module, and f) an isotachophoresis-based nucleic acid filter.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Modular assembly of metal-organic super-containers incorporating calixarenes

A new strategy to design container molecules is presented. Sulfonylcalix[4]arenes, which are synthetic macrocyclic containers, are used as building blocks that are combined with various metal ions and tricarboxylate ligands to construct metal-organic `super-containers` (MOSCs). These MOSCs possess both endo and exo cavities and thus mimic the structure of viruses. The synthesis of MOSCs is highly modular, robust, and predictable.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Adaptable, modular, multi-purpose space vehicle backplane

An adaptable, modular, multi-purpose (AMM) space vehicle backplane may accommodate boards and components for various missions. The AMM backplane may provide a common hardware interface and common board-to-board communications. Components, connectors, test points, and sensors may be embedded directly into the backplane to provide additional functionality, diagnostics, and system access. Other space vehicle sections may plug directly into the backplane.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2018

System and method for neural interface with modular active electronics

A modular, high density electrical system is disclosed which makes use of an interface component, which is well suited to being placed in contact with an anatomy of either a human or an animal, and which may be releasably coupled to an electronics module subsystem. The interface component has a plurality of electrically conductive interconnect pads that may be releasably secured by a member to a plurality of electrically conductive pads of the electronics module subsystem. The electronics module subsystem may have a substrate which supports both an electronics circuit and the interconnect pads.

Shah, Kedar G.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Modular Low-Noise Piezoamplifier Driver for SRF Applications

Controlling the resonant frequency of superconducting cavities can be difficult due to their high sensitvity to mechanical and pressure variations. In addition, the cooling process itself as well as RF heating and deformation leads to resonant frequency shifts that need to be mechanicalyl compensated for. Stepper motors are often used for gross adjustment, but they also introduce significant noise in to the cavity system. Piezo transducers provide a way to perturb the cavity with minimal disruption. For the LCLS-II project, a modular piezoamplifier driver was developed using off-the-shelf components in conjunction with a custom carrier board. This allows for a low-noise system that provides real-time monitoring of piezotransducer health. The modules are designed to be easily serviceable and use audio-style connectors for monitor and drive ports on the chassis.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Modular fluid powered linear piston motors with harmonic coupling

A modular motor is disclosed that includes a piston/harmonic drive assembly that is axially cycled. The piston/harmonic drive assembly is coupled to a ball transfer arrangement that converts the axial motion into rotary motion to rotate a rotor that can be used to rotate a drill bit.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Submodule Capacitor Reduction for a 1 MVA SiC-Based Modular Multilevel Converter Motor Drive using High Frequency Common-Mode Voltage Injection

This paper describes a strategy to reduce the size of submodule capacitors of a 1 MVA, 0-1 kHz, 7-level modular multilevel converter (MMC) based medium voltage variable speed drive (MVVSD) using 1.7 kV SiC MOSFETs. Hardware designs of submodules to withstand high dv/dt and capacitor selection based on common mode voltage injection have been presented in literature. The issue with injection is the error in tracking of injected circulation current which results in fundamental frequency fluctuations in the submodule capacitor voltage. This paper presents a strategy for higher frequency sinusoidal common mode voltage based on more accurate tracking of the circulating current; realized through an improved control strategy combined with a higher switching frequency. Using the methods presented in this paper, a smaller submodule capacitance and reduced output current THD of the motor drive is achieved. A loss analysis model is proposed to evaluate the effect of the proposed strategy on the MMC efficiency. This helps balance the reduction in the capacitor against the increase in the losses as a result of increased switching frequency. Simulations and a down-scaled experimental setup are used to demonstrate this concept.

Potty, Karun↗
DOE OSTI2019

Multi-modular power plant with off-grid power source

A multi-modular power plant may include a plurality of on-site nuclear power modules configured to generate a power plant output, wherein one or more of the nuclear power modules may be designated as service module units which are configured to generate a first portion of the power plant output. A remainder of the nuclear power modules may be configured to generate a second portion of the power plant output. A number of power plant systems may be configured to operate using electricity associated with a house load of the power plant, wherein the first portion of the power plant output is equal to or greater than the house load. Additionally, a switchyard may be configured to electrically connect the power plant to a distributed electrical grid. The distributed electrical grid may be configured to service a plurality of geographically distributed consumers, and the switchyard may be configured to apply the second portion of the power plant output to the distributed electrical grid. The switchyard may further be configured to apply at least part of the first portion of the power plant output to the power plant systems during a loss of power from the distributed electrical grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modular autopilot design and development featuring bayesian non-parametric adaptive control

According to an embodiment, there is provided an onboard integrated computational system for an unmanned aircraft system (“Stabilis” autopilot). This is an integrated suite of hardware, software, and data-to-decisions services that are designed to meet the needs of business and research developers of UAS. Stabilis is designed to accelerate the development of any UAS platform and avionics system; it does so with hardware modularity and software adaptation. The Stabilis offers multiple technological advantages technological advantages including: Plug-and-adapt functionality; Data-to-decisions capability; and, On board parallelization capability.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Multi-modular power plant with dedicated electrical grid

A multi-modular power plant includes a plurality of on-site nuclear power modules that generate a power plant output, and a number of power plant systems which operate using electricity associated with a house load of the power plant. A switchyard associated with the power plant may electrically connect the power plant to a distributed electrical grid. The distributed electrical grid may be configured to service a plurality of geographically distributed consumers. Additionally, the switchyard may electrically connect the power plant to a dedicated electrical grid. The dedicated electrical grid may provide electricity generated from the power plant output to a dedicated service load, and the power plant output may be equal to or greater than a combined load of the dedicated service load and the house load. At least a portion of the power plant output may be distributed to both the power plant systems and the dedicated electrical grid.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modular gradient-free shaped charge

A shaped charge produces a constant velocity jet. The shaped charge is comprised of individual modules which can be assembled to produce a constant velocity jet of arbitrary length. The resulting jet speed is approximately twice the detonation velocity and independent of the liner material. The modular design also allows different liner materials to be used sequentially in the same jet.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modular scalable power conversion

A cascaded architecture composed of interconnected blocks that are each designed to process constant power and eliminate bulk energy storage are provided. Further, local controls within each block natively achieve both block- and system-level aims, making the system modular and scalable. Further methods of providing power conversion using such interconnected clocks are also provided.

Maksimovic, Dragan↗