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All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2020

Technical Interface Coordination with SHINE (FY2020 Summary)

In FY20, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) performed technical interface coordination with SHINE including coordination of SHINE CFD and thermal hydraulics conference calls, national laboratory conference calls, and program management activities such as reporting and tracking requirements for current FY20 activities. SHINE did not request any general technology consultation support for emergent issues. LANL has participated in the bi-weekly conference calls with SHINE and other national laboratories regarding LANL’s current activities. Activities discussed include the Supo 3-D CFD model geometry validation, releasing the CFD-MCNP coupled codes for the generic solution vessel simulations, and the ANL bubble experiment #2 design, preparation, and collaboration.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Status of the Advanced Oxygen Generation Assembly

Future Exploration missions will require an Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) to electrolyze water to supply oxygen for crew metabolic consumption. The system design will be based on the International Space Station (ISS) OGA but with added improvements based on lessons learned during ISS operations and technological advances since the original OGA was designed and built. The goal of these improvements will be to reduce spares mass and crew maintenance time while increasing reliability. Over the past year, the team has performed additional design reviews, testing and analysis in an effort to optimize upgrade efforts and achieve the best value that meets Exploration mission requirements. Upgrades that will be incorporated include: redesign of the electrolysis cell stack, redesign of the hydrogen dome, replacement of the hydrogen sensors, redesign of the recirculation loop deionizing bed, and incorporation of recirculation loop nitrogen purging and water flushing. The ISS OGA will be upgraded to an Advanced OGA (AOGA) configuration and its operation demonstrated in a relevant flight environment.

ECLSS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Status of the Advanced Oxygen Generation Assembly

Kevin Takada↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Status of the Advanced Oxygen Generation Assembly Design

Future Exploration missions will require an Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) to electrolyze water to supply oxygen for crew metabolic consumption. The system design will be based on the International Space Station (ISS) OGA but with added improvements based on lessons learned during ISS operations and technological advances since the original OGA was designed and built. The goal of these improvements will be to reduce system weight, crew maintenance time and spares mass while increasing reliability. Over the past year, the team has performed additional design reviews, testing and analysis in an effort to optimize upgrade efforts and achieve the best value that meets Exploration mission requirements. Upgrades that will be incorporated include: redesign of the electrolysis cell stack, redesign of the hydrogen dome, replacement of the hydrogen sensors, redesign of the recirculation loop deionizing bed, and incorporation of recirculation loop nitrogen purging and water flushing. The ISS OGA will be upgraded to an Advanced OGA (AOGA) configuration and its operation demonstrated in a relevant flight environment.

Oxygen Generation Assembly↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Status of the Advanced Oxygen Generation Assembly Design

Future Exploration missions will require an Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) to electrolyze water to supply oxygen for crew metabolic consumption. The system design will be based on the International Space Station (ISS) OGA but with added improvements based on lessons learned during ISS operations and technological advances since the original OGA was designed and built. The goal of these improvements will be to reduce system weight, crew maintenance time and spares mass while increasing reliability. Over the past year, the team has performed additional design reviews, testing and analysis in an effort to optimize upgrade efforts and achieve the best value that meets Exploration mission requirements. Upgrades that will be incorporated include: redesign of the electrolysis cell stack, redesign of the hydrogen dome, replacement of the hydrogen sensors, redesign of the recirculation loop deionizing bed, and incorporation of recirculation loop nitrogen purging and water flushing. The ISS OGA will be upgraded to an Advanced OGA (AOGA) configuration and its operation demonstrated in a relevant flight environment.

Oxygen Generation Assembly↗

NASA NTRS2006

Advanced Coating Removal Techniques

An important step in the repair and protection against corrosion damage is the safe removal of the oxidation and protective coatings without further damaging the integrity of the substrate. Two such methods that are proving to be safe and effective in this task are liquid nitrogen and laser removal operations. Laser technology used for the removal of protective coatings is currently being researched and implemented in various areas of the aerospace industry. Delivering thousands of focused energy pulses, the laser ablates the coating surface by heating and dissolving the material applied to the substrate. The metal substrate will reflect the laser and redirect the energy to any remaining protective coating, thus preventing any collateral damage the substrate may suffer throughout the process. Liquid nitrogen jets are comparable to blasting with an ultra high-pressure water jet but without the residual liquid that requires collection and removal .As the liquid nitrogen reaches the surface it is transformed into gaseous nitrogen and reenters the atmosphere without any contamination to surrounding hardware. These innovative technologies simplify corrosion repair by eliminating hazardous chemicals and repetitive manual labor from the coating removal process. One very significant advantage is the reduction of particulate contamination exposure to personnel. With the removal of coatings adjacent to sensitive flight hardware, a benefit of each technique for the space program is that no contamination such as beads, water, or sanding residue is left behind when the job is finished. One primary concern is the safe removal of coatings from thin aluminum honeycomb face sheet. NASA recently conducted thermal testing on liquid nitrogen systems and found that no damage occurred on 1/6", aluminum substrates. Wright Patterson Air Force Base in conjunction with Boeing and NASA is currently testing the laser remOval technique for process qualification. Other applications of liquid nitrogen operations include cutting of both soft and hard materials. While the laser will not cut materials, it can be used to roughen surfaces and to remove other materials from the substrate including oil, grease, and mold. The space program can benefit from several of these applications with the need for precise removal of coatings and other organic compounds in areas adjacent to sensitive space flight hardware. Significant advantages are evident when comparing liquid nitrogen and laser removal operations over current techniques of media blasting and sanding.

Seibert, Jon↗

DOE OSTI2021

Modeling the Fundamental Radiation Chemistry of the Organic Diluent, and the Effect of Metal Ion Complexation on the Radiochemical Behavior of Active Compounds

All used nuclear fuel (UNF) reprocessing technologies must operate efficiently in the presence of an intense, multi-component (predominantly alpha, beta, and gamma) radiation field. Consequently, radiation-induced degradation of reprocessing systems is of concern, as it negatively impacts process performance over time due to the destruction of both active compounds (ligands, phase modifiers, holdback agents, etc.) and the formation of degradation products. Reprocessing solvent system radiolysis has been linked to changes in separation efficiency and physical properties of solvent mixtures, solvent-recycle longevity, crud formation, and other unexpected outcomes that impact the efficient recovery of valuable materials (e.g., the actinides) and the volume of hazardous radioactive waste for final disposal, i.e., in a geological repository. Consequently, a fundamental understanding of radiolytic processes and their effects on reprocessing solvent system performance is critical for: (i) the cost-effective development and innovation of separation technologies; (ii) the design and implementation of predictive radiation chemical models for process monitoring and lifetimes; and (iii) potentially the ability to exploit radiolytic phenomenon to our benefit, e.g., strategic radiolysis of active molecules to liberate specific degradation products that aid subsequent process stages. Despite extensive investigation into the radiolytic behavior of active solvent system compounds, little attention has been given to understanding (i) the radiation chemical behavior and modification of the organic diluent and (ii) the effect of metal ion complexation on the radiochemical behavior of active compounds.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

NASA NTRS1994

The Portable Dynamic Fundus Instrument: Uses in telemedicine and research

For years ophthalmic photographs have been used to track the progression of many ocular diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma as well as the ocular manifestations of diabetes, hypertension, and hypoxia. In 1987 a project was initiated at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) to develop a means of monitoring retinal vascular caliber and intracranial pressure during space flight. To conduct telemedicine during space flight operations, retinal images would require real-time transmissions from space. Film-based images would not be useful during in-flight operations. Video technology is beneficial in flight because the images may be acquired, recorded, and transmitted to the ground for rapid computer digital image processing and analysis. The computer analysis techniques developed for this project detected vessel caliber changes as small as 3 percent. In the field of telemedicine, the Portable Dynamic Fundus Instrument demonstrates the concept and utility of a small, self-contained video funduscope. It was used to record retinal images during the Gulf War and to transmit retinal images from the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-50. There are plans to utilize this device to provide a mobile ophthalmic screening service in rural Texas. In the fall of 1993 a medical team in Boulder, Colorado, will transmit real-time images of the retina during remote consultation and diagnosis. The research applications of this device include the capability of operating in remote locations or small, confined test areas. There has been interest shown utilizing retinal imaging during high-G centrifuge tests, high-altitude chamber tests, and aircraft flight tests. A new design plan has been developed to incorporate the video instrumentation into face-mounted goggle. This design would eliminate head restraint devices, thus allowing full maneuverability to the subjects. Further development of software programs will broaden the application of the Portable Dynamic Fundus Instrument in telemedicine and medical research.

Hunter, Norwood↗

NASA NTRS2012

Using the ISS as a Testbed to Prepare for the Next Generation of Space-Based Telescopes

The ISS provides a unique opportunity to develop the technologies and operational capabilities necessary to assemble future large space telescopes that may be used to investigate planetary systems around neighboring stars. Assembling telescopes in space is a paradigm-shifting approach to space astronomy. Using the ISS as a testbed will reduce the technical risks of implementing this major scientific facility, such as laser metrology and wavefront sensing and control (WFSC). The Optical Testbed and Integration on ISS eXperiment (OpTIIX) will demonstrate the robotic assembly of major components, including the primary and secondary mirrors, to mechanical tolerances using existing ISS infrastructure, and the alignment of the optical elements to a diffraction-limited optical system in space. Assembling the optical system and removing and replacing components via existing ISS capabilities, such as the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) or the ISS flight crew, allows for future experimentation and repair, if necessary. First flight on ISS for OpTIIX, a small 1.5 meter optical telescope, is planned for 2015. In addition to demonstration of key risk-retiring technologies, the OpTIIX program includes a public outreach program to show the broad value of ISS utilization.

Ess, Kim↗

DOE OSTI2020

A low temperature unitized regenerative fuel cell realizing 60% round trip efficiency and 10 000 cycles of durability for energy storage applications

Unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFC) convert electrical energy to and from chemical bonds in hydrogen. URFCs have the potential to provide economical means for efficient long-term, seasonal, energy storage and on-demand conversion back to electrical energy. We first optimize the catalyst layer for discrete electrolyzer and fuel cell and then configure the URFC. The goal is to identify a cost competitive configuration for URFCs, and demonstrate it in terms of upper limit of round trip efficiencies (RTEs). Two possible configurations of URFCs are compared via experiments and techno-economic analysis (TEA), which emphasize the advantages of the unconventional constant-electrode (CE) URFC over the traditional constant-gas (CG) configuration. We also study the stability via accelerated stress tests (ASTs) and demonstrate steady state operation in a daily cycle for day to night energy shifting. From the investigations, the optimum composition of the URFC anode catalyst layer is 90 at% Ir-black balanced by Pt-black for both CE and CG configurations. At 80 °C and 1 A cm -2 , the optimized CE URFC achieves 57% and 60% RTE with air and O 2 as the reductant gases, respectively. We then evaluated the differences in durability using an AST over 10k charge–discharge cycles; the results reveal that the wider potential window at the anode in CE (0.05–1.55 V) has minimal effect on catalyst layer stability compared to CG (0.55–1.55 V). Furthermore, there was no degradation up to the range of 2k–5k cycles; beyond that the fuel cell (discharge) performance degraded while the electrolyzer (charge) performance was still stable. Finally, the observations here indicate substantial potential to employ URFCs as efficient and cost-effective bidirectional energy-conversion devices within energy storage and utilization systems after appropriate technological and operational optimizations.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Resilient GaN-based Power Module with Improved Diagnostic for Future Accelerator

Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) and Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test facility (DARHT) play a pivotal role in advancing scientific research and national security initiatives. As a premier facility for neutron science, LANSCE and DARHT provide invaluable insights into fundamental research, materials science, nuclear physics, high-energy physics, material science, and medical imaging. Existing (DC) power supply and pulse modulation technologies used in LANSCE and DARHT face limitations in terms of reliability, maintainability, and diagnostics which hinder the progress of these cutting-edge facilities. By proposing improvements to LANL accelerator facilities’ performance and addressing component failure, we aim to enhance scientific outcomes and minimize disruptions, allowing for more efficient and productive research activities while ensuring the continuity of valuable contributions to the user community. This proposal aims to revolutionize (DC) power supply and pulse power systems for future particle accelerators via the development of a resilient GaN-based power module with improved diagnostic and redundant submodules.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

NASA NTRS1986

The Earth's magnetosphere as a sample of the plasma universe

Plasma processes in the Earth's neighborhood determine the environmental conditions under which space-based equipment for science or technology must operate. These processes are peculiar to a state of matter that is rare on Earth but dominates the universe as whole. The physical, and especially the electrodynamic, properties of this state of matter is still far from well understood. By fortunate circumstances, the magnetosphere-ionosphere system of the Earth provides a rich sample of widely different plasma populations, and, even more importantly, it is the site of a remarkable variety of plasma processes. In different combinations such processes must be important throughout the universe, which is overwhelmingly dominated by matter in the plasma state. Therefore, observations and experiments in the near-Earth plasma serve a multitude of purposes. They will not only (1) clarify the dynamics of the space environment but also (2) widen the understanding of matter, (3) form a basis for interpretating remote observations of astrophysical objects, thereby even (4) help to reconstruct events that led to the evolution of the solar system. Last but not least they will (5) provide know-how required for adapting space-based technology to the plasma environment. Such observations and experiments will require a close mutual interplay between science and technology.

Faelthammar, Carl-Gunne↗

DOE OSTI2025

Integrated Systems-to-Atoms (S2A) Framework for Designing Resilient and Efficient Hydrogen Infrastructure Solutions

The success of a future clean hydrogen infrastructure will depend on technology performance, operating conditions, and system configuration, which will be integrated to meet specific end-use requirements. We introduce a Systems-to-Atoms framework to cosimulate material, device, and system design for clean hydrogen storage and transport. Here we present a demonstration scenario in which hydrogen is distributed using a liquid organic hydrogen carrier to 700 bar refueling stations. Cross-scale analysis on hydrogen release at the refueling station reveals that while a high reaction pressure (up to 100 bar) may not enhance the catalyst performance, it can lead to system-level cost savings (up to 5% of total refueling station cost) due to savings in downstream gas compression. Further, a typically low-performing dehydrogenation catalyst material (e.g., copper) may be preferred over a high-performing catalyst (e.g., palladium) at different operating conditions when considering overall system affordability and supply chain resilience.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2021

Managing Cyber Supply Chain Risk for Renewable Energy Technologies

On July 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) hosted a virtual workshop facilitated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Cybersecurity supply chain experts, researchers, and leaders in government and industry came together to share information on current and future challenges in securing emerging technologies and technical architecture. From a cybersecurity perspective, we need to move from a cybersecurity approach that focuses principally on legacy asset owners to one that incorporates more emphasis on end-point device manufacturers and third-party integrators. Cybersecurity for the global digital supply chain for manufacturers of consumer end-point devices—such as smart solar inverters and smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers—will be critical to the future cyber health of the grid.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Survey of prospective techniques for molten salt reactor feed monitoring

Safeguards verification measurements of nuclear material content in fresh fuel salt for liquid-fueled molten salt reactors (MSRs) are likely to be required as part of nuclear material accountancy for International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Here, this paper presents a comprehensive review and evaluation of 18 potential candidate techniques to quantify total uranium and 235 U for input accountancy measurements for liquid-fueled MSRs. As part of an overall screening and down-selection effort to identify the most promising techniques for further development for an MSR feed monitoring system, this paper defines eight figures of merit (FOMs): reasonably achievable measurement uncertainty, measurement time required, capital cost, burden upon the facility operator, maintenance intensity, technological maturity, human capital requirements for operation, and whether the technique introduces a path for potential material removal. Each candidate technique is then evaluated across these FOMs to identify the techniques with the highest potential for future development for fresh fuel accountancy measurements in MSRs. Our findings indicate that no single technique or combination thereof currently has the requisite technological maturity for immediate implementation in nuclear material accountancy at a liquid-fueled MSR facility. While several promising techniques are identified, there is a critical lack of experimental data for most systems in the context of molten salt applications.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS2017

Structural Design Exploration of an Electric Powered Multi-Propulsor Wing Configuration

Advancements in aircraft electric propulsion may enable an expanded operational envelope for electrically powered vehicles compared to their internal combustion engine counterparts. High aspect ratio wings provide additional lift and drag reduction for a proposed multi-propulsor design, however, the challenge is to reduce the weight of wing structures while maintaining adequate structural and aeroelastic margins. Design exploration using a conventional design-and-build philosophy coupled with a finite element method (FEM)-based design of experiments (DOE) strategy are presented to examine high aspect ratio wing structures that have spanwise distributed electric motors. Multiple leading-edge-mounted engine masses presented a challenge to design a wing within acceptable limits for dynamic and aeroelastic stability. Because the first four primary bending eigenmodes of the proposed wing structure are very sensitive to outboard motor placement, safety-of-flight requirements drove the need for multiple spars, rib attachments, and outboard structural reinforcements in the design. Global aeroelasticity became an increasingly important design constraint during the on-going design process, with outboard motor pod flutter ultimately becoming a primary design constraint. Designers successively generated models to examine stress, dynamics, and aeroelasticity concurrently. This research specifically addressed satisfying multi-disciplinary design criteria to generate fluid-structure interaction solution sets, and produced high aspect ratio primary structure designs for the NASA Scalable Convergent Electric Propulsion Technology and Operations Research (SCEPTOR) project in the Aeronautic Research Mission Directorate at NASA. In this paper, a dynamics-driven, quasi-inverse design methodology is presented to address aerodynamic performance goals and structural challenges encountered for the SCEPTOR demonstrator vehicle. These results are compared with a traditional computer aided design based approach.

Moore, James B.↗

DOE OSTI2020

CCE Phase 4: Mitigations and Protections

During the first three phases, the CCE Team identified any instances of unverified trust in the organization’s technologies, processes, and procedures, any or all of which could be used to adversely impact the system. In Phase 4, the primary goal is to remove the possibility of the end effect—that is, to develop means or mechanisms that will ensure an adversary cannot achieve their Objective (identified in Phase 1) via cyber means. Such measures are known as “protections.” In some cases, this may not be possible, or the implementation of protections may not be desirable due to other considerations. In such cases, means and mechanisms should be developed that focus on putting an organization in a better position to identify adversary activities directed against it, increasing the cost of cyber-enabled sabotage for the adversary (including making things more difficult for the adversary and attempting to lower the chances an adversary may succeed), or decreasing the recovery cost of a victim organization. These measures are known as “mitigations.”

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Design of a 915 MHz conduction-cooled cryomodule

High-power, compact, continuous-wave (CW) linear electron accelerators with beam energies of up to 10 MeV are being considered for possible industrial applications. Conduction-cooled, superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) technology allows operating such machines at high electrical efficiency, thereby reducing the operating cost significantly. A prototype conduction-cooled SRF cryomodule has been designed and components are currently being manufactured. The cryomodule features a two-cell, 915 MHz SRF cavity, two cryocoolers, a fundamental power coupler, two magnetic shields, a thermal shield and warm-to-cold transitions. The cryomodule has been designed to be able to provide an energy gain of 3.5 MeV to a CW electron beam with a current of 5 mA. This contribution focusses on thermal and mechanical design aspects of the cryomodule.

Ciovati, G. [Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (Unit↗