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DOE OSTI2020

Reversed Field Pinch Research in MST (Final Technical Report)

This is the Final Technical Report for the cooperative agreement DE-FC02-05ER54814 titled “Reversed Field Pinch Research in MST” spanning the funding period 4/1/2005 to 12/14/2019. It summarizes key results from MST research, major publications and presentations, and the mentoring of graduate students and postdocs. The Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) is unique within the U.S. and world fusion plasma program. As one of just five operating reversed field pinch (RFP) experiments, and the only one in the U.S., MST has had an important role in advancing the fundamental understanding of the RFP plasma configuration. The MST research program targets topics that intersect with all three goals. While MST provides a unique opportunity to advance the science and fusion potential of the RFP, as a cousin to the tokamak and stellarator plasma configurations the RFP is a valuable partner in establishing validated predictive capability for fusion science more generally. Specific combinations of the major variables in toroidal confinement, like magnetic field strength, plasma current, and shaping, define the different configurations. By exploring adjacent regions in this major variable parameter space, the RFP exposes dependencies not otherwise accessible in the tokamak and stellarator. This diversity enlarges the arena for scientific discovery, both for fusion and plasma physics. The basic science emphasis for MST research has been the self-organizing behavior of RFP plasmas. This inspired MST’s participation in the NSF Physics Frontier Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas (CMSO), which ran from 2004-2016 and motivated a substantial fraction of MST’s research goals and capabilities. By all measures the MST Program has been remarkably successful in publications, community engagement, and mentoring of young scientists. While the DOE-FES’s proof-of-principle program for the RFP now languishes through the cessation of this cooperative agreement, operation of MST continues as one of two devices included in the new Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL) basic science user facility. The scope of present research for MST in WiPPL is narrowed to the basic science associated with the RFP magnetic configuration and the advancement of specific fusion topics, which now includes studies of disruptions in tokamak plasmas. The world’s effort in RFP fusion research continues, despite a lack of U.S. federal support to investigate the RFP configuration for fusion application, most notably through a major upgrade to the RFX-mod2 facility in Italy [1] and the recent construction of the KTX facility at USTC in China. First plasmas for RFX-mod2 are anticipated in 2021.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Performance Testing of Software Upgrade for SRNL CPC Instrument at the Nuclear Material Laboratory, Office of Safeguards Analytical Services, International Atomic Energy Agency

This report summarizes the performance testing for the Software upgrade for the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Controlled Potential Coulometry (CPC) instrument. This upgrade is specifically to meet the needs of the Nuclear Material Laboratory, Office of Safeguards Analytical Services, International Atomic Energy Agency at Seibersdorf, Austria. The instrument hardware was upgraded in 2010, but the software continued to operate on a Windows platform using a High Tech Basic (HT Basic) application. HT Basic usage is declining. The IAEA requested an upgrade to the existing coulometer software to Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW), an object-oriented programming language in wide use and one the NML staff is familiar with. The software was developed by SRNL Software Engineer, with assistance from Electrical Engineer and Scientist. Once developed, the new LabVIEW software was validated, tested with Iron (surrogate for plutonium) and plutonium. Once testing was completed, the software was installed at the International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Material Laboratory (IAEA NML) coulometer, and SRNL provided hands on training to NML staff on using the new software.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2023

SAM Assessment Report

The System Analysis Module (SAM) is a modern system analysis tool being developed at Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) for advanced non-LWR safety analysis. A series of assessment cases are modeled using SAM and, when applicable, compared against analytical solutions or engineering judgement. This report documents the assessment of SAM for eleven different categories. Each category contains a series of tests that examine different boundary conditions, system configurations, or modeling options. Although relatively simple, these tests cover the basic equation models, basic component models, and basic system level processes and phenomena that may be utilized during advanced reactor safety analyses.

1-D fluid flow↗

DOE OSTI2023

NanoMechanics: Elasticity and Friction in Nano‐Objects

A large scientific and technological effort is underway to investigate the properties of two‐dimensional (2D) materials to become building blocks in integrated nano‐electronic and photonic circuits, composites, coatings, energy harvesting nano‐ systems, nano‐sensors, and nano‐electro‐mechanical systems (NEMS).While several experiments and calculations have revealed exciting novel phenomena in these nanostructures, many scientific and technological questions remain open. In particular, understanding and controlling the structure and mechanical properties of 2D materials at the interface with a solid surface is of key importance to enable the aforementioned nanotechnologies, as well as to fulfill the potential of strain engineering to tailor their properties. The vision of this DoE research program was to investigate novel mechanical properties and phenomena in 1D and 2D materials with the overarching goal of defining a new basic understanding of mechanical behavior in nano and quantum systems. The group of the PI has developed in the last years several studies on the mechanical properties of Carbon nanotubes and oxide nanobelts, more recently the PI has focused her attention on the properties of two‐dimensional materials, such as graphene and MoS 2 , which are a few‐atomic‐layer thick films and hold a great potential for technological and energy applications. The most studied 2D material is graphene, existing as a single layer of graphite or a few‐layer thick epitaxial graphene film. Graphene possesses a large in‐plane Young’s modulus as well as high intrinsic carrier mobility, and high in‐plane thermal conductivity. Besides graphene, also 2D films of graphene oxide (GO), hexagonal Boron Nitride (h‐BN), and transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS 2 exhibit unique and excellent properties and hold great promise for nanotechnology applications. This research program was aimed at developing a new basic understanding of the mechanical properties of 1D and 2D materials at the interface with solid substrates, with a focus on the role of defects, materials structure, and substrate interaction. Ultimately, we aimed at developing the basic knowledge and experimental tools for manipulating 1D and 2D materials’ structure, stacking, substrate interaction, defects, and number of layers to realize an entirely new class of ultra‐hard, ultra‐thin, and ultra‐light active materials with ad‐ hoc mechanical properties for a variety of applications.

2D Materials↗

DOE OSTI2026

Metamaterials as a Platform for the Development of Novel Materials for Energy Applications

To explore the fundamental properties of metamaterials (MMs) / metasurfaces and their potential for control of energy at the sub‐wavelength scale in support of the mission of the Department of Energy and the office of Basic Energy Sciences. Electromagnetic metamaterials provide a platform for the discovery and design of new materials with novel structures, functions, and properties. The PI proposes to advance the knowledge base of these materials through fundamental investigations of the experimental and theoretical properties of metamaterials for the discovery, prediction and design of new materials with novel structures, functions, and properties. The proposed research activities emphasize a complete basic research program including the conceptual / computational design, fabrication / synthesis of the materials, and the characterization and analysis of their electromagnetic properties. The proposed project explores the fundamental properties of metamaterials / metasurfaces and their potential for energy applications. There are three main topics which will be investigated: 1) Dispersion engineering with metamaterials and metasurfaces, 2) Epsilon near zero metamaterial absorbers and emitters, and 3) All dielectric metamaterials. The program implements a complete basic research program consisting of theory / design, modeling, characterization, and analysis, in order to fully characterize metamaterials and metasurfaces, while at the same time minimizing iterations necessary to achieve the proposal goals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

ACCRUE—An Integral Index for Measuring Experimental Relevance in Support of Neutronic Model Validation

A key challenge for the introduction of any design changes, e.g., advanced fuel concepts, first-of-a-kind nuclear reactor designs, etc., is the cost of the associated experiments, which are required by law to validate the use of computer models for the various stages, starting from conceptual design, to deployment, licensing, operation, and safety. To achieve that, a criterion is needed to decide on whether a given experiment, past or planned, is relevant to the application of interest. This allows the analyst to select the best experiments for the given application leading to the highest measures of confidence for the computer model predictions. The state-of-the-art methods rely on the concept of similarity or representativity, which is a linear Gaussian-based inner-product metric measuring the angle—as weighted by a prior model parameters covariance matrix—between two gradients, one representing the application and the other a single validation experiment. This manuscript emphasizes the concept of experimental relevance which extends the basic similarity index to account for the value accrued from past experiments and the associated experimental uncertainties, both currently missing from the extant similarity methods. Accounting for multiple experiments is key to the overall experimental cost reduction by prescreening for redundant information from multiple equally-relevant experiments as measured by the basic similarity index. Accounting for experimental uncertainties is also important as it allows one to select between two different experimental setups, thus providing for a quantitative basis for sensor selection and optimization. The proposed metric is denoted by ACCRUE, short for Accumulative Correlation Coefficient for Relevance of Uncertainties in Experimental validation. Using a number of criticality experiments for highly enriched fast metal systems and low enriched thermal compound systems with accident tolerant fuel concept, the manuscript will compare the performance of the ACCRUE and basic similarity indices for prioritizing the relevance of a group of experiments to the given application.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2026

Methanol Steam Reforming on Ru/m-ZrO 2 : Sodium Promotion of the CO 2 -Forming Pathway

Sodium (Na) promotion of Ru/m-ZrO 2 was investigated to elucidate how an alkali modification tunes selectivity in methanol steam reforming (MSR). H 2 -TPR/XANES/EXAFS show that Na increases surface basicity and strengthens Ru–O interactions, shifting RuO x reduction and H 2 spillover to a higher temperature. DRIFTS reveals Na-induced red shifts of the formate ν(CH) band and changes in OCO vibrational splitting, consistent with weakening of the formate C–H bond and an altered binding geometry. CO 2 -TPD confirms a monotonic shift toward stronger basic sites with increasing Na concentrations. Under MSR conditions, Na selectively increases CO2 concentration at the expense of CO. At ~80% conversion and 325 °C, CO 2 selectivity increases from 12.0% (unpromoted) to 16.2, 21.0, and 26.5% for 0.5, 1.0, and 1.8% Na, respectively; at ~300 °C and ~66–69% conversion, CO 2 selectivity increases from 8.6% to 23.7% at 1.8% Na. Transient MSR experiments further show earlier and larger H 2 evolution upon Na addition, corroborating the promotion of the dehydrogenation/decarbonylation route to CO 2 + H 2 . We propose that Na increases basicity and modifies the Ru–support interface to favor formate dehydrogenation/decarboxylation, thereby increasing the H 2 yield and lowering CO formation. Ru’s higher-energy, less occupied d-band stabilizes CO and oxygenated intermediates more strongly in the reforming environment, making the CO-forming pathway more resistant to suppression than on Pt.

CO2 selectivity↗

DOE OSTI2023

Development of an Unmanned Mobile Current Turbine Platform: Preprint

The design and development of a prototype unmanned mobile floating platform, equipped with a custom low-flow marine current turbine for autonomously seeking and harnessing tidal/coastal currents is described. The platform is an unmanned surface vehicle in the form of a catamaran with two electric outboard motors and capabilities for autonomous navigation. An undershot water wheel, aided by a custom flow concentrator, has been selected as the basic design for the marine current turbine, which is mounted on the stern of the unmanned surface vehicle platform. The concept of operation is that the platform would navigate to a designated marine current resource, autonomously anchor at the location, align itself in the current and deploy the current turbine using a custom cable-lift deployment mechanism. As the turbine harnesses the local current, an onboard power-take-off device converts the harnessed mechanical energy to electricity which is stored in onboard batteries. Considerations of deployment in tidal and coastal waters required obtaining the necessary environmental permits for conducting in-water testing; developing required mitigation measures in protecting local wildlife and their habitats; and identifying potential in-water test sites and surveying them for their suitability in terms of the current resource, bottom type, water depth, and local boat traffic. The design and development of the turbine and the results of initial in-water testing are discussed. The potential for scaling up the system for extended capacity is presented.

ENGINEERING,TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

NASA NTRS1966

State-of-the-Art Study for High-speed Deceleration and Stabilization Devices

Documented aerodynamic deployable decelerator performance data above Mach 1. 0 is presented. The state of the art of drag and stability characteristics for reentry and recovery applications is defined for a wide range of decelerator configurations. Structural and material data and other design information also are presented. Emphasis is given to presentation of basic aero, thermal, and structural design data, which points out basic problem areas and voids in existing technology. The basic problems and voids include supersonic "buzzing" of towed porous decelerators in the wake of the forebody, the complete lack of dynamic stability data, and the general lack of aerothermal data at speeds above Mach 5.

STABILIZATION↗

NASA NTRS1970

Hypersonic Research Facilities Study - Volume IV, Part 1: Phase III Final Studies Flight Research Facilities

The Phase III analyses of Flight Research Facilities performed as a portion of the Hypersonic Research Facilities (HYFAC) Study are presented herein. Two attractive flight research vehicle concepts, geared to the development needs of future (1980-2n00) operational hypersonic aircraft systems, are defined. The inherent research capability of each concept is further expanded by incorporating provisions within the basic vehicle design to accommodate the testing of several additional research options. The design feasibility of this approach to achieving increased research flexibility is examined. Near term propulsion systems are employed as the basic power plants to shorten acquisition time, reduce development costs, and provide high confidence in attaining the performance capability desired, Performance is determined for each basic vehicle and for the vehicles when incorporating several optional research packages. Total program cost estimates are developed for each vehicle and for the various research options. This study provides the necessary framework for the formulation of an attractive and needed flight research program which is a key element in the systematic development of an overall advanced research plan.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1972

Electrochemical behavior of the boron anode in aqueous solutions

The electrochemical oxidation of p-type boron in 0.2 N NaNO3 solutions of pH 0.4 to 13.1 was studied by galvanostatic techniques. The capacitance of the electrode, Tafel slopes, and a limited analysis of reaction mechanisms are reported. The anodic dissolution in acid solution is a charge-transfer-limited one-electron reaction to form a monovalent species in the over-potential region of 0.25 to 0.70 V. The dissolution in basic solution is most probably a one-electron charge-transfer reaction from a monovalent to divalent species involving three hydroxyl ions. Open circuit potentials were mixed potentials, probably due to hydrogen formation at open circuit but not contributing to the electrochemical reaction at the applied overpotential. Exchange current, estimated by extrapolation of the Tafel line to the standard oxidation potential for the boron reaction, were of the order of 10 to the minus 6th power A/cm2 in acid solution and 10 to the minus 12th power A/cm2 in basic solution. The reaction order of the rate determining acidic and basic reactions was determined with regard to (H+) and (OH-). The level of illumination had no effect on the electrochemical behavior of the electrode.

Delduca, B. S.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Development of ferrite logic devices for an arithmetic processor

A number of fundamentally ultra-reliable, all-magnetic logic circuits are developed using as a basis a single element ferrite structure wired as a logic delay element. By making minor additions or changes to the basic wiring pattern of the delay element other logic functions such as OR, AND, NEGATION, MAJORITY, EXCLUSIVE-OR, and FAN-OUT are developed. These logic functions are then used in the design of a full-adder, a set/reset flip-flop, and an edge detector. As a demonstration of the utility of all the developed devices, an 8-bit, all-magnetic, logic arithmetic unit capable of controlled addition, subtraction, and multiplication is designed. A new basic ferrite logic element and associated complementary logic scheme with the potential of improved performance is also described. Finally, an improved batch process for fabricating joint-free power drive and logic interconnect conductors for this basic class of all-magnetic logic is presented.

Heckler, C. H., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Remote sensing in the mixing zone

Characteristics of dispersion and diffusion as the mechanisms by which pollutants are transported in natural river courses were studied with the view of providing additional data for the establishment of water quality guidelines and effluent outfall design protocols. Work has been divided into four basic categories which are directed at the basic goal of developing relationships which will permit the estimation of the nature and extent of the mixing zone as a function of those variables which characterize the outfall structure, the effluent, and the river, as well as climatological conditions. The four basic categories of effort are: (1) the development of mathematical models; (2) laboratory studies of physical models; (3) field surveys involving ground and aerial sensing; and (4) correlation between aerial photographic imagery and mixing zone characteristics.

Villemonte, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Display requirements for the final approach and landing phase of an RPV mission

A two part investigation was conducted to determine the display requirements for the final approach and landing phase of a remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) mission, and to assess the relative merits of several possible display configurations. The objective of the first part of the investigation was to obtain subjective assessments of several display configurations, and to select the most promising display concepts for subsequent evaluation in terms of performance measures. A basic display consisting of a perspective image of terrain and runway, a horizon bar and an aircraft symbol was used, and guidance symbology was added to the basic displaying selected state variables. Initial results suggested that as guidance symbology is added to the basic display, pilot acceptance tends to increase. A point of diminishing returns is eventually reached, however, when additional information produces too much clutter, and makes it difficult for the pilot to process the displayed information.

Howard, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Investigation of a vibration-damping unit for reduction in low-frequency vibrations of electric motors

The vibroacoustical characteristics of different types of electric motors are discussed. It is shown that the basic source of low frequency vibrations is rotor unbalance. A flexible damping support, with an antivibrator, is used to obtain the vibroacoustical effect of reduction in the basic harmonic of the electric motor. A model of the electric motor and the damping apparatus is presented. Mathematical models are developed to show the relationships of the parameters. The basic purpose in using a calculation model id the simultaneous replacement of the exciting force created by the rotor unbalance and its inertial rigidity characteristics by a limiting kinematic disturbance.

Grigoryey, N. V.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Theory of buckling and post-buckling behavior of elastic structures

The present paper provides a unified, general presentation of the basic theory of the buckling and post-buckling behavior of elastic structures in a form suitable for application to a wide variety of special problems. The notation of functional analysis is used for this purpose. Before the general analysis, simple conceptual models are used to elucidate the basic concepts of bifurcation buckling, snap buckling, imperfection sensitivity, load-shortening relations, and stability. The energy approach, the virtual-work approach, and mode interaction are discussed. The derivations and results are applicable to continua and finite-dimensional systems. The virtual-work and energy approaches are given separate treatments, but their equivalence is made explicit. The basic concepts of stability occupy a secondary position in the present approach.

Budiansky, B.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Strainrange Partitioning - A tool for characterizing high-temperature low-cycle fatigue

The basic concepts of Strainrange Partitioning are reviewed, with particular reference to the areas requiring expanded verification. A cooperative program is proposed for achieving this broader verification through the additional experience provided by the participants in this program. The suggested program includes verification of the four basic life relationships (for PP, CC, PC, and CP type inelastic strainranges) for a variety of materials chosen by the participating organizations. The four relationships are then used in conjunction with the Interaction Damage Rule to predict the cyclic lives of tests involving various combinations of the basic strainrange components. The testing program also includes evaluation of the degree of insensitivity of these relationships to temperature as well as their utility in representing bounds on life.

Hirschberg, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Concepts of magnetospheric convection

The paper describes the basic theoretical notions of convection applicable to magnetospheres in general and discusses the relative importance of convective and corrotational motions, with particular reference to the comparison of the earth and Jupiter. The basic equations relating the E, B, and J fields and the bulk plasma velocity are given for the three principal regions in magnetosphere dynamics, namely, the central object and its magnetic field, the space surrounding the central object, and the external medium outside the magnetosphere. The notion of driving currents of magnetospheric convection and their closure is explained, while consideration of the added effects of the rotation of the central body completes the basic theoretical picture. Flow topology is examined for the two cases where convection dominates over corotation and vice versa.

Vasyliunas, V. M.↗