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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 829 records · Page 46

The fusion code XGC: Enabling kinetic study of multi-scale edge turbulent transport in ITER

The XGC fusion gyrokinetic code combines state-of-the-art, portable computational and algorithmic technologies to enable complicated multiscale simulations of turbulence and transport dynamics in ITER edge plasma on the largest US open-science computer, the CRAY XK7 Titan, at its maximal heterogeneous capability, which have not been possible before due to a factor of over 10 shortage in the time-to-solution for less than 5 days of wall-clock time for one physics case. Frontier techniques such as nested OpenMP parallelism, adaptive parallel I/O, staging I/O and data reduction using dynamic and asynchronous applications interactions, dynamic repartitioning.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

High-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging Using Model-Bases Iterative Reconstruction For Canister Degradation Detection

The inspection of the dry storage canisters that house spent nuclear fuel is an important issue facing the nuclear industry; currently, there are limited options available to provide for even minimal inspections. An issue of concern is stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in austenitic stainless steel canisters. SCC is difficult to predict and exhibits small crack opening displacements on the order of 15 30 m. Nondestructive examination (NDE) of such microscopic cracks is especially challenging, and it may be possible to miss SCC during inspections. The coarse grain microstructure at the heat affected zone reduces the achievable sensitivity of conventional ultrasound techniques. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a tomographic approach is under development to improve SCC detection using ultrasound guided waves and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Ultrasound-guided waves propagate parallel to the physical boundaries of the surface and allow for rapid inspection of a large area from a single probe location. MBIR is a novel, effective probabilistic imaging tool that offers higher precision and better image quality than current reconstruction techniques. This paper analyzes the canister environment, stainless steel microstructure, and SCC characteristics. The end goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of an NDE system based on ultrasonic guided waves and MBIR for canister degradation and to produce radar-like images of the canister surface with significantly improved image quality. The proposed methodology can potentially reduce human radiation exposure, result in lower operational costs, and provide a methodology that can be used to verify canister integrity in-situ during extended storage

Chatzidakis, Stylianos↗

RF Sheath-Enhanced Plasma Surface Interaction Studies using Beryllium Optical Emission Spectroscopy in JET ITER-Like Wall

A dedicated study on JET-ILW, deploying two types of ICRH antennas and spectroscopic observation spots at two outboard, beryllium limiters, has provided insight on long-range (up to 6m) RFenhanced plasma-surface interactions (RF-PSI) due to near-antenna electric fields. To aid in the interpretation of optical emission measurements of these effects, the antenna near-fields are computed using the TOPICA code, specifically run for the ITER-like antenna (ILA); similar modelling already existed for the standard JET antennas (A2). In the experiment, both antennas were operated in current drive mode, as RF-PSI tends to be higher in this phasing and at similar power (~0.5 MW). When sweeping the edge magnetic field pitch angle, peaked RF-PSI effects, in the form of 2-4 fold increase in the local Be source,are consistently measured with the observation spots magnetically connect to regions of TOPICAL-calculated high near-fields, particularly at the near-antenna limiters. It is also found that similar RF-PSI effects are produced by the two types of antenna on similarly distant limiters. Although this mapping of calculated near-fields to enhanced RF-PSI gives only qualitative interpretion of the data, the present dataset is expected to provide a sound experimental basis for emerging RF sheath simulation model validation.

Agarici, G.↗

Methodology for Fast Iterations of Blade Designs Using Thermoplastic Composite Materials: Preprint

Tidal energy is still in the early research and development phases, therefore the ability to quickly manufacture and evaluate prototype blades with new blade designs and materials is critical. This paper investigates using a Stratasys three-dimensional printer to rapidly prototype scale-model turbine blades by printing the blade tooling and using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) to manufacture blades. This work outlines a methodology for cost effectively designing and manufacturing model-scale tidal turbine blades to be used in testing campaigns, and for evaluating new thermoplastic composite materials for tidal energy applications. Demonstration blades were designed in ANSYS and manufactured using an infusible thermoplastic resin system called Elium(R). The development of scale-model thermoplastic blades enables research into their fatigue performance in realistic conditions at a cost-effective scale, and manufacturing using 3-D printed tooling enables fast and low-cost blade design iterations.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Battery models, systems, and methods using robust fail-safe iteration free approach for solving differential algebraic equations

Battery models using robust fail-safe iteration free approach for solving Differential Algebraic Equations, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a model of the rechargeable battery; determining one or more initial conditions for one or more algebraic variables of the model using a solver; holding differential variables of the model static by a switch function while determining the one or more initial conditions; applying the initial conditions to the model by the switch function; and determining one or more parameters for the rechargeable battery by solving the algebraic and differential equations.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Based on Real-Time Iteration Scheme for Wave Energy Converters Using WEC-Sim: Preprint

One of several challenges that wave energy technologies face is their inability to generate electricity cost-competitively with other grid-scale energy generation sources. Several studies have identified two approaches to lower the levelised cost of electricity: reduce the cost over the device's lifetime or increase its overall electrical energy production. Several advanced control strategies have been developed to address the latter. However, only a few take into account the overall efficiency of the power take-off (PTO) system, and none of them solve the optimisation problem that arises at each sampling time on real-time. In this paper, a detailed Nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) approach based on the real-time iteration (RTI) scheme is presented, and the controller performance is evaluated using a time-domain hydrodynamics model (WEC-Sim). The proposed control law incorporates the PTO system's efficiency in a control law to maximise the energy extracted. The study also revealed that RTI-NMPC clearly outperforms a simple resistive controller.

model predictive control↗

Iterative Workflow for Quantification and Minimization of Reduced Chemistry-Induced Uncertainties in Reacting Flow Simulation

Reduced chemistry models mitigate computational cost but introduce two sources of uncertainties in reacting flow simulation, including chemical information loss due to model reduction, and approximation errors due to non-optimal projection. We present an iterative workflow for quantification and minimization of reduced chemistry-induced uncertainties in reacting flow simulations.

chemistry↗

The Iterated Fission Matrix Method

The fission matrix (FM) method has been successfully demonstrated for different applications. One of the interesting features of this method, which is not possible via standard criticality source Monte Carlo calculations, is the capability to calculate higher forward and adjoint Eigenmodes; however, the accuracy of the estimates for higher eigenvalues strongly depends on the spatial discretization adopted for the fission matrix. A fine mesh ensures accurate results but requires matrices of large size. This is considered a limitation to the applicability of the FM method due to the memory requirements for storage of large full matrices. The adoption of sparse matrix storage (e.g., in MCNP) partially overcomes this problem; nonetheless, the sparse matrix indexing increases the complexity of the implementation of the FM algorithm and introduces the additional task of sparsifying the fission matrix. This summary presents a new method, named the iterated fission matrix (IFM), that allows to estimate higher eigenvalues of multiplying systems on much smaller meshes, but with the same level of accuracy in terms of spatial discretization errors, as compared to the FM method. The following Sections describe this new approach and provide a demonstration using two case studies: a PWR fuel assembly, and a 2D PWR core. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Fission Matrix Convergence Diagnostic of the Iterated Fission Probability Method

Monte Carlo methods have been applied to reactor problems in order to solve for adjoint-weighted quantities. The Iterated Fission Probability (IFP) method allows adjoint-weighted tallies to be recorded during a forward Monte-Carlo simulation. A key parameter in the IFP method is the number of generations that must pass before the progeny neutrons of a progenitor neutron are tallied. A convergence diagnostic for the IFP is developed using a deterministic code. In particular, a discrete ordinates code is used as a surrogate to demonstrate the theoretical properties of the proposed Monte Carlo convergence diagnostic. The diagnostic is applied to 1-D slab problems and quantifies the error associated with tallying the neutron progeny before an asymptotic distribution is achieved. The results show that the default value of 10 for the number of generations used in MCNP is acceptable for most classes of problems. (authors)

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Calculation of Activated Water Radiation Maps in ITER

ITER is a nuclear machine designed for 500 MW DT fusion power emitting an immense power in the form of 14 MeV neutrons (∼400 MW). These high energy neutrons activate the water used to cool the first wall, blanket modules, vacuum vessel etc. The principal isotopes generated in water coolant are {sup 16}N and {sup 17}'N from oxygen isotopes. Both these radioisotopes are generated by neutrons having energy more than 10 MeV. Even though these isotopes are short-lived (T{sub 1/2} {sup 16}N: 7.13 s and T{sub 1/2} {sup 17}N: 4.17 s) they generate significant radiation fields outside the bio-shield due to high neutron fluence at irradiation end, large volume of the coolant, high speed of the coolant, emission of high energy nuclear radiations from {sup 16}N (gammas) and {sup 17}N (neutrons). Therefore, radiation fields generated by the activated water need to be calculated in order to design the plant systems to withstand radiation dosage and for the safety of the workers as per regulatory limits. This paper presents the calculation methodology of the {sup 16}N and {sup 17}N sources in the coolant lines, manifolds, heat exchangers etc., which are distributed over the wide area outside the bio-shield. The calculated source is modelled in the MCNP building model which is approximately 120 m x 80 m x 50 m. The building model has significant amount of shielding walls (∼3 m thickness). This presents a challenge to get the sufficient statistics everywhere in the global model. The radiation transport is performed with the code MCNP to calculate the radiation fields (biological dose rate, absorbed dose in silicon, 1 MeV silicon equivalent fluence, neutron flux) throughout the tokamak complex.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Numerical Analysis of Fatigue Behavior of ITER-Like Monoblock Divertor Interlayer Under Coupled Heat Loads

High-confinement mode is a very prominent operation style for future fusion device due to its unique advantages. However, the conjuncted edge localized modes (ELMs) are very difficult to control so that divertor plates are very prone to suffer both stationary high heat flux (HHF) loads of long-pulse operating mode and transient shock loads of ELMs. Most previous researches focus on degradation of plasma facing material (PFM), however, as a layer joining PFM and cooling tube, the soft copper interlayer suffers concentrated thermal stress loads due to mismatched thermal expansion of PFM and cooling tube. Its thermal fatigue behavior under such coupled loads is also of great significance to structural safety of divertor component. With such a motivation, the reduction effects on fatigue life time of a typical interlayer of monoblock divertor under series of coupled HHF and ELMs shock loading conditions are investigated. It is found that: (1) The transient shock feature of ELMs loading is propagated into interlayer with less sharp pattern. The increase of damage induced by coupled ELMs loading is limited in single cycle, while the accumulated damage of multiple consecutive coupled loading cycles is increased nonlinearly. (2) Under the coupled HHF and ELMs loading, the fatigue life time of interlayer is generally decreasing. The magnitude of decrease is increasing nonlinearly with the magnitude of ELMs peak and averaged heat flux. (3) For three characteristic parameters of ELMs shock loading such as frequency, duration and peak heat flux, the peak heat flux and frequency are two parameters more sensitive to determine coupled reduction effects on fatigue lifetime of the interlayer, while for high frequency case, time averaged heat flux takes the lead.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Verification of iterative matrix solutions for multipoint kinetics equations

Multipoint kinetic equation systems have been solved numerically using matrix algebra software and 1st to 4th order implicit schemes based on single-step matrix propagators. These matrix schemes have been validated successfully on demanding point kinetics benchmarks with various prescribed reactivity insertions. Verification tests have also been performed on a simple 3-region fast reactor core model with asymmetric step or ramp reactivity insertions and cross-checked with the multipoint kinetics SACRE code developed at INL and based on existing and validated stiff ODE solver packages. Accurate results can be obtained at a limited time expense. The reason for intriguing results obtained in some transients has been elucidated and linked to the multipoint matrix coefficient interpolation method during the transient.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗