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At least 973 records · Page 54

Bridging Equipment Reliability Data and Robust Decisions in a Plant Operation Context

In order to reduce operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, nuclear power plants (NPPs) are moving from corrective and periodic maintenance to predictive maintenance strategies. Such transition requires changes on the data that needs to be retrieved and on the type of decision processes to be employed. Advanced monitoring and data analysis technologies are essential to support predictive strategies. They can in fact provide precise information about health of a component, track its degradation trends, and provide information of its expected failure time. With such information, maintenance operations for a component can be performed right before its expected failure time. This dynamic context of O&M operations requires new methods to analyze data, propagate component health information from the component to the system level, and optimize plant resources. In this respect, the risk informed asset management (RIAM) project has been tasked to develop and test this new class of methods into a risk analytics toolset. This toolset consists of data analytics tools coupled with reliability methods designed to manage plant assets and performances in a predictive maintenance context. This report shows the latest improvements on such development and the initial testing of our methods on the three main research areas that the RIAM project is focusing on. These areas are the following: equipment reliability data analytics, system reliability modeling, and plant resources optimization methods. We show how the methods developed in these areas can support predictive maintenance strategies by: 1) analyzing equipment reliability data (either in numeric and textual form), 2) assessing component and system health through an innovative margin-based reliability approach, and 3) identifying the most critical components and set optimal maintenance schedule based on plant economic and operational constraints.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Energy Justice Framework for Marine Energy: Considerations from PacWave

To accelerate the energy transition while addressing land use conflicts and community opposition, federal policies and incentives require that new energy infrastructure provide direct benefits to communities, and ensure that these benefits remain in the community. The objective of this study is to develop a framework for collecting demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental data and supporting communities in understanding how such data can support more just and equitable outcomes. Specifically, this study addresses two research questions: (1) How can energy justice be incorporated into ME project life cycle, and (2) what social and economic data are needed to assess how marine energy development supports energy justice? Based on our literature review and the data collection template, a case study of PacWave, a wave energy testing facility located on the central Oregon Coast, is employed to draw more specific implications for how energy justice can be integrated into marine energy. PacWave represents a flagship investment by Oregon State University, the State of Oregon, and the Department of Energy. The facility is situated in Lincoln County, which is home to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and family-scale fishing enterprises. PacWave has strong community support as a testing site and holds potential to provide valuable lessons for other communities.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Radiation damage

The radiation damage workshop considered a variety of topics among which were the need for equivalent electron fluences in gallium arsenide, the possibility of 15 percent end-of-life efficiencies for silicon, increasing radiation resistance in gallium arsenide, annealing of radiation damage and the need for radiation damage studies in cascade cells. The workshop members agreed that a high priority should be assigned to obtaining equivalent electron fluences for gallium arsenide cells. It was suggested that 1 MeV would be a reasonable electron energy for this purpose. Special care should be given to proton irradiations particularly for energies below 1 MeV. In addition, omnidirectional rather than normal incidence protons should be used. It was also agreed that there was a need for obtaining damage coefficients in gallium arsenide. In silicon, there is a requirement for additional flight data, especially in proton dominated orbits. These data are needed to further check the accuracy of the 1 MeV equivalence fluences.

Weinberg, I.↗

Packaging and distributing ecological data from multisite studies

Studies of global change and other regional issues depend on ecological data collected at multiple study areas or sites. An information system model is proposed for compiling diverse data from dispersed sources so that the data are consistent, complete, and readily available. The model includes investigators who collect and analyze field measurements, science teams that synthesize data, a project information system that collates data, a data archive center that distributes data to secondary users, and a master data directory that provides broader searching opportunities. Special attention to format consistency is required, such as units of measure, spatial coordinates, dates, and notation for missing values. Often data may need to be enhanced by estimating missing values, aggregating to common temporal units, or adding other related data such as climatic and soils data. Full documentation, an efficient data distribution mechanism, and an equitable way to acknowledge the original source of data are also required.

Information Systems↗

Integrated Off-Gas System Tests on the DM1200 Melter with RPP-WTP LAW Sub-Envelope C1 Simulants (Final Report)

The report documents melter and off-gas performance results obtained on the DM1200 during processing of LAW Sub-Envelope Cl feed. The principal objectives of the DM1200 melter testing were to demonstrate suitable processing and production rates for LAW Cl feed; characterize the glass product for elemental composition, the presence of organic compounds, and TCLP response for metals; and measure destruction and removal efficiencies (DREs) for organic compounds across the melter and off-gas treatment components. The feed was spiked with organic compounds for part of the testing duration. Data were collected for both process engineering needs and to support regulatory activities. The data needed for regulatory support were collected using EPA methods and independent data analyses and data checking were performed.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Ocean-Science Mission Needs: Real-Time AUV Data for Command, Control, and Model Inputs

Predictive models for tides, hydrodynamics, and bio-optical properties affecting the visibility and buoyancy of coastal waters are needed to evaluate the safety of personnel and equipment engaged in maritime operations under potentially hazardous conditions. Predicted currents can be markedly different for two-layer systems affected by terrestrial runoff than for well-mixed conditions because the layering decouples the surface and bottom Ekman layers and rectifies the current response to oscillatory upwelling-and downwelling-favorable winds. Standard ocean models (e.g. Princeton Ocean Model) require initial-and boundary data on the physical and optical properties of the multilayered water column to provide accurate simulations of heat budgets and circulation. Two observational systems are designed to measure vertically structured conditions on the West Florida Shelf (WFS): a tethered buoy network and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) observational system. The AUV system is described with a focus on the observational systems that challenge or limit the communications command and control network for various types of measurement programs. These include vertical oscillatory missions on shelf transects to observe the optical and hydrographic properties of the water column, and bottom-following missions for measuring the bottom albedo. Models of light propagation, absorption, and conversion to heat as well as determination of the buoyancy terms for physical models require these measurements. High data rates associated with video bottom imagery are the most challenging for the real-time, command and control communications system, but they are met through a combination of loss-less and lossy data-compression methods, depending upon the data-rate of the radio links.

Carder, Kendall L.↗

Flexible and Accessible 4D Subsurface Visualization Using a Web-Based Platform

4D subsurface visualization using a web platform can provide improved communication, education and outreach to non-experts and stakeholders. It allows for the improved understanding of complex relationships and interactions that occur in inaccessible locations of which many experimental testbeds exist in. The use of a web-based visualization tool lessens the cognitive impact further by reducing the need of specialized software. Users can define their own exploration of a 3D or 4D scene, adding and removing data as needed and are able to make informed decisions based on accurate model visualizations, while providing a collaborative tool that can be accessed on any platform using a browser window. The tool is also able to point to real time streams to display up-to-the-second data as an experiment is ongoing. This level of latency can also provide operators with essential information that can direct an experiment’s progress. Additionally, this tool can leverage augmented and virtual reality (AR, VR) capabilities of certain mobile devices and head-mounted displays, providing further engaging visualization possibilities.

Pratt, Martin J.↗

Iodine Removal in the DFLAW Flow-Sheet

In support of the WTP project, off-gas system and regulatory testing has been conducted previously on the DM1200 pilot melter equipped with a prototypical off-gas system installed at The Catholic University of America’s Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL). During the regulatory tests, an AC-S test bed filled with Kombisorb BAT 37 was included in the prototypical off-gas system and evaluated for response to HLW and LAW exhaust streams. Offline testing and small-scale testing of that media were also conducted. Testing demonstrated that a temperature rise occurred in the activated carbon media when water vapor was first introduced to virgin Kombisorb BAT 37, in response to high nitrogen oxide concentrations, and in response to the presence of organic compounds. Conditioning of the test bed by gradually increasing the NOx concentration prior to the introduction of organics was found to be an important operational strategy for preventing larger temperature excursions. However, no mercury was present in the exhaust stream during DM1200 testing and therefore comparable test data for mercury removal efficiency or temperature response of the carbon media in the presence of mercury were not collected in the DM1200 tests. In view of the need for data on mercury removal performance, BNI contracted with Atkins and the VSL to install and operate a suitable test system at VSL to collect the required data. That testing was designed to assess the performance of Kombisorb BAT-37 and the guard bed material, Sofnolime RG, for simulated melter exhaust streams that contain the highest concentrations of mercury, nitrogen oxides, acid gases, and organic compounds expected in WTP LAW melter exhaust. During shakedown testing with the new system, however, it became evident that a number of issues with Sofnolime RG as the guard bed material would render it unsuitable for this application. BNI subsequently determined that the guard bed was redundant for removal of acid gases since they could be adequately removed by the SBS and WESP. However, since the guard bed material was also credited with significant iodine removal , there was a need for a replacement material that would adequately perform that role. BNI identified several candidate media but performance data in gas compositions that are representative of the WTP LAW off-gas were not available. Accordingly, there was a need to test and evaluate the performance of these candidate media prior to performing the originally-planned tests. To that end, small scale tests were conducted to assess the performance of various adsorbents in simulated melter exhaust streams that contain mercury, iodine, nitrogen oxides, acid gases, and acetonitrile, which are expected to be present in WTP LAW melter exhaust.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Proceedings for the Workshop on Applied Nuclear Data Activities 2025

The 2025 Workshop for Applied Nuclear Data Activities (WANDA) covered four topic areas in nuclear data: Nuclear Data and Deterrence, Nuclear Data Prioritization for Fusion, High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium and Novel Moderators for Advanced Reactors, and Data Preservation and Data Workflows. The intention of this workshop is to connect different communities that are invested in nuclear data and have their own unique sets of needs for the purposes of sharing information, fostering collaboration in areas of shared interest, and leveraging synergistic capabilities. The attendance of federal program managers at these workshops is essential in creating awareness of the needs of their respective communities and in providing information to better guide funding investments. In each of these topical sessions, a general description of the nuclear data needs and/or capabilities was presented, along with discussions of existing capabilities that could be leveraged, potential synergistic needs or resources, and challenges that must be overcome for the application space to progress. There are many synergistic nuclear data needs among these application spaces. The discussion largely focused on increasing the accuracy of the nuclear data and better quantifying the data uncertainties that have the greatest impact on applications. The full-day session on data processing and data workflows was by nature intended to be synergistic and applicable to all technical sessions at WANDA. A notable common theme that was highlighted across all sessions was the need for accelerated delivery of nuclear data products across complex and time-consuming workflows.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Response time correlations for platinum resistance thermometers in flowing fluids

The thermal response of two types of Platinum Resistance Thermometers (PRT's), which are being considered for use in the National Transonic Wind Tunnel Facility, were studied. Response time correlations for each PRT, in flowing water, oil and air, were established separately. A universal correlation, tau WOA = 2.0 + 1264, 9/h, for a Hy-Cal Sensor (with a reference resistance of 100 ohm) within an error of 20% was established while the universal correlation for the Rosemount Sensor (with a reference resistance of 1000 ohm), tau OA = 0.122 + 1105.6/h, was found with a maximum percentage error of 30%. The correlation for the Rosemount Sensor was based on air and oil data only which is certainly not sufficient to make a correlation applicable to every condition. Therefore, the correlation needs more data to be gathered in different fluids. Also, it is necessary to state that the calculation of the parameter, h, was based on the available heat transfer correlations, whose accuracies are already reported in literature uncertain within 20-30%. Therefore, the universal response constant correlations established here for the Hy-Cal and Rosemount sensors are consistent with the uncertainty in the input data and are recommended for future use in flowing liquids and gases.

Pandey, D. K.↗

Airborne lidar mapping of vertical ozone distributions in support of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments mandated attainment of the ozone standard established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Improved photochemical models validated by experimental data are needed to develop strategies for reducing near surface ozone concentrations downwind of urban and industrial centers. For more than 10 years, lidar has been used on large aircraft to provide unique information on ozone distributions in the atmosphere. However, compact airborne lidar systems are needed for operation on small aircraft of the type typically used on regional air quality investigations to collect data with which to develop and validate air quality models. Data presented in this paper will consist of a comparison between airborne differential absorption lidar (DIAL) and airborne in-situ ozone measurements. Also discussed are future plans to improve the airborne ultraviolet-DIAL for ozone and other gas observations and addition of a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) emission spectrometer to investigate the effects of other gas species on vertical ozone distribution.

Uthe, Edward E.↗

The 1992 4th NASA SERC Symposium on VLSI Design

Papers from the fourth annual NASA Symposium on VLSI Design, co-sponsored by the IEEE, are presented. Each year this symposium is organized by the NASA Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at the University of Idaho and is held in conjunction with a quarterly meeting of the NASA Data System Technology Working Group (DSTWG). One task of the DSTWG is to develop new electronic technologies that will meet next generation electronic data system needs. The symposium provides insights into developments in VLSI and digital systems which can be used to increase data systems performance. The NASA SERC is proud to offer, at its fourth symposium on VLSI design, presentations by an outstanding set of individuals from national laboratories, the electronics industry, and universities. These speakers share insights into next generation advances that will serve as a basis for future VLSI design.

Whitaker, Sterling R.↗

Investigations of Mechanisms Associated with Nucleate Boiling Under Microgravity Conditions

In this work a building block type of approach is used so that a basic understanding of the processes that contribute to nucleate boiling heat fluxes under microgravity conditions can be developed. This understanding will lead to development of a mechanistic model for nucleate boiling heat transfer which could eventually be used as a design tool in space applications. Task Description Task 1: Fabrication of the Experimental Setup. Under this task, the test section and liquid holding and viewing chambers will be fabricated. Artificial cylinder cavities will be formed on silicon wafers. A single cavity and two or four cavities, with a prescribed spacing and size, will be formed. The desired nucleation wall superheat will be used to determine the size of the mouth of the cavities. Task 2: Experiments. The basic experiments for flow and temperature field around single and multiple (2 or 4 separated or merged bubbles growing on downward facing or inclined surfaces) will be carried out under normal gravity conditions. The experiments will be conducted at one atmosphere pressure, but liquid subcooling will be varied from 0 to 30C. Water and PF-5050 will be used as test liquids. Task 3: Analytical/Numerical Models. In this task, transient temperature and flow field in vapor and liquid will be determined during growth of a single bubble. Analysis will include the evolution of the vapor-liquid interface and development of microlayer underneath the bubbles. For merged bubbles, detailed calculations of flow and temperature field will be carried out for transient shapes of vapor stems supporting a large bubble and the corresponding evaporation rate. Flow and temperature field for a bubble sliding along a heated wall will also be determined. Microgravity conditions will be simulated and a framework of a numerical tool for prediction of nucleate boiling heat fluxes under microgravity conditions will be developed. Task 4: Experiments in a KC-135. To understand bubble growth and detachment behavior of single or large merged bubbles, boiling experiments will be conducted under low gravity (10-2 g) conditions of the aircraft. In these experiments, 'designed' surfaces will be used. Visual observations and heat transfer data will be taken, but holography will not be used. The apparatus used for laboratory experiments will also be employed for experiments in the aircraft. Task 5: Experiments in the Space Shuttle. Effort will be devoted for defining a boiling experiment to be conducted on a 'designed' surface. The experiment will provide microgravity data on bubble growth and departure. These data are needed for development of a credible model for nucleate boiling heat fluxes under microgravity conditions. The heat transfer data will also be obtained and will be used to validate the models.

Dhir, Vijay K.↗

The Space Communications Protocol Standards Program

In the fall of 1992 NASA and the Department of Defense chartered a technical team to explore the possibility of developing a common set of space data communications standards for potential dual-use across the U.S. national space mission support infrastructure. The team focused on the data communications needs of those activities associated with on-lined control of civil and military aircraft. A two-pronged approach was adopted: a top-down survey of representative civil and military space data communications requirements was conducted; and a bottom-up analysis of available standard data communications protocols was performed. A striking intersection of civil and military space mission requirements emerged, and an equally striking consensus on the approach towards joint civil and military space protocol development was reached. The team concluded that wide segments of the U.S. civil and military space communities have common needs for: (1) an efficient file transfer protocol; (2) various flavors of underlying data transport service; (3) an optional data protection mechanism to assure end-to-end security of message exchange; and (4) an efficient internetworking protocol. These recommendations led to initiating a program to develop a suite of protocols based on these findings. This paper describes the current status of this program.

Jeffries, Alan↗

NASA R&M Efficiency through Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) Digital Assets

At the intersection of mission, technology, and place is NASA’s need to modernize for a digital-forward future. Digitalization, the process of moving toward digital business, is occurring everywhere and remains an ongoing process across the federal government.”[1] Whereas, Digital Transformation is “employing digitization/digital technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence (AI), mobile, cloud, data) to change a process, product, or capability so dramatically (e.g., real-time, intelligent, personalized, anywhere, anytime) that it is unrecognizable compared to its traditional form.” [2] In order to facilitate a digital transformation it is essential for NASA to understand and identify where data exists today and which data are value-needed in the future, understand where there are unfulfilled data needs that limit the advancement of NASA work, and ensure NASA efficiency through Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) digital assets in the future. Therefore, NASA’s Reliability & Maintainability (R&M) Enterprise Data Sharing team is working to leverage both Digitization and Digital Transformation to achieve their vision of developing an R&M data discovery framework that enables our community, our partners, and our stakeholders with the ability to efficiently, robustly, and seamlessly access information that enables real-time knowledge and model-based, analytics driven, decision-making impacting R&M. As a result the R&M Enterprise Data Sharing team has conducted a survey of its Reliability, Maintainability, and Availability (RMA) community members to identify data existence (created or used) and where there are corresponding barriers to data acquisition and/or R&M or other issues as shown within this presentation.

Digital Transformation↗

Trilateral Task Force – Reliability Analysis Supporting Mission Extension/Post Mission Disposal

At the intersection of mission, technology, and place is NASA’s need to modernize for a digital-forward future. Digitalization, the process of moving toward digital business, is occurring everywhere and remains an ongoing process across the federal government.”[1] Whereas, Digital Transformation is “employing digitization/digital technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence (AI), mobile, cloud, data) to change a process, product, or capability so dramatically (e.g., real-time, intelligent, personalized, anywhere, anytime) that it is unrecognizable compared to its traditional form.” [2] In order to facilitate a digital transformation it is essential for NASA to understand and identify where data exists today and which data are value-needed in the future, understand where there are unfulfilled data needs that limit the advancement of NASA work, and ensure NASA efficiency through Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) digital assets in the future. Therefore, NASA’s Reliability & Maintainability (R&M) Enterprise Data Sharing team is working to leverage both Digitization and Digital Transformation to achieve their vision of developing an R&M data discovery framework that enables our community, our partners, and our stakeholders with the ability to efficiently, robustly, and seamlessly access information that enables real-time knowledge and model-based, analytics driven, decision-making impacting R&M. As a result the R&M Enterprise Data Sharing team has conducted a survey of its Reliability, Maintainability, and Availability (RMA) community members to identify data existence (created or used) and where there are corresponding barriers to data acquisition and/or R&M or other issues as shown within this presentation.

Digital Transformation, Reliability Engineering↗

Documentation of the detailed radiation property data for the radiation-ablation code RASLE

This report is a documentation of the necessary radiation property input data for the radiating shock layer simulation code RASLE. The tabulated data are required to simulate systems which are composed of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and silicon. These data are needed to compute the flowfield effects of many practical ablative, hypersonic vehicle heat shield materials. A brief outline description is provided for the RASLE code. A more detailed discussion is provided for the RASLE code non-grey gas spectral radiation model. This model is related to the required radiation property data which are tabulated at the end of the report. Other correlations needed for the RASLE simulations are not discussed, since these are automatically included in the program and no input data are required.

Henline, William D.↗

OAST Space Theme Workshop. Volume 3: Working group summary. 2: Data handling, communications (E-2). A. Statement. B. Technology needs (form 1). C. Priority assessment (form 2)

Technologies required to support the stated OAST thrust to increase information return by X1000, while reducing costs by a factor of 10 are identified. The most significant driver is the need for an overall end-to-end data system management technology. Maximum use of LSI component technology and trade-offs between hardware and software are manifest in most all considerations of technology needs. By far, the greatest need for data handling technology was identified for the space Exploration and Global Services themes. Major advances are needed in NASA's ability to provide cost effective mass reduction of space data, and automated assessment of earth looking imagery, with a concomitant reduction in cost per useful bit. A combined approach embodying end-to-end system analysis, with onboard data set selection, onboard data processing, highly parallel image processing (both ground and space), low cost, high capacity memories, and low cost user data distribution systems would be necessary.

Source record↗