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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 91 records · Page 5

BEopt™ (Building Energy Optimization Tool) version 3.0.1 3/16/2023 [SWR-05-41]

The BEopt™ (Building Energy Optimization Tool) software provides capabilities to evaluate residential building designs and identify cost-optimal efficiency packages at various levels of whole-house energy savings along the path to zero net energy. The BEopt software can be used to analyze both new construction and existing home retrofits, as well as single-family detached and multi-family buildings, through evaluation of single building designs, parametric sweeps, and cost-based optimizations. The BEopt software provides detailed simulation-based analysis based on specific house characteristics, such as size, architecture, occupancy, vintage, location, and utility rates. Discrete envelope and equipment options, reflecting realistic construction materials and practices, are evaluated. The BEopt software uses EnergyPlus®, the Department of Energy's flagship simulation engine. Simulation assumptions are based on ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standards and the Building America Housing Simulation Protocols. The sequential search optimization technique used by the BEopt software: Finds minimum-cost building designs at different target energy-savings levels Identifies multiple near-optimal designs along the path, allowing for equivalent solutions based on builder or contractor preference. Download A BEopt™ Version 3.0.1 Beta release (Mar. 16, 2023) is now available. Download the BEopt 3.0.1 Beta setup file.

Christensen, Craig↗

Nuclear Data and Cross Section Testing Using ENDF/B-VIII.0

With the release of the Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF)/B-VIII.0 library, nuclear criticality safety practitioners and engineers have access to the latest cross section sets available for their analyses. However, these cross sections must be rigorously tested and validated to ensure that the nuclear data are responsive to the needs of the individuals responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining computational tools for criticality safety applications. Thus, the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library is tested and validated with a large collection of experiments that were vetted by the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project and made available in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments. A selection of benchmark experiments for use within the criticality safety community were prepared and reviewed within the Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID), which is maintained by the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The performance of the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library is assessed by using VALID models of benchmark experiments with the beta 12 version of SCALE 6.3 KENO V.a and KENO-VI Monte Carlo codes. The performance is compared with the results obtained from with the ENDF/B-VII.1 library. This report considers multigroup (MG) and continuous energy (CE) formats of the ENDF/B-VIII.0 and -VII.1 libraries. The benchmark experiments within VALID that validate the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library cover 15 broad system categories by using a range of fissile materials, uranium enrichments, plutonium isotopic vectors, and mixed uranium/plutonium systems. These forms are represented as metals, solutions, or various arrays of rods or plates that cover a variety of neutron energy spectra: thermal, fast, mixed, and intermediate. Over 600 cases were considered for use with the KENO V.a and KENO-VI codes with the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library. The results of the Monte Carlo comparison of ENDF/B-VIII.0 to ENDF/B-VII.1 with both KENO V.a and KENO-VI indicate that there is a less than 0.53% Δk difference between the bias of calculated k eff from the expected values. The CE ENDF/B-VIII.0 library results in smaller magnitude biases than the ENDF/B-VII.1 data for HEU-MET-FAST, HEU-SOL-THERM, IEU-MET-FAST, LEU-SOL-THERM, PU-SOL-THERM, and U233-MET-FAST systems, while the MG results yielded smaller magnitude biases for HEU-MET-FAST, HEU-SOL-THERM, IEU-MET-FAST, LEU-COMP-THERM, LEU-SOL THERM, MIX-COMP-FAST, and U233-MET-FAST systems. Most notable are the adjustments to the plutonium and 233 U cross section data, which has resulted in noticeably lower biases in the ENDF/B VIII.0 results for the mixed, plutonium, and 233 U systems. Results of the sensitivity data file comparison generated from TSUNAMI-3D for selected VALID cases for the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library indicate a very high level of agreement with correlation coefficients of the effect of nuclear data uncertainty on k eff (the c k integral parameter) all above 0.99. This indicates that cases with the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library would see very similar responses to any nuclear data errors or change as those with the ENDF/B-VII.1 library.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Evaluation for QFlex Beta Run

The following report consists of measurements on passive and active photonic components fabricated by AIM Photonics as part of their QFlex platform, which at the time of fabrication was in its beta form (version 0.6). This report is broken down into electrical and optical testing that was done on the chips.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Numerical modeling of the atmosphere with an isentropic vertical coordinate

A theta-coordinate model simulating the nonlinear evolution of a baroclinic wave is presented. In the model, vertical discretization maintains important integral constraints such as conservation of the angular momentum and total energy. A massless-layer approach is used in the treatment of the intersections of coordinate surfaces with the lower boundary. This formally eliminates the intersection problem, but raises other computational problems. Horizontal discretization of the continuity and momentum equations in the model are designed to overcome these problems. Selected results from a 10-day integration with the 25-layer, beta-plane version of the model are presented. It is concluded that the model can simulate the nonlinear evolution of a baroclinic wave and associated dynamical processes without major computational difficulties.

Hsu, Yueh-Jiuan G.↗

Land surface temperature measurements from EOS MODIS data

A significant progress has been made in TIR instrumentation which is required to establish the spectral BRDF/emissivity knowledge base of land-surface materials and to validate the land-surface temperature (LST) algorithms. The SIBRE (spectral Infrared Bidirectional Reflectance and Emissivity) system and a TIR system for measuring spectral directional-hemispherical emissivity have been completed and tested successfully. Optical properties and performance features of key components (including spectrometer, and TIR source) of these systems have been characterized by integrated use of local standards (blackbody and reference plates). The stabilization of the spectrometer performance was improved by a custom designed and built liquid cooling system. Methods and procedures for measuring spectral TIR BRDF and directional-hemispheric emissivity with these two systems have been verified in sample measurements. These TIR instruments have been used in the laboratory and the field, giving very promising results. The measured spectral emissivities of water surface are very close to the calculated values based on well established water refractive index values in published papers. Preliminary results show that the TIR instruments can be used for validation of the MODIS LST algorithm in homogeneous test sites. The beta-3 version of the MODIS LST software is being prepared for its delivery scheduled in the early second half of this year.

Wan, Zhengming↗

Developing the Next Generation of Active Region Evolution Models

We recently began development work on an integrated suite of models for slowly evolving solar active regions. In this presentation I will describe the design of this suite, highlight the challenges which this presents and discuss the implications of this design for the CCMC, to which a functional beta test version is to be delivered in three years.

MacNeice, P. J.↗

Technical Report Series on Global Modeling and Data Assimilation: Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Project Calibration and Validation for the L4_C Beta-Release Data Product - Volume 42

During the post-launch Cal/Val Phase of SMAP there are two objectives for each science product team: 1) calibrate, verify, and improve the performance of the science algorithms, and 2) validate accuracies of the science data products as specified in the L1 science requirements according to the Cal/Val timeline. This report provides analysis and assessment of the SMAP Level 4 Carbon (L4_C) product specifically for the beta release. The beta-release version of the SMAP L4_C algorithms utilizes a terrestrial carbon flux model informed by SMAP soil moisture inputs along with optical remote sensing (e.g. MODIS) vegetation indices and other ancillary biophysical data to estimate global daily NEE and component carbon fluxes, particularly vegetation gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco). Other L4_C product elements include surface (<10 cm depth) soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and associated environmental constraints to these processes, including soil moisture and landscape FT controls on GPP and Reco (Kimball et al. 2012). The L4_C product encapsulates SMAP carbon cycle science objectives by: 1) providing a direct link between terrestrial carbon fluxes and underlying freeze/thaw and soil moisture constraints to these processes, 2) documenting primary connections between terrestrial water, energy and carbon cycles, and 3) improving understanding of terrestrial carbon sink activity in northern ecosystems.

Cal/Val↗

Propulsion and aerodynamic analysis of the Beta II two-stage-to-orbit vehicle

A study of a revised version of the Beta II two-stage-to-orbit vehicle has been undertaken. The goal of the study was to modify and refine critical components of the NASA/Boeing/Wright Laboratory Beta II booster design to better define a successful baseline vehicle that can provide routine access to space. The vehicle geometry was modified and corresponding aerodynamics were predicted. The propulsion system was improved by refining the nacelle design which included incorporating a variable capture area inlet, replacing the five High Speed Civil Transport derived turbine bypass turbojet engines with four variable cycle turbofan engines per nacelle, and removing the bypass duct system. The ramjet performance was adjusted for the change in airflow due to the variable capture area inlet. The second stage wing-body orbiter design was not modified for this study. The total Beta II takeoff weight which resulted was approximately 1.0 million pounds.

Davic, James R.↗

The TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA)

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) is intended to provide a "best" estimate of quasi-global precipitation from the wide variety of modern satellite-borne precipitation-related sensors. Estimates are provided at relatively fine scales (0.25degx0.25deg, 3-hourly) in both real and post-real time to accommodate a wide range of researchers. However, the errors inherent in the finest scale estimates are large. The most successful use of the TMPA data is when the analysis takes advantage of the fine-scale data to create time/space averages appropriate to the user s application. We review the conceptual basis for the TMPA, summarize the processing sequence, and focus on two new activities. First, a recent upgrade to the real-time version incorporates several additional satellite data sources and employs monthly climatological adjustments to approximate the bias characteristics of the research quality post-real-time product. Second, an upgrade of the research quality post-real-time TMPA from Version 6 to Version 7 (in beta test at press time) is designed to provide a variety of improvements that increase the list of input data sets and correct several issues. Future enhancements for the TMPA will include improved error estimation, extension to higher latitudes, and a shift to a Lagrangian time interpolation scheme.

Huffman, George J.↗

Verification of MCNP5-1.60 and MCNP6-Beta-2 for Criticality Safety Applications

To verify that both MCNP5-1.60 and MCNP6-Beta-2 are performing correctly for criticality safety applications, several suites of verification/validation benchmark problems were run in early 2012. Results from these benchmark suites were compared with results from previously verified versions of MCNP5. The goals of this verification testing were: (1) Verify that MCNP5-1.60 works correctly for nuclear criticality safety applications, producing the same results as for the previous verification performed in 2010; (2) Determine the sensitivity to computer roundoff using different Fortran-90 compilers for building MCNP5 and MCNP6, to support moving to current versions of the compilers; and (3) Verify that MCNP6-Beta-2 works correctly for nuclear criticality safety applications, producing the same results as for MCNP5-1.60. This provides support for eventual migration of users and applications to MCNP6. The current production version of MCNP5 included in the RSICC release package is MCNP5-1.60. This version was first distributed by RSICC in October 2010. While there were subsequent RSICC distributions of the MCNP package in July 2011 and February 2012, no changes were made to MCNP5-1.60. The RSICC release package in February 2012 included both MCNP5-1.60 and the current beta version of MCNP6, MCNP6-Beta-2. MCNP6 is the merger of MCNP5 and MCNPX capabilities. The current release of MCNP6 available from RSICC as of February 2012 is MCNP6-Beta-2. This version includes all of the features for criticality safety calculations that are available in MCNP5-1.60, and many new features largely unrelated to nuclear criticality safety calculations. This release is a 'beta' release to allow intermediate and advanced users to begin testing the merged code in their field of expertise. It should not be used for production calculations.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Documentation for the machine-readable version of the catalogue of individual UBV and UVBY beta observations in the region of the Orion OB1 association

The machine-readable files of individual UBV observations of 106 stars in the vicinity of the Orion Nebula (the Sword region) and individual uvby beta observations of 508 stars in all regions of the Orion OB 1 association are described. For the UBV data the stars are identified by their Brun numbers, with cross identifications to the chart numbers used in Warren and Hesser; the uv by beta stars are identified by the aforementioned chart numbers and HD, BD or P ( = pi); numbers in that order of preference.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗

ENDF/B-VIII.0 Testing With AMPX and SCALE

As the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 data has continued development from its initial beta release into the final release version, it has subsequently undergone processing and testing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with AMPX and SCALE. Each of the beta releases has been processed with AMPX to create both multigroup (MG) and continuous-energy (CE) libraries. The MG libraries were all processed using the SCALE 252-group structure. These libraries were then used with the VALID suite for benchmarking the new data library’s performance against the currently distributed ENDF/B-VII.1 (VII.1)-based SCALE libraries. Here, we compare the MG and CE VALID results for the two current ENDF releases, versions VII.1 and the most recent beta release of ENDF/B-VIII.0 as of this writing (VIII.0.β4). Generally, both the MG and CE VALID aggregate results for VIII.0.β4 compare reasonably well with their VII.1-derived counterparts. As can be expected of any new ENDF release, some of the individual cases have substantially different computed neutron multiplicity (k eff ) values between the two releases, although typically the differences are less than 100 percent-milli (pcm). However, changes to the plutonium cross sections have induced much larger changes in the ratio of the computed k eff to the experimental value (C/E) for thermal spectrum plutonium solution critical systems. This paper details the comparative performance of the VII.1 and VIII.0.β4 data for the broad range of test cases covered by the VALID suite. A companion paper at this conference provides details of the baseline validation of SCALE 6.2, including the first release of the VII.1 data.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

ENDF/B-VIII.0 testing with AMPX and SCALE

As the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 data has continued development from its initial beta release into the final release version, it has subsequently undergone processing and testing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with AMPX and SCALE. Each of the beta releases has been processed with AMPX to create both multigroup (MG) and continuous-energy (CE) libraries. The MG libraries were all processed using the SCALE 252-group structure. These libraries were then used with the VALID suite for benchmarking the new data library's performance against the currently distributed ENDF/B-VII.1 (VII.1)-based SCALE libraries. Here, we compare the MG and CE VALID results for the two current ENDF releases, versions VII.1 and the most recent beta release of ENDF/B-VIII.0 as of this writing (VIII.0.β4). Generally, both the MG and CE VALID aggregate results for VIII.0.β4 compare reasonably well with their VII.1-derived counterparts. As can be expected of any new ENDF release, some of the individual cases have substantially different computed neutron multiplicity (k{sub eff}) values between the two releases, although typically the differences are less than 100 percent-milli (pcm). However, changes to the plutonium cross sections have induced much larger changes in the ratio of the computed k{sub eff} to the experimental value (C/E) for thermal spectrum plutonium solution critical systems. This paper details the comparative performance of the VII.1 and VIII.0.β4 data for the broad range of test cases covered by the VALID suite. A companion paper at this conference provides details of the baseline validation of SCALE 6.2, including the first release of the VII.1 data. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

A further study of gravity wave induced drag and diffusion in the mesosphere

Lindzen's (1967) parameterization for the drag and eddy diffusion produced by breaking internal gravity waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere is applied to a modified version of the beta-plane channel model of Holton (1982) in which an isotropic source spectrum of waves is specified similar to that given in 1982 by Matsuno (1982). The transmission for each wave component is influenced by Newtonian cooling and by eddy diffusion induced by the breaking of other wave components. In general the waves with smallest Doppler-shifted phase speeds break first and produce sufficient eddy diffusion to significantly raise the breaking heights for the higher speed components. Thus, the wave drag and diffusion is spread through a deep layer and the resulting mean wind profiles for both summer and winter solstice conditions are more realistic than those computed previously by Holton.

Holton, J. R.↗

An assumed joint-Beta PDF approach for supersonic turbulent combustion

In a recent experiment, Cheng et al. (1991) used ultraviolet spontaneous vibrational Raman scattering and laser-induced predissociative fluorescence techniques for simultaneous measurements of temperature and concentrations of O2, H2, H2O, OH, and N2 (and their rms) in supersonic turbulent reacting shear layers. Because present computational techniques are not suited for prediction of all of the above measurements, a new approach has been developed and is being used to predict all relevant flow properties and their rms (where appropriate). The approach explores the use of a joint-Beta PDF for concentrations. It was found that the general expression of this PDF was impractical because of decoding problems resulting from determining the various parameters of the PDF. Thus, a special case of this general expression was considered. Calculations using this simplified version of the joint-Beta PDF were not consistent with the available data from the experiment.

Baurle, R. A.↗

Field Tolerances for the Triplet Quadrupoles of the LHC High Luminosity Lattice

It has been proposed to implement the so-called Achromatic Telescopic Squeezing (ATS) scheme in the LHC high luminosity (HL) lattice to reduce beta functions at the Interaction Points (IP) up to a factor of 8. As a result, the nominal 4.5 km peak beta functions reached in the Inner Triplets (IT) at collision will be increased by the same factor. This, therefore, justifies the installation of new, larger aperture, superconducting IT quadrupoles. The higher beta functions will enhance the effects of the triplet quadrupole field errors leading to smaller beam dynamic aperture (DA). To maintain the acceptable DA, the effects of the triplet field errors must be re-evaluated, thus specifying new tolerances. Such a study has been performed for the so-called '4444' collision option of the HL-LHC layout version SLHCV3.01, where the IP beta functions are reduced by a factor of 4 in both planes with respect to a pre-squeezed value of 60 cm at two collision points. The dynamic aperture calculations were performed using SixTrack. The impact on the triplet field quality is presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

IDAES-PSE 2.4.0 Release

The Institute for the Design of Advanced Energy Systems (IDAES) Integrated Platform is a versatile computational environment offering extensive process systems engineering (PSE) capabilities for optimizing the design and operation of complex, interacting technologies and systems. IDAES enables users to efficiently search vast, complex design spaces to discover the lowest cost, most environmentally sustainable solutions while supporting the full process modeling lifecycle, from conceptual design to dynamic optimization and control. The extensible, open platform empowers users to create models of novel processes and rapidly develop custom analyses, workflows, and end-user applications.. Deprecations • Convergence Analysis tool (idaes/core/util/convergence): deprecated in favor of new Parameter Sweep tools. To be removed in v3.0.0. New Beta Capabilities • Parameter Sweep Tool (idaes.core.util.parameter_sweep) o A new API for defining and performing parameter sweep studies on IDAES models has been developed • Diagnostics Tools (idaes.core.util.model_diagnostics) o New methods for identifying duplicate variables and constraints have been added to the diagnostics toolbox o New tools for detecting ill conditioning in Jacobians have been developed and are available in the model_diagnostics module. These provide alternatives to the existing DegeneracyHunter toolbox, and will eventually be merged with this capability, but initial working versions have been provided as beta capabilities for interested users o IpoptConvergenceAnalysis (replaces deprecated Convergence Analysis tool):  A new tool for performing convergence analysis studies that leverages the new Parameter Sweep tools has been developed. This tool allows users to define the input parameters to their model and sampling methods for these (leveraging Pysmo's sampling tools) and to then solve their model across the sampled domains and return a summary of the solver performance (IPOPT only) Improved Models • Thickener model (idaes.models.unit_models.solid_liquid.thickener) o Improved model to include predictive correlations for unit sizing based on settling velocity measurements (steady-state only) • Modular Property Packages o Added general support for calculating critical properties of mixtures using defined Equation of State modules. New API defined for Equation of State modules in order to define the necessary constraints for calculating critical properties (most EoS modules DO NOT support calculation of critical properties (yet)) o Added new methods to Cubic Equation of State module to support calculation of critical properties

DiagnosticsToolbox↗

The TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA)

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) is intended to provide a "best" estimate of quasi-global precipitation from the wide variety of modern satellite-borne precipitation-related sensors. Estimates are provided at relatively fine scales (0.25 deg x 0.25 deg. 3-h) in both real and post-real time to accommodate a wide range of researchers. However, the errors inherent in the finest scale estimates are large. The most successful use of the TMPA data is when the analysis takes advantage of the fine-scale data to create time/space averages appropriate to the user fs application. We review the conceptual basis for the TMPA, summarize the processing sequence, and focus on two new activities. First, a recent upgrade for the real-time version incorporates several additional satellite data sources and employs monthly climatological adjustments to approximate the bias characteristics of the research quality post-real-time product. Second, an upgrade for the research quality post-real-time TMPA from Versions 6 to 7 (in beta test at press time) is designed to provide a variety of improvements that increase the list of input data sets and correct several issues. Future enhancements for the TMPA will include improved error estimation, extension to higher latitudes, and a shift to a Lagrangian time interpolation scheme.

Huffman, George J.↗