Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Condition Monitoring”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 901 records · Page 50
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Quantitative Analysis of Fission-Product Surrogates in Molten Salt Chloride Aerosols

This work demonstrates laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) applied to a stream of aerosolized salt from molten eutectic LiCl-KCl. We demonstrate analytical capabilities to track fission-product surrogates of Cs, Sr, Pr, and Nd simultaneously, with application to monitor salts in pyroprocessing schemes and molten salt reactors. This work demonstrates limits of detection using LIBS on the order of 100 μg/g, which proves potentially applicable to monitoring fission-product concentrations in pyroprocessing applications. Additionally, this work explores fundamental aspects of plasma temperature and plasma electron density of the aerosolized species during LIBS with a specific focus on potential non-uniform plasma conditions in the aerosol.

74 - ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Strain‐Enhanced Metallic Intermixing in Shape‐Controlled Multilayered Core–Shell Nanostructures: Toward Shaped Intermetallics

Abstract Controlling the surface composition of shaped bimetallic nanoparticles could offer precise tunability of geometric and electronic surface structure for new nanocatalysts. To achieve this goal, a platform for studying the intermixing process in a shaped nanoparticle was designed, using multilayered Pd‐Ni‐Pt core–shell nanocubes as precursors. Under mild conditions, the intermixing between Ni and Pt could be tuned by changing layer thickness and number, triggering intermixing while preserving nanoparticle shape. Intermixing of the two metals is monitored using transmission electron microscopy. The surface structure evolution is characterized using electrochemical methanol oxidation. DFT calculations suggest that the low‐temperature mixing is enhanced by shorter diffusion lengths and strain introduced by the layered structure. The platform and insights presented are an advance toward the realization of shape‐controlled multimetallic nanoparticles tailored to each potential application.

Williams, Benjamin P.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Strain-Enhanced Metallic Intermixing in Shape-Controlled Multilayered Core–Shell Nanostructures: Toward Shaped Intermetallics

Controlling the surface composition of shaped bimetallic nanoparticles could offer precise tunability of geometric and electronic surface structure for new nanocatalysts. To achieve this goal, a platform for studying the intermixing process in a shaped nanoparticle was designed, using multilayered Pd-Ni-Pt core–shell nanocubes as precursors. Under mild conditions, the intermixing between Ni and Pt could be tuned by changing layer thickness and number, triggering intermixing while preserving nanoparticle shape. Intermixing of the two metals is monitored using transmission electron microscopy. The surface structure evolution is characterized using electrochemical methanol oxidation. DFT calculations suggest that the low-temperature mixing is enhanced by shorter diffusion lengths and strain introduced by the layered structure. The platform and insights presented are an advance toward the realization of shape-controlled multimetallic nanoparticles tailored to each potential application.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multi-omics Resources for Understanding Gene Regulation in Response to ER Stress in Plants

Proteotoxic stress of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a potentially lethal condition that ensues when the biosynthetic capacity of the ER is overwhelmed. A sophisticated and largely conserved signaling, known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), is designed to monitor and alleviate ER stress. In plants, the emerging picture of gene regulation by the UPR now appears to be more complex than ever before, requiring multi-omics-enabled network-level approaches to be untangled. In the past decade, with an increasing access and decreasing costs of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and high-throughput protein–DNA interaction (PDI) screening technologies, multitudes of global molecular measurements, known as omics, have been generated and analyzed by the research community to investigate the complex gene regulation of plant UPR. In this chapter, we present a comprehensive catalog of omics resources at different molecular levels (transcriptomes, protein–DNA interactomes, and networks) along with the introduction of key concepts in experimental and computational tools in data generation and analyses. Finally, this chapter will serve as a starting point for both experimentalists and bioinformaticians to explore diverse omics datasets for their biological questions in the plant UPR, with likely applications also in other species for conserved mechanisms.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Multiplexed Quantitative Analysis of Germline Single Amino Acid Variants by Targeted Proteomics in Nondepleted Human Plasma

Single amino acid variants (SAAVs) in protein sequences are often a direct result of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Certain germline SAAVs have shown biological relevance in different disease conditions but lack precise quantification in circulation, which could hinder functional investigations and progress in biomarker development. Here, we have developed a multiplexed liquid chromatography-selected reaction monitoring (LC-SRM) assay that monitors 5 wild-type and variant peptide pairs (Complement Factor B: CFB-R32Q/R32W, Clusterin: CLU-N317H, Fetuin B: FETUB-K360R, and Kininogen: KNG1-L212P) in nondepleted human plasma. The assay was optimized for imprecision, linearity, stability, and calibration assessments with CVs of under 20%. The wild-type and variant peptide pairs were characterized in a set of healthy individual plasma samples. These target identifications were also validated by SNP genotyping with more than 99% accuracy. For all protein targets, we observed significantly lower concentrations of WT species in the presence variant peptides. In CFB, the concentration of R32Q was significantly lower than its counterpart R32W variant and WT species. Furthermore, our results distinguished phenotypes of homozygosity and heterozygosity of the SAAV presence through direct concentration level characterization. These findings provide some insights into how SAAVs affect quantitative assessments of target peptides. The assay demonstrates a platform for proteogenomic analyses with potential applications in both research and clinical settings.

genetics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of Nontargeted Workflow of Occupational Exposure by Infrared Ion Spectroscopy and Silicone Wristbands’ Passive Sampling

Monitoring chemical exposure has well-established protocols and procedures for occupational health and industrial hygiene across various career fields and in a variety of occupational and environmental conditions. Iterative analytical development has led to validated methods to provide employers and employees with safe working conditions in terms of industrial hygiene. These validated methods are commonly supported by commercial laboratories. Here, this workflow is explicitly a targeted approach in which sampling media, sample preparation, chemical separation, quantitative target detection, and post processing are well established. This workflow also relies on commercially available chemical surrogates, isotopically labeled internal standards, and certified/standard reference materials from reputable vendors. An untargeted workflow lacks many key ingredients of validated analytical methods to include the known chemical target.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

A divergent synthetic route to functional copolymer libraries via modular polymers

High-throughput polymer synthesis enables rapid exploration of chemical space but remains limited by batch-to-batch inconsistencies that can obscure structure–property relationship trends. To address this challenge, we developed a synthetic approach to produce multifunctional copolymers using post-polymerization modification of activated ester modular polymers with commercially available amines. Easily derivitized parent polymers—poly(tetrafluorophenyl acrylate) and poly(tetrafluorophenyl styrene sulfonate)—were synthesized by RAFT polymerization to yield single polymer batches containing highly reactive tetrafluorophenyl esters or sulfonate esters on each repeat unit. Tuning post-polymerization modification reaction conditions enabled the addition of sub-stoichiometric amounts of amines (relative to the repeat unit) to yield partially functionalized intermediates that could then be further derivatized. Reaction monitoring by 19 F NMR spectroscopy confirmed good control over these sequential post-polymerization modifications. This synthetic route produced a variety of copolymers with defined comonomer ratios while preserving the underlying polymer structure (degree of polymerization, dispersity, tacticity) for both the acrylate and styrene sulfonate backbones. We further applied this approach in a divergent manner to create a small library of structurally distinct copolymers from a single parent batch in three synthetic steps. This modular, divergent synthesis demonstrates a general route to structurally consistent copolymer libraries that enable systematic studies of structure–property relationships and can accelerate functional materials discovery.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Advanced Reactor Control and Operations (ARCO): A University Research Facility for Developing Optimized Digital Control Rooms

The Advanced Reactor Control and Operations (ARCO) facility was constructed in January 2018 to serve as a test bed for advanced reactor control rooms and operator support systems. Since then, it has supported human-machine interface user experience research, fault detection and mitigation technology development, control room concept of operations development, and remote operations research. ARCO serves as the control room for the Compact Integral Effects Test (CIET) facility, which replicates the primary-side flow paths and thermal-hydraulic behavior of a fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR) using simulant fluids and scaling principles. New reactor designs feature different operating conditions and scenarios than those in existing reactors. ARCO supports the research and development of digital tools for operator communications, intuitive real-time data analysis, online health monitoring and prognostics, and control room cybersecurity. By integrating these different technologies, ARCO acts as a prototypical control system to iteratively develop methods and tools of operation in advanced small modular nuclear reactors. This paper describes the features of and challenges to operating advanced small modular reactors underlying the design basis for ARCO and its operator support systems.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Uncertainty-Aware and Explainable Human Error Detection in the Operation of Nuclear Power Plants

The timely and accurate identification of incidents, such as human factor error, is important to restore nuclear power plants (NPPs) to a stable state. However, the identification of abnormal operating conditions is difficult because of the existence of multiple scenarios. In addition, to implement mitigation actions rapidly after an incident occurs, operators must accurately identify an incident by monitoring the trends of many variables. The mental burden posed by this can increase human error and cause failure in identifying incidents. Failure to identify incidents directly results in erroneous mitigation measures, which are detrimental to NPPs. In this study, we leverage uncertainty-aware models to identify such errors and thereby increase the chances of mitigating them. We use the data collected from a physical test bed. The goal is to identify both certain and accurate models. For this, the two main aspects of focus in this study are explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and uncertainty quantification (UQ). While XAI elucidates the decision pathway, UQ evaluates decision reliability. Their integration paints a comprehensive picture, signifying that understanding decisions and their confidence should be interlinked. Thus, in this study we leverage UQ measures (e.g. entropy and mutual information) along with Shapley additive explanations to gain insights into the features contributing to both accuracy and uncertainty in error identification. Furthermore, our results show that uncertainty-aware models combined with XAI tools can explain the artificial intelligence–prescribed decisions, with the potential of better explaining errors for the operators.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Alternative 3V0 Development for Ground Fault Overvoltage Protection with DERs/Renewables Interconnection (Final Report)

The ground fault overvoltage (GFOV) and the required traditional 3V0 installation has become a concerned issue for renewable/DER integration. Based on the alternative 3V0 methodology proposed by the PI and the feasibility study awarded by DOE SBIR/STIR project (Award No. DE-SC0018888), APS and RPI investigated development of a low-cost alternative 3V0 product based on the surge arrester current monitoring. The alternative 3V0 feasibility study completed by APS and RPI has verified that the alternative 3V0 is an effective solution (possibly the only one) under various circuit conditions and is competitive to traditional 3V0 methods.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental and Modeled Assessment of Interventions to Reduce PM2.5 in a Residence during a Wildfire Event

Increasingly large and frequent wildfires affect air quality even indoors by emitting and dispersing fine/ultrafine particulate matter known to pose health risks to residents. With this health threat, we are working to help the building science community develop simplified tools that may be used to estimate impacts to large numbers of homes based on high-level housing characteristics. In addition to reviewing literature sources, we performed an experiment to evaluate interventions to mitigate degraded indoor air quality. We instrumented one residence for one week during an extreme wildfire event in the Pacific Northwest. Outdoor ambient concentrations of PM2.5 reached historic levels, sustained at over 200 μg/m3 for multiple days. Outdoor and indoor PM2.5 were monitored, and data regarding building characteristics, infiltration, and mechanical system operation were gathered to be consistent with the type of information commonly known for residential energy models. Two conditions were studied: a high-capture minimum efficiency rated value (MERV 13) filter integrated into a central forced air (CFA) system, and a CFA with MERV 13 filtration operating with a portable air cleaner (PAC). With intermittent CFA operation and no PAC, indoor corrected concentrations of PM2.5 reached 280 μg/m3, and indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios reached a mean of 0.55. The measured I/O ratio was reduced to a mean of 0.22 when both intermittent CFA and the PAC were in operation. Data gathered from the test home were used in a modeling exercise to assess expected I/O ratios from both interventions. The mean modeled I/O ratio for the CFA with an MERV 13 filter was 0.48, and 0.28 when the PAC was added. The model overpredicted the MERV 13 performance and underpredicted the CFA with an MERV 13 filter plus a PAC, though both conditions were predicted within 0.15 standard deviation. The results illustrate the ways that models can be used to estimate indoor PM2.5 concentrations in residences during extreme wildfire smoke events.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sustaining On-going Risk Communication at the Riverton, Wyoming, Processing Site - 20310

An environmental risk assessment report has been completed to provide an updated assessment regarding current site conditions for the Riverton, Wyoming, Processing site. Argonne National Laboratory conducted the assessment in collaboration with the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) and the Northern Arapaho Natural Resources Office (NANRO). The data quality objectives process conducted confirmed that data from plants growing on the Riverton site would be useful and would address an outstanding concern. Data available from site soil, groundwater, and surface water were also used in the assessment in conjunction with the new plant data. A plant survey was then conducted in 2018 to identify the plants at the Riverton site with known traditional Native American cultural uses for sampling and analysis. Laboratory analysis was conducted on the plant samples for the contaminants of concern. Samples were collected from plants growing on the groundwater plume area of the site, and the same was done for eight other areas not affected by the groundwater plume but still within the institutional control boundary. These eight areas served as reference areas for this study. This human health and ecological assessment update provide the quantitative risk information that was qualitatively addressed in a 1995 Risk Assessment Report on plants, livestock, and surface water exposures at the Riverton site [1]. The conditions at the Riverton site are protective of human health and the environment given the results of the update, in combination with past completed remedial action and ongoing monitoring activities and IC implementation. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2026

Bioremediation Retrospective: DOE Experiences and Lessons Learned – 26131

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has implemented bioremediation strategies for chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs) for more than three decades across multiple contaminated groundwater sites. A retrospective analysis conducted by the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and collaborating field sites evaluated the design, performance, and outcomes of bioremediation projects at DOE’s Savannah River, Hanford, Idaho, Mound, and Pinellas sites. This retrospective was based on a series of case studies, leveraging historical documentation and site interviews. Technical approaches employed at the various sites were explored, including active bioremediation, enhanced attenuation (EA), and monitored natural attenuation, with specific sub-sections discussing anaerobic, aerobic, and combined anaerobic-aerobic strategies. Each case study includes detailed descriptions of the site-specific conditions, deployment strategies, regulatory considerations, metrics, and performance. Key findings include general cost savings compared to traditional remedies such as pump and treat (P&T), significant success in applying enhanced attenuation to transition remedies toward a passive site management strategy, and documentation of robust subsurface microbial communities at most sites limiting the need for bioaugmentation. Challenges highlighted in the study include underperformance due to poor amendment delivery in low-permeability zones and unfavorable biogeochemical conditions, emphasizing the importance of site-specific designs. Cost analysis across DOE sites suggests bioremediation may offer long-term economic benefits. The retrospective study underscores valuable lessons that can help inform current and future bioremediation efforts.

Newby, Deborah T. [Savannah River National Laborat↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydraulic fracture characterization by integrating multidisciplinary data from the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site 2 (HFTS-2)

Various technologies have traditionally been used to monitor and describe hydraulic fractures from different perspectives. This work demonstrates the value of data integration for hydraulic fracture characterization when multiple data resources are available. The Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site 2 (HFTS 2) is a hydraulic fracturing research project in the Delaware Basin with multiple surveillance techniques including fiber optics sensing, microseismic, pressure/temperature gauges, etc. We integrated the multidisciplinary data from the HFTS-2 to characterize hydraulic fractures. The integrated data revealed interesting fracture propagation features including layering, vertical propagation affected by pore pressure gradient, and different microseismic activities due to difference in-situ conditions. Furthermore, these findings can be insightful for understanding hydraulic fracture propagation. The comparison among multiple surveillance data also helps us to evaluate the roles of various surveillance technologies and provides us experience to make informative decisions depending on different monitoring objectives.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Initial PIP-II Beam Current Monitor Fault Case Analyses & Beam Position Monitor Linearity Studies in CST Studio Suite

The use of non-invasive sensors & systems to measure particle beam characteristics is a crucial part of modern accelerator control systems due to their ability to return real time beam data while minimizing negative effects on beam quality. To ensure that one can be reasonably confident these sensors will behave as desired upon be-ing implemented within the beamline, simulations pre-dicting the performance of these sensors under beamline conditions can be used as a valuable tool for checking sensor functionality without a physical test bench. This paper details the design, testing, and results of two sensor models developed using CST Studio Suite soft-ware designed to mimic two sensors to be implemented within the PIP-III beamline: an elliptical, large-aperture beam position monitor (BPM) for which vertical & hori-zontal position signal linearity was analyzed, and an AC current transformer (ACCT) beam current monitor (BCM) used to search for potential fault cases within the BCM and beam pipe flange gaps. Special focus is given to the discovery of linearity variations within the BPM and the use of frequency domain techniques in the BCM fault case analyses.

Rouzky, A. R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Autonomous Monitoring of Nuclear Repositories: Current State of the Art and Future Directions

Geological repositories for nuclear waste, including spent nuclear fuel, present a significant challenge for traditional International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards tools due to their inaccessibility and demanding operational conditions. The IAEA has been working closely with Member State organizations currently involved in repository construction and planning, including Euratom, the Finnish and Swedish regulatory authorities, and relevant facility operators. However, the verification challenge remains unsolved, and there persists an out- standing need for tools and approaches that will help the IAEA verify that no nuclear material is diverted from a repository environment. The challenge is also not static. Activities must encompass verification of the design, prior to and during the construction/operation phase, and post backfill. Throughout these various phases, it is imperative that the IAEA maintains a continuity of knowledge (CoK) of all material including information on material inventory and flow. This paper highlights these challenges and outlines how they might be addressed by using remote or autonomous vehicles. Specifically, we discuss the current state of the art in robotic autonomy for known or partially known environment mapping and patrolling, as well as shared autonomy, where humans collaborate with closed-loop autonomation to complete tasks. We explore the feasibility of using rovers for these verification tasks, along with the challenges associated with system implementation. Hardware and software suggestions are provided based on the adoption of similar technologies in other comparable areas and ability to close technical gaps. Lastly, human-robotic interactions are considered based on the challenges of the environment of the repository and effective deployment and continued operation of the robot system.

geologic repository, safeguards, IAEA, Robotics↗
DOE OSTI2026

Linking international technical specifications for acoustic characterization of marine energy converter sounds with environmental compliance criteria

As new ocean energy technologies emerge and are deployed for testing and operations, sound emissions are a potential concern for environmental effects to marine life. Consistent acoustic measurement and data analysis methods can help promote comparisons of technologies and transferability between project sites. In 2022, acoustic emissions from a prototype scale wave energy converter (WEC) were characterized for a range of environmental conditions and power generation states in the coastal waters off southern California using a set of international technical specifications. Results from the international technical specification analyses were applied to United States regulatory threshold criteria for acoustic impacts to marine mammals and examined in the context of European underwater noise monitoring guidelines. Weighted 24 hour cumulative sound exposure levels SEL24h calculated from the highest power generation state WEC sound pressure levels were often more than 20 dB below threshold criteria for temporary threshold shifts in five relevant marine mammal hearing groups. Following European Union recommendations for analyses and reporting, WEC sound characterization in third octave bands centered at 63 Hz and 125 Hz show clear spatial decay of WEC-generated noise, with more pronounced attenuation at 63 Hz, and a less marked but still detectable gradient at 125 Hz, collectively suggesting a relatively confined acoustic footprint under the observed conditions. The value of the international technical specification approach is highlighted by the isolation of WEC sounds from the surrounding soundscape. This allows for a robust characterization of acoustic emissions through a range of device power generation and sea states. Furthermore, in threshold-based regulatory contexts like the U.S., this facilitates direct evaluation of source contributions, while in broader monitoring frameworks used in the E.U. it provides a reproducible foundation for assessing the contribution of emerging ocean energy technologies to the underwater acoustic environment.

Haxel, Joseph H. (ORCID:0000000273864761)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Enhancing functionalities in carbon fiber composites by titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Carbon fiber composite's high specific strength makes it incredibly useful for structural applications. However, their low strain-to-failure can be problematic in structural applications that can potentially see high strain conditions or high fatigue cycles resulting in sudden, catastrophic failure. This is further complicated by damage manifesting within the composite thus not showing damage indicators on the surface. Therefore, monitoring the structural integrity and strain history of the composite in application by itself—while maintaining positive composite performance—is vital to ensure safe operation. In this study, a homogeneous dispersion of TiO 2 nanoparticles on carbon fiber is demonstrated to generate a piezoresistive carbon fiber polymer matrix composite with enhanced self-sensing capabilities. The nanoparticle-embedded composites also exhibited superior strength and damping potential compared to the nanoparticle-free composites. The apparent interlaminar shear strength increased by up to 15% and the damping loss factor increased by an average of 150% while the piezoresistive sensitivity increased by up to 180% with the addition of a small weight fraction of nanoparticles to the fiber surface. These results demonstrate an approach to simultaneously improve the sensing capabilities, damping behavior and mechanical strength of carbon fiber composites by simply adding nanoparticles in the fiber sizing using a commercially scalable deposition method.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗