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DOE OSTI2022

Tardigrade (Quarterly Report Q1 FY2022)

Tardigrade is an effort to create tunable thermal expansion materials for use in a ruggedized lens housing. This requires new computational algorithms to model and predict thermal performance of meta-materials composed of multiple structured base materials and void-space, along with matching and developing 3D print technology to demonstrate the housing. The project is 27 months into the 36-month plan. We are continuing effort on 3 main technical thrusts: material design algorithm development (transitioning into full 3D design), multi-material additive manufacturing process exploration, and sensor/optics design and engineering. In the last quarter, we have focused on developing the code for 3D Topology Optimization, building data sets for 2D autoencoder training, and finishing lens housing engineering for the microbolometer based test sensor. We are exploring 2 potential multi-material AM technologies, a polymer-based technique in development at LLNL and a metal SLS system produced by Aconity, called the AeroSint deposition head.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

The Monolithic Heat Pipe Microreactor Reference Plant Model

This work introduces a reference plant model for a generic monolithic heat-pipe-cooled microreactor. The model will serve as a springboard to develop future evaluation models in the licensing process of similar microreactor designs at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This model has been developed with the Comprehensive Reactor Analysis Bundle and its specifications are based on open literature publications for the eVinci TM design. BlueCRAB is the U.S. Nu- clear Regulatory Commission non-light-water reactor analysis system based on the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment framework, which can couple the Griffin, BISON, and Sockeye applications to resolve the various physics that are essential for the safety analysis of this type of reactor system. The core specifications includes tristructural isotropic fuel, graphite monolith, graphite reflectors, and drums composed of graphite and B 4 C. No moderator or burnable poison pins are used in the design. The fuel enrichment is reduced to control excess reactivity in the core. This core design is not optimized and only serves for testing purposes, since the primary objective of this work is to exercise the multiphysics coupling for this type of reactor system. A three dimensional (3D) core heterogeneous Griffin discrete ordinates (SN) transport model allows the precise calculation of the flux distribution and pin powers. Griffin transfers the power density distribution and obtains a temperature distribution to and from BISON. The BISON model com- putes the 3D core temperature distribution and is coupled to 876 Sockeye subapplications running a heat pipe model. This 3D conduction model is coupled to the various heat pipes via heat flux boundary conditions. The model includes a small gap between the heat pipe and the monolith. Convective heat transfer boundaries with either ambient temperature or condenser temperature as heat sinks are imposed at the model boundaries. The 2D Sockeye heat pipe model uses a vapor- only methodology, which provides the needed resolution for transient calculations and allows the determination of various heat pipe limits. This approach is superior to the superconductor model traditionally used in steady-state calculations. BlueCRAB computes steady-state power and temperature distributions that serve as the initial condition for a loss-of-heat-sink transient simulation. The steady-state results show significant peaking due to the position of the control drum, but this is a characteristic of the particular design used, which is not optimized at this stage. The transient results show the reactor power slowly stabilizing towards a 3% power level after the partial loss of secondary heat removal. Several recriticalities are observed due to cooling through the secondary system but the reactor is self-stabilizing and behaves as expected.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Impact of Irradiation on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Materials Produced by Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced non-light water reactor designs, known as Generation IV (Gen IV) reactors, typically operate at higher temperatures and under more extreme radiation conditions than conventional light water reactors. A critical aspect of the successful deployment and advancement of Gen IV reactor designs is the selection of appropriate structural materials for specific applications, which necessitates the timely development of new materials and manufacturing processes. Advanced manufacturing (AM) offers numerous opportunities for innovative designs, enabling the production of high-performance components with potentially shorter development cycles compared to traditional manufacturing methods. However, a significant challenge in deploying AM technologies in the nuclear energy sector is the current lack of data on the irradiation performance of AM-produced components. This presentation will discuss neutron and ion irradiation results of AM materials, including stainless steel 316L, Grade 91, SA508, Inconel 718, and Inconel 625 materials. The materials were manufactured by AM, such as Powder Metallurgy Hot Isostatic Pressing (PM HIP), Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED). The effects of neutron irradiation on microstructure (e.g., dislocations, loops, and nanoclusters), tensile properties (e.g., strength and ductility), and ion irradiation on Irradiation-Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking (IASCC) will be explored. Results are collected from several projects supported by the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) program.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS2014

Human Integration Design Processes (HIDP)

The purpose of the Human Integration Design Processes (HIDP) document is to provide human-systems integration design processes, including methodologies and best practices that NASA has used to meet human systems and human rating requirements for developing crewed spacecraft. HIDP content is framed around human-centered design methodologies and processes in support of human-system integration requirements and human rating. NASA-STD-3001, Space Flight Human-System Standard, is a two-volume set of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Agency-level standards established by the Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer, directed at minimizing health and performance risks for flight crews in human space flight programs. Volume 1 of NASA-STD-3001, Crew Health, sets standards for fitness for duty, space flight permissible exposure limits, permissible outcome limits, levels of medical care, medical diagnosis, intervention, treatment and care, and countermeasures. Volume 2 of NASASTD- 3001, Human Factors, Habitability, and Environmental Health, focuses on human physical and cognitive capabilities and limitations and defines standards for spacecraft (including orbiters, habitats, and suits), internal environments, facilities, payloads, and related equipment, hardware, and software with which the crew interfaces during space operations. The NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8705.2B, Human-Rating Requirements for Space Systems, specifies the Agency's human-rating processes, procedures, and requirements. The HIDP was written to share NASA's knowledge of processes directed toward achieving human certification of a spacecraft through implementation of human-systems integration requirements. Although the HIDP speaks directly to implementation of NASA-STD-3001 and NPR 8705.2B requirements, the human-centered design, evaluation, and design processes described in this document can be applied to any set of human-systems requirements and are independent of reference missions. The HIDP is a reference document that is intended to be used during the development of crewed space systems and operations to guide human-systems development process activities.

Boyer, Jennifer↗

NASA NTRS1981

Flat-plate solar-array project. Experimental process system development unit for producing semiconductor-grade silicon using the silane-to-silicon process

The engineering design, fabrication, assembly, operation, economic analysis, and process support R and D for an Experimental Process System Development Unit (EPSDU) are reported. About 95% of purchased equipment is received and will be reshipped to the West Coast location. The Data Collection System is completed. In the area of melting/consolidation, to the system using silicon powder transfer, melting and shotting on a pseudocontinuous basis is demonstrated. It is proposed to continue the very promising fluid bed work.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2024

A Molten Salt Aerosol Spectroscopy Approach to Online Process Monitoring in Molten Salt Reactors

Recent research and development in molten salt reactors (MSRs) has led to many advanced reactor designs, many of which have demonstrations planned in the next decade. However, a significant challenge that must be overcome before liquid fueled MSRs become viable globally is nuclear material accountancy (NMA) and safeguards. Liquid-fueled MSRs are problematic to safeguards because the nuclear material is in the bulk phase, inventories are constantly changing, and there are potentially many outlet pathways that must be monitored, especially in designs with online chemical processing. At the Idaho National Laboratory, we have developed a process monitoring tool to circulate molten salt through a nebulizer and optical cell, where laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) are applied to track the elemental and oxidation states of the constituents in the salt aerosol. This approach has the potential to provide information on the actinides, fission products, and corrosion in the reactor or process. Preliminary testing in aqueous praseodymium chloride (PrCl3) and neodymium chloride (NdCl3) showed good sensitivity detection limits n developed calibration curves. Additional tests and analysis or ongoing in aqueous solutions while equipment is being scaled up for high temperature molten salt testing. Results for continued testing as well as a status of the molten salt design and anticipated commissioning will be presented.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

NASA NTRS2015

Update on Risk Reduction Activities for a Liquid Advanced Booster for NASA's Space Launch System

The stated goals of NASA's Research Announcement for the Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and/or Risk Reduction (ABEDRR) are to reduce risks leading to an affordable Advanced Booster that meets the evolved capabilities of SLS; and enable competition by mitigating targeted Advanced Booster risks to enhance SLS affordability. Dynetics, Inc. and Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR) formed a team to offer a wide-ranging set of risk reduction activities and full-scale, system-level demonstrations that support NASA's ABEDRR goals. For NASA's SLS ABEDRR procurement, Dynetics and AR formed a team to offer a series of full-scale risk mitigation hardware demonstrations for an affordable booster approach that meets the evolved capabilities of the SLS. To establish a basis for the risk reduction activities, the Dynetics Team developed a booster design that takes advantage of the flight-proven Apollo-Saturn F-1. Using NASA's vehicle assumptions for the SLS Block 2, a two-engine, F-1-based booster design delivers 150 mT (331 klbm) payload to LEO, 20 mT (44 klbm) above NASA's requirements. This enables a low-cost, robust approach to structural design. During the ABEDRR effort, the Dynetics Team has modified proven Apollo-Saturn components and subsystems to improve affordability and reliability (e.g., reduce parts counts, touch labor, or use lower cost manufacturing processes and materials). The team has built hardware to validate production costs and completed tests to demonstrate it can meet performance requirements. State-of-the-art manufacturing and processing techniques have been applied to the heritage F-1, resulting in a low recurring cost engine while retaining the benefits of Apollo-era experience. NASA test facilities have been used to perform low-cost risk-reduction engine testing. In early 2014, NASA and the Dynetics Team agreed to move additional large liquid oxygen/kerosene engine work under Dynetics' ABEDRR contract. Also led by AR, the objectives of this work are to demonstrate combustion stability and measure performance of a 500,000 lbf class Oxidizer-Rich Staged Combustion (ORSC) cycle main injector. A trade study was completed to investigate the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and technical maturity of a domestically produced Atlas V engine that could also potentially satisfy NASA SLS payload-to-orbit requirements via an advanced booster application. Engine physical dimensions and performance parameters resulting from this study provide the system level requirements for the ORSC risk reduction test article. The test article is scheduled to complete critical design review this fall and begin testing in 2017. Dynetics has also designed, developed, and built innovative tank and structure assemblies using friction stir welding to leverage recent NASA investments in manufacturing tools, facilities, and processes, significantly reducing development and recurring costs. The full-scale cryotank assembly was used to verify the structural design and prove affordable processes. Dynetics performed hydrostatic and cryothermal proof tests on the assembly to verify the assembly meets performance requirements. This paper will discuss the ABEDRR engine task and structures task achievements to date and the remaining effort through the end of the contract.

Crocker, Andrew M.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

MOC Automation with GMSEC and the Generic Extendable Message Utility (GEMU)

Automation has become critical for ground systems, improving efficiency and reliability while reducing costs across mission operations. The Goddard Mission Services Evolution Center (GMSEC) software suite has played a significant role in enabling this automation, leveraging its publish/subscribe paradigm through a message bus architecture to facilitate seamless communication and data flow. Historically, the GMSEC suite, through components like Criteria Action Table (CAT) has been pivotal in automating ground system capabilities. However, as technology advances, limitations in automation with CAT have emerged, creating an opportunity to enhance ground system automation through the introduction of GEMU. This new GMSEC component brings new capabilities and addresses specific automation constraints that CAT could not overcome, allowing for more sophisticated, flexible, and efficient message processing. GEMU, at its core, is designed to accelerate the development of custom GMSEC-compliant applications. It enables users to construct automated message processing pipelines quickly, supporting both drag-and-drop web-based configuration and scripting through a simple domain-specific language. This advancement not only simplifies the process but also reduces the time needed for implementing automated solutions. This presentation will outline GEMU’s potential value in improving mission operations automation. It will highlight the benefits of transitioning from CAT to GEMU and offer insights into how GEMU can drive operational efficiencies. We will also provide an overview of the automation capabilities of GEMU and its potential impact on mission operations centers (MOCs).

GMSEC↗

NASA NTRS1984

Advanced composite vertical fin for L-1011 aircraft

The structural box of the L-1011 vertical fin was redesigned using advanced composite materials. The box was fabricated and ground tested to verify the structural integrity. This report summarizes the complete program starting with the design and analysis and proceeds through the process development ancillary test program production readiness verification testing, fabrication of the full-scale fin boxes and the full-scale ground testing. The program showed that advanced composites can economically and effectively be used in the design and fabrication of medium primary structures for commercial aircraft. Static-strength variability was demonstrated to be comparable to metal structures and the long term durability of advanced composite components was demonstrated.

Jackson, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Failure detection system design methodology

The design of a failure detection and identification system consists of designing a robust residual generation process and a high performance decision making process. The design of these two processes are examined separately. Residual generation is based on analytical redundancy. Redundancy relations that are insensitive to modelling errors and noise effects are important for designing robust residual generation processes. The characterization of the concept of analytical redundancy in terms of a generalized parity space provides a framework in which a systematic approach to the determination of robust redundancy relations are developed. The Bayesian approach is adopted for the design of high performance decision processes. The FDI decision problem is formulated as a Bayes sequential decision problem. Since the optimal decision rule is incomputable, a methodology for designing suboptimal rules is proposed. A numerical algorithm is developed to facilitate the design and performance evaluation of suboptimal rules.

Chow, E. Y.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Collaborative Research Proposal: Time Resolved Optical Emissions Spectroscopy and Laser Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Nanosecond Pulsed Discharges in a Gas-Liquid Water Film Reactor

Electrical discharge plasma formed in contact with liquid water is of interest for a wide range of applications in chemical, biomedical, agricultural, electrical, and materials science and engineering. Such plasma reactors are of very timely importance since they also have significant disinfection capability by inactivating bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Many types of plasma sources including those driven by AC, DC, RF, microwave, and pulsed electrical power supplies coupled to a wide range of different electrode configurations and reactor designs have been developed and explored which contact the plasma with liquid water. Recent roadmaps have recommended that further work is needed to develop our understanding of the fundamental chemical and physical process which occur at the interface of non-thermal plasma with liquid water solutions in order to advance this large diversity of applications which ultimately depend upon efficient production of key reactive chemical species. There is a wide range of interacting factors that affect the chemical reactions that occur in the plasma, in the liquid phase, and at the interface. These factors ultimately govern the key reactive chemical species formed and used in the various applications and they include a) the reactor design and input parameters, b) the discharge and transport processes, c) the plasma properties, and d) the resulting chemical reactions. For pulsed discharges, the power supply design and output parameters control the applied voltage, frequency, rise time, and width (duration) of the applied pulses. The reactor design involves specification of the gas-liquid contacting methods, electrode gap distance, reactor volume and shape, and gas and liquid flow rates achievable. The gas and liquid compositions as well as the liquid properties such as pH and conductivity are also of key importance in determination of the resulting chemical reactions. In addition, the important plasma properties include plasma gas temperature, electron density, electron energy (distribution), and size of the plasma channels which are all affected by the discharge and transport properties. Many studies have focused on specific aspects of these various processes. Of particular important and relevance to the proposed work is the utilization of nanosecond pulses to generate plasma in gas-liquid systems, liquid bubbles, underwater, and in gases. Recent advances in nanosecond pulses provide significant advantages in utilization with liquid water. For example, fast rise time and short pulses are less sensitive to water conductivity, such short pulses may provide advantages in fast temporal quenching of the plasma, and fundamental analysis of pulse properties, including pulse shape and width, may be facilitated by investigation of single filamentary fast pulses. Many studies have also dealt with the role of the gas composition on formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (i.e., hydroxyl radicals – ·OH, hydrogen peroxide – H 2 O 2 , various atomic oxygen species, ozone-O 3 , hydroperoxyl radicals HO 2 ·) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) (i.e., nitrogen oxides – NO, NO 2 , N 2 O - collectively termed NO X , nitrite-NO 2 - , nitrate-NO 3 - , peroxynitrite-ONOO - ). The hydroxyl radical is the critical species in many chemical oxidation reactions for chemical degradation of toxic compounds in water and gases and for synthesis of some compounds. The mixture of various nitrogen oxide species is important for many biochemical and biological processes involved in biomedical and agricultural applications including disinfection and fertilizer production. The present proposal focuses on determination of the effects of time resolved electron density and hydroxyl radicals on plasma chemical reactions through collaboration with the Princeton Collaborative Low Temperature Plasma Research Facility (PCRF) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). In order to further investigate the role of the plasma generated electrons and hydroxyl radicals on the overall formation of the key species including hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrogen oxides, the proposed work, thus seeks to determine high resolution time resolved electron density by optical emissions spectroscopy and time resolved hydroxyl radicals using laser induced fluorescence in the nanosecond discharge reactor. The combination of data on electron density and hydroxyl radical concentration will be utilized in the present work to more fully characterize the chemical reaction processes in this system and to advance the design, development, and operation of such chemical reactors for a wide range of applications.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1990

Shape optimization and CAD

Structural optimization has attracted the attention since the days of Galileo. Olhoff and Taylor have produced an excellent overview of the classical research within this field. However, the interest in structural optimization has increased greatly during the last decade due to the advent of reliable general numerical analysis methods and the computer power necessary to use them efficiently. This has created the possibility of developing general numerical systems for shape optimization. Several authors, eg., Esping; Braibant & Fleury; Bennet & Botkin; Botkin, Yang, and Bennet; and Stanton have published practical and successful applications of general optimization systems. Ding and Homlein have produced extensive overviews of available systems. Furthermore, a number of commercial optimization systems based on well-established finite element codes have been introduced. Systems like ANSYS, IDEAS, OASIS, and NISAOPT are widely known examples. In parallel to this development, the technology of computer aided design (CAD) has gained a large influence on the design process of mechanical engineering. The CAD technology has already lived through a rapid development driven by the drastically growing capabilities of digital computers. However, the systems of today are still considered as being only the first generation of a long row of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems. These systems to come will offer an integrated environment for design, analysis, and fabrication of products of almost any character. Thus, the CAD system could be regarded as simply a database for geometrical information equipped with a number of tools with the purpose of helping the user in the design process. Among these tools are facilities for structural analysis and optimization as well as present standard CAD features like drawing, modeling, and visualization tools. The state of the art of structural optimization is that a large amount of mathematical and mechanical techniques are available for the solution of single problems. By implementing collections of the available techniques into general software systems, operational environments for structural optimization have been created. The forthcoming years must bring solutions to the problem of integrating such systems into more general design environments. The result of this work should be CAD systems for rational design in which structural optimization is one important design tool among many others.

Rasmussen, John↗

DOE OSTI2024

Bench-scale Development of a Transformational Graphene Oxide-based Membrane Process for Post-combustion CO 2 Capture

Graphene-based materials, such as graphene and graphene oxide (GO), have been considered as next-generation membrane materials. GTI Energy and The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) have been developing a transformational GO-based membrane process (designated as GO2) that integrates a high CO 2 /N 2 selectivity membrane (GO-1) and a high CO 2 flux membrane (GO-2) for post-combustion CO 2 capture. An innovative membrane structure, consisting of GO nanochannels intercalated by single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), was developed. The membrane prepared on hollow fiber substrate showed CO 2 permeance as high as 1,300 GPU with CO 2 /N 2 selectivity >200. The membranes were successfully scaled up to effective area of 50-100 cm 2 . The 50-100 cm 2 membranes showed CO 2 /N 2 selectivity ≥200 and CO 2 permeance ≥1,000 GPU for the GO-1 type, and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity ≥20 and CO 2 permeance ≥2,500 GPU for the GO-2 type. The CO 2 capture performance of the GO-based membranes was tested using a simulated flue gas. The testing results indicate that the GO-based membranes are stable in the presence of flue gas contaminants. The GO-based membranes were then further scaled up to a surface area of 1,000 cm 2 . Good stability was achieved during an integrated testing with GO-1 and GO-2 membranes using simulated flue gas. A bench-scale system was designed, constructed, and tested at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC). Good stability was achieved during testing of a single-stage process with >10 shutdowns/startups at NCCC. During the integrated testing, the membranes showed good stability at 50°C and 57°C. 70-90% CO 2 removal efficiencies and ≥95% CO 2 purity were validated during the steady state operation at NCCC. Techno-economic analysis indicates the GO2 membrane-based process technology provides a reduction in both the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and cost of capture when compared to the reference B12B case presented in the Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants Volume 1: Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity study prepared by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), before considering any system optimization or improvement opportunities. The benefits are primarily driven by a reduction in the equipment costs of the CO 2 capture process vs. the solvent-based reference process in NETL Case B12B as well as a decrease in the base plant size.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

NASA NTRS2010

The Habitat Demonstration Unit System Integration

The Lunar Surface System Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU) will require a project team to integrate a variety of contributions from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) centers and potential outside collaborators and poses a challenge in integrating these disparate efforts into a cohesive architecture. To accomplish the development of the first version of the HDU, the Pressurized Excursion Module (PEM), from conception in June 2009 to rollout for operations in July 2010, the HDU project team is using several strategies to mitigate risks and bring the separate efforts together. First, a set of design standards is being developed to define the interfaces between the various systems of PEM and to the payloads, such as the Geology Laboratory, that those systems will support. Scheduled activities such as early fit-checks and the utilization of a habitat avionics test bed prior to equipment installation into HDU PEM are planned to facilitate the integration process. A coordinated effort to establish simplified Computer Aided Design (CAD) standards and the utilization of a modeling and simulation systems will aid in design and integration concept development. Finally, decision processes on the shell development including the assembly sequence and the transportation have been fleshed out early on HDU design to maximize the efficiency of both integration and field operations.

Gill, Tracy R.↗

DOE OSTI2021

High-Temperature Multi-Process Sensor Development for a PC-Fired Unit

The main objective of this research program is to design, manufacture, and demonstrate a miniaturized, multi-process, monitoring system (mMPMS) for boiler condition management and easy system deployment to obtain a higher spatial resolution. This system will facilitate a Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) philosophy that actively monitors the health of assets to predict and prevent failures and maximize availability and generating capacity at a reduced cost. CBM systems can provide boiler data that the advanced process control (APC) system can utilize for plant performance optimization, which is increasingly relevant as coal power plants shift from predominantly base-load operation to predominantly transient operation involving large load swings. The mMPMS is based on an electrochemical sensor that provides a real-time indication of the risk of damage to key locations in the radiant or convective section of a coal-fired boiler such as metal loss rates, heat flux, metal surface temperature, and deposit thickness. These indications can be utilized to optimize boiler performance as well as improve boiler availability in conjunction with corresponding operating conditions. This monitoring system was developed and tested in the high-temperature regions of coal-fired utility boilers in this project but can be applied to many other industries and applications as well. This project leveraged the existing electrochemical noise-based monitoring system and the new sensor design is small enough to be installed through the webbing of the waterwalls without the need for long shut-downs to bend tubes and to make it feasible to obtain high spatial resolution in the boiler. Data is transferred to the plant distributed control system (DCS) and any other control system. The sensor body that houses the sensor assembly was designed to ensure good conductive contact with boiler tubes to ensure the sensor is held at an identical temperature to the tube surface temperature. The data acquisition and signal conditioning modules were redesigned into a small footprint with optimized cooling of the module. System software was developed specifically for the new signal conditioning module and is compatible with plant PLCs. After the preliminary testing at a pilot-scale facility, the three mMPMS were installed at a full-scale pulverized coal-fired plant, PacifiCorp’s Hunter 3. The systems were demonstrated over 20,000 hours at the plant during regular operation. Also, the sensor data was fed to the plant’s advanced process control system to evaluate the corrosion control by the operation changes and utilized to understand the impacts of load cycling with different ramping up and down speeds. At the end of the project, the systems were converted to the permanent installation at the power plant to be used with the advanced process control system installed at the plant.

Advanced Sensors, Corrosion, Ash Deposition, Optim↗

DOE OSTI2021

High-Temperature Multi-Process Sensor Development and Demonstration at Coalfired Power Plants

Advanced Sensors, Corrosion, Ash Deposition, Optim↗

NASA NTRS1988

A modernized PDL approach for Ada software development

The desire to integrate newly available, graphically-oriented Computed Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools with existing software design approaches is changing the way Program Design Language (PDL) or Process Description Language is used for large system development. In the approach documented here, Software Engineers use graphics tools to model the problem and to describe high level software design in diagrams. An Ada-based PDL is used to document low level design. Some results are provided along with an analysis for each of three smaller General Electric (GE) Ada development projects that utilized variations on this approach. Finally some considerations are identified for larger scale implementation.

Usavage, Paul, Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Cleanroom software development

The 'cleanroom' software development process is a technical and organizational approach to developing software with certifiable reliability. Key ideas behind the process are well structured software specifications, randomized testing methods and the introduction of statistical controls; but the main point is to deny entry for defects during the development of software. This latter point suggests the use of the term 'cleanroom' in analogy to the defect prevention controls used in the manufacturing of high technology hardware. In the 'cleanroom', the entire software development process is embedded within a formal statistical design, in contrast to executing selected tests and appealing to the randomness of operational settings for drawing statistical inferences. Instead, random testing is introduced as a part of the statistical design itself so that when development and testing are completed, statistical inferences are made about the operation of the system.

Dyer, M.↗