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At least 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Common Information Model for Electromagnetic Transients (CIM for EMT): CRADA 533 [Abstract only}

The control and protection functions of inverter-based resources (IBR) have raised concerns with bulk system reliability. Most of the current interest lies with solar photovoltaic generation but increasing amounts of storage would pose the same risks. Newer North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) guidelines call for electromagnetic transient (EMT) studies of IBR and recommend that transmission operators collect distributed energy resource (DER) data to support such modeling. IEEE Standard P2800.1 is defining tests for model parameterization, so good model data should become available from inverter vendors. (EMT studies also apply to large power transformer reliability, and transformer vendors can provide EMT models.) Utilities don’t currently have the rest of the bulk system represented for EMT studies at large scale. An International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard Common Information Model (CIM) provides a way of supporting these detailed models from physical asset data, e.g., conductors, towers, transformer data sheets, control block diagrams, while avoiding software vendor lock-in. CIM-for-EMT, with proposed schema extensions and open-source converters, provides a way to exchange EMT data between organizations and tools. This project leverages Office of Electricity (OE) funding of CIM-for-EMT code base through the GridAPPS-DTM project, and of GridPACKTM (parallelized transmission solver), for interoperability testing in CIM-for-EMT. The project also leverages partner PGSTech investments in EMTP® interoperability with CIM.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Platinum Group Metal Catalysts: Supply Chain Deep Dive Assessment

The report “America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition” lays out the challenges and opportunities faced by the United States in the energy supply chain as well as the federal government plans to address these challenges and opportunities. It is accompanied by several issue-specific deep dive assessments, including this one, in response to Executive Order 14017 “America’s Supply Chains,” which directs the Secretary of Energy to submit a report on supply chains for the energy sector industrial base. The Executive Order is helping the federal government to build more secure and diverse U.S. supply chains, including energy supply chains. This report focuses on the supply chain for catalysts, specifically platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts, used for decarbonizing energy technologies. Catalysts are substances that increase the rate, conversion, and selectivity of chemical reactions and are used in a variety of applications such as chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and catalytic converters. Catalysts containing PGMs (“PGM catalysts”) are particularly useful in widespread industrial applications, including the production of high-volume chemicals such as ammonia, acetic acid, nitric acid, and the refining of crude oil into petroleum products. The PGM metals possess extraordinary properties such as being active oxidation and hydrogenation catalysts; excellent electrical conductors and electrodes; and outstanding adsorbers of oxygen and hydrogen. Within the energy industrial base, PGM catalysts improve the energy and materials efficiency of petroleum refining and chemical industry processes and reduce energy consumption in manufacturing. In addition to their use in catalytic converters, PGM catalysts are important to maximizing the efficiency of emerging decarbonization technologies, specifically in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers for green hydrogen production from water and PEM fuel cells for transportation and stationary energy storage. Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonization scenarios.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Geothermal Fault Zone and Fluid Imaging through Joint Airborne ZTEM and Ground MT Data Inversion Analysis

This project has aimed to achieve detailed electrical resistivity resolution at geothermal reservoir scales by combining airborne natural electromagnetic (EM) field surveying (ZTEM) with ground magnetotelluric (MT) measurements to approximate an airborne MT geophysical method. MT alone is relatively expensive and may have permitting challenges in sensitive areas. Airborne ZTEM field data contains only the magnetic field, requires a background assumption, and has been limited to relatively high frequencies, thus suffering uniqueness problems. Based on proto-type 2D simulations, ZTEM ambiguities may be reduced through formal incorporation with possibly sparse ground MT soundings, which we pursued in full 3D for this project. The methodology was tested at the high-temperature Roosevelt Hot Springs geothermal system, Utah, which was considered advantageous given the near total exposure of crystalline reservoir rocks across the project area. ZTEM and ground MT survey data were acquired in 2017, subcontracted to outside parties with which we have worked in the past. These included 80 remote-referenced tensor MT soundings over the Mineral Mountains and adjacent Roosevelt Hot Spring producing geothermal system. These MT stations abut later coverage of a similar number of MT stations taken for the Utah FORGE project providing excellent total data aperture to re-solve structure beneath both project areas better than either set alone. The airborne ZTEM survey covered 704 line kilometers in E-W flight lines with a 250 m line spacing. Although this survey was timed during a maintenance-related shutdown of power production at the Roosevelt Hot Springs, other noise sources difficult to identify but including two high-voltage state-scale transmission lines compromised the ZTEM survey badly leading to unusable responses. Thus, with DOE management concurrence, the project proceeded to emphasize inversion and interpretation of the joint SubTER-FORGE MT data sets with regard to the Roosevelt Hot Springs reservoir recharge and to deep heat sources for both it and the Utah FORGE EGS project area. We also investigated the joint ZTEM-MT sampling concept with data sets from the Eleven Mile Canyon prospect area donated by the U.S. Navy (A. Sabin, PoC). Inversion of the SubTER-FORGE MT data using the HexMT 3D finite element algorithm reveals a large, low-resistivity anomaly extending sub-vertically through the depth range of the crust beneath the western Mineral Mountains. The steep conductive zone connects in the lower crust to a more tabular conductor characteristic of much of the Great Basin that generally is ascribed to current mafic magmatic underplating, hybridization and fluid release. The location of the resolved anomaly relative to the recent (0.5-0.8 Ma) eruptive centers of the Mineral Mountains implicates it as remnants of the magma body which fed these centers. This structure appears to be currently feeding heat and fluids upward into the Roosevelt Hot Springs hydrothermal system, as well as heat laterally to the FORGE project area. Separate and joint inversion models were carried out for the donated Eleven Mile Canyon MT-ZTEM data set to demonstrate concept. ZTEM only inversion showed two main alteration zones in the western portion of the project area known from geological mapping. Joint inversion including an E-W profile of MT soundings sharpened these features considerably. It also resolved in much greater detail the graben related normal faulting structure of the central project area which lies at depths exceeding the sensitivity of ZTEM alone. The sparse number of MT da-ta relative to the ZTEM required upweighting the former by a factor of several, but an exact procedure awaits future research. Our final impression is that sparse MT data can improve resolution of the subsurface over that of ZTEM alone. However, well sampled MT data are to be preferred and offer the simplicity of interpreting just one data type, and possess the superior resolution capability coming with the electric field everywhere, and from their high bandwidth.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

US HL-LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project (MQXFA Final Design Report)

The MQXFA Quadrupole magnets will be installed in High Luminosity LHC to form the Q1 and Q3 inner triplet optical elements in front of the interaction points 1 (ATLAS) and 5 (CMS). A pair of MQXFA units is assembled in a stainless steel helium vessel, including the end domes, to make the Q1 Cold Mass or the Q3 Cold Mass. The US HL LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project* is responsible for the design, manufacturing and test of the Q1/Q3 Cold Masses and the complete MQXFA magnets. CERN provides the cryostat components and is responsible for integration and installation in HL LHC. The MQXFA quadrupoles have 150 mm aperture, 4.2 m magnetic length, nominal gradient of 132.2 T/m, and coil peak field of 11.3 T. They use Nb_3Sn conductor and a support structure made of segmented aluminum shells pre-loaded by using bladders and keys. This report presents the final design of the MQXFA quadrupole magnets.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

ReNCAT: The Resilient Node Cluster Analysis Tool

ReNCAT is a software application that suggests microgrid portfolios that reduce the impact of large-scale disruptions to power, as measured by the Social Burden Metric. ReNCAT examines a power distribution network to identify regions that can be isolated into microgrids that enable critical services to be provided even if the remainder of the study area is left without power. ReNCAT operates on a simplified representation of the power grid, one that aggregates and approximates loads and conductors. Microgrids are formed within the power network by setting switch states to split or join portions of the grid. ReNCAT identifies candidate microgrid portfolios with varying tradeoffs between cost and service availability.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Mutual Inductance Level Sensor for Use in Liquid Metals

Electromagnetic instrumentation capable of measuring the level of liquid metal has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory’s (ANL) Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL). The mutual inductance level sensor (MILS) utilizes the electromagnetic coupling between two coil conductors and a surrounding liquid metal to determine the level of the liquid metal. Mineral insulated cables wrapped on a stainless steel core provide a durable sensor construction. The use of a sealed stainless steel thimble isolates the sensor from the high-temperature liquid metal, allowing for easy sensor maintenance. Modern digital electronics allow for reliable and accurate operation of the sensor. Two sensor variations have been designed and fabricated, and the first variation has seen extensive testing in a non-sodium testing stand as well as in the high-temperature sodium environment of METL. Electromagnetic finite-element analysis studies have been performed using the COMSOL Magnetic Fields Solver. Regular operation of the MILS will commence following in-situ calibration of the sensors in the METL environment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

The study of local overheating and plasma formation on stainless steel z-pinch targets

Plasma formation from intensely ohmically heated conductors is known to be highly non-uniform, as local overheating can be driven by micron-scale imperfections. Detailed understanding of plasma formation is required to predict the performance of magnetically driven physics targets and magnetically-insulated transmission lines (MITLs). Previous LDRD-supported work (projects 178661 and 200269) developed the electrothermal instability (ETI) platform, on the Mykonos facility, to gather high-resolution images of the self-emission from the non-uniform ohmic heating of z-pinch rods. Experiments studying highly inhomogeneous alloyed aluminum captured complex heating topography. To enable detailed comparison with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation, 99.999% pure aluminum rods in a z-pinch configuration were diamond-turned to ~10nm surface roughness and then further machined to include well-characterized micron-scale "engineered" defects (ED) on the rod's surface (T.J. Awe, et al., Phys. Plasmas 28, 072104 (2021)). In this project, the engineered defect hardware and diagnostic platform were used to study ETI evolution and non-uniform plasma formation from stainless steel targets. The experimental objective was to clearly determine what, if any, role manufacturing, preparation, or alloy differences have in encouraging nonuniform heating and plasma formation from high-current density stainless steel. Data may identify improvements that may be implemented in the fabrication/preparation of electrodes used on the Z machine. Preliminary data shows that difference in manufacturer has no observed effect on ETI evolution, stainless alloy 304L heated more uniformly than alloy 310 at similar current densities, and that stainless steel undergoes the same evolutionary ETI stages as ultra-pure aluminum, with increased emission tied to areas of elevated surface roughness.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Eddy current studies for the beam screen of the Electron-Ion Collider hadron storage ring superconducting magnets

A copper-clad stainless steel beam screen will be installed in each of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) superconducting (SC) magnets used for making the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) Hadron Storage Ring (HSR). Eddy currents are induced within conductors to oppose a changing magnetic flux. Eddy currents will appear on the EIC HSR beam screens during ramp up and ramp down, after a magnet quenches and when reversing the polarity of the γ transition jump quadrupoles during γ transition crossing. This study evaluates the magnitude of the eddy currents, the temperature increase due to Joule heating and the stress at the beam screens from the eddy-current induced force.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

FETS-VFFA Cell using Contour-Based Magnets

A pure-conductor winding arrangement has been found that approximates the optics of the design given in (Figure 1). The tunes are not the same but are reasonably flat and exist through the entire 3–12 MeV energy range, so could conceivably be fine-tuned using the vertical winding density function in the next section. The lattice consists of two magnets: a reverse bending Bd magnet followed by a normal bending Bf magnet. These magnets are both sectors whose midpoints are displaced with respect to the midpoints of the sides of a 20-sided polygon with side length 1.25 m. The ring is said to have 10 cells (2 polygon sides per cell) that are 2.5 m long. The displacements are 17 cm inwards for Bd and 17 cm outwards for Bf.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Physical and Mechano-Electrochemical Phenomena of Thin Film Lithium-Ceramic Electrolyte Constructs

While a small number of solid electrolytes exhibit high ionic conductivity (~1mS cm at 298K), few are stable against Li metal. The garnet-type solid electrolyte, based on the nominal formula Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO), is unique in that it is a fast ion conductor and – as we demonstrated in our recent project (DE-EE-00006821) – is stable against Li. Moreover, our former project successfully demonstrated a decrease in Li-LLZO interface resistance from 12,000 to 2 Ohms cm 2 and stable cycling at 1 mA cm 2 for 100 cycles (+/- 15 µm Li per cycle). Although the past project (DE-EE-00006821) demonstrated LLZO is a viable solid electrolyte for enabling batteries using metallic Li, the studies used thick pellets (1mm) and thick anodes (~500 µm). We believe that to achieve a step increase in technology readiness level (TRL), the same performance characteristics previously shown should be demonstrated in technologically relevant cells, e.g. thin LLZO and thin Li. The goal of this project is to acquire a deep fundamental understanding of the physical and mechano-electrochemical phenomena that control the performance of cells consisting of thin LLZO (~10 µm), thin Li anodes (~20 µm) and thin solid-state composite cathodes. If successful, the knowledge gained in this project will guide closely related commercialization efforts to scale the production of LLZO-based solid-state batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Chromium Tolerant, Highly Active and Stable Electrocatalytic Internal Surface Coating for Cathode of Commercial SOFCs (Final Report)

This project is aimed to develop a chromium (Cr) tolerant, highly active, and stable coating layer on the internal surfaces of the porous composite cathode from commercially available SOFCs. Such coating layer was developed using the additive manufacturing process of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and has been applied on the cathode consisting of either an electronic conductor of LaxSr 1-x MnyO 3-δ (LSM) or mixed ionic and electronic conducting La x Sr 1-x Co y Fe 1-y O 3-δ (LSCF). PI's work has demonstrated that the internal surface of cathode from the commercial cells, can be further tailored using ALD coating to dramatically enhance the cell performance. For instance, ALD layer consisting heterostructured nano composite of nano-Pt and nano-(Mn 0.8 Co 0.2 ) 3 O 4 oxide on the internal surface of porous LSM/YSZ cathode from SOFCs, has resulted in the large reduction of the cell polarizations resistance by up to 53%, and enormous increase of power density over 370%. For the cells with LSCF/Sm 2 O 3 doped CeO 2 (SDC) cathode, the conformal layer of nano-composite consisting of superjacent CoOx and subjacent minimum amount of Pt nano-grains has resulted in the power density enhancement by 126% for the large scale industry tubular cells at 750°C, and both the performance enhancement and nanostructure of the ALD layer are stable over ~ 2000 h continuous operation performed at industry test station. In the meanwhile, those ALD coating layer developed by PI's work is also inherently Cr-tolerant, and could act as physical barrier for preventing Cr diffusion into the cathode backbone, so as to mitigate the Cr poisoning effect on the cathode. In this project, the impact of Cr on the performance of those ALD coated commercial cells has been evaluated. Based on evolution of the cell performance, the ALD coating layer chemistry and ALD coating layer thickness has been optimized to maximize the overall Cr tolerance, cell power density and cell longevity. Different ALD coating has been applied onto the internal surface of LSM/YSZ and LSCF/SDC backbone respectively. The architecture/scaffold structures on the internal surface of different cathode, designed by this project, was catalogued and analyzed using High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), and cell power/durability performance are assured via comprehensive electrochemical performance testing in the industry operation relevant conditions. The impact of the electrochemical operation current density, the water humidity, the cell operation temperature, and cell operation duration on the Cr tolerance of ALD coated cells has been systematically investigated. There is completely different nanostructure degradation mechanisms between LSM and LSCF cells induced by Cr contamination. For the LSCF/SDC baseline cell, With the Cr source, there is no apparent Sr surface segregation phase even for the baseline cell operated for 3000 h at 750 °C. With the Cr source, there is significant amorphous (SrCr)Ox phase accumulated in the original pore region. For the commercial baseline cells, Cr contaminants on the LSM electrode severely impacted the entire cell's electrochemical performance and nanostructure degradation. Those degradations include (1). Peak power density loss of 64 % after 109 h of operation. The dramatic increase in Rp (2). They are cracking at LSM/SSZ interface, LSM grains. SSZ remains intact but with (CrMn)Ox. By contrast, ALD coating (MnCo)Ox/Pt dramatically improves the Cr resistance, as follows (1). ALD-coated cell with a power density is 280-380 % of the baseline cell, depending on the ALD layer thickness. (2). For a cell with a 20 nm thick ALD layer, there is a large performance enhancement (> 200 % power density) induced by ALD coating of Cr-tolerant Mn 0.8 Co 0.2 Ox. (3). For a cell with a 20 nm thick ALD layer, after 168 h at 750 °C power density of the ALD-coated cell is ~ 600% of that baseline cell upon operation with Cr contamination for 109 h. The ALD coating on the internal surface of cathode developed by this project integrated multi-functions. Those multi-functions include (1). Dramatically improving the cell power density for the commercial cells; (2). Dramatically improving contamination resistance of the cathode, for being an excellent protection coating layer sealing off Cr contamination. (3). Dramatically increasing the cell longevity by potentially preventing the microstructure evolution and grain coarsening of the cathode. Overall, this project will provide a simple solution to simultaneously enhance power density and increase the reliability, robustness, and endurance of commercial SOFCs, over the entire operating temperature range of 650-800 °C. For the inherently functional SOFC, the ALD coating of LSM based cathode mitigate the Cr-contamination. Power density of ALD-coated cell is ~ 600% of that baseline cell upon operation with Cr contamination. In addition to SOFCs, the novel on-demand design approach and creation of multifunctional heterogeneous architecture on the electrode surface presented in this work opens further research for their application in other types of fuel cells, batteries, and sensors for which electrochemical reactions on the surface are similarly critical.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Accidental Disassembly of a Multi Branch Outlet Strip with Surge Protector (Investigation Report)

On December 16 a worker attempted to disconnect a computer plug from a multi outlet surge protector strip. The plastic housing of the surge protector disintegrated while the plug was pulled exposing the bare conductors of the internal wiring. The worker disconnected the wall plug on the multi outlet strip and de-energized the outlet strip. The worker contacted the FOD and the FOD called the ISR DESO for advice. The DESO collected the pieces and performed an autopsy on the device.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Magnetic imaging of topological phases of matter (Final Report)

This project presents a detailed understanding of the local electronic transport in two different types of conductors. The experimental tools are a combination of local magnetic probes and electronic transport measurements. The first set of samples were superconducting microstructures that exhibited unusual transport behavior. Magnetic imaging revealed the presence of a strain field in the microstructures, which spatially modulated the superconducting properties. This strain field can be controlled through a variety of design parameters opening opportunities for a broad range of quantum materials including topological phases of matter. The second set of samples was fabricated from Cr-doped (Bi,Sb) 2 Te 3 heterostructures that exhibited the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE). Magnetic imaging visualized the current flow in these devices, while simultaneous transport measurements verified that the devices exhibit the QAHE. Surprisingly, the current flowed in the interior of the sample even when exhibiting a high level of quantization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Composite Cathode Architectures Made By Freeze-Casting for All Solid State Lithium Batteries (CRADA Final Report)

As part of a Battery 500 seedling project, MBRDNA partnered with LBNL and Montana State University (MSU) to develop solid-state batteries based on an Al-substituted LLZO (Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 ) ceramic ion-conductor. All solid-state lithium batteries are attractive contenders for use as power sources for electric vehicles because of their potential for better safety and higher energy density than state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, although they are still at early stages of development. Al-substituted LLZO is one of the most promising solid electrolytes for battery applications based on high ionic conductivity, a wide operating voltage window, and apparent stability vs. reduction by lithium. However, difficulties with processing thin (< 20 $\textit{um}$ and dense LLZO membranes have hampered development of devices based on this material. It is non-compressible and must be sintered at high temperatures to densify components. It is also difficult to maintain contact between the active cathode material and LLZO in the composite cathodes, which is critical for successful operation. This research project aimed to use novel processing methods to overcome these issues. The end result was the first ever-reported truly all solid-state battery based on LLZO operating at room temperature without application of exogenous pressure. During the course of the project, we also identified a number of issues that need to be addressed to improve the technology readiness level of this battery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamic Line Rating Study of Concurrent Cooling for a Proposed Wind Farm

This report was prepared for the Wind Energy Technology Office for the FY 2021, quarter 2 deliverable. This details the use of dynamic line rating technology to rate a gen tie-line associated with a proposed wind farm. By utilizing dynamic line rating, the concurrent cooling effect – maximum wind farm power output is coupled with additional cooling on the line – can be used to provide a smaller size conductor for the gen tie line, thus reducing the capital costs.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Report of METL Mutual Inductance Level Sensor Development for Use in Liquid Metals – FY2023

A robust mutual inductance level sensor (MILS) for use in high temperature liquid metals has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The current design utilizes mineral insulated cables with a 300-series stainless steel sheath, magnesium oxide insulation, and a single copper conductor. Two coils are wrapped on a common core made of a 300-series stainless steel tube. One coil is energized with an alternating current (AC) source, and this electromagnetically couples with the second coil to generate an induced voltage. The voltage is measured to determine the mutual induction between the coils, and the mutual inductance measurement can be used to determine the level of a nearby liquid metal volume. The MILS can be located in an isolating thimble that is fully sealed to a vessel containing liquid metal for ease of maintenance and replacement. When the primary coil is energized with the AC source, the coil not only electromagnetic (EM) couples with the second coil, but also the surrounding liquid metal. The EM coupling with the surrounding liquid metal reduces the EM coupling with the second coil, producing an inverse-linear relationship between liquid metal level and secondary coil voltage. This has all been demonstrated at the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) liquid sodium facility at ANL. The most current iteration of the MILS system is the MILS-MK-II. This sensor system has been commissioned in a non-sodium test stand where calibrations were performed using a sodium analog. The calibrations proved to be highly linear and repeatable. The MILS-MK-II has been installed in the METL expansion tank where high temperature sodium tests have been performed. The MILS-MK-II has been calibrated against a known standard at temperature of 300°C, and the calibrations have proved to be highly linear and repeatable. The calibrated MILS-MK-II has been in operation in the METL facility for several thousands of hours at temperatures around 300°C. The experimental data has been used to develop and validate electromagnetic finite element models in COMSOL Multiphysics, and now these models can be used to advance the development of the sensor system. Next steps will include temperature compensation to allow for operation at various temperatures. Additionally, efforts to incorporate a self-calibration methodology are underway.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

An Introduction to Radiation Damage in Minerals and Ceramics [Slides]

Radiation effects in minerals and ceramics are quite distinct from effects observed in metals. This is largely due to interactions between radiation and the electronic structure of insulating materials that are unique compared to metallic conductors. Most notably, insulators exhibit property changes when energetic particles lose energy to electrons in the solid, whereas metals are unaffected by electronic energy losses. In addition, displacive radiation damage effects (atoms being knocked off their lattice sites by energetic particles) are much more complex in insulators, due to the complexities of their crystal structures (multiple cation and anion sublattices). In this presentation, we will focus on the atomistic mechanisms responsible for radiation damage in minerals and ceramics, when energetic particles lose energy while penetrating a solid. We will consider several examples, including (i) irradiation induced color center formation in gemstones; (ii) latent defects in alkali halides (relevance to thermoluminescent detectors); (iii) radioactive decay-induced amorphization of natural minerals; and (iv) extended defect formation and phase stability in complex oxides.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic with Substantially Improved Through-plane Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity of carbon fiber support structures that also serve as cooling substrates is of increasing importance for high energy physics detectors. One of the shortcomings of current carbon fiber laminates is that they exhibit excellent thermal conductivity of order several hundred W/(m*K) along the fiber direction, whereas the through plane thermal conductivity perpendicular to the fibers is orders of magnitude lower, and at about 1 W/(m*K) more in the range of thermal insulators. This proposal aims to significantly improve the through plane thermal conductivity, by at least a factor five, changing CFRP from being a thermal insulator to a thermal conductor in the through plane direction. Between June 2021 and December 2022, a total of 36 carbon fiber laminate test samples and two carbon loaded epoxy test samples were manufactured and analyzed for thermal performance. Unfortunately, the promising results obtained with a similar sample manufactured in 2017 were not reproduced. We believe this to be mainly due the excessive age of the carbon fiber prepreg material used for this SBIR - the same material batch, produced in 2015, was used in 2017 and in 2021/2022, i.e. the material was seven years old when the final samples were produced - , and to a lesser degree to the difference in pressure attainable with the 2017 and 2021/2022 laminate curing setups. While disappointing, the results are not completely discouraging, since for the samples with the highest compression the through-plane thermal conductivities plotted as a function of per-ply thickness extrapolate well to the data point from the 2017 sample.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗