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At least 109 records · Page 6

Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report for June 2023

The Sandia National Laboratories, in California (Sandia/CA) is a research and development facility, owned by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration agency (DOE/NNSA). The laboratory is located in the City of Livermore (the City) and is comprised of approximately 410 acres. The Sandia/CA facility is operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) under a contract with the DOE/NNSA. The DOE/ NNSA’s Sandia Field Office (SFO) oversees the operations of the site. North of the Sandia/CA facility is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in which Sandia/CA’s sewer system combines with before discharging to the City’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) for final treatment and processing. The City’s POTW authorizes the wastewater discharge from Sandia/CA via the assigned Wastewater Discharge Permit #1251 (the Permit), which is issued to the DOE/NNSA’s main office for Sandia National Laboratories, located in New Mexico (Sandia/NM). The Permit requires the submittal of this Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report to the City by the twenty-fifth day of each month.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report for March 2023

The Sandia National Laboratories, in California (Sandia/CA) is a research and development facility, owned by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration agency (DOE/NNSA). The laboratory is located in the City of Livermore (the City) and is comprised of approximately 410 acres. The Sandia/CA facility is operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) under a contract with the DOE/NNSA. The DOE/ NNSA’s Sandia Field Office (SFO) oversees the operations of the site. North of the Sandia/CA facility is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in which Sandia/CA’s sewer system combines with before discharging to the City’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) for final treatment and processing. The City’s POTW authorizes the wastewater discharge from Sandia/CA via the assigned Wastewater Discharge Permit #1251 (the Permit), which is issued to the DOE/NNSA’s main office for Sandia National Laboratories, located in New Mexico (Sandia/NM). The Permit requires the submittal of this Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report to the City by the twenty-fifth day of each month.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report for February 2023

The Sandia National Laboratories, in California (Sandia/CA) is a research and development facility, owned by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration agency (DOE/NNSA). The laboratory is located in the City of Livermore (the City) and is comprised of approximately 410 acres. The Sandia/CA facility is operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) under a contract with the DOE/NNSA. The DOE/ NNSA’s Sandia Field Office (SFO) oversees the operations of the site. North of the Sandia/CA facility is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in which Sandia/CA’s sewer system combines with before discharging to the City’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) for final treatment and processing. The City’s POTW authorizes the wastewater discharge from Sandia/CA via the assigned Wastewater Discharge Permit #1251 (the Permit), which is issued to the DOE/NNSA’s main office for Sandia National Laboratories, located in New Mexico (Sandia/NM). The Permit requires the submittal of this Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report to the City by the twenty-fifth day of each month.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report for January 2023

The Sandia National Laboratories, in California (Sandia/CA) is a research and development facility, owned by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration agency (DOE/NNSA). The laboratory is located in the City of Livermore (the City) and is comprised of approximately 410 acres. The Sandia/CA facility is operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) under a contract with the DOE/NNSA. The DOE/ NNSA’s Sandia Field Office (SFO) oversees the operations of the site. North of the Sandia/CA facility is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in which Sandia/CA’s sewer system combines with before discharging to the City’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) for final treatment and processing. The City’s POTW authorizes the wastewater discharge from Sandia/CA via the assigned Wastewater Discharge Permit #1251 (the Permit), which is issued to the DOE/NNSA’s main office for Sandia National Laboratories, located in New Mexico (Sandia/NM). The Permit requires the submittal of this Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report to the City by the twenty-fifth day of each month.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Reported Energy and Cost Savings from the DOE ESPC IDIQ Program: FY 2023

The objective of this work was to determine the realization rate of energy and cost savings from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) program based on information reported by the energy services companies (ESCOs) that are carrying out ESPC projects at federal sites. Information was extracted from 201 measurement and verification (M&V) reports covering 191 projects to determine reported, estimated, and guaranteed cost savings and the associated reported and estimated energy savings for the previous contract performance year. This report covers projects that had a performance year ending in fiscal year 2023, between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, and had an M&V report issued. Additionally, the annual cost to perform M&V was extracted from the individual project Task Order (TO) Schedules.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Semiannual Categorical Process Report - January Through June 2023

The Sandia National Laboratories, in California (SNL/CA) is a research and development facility, owned by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration agency (DOE/NNSA). The laboratory is located in the City of Livermore (the City) and is comprised of approximately 410 acres. The SNL/CA facility is operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) under a contract with the DOE/NNSA. The DOE/ NNSA’s Sandia Field Office (SFO) oversees the operations of the site. North of the SNL/CA facility is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in which SNL/CA’s sewer system combines with before discharging to the City’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) for final treatment and processing. The City’s POTW authorizes the wastewater discharge from SNL/CA via the assigned Wastewater Discharge Permit #1251 (the Permit), which is issued to the DOE/NNSA’s main office for Sandia National Laboratories, located in New Mexico (SNL/NM). The Monitoring and Reporting Condition 2.B of the Permit requires compliance with the semiannual reporting requirements contained in federal categorical pretreatment standards regulations (40 CFR 403.12). These regulations set numerical limits on the concentration of pollutants allowed to discharge from certain categories of industrial processes. This report is submitted to the City to satisfy this reporting requirement.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Monthly Wastewater Report - May 2023

The Sandia National Laboratories, in California (Sandia/CA) is a research and development facility, owned by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration agency (DOE/NNSA). The laboratory is located in the City of Livermore (the City) and is comprised of approximately 410 acres. The Sandia/CA facility is operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) under a contract with the DOE/NNSA. The DOE/ NNSA’s Sandia Field Office (SFO) oversees the operations of the site. North of the Sandia/CA facility is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in which Sandia/CA’s sewer system combines with before discharging to the City’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) for final treatment and processing. The City’s POTW authorizes the wastewater discharge from Sandia/CA via the assigned Wastewater Discharge Permit #1251 (the Permit), which is issued to the DOE/NNSA’s main office for Sandia National Laboratories, located in New Mexico (Sandia/NM). The Permit requires the submittal of this Monthly Sewer Monitoring Report to the City by the twenty-fifth day of each month.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Extending the operating range and safety of Li-ion batteries with new fluorinated electrolytes

Orbia Fluor and Energy Materials (formerly Koura) has successfully developed a new class of fluorinated electrolyte solvents for lithium-ion batteries. In collaboration with Silatronix and Argonne National Laboratory, the team synthesized and screened over 20 novel fluorinated compounds, optimizing formulations that significantly enhance battery performance across critical metrics such as thermal stability, fast-charging capability, and cycling life at extreme temperatures. Electrolytes with fluorinated molecules developed in this program demonstrated superior performance in 2 Ah pouch cells, achieving over 1000 fast-charge cycles with minimal capacity fade, outperforming conventional carbonate-based electrolytes. Mechanistic studies revealed that the fluorinated electrolytes promote a stable solid electrolyte interphase at the anode and reduce cathode metal dissolution, contributing to improved long-term stability. These advancements mark a significant step toward safer, more efficient batteries for applications ranging from grid storage to defense systems to electric vehicles. We gratefully acknowledge DOE’s financial support through contract DE-EE0009642.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Advanced Gas Turbine (AGT) powertrain system development for automotive applications report

This report describes progress and work performed during January through June 1984 to develop technology for an Advanced Gas Turbine (AGT) engine for automotive applications. Work performed during the first eight periods initiated design and analysis, ceramic development, component testing, and test bed evaluation. Project effort conducted under this contract is part of the DOE Gas Turbine Highway Vehicle System Program. This program is oriented at providing the United States automotive industry the high-risk long-range techology necessary to produce gas turbine engines for automobiles with reduced fuel consumption and reduced environmental impact. Technology resulting from this program is intended to reach the marketplace by the early 1990s.

Source record↗

Advanced Turbine Technology Applications Project (ATTAP)

This report is the fourth in a series of Annual Technical Summary Reports for the Advanced Turbine Technology Applications Project (ATTAP). This report covers plans and progress on ceramics development for commercial automotive applications over the period 1 Jan. - 31 Dec. 1991. Project effort conducted under this contract is part of the DOE Gas Turbine Highway Vehicle System program. This program is directed to provide the U.S. automotive industry the high-risk, long-range technology necessary to produce gas turbine engines for automobiles with reduced fuel consumption, reduced environmental impact, and a decreased reliance on scarce materials and resources. The program is oriented toward developing the high-risk technology of ceramic structural component design and fabrication, such that industry can carry this technology forward to production in the 1990s. The ATTAP test bed engine, carried over from the previous AGT101 project, is being used for verification testing of the durability of next-generation ceramic components, and their suitability for service at Reference Powertrain Design conditions. This document reports the technical effort conducted by GAPD and the ATTAP subcontractors during the fourth year of the project. Topics covered include ceramic processing definition and refinement, design improvements to the ATTAP test bed engine and test rigs and the methodology development of ceramic impact and fracture mechanisms. Appendices include reports by ATTAP subcontractors in the development of silicon nitride and silicon carbide families of materials and processes.

Source record↗

GRC Supporting Technology for NASA's Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG)

From 1999 to 2006, the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) supported a NASA project to develop a high-efficiency, nominal 110-We Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) for potential use on NASA missions. Lockheed Martin was selected as the System Integration Contractor for the SRG110, under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). The potential applications included deep space missions, and Mars rovers. The project was redirected in 2006 to make use of the Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC) that was being developed by Sunpower, Inc. under contract to GRC, which would reduce the mass of the generator and increase the power output. This change would approximately double the specific power and result in the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG). The SRG110 supporting technology effort at GRC was replanned to support the integration of the Sunpower convertor and the ASRG. This paper describes the ASRG supporting technology effort at GRC and provides details of the contributions in some of the key areas. The GRC tasks include convertor extended-operation testing in air and in thermal vacuum environments, heater head life assessment, materials studies, permanent magnet characterization and aging tests, structural dynamics testing, electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility characterization, evaluation of organic materials, reliability studies, and analysis to support controller development.

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.↗

How To Determine and Verify Operations and Maintenance Savings in Energy Savings Performance Contracts

Operations and maintenance (O&M) savings frequently occur in energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs). During FY 2022, 37% of reported annual cost savings for projects awarded under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ESPC indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and in the performance period were due to O&M or other energy- and/or water-related cost savings, with the balance (63%) from utility cost savings (i.e., energy or water cost savings). Sometimes the energy- and water-related cost savings are acknowledged and included in payments within ESPCs; other times, for various reasons, they are not. As presented in this guide, FEMP recommends including energy- and water-related cost savings that are O&M (including related repair and replacement) savings in the financial aspects of an ESPC, to the extent such savings can be documented. Inclusion of these savings will help augment project scopes and/or lower interest costs (by shortening financing terms). However, there is a burden of proof as to what constitutes acceptability in O&M savings that needs to be carefully considered and documented in individual projects. Beyond promoting a key tenet used in U.S. federal performance contracting—that savings must be from actual budgets and therefore based on the level of O&M that is actually occurring, not what should have been performed—FEMP also recommends good practice in establishing and documenting O&M baselines, formulating the rationale for baseline adjustments during the performance period, and conducting ongoing verification activities. This document concludes with five examples of how O&M savings may be handled, in situations ranging from the partial displacement of O&M contracts to consolidation and “virtualization” of servers in data centers. A key theme that permeates this guide is the importance of thoroughly documenting all conditions and assumptions used in the development of and accounting for O&M costs and savings throughout the ESPC life cycle, from baseline-setting to measurement and verification (M&V) of the savings during each year of the performance period. Doing so not only prevents internal claims of non-performance (especially in the case of staff turnover during the contract term), but also simplifies ordering agency and energy service company (ESCO) response in the event of scrutiny from oversight organizations, such as government audits. While this guide focuses on federal ESPCs, it may also be applicable when O&M savings are included in utility energy service contracts (UESCs) and non-federal ESPCs.

Voss, Phil↗

PSIP For HDF5 Pilot Project (Final Report)

Productivity and Sustainability Improvement Planning (PSIP) is a lightweight, incremental and iterative approach (much in the same spirit as Agile methodologies) for making routine software process improvements in software projects. It is designed to be easily applied in existing development workflows. Quoting from a November 2019 workshop paper describing PSIP. PSIP breaks from classic software process improvement approaches such as CMM(I), SPICE, ISO 9000 or Six Sigma, in that it trades comprehensive standards and certification-driven assessment for self-defined, internally driven goals. It does, however, carry forward such ideas as having staged models of improvement (like CMM(I)) in the form of progress tracking cards. Additionally, PSIP is more aligned with lean and agile methods; it adopts their emphasis on iterative improvement and continuous learning. At its core, PSIP is an instantiation of the Plan-Do-Check-Act management cycle (PDCA, also known as Plan-Do-Study-Adjust) which provides the foundation for much of the modern software process improvement literature. This situates PSIP within a constellation of bottom-up, inductive software process improvement methods. PSIP is designed around the notion that already overburdened teams can define and carry out a series of small, incremental steps of progression towards improvement goals without significant (there will be some, but the goal is to avoid significant) disruption to ongoing development activities. A key enabling tool in PSIP is the use of Progress Tracking Cards (PTCs) which define the steps of progression towards a given improvement goal. This is the theory of PSIP. The PSIP for HDF5 project was aimed at putting PSIP into practice with the purpose of evaluating its effectiveness in planning and facilitating quality and process improvements in a scientific software project as well as its associated artifacts. The HDF5 project was chosen as a use case to evaluate PSIP for several reasons. First, NNSA labs and LLNL in particular have a keen interest in how HDF5 quality impacts its uptake and sustainability as a community adopted and supported code. Next, HDF5 is a foundational library, a key substrate in the HPC/CSE software stack, and any improvements there realized through this contract will have benefits to many DOE applications depending on it. HDF5 also represents an older, legacy code with technical debts to pay down. These characteristics are similar to many NNSA and even some ECP code projects. But, because HDF5 is an I/O library, it represents a simpler use case within which to study PSIP than a full-fledged and significantly more complex PDE simulation code. We believe these attributes make HDF5 an ideal use case for evaluating PSIP.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Overview of NASA GRC Stirling Technology Development

The Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) is currently being developed by Lockheed Martin Astronautics (LMA) under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). The generator will be a high efficiency electric power source for NASA Space Science missions with the ability to operate in vacuum or in an atmosphere such as on Mars. High efficiency is obtained through the use of free-piston Stirling power conversion. Power output will be greater than 100 watts at the beginning of life with the decline in power largely due to the decay of the plutonium heat source. In support of the DOE SRG project, the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has established a technology effort to provide data to ensure a successful transition to flight for what will be the first dynamic power system in space. Initially, a limited number of areas were selected for the effort, however this is now being expanded to more thoroughly cover key technical issues. There is also an advanced technology effort that is complementary to the near-term technology effort. Many of the tests use the 55-We Technology Demonstration Convertor (TDC). There have been multiple controller tests to support the LMA flight controller design effort. Preparation is continuing for a thermal/vacuum system demonstration. A pair of flight prototype TDC s have been placed on continuous operation. Heater head life assessment continues, with the material data being refined and the analysis moving toward the system perspective. Magnet aging tests continue to characterize any possible aging in the strength or demagnetization resistance of the magnets in the linear alternator. A reliability effort has been initiated to help guide the development activities with focus on the key components and subsystems. This paper will provide an overview of some of the GRC technical efforts, including the status, and a description of future efforts.

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.↗

Design and Fabrication of a Stirling Thermal Vacuum Test

A Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) is being developed for potential use on future NASA space science missions. The development effort is being conducted by Lockheed Martin under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). The Stirling Technology Company supplies the free-piston Stirling power convertors, and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) provides support to the effort in a range of technologies. This generator features higher efficiency and specific power compared to the currently used alternatives. One potential application for the generator would entail significant cruise time in the vacuum of deep space. A test has been conceived at GRC to demonstrate functionality of the Stirling convertors in a thermal vacuum environment. The test article resembles the configuration of the SRG, however the requirement for low mass was not considered. This test will demonstrate the operation of the Stirling convertors in the thermal vacuum environment, simulating deep space, over an extended period of operation. The analysis, design, and fabrication of the test article will be described in this paper.

Oriti, Salvatore M.↗

Design and Fabrication of a Stirling Thermal Vacuum Test

A Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) is being developed for potential use on future NASA space science missions. The development effort is being conducted by Lockheed Martin under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). The Stirling Technology Company supplies the free-piston Stirling power convertors, and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) provides support to the effort in a range of technologies. This generator features higher efficiency and specific power compared to the currently used alternatives. One potential application for the generator would entail significant cruise time in the vacuum of deep space. A test has been conceived at GRC to demonstrate functionality of the Stirling convertors in a thermal vacuum environment. The test article resembles the configuration of the SRG, however the requirement for low mass was not considered. This test will demonstrate the operation of the Stirling convertors in the thermal vacuum environment, simulating deep space, over an extended period of operation. The analysis, design, and fabrication of the test article will be described in this paper.

Oriti, Salvatore M.↗

Extended Operation of Stirling Convertors in a Thermal Vacuum Environment

A 110 watt Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) is being developed for potential use on future NASA exploration missions. The development effort is being performed by Lockheed Martin under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). Infinia, Corp. supplies the free-piston Stirling power convertors, and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) provides support to the effort in a range of technologies. This generator features higher efficiency and specific power compared to alternatives. One potential application for the generator would entail significant cruise time in the vacuum of deep space. A test has been initiated at GRC to demonstrate functionality of the Stirling convertors in a thermal vacuum environment. The test article resembles the configuration of the SRG110, however the requirement for low mass was not considered. This test demonstrates the operation of the Stirling convertors in the thermal vacuum environment, simulating deep space, over an extended period of operation. The status of the test as well as the data gathered will be presented in this paper.

Oriti, Salvatore M.↗

Final Results for the GRC Supporting Technology Development Project for the 110-Watt Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110)

From 1999-2006, the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) supported the development of a high-efficiency, nominal 110-We Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) for potential use on NASA missions, including deep space missions, Mars rovers, and lunar applications. Lockheed Martin (LM) was the system integrator for the SRG110, under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). Infinia Corporation (formerly Stirling Technology Company) developed the Stirling convertor, first as a contractor to DOE and then under subcontract to LM. The SRG110 development has been redirected, and recent program changes have been made to significantly increase the specific power of the generator. System development of an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) has now begun, using a lightweight, advanced convertor from Sunpower, Inc. This paper summarizes the results of the supporting technology effort that GRC completed for the SRG110. GRC tasks included convertor extended-duration testing in air and thermal vacuum environments, heater head life assessment, materials studies, permanent magnet aging characterization, linear alternator evaluations, structural dynamics testing, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) characterization, organic materials evaluations, reliability studies, and development of an end-to-end system dynamic model. Related efforts are now continuing in many of these areas to support ASRG development.

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.↗