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At least 865 records · Page 48
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Update on Full-Scale Retrieval and Transfer System Testing for Pneumatic Conveyance of High-Level Calcine Waste - 20241

The Idaho National Laboratory processed spent nuclear fuel from 1953 to 1994. The process used solvent extraction to separate uranium, resulting in a liquid waste. A calcination process was used to convert the liquid waste to a high-level radioactive solid powder, referred to as calcine. The calcine is stored in stainless steel bins contained within concrete vaults called the Calcined Solids Storage Facilities. There are a total of seven CSSFs. The Calcine Retrieval Project is tasked with retrieving the calcine from the bins of CSSF 1 and pneumatically transferring it to the bins of CSSF 6. CSSF 1 was constructed to be a final calcine repository with no forethought of retrieval. It represents the greatest technical hurdle to calcine extraction of all the CSSFs. The challenges inherent with accessing the calcine, safely extracting it, and securely transporting it are copious and complex. Once the calcine is removed from CSSF1, that facility may be closed, reducing the footprint of waste storage at the INL. The same process for removing Calcine from CSSF1 may then be utilized to remove the calcine from the remaining CSSFs for final treatment and transport to a long-term storage facility. To overcome these inherent challenges with accessing CSSF 1 and extracting the calcine in a timely manner, a full-scale integrated mockup has been constructed. The mockup includes a full-size model of a concentric group of bins from CSSF 1 and a storage vessel representing CSSF 6. All essential elements of the transport design are represented in the Mockup, including motive and makeup air supply (air compressor), a replica of the CSSF6 cyclone, pre-filter, HEPA filter, vacuum pump, and retrieval control devices. Construction on the Mockup was completed in 2018 and testing began in February 2019. It has already proven very beneficial to the CRP. Experience in running the Mockup have aided in the development of retrieval and transport methodologies and the selection of process parameter values. It has also uncovered some unforeseen technological challenges and will continue to be valuable to the testing team as these hurdles are overcome and the process is proven effective. Operations personnel have also benefitted from its use as a training tool and will continue to use the Mockup as a simulator to reproduce problems encountered during extraction and transfer of Calcine from CSSF 1. The knowledge gained during this process will also be of continued benefit as future work is done to remove various types of calcine from the remaining CSSFs. The methodology of safe and secure transfer of radioactive material may be of benefit to others throughout the U.S. Department of Energy complex. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

Estimated capital costs of fish exclusion technologies for hydropower facilities

Hydropower is a reliable source of renewable energy, and its future expansion is likely to be in the form of either smaller new stream development (NSD) projects or powering existing non-powered dams. Thresholds for entrainment risk to fish and the requirements for fish exclusion at hydropower facilities often differ depending on the species involved, the characteristics of the facility, and the goals of stakeholders, but little quantitative information is present within the literature regarding the specific costs of fish exclusion measures. Cost data associated with protection, mitigation, and enhancement (PM&E) measures related to positive barrier screening were identified using keyword searches of an existing environmental mitigation cost data set and manual extraction from regulatory licensing documents available in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) eLibrary. This approach yielded a total of 50 p.m.&E mitigation measures with estimated capital construction costs pertaining to positive barrier screens and represented <10% of the 171 total FERC project dockets available in the data set. These data were highly skewed toward conventional relicensing projects, as <7% were associated with NSD projects. Results indicate highly variable costs are associated with fish screening, with flow-normalized costs one to two orders of magnitude higher for screening with the highest exclusion capability (≤0.09 in. spacing) compared with coarser screening (1–2 in.). These data provide an initial baseline for estimating exclusion costs for hydropower development and may help developers consider options for more fish-friendly generation technologies, though gaps remain relating to a lack of data, particularly for NSD projects.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Techno-Economic Analysis of Compressed Air Energy Storage and Hydrogen Production from Variable Renewable Energy

This study presents the techno-economic analysis (TEA) results of integrating electrolysis hydrogen (H 2 ) production, compressed air energy storage (CAES), and H 2 -fired combustion turbines in a high variable renewable energy (VRE) market environment. The inconsistent nature of VRE creates challenges for power producers in maintaining a stable electrical grid as it is increasingly utilized. The mission of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is driving innovation and delivering energy solutions, and a multiangle approach involving H 2 production, energy storage, and next-level H 2 -fired combustion turbine generator (CTG) technologies could provide one solution for the nation’s growing electrical grid issues with increasing VRE sources. The H 2 production and CAES concept were investigated due to its ability to provide utility-scale H 2 -fueled power generation with large-scale energy storage capabilities. Two facilities with CAES and natural gas-fired CTGs (in McIntosh, Alabama, and Huntorf, Germany) have been operating for decades. In contrast, this study investigates the potential to replace the natural gas fuel with H 2 fuel. This concept has been publicly presented by both Siemens Energy and Bechtel Global Engineering, Construction & Project Management (Bechtel) at two different power generating levels. The CAES and air expansion/combustion turbine power generation in this study are primarily based on the Siemens Energy system (Bailie, Aug. 10-11, 2021) (Scheller, Feb. 21, 2023). The inclusion of a H 2 turboexpander generator is from Bechtel (Gülen, Sep. 6, 2022). A block flow diagram of the proposed process is illustrated in Exhibit ES-1.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effect of porous transport layer properties on the anode electrode in anion exchange membrane electrolyzers

Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMELs) have recently received significant attention due to their potential advantages over existing commercial water electrolysis technologies. However, AEM electrolyzers have not yet met performance and durability targets. One of the critical components in achieving high AEMEL performance is the porous transport layer (PTL) which serves many critical functions in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrode. In this study, several OER PTL attributes were investigated, including: material of construction, fabrication method, feature size, porosity/density, and thickness. It was found that higher porosity helped facilitate multiphase (O 2 , H 2 O, etc.) transport; however, as the porosity increased, the catalyst layer adhesion to the PTL decreased, the contact resistance with the bipolar plate increased and the cell operating voltage increased. It was found that nickel-based PTLs allowed for lower operating voltages than similarly-structured stainless steel PTLs. Improved operating voltages were achieved with both fiber felts and sintered structures by porosity optimization. Furthermore, an increase in thickness did not affect transient voltage response, however, it had a negative effect on performance stability. As a result, the experimental findings presented here provide important insights for development of PTL materials and structures for efficient and low-cost water electrolysis.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2026

First-Principles Evaluation of Proton Hopping in Tetrahedral Oxide Motifs

Proton-conducting oxides (PCOs) are important materials used as ionic conductors for energy conversion technologies. Existing research efforts on PCO optimization and discovery generally focus on complex perovskite-based oxides that require doping and alloying to engineer oxygen deficiency and high proton conductivity. However, the variety of chemical compositions and coordination environments in oxides poses challenges for efficient materials design. In this computational study, we construct a database of simplified motifs to elucidate the relationship between fundamental materials chemistry and proton kinetics. Specifically, we focus on the zincblende crystal structure as a proxy for tetrahedral metal–oxide (M–O) coordination environments. We systematically quantified the effects of cation type, oxidation states, and M–O bond lengths on the proton hopping barrier, and found that strong M–O bonds and metal cations with large and variable oxidation states (e.g., Mo 6+ , V 5+ ) lead to smaller proton hopping barriers. By mapping the candidate cations and their preferred bond geometries onto materials databases such as the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD) and Materials Project, we identified real materials containing the corresponding metal–oxide units. In general, we observed good agreement between the calculated proton hopping barriers obtained in real crystal structures and those predicted by our motif database. We also discuss the limitations of our model and possible future extensions to improve its predictive capabilities. Overall, our model provides a first step for the rational design and quick screening of energy-efficient PCOs.

organic↗
DOE OSTI2024

Real-time High-resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography

Computed Tomography (CT) serves as a key imaging technology that relies on computationally intensive filtering and back-projection algorithms for 3D image reconstruction. While conventional high-resolution image reconstruction (> 2K3) solutions provide quick results, they typically treat reconstruction as an offline workload to be performed remotely on large-scale HPC systems. The growing demand for post-construction AI-driven analytics and the need for real-time adjustments call for high-resolution reconstruction solutions that are feasible on local computing resources, i.e. a multi-GPU server at most. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that utilizes Tensor Cores to optimize image reconstruction without sacrificing precision. We also introduce a framework designed to enable real-time execution of end-to-end distributed image reconstruction in a multi-GPU environment. Evaluations conducted on a single Nvidia A100 and H100 GPU show performance improvements of 1.91 × and 2.15 × compared to highly optimized production libraries. Furthermore, our framework, when deployed on 8-card Nvidia A100 GPU system, demonstrates the ability to reconstruct real-world datasets into 20483 volumes (32 GB) in slightly more than one minute and 40963 volumes (256 GB) in 7 minutes.

Wu, Du↗
DOE OSTI2022

Technical and Economic Evaluation of the First Ever Polymer Flood Field Pilot to Enhance the Recovery of Heavy Oils on Alaska's North Slope via Machine Assisted History Matching

Polymer flooding has become globally established as a potential enhanced oil recovery method for heavy oils. To determine whether this technology may be useful in developing the substantial heavy oil resources on the Alaska North Slope, a polymer flood field pilot commenced at the Milne Point Unit in August 2018. This study seeks to evaluate the results of the field pilot on a technical and economic basis. A reservoir simulation model is constructed and calibrated to predict the oil recovery performance of the pilot through machine-assisted reservoir simulation techniques. To replicate the early water breakthrough observed during waterflooding, transmissibility contrasts are introduced into the simulation model, forcing viscous fingering effects. In the ensuing polymer flood, these transmissibility contrasts are reduced to replicate the restoration of injection conformance during polymer flooding. Transmissibility contrasts are later reinstated to replicate fracture overextension interpreted in one of the producing wells. The calibrated simulation models produced at each stage of the history matching process are used to forecast oil recovery. These forecasts are used as input for economic analysis, incremental to waterflooding expectations. The simulation forecasts indicate that polymer flooding significantly increases the heavy oil production for this field pilot compared to waterflooding alone, yielding attractive project economics. However, meaningful variations between simulation scenarios demonstrate that a simulation model is only valid for prediction if flow behavior in the reservoir remains consistent with that observed during the history matched period. Critically, this means that a simulation model calibrated for waterflooding may not fully capture the technical and economic benefits of an enhanced oil recovery process such as polymer flooding. Subsequently, the simulation model and economic model are used in conjunction to conduct a sensitivity analysis for polymer flood design parameters, from which recommendations are provided for both the continued operation of the current field pilot and future polymer flood designs. The results demonstrate that a higher polymer concentration can be injected due to the development of fractures in the reservoir. The throughput rate should remain high without exceeding operating constraints. A calculated point-forward polymer utilization parameter demonstrates the decreasing efficiency of the polymer flood at later times in the pattern life. Future projects will benefit from starting polymer injection earlier in the pattern life. A pattern with tighter horizontal well spacing will observe a greater incremental benefit from polymer flooding.

Keith, Cody↗
DOE OSTI2023

Orca2

SAND2024-03236O Orca2 is a trajectory design and optimization code for constructing and solving problems numerically defined on homogeneous manifolds. Orca2 solves numerical trajectory design and optimization problems defined on Lie-type domains and operates primarily as a library requiring a user to write additional C++ code to leverage it. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Sparapany, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gas Stopper Developments for Improved Purity and Intensity of Low-Energy, Rare Isotope Ion Beams (Final Technical Report)

This final technical report summarizes the work of the Michigan State University (MSU) team supported by grant # DE-SC0021423 awarded by the Office of Nuclear Physics, Department of Energy. Objectives: The successful fulfillment of the FRIB science mission hinges on ensuring the availability of fast, stopped, and reaccelerated beams consisting of rare isotopes. This project's research and development focus was dedicated to supporting the advancement and creation of a cutting-edge linear gas stopper. The primary aim is to efficiently convert the high-intensity fast beams of rare isotopes provided by FRIB into high-quality, low-energy beams. These beams are essential for conducting stopped beam experiments or for subsequent reacceleration. The overarching goal is to advance technology, aiming to increase the beam rate capability of the linear gas stopper for medium-to-heavy-mass rare isotopes by more than tenfold compared to the currently most effective gas stopper in operation, and to improve the purity of the delivered beams. Project Description: The existing technology employed in gas stopping devices designed for low-energy, rare-isotope beams presents limitations in both the purity of extracted beams and the intensities of injected beams. These limitations are incompatible with the requirements of the recently commissioned rare isotope beam facility, FRIB. Our research and development efforts, aligned with the previously outlined objectives, focused on addressing the most critical aspects for enhancing beam-rate capability and purity. Specifically, advanced particle-in-cell simulations were developed and integrated into a simulation pipeline to explore the efficacy of multi-layer RF carpets on increasing ion transport efficiency with high incoming beam rates that generate space charge fields which can limit it. We also explored the possibility of using a collision-induced-dissociation (CID) gas cell to break up molecular contaminant ions that are generated during the stopping process. A prototype CID gas cell was constructed and tested with beams from an offline ion source, validating the concept with the successful demonstration of breaking of molecular ions. The outcome of this research enabled the formulation a conceptual design for a next-generation linear gas stopping device specifically tailored for FRIB. This device is envisioned to deliver rare-isotope-ion beams at a rate of 10 8 particles per second or higher, accompanied by advancements in purity. Methods employed: This project leverages advancements in technologies initially designed for the Advanced Cryogenic Gas Stopper (ACGS), the current state-of-the-art linear gas stopper, through the use of new simulations and beam purification via collision-induced-dissociation. The methods include: 1. Development of a prototype low-energy, low-pressure CID gas stopper. This prototype features a thin, approximately 20 nm, Si 3 N 4 entrance window designed for dissociating stable and rare-isotope molecular ions. The goal is to enhance beam purification and overall efficiency. 2. Creation of Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to assess the advantages of multi-layer RF carpets and multi-point extraction for ion transport efficiency. These simulations rely on the 3DCylPIC package, specifically designed for studying devices of this nature. The goal is to quantify and mitigate ion transport losses due to space charge generated in the stopping process of large numbers of ions. 3. Perform ion transport simulations across an RF carpet using an 8-phase travelling wave and evaluate its performance. Compared to the 4-phase RF carpets used in ACGS, the 8-phase carpets will double the wavelength of the generated traveling wave allowing for larger maximum RF amplitudes that could result in improved ion transport efficiency for high-intensity incoming beams when large space charge fields are present. Impact: Tackling the primary challenges associated with transforming high-energy projectile fragment beams into low-energy beams—specifically, addressing efficiency and purity—holds significant promise for advancing FRIB science. This advancement will particularly impact precision mass measurements, laser spectroscopy of short-lived nuclei, and studies in astrophysics and nuclear reactions using reaccelerated beams. These domains play a crucial role in addressing key questions outlined in the 2023 NSAC long-range plan, spanning nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, and fundamental symmetries. Additionally, they contribute to addressing 10 out of the 17 benchmarks identified by the NRC RISAC. The development of a next-generation gas stopping device capable of delivering low-energy, rare-isotope beams at a rate of 10 8 particles per second, or more, with high purity holds the potential to unlock experiments that would otherwise be unfeasible. Furthermore, it is expected to reduce the time required for experiments at FRIB, thereby maximizing scientific output. The research and development activities performed as part of this project bolstered essential competencies at FRIB in beam physics and ion source technologies, provided valuable training opportunities for junior scientists.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Towards the construction of the Mu2e electromagnetic calorimeter at Fermilab

Mu2e will search for the Charge Lepton Flavor Violating (CLFV) conversion of a muon into an electron in the field of a nucleus. A clean discovery signature is provided by the mono-energetic conversion electron (E e = 104.96 MeV). If no events are observed, Mu2e will set a limit on the ratio between the conversion and the nuclear capture rate below 3 × 10$^{-17}$ (at 90% C.L.). In order to confirm that the observed candidate is an electron, the calorimeter resolution requirements are to provide E res < 10%, T res < 500 ps for 100 MeV electrons while working in vacuum and in a high radiation environment and high magnetic field. The calorimeter is made of two annular aluminum disks, each one filled with 674 pure CsI crystals read out by SiPMs. A sophisticated mechanics and cooling system has been developed to support the crystals and cool the sensors. Radiation hard analog and fast digital electronics have been developed. In this paper the QC tests performed on the produced components and the construction status are reported, as well as the results obtained on the large size prototype with test beam data and at a cosmic ray test stand.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Empowering a qudit-based quantum processor by traversing the dual bosonic ladder

Abstract High-dimensional quantum information processing has emerged as a promising avenue to transcend hardware limitations and advance the frontiers of quantum technologies. Harnessing the untapped potential of the so-called qudits necessitates the development of quantum protocols beyond the established qubit methodologies. Here, we present a robust, hardware-efficient, and scalable approach for operating multidimensional solid-state systems using Raman-assisted two-photon interactions. We then utilize them to construct extensible multi-qubit operations, realize highly entangled multidimensional states including atomic squeezed states and Schrödinger cat states, and implement programmable entanglement distribution along a qudit array. Our work illuminates the quantum electrodynamics of strongly driven multi-qudit systems and provides the experimental foundation for the future development of high-dimensional quantum applications such as quantum sensing and fault-tolerant quantum computing.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Demand for a Domestic Offshore Wind Energy Supply Chain

In March of 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration established a National Offshore Wind Target to install 30 GW by 2030. This ambitious goal was not only intended to help reduce dependencies on fossil fuels, but also represents an opportunity to establish a new and sustainable industry in the United States. The announcement referenced the potential benefits of establishing a domestic supply chain, including the opportunity for existing suppliers to produce thousands of components while creating tens of thousands of jobs over the course of the decade. This vision by the Biden-Harris Administration aligns with the perspective of the offshore wind industry. At a Leadership 100 event hosted by the Business Network for Offshore wind in 2019, offshore wind developers and manufacturers identified the need for a roadmap outlining a pathway to a domestic supply chain as the top priority facing the industry. Building up domestic manufacturing capabilities will not only energize local industries but can potentially de-risk individual project by reducing reliance on importing resources from European or Asian markets. Although establishing a domestic supply chain will require significant investment, it has the potential to create substantial benefits throughout the industry and, by extension, on the decarbonization goals of the United States. This study characterizes the challenges and opportunities facing the growth of a domestic supply chain industry and evaluates the potential benefits that could be achieved through the creation of the supply chain. This report is the first of a two-part series which will describe the full supply chain roadmap and the associated benefits; the current report focuses on the high-level deployment, workforce, and component requirements that need to be met to achieve the National Offshore Wind Target. We will present: 1. A deployment pipeline that demonstrates the pathway to 30 GW, the associated demand for major fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind components (turbines, foundations, cables, substations), and the vessel and port requirements to support these installation activities. 2. A series of sensitivity analyses showing how the demand for components, ports, and vessels changes for different technology pathways and availability of the global supply chain. 3. An estimate of the total number of jobs that would be required to support these deployment scenarios under varying levels of assumed domestic content. 4. A comprehensive list of the Tier 1, 2, and 3 components (finished components, subassemblies, and subcomponents) required to construct fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind projects. 5. A discussion of critical path components that represent a significant challenge, bottleneck, or risk for a future domestic supply chain.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modular Subsurface Sensors and Integrated Software for Advanced Subsurface Characterization and Monitoring using Unoccupied Vehicles

The advent and subsequent proliferation of autonomous airborne, waterborne, and groundbased vehicles (i.e., “drones”) promises to broadly transform the geosciences and associated industries, including fossil energy exploration and development, mineral resource exploration and development, water-resource management, and environmental remediation. For geophysical characterization and monitoring, the prospect of programming highly repeatable and low-cost drone missions for subsurface imaging will allow for deployments in hazardous and previously inaccessible areas. Coupled with autonomous workflows for data processing, management, and visualization, drone-based geophysical characterization and monitoring will enable unprecedented, real-time insight into diverse subsurface properties and processes of scientific and engineering importance. Toward this end, the objectives of this Lab Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project were to develop new (1) instrumentation for dronebased electromagnetic induction (EMI) geophysical imaging, including separated transmitter and receivers and associated electronics, (2) software for real-time data telemetry, processing, management, and visualization. Although EMI has been previously deployed using unoccupied aerial systems (UASs), these applications failed to capitalize on the game-changing capabilities of drone platforms. Whereas drone-based data acquisition allows for collection of rich, three-dimensional (3D) multi-offset/multi-angle configurations between transmitters and receivers, past efforts have relied on conventional instrumentation that was designed for ground-based data collection with the transmitter and a single receiver housed in the same unit; nor did these previous applications demonstrate real-time delivery of results to support rapid management decisions in the field. In this 1-year project, we (1) designed and constructed new lightweight independent transmitter and receiver antenna platforms that communicate with a laptop computer; (2) developed software to control data acquisition, manage/transfer data, and visualize data as its collected; and (3) demonstrated the operation of the new hardware and software systems in a ground-based field test. Our work entails major technological advances for EMI and established a foundation on which to build a new drone-based, real-time geophysical EMI imaging capability to support diverse challenges facing the nation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Utilization of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Environmental Purposes at the Savannah River Site – 26578

Born in the 1950s, the Savannah River Plant was constructed as a plutonium and tritium production plant. As the Cold War era came and went, a change of direction was signaled when the name of the facility changed from Savannah River Plant to Savannah River Site (1989) – the main mission at Savannah River shifted from “production” to “cleanup.” The Department of Energy is responsible for managing the 310 square miles of land that is the Savannah River Site and the cleanup/remediation activities that occur. The Savannah River National Laboratory utilizes unmanned aircraft systems to assist with some of those environmental monitoring and remediation activities. One function of unmanned aircraft systems at the Savannah River National Laboratory is conducting aerial photography and videography. Various infrastructure evaluations have been performed with unmanned aircraft – facility rooftop inspections, water tower lock verifications, earthen dam surveys, etc. An unmanned aircraft system has been used for progress footage of remediation projects – Dunbarton Bay remediation, Saltstone Disposal Unit construction, etc. Thermal cameras on an unmanned aircraft system are used to help identify cracks/leaks in structures from vantage points not readily accessible by personnel. Virtual tours of different waste units are conducted with unmanned aircraft systems for Site groups and federal/state regulators to save costs and travel time. Additionally, advanced remote sensing technologies are used on unmanned aircraft systems at the Savannah River Site. Light Detection and Ranging uses laser pulses to measure distances to the Earth's surface or other targets to create highly detailed topographic maps that accurately portray terrain (e.g., elevation changes, slopes, and contours). Data collection with a Light Detection and Ranging unit mounted on an unmanned aircraft system is quick and efficient – large-area surveys are conducted in shorter time frames. Because Light Detection and Ranging can penetrate through foliage and vegetation to ground level, it is being used in conjunction with a watershed model to study the General Separations Area of the Site to determine stormwater flow volume and direction, monitor stream stability, and forecast river flow behavior. A hyperspectral camera captures a wide spectrum of electromagnetic wavelengths across numerous narrow bands, beyond what the human eye can see. It provides detailed spectral information about the objects or surfaces in an image, which can be used to identify and analyze materials based on their spectral signatures. A hyperspectral camera mounted on an unmanned aircraft system has been used at the Savannah River Site for non-destructive evaluation of concrete and concrete structures. Unmanned aircraft systems at the Savannah River Site are also used for the application of herbicide on identified rooftops. P-Reactor and R-Reactor are entombed nuclear reactors at the Savannah River Site. Unwanted vegetation is often present on these rooftops – over time roots can penetrate seams, cracks, and joints of the general roof and concrete caps, leading to water ingress and deterioration of the structural components. For time and cost efficiencies as well as in the interest of personnel safety, an unmanned aircraft is used to dispense herbicide on rooftop areas where vegetation is noticed to help alleviate the issues/hazards.

Lorier, Troy [Savannah River National Laboratory (↗
DOE OSTI2022

Life Cycle Assessment for Closed-Loop Pumped Hydropower Energy Storage in the United States

The federal government has initiated an aggressive set of policies to achieve a net-zero carbon emission goal for the electricity sector by 2050. As a result, rapid growth in deployment of renewable energy technologies is expected. Most commercially mature technologies are temporally variable and do not provide grid inertia, while renewable technologies with high projected deployment have intermittent generation methods. Energy storage technologies are needed to both dispatch power on-demand and help provide the needed grid inertia. Pumped storage hydro (PSH) is a well-established technology that has gained renewed interest in recent years offering energy-balancing, grid stability, control of electrical network frequency, and large-scale storage capacity. For widespread adoption of PSH, more information is needed regarding its current life cycle environmental impacts. The objective of this study is to perform a full life cycle assessment (LCA) of new closed-loop PSH in the U.S. The functional unit for this study is 1 kWh of electrical power delivered to the grid and the base case project lifetime is 80 years. The life cycle inventory for this project accounts for all material and energy flows associated with the green-field construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of a closed-loop PSH plant in the U.S. Collected data represents a range of potential PSH specifications and geographic locations coming from all prospective closed-loop PSH installations in the U.S. with data available. In addition, existing PSH installations are used to provide assumptions for inventory inputs. Results presented will include the global warming potential (GWP IPCC 100a) and Energy Return on Investment (EROI) from our base case (average PSH installation) as well as from scenario analyses and model sensitivity. These results will be compared to the impacts from existing PSH sites and alternate storage technologies. Methods align with the assumptions and guidelines put in place by previous PSH LCAs to ensure an accurate comparison with the results from this report.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY,HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Optimal high-throughput virtual screening pipeline for efficient selection of redox-active organic materials

As global interest in renewable energy continues to increase, there has been a pressing need for developing novel energy storage devices based on organic electrode materials that can overcome the shortcomings of the current lithium-ion batteries. One critical challenge for this quest is to find materials whose redox potential (RP) meets specific design targets. In this study, we propose a computational framework for addressing this challenge through the effective design and optimal operation of a high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) pipeline that enables rapid screening of organic materials that satisfy the desired criteria. Starting from a high-fidelity model for estimating the RP of a given material, we show how a set of surrogate models with different accuracy and complexity may be designed to construct a highly accurate and efficient HTVS pipeline. We demonstrate that the proposed HTVS pipeline construction and operation strategies substantially enhance the overall screening throughput.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Exploration of methods to remove implanted 210 Pb and 210 Po contamination from silicon surfaces

Radioactive contaminants on the surfaces of detector components can be a problematic source of background events for physics experiments searching for rare processes. Exposure to radon is a specific concern because it can result in the relatively long-lived 210 Pb (and progeny) being implanted to significant subsurface depths such that removal is challenging. Here, in this article, we present results from a broad exploration of cleaning treatments to remove implanted 210 Pb and 210 Po contamination from silicon, which is a material frequently used in rare-events searches. We demonstrate for the first time that heat treatments (“baking”) can effectively mitigate such surface contamination, with a 1200 °C bake resulting in a 97$^{+2}_{-3}$% reduction. We also report results using wet-chemistry and plasma-based methods, which show that etching can be highly effective provided the etch depth is sufficiently aggressive. Our survey of cleaning methods suggests consideration of multiple approaches during the different phases of detector construction to enable greater flexibility for efficient removal of 210 Pb and 210 Po surface contamination.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Examination of Factors Affecting the Cost and Performance of a Natural Gas Combined Cycle Equipped with Carbon Dioxide Capture

The purpose of this Technical Note is to report the findings of an examination of the effect of plausible deviations in select study assumptions on the reported cost and performance estimates for a power plant case drawn from NETL’s “Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants Volume 1: Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity” (known as the Fossil Energy Baseline). An F-Class NGCC power plant equipped with state-of-the-art, solvent-based, post-combustion carbon dioxide (CO2) capture (95 percent carbon capture rate)—designated as Case B31B.95—was selected for this work. This sensitivity analysis provides insight into the effects of parameter variations within and across selected categories—ambient conditions, construction cost, natural gas (NG) price, capacity factor, and finance—on the plant performance and capital and operating and maintenance (O&M) costs, and the subsequent impact on common figures of merit.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗