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At least 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Sixteen multiple-amplifier sensing charge-coupled devices and characterization techniques targeting the next generation of astronomical instruments

We present a candidate sensor for future spectroscopic applications, such as a Stage-5 Spectroscopic Survey Experiment or the Habitable Worlds Observatory. This type of charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor features multiple in-line amplifiers at its output stage allowing multiple measurements of the same charge packet, either in each amplifier or in the different amplifiers. Recently, the operation of an eight-amplifier sensor has been experimentally demonstrated, and we present the operation of a 16-amplifier sensor. This new sensor enables a noise level of ∼1 erms− with a single sample per amplifier. In addition, it is shown that sub-electron noise can be achieved using multiple samples per amplifier. In addition to demonstrating the performance of the 16-amplifier sensor, we aim to create a framework for future analysis and performance optimization of this type of detectors. New models and techniques are presented to characterize specific parameters, which are absent in conventional CCDs and Skipper CCDs: charge transfer between amplifiers and independent and common noise in the amplifiers and their processing.

16 multiple-amplifer sensing CCD (MAS-CCD)↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-T-172: Evaluation of the Exradin A26 Ion Chamber in Megavoltage Photon Beams as a Reference Class Instrument

Purpose: The Exradin A26 is a new design of micro-ionization ion chamber that externally resembles the Exradin A16 model but has significant internal changes to address measurement issues reported in the literature for the A16. This project involved the characterization of two versions of the A26 chamber in high energy x-rays with particular reference to the performance specification laid out in the imminent Addendum to TG-51. Methods: The Exradin A26 was investigated in a range of megavoltage photon beams (6–25 MV). Investigations looked at chamber settling, ion recombination and polarity. Since it has been previously shown that non-ideal performance is most easily identified through ion recombination measurements, the focus was on the determination of Pion. Results: i) Chamber settling - the chamber response stabilizes very quickly (within 3 minutes), even after a large change in the polarizing voltage.ii) The polarity correction was found to be small (within 0.2% of unity)iii) The chamber showed linear behavior for a Jaffe plot (1/reading vs 1/polarizing voltage) for applied voltages ≤ 200 V.iv) The recombination correction showed a linear variation with the doseper- pulse, was not significantly dependent on the polarity of the collecting voltage and was consistent with the chamber dimensions (i.e. agreed with Boag theory). Conclusion: An initial investigation of the Exradin A26 micro chamber suggests that although its performance exceeds the AAPM specification for a reference-class ion chamber for use in megavoltage photon beams it is a significant improvement over the previous A16 design. Further work is required to evaluate long-term stability and determine kQ factors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Spatially Resolved Raman Spectroscopic Investigation of Uranyl Fluoride: A Case Study in the Importance of Instrument Optimization

Raman spectroscopy is an emerging technique for rapid and nondestructive analysis of nuclear materials for forensic and nonproliferation applications as it is a powerful tool for distinguishing multiple chemical forms of materials with similar stoichiometries. Recent developments in spectroscopic software have enabled rapid data collection with high-speed Raman spectroscopic mapping capabilities. However, some uranium-rich materials are susceptible to degradation in humid air and/or laser-induced phase transformations. To mitigate environmental or measurement-related sample degradation of potential samples of interest, we have taken a systematic approach to define optimized data collection parameters for high-throughput measurements of uranyl fluoride (UO 2 F 2 ), which is an important intermediate material in the nuclear fuel cycle. First, we systematically describe the influence of optical magnification (5× to 100×), laser power, and exposure time on obtained signal for identical particles of UO 2 F 2 and find that at low laser power and exposure times, comparable signal is obtained regardless of optical magnification. Second, we ensure sample integrity during data collection, and third, collect spectroscopic maps that employ optimized parameters to reduce the time required to obtain spatially resolved spectroscopic information. Reductions of 90% and 99% in measurement times are discussed as they relate to differences in resolving spectroscopic features of particles in identical mapping areas. Finally, during this work, we found that additional data processing options were needed and thus developed a customized Python script for importing, processing, analyzing, and visualizing Raman spectroscopic map data.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Safety-Related Instrumentation and Control Upgrade Pilot Project: NUREG- 0711 Process Development, Planning and Analysis Activities, and Lessons Learned

Constellation Energy and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) have established a public/private partnership to implement a pilot digital upgrade to replace legacy analog, safety-related reactor protection and emergency safety feature actuation systems (RPS/ESFAS) with modern digital systems. This effort is occurring at Constellation’s Limerick Generating Station. This project is being performed in accordance with industry processes that have been adapted to better support digital upgrades. These processes include IP-ENG-001, Standard Design Process, NISP-EN-04, Standard Digital Engineering Process and Electric Power Research Institute Report 3002011816, Digital Engineering Guide. The Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been supporting this effort. Latest INL HFE efforts in support of this project have focused on definition and implementation of the Human Factors Engineering (HFE) Program in support of Constellation design and related licensing efforts. This paper presents the development execution of the HFE Program through completion of the Planning and Analysis Phase as defined by NUREG-0711 as well as HFE lessons learned.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Instrumentation and its Interaction with the Secondary Beam for the Fermilab Muon Campus

The Fermilab Muon Campus will host the Muon g-2 experiment - a world class experiment dedicated to the search for signals of new physics. Strict demands are placed on the beam diagnostics in order to ensure delivery of high quality beams to the storage ring with minimal losses. In this study, we briefly describe the available secondary beam diagnostics for the Fermilab Muon Campus. Then, with the aid of numerical simulations we detail their interaction with the secondary beam. Finally, we compare our results against theoretical findings.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ceilometer Instrument Handbook

The Vaisala Laser Ceilometer (CEIL) is a self-contained, ground-based, active, remote-sensing device designed to measure cloud-base height, vertical visibility, and potential backscatter signals by aerosols. It detects up to three cloud layers simultaneously. Model CL31 has a maximum vertical range of 7700 meters (m). The laser ceilometer transmits near-infrared pulses of light, and the receiver detects the light scattered back by clouds and precipitation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Microwave Radiometer – 3-Channel (MWR3C) Instrument Handbook

The microwave radiometer 3-channel (MWR3C) provides time-series measurements of brightness temperatures from three channels centered at 23.834, 30, and 89 GHz. These three channels are sensitive to the presence of liquid water and precipitable water vapor.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2013

Energy-Saving Melting and Revert Reduction (E-SMARRT): Energy Efficiency Instrumentation

As with any manufacturing operation, the metalcasting processes have several sources of variation. Additionally, the metalcasting industry routinely produces a wide variety of complex shaped components, which often exacerbates the problem of determining the source of variation. The goals of this project were to develop better tools and strategies to collect and manage process and product information. Based on industry feedback, five areas were selected based on the amount of variation caused by this source or the potential for improvement in terms of energy, emissions and competitiveness. These five areas were: 1. Heat Treatment Control Strategies 2. Semi-Automated Grinding 3. Surface Mapping Software 4. Study of Impact of Repairs via Weld Gouges 5. Rapid Pattern Making Machine. This project collectively looked at areas of the steel casting production process which could help reduce the rework, scrap and energy consumption required. Through these efforts, casting producers are better equipped to control their processes and specify processes that better meet their customers’ needs.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2014

Science Driven Instrumentation for LCLS-II

The world’s first x-ray free electron laser (XFEL), LCLS, has now been operating for more than three years and all six experimental stations are supporting user science and producing high impact scientific results. Other countries are rapidly catching up and a second XFEL, SACLA, is already operating in Japan with others coming on line in Germany, Korea and Switzerland within the next three to five years. In order to increase capability and capacity of LCLS, the Department of Energy has funded LCLS-II.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Differential Die-Away Instrument: Report on Neutron Detector Recovery Performance and Proposed Improvements

Four helium-3 ( 3 He) detector/preamplifier packages (¾”/KM200, DDSI/PDT-A111, DDA/PDT-A111, and DDA/PDT10A) were experimentally tested to determine the deadtime effects at different DT neutron generator output settings. At very high count rates, the ¾”/KM200 package performed best. At high count rates, the ¾”/KM200 and the DDSI/PDT-A111 packages performed very well, with the DDSI/PDT-A111 operating with slightly higher efficiency. All of the packages performed similarly at mid to low count rates. Proposed improvements include using a fast recovery LANL-made dual channel preamplifier, testing smaller diameter 3 He tubes, and further investigating quench gases.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

UT-NE Radiation Instrumentation Research Group Meeting: An Update on Progress

The purpose of this project is to design a system to image large and/or thick objects with high dynamic ranges using an intensified, charge coupled device (CCD) camera and a fast-pulsed, high energy neutron source; Improve image resolution by reducing scatter; and Design ultra-fast scintillator using nanotechnology to allow for better timing (and thus better scatter rejection).

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Automated work packages architecture: An initial set of human factors and instrumentation and controls requirements

The work management process in current fleets of national nuclear power plants is so highly dependent on large technical staffs and quality of work instruction, i.e., paper-based, that this puts nuclear energy at somewhat of a long-term economic disadvantage and increase the possibility of human errors. Technologies like mobile portable devices and computer-based procedures can play a key role in improving the plant work management process, thereby increasing productivity and decreasing cost. Automated work packages are a fundamentally an enabling technology for improving worker productivity and human performance in nuclear power plants work activities because virtually every plant work activity is accomplished using some form of a work package. As part of this year’s research effort, automated work packages architecture is identified and an initial set of requirements identified, that are essential and necessary for implementation of automated work packages in nuclear power plants.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Laser Disdrometer (LDIS) Instrument Handbook

The second-generation particle size velocity (Parsivel2, Figure 1) disdrometer, or laser disdrometer, referred to as “LDIS” within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility, is a modern, laser-based disdrometer designed for comprehensive and reliable measurement of all types of precipitation. LDIS captures detailed information on the size and velocity of individual hydrometeors that fall to the ground, classifying them into a range of 32 categories. These raw measurements are processed by a fast signal processor (provided by the vendor) to calculate various parameters, including precipitation type, amount, intensity, kinetic energy, visibility in the precipitation, and equivalent radar reflectivity. These measurements have served as the primary data set and a valuable reference for a variety of studies, ranging from observational analyses of precipitation processes and climate model evaluations to monitoring or validating radar/satellite retrievals (e.g., Wang et al. 2018, Giangrande et al. 2019, Jackson et al. 2020).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

AmeriFlux Measurement Component Instrument Handbook

An AMC system was installed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility’s North Slope Alaska (NSA) Barrow site, also known as NSA C1 at the ARM Data Archive, in August 2012. A second AMC system was installed at the third ARM Mobile Facility deployment at Oliktok Point, also known as NSA M1. This in situ system consists of 12 combination soil temperature and volumetric water content (VWC) reflectometers and one set of upwelling and downwelling PAR sensors, all deployed within the fetch of the Eddy Correlation Flux Measurement System. Soil temperature and VWC sensors placed at two depths (10 and 30 cm below the vegetation layer) at six locations (or microsites) allow soil property inhomogeneity to be monitored across a landscape. The soil VWC and temperature sensors used at NSA C1 are the Campbell Scientific CS650L and the sensors at NSA M1 use the Campbell Scientific CS655. The two sensors are nearly identical in function, and vendor specifications are based on the CS650 unless otherwise stated.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗