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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

Prediction of Performance of a Pilot-Scale Dual Fluidized Bed System for Chemical Looping with Oxygen Uncoupling

Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) is a variant of chemical looping combustion that involves spontaneous release of gaseous oxygen in the fuel reactor, which enables efficient combustion of solid fuel char. The University of Utah has constructed a 200 kW pilot-scale chemical looping process development unit (PDU) consisting of two fluidized beds. The CLOU oxygen carrier uses copper as the active metal, cycling between cupric (CuO) and cuprous (Cu2O) oxides. As an aid for design, troubleshooting and evaluation of the pilot system, a CFD model has been developed using CPFD Software’s Barracuda VR software. The 3D model includes both reactors, as well as loop seals and cyclone separators. Mechanisms describing CLOU reaction kinetics for cuprous oxide oxidation in the air reactor and cupric oxide reduction in the fuel reactor were adapted from previously reported experimental work. Coal char kinetics were based on the carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen-sulfur, CHNOS, method. Submodels for devolatilization, gasification, and homogenous gas-phase reactions used preexisting relationships in the literature. Three different simulations were performed, analyzing the influence of particle properties (a base carrier and an alternate carrier referred to as cariact) and coal feeding rate (100kW, 200kW). Increased coal feeding rate caused significant increase in cuprious oxide oxidation in the air reactor as well as higher temperature. The alternate carrier predicted CO2 capture below 90%, in contrast to the other cases.

Reinking, Zachary↗

Prediction of Performance of a Pilot Scale Dual Fluidized Bed System for Chemical Looping with Oxygen Uncoupling

Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) is a variant of chemical looping combustion that involves spontaneous release of gaseous oxygen in the fuel reactor, which enables efficient combustion of solid fuel char. The University of Utah has constructed a pilot-scale dual fluidized bed chemical looping process development unit (PDU) with a nominal thermal input of 200 kW. The CLOU oxygen carrier uses copper as the active metal, cycling between cupric (CuO) and cuprous (Cu2O) oxides. As an aid for design, troubleshooting and evaluation of the pilot system, a CFD model has been developed using CPFD Software’s Barracuda VR software. The 3D model includes both reactors, as well as loop seals and cyclone separators. Mechanisms describing CLOU reaction kinetics for cuprous oxide oxidation in the air reactor and cupric oxide reduction in the fuel reactor were adapted from previously done experimental work. Coal char kinetics were based on the carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen-sulfur, CHNOS, method. Submodels for devolatilization, gasification, and homogenous gas-phase reactions used preexisting relationships in the literature. Results predict temperature profiles, concentration profiles, product gas composition, and CO¬2 capture efficiency. This paper presents results of a parametric study in which key operational variables were adjusted to determine the influence on simulated performance of the PDU. The adjusted variables include fuel feed rate, fuel particle size, total oxygen carrier inventory, oxygen carrier copper oxide loading, and oxygen carrier particle physical properties.

Reinking, Zachary↗

Risk Analysis of Various Design Architectures for High Safety-significant Safety-related Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems of Nuclear Power Plants during Accident Scenarios

This report documents the plus-up activities performed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) during Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program, Risk Informed Systems Analysis (RISA) Pathway, digital instrumentation and control (DI&C) risk assessment project. In FY 2019, the RISA Pathway initiated a project to develop a risk assessment strategy for delivering a strong technical basis to support effective, licensable, and secure DI&C technologies for digital upgrades/designs. An integrated risk assessment technology for the DI&C systems was proposed for this strategy, which aims to (1) provide a best-estimate, risk-informed capability to quantitatively and accurately estimate the safety margin obtained from plant modernization, especially for the high safety-significant safety-related (HSSSR) DI&C systems, (2) support and supplement existing advanced risk-informed DI&C design guides by providing quantitative risk information and evidence, (3) offer a capability of design architecture evaluation of various DI&C systems to support system design decisions and diversity and redundancy applications, (4) assure the long-term safety and reliability of HSSSR DI&C systems, and (5) reduce uncertainty in costs and support integration of DI&C systems in the plant. To achieve these technical goals and deal with the expensive licensing justifications from regulatory insights, the LWRS-developed framework instructs nuclear vendors and utilities on how to effectively lower the costs associated with digital compliance and speed industry advances by: (1) defining an integrated risk-informed analysis process for DI&C upgrade, including hazard analysis, reliability analysis, and consequence analysis, (2) applying systematic and risk-informed tools to address common cause failures (CCFs) and quantify corresponding failure probabilities for DI&C technologies, particularly software CCFs, (3) evaluating the impact of digital failures at the component level, system level, and plant level, and (4) providing insights and suggestions on designs to manage the risks, thus to support the development, licensing, and deployment of advanced DI&C technologies on nuclear power plant (NPPs). Adding diversity within system or components is the main means to eliminate and mitigate CCFs, but diversity also increases plant complexity and errors and may not address all sources of systematic failures. How to optimize the diversity and redundancy applications for the safety-critical DI&C systems remains a challenge. To deal with the technical issues in addressing potential software CCFs in HSSSR DI&C systems of NPPs and supporting relevant design optimization, the framework provides: ? An integrated best-estimate, risk-informed capability to address new technical digital issues quantitatively, accurately, and efficiently in plan modernization progress, such as software CCFs in HSSSR DI&C systems of NPPs ? A common and a modularized platform for DI&C designers, software developers, cybersecurity analysts, and plant engineers to efficiently predict and prevent risk in the early design stage of DI&C systems ? Technical bases and risk-informed insights to assist U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and industry to address and fulfill the risk-informed alternatives for evaluation of CCFs in HSSSR DI&C systems of NPPs ? An integrated risk-informed tool that offers a capability of design architecture evaluation of various DI&C systems to support system design decisions in diversity and redundancy applications. The plus-up research and development efforts of this project in FY 2022 are focused on methodology improvement of software CCF modeling and estimation, prevention analysis, importance analysis and risk analysis of various design architectures of HSSSR DI&C systems. This work greatly enhances the capability of the LWRS-developed framework for the risk assessment and design optimization of safety-critical DI&C systems. It should be noted that all the analyses are performed for the demonstration of the LWRS-developed framework, not for the evaluation of relevant systems. Results are obtained based on very limited design information and testing data.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Heave-Plate Hydrodynamic Coefficients for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines - A Compilation of Data: Preprint

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's OpenFAST software is utilized by academics and industry professionals alike to simulate offshore wind turbines. The software's modeling of hydrodynamic loads on heave plates attached to these structures relies on user specified hydrodynamic coefficients. To guide the proper selection of these coefficients and potentially develop a new functionality within OpenFAST that automatically prescribes and/or adjust the heave-plate hydrodynamic coefficients, this paper reviews past literature to examine the dependence of the added mass, damping, and drag coefficients on various relevant non-dimensional parameters, including the Keulegan-Carpenter number, the frequency parameter, and the plate thickness ratio. Existing data in the literature show strong dependence of the hydrodynamic coefficients on the Keulegan-Carpenter number. Consistent trends are observed across a range of different plate geometry, plate porosity, and flow conditions. Secondary dependence of the coefficients on the frequency parameter and plate thickness ratio is also present.

added mass↗

FORCE Output Data Visualization

The Framework for Optimization of ResourCes and Economics (FORCE) is a collection of software tools, models, and datasets acquired and developed under the Integrated Energy Systems (IES) program to enable analysis of technical and economic viability of myriad IES configurations. Idaho National Laboratory is hosting a training session for FORCE users and developers, which is "Integrated Energy Systems Tools FORCE Overview and Training 2023." We will present data output visualization results with FORCE scenarios as examples and show how does the new design improve existing automated visualization for analysis results.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Frequency-Selectable Laser Source for Cosmic Microwave Background Experiments

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments measure remnant radiation from the early universe and use that data to determine fundamental properties of the universe. We can constrain key parameters, such as \textit{r}, the cosmic tensor-to-scalar ratio, and $N_\text{eff}$, the effective number of relativistic species, by analyzing the CMB power spectra. Improving our measurements of the CMB requires improving our instrument systematics, one of the most important of which is detector bandpass. Current experiments use a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) to measure bandpass. However, the FTS is systematics limited, and cannot achieve the accuracy needed to make improved CMB measurements. For this reason, we are developing a new instrument, the Frequency-Selectable Laser Source (FLS) to decrease the uncertainty in bandpass by an order of magnitude. In this paper, we describe work completed to support the version 2 upgrade to the FLS. Using ray-tracing software, we modeled the FLS optics to set physical tolerances for the new design. We also discuss the laser calibration, and future work to be completed in further development of the FLS upgrade.

Rosen-Turits, Gabriel M. [Fermilab]↗

MiGRIDS

MiGRIDS is a software that models islanded microgrid power systems with different controls and components. For example, using load and resource data from a microgrid, you could model it with additional wind turbines, battery etc. You could also try out different dispatch schemes to see which one worked best. MiGRIDS is designed to help optimize the size and dispatch of grid components in a microgrid. While a grid connect feature is expected to be added in the future, islanded operation is the focus. Note that this is a basic implementation and more features and functionality (such as a GUI) are coming! MiGRIDS runs time-step energy balance simulations for different grid components and controls. In smaller microgrid environments, dispatch decisions are being made on the order of seconds. In order to fully capture their effect, this tool lets you run simulations on the order of seconds. The end result is a more realistic representation of what can be achieved by integrating different components and control strategies in a grid.

Morgan, Tawna↗

A distributed analysis and visualization system for model and observational data

Software was developed with NASA support to aid in the analysis and display of the massive amounts of data generated from satellites, observational field programs, and from model simulations. This software was developed in the context of the PATHFINDER (Probing ATmospHeric Flows in an Interactive and Distributed EnviRonment) Project. The overall aim of this project is to create a flexible, modular, and distributed environment for data handling, modeling simulations, data analysis, and visualization of atmospheric and fluid flows. Software completed with NASA support includes GEMPAK analysis, data handling, and display modules for which collaborators at NASA had primary responsibility, and prototype software modules for three-dimensional interactive and distributed control and display as well as data handling, for which NSCA was responsible. Overall process control was handled through a scientific and visualization application builder from Silicon Graphics known as the Iris Explorer. In addition, the GEMPAK related work (GEMVIS) was also ported to the Advanced Visualization System (AVS) application builder. Many modules were developed to enhance those already available in Iris Explorer including HDF file support, improved visualization and display, simple lattice math, and the handling of metadata through development of a new grid datatype. Complete source and runtime binaries along with on-line documentation is available via the World Wide Web at: http://redrock.ncsa.uiuc.edu/ PATHFINDER/pathre12/top/top.html.

Wilhelmson, Robert B.↗

Space station software reliability analysis based on failures observed during testing at the multisystem integration facility

Quality of software not only is vital to the successful operation of the space station, it is also an important factor in establishing testing requirements, time needed for software verification and integration as well as launching schedules for the space station. Defense of management decisions can be greatly strengthened by combining engineering judgments with statistical analysis. Unlike hardware, software has the characteristics of no wearout and costly redundancies, thus making traditional statistical analysis not suitable in evaluating reliability of software. A statistical model was developed to provide a representation of the number as well as types of failures occur during software testing and verification. From this model, quantitative measure of software reliability based on failure history during testing are derived. Criteria to terminate testing based on reliability objectives and methods to estimate the expected number of fixings required are also presented.

Tamayo, Tak Chai↗

MODEST: A Tool for Geodesy and Astronomy

Features of the JPL VLBI modeling and estimation software "MODEST" are reviewed. Its main advantages include thoroughly documented model physics, portability, and detailed error modeling. Two unique models are included: modeling of source structure and modeling of both spatial and temporal correlations in tropospheric delay noise. History of the code parallels the development of the astrometric and geodetic VLBI technique and the software retains many of the models implemented during its advancement. The code has been traceably maintained since the early 1980s, and will continue to be updated with recent IERS standards. Scripts are being developed to facilitate user-friendly data processing in the era of e-VLBI.

Sovers, Ojars J.↗

How Can Construction Process Simulation Modeling Aid the Integration of Lean Principles in the Factory-Built Housing Industry?

New and existing factories that produce and deliver factory-built housing can benefit from construction process simulation modeling to explore the integration of Lean principles in their operations. Construction process simulation modeling provides digital or virtual recreations of the real-world factory environments to visualize, quantify, analyze, and optimize their underlying behavior, including factory productivity, material flow, labor dynamics, bottlenecks, and work scope. One of the key benefits of process simulation modeling is the ability to create and compare "what-if" scenarios, including integrating Lean principles such as reducing waste (for example, transportation, waiting), line balancing, and just-in-time concepts. In general, three process simulation methods are widely used: discrete event simulation (DES), agentbased modeling (ABM), and system dynamics (SD). Myriad process simulation software also is available, but depending on the industry, complexity of the system, and purposes of the simulation, some software might be more appropriate. Similar to how computer-aided design (CAD) software such as AutoCAD and Rhinoceros enable building design of modular or factory-built housing, process simulation modeling software such as jStrobe, ProModel, and AnyLogic can enable factory design of new and existing factories to deliver modular affordable housing at scale, as opposed to traditional site-built construction. Software with DES capabilities can help generate a process model that is a logical representation of resources and activities in a factory. Software with CAD-DES integration can leverage product-process data integration to help spatially visualize a DES model of the factory in the CAD environment. Software with multimethod simulation capabilities, widely used in the manufacturing industry, brings together DES, ABM, and SD in a single platform that allows visualization, quantification, analyses, and optimization at varying data fidelities. Near-real-time data from an existing factory can be directly plugged into multimethod simulation software so that the construction process simulation model is a near-accurate representation of the real-world factory conditions. This report provides insights into the use of simulation as an aid to integrate Lean concepts in factories, including guidelines for selecting the appropriate process simulation modeling method and software. These insights have been developed as part of ongoing process simulation modeling research, development, and demonstration projects at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory focused on how process simulation models can enable better integration of resilience, energy efficiency, and low-carbon design strategies.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Lessons Learned in the Livingstone 2 on Earth Observing One Flight Experiment

The Livingstone 2 (L2) model-based diagnosis software is a reusable diagnostic tool for monitoring complex systems. In 2004, L2 was integrated with the JPL Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment (ASE) and deployed on-board Goddard's Earth Observing One (EO-1) remote sensing satellite, to monitor and diagnose the EO-1 space science instruments and imaging sequence. This paper reports on lessons learned from this flight experiment. The goals for this experiment, including validation of minimum success criteria and of a series of diagnostic scenarios, have all been successfully net. Long-term operations in space are on-going, as a test of the maturity of the system, with L2 performance remaining flawless. L2 has demonstrated the ability to track the state of the system during nominal operations, detect simulated abnormalities in operations and isolate failures to their root cause fault. Specific advances demonstrated include diagnosis of ambiguity groups rather than a single fault candidate; hypothesis revision given new sensor evidence about the state of the system; and the capability to check for faults in a dynamic system without having to wait until the system is quiescent. The major benefits of this advanced health management technology are to increase mission duration and reliability through intelligent fault protection, and robust autonomous operations with reduced dependency on supervisory operations from Earth. The work-load for operators will be reduced by telemetry of processed state-of-health information rather than raw data. The long-term vision is that of making diagnosis available to the onboard planner or executive, allowing autonomy software to re-plan in order to work around known component failures. For a system that is expected to evolve substantially over its lifetime, as for the International Space Station, the model-based approach has definite advantages over rule-based expert systems and limit-checking fault protection systems, as these do not scale well. The model-based approach facilitates reuse of the L2 diagnostic software; only the model of the system to be diagnosed and telemetry monitoring software has to be rebuilt for a new system or expanded for a growing system. The hierarchical L2 model supports modularity and expendability, and as such is suitable solution for integrated system health management as envisioned for systems-of-systems.

Hayden, Sandra C.↗

Software Simplifies the Sharing of Numerical Models

To ease the sharing of climate models with university students, Goddard Space Flight Center awarded SBIR funding to Reston, Virginia-based Parabon Computation Inc., a company that specializes in cloud computing. The firm developed a software program capable of running climate models over the Internet, and also created an online environment for people to collaborate on developing such models.

Source record↗

Joint emulation of Earth System Model temperature-precipitation realizations with internal variability and space-time and cross-variable correlation: fldgen v2.0 software description

Earth System Models (ESMs) are excellent tools for quantifying many aspects of future climate dynamics but are too computationally expensive to produce large collections of scenarios for downstream users of ESM data. In particular, many researchers focused on the impacts of climate change require large collections of ESM runs to rigorously study the impacts to both human and natural systems of low-frequency high-importance events, such as multi-year droughts. Climate model emulators provide an effective mechanism for filling this gap, reproducing many aspects of ESMs rapidly but with lower precision. The fldgen v1.0 R package quickly generates thousands of realizations of gridded temperature fields by randomizing the residuals of pattern scaling temperature output from any single ESM, retaining the spatial and temporal variance and covariance structures of the input data at a low computational cost. The fldgen v2.0 R package described here extends this capability to produce joint realizations of multiple variables, with a focus on temperature and precipitation in an open source software package available for community use (https://github.com/jgcri/fldgen). This substantially improves the fldgen package by removing the requirement that the ESM variables be normally distributed, and will enable researchers to quickly generate covarying temperature and precipitation data that are synthetic but faithful to the characteristics of the original ESM.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Automatic programming of simulation models

The concepts of software engineering were used to improve the simulation modeling environment. Emphasis was placed on the application of an element of rapid prototyping, or automatic programming, to assist the modeler define the problem specification. Then, once the problem specification has been defined, an automatic code generator is used to write the simulation code. The following two domains were selected for evaluating the concepts of software engineering for discrete event simulation: manufacturing domain and a spacecraft countdown network sequence. The specific tasks were to: (1) define the software requirements for a graphical user interface to the Automatic Manufacturing Programming System (AMPS) system; (2) develop a graphical user interface for AMPS; and (3) compare the AMPS graphical interface with the AMPS interactive user interface.

Schroer, Bernard J.↗