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At least 919 records · Page 51
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Why accredit ISO/CEI 17025 a nuclear waste management laboratory? - 15112

When there is no storage, nor repository, available on a site, the entity in charge of nuclear waste management should find outlets in order to evacuate outside the site. Each outlet has his rules and waste acceptance criteria (packaging rules, physical/chemical/radiological criteria for example). Before you are able to evacuate your waste, an acceptance's process (or contract review) takes place. This process scans the entire measures implemented by the site in order to satisfy outlet's criteria. When the acceptance is obtained, shipments could be organized, and the process gets into an observation's phase. During this phase, the outlet could choose to inspect a finished nuclear waste package or to audit regularly the waste management process. In this last case, the outlet re-scans the entire documents and implemented measures. This audit lasts from one to several days. A way to tackle/approach the audit is to acknowledge, by a trusted third party (i.e. independent from the outlet), all or part of waste management system, in order to base one's reputation on this organism and win outlet's trust. For this purpose, the entity could choose certification or accreditation. Certification (ISO 9001 as often as not) aims at evaluating a system for managing the quality of one product or service. Accreditation (ISO 17025, for example) provides formal recognition for technical skills within a quality management system (clauses 5 and 4 of the ISO 17025 standard). In 2006, the LDM laboratory is the first French laboratory accredited, in accordance with ISO 17025 standard, for the characterization by gamma spectrometry on 100 L- and 200 L- radioactive waste drums (accreditation No 1-1712 - scope available on www.cofrac.fr). This accreditation allows the lab: - to update the quality management system, - to compile the entire technical file of the gamma-ray assay (description, evaluation of the uncertainties, calibration, proficiency testing programs, measurement procedures,...), - to pass previous identified constraints on to producers and nuclear waste package production, - to maintain permanent quality improvement loop, - to lighten the programs of outlets audits, through the acknowledgement of the technical competence of the laboratory to evaluate by gamma spectrometry the activity contained in our nuclear waste drums. On the other hand, the lab is re-evaluated periodically to ensure its continued compliance with requirements: within a 12 month's interval for an internal audit, with a 18 month's period for COFRAC (French sole official national accreditation body). Since 2006, the lab is accredited. His accreditation renewed in 2010. A new entire renewal audit is planned in 2015. (authors)

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

Cold-cap temperature profile comparison between the laboratory and mathematical model - 15591

The rate of waste vitrification in an electric melter is connected to the feed-to-glass conversion process, which occurs in the cold cap, a layer of reacting feed on top of molten glass. The cold cap consists of two layers: a low-temperature (∼100 deg. C - ∼800 deg. C) region of unconnected, reacting feed and a high-temperature (∼800 deg. C - ∼1100 deg. C) region of molten glass with gas bubbles and cavities. A recently developed mathematical model describes the effect of the cold cap on glass production. For verification of the mathematical model, a cold cap produced in a laboratory-scale melter was subsequently analyzed by correlating structural features of a polished region with those obtained in heat-treated feed samples to determine the temperature profile as a function of cold-cap position. After corrections were made for the diminished volume of bubbles and collapsed cavities that occurred in the cold-cap sample during cooling, the temperature gradients were alike in the model and the laboratory cold cap through the range from ∼500 deg. C to ∼1100 deg. C. The temperature profiles were different in the upper region of the cold cap because the radiant heat from the molten glass in the laboratory-scale melter resulted in dry and hot (∼400 deg. C) surface conditions whereas the model assumed a surface covered by boiling slurry. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2016

Comparison of Laboratory Analytical Methods for Uranium Analysis Superior Steel FUSRAP Site - 16606

The Superior Steel Site processed uranium metal in support of the Atomic Energy Commission's fuel-element development program in the 1950's, and was subsequently classified as a Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) Site. Previous investigations at the site identified uranium contamination both inside and outside the buildings associated with historic uranium metalworking activities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is currently engaged in the Remedial Investigation (RI) phase in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended. As part of the RI, gamma spectroscopy analysis of environmental samples was performed on-site using a laboratory-grade, high-purity germanium (HPGe) spectrometer. The gamma spectroscopy analysis included isotopes of uranium and their progeny. As a quality assurance measure, a subset of samples already analyzed on-site were sent to a certified, commercial, off-site laboratory for analysis using a suite of analytical methods including gamma spectroscopy, alpha spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy. As an element of the quality assurance program implemented for the RI, an assessment of the correlations between the various analytical methods employed by both the on-site and off-site laboratory was performed. This assessment revealed inconsistencies between on-site and off-site gamma spectroscopy analytical results, which raised concerns about the appropriateness and suitability of the analytical data. To resolve the data quality concerns and better understand the source(s) of analytical results variability, the Superior Steel RI team (USACE together with its contractor, Amec Foster Wheeler) developed a quality control test whose design objective was to control or practically eliminate sampling and sample preparation variability in order to focus more clearly on analytical variability. This paper discusses the results of this supplemental quality control test, showing the differences in the various analytical methods (both on-site and off-site). It demonstrates in a practical and real world setting how sample preparation and analytical variability, if not controlled and understood can impact data quality and data defensibility. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

FY23 Laboratory Directed Research & Development Annual Report

At Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), we put science to work to protect the environment and address nuclear security challenges. Through our transformative science and technology efforts, SRNL provides solutions to the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) for the safe cleanup of environmental legacy resulting from nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. SRNL also supports DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as it maintains the nation’s nuclear stockpile and reduces the threat of nuclear proliferation around the world. Investments through SRNL’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program drive exploratory research foundational to advancements in mission critical technologies for EM, NNSA and other offices of DOE. Our LDRD program also provides meaningful development opportunities for the people central to innovation. Seven Laboratory Director’s Postdoctoral Research Fellows were supported by LDRD during fiscal year 2023. These named postdoctoral fellows are driving SRNL’s scientific and technical core competencies forward through their dedication to research and advancement of technologies. The LDRD program supports established researchers to explore new concepts, while fueling opportunities for the next generation of scientists to join the SRNL workforce, contributing to the global scientific community through scientific publications. Enjoy reading this Annual Report which summarizes the innovative science and engineering contributions of SRNL staff supported by the LDRD Program. Dr. Vahid Majid

Majidi, Vahid↗
DOE OSTI2023

Summary of INL Integrated Energy Systems Research for the Global National Laboratories Consortium on IES

The DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) program on Integrated Energy Systems (IES) is led by researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and work is conducted in partnership with an array of other DOE laboratories, industry, and academia. IES research and development activities are additionally complimented by the DOE-NE Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program, where work under the Flexible Plant Operations & Generation pathway supports analysis of opportunities for non-electric applications of current fleet nuclear plants and collaborates with multiple plants on near-term hydrogen production demonstration opportunities. The DOE-NE programs additionally partner with the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office under the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to jointly fund the development of analysis tools, technologies, and nuclear-integrated hydrogen demonstration projects. This document provides a brief, high-level summary of IES work as contribution to the annual report for the Global National Laboratories Consortium on IES.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2022

FY 2023 Idaho National Laboratory Site Sustainability Plan

The mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. This FY 2022 Idaho National Laboratory Site Sustainability Plan (SSP) was developed to enable and sustain Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL’s) mission to discover, demonstrate, and secure innovative nuclear solutions, clean energy options, and critical infrastructure. DOE Order 436.1, “Departmental Sustainability,” provides requirements and assigns responsibilities for managing sustainability within DOE to ensure that DOE missions are carried out in a sustainable manner, to institute wholesale cultural change to factor sustainability into all DOE decisions, and to ensure DOE achieves sustainability goals. DOE Order 436.1 also requires DOE sites to commit appropriate personnel resources, establish a financing plan that prioritizes the use of life-cycle cost effective private-sector financing, optimize the application of appropriations and budgeted funds, and establish specific performance measures and deliverables designed to achieve the listed requirements. The SSP was developed according to the narrative requirements from the “FY 2022 DOE Site Sustainability Plan Guidance” document issued in September 2021. The SSP contains strategies and activities that will lead to continual energy, water, and waste reductions that move the INL site toward meeting DOE sustainability goals and requirements. The SSP summarizes energy and available fuel use reporting requirements and references criteria for instituting sustainable design. SSP requirements are integrated into each INL site contractor’s Integrated Safety Management System and Environmental Management System (EMS). Finally, the Sustainability Program directives, based on this SSP, are integrated into INL/LTD-21-62463, Annual Laboratory Plan 2021, and operations and acquisition systems.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Maximizing Efficiency and Quality: Leveraging Automated Testing for Laboratory Commissioning

The traditional commissioning process uses sampling to select equipment for functional acceptance testing when large quantities of equipment are present. Although this approach is generally effective in identifying wide-spread issues, it has several shortcomings: it fails to evaluate equipment not included in the sample, provides only a one-time validation of equipment operation, and the standard documentation is a simple checklist of pass/fail questions. During the construction and commissioning process of the new Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) in Golden, CO, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory team engaged Group14 Engineering to implement a Connected Commissioning process using fault detection and diagnostic software for automated functional acceptance testing. This presentation highlights the advantages offered by automated functional testing in this critical laboratory setting: (1) sampling 100% of BAS-connected equipment during functional testing, (2) testing results backed by data beyond the traditional pass/fail checklist, and (3) an automated test process that can be regularly executed by the building management team for ongoing commissioning throughout the life of the building. The presentation will also cover technical challenges associated with Connected Commissioning and the important conversations with key stakeholders that need to occur well before functional acceptance testing in order to successfully implement the automated testing processes.

automated testing↗
DOE OSTI2023

CASTLE: Conflict Analysis Strategy Testing Laboratory Environment v.1.0.0

SAND2024-01743O The Conflict Analysis Strategy Testing Laboratory Environment (CASTLE) is a software framework that enables and simplifies building a novel, turn-based strategy game in which it can define its own rules, maps, pieces, and interactions. The software is for novice to experienced programmers with some knowledge of Unity3D, a tool used in game production. CASTLE includes a library of common game mechanics used for strategic wargames and traditional board games, such as cards, tokens, dice, and grid maps. It follows design principles popularized by the video game industry and uses singletons for managing portions of the code. CASTLE builds on Unity's component-based design and can respond to engine events during execution. Among the numerous user-friendly features: Build games quickly and cost-effectively Network in real-time and apply data to new games developed on the framework Host multiple participants online Connect rule- or machine learning-based agents to a CASTLE game to serve as opponents or to simulate games Collect data collection from players and in-game behaviors Create a survey to gather demographics or opinions from players Store data locally or save it to an external database through Representational State Transfer (REST) functions CASTLE, which was prototyped using Microsoft Azure, is also designed for easily distributing online games using popular cloud services. The multiplayer functionality includes an agent interface, allowing developers to construct AI players that can substitute for humans in any of the games. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Fabian, Nathan↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nuclear forensic analysis on uranium ore concentrates: A multi-laboratory intercomparison study

A collaboration between the United States and Japan performed nuclear forensic analyses on a set of 7 uranium ore concentrate (UOC) samples with known origins to improve methodologies and best practices in the field. Overall, good agreement between the 4 participating laboratories was achieved for uranium assay, uranium isotope composition, strontium isotope composition, and trace element analysis. In conclusion, the combination of these four signatures is sufficient to distinguish the different origins among these studied UOCs.

and nuclear chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2015

The Second-phase Development of the China JinPing Underground Laboratory

During 2013-2015 an expansion of the China JinPing underground Laboratory (CJPL) will be undertaken along a main branch of a bypass tunnel in the JinPing tunnel complex. This second phase of CJPL will increase laboratory space to approximately 96,000 m 3 , which can be compared to the existing CJPL-I volume of ∼ 4,000 m 3 . One design configuration has eight additional hall spaces, each over 60 m long and approximately12 m in width, with overburdens of about 2.4 km of rock, oriented parallel to and away from the main water transport and auto traffic tunnels. There are additional possibilities for further expansions at a nearby second bypass tunnel and along the entrance and exit branches of both bypass tunnels, potentially leading to an expanded CJPL comparable in size to Gran Sasso. Concurrent with the excavation activities, planning is underway for dark matter and other rare- event detectors, as well as for geophysics/engineering and other coupled multi-disciplinary sensors. In the town meeting on 8 September, 2013 at Asilomar, CA, associated with the 13 th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP), presentations and panel discussions addressed plans for one-ton expansions of the current CJPL germanium detector array of the China Darkmatter EXperiment (CDEX) collaboration and of the duel-phase xenon detector of the Panda-X collaboration, as well as possible new detector initiatives for dark matter studies, low-energy solar neutrino detection, neutrinoless double beta searches, and geoneutrinos. JinPing was also discussed as a site for a low-energy nuclear astrophysics accelerator. Geophysics/engineering opportunities include acoustic and micro-seismic monitoring of rock bursts during and after excavation, coupled-process in situ measurements, local, regional, and global monitoring of seismically induced radon emission, and electromagnetic signals. Additional ideas and projects will likely be developed in the next few years, driven by China’s domestic needs and by international experiments requiring access to very great depths.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Gene Amplification, Laboratory Evolution, and Biosensor Screening Reveal MucK as a Terephthalic Acid Transporter in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1

Microbial terephthalic acid (TPA) catabolic pathways are conserved among the few bacteria known to turnover this xenobiotic aromatic compound. However, to date there are few reported cases in which this pathway has been successfully expressed in heterologous hosts to impart efficient utilization of TPA as a sole carbon source. In this work, we aimed to engineer TPA conversion in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 via the heterologous expression of catabolic and transporter genes from a native TPA-utilizing bacterium. Specifically, we obtained ADP1-derived strains capable of growing on TPA as the sole carbon source using chromosomal insertion and targeted amplification of the tph catabolic operon from Comamonas sp. E6. Adaptive laboratory evolution was then used to improve growth on this substrate. TPA consumption rates of the evolved strains, which retained multiple copies of the tph genes, were ~0.2 g/L/h (or ~1 g TPA/g cells/h), similar to that of Comamonas sp. E6 and almost 2-fold higher than that of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, another native TPA-utilizing strain. To evaluate TPA transport in the evolved ADP1 strains, we engineered a TPA biosensor consisting of the transcription factor TphR and a fluorescent reporter. In combination with whole-genome sequencing, the TPA biosensor revealed that transport of TPA was not mediated by the heterologous proteins from Comamonas sp. E6. Instead, the endogenous ADP1 muconate transporter MucK, a member of the major facilitator superfamily, was responsible for TPA transport in several evolved strains in which MucK variants were found to enhance TPA uptake. Furthermore, the IclR-type transcriptional regulator DcaS was identified as a repressor of mucK expression. Overall, this work presents an unexpected function of a native protein identified through gene amplification, adaptive laboratory evolution, and a combination of screening methods. This study also provides a TPA biosensor for application in ADP1 and identifies transporter variants for use in metabolic engineering applications focused on plastic upcycling of polyesters.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Revisiting the Relationship Between Induced Polarization and Surface Conductivity: Ratios From Laboratory to Field

Abstract Among the subsurface geophysical methods used in the critical zone investigations, induced polarization (IP) shows great vitality thanks to its unique ability to assess porosity via bulk conduction and estimate permeability through surface conduction and/or polarization. However, such an advantageous separation between bulk and surface is mostly implemented by multi‐salinity experiments in the laboratory, which is incredibly difficult to realize in the field. One promising approach to address such an obstinate issue is to gauge the surface conductivity ( σ s ) from the quadrature conductivity ( σ ″) or normalized chargeability ( M n ) with the ratios between ( l = σ ″/ σ s , l mn = M n / σ s ). While these ratios are known not to be universal, the underlying principles are not fully understood and relevant theoretical studies are rare, which makes quantitative IP applications difficult. Here we scrutinize the conduction and polarization mechanisms of geomaterials and pinpoint that the two ratios are inherently functions of salinities and frequencies rather than only determined by the properties of the electrical double layer (EDL), hence representative samples from the investigated field must be calibrated in the laboratory and a characteristic frequency should be chosen for their usage. Besides the macro‐scale ratios l and l mn , we define two micro‐scale ratios χ and χ mn directly from the EDL, such that the new ratios exclude the effect of salinity and frequency and offer the opportunity to characterize and monitor changes of the EDL. Our study demonstrates that the existing macro‐scale ratios converge toward the values of novel micro‐scale ratios at high water salinity.

Qi, Youzheng [Earth and Environmental Sciences Are↗
DOE OSTI2012

2011 Idaho National Laboratory Water Use Report and Comprehensive Well Inventory (Revision 20)

This 2011 Idaho National Laboratory Water Use Report and Comprehensive Well Inventory (Revision 20) provides water use information (monthly annual average and total annual volume) for production and potable water wells at the Idaho National Laboratory for Calendar Year 2011. It also provides detailed information for new, modified, and abandoned (decommissioned) wells and holes. One new well was drilled and completed and one well was modified in Calendar Year 2011. A total of 14 wells and boreholes were reported as decommissioned. Detailed construction information for the new and modified wells is provided. Details are provided for the wells and boreholes that have been decommissioned, and if available, construction diagrams. Location maps are included, provided survey information was available. This report is being submitted in accordance with the Water Rights Agreement between the State of Idaho and the United States, for the United States Department of Energy (dated 1990) and the subsequent Partial Decree for Water Right 34-10901 issued June 20, 2003.

2011 Idaho National Laboratory Water Use Report an↗
DOE OSTI2019

2018 Annual Report Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program Activities Report

Each year, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is required to provide a program description and overview of its Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program (LDRD) to the Department of Energy (DOE) in accordance with DOE Order 413.2C Chg1 (MinChg). This report provides a detailed look at the scientific and technical activities for each of the LDRD projects funded by BNL in FY 2018, as required. In FY 2018, the BNL LDRD Program funded 57 projects, 27 of which were new starts, at a total cost of $11.2M.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reconstitution of Sandia's Melt Laboratory: A Strategic Approach to Address Alloy Procurement and Quality Challenges - Part 1

In recent years, the procurement of essential materials such as Stainless Steels, Ni-Alloys, and Kovar has become increasingly challenging. Lead times for these materials have extended to over 24 months, placing significant stress on the reliability of attaining these alloys. This situation is exacerbated by the supplier’s minimum purchase requirement of excessively large quantities to meet unique purchase order (PO) requirements which is usually above the maximum requirements of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Additionally, the reluctance of foundries to engage in small lot development for SNL specific needs further complicates the procurement process. This white paper explores the reconstitution of SNL’ Melt Laboratory as a strategic solution to mitigate these challenges.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

A new capability facilitating nuclear materials research: the Activated Materials Laboratory at the Advanced Photon Source

The Activated Materials Laboratory (AML), located in the Long Beamline Building (LBB) of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) of Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), serves as a centralized radiological facility for preparing radioactive samples for APS beamline experiments. The AML is equipped to receive shipments, handle open-form radioactive materials, encapsulate samples, and transport samples to-and-from beamline end-stations. The AML works closely with users and the APS radiological safety committee to make sure the safe conduct of experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

FY25 Laboratory Directed Research and Development Annual Report

Overview The Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program represents a cornerstone of foundational scientific research and development (R&D) at SRNL. It is central to advancing SRNL’s mission areas—National Security, Environmental Stewardship, and Energy Resilience—while aligning with the laboratory’s Strategic Plan to deliver long-term benefits to the Department of Energy (DOE) and other key stakeholders

Taylor, Tammy P. [Savannah River National Laborato↗