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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 OSTI2024

Integration of computer vision system to track the alignment SRF cavities into the test cryostat for PIP-II at Fermilab

PIP-II cryomodules use a computer vision system (H-BCAMs system) to monitor the alignment of SRF cavities and focusing lenses during assembly, testing, and operation. This contribution details the integration of the H-BCAMs into the Spoke Test Cryostat (STC) at Fermilab, which is utilized for cold testing SRF cavities prior to their integration into the string assembly. Thermal and structural finite element analyses were employed to estimate the cavities’ deformations, to be validated during cold testing in the STC using H-BCAMs. Notably, this marks the first instance of H-BCAMs integration into a cryostat and operation within a cryogenic environment.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

LCSL-II Cryomodule Testing at Fermilab

Cold powered testing of all LCLS-II production cryomodules at Fermilab is complete as of February 2021. A total of twenty-five tests on both 1.3 GHz and 3.9 GHz cryomodules were conducted over a nearly five year time span beginning in the summer of 2016. During the course of this campaign cutting-edge results for cavity Q₀ and gradient in continuous wave operation were achieved. A summary of all test results will be presented, with a comparison to established acceptance criteria, as well as overall test stand statistics and lessons learned.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Final Design of the Production SSR1 Cryomodule for PIP-II Project at Fermilab

This contribution reports the design of the production Single Spoke Resonator Type 1 Cryomodule (SSR1 CM) for the PIP-II project at Fermilab. The innovative design is based on a structure, the strongback, which supports the coldmass from the bottom, stays at room temperature during operations, and can slide longitudinally with respect to the vacuum vessel. The Fermilab style cryomodule developed for the prototype Single Spoke Resonator Type 1 (pSSR1), the prototype High Beta 650 MHz (pHB650), and preproduction Single Spoke Resonator Type 2 (ppSSR2) cryomodules is the baseline of the present design. The focus of this contribution is on the results of calculations and finite element analyses performed to optimize the critical components of the cryomodule: vacuum vessel, strongback, thermal shield, and magnetic shield.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Extracting Material Property Measurement Data from Scientific Articles

Machine learning-based prediction of material properties is often hampered by the lack of sufficiently large training datasets. The majority of such measurement data is embedded in scientific literature and the ability to automatically extract these data is essential to support the development of reliable property prediction methods. In this work, we describe a methodology for an automatic property extraction framework using material solubility as the target property. We create an annotated dataset containing tags for solubility-related entities using a combination of regular expressions and manual tagging. We then compare five entity recognition models leveraging both token-level and span-level architectures on the task of classifying solute names, solubility values, and solubility units. Additionally, we explore a novel pretraining approach that leverages automated chemical name and quantity extraction tools to generate large datasets that do not rely on intensive manual effort. Finally, we perform an analysis to identify the causes of classification errors.

Panapitiya, Gihan U.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effects of Carbonic Acid-Rock Interactions on CO2/Brine Multiphase Flow Properties in the Upper Minnelusa Sandstones

Summary Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection into a deep saline aquifer can dissolve into formation brine and generate carbonic acid. The resulting acid can drive fluid-rock geochemical reactions. The impact of these fluid-rock geochemical reactions on porosity, permeability, and multiphase flow responses is relevant to the determination of CO2 storage capacity of deep saline aquifers. In this research, carbonic acid flooding experiments were performed on core samples consisting of poorly sorted, quartz-rich sand with laminated bedding from a possible CO2 storage target in northwest Wyoming. Complementary pre- and post-injection porosity and permeability, thin-section, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, mercury intrusion capillary pressure (MICP), and time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) measurements were conducted. Overall, both core porosity and permeability increased after a 7-day carbonic acid injection, from 6.2 to 8.4% and 1.6 to 3.7 md, respectively. We attributed these changes to carbonate mineral dissolution, which was evidenced by the effluent brine geochemistry, pore-throat size distribution (PTSD), and BET surface area. To be more specific, within the more-permeable section of core samples containing larger pore size, the permeability increment is apparent due to dolomite mineral grains and cements dissolution. However, for the lower-permeability section corresponding to the smaller pore size, mineral precipitation possibly lessened dissolution effects, leading to insignificant petrophysical properties changes. Consequently, the observed heterogeneous carbonic acid-rock interactions resulted in alterations of CO2/brine relative permeability (i.e., the initial CO2 saturation decreased and the CO2 flow capacity was enhanced). This research provides a fundamental understanding regarding effects of fluid-rock reactions on changes in static and multiphase flow properties of eolian sandstones, which lays the foundation for more accurate prediction/simulation of CO2 injection into deep saline aquifers.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2019

Unraveling Crop Residue Harvest Effects on Soil Organic Carbon

Crop residues protect soil resources, sustain soil organic carbon (SOC), cycle nutrients, support microbial communities, and provide bioenergy feedstock. Herein we (i) summarize the origin of the “Crop Residues for Advanced Biofuels: Effects on Soil Carbon” workshop; (ii) review the workshop structure; and (iii) present consensus points, unanswered questions, and outcomes of the workshop. Initiated by a farmer/ethanol investor’s letter to the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) President, an ASA Working Group (WG) was established to make a recommendation to the ASA Board on how to respond. The WG concluded a Tri-Society sponsored workshop involving farmers, ethanol production and marketing groups, agronomists, crop scientists, soil scientists, engineers, non-governmental organizations, life cycle analysis (LCA) experts, and regulatory personnel was needed to address the complex question that had been posed and to ensure all viewpoints were fully represented. The WG was expanded to an ASA Task Force who organized the workshop in Sacramento, CA. Eighty workshop attendees identified four consensus areas (crop residue management [CRM]; severity of soil erosion; tillage, CRM and erosion linkages; and the importance of simulation [LCA] models) and four unresolved themes (carbon sequestration, CRM effects on SOC stocks, changing climate effects, and the need to focus on ecosystem services rather than single endpoints). The workshop resulted in three direct outcomes: (i) development of a stakeholder funded SOC database, (ii) LCA and SOC model improvements, and (iii) development of this special section in Agronomy Journal. Dale and Ong (2014) concluded that large scale, renewable energy systems are no longer just a “good idea”; but essential, and during the next few decades society must develop systems capable of producing clean energy at the multi-terawatt scale. Crop residues such as corn (Zea mays L.) stover, and other cellulosic materials were identified as potential feedstocks to meet this demand and have been rigorously evaluated for the past decade (e.g., Perlack et al., 2005; U.S. Department of Energy, 2011 and 2016). However, it is also well established that crop residues have important ecosystem service and productivity functions (Larson, 1979; Johnson, 2018; Ibrahim et al., 2018).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Should the Standard Count Be Excluded from Neutron Probe Calibration?

About 6 decades after its introduction, the neutron probe remains one of the most accurate methods for indirect measurement of soil moisture content. Traditionally, the calibration of a neutron probe involves the ratio of the neutron count in the soil to a standard count, which is the neutron count in the fixed environment such as the probe shield or a specially-designed calibration tank. The drawback of this count-ratio-based calibration is that the error in the standard count is carried through to all the measurements. An alternative calibration is to use the neutron counts only, not the ratio, with proper correction for radioactive decay and counting time. To evaluate both approaches, the shield counts of a neutron probe used for three decades were analyzed. The results show that the surrounding conditions have a substantial effect on the standard count. The error in the standard count also impacts the calculation of water storage and could indicate false consistency among replicates. The analysis of the shield counts indicates negligible aging effect of the instrument over a period of 26 years. It is concluded that, by excluding the standard count, the use of the count-based calibration is appropriate and sometimes even better than ratio-based calibration. The count-based calibration is especially useful for historical data when the standard count was questionable or absent

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Relationship between Anisotropy in Soil Hydraulic Conductivity and Saturation

Anisotropy in unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is saturation-dependent. Accurate characterization of soil anisotropy is very important in simulating flow and contaminant (e.g., radioactive nuclides in Hanford) transport. A recently developed tensorial connectivity-tortuosity (TCT) concept describes the hydraulic conductivity tensor of the unsaturated anisotropic soils as the product of a scalar variable, the symmetric connectivity tortuosity tensor, and the hydraulic conductivity tensor at saturation. In this study, the TCT model is used to quantify soil anisotropy in unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. The TCT model can describe different types of soil anisotropy; e.g., the anisotropy coefficient, C, can be monotonically increase or decrease with saturation and can vary from greater than unity to less than unity and vice versa. Soil anisotropy is independent of soil water retention properties and can be characterized by the ratio of the saturated hydraulic conductivities and the difference of the tortuosity-connectivity coefficients in two directions. ln(C) is linearly proportional to ln(Se) with Se being the effective saturation. The log-linear relationship between C and Se allows the saturation-dependent anisotropy to be determined using linear regression with the measurements of the directional hydraulic conductivities at a minimum of two water content levels, of which one may be at full saturation. The model was tested using measurements of directional hydraulic conductivities.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

Field Soil Water Retention of the Prototype Hanford Barrier and Its Variability with Space and Time

Engineered surface barriers (or covers) are used to isolate underlying contaminants from water, plants, animals, and humans. To understand the flow processes within a barrier and the barrier's ability to store and release water, the field hydraulic properties of the barrier need to be known. A multiyear test of the evapotranspiration (ET) barrier at the US Department of Energy's Hanford Site in the southeast of the state of Washington has yielded in situ soil water content and pressure data from multiple locations for a 9‐yr period, offering the opportunity to estimate soil water retention properties at different locations and times. The upper 2‐m layer of the ET barrier is a silt loam, and the top 1 m also contains 15% (w/w) pea gravel. Within this layer, valid monitoring data from 1995 to 2003 for four depths at 12 monitoring stations were used to determine the field water retention of the silt loam, with and without gravel. The data covered a wide range of wetness, from near saturation to the permanent wilting point, and each retention curve contained 51 to 96 data points. The data were described well with the commonly used van Genuchten water retention model. It was found that the spatial variation of the saturated and residual water content and the pore size distribution parameter was relatively small, while that of the van Genuchten α was relatively large. The effects of spatial variability of the retention properties appeared to be larger than the combined effects of added pea gravel and plant roots on the properties. Neither the primary wetting process in the winter season nor the drying process in the summer season nor time had a detectable effect on the water retention of the silt loam barrier.

Zhang, Z. Fred↗
DOE OSTI2019

Pressure Correction in the Calibration of Heat Dissipation Sensors

Heat dissipation sensors (HDSs) infer soil matric potential based on the measured rate of temperature rise from a heat source. The process for calibrating these sensors may use a pressure plate apparatus (PPA) to remove water to a certain calibration point that is controlled by pressure. Conventionally, the pressure within the PPA is released before the temperature change calibration points are measured ( ΔT 0 ). This conventional HDS calibration approach can take several weeks. We propose that the equilibrated temperature change at pressure ( ΔT p ) can be corrected empirically to the value at zero pressure. Based on measurements of 14 HDSs between 0.02 and 0.1 MPa, ΔT p was on average 6.2% larger than ΔT 0 . After pressure correction, using an empirical equation, the difference between the corrected ΔT p and ΔT 0 was only 0.28%. These results demonstrate that this empirical approach provides sufficient accuracy to achieve HDS calibration without performing a PPA pressure release.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hero Carbonsafe Phase 2 Project in the Columbia River Basalt Group: Technical Program Overview

The Hermiston, Oregon Basalt CarbonSAFE Phase II project (HERO CarbonSAFE) seeks to accelerate the deployment of commercial carbon dioxide (CO2) storage projects in basaltic rocks. Hermiston is located near the center of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), which is one of the largest basalt flows in the US. Basalt CO2 storage has potential advantages to conventional saline storage reservoirs including 1. The potential for rapid mineralization of CO2, 2. associated decreases in pressure and CO2 migration risks, 3. reduced long-term monitoring requirements with respect to plume tracking, 4. widespread geographic distribution and, 5. large storage potential due to thickness, porosity, and CO2 interactions with basalt. For locations such as the Pacific Northwest (PNW), Hawaii, Iceland, India and Japan, whose localities are isolated from large sedimentary basins offering conventional saline storage options, basalt may offer the only feasible option for local CO2 storage. However, mineralization/basalt storage still has many uncertainties, as there are limited field-scale assessments of CO2 storage in basalt. There are significant uncertainties hindering the effective implementation of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) in basalt. These include the lack of proven storage capacities, challenges in methodologies for modeling the area of review in igneous formations, limited understanding of mineralization kinetics and timing, and uncertainties in injectivity. Additionally, the domestic availability of specialized services and drilling expertise is constrained, and existing CCUS permitting and regulatory frameworks, originally developed for conventional saline reservoirs, may not adequately address the unique requirements of basalt systems. HERO CarbonSAFE is designed to address major research gaps and uncertainties associated with basalt storage. Specifically, the project will assess the feasibility of CO2 injection in the deep layered basalts of the CRBG, long-term storage (mineralization), practical approaches for large-scale implementation (50+ million metric tons of CO2 over 30 years), lithology-specific risks, and the technoeconomic potential for CO2 storage in basalts.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Advanced High Temperature Reactor Systems and Economic Analysis

The Advanced High Temperature Reactor (AHTR) is a design concept for a large-output [3400 MW(t)] fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR). FHRs, by definition, feature low-pressure liquid fluoride salt cooling, coated-particle fuel, a high-temperature power cycle, and fully passive decay heat rejection. The AHTR's large thermal output enables direct comparison of its performance and requirements with other high output reactor concepts. As high-temperature plants, FHRs can support either high-efficiency electricity generation or industrial process heat production. The AHTR analysis presented in this report is limited to the electricity generation mission. FHRs, in principle, have the potential to be low-cost electricity producers while maintaining full passive safety. However, no FHR has been built, and no FHR design has reached the stage of maturity where realistic economic analysis can be performed. The system design effort described in this report represents early steps along the design path toward being able to predict the cost and performance characteristics of the AHTR as well as toward being able to identify the technology developments necessary to build an FHR power plant. While FHRs represent a distinct reactor class, they inherit desirable attributes from other thermal power plants whose characteristics can be studied to provide general guidance on plant configuration, anticipated performance, and costs. Molten salt reactors provide experience on the materials, procedures, and components necessary to use liquid fluoride salts. Liquid metal reactors provide design experience on using low-pressure liquid coolants, passive decay heat removal, and hot refueling. High temperature gas-cooled reactors provide experience with coated particle fuel and graphite components. Light water reactors (LWRs) show the potentials of transparent, high-heat capacity coolants with low chemical reactivity. Modern coal-fired power plants provide design experience with advanced supercritical-water power cycles. The current design activities build upon a series of small-scale efforts over the past decade to evaluate and describe the features and technology variants of FHRs. Key prior concept evaluation reports include the SmAHTR preconceptual design report,1 the PB-AHTR preconceptual design, and the series of early phase AHTR evaluations performed from 2004 to 2006. This report provides a power plant-focused description of the current state of the AHTR. The report includes descriptions and sizes of the major heat transport and power generation components. Component configuration and sizing are based upon early phase AHTR plant thermal hydraulic models. The report also provides a top-down AHTR comparative economic analysis. A commercially available advanced supercritical water-based power cycle was selected as the baseline AHTR power generation cycle both due to its superior performance and to enable more realistic economic analysis. The AHTR system design, however, has several remaining gaps, and the plant cost estimates consequently have substantial remaining uncertainty. For example, the enriched lithium required for the primary coolant cannot currently be produced on the required scale at reasonable cost, and the necessary core structural ceramics do not currently exist in a nuclear power qualified form. The report begins with an overview of the current, early phase, design of the AHTR plant. Only a limited amount of information is included about the core and vessel as the core design and refueling options are the subject of a companion report. The general layout of an AHTR system and site showing the relationship of the major facilities is then provided. Next is a comparative evaluation of the AHTR anticipated performance and costs. Finally, the major system design efforts necessary to bring the AHTR design to a pre-conceptual level are then presented.

Holcomb, David Eugene↗
DOE OSTI2011

Tangential 2-D Edge Imaging for GPI and Edge/Impurity Modeling

Nova Photonics, Inc. has a collaborative effort at the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). This collaboration, based on fast imaging of visible phenomena, has provided key insights on edge turbulence, intermittency, and edge phenomena such as edge localized modes (ELMs) and multi-faceted axisymmetric radiation from the edge (MARFE). Studies have been performed in all these areas. The edge turbulence/intermittency studies make use of the Gas Puff Imaging diagnostic developed by the Principal Investigator (Ricardo Maqueda) together with colleagues from PPPL. This effort is part of the International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) edge, scrape-off layer and divertor group joint activity (DSOL-15: Inter-machine comparison of blob characteristics). The edge turbulence/blob study has been extended from the current location near the midplane of the device to the lower divertor region of NSTX. The goal of this effort was to study turbulence born blobs in the vicinity of the X-point region and their circuit closure on divertor sheaths or high density regions in the divertor. In the area of ELMs and MARFEs we have studied and characterized the mode structure and evolution of the ELM types observed in NSTX, as well as the study of the observed interaction between MARFEs and ELMs. This interaction could have substantial implications for future devices where radiative divertor regions are required to maintain detachment from the divertor plasma facing components.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Hybrid AI/Cognitive Tactical Behavior Framework for LVC (LDRD Project Final Report)

This Lab-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) sought to develop technology that enhances scenario construction speed, entity behavior robustness, and scalability in Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) simulation. We investigated issues in both simulation architecture and behavior modeling. We developed path-planning technology that improves the ability to express intent in the planning task while still permitting an efficient search algorithm. An LVC simulation demonstrated how this enables 'one-click' layout of squad tactical paths, as well as dynamic re-planning for simulated squads and for real and simulated mobile robots. We identified human response latencies that can be exploited in parallel/distributed architectures. We did an experimental study to determine where parallelization would be productive in Umbra-based force-on-force (FOF) simulations. We developed and implemented a data-driven simulation composition approach that solves entity class hierarchy issues and supports assurance of simulation fairness. Finally, we proposed a flexible framework to enable integration of multiple behavior modeling components that model working memory phenomena with different degrees of sophistication.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗