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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 901 records · Page 50
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Evaluation of H-Canyon Ventilation Exhaust Tunnel Inspection at the Savannah River Site - 20052

The Department of Energy (DOE) H-Canyon Facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS) is operated by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). The Facility Structural Integrity Program [1] provides a process to inspect, evaluate, and document the conditions of passive safety related structural systems and components, their degradation mechanisms and their impact on the safety envelope. The Structural Integrity Program performs periodic visual inspections to confirm the systems and components can perform their safety function and recommend corrective actions before the function is compromised. The H-Canyon Exhaust Tunnel is part of the H-Canyon Ventilation System and is periodically inspected under the Structural Integrity Program. The Tunnel performs a Safety Class passive design feature function that is available 100% of the time. The underground reinforced concrete Tunnel directs Canyon process air from the Canyon to the Sand Filter System. The radiological and chemical airborne activity coupled with the physical configuration of the tunnel precludes a manned entry into the tunnel to perform the inspection. Unlike active systems that can be subjected to physical testing to confirm capability, qualification calculations, including modeling, is performed to assess passive design feature capabilities relative to operational, accident and natural phenomena hazards events. Input for these calculations come from knowledge of field conditions, design drawings and conservative assumptions. The knowledge of field conditions comes from concrete and soil testing activities as well as inspection data. The use of cameras on crawlers to obtain inspection data and how that data is used in qualification calculations is the focus of this discussion. Remote Tunnel inspections have been performed using cameras on a stick, referred to as pole cameras, prior to Calendar Year 2003 (CY2003). Since CY2003, six camera equipped crawlers have been used. Crawlers have evolved and improved by incorporating lessons learned from the previous inspections. The latest 2019 crawler successfully traveled the entire length of the tunnel between the Canyon and Sand Filter System and captured images that were previously unseen, thus providing key visual data for the Structural Integrity Program report [2]. The inspection data serves as 1) input to qualification calculations, 2) validates current conditions remain bounded by qualification calculations, and 3) documents a record of change over time. This data is vital for the effective evaluation of the tunnel structure and aids with predicting the life cycle service life safety envelope to protect the public, environment, and facility worker. The goal of the 2019 deployment was to use a more robust vehicle to ensure travel over obstacles, perform the inspection with higher resolution cameras, and have the ability to elevate the cameras to view surfaces previously obscured by abandon-in-place ducts in the tunnel. The inspection information will serve to strengthen the input basis for qualification calculations, versus using excessive conservative calculation assumptions. This 2019 inspection was compared with previous crawler visual evidence to identify change over time to project remaining service life and confirm field conditions remain bounded by qualification calculations. The results of the 2019 Exhaust Tunnel inspection continue to improve and provide a firm basis to make sound engineering judgements regarding tunnel capability and approaches in projecting remaining service life with an aging system and component. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

GMT: A deep learning approach to generalized multivariate translation for scientific data analysis and visualization

In scientific visualization, despite the significant advances of deep learning for data generation, researchers have not thoroughly investigated the issue of data translation. We present a new deep learning approach called generalized multivariate translation (GMT) for multivariate time-varying data analysis and visualization. Like V2V, GMT assumes a preprocessing step that selects suitable variables for translation. However, unlike V2V, which only handles one-to-one variable translation during training and inference, GMT enables one-to-many and many-to-many variable translation in the same framework. We leverage the recent StarGAN design from multi-domain image-to-image translation to achieve this generalization capability. We experiment with different loss functions and injection strategies to explore the best choices and leverage pre-training for performance improvement. We compare GMT with other state-of-the-art methods (i.e., Pix2Pix, V2V, StarGAN). Furthermore, the results demonstrate the overall advantage of GMT in translation quality and generalization ability.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2016

Coherent dynamics in the rotor tip shear layer of utility-scale wind turbines

Here, recent field experiments conducted in the near wake (up to 0.5 rotor diameters downwind of the rotor) of a Clipper Liberty C96 2.5 MW wind turbine using snow-based super-large-scale particle image velocimetry (SLPIV) were successful in visualizing tip vortex cores as areas devoid of snowflakes. The so-visualized snow voids, however, suggested tip vortex cores of complex shape consisting of circular cores with distinct elongated comet-like tails. We employ large-eddy simulation (LES) to elucidate the structure and dynamics of the complex tip vortices identified experimentally. We show that the LES, with inflow conditions representing as closely as possible the state of the flow approaching the turbine when the SLPIV experiments were carried out, reproduce vortex cores in good qualitative agreement with the SLPIV results, essentially capturing all vortex core patterns observed in the field in the tip shear layer. The computed results show that the visualized vortex patterns are formed by the tip vortices and a second set of counter-rotating spiral vortices intertwined with the tip vortices. To probe the dependence of these newly uncovered coherent flow structures on turbine design, size and approach flow conditions, we carry out LES for three additional turbines: (i) the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) turbine developed by Sandia National Laboratories in Lubbock, TX, USA; (ii) the wind turbine developed for the European collaborative MEXICO (Model Experiments in Controlled Conditions) project; and (iii) the model turbine, and the Clipper turbine under varying inflow turbulence conditions. We show that similar counter-rotating vortex structures as those observed for the Clipper turbine are also observed for the SWiFT, MEXICO and model wind turbines. However, the strength of the counter-rotating vortices relative to that of the tip vortices from the model turbine is significantly weaker. We also show that incoming flows with low level turbulence attenuate the elongation of the tip and counter-rotating vortices. Sufficiently high turbulence levels in the incoming flow, on the other hand, tend to break up the coherence of spiral vortices in the near wake. To elucidate the physical mechanism that gives rise to such rich coherent dynamics we examine the stability of the turbine tip shear layer using the theory. We show that for all simulated cases the theory consistently indicates the flow to be unstable exactly in the region where counter-rotating spirals emerge. We thus postulate that centrifugal instability of the rotating turbine tip shear layer is a possible mechanism for explaining the phenomena we have uncovered herein.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Solvation Environment and Interface Dynamics of Li 2 B 12 H 12 and Li 2 B 12 F 12 Electrolytes Uncovered by Theory and Operando Optical and FTIR Spectroelectrochemistry

In this work, we evaluated two closo-borate salts (Li 2 B 12 H 12 and Li 2 B 12 F 12 ) in propylene carbonate from theoretical and experimental perspectives to understand how the coordination environment influences their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties. The coordination environments of the closo-borate salts were modeled via density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD). Vibrational spectra calculated from the predicted coordination environments are in agreement with experimentally measured steady-state FTIR data. This theoretical investigation also suggested that Li 2 B 12 F 12 would possess a higher ionic conductivity than Li 2 B 12 H 12 , which was corroborated experimentally. Additionally, an electrochemical cell was designed and fabricated that enabled operando optical and FTIR spectroelectrochemical (OP-IR-SEC) measurements. This allowed for the simultaneous measurement of the relative changes of species at a lithium electrode-liquid electrolyte interface and the visualization of lithium plating at the electrode surface. This technique could provide new chemical insights and potentially link optical changes at the electrode–electrolyte interface to specific chemical species in similar electrochemical systems. The Li 2 B 12 F 12 electrolyte was found to have a higher thermal stability, which may find utility in applications for batteries that are subject to high-temperature conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Rapid custom prototyping of soft poroelastic biosensor for simultaneous epicardial recording and imaging

Abstract The growing need for the implementation of stretchable biosensors in the body has driven rapid prototyping schemes through the direct ink writing of multidimensional functional architectures. Recent approaches employ biocompatible inks that are dispensable through an automated nozzle injection system. However, their application in medical practices remains challenged in reliable recording due to their viscoelastic nature that yields mechanical and electrical hysteresis under periodic large strains. Herein, we report sponge-like poroelastic silicone composites adaptable for high-precision direct writing of custom-designed stretchable biosensors, which are soft and insensitive to strains. Their unique structural properties yield a robust coupling to living tissues, enabling high-fidelity recording of spatiotemporal electrophysiological activity and real-time ultrasound imaging for visual feedback. In vivo evaluations of custom-fit biosensors in a murine acute myocardial infarction model demonstrate a potential clinical utility in the simultaneous intraoperative recording and imaging on the epicardium, which may guide definitive surgical treatments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Living liquid crystals

Collective motion of self-propelled organisms or synthetic par­ticles, often termed •active fluid,• has attracted enormous atten­tion in the broad scientific community because of its fundamentally nonequilibrium nature. Energy input and interactions among the moving units and the medium lead to complex dynamics. Here,we introduce a class of active matter-living liquid crystals (UCs}­ that combines living swimming bacteria with a lyotropic liquid crystal. The physical properties of LLCs can be controlled by the amount of oxygen available to bacteria, by concentration of ingre­dients, or by temperature. Our studies reveal a wealth of intriguing dynamic phenomena. caused by the coupling between the activity-triggered flow and long-range orientational order of the medium. Among these are (i) nonlinear trajectories of bacterial motion guided by nonuniform director, (ii) local melting of the liquid crystal caused by the bacteria-produced shear flows, (iii) activity-triggered transition from a nonflowing uniform state into a flowing one-dimensional periodic pattern and its evolution into a turbulent array of topological defects, and (iv) birefringence­ enabled visualization of microflow generated by the nanometers­ thick bacterial flagella. Unlike their isotropic counterpart, the LLCs show collective dynamic effects at very low volume fraction of bacteria, on the order of 0.2%. Our work suggests an unorthodox design concept to control and manipulate the dynamic behavior of soft active matter and opens the door for potential biosensing and biomedical applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Remote Power Systems for Sensors on the Northern Border

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [1] to field sensors that accurately track different types of transportation across the northern border of the U.S.. To do this, the sensors require remote power so that they can be placed in the most advantageous geographical locations, often where no grid power is available. This enables the sensors to detect and track aircraft/vehicles despite natural features (e.g., mountains, ridges, valleys, trees) that often prevent standard methods (e.g., monostatic radar or visual observers) from detecting them. Without grid power, portable power systems were used to provide between 80 and 300 W continuously, even in bitter cold and when buried under feet of snow/ice. NREL provides details about the design, installation, and lessons learned from long-term deployment of a second-generation of novel power systems that used adjustable-angle photovoltaics (PV), lithium ion batteries, and fuel cells that provide power to achieve 100% up-time.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Orchestrating Distributed Resource Ensembles for Petascale Science

Distributed, data-intensive computational science applications of interest to DOE scientific com- munities move large amounts of data for experiment data management, distributed analysis steps, remote visualization, and accessing scientific instruments. These applications need to orchestrate ensembles of resources from multiple resource pools and interconnect them with high-capacity multi- layered networks across multiple domains. It is highly desirable that mechanisms are designed that provide this type of resource provisioning capability to a broad class of applications. It is also important to have coherent monitoring capabilities for such complex distributed environments. In this project, we addressed these problems by designing an abstract API, enabled by novel semantic resource descriptions, for provisioning complex and heterogeneous resources from multiple providers using their native provisioning mechanisms and control planes: computational, storage, and multi-layered high-speed network domains. We used an extensible resource representation based on semantic web technologies to afford maximum flexibility to applications in specifying their needs. We evaluated the effectiveness of provisioning using representative data-intensive ap- plications. We also developed mechanisms for providing feedback about resource performance to the application, to enable closed-loop feedback control and dynamic adjustments to resource allo- cations (elasticity). This was enabled through development of a novel persistent query framework that consumes disparate sources of monitoring data, including perfSONAR, and provides scalable distribution of asynchronous notifications.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Self-Sensing Fiber Reinforced Composite (CRADA Final Report)

The project aimed to demonstrate a scalable coating process to adhere nanoparticles to the surface of fibers and fabricate composites with in-situ damage detection abilities and simultaneous mechanical performance enhancements. Carbon fiber (CF) composites have the inherent problem of hiding damage within the structure with no visual indications on the surface. Therefore, a technique to monitor for damage or excessive stress on the composite is necessary to ensure its safety and avoid catastrophic failure. This capability will be desired in future transportation vehicle designs, such as in cargo and surveillance drones developed by Dronesat, LLC, (Dronesat) who was the industrial partner on this project.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

An Online Prototype Toolset for Predicting and Optimizing P&T Performance (FY23 Status Report)

A new web-based toolset is being developed to support ongoing remediation optimization efforts and implementation of an adaptive site management strategy for the 200 West Area Pump-and-Treat (P&T) system at the Hanford Site. This toolset, comprising the well performance index tool and the well optimization pre-screening tool, will offer a user-friendly interface to predict and optimize the P&T well network’s performance at a preliminary level. Efforts in fiscal year (FY) 2023 focused on three main components: updating the existing deep learning model for predicting P&T performance, designing and developing a prototype of a web-based performance index tool, and initiating the conceptual design of the well optimization pre-screening tool. The well performance index tool is based on a pre-trained deep learning model that allows users to select a target contaminant and well screen length, then visualize the predicted performance of potential new wells across the site. The well optimization pre-screening tool includes two separate modules: the pre-computed scenario viewer, which organizes and visualizes offline optimization simulation results, and the quick analysis module, which provides real-time model prediction using user-specified well locations. In FY24, the plan is to add web-based applications to SOCRATES for both the well performance prediction tool and the optimization prescreening tool, with accompanying user and theory guides. These tools are intended to enable an accessible, easily applied, and transparent approach to remedy planning and decision-making.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Leak test for solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells

A simple, fast, and economical alcohol penetration method for assessing the solid oxide cell to metal window frame seal in a typical planar design is presented. An alcohol such as ethanol or isopropanol is placed into the cavity of a cell sealed to the window frame. Within 3–5 min, one can determine if the glass seal is hermetic by visual observation along the seal edges on the side of the sealed frame. Cross bubbling and open circuit voltage methods for determining whether the seal failed or cracked at high temperature after final stack firing are also discussed.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Method for Integrating an UBEM with GIS for Spatiotemporal Visualization and Analysis

Leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatiotemporal visualization and analysis of simulated UBEM datasets and real-world data simultaneously can assist in identifying opportunities, as well as potential barriers, to energy efficient and climate adaptation strategies. However, current GIS-based models that support interactive exploration of adaptation strategies and future scenarios are scarce and do not easily incorporate building energy use data for visual analysis over time. This paper describes a workflow to integrate simulated building energy consumption data associated with variable energy efficiency scenarios within a GIS platform for interactive spatiotemporal visualization to support climate adaptation decision-making. The contribution of the work presented is in the ability to selectively view and analyze simulated building energy performance data layered with other real-world geospatial data through an automated feedback loop between an UBEM and ArcGIS. An interactive interface is designed in ArcGIS to enable users to explore building performance scenarios spatially and over time. Using a downtown neighborhood in Syracuse, New York, USA, as a case study, preliminary results demonstrate how the workflow provides insight into existing energy use issues and potential for implementing strategies such as energy load shifting or building retrofits. A discussion includes opportunities as well as challenges to the workflow in facilitating understanding of urban energy model outputs by multiple stakeholders in evaluating potential energy efficient strategies.

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Unified Nanotechnology Format: One Way to Store Them All

The domains of DNA and RNA nanotechnology are steadily gaining in popularity while proving their value with various successful results, including biosensing robots and drug delivery cages. Nowadays, the nanotechnology design pipeline usually relies on computer-based design (CAD) approaches to design and simulate the desired structure before the wet lab assembly. To aid with these tasks, various software tools exist and are often used in conjunction. However, their interoperability is hindered by a lack of a common file format that is fully descriptive of the many design paradigms. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a Unified Nanotechnology Format (UNF) designed specifically for the biomimetic nanotechnology field. UNF allows storage of both design and simulation data in a single file, including free-form and lattice-based DNA structures. By defining a logical and versatile format, we hope it will become a widely accepted and used file format for the nucleic acid nanotechnology community, facilitating the future work of researchers and software developers. Together with the format description and publicly available documentation, we provide a set of converters from existing file formats to simplify the transition. Finally, we present several use cases visualizing example structures stored in UNF, showcasing the various types of data UNF can handle.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

HLW Melter Control Strategy Without Visual Feedback

Plans for the treatment of high level waste (HL W) at the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) are based upon the inventory of the tank wastes, the anticipated performance of the pretreatment processes, and current understanding of the capability of the borosilicate glass waste form. The WTP HLW melter design, unlike earlier DOE melter designs, incorporates an active glass bubbler system. The bubblers create active glass pool convection and thereby improve heat and mass transfer and increase glass melting rates. The WTP HLW melter has a glass surface area of 3.75 m 2 and depth of ~ 1.1 m. The two melters in the HLW facility together are designed to produce up to 7.5 MT of glass per day at 100% availability. Further increases in HL W waste processing rates can potentially be achieved by increasing the melter operating temperature above 1150°C and by increasing the waste loading in the glass product. Increasing the waste loading also has the added benefit of decreasing the number of canisters for storage.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2013

Application of Neutron Imaging to InvestigateFlow Through Fractures for EGS

This paper will describe ongoing efforts at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop a unique experimental capability for investigating flow through porous and fractured geological media using neutron imaging techniques. This capability is expected to support numerous areas of investigation associated with flow processes relevant to EGS including, but not limited to: experimental visualization and measurement of velocity profiles and other flow characteristics to better inform reduced-order modeling of flow through fractures; laboratory scale validation of flow models and simulators; and a 'real-time' tool for studying geochemical rock/fluid interactions by noninvasively measuring material effects such as precipitation and dissolution in EGS representative conditions. Neutron scattering and attenuation based techniques have many distinctive advantages over other radiographic imaging methods for studying certain types of physical processes because cold and thermal neutrons are more highly attenuated by materials with large Hydrogen compositions while they more easily penetrate higher Z materials, such as those used in structural applications. Experiments exploiting this behavior may therefore be devised to study flow behaviors in samples even when thick pressure vessel walls and large sample masses are present. The objective of this project is to develop an experimental setup and methodology for taking EGS representative core samples with engineered fractures and fracture features, subjecting them to a triaxial stress state at EGS representative temperatures (up to 300 degrees C), and pumping high pressure fluid through the sample while imaging and measuring fluid flow characteristics using high flux neutron beams. This effort will take advantage of signature Oak Ridge National Laboratory facilities, including the Spallation Neutron Source and High Flux Isotope Reactor, as well as its core expertise in Neutron Science. Towards this end, a geothermal pressure test cell and flow system has been developed that can accommodate 1.5 diameter, 6 long core samples and apply a radial confining pressure up to 10,000 psi with fluid flow pressures up to 5,000 psi. This cell has been specially designed to optimize the transmission of neutrons and permit improved imaging of the interior of the sample of interest. Proof of principle measurements of the system have been performed and will be discussed in this paper. Techniques for injecting fluid contrast agents to permit visualization and quantification of flow profiles are also being developed and will be described along with future development plans.

Polsky, Yarom↗
DOE OSTI2017

MWASTools: an R/bioconductor package for metabolome-wide association studies

Abstract Summary MWASTools is an R package designed to provide an integrated pipeline to analyse metabonomic data in large-scale epidemiological studies. Key functionalities of our package include: quality control analysis; metabolome-wide association analysis using various models (partial correlations, generalized linear models); visualization of statistical outcomes; metabolite assignment using statistical total correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY); and biological interpretation of metabolome-wide association studies results. Availability and implementation The MWASTools R package is implemented in R (version > =3.4) and is available from Bioconductor: https://bioconductor.org/packages/MWASTools/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tsuchinoko v1.0.0

Tsuchinoko is a Qt application for adaptive experiment execution and tuning. Live visualizations show details of measurements, and provide feedback on the adaptive engine's decision-making process. The parameters of the adaptive engine can also be tuned live to explore and optimize the search procedure. While Tsuchinoko is designed to allow custom adaptive engines to drive experiments, the gpCAM engine is a featured inclusion. This tool is based on a flexible and powerful Gaussian process regression at the core. A Tsuchinoko system includes 4 distinct components: the GUI client, an adaptive engine, and execution engine, and a core service. These components are separable to allow flexibility with a variety of distributed designs.

Pandolfi, Ronald↗