Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “utilization plan”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,279 records · Page 71
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Hypertext-based design of a user interface for scheduling

Operations Mission Planner (OMP) is an ongoing research project at JPL that utilizes AI techniques to create an intelligent, automated planning and scheduling system. The information space reflects the complexity and diversity of tasks necessary in most real-world scheduling problems. Thus the problem of the user interface is to present as much information as possible at a given moment and allow the user to quickly navigate through the various types of displays. This paper describes a design which applies the hypertext model to solve these user interface problems. The general paradigm is to provide maps and search queries to allow the user to quickly find an interesting conflict or problem, and then allow the user to navigate through the displays in a hypertext fashion.

Woerner, Irene W.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Mars Comm/Nav MicroSat Network Using the Multi-Mission Bus Launched Piggyback by Ariane 5

Recently, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory completed a Mars Exploration Program Architecture Definition Study with strong international participation. The recommendations of this study include establishment of a low cost in-situ communications and navigation satellite network to provide enabling and enhancing support for the international exploration of Mars. This would be the first step toward establishing a "virtual presence throughout the solar system" as called for in NASA's Strategic Plan. Response to the proposed comm/nav satellite network has been very favorably received, as reflected by the inclusion of a line item in NASA's budget submittal to Congress, which provides funding for implementation of the network with first launch in the 2003 opportunity. Funding has already been provided for a phase A study being conducted this year. This paper presents the planned implementation of the comm/nav network, which will utilize microsats based on a multi-mission spacecraft bus being designed for launch by the Ariane 5 as a secondary payload. A companion paper at this conference, entitled "The Multi-Purpose Mars Micro-Mission System Design Utilizing Ariane 5 Piggyback Launch", describes the multimission bus design. This paper addresses the application of the multi-mission bus to the comm/nav microsat mission. Following an introduction, which provides the background that has led to the proposed comm/nav network, the paper discusses the projected user needs with emphasis on the various possible robotic missions (landers, rovers, ascent vehicles, balloons, aircraft, etc.) progressing toward eventual piloted missions. Next, the paper describes the concept for an evolving network of comm/nav microsats and the expected capability to satisfy the user needs. Results of communications and navigation performance analysis are summarized for attractive satellite constellation configurations. The important comm/nav microsat functional requirements on the multi-mission spacecraft bus are described with discussion of the mission-system tradeoffs for the driving requirements. The functional design of the in-situ communications / navigation package, which constitutes the payload of the microsat, is also described. The paper also includes discussion of technologies which are of specific importance to the implementation of the comm/nav microsat network.

Hastrup, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The Final Approach Spacing Tool

A system for assisting terminal area air traffic controllers in the management and control of arrival traffic, referred to as the Final Approach Spacing Tool (FAST), is being developed at NASA Ames Research Center. In a cooperative program, NASA and FAA have efforts underway to install and evaluate the system at the Dallas/Fort Worth Terminal Radar Approach Control facility. This paper will review the software architecture, the algorithms components, and the human-machine interface. The system is based on continuous updates of a detailed trajectory analyses of all arrival aircraft. FAST interprets the results of these trajectory analyses to build an efficient and procedurally acceptable plan for the arrival traffic that consists of a sequence, schedule, and runway assignment. The system utilizes a heuristically-based conflict resolution algorithm to build a solution trajectory that satisfies the plan, It extracts a series of speed and heading advisories from the solution trajectory to assist the controller in efficiently managing and controlling the arrival traffic down to the runway. The advisories are displayed in a graphical format to the controller. In addition to the radar tracking data, the system also relies on a series of data bases. These data bases contain aircraft performance models, airline preferred operational procedures, airspace structure, air traffic procedural models, and a three dimensional wind model. Field evaluation of FAST is expected to begin in 1994.

Davis, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS2000

International Space Station Research Plan: Assembly Sequence

These viewgraphs discuss the International Space Station's Research Plan. The goals for the International Space Station Utilization are to provide a state-of-the-art research facility on which to study gravity's effects on physical, chemical, and biological systems. It is also an advanced testbed for technology and human exploration as well as a commercial platform for space research and development.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2003

Orbital Space Plane Program Status

The Orbital Space Plane Program is an integral part of NASA's Integrated Space Transportation Program (ISTP). The ISTP consists of three major programs: Space Shuttle, Orbital Space Plane, and Next Generation Launch Technology. The Orbital Space Plane (OSP) Program will develop a new Crew Transfer Vehicle (CTV) with multipurpose utility for the Agency. The CTV will complement and back up the Space Shuttle by taking crews to and from the International Space Station (ISS), as well as enable a transition path to future reusable launch vehicle systems. In the CTV development cycle, around 2010 it will be used as a Crew Return Vehicle (CRV). The OSP will be launched on an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). NASA is in the process of establishing Level 1 Requirements and initiating concept studies. Ongoing flight demonstrators will continue, while new flight demonstrator projects will begin. The OSP Program contains two elements: (1) Technology and Demonstrations, and (2) Design, Development, and Production. The OSP Design, Development, and Production element will enter the Formulation Phase in FY03. Per NASA Procedures and Guidelines 7120.5B, the Formulation Phase will be utilized to establish the Program schedule and budget plans. Current budget planning is based on Phase A concept studies being conducted in FY03 and FY04, preliminary design activities conducted in FY04 and FY05, and a Preliminary Design Review in FY05. An OSP full-scale development decision will be made in FY05. At that point, a conclusion to proceed will result in the OSP Program transitioning from the Formulation Phase to the Development Phase.

Dumbacher, Daniel L.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Annual Report 2003

If you stepped outdoors on the final evening of 2003 and looked up into the night sky, many celestial events were taking place. A hundred million miles away from Earth, a dust storm swirled across the terracotta peaks and gullies of Mars, as two six-wheeled robots bore down on the planet. They were soon to join two orbital sentries already stationed there. A few hops across the inner solar system, another spacecraft was closing in on a ball of ice and rock spewing forth a hailstorm of dust grains, heated as it swung in toward the Sun. Closer in, two newly lofted space telescopes scanned the skies, their mirrors gathering photons that had crossed the empty vastness of space for billions of years, recording ancient events in unimaginably distant galaxies. And streaking overhead every few minutes directly above our home planet, a handful of satellites was recording the unfolding events of a tropical cyclone off the east coast of Africa and a blizzard that carpeted the northwestern United States. As 2003 drew to a close, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory was on the cusp of an extraordinarily busy period, a time when JPL will execute more fly-bys, landings, sample returns and other milestones than at any other time in its history. The exploration we undertake is important for its own sake. And it serves other purposes, none more important than inspiring the next generation of explorers. If the United States wishes to retain its status as a world leader, it must maintain the technological edge of its workforce. What we do here is the stuff of dreams that will inspire a new generation to continue the American legacy of exploration.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)↗
NASA NTRS2011

Collaboration Portals for NASA's Airborne Field Campaigns

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), in collaboration with the Global Hydrology Resource Center, a NASA Earth Science Data Center, has provided information management for a number of NASA Airborne Field campaigns, both hurricane science investigations and satellite instrument validation. Effective field campaign management requires communication and coordination tools, including utilities for personnel to upload and share flight plans, weather forecasts, a variety of mission reports, preliminary science data, and personal photos. Beginning with the Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) hurricane field campaign in 2010, we have provided these capabilities via a Drupal-based collaboration portal. This portal was reused and modified for the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E), part of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission ground validation program. An end goal of these development efforts is the creation of a Drupal profile for field campaign management. This presentation will discuss experiences with Drupal in developing and using these collaboration portals. Topics will include Drupal modules used, advantages and disadvantages of working with Drupal in this context, and how the science teams used the portals in comparison with other communication and collaboration tools.

Conover, Helen↗
NASA NTRS2016

Deja Vu All Over Again: The Reappearance of Supernova Refsdal

In Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging taken on 2014 November 10, four images of supernova (SN) Refsdal(redshift z1.49) appeared in an Einstein-cross-like configuration (images S1S4) around an early-type galaxy in the cluster MACS J1149.5+2223 (z0.54). Almost all lens models of the cluster have predicted that the SN should reappear within a year in a second host-galaxy image created by the clusters potential. In HST observations taken on 2015 December 11, we find a new source at the predicted position of the new image of SN Refsdal approximately 8 from the previous images S1S4. This marks the first time the appearance of a SN at a particular time and location in the sky was successfully predicted in advance! We use these data and the light curve from the first four observed images of SN Refsdal to place constraints on the relative time delay and magnification of the new image (SX) compared to images S1S4. This enables us, for the first time, to test blind lens model predictions of both magnifications and time delays for a lensed SN. We find that the timing and brightness of the new image are consistent with the blind predictions of a fraction of the models. The reappearance illustrates the discriminatory power of this blind test and its utility to uncover sources of systematic uncertainty. From planned HST photometry, we expect to reach a precision of 12 on the time delay between S1S4 and SX.

galaxies: clusters: general – galaxies: individu↗
NASA NTRS2017

NASA's Advanced TPS Materials and Technology Development: Multi-Functional Materials and Systems for Space Exploration

NASA's future missions will be more demanding. They require materials to be mass efficient, robust, multi-functional, scalable and able to be integrated with other subsystems to enable innovative missions to accomplish future science missions. Thermal protection systems and materials (TPSM) are critical for the robotic and human exploration of the solar system when it involves entry. TPSM is a single string system with no back-up. Mass efficiency and robustness are required. Integration of TPSM with the aeroshell is both a challenge and an opportunity. Since 2010, NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate has invested in innovative new materials and systems across a spectrum of game changing technologies. In this keynote address, we plan to highlight and present our successful approaches utilized in developing four different materials and system technologies that use innovative new manufacturing techniques to meet mission needs. 3-D weaving and felt manufacturing allowed us to successfully propose new ways of addressing TPSM challenges. In the 3-D MAT project, we developed and delivered a multi-functional TPS materials solution, in under three years that is an enabler for Lunar Capable Orion Spacecraft. Under the HEEET project, we are developing a robust heat-shield that can withstand extreme entry conditions, both thermally and mechanically, for entry at Venus, Saturn or higher speed sample return missions. The improved efficiency of HEEET allows science missions entry at much reduced G'loads enabling delicate science instruments to be used. The ADEPT concept is a foldable and deployable entry system and the critical component is a multi-functional fabric that is foldable and deployable and also functions as a mechanical aeroshell and a TPS. The fourth technology we will highlight involves felt to address integration challenges of rigid ablative system such as PICA that was used on MSL. The felt technology allows us to develop a compliant TPS for easy integration. The above four technology developments have focused on mission infusion as the success criteria. These technologies are in different stages of mission infusion. These innovations have led to new mission concepts to be proposed in the future. In our keynote address we will present approaches we have employed throughout the project to create the bridge to transition from low TRL to mission infusion and to overcome the traditional TRL valley of death.

TPS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Probability of Obstacle Collision for UAVs in Presence of Wind

For incorporation of unmanned aerial vehicles into the National Airspace, ensuring safety of the airspace including the vehicles, people, and property on the ground is of utmost importance. One of the safety-critical factors for unmanned aviation flights is the risk of deviating from a planned trajectory resulting in a variety of hazards, including potential loss of separation between vehicle and obstacles or unexpected battery energy consumption. Off-nominal conditions introduced by component failures, degraded controllability and environmental disturbances such as wind gusts can lead to unacceptable unexpected deviations from the flight trajectory. It is essential to accurately model such effects on the flight trajectory while computing safety thresholds such as minimum separation from surrounding obstacles, available battery resource to complete the mission or determining delay in the expected time of arrival of flights. In this paper, a tool is presented based on Gaussian Process Regression for wind representation over a pre-defined trajectory for fast, yet approximated, in-time evaluation of possible trajectory deviations caused by wind gusts. The deviation in the planned trajectory caused by wind is further simulated utilizing a 6 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) UAV trajectory simulator comprising of a rotorcraft lumped-mass model with LQRI controller. Both steady-state wind and wind gust effects are investigated. The probability of collision with obstacle is computed and demonstrated on real flight data from experimental flights of an octocopter at NASA Langley Research Center in the presence of simulated obstacles and wind conditions. Effect of varying wind conditions and varying UAV airspeed is further demonstrated on experimental flights in the presence of wind measured by ground based weather service stations. The proposed approach would eventually benefit timely mitigation of current and future safety-critical events in autonomous systems by enabling risk-informed decision making.

Portia Banerjee↗
NASA NTRS2022

Analyzing the Efficacy of Flexible Execution, Replanning, and Plan Optimization for a Planetary Lander

Plan execution in unknown environments poses a number of challenges: uncertainty in domain modeling, stochasticity at execution time, and the presence of exogenous events. These challenges motivate an integrated approach to planning and execution that is able to respond intelligently to variation. We examine this problem in the context of the Europa Lander mission concept, and evaluate a planning and execution framework that responds to feedback and task failure using two techniques: flexible execution and replanning with plan optimization. We develop a theoretical framework to estimate gains from these techniques, and we compare these predictions to empirical results generated in simulation. These results indicate that an integrated approach to planning and execution leveraging flexible execution, replanning, and utility maximization shows significant promise for future tightly-constrained space missions that must address significant uncertainty.

Chien, Steve↗
DOE OSTI2020

IAEA Training

Overview presentation on nuclear energy utilization in integrated energy systems.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Hanford River Protection Project Life cycle Cost Modeling Tool to Enhance Mission Planning - 13396

The Life cycle Cost Model (LCM) Tool is an overall systems model that incorporates budget, and schedule impacts for the entire life cycle of the River Protection Project (RPP) mission, and is replacing the Hanford Tank Waste Operations Simulator (HTWOS) model as the foundation of the RPP system planning process. Currently, the DOE frequently requests HTWOS simulations of alternative technical and programmatic strategies for completing the RPP mission. Analysis of technical and programmatic changes can be performed with HTWOS; however, life cycle costs and schedules were previously generated by manual transfer of time-based data from HTWOS to Primavera P6. The LCM Tool automates the preparation of life cycle costs and schedules and is needed to provide timely turnaround capability for RPP mission alternative analyses. LCM is the simulation component of the LCM Tool. The simulation component is a replacement of the HTWOS model with new capability to support life cycle cost modeling. It is currently deployed in G22, but has been designed to work in any full object-oriented language with an extensive feature set focused on networking and cross-platform compatibility. The LCM retains existing HTWOS functionality needed to support system planning and alternatives studies going forward. In addition, it incorporates new functionality, coding improvements that streamline programming and model maintenance, and capability to input/export data to/from the LCM using the LCM Database (LCMDB). The LCM Cost/Schedule (LCMCS) contains cost and schedule data and logic. The LCMCS is used to generate life cycle costs and schedules for waste retrieval and processing scenarios. It uses time-based output data from the LCM to produce the logic ties in Primavera P6 necessary for shifting activities. The LCM Tool is evolving to address the needs of decision makers who want to understand the broad spectrum of risks facing complex organizations like DOE-RPP to understand how near-term programmatic decisions affect life cycle costs and commitments. (authors)

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Zinc Corrosion in Borated, Buffered Post-LOCA Solutions

This current research provides a broad assessment of recently evaluated zinc corrosion in simulated non-buffered and buffered post-LOCA solution as a function of pH, temperature, velocity, boron concentration and surface area. Corrosion rates obtained can be used for further zinc borate formation analysis or to plan further zinc corrosion studies. Experiments are conducted utilizing a three-electrode electrochemical system in a glass cell. Aqueous solutions used in testing simulate reactor containment building (RCB) pool water under various LOCA scenarios that are representative of US PWR RCB pool water: boric acid only, boric acid with trisodium phosphate, boric acid with sodium hydroxide, and boric acid with sodium tetraborate. The specimens used in this work are machined from 99.6% pure zinc rods that are used as a surrogate for the high purity zinc layer of galvanized steel. Prior to the experiment, the specimens are first polished and then left exposed to the atmosphere for approximately one day at room temperature. Prior to each test, the zinc specimen are sequentially rinsed with deionized water and acetone, and then dried by evaporation in air at room temperature. Prepared samples are then mounted in the glass cell test apparatus and rotated on a spindle at a desired velocity for a specified duration. Instantaneous corrosion rate as a function of time and total zinc mass corroded, which may either be released into solution or incorporated into surface scale, is determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. Corrosion rates after 24 hours of immersion are determined from a full potential dynamic scan and from weight loss measurements of descaled post-test samples. The solution zinc concentration resulting from zinc corrosion is determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Preliminary results show that zinc corrosion with a zinc surface area-to-liquid volume ratio of 0.0003 m2/L in a borated, buffered solution (55 deg. C, pH 7.2) exposed to a velocity of 0.5 ft/s is between 4.9 X to 2.3 X less than that obtained by the Kyrk et al study, which examines a lower temperature, lower pH with a 5.5 X larger surface area-to-volume ratio. This initial finding suggests that the corrosion of zinc, which supplies a zinc source term to form zinc borates, may not be insignificant under conditions of interest (borated, buffered post-LOCA solutions). Further experiments are currently underway that evaluate the influence of pH, velocity, temperature, buffer type, boron concentration and surface area-to-volume ratio on zinc corrosion. Preliminary results suggest two of the three buffer types examined as conditions of interest to US PWRs likely produce zinc corrosion within the range observed by Kyrk et al. Current preliminary results indicate that buffer type, temperature, pH and velocity each have an impact on the zinc corrosion rate. Quantification of zinc mass lost to solution and incorporated into scale is currently underway, as is the characterization of velocity and boric acid effects on zinc corrosion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

TCCR Operational Summary and Optimization for Tank 9 Processing - 20314

Savannah River Remediation (SRR) manages and operates the liquid waste facilities at Savannah River Site (SRS) for the Department of Energy (DOE). Stored liquid waste is a complex mixture of insoluble solids (sludge) and soluble salts in an alkaline solution. SRR has deployed the Tank Closure Cesium Removal (TCCR) system, a tank-side ion exchange process, to remove radioactive cesium from salt waste and enable onsite disposal of the resulting decontaminated salt solution as low-level waste at the Saltstone facilities. The TCCR system consists of two prefilters, four ion exchange (IX) columns, one resin trap, and a ventilation system. The IX process uses a form of inorganic crystalline silicotitanate (CST), which has a high affinity for cesium and other alkali metals, strontium, and actinides. This process is currently deployed utilizing salt feed from Tank 10, with future plans to dissolve solid salt in Tank 9 and transfer the salt solution to Tank 10 for processing through TCCR. The feed for TCCR must be created from salt-cake in Tank 10 through a dissolution process. Once enough salt has been dissolved, a qualification process is entered. This process characterizes the feed and ensures the cesium loading on the columns will not cause boiling of waste within the columns during or after processing. Once the batch has been qualified, salt waste is fed to the TCCR system through a transfer pump in the center of the tank. The waste is filtered through a set of two shielded, dead-end prefilters that prevent solids buildup in the columns. The filtered salt solution then travels to the shielded IX columns, which can be operated individually or in series, where the cesium is sorbed on the CST media. The decontaminated salt solution (DSS) then travels through a resin trap and out of the module to Tank 11. TCCR has successfully processed approximately 795,000 L of Tank 10H radioactive salt waste over two batches to date. There has not yet been a system induced shutdown. The prefilters performed as expected with only minor degradation in recovery of differential pressure after a backflush sequence. The time between backflushes decreased as each batch reached the end of processing. The hydraulics in the IXCs mostly performed as expected at all flow rates, except for one IXC that will be further investigated during Batch 3 processing. The TCCR system has shown some opportunities for more efficient processing during the length of the demonstration so far. For future processing of material from Tank 9H through Tank 10H and the TCCR unit, TCCR 1A will implement changes to the prefilters and the IXCs. The prefilters will have an increased surface area and a new filter media in an effort to increase time between filter swaps and improve backwashing cleaning capability. The IXCs will have a reduced diameter to allow for increased heat transfer out of the column and increased loading of Cs-137. Additionally, a new form of CST with an increased kinetic performance is being investigated for use during TCCR 1A operation. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2018

Final Report on Community Solar Design Models for Consumer, Industry, & Utility Success

Since the inception of the first community solar program in 2006, a number of different utility, solar industry and consumer driven community solar program models have emerged across the country with varying regulatory and solar market frameworks behind them. There is little consistency in how programs are administered, participant benefits are assigned, and customers are charged for participation. Further, while it is regularly speculated that community solar programs meet the needs of customers, no such consumer research has been completed against different community solar program models. This collaborative research effort addressed three primary issues: Program design models are numerous and evolving, with varying degrees of applicability across different state policy, utility regulatory, and solar market types. The agents, transaction methods, and accruing costs and benefits are highly variable and largely built on anecdotally successful model evolution. ‘Community solar’ (shared/group solar, solar gardens, etc.) has become a catch-all concept that means different things to different stakeholders, limiting constructive program development and growth. Everything from green pricing programs to remote net metering to metering aggregation has been framed as community solar. Consumer research on individual concepts and program models has been done, but no comprehensive and comparative market research on the broader design models and attributes has been performed. SEPA’s collaborative research effort on Community Solar Design Models for Consumer, Industry, & Utility Success is premised on the principle that greater standardization of community solar models and better understanding of consumer interests are key underpinnings of increased community solar deployment. Utilizing a cross-sectional multi-stakeholder working group, as well as focus groups and surveys, webinars, targeted outreach, and other tools, this project aims to expand the community solar knowledge base, facilitate information exchange, identify opportunities for standardization and improvement, determine what consumers’ interests are and how best to message to them, promote the research results within the solar and utility industries, and advance key opportunities for strategic deployment plans for community solar. A summary of these key takeaways/lessons learned during the grant period include: Siting of system should be evaluated up-front in the process Engage stakeholders collaboratively and early to help ensure the best chance for a successful program IT/billing departments must have a seat at the design table Establish upfront target objectives with respect to residential and commercial program access levels helps ensure program success Balance trade-offs to manage utility and developer risk with customer participation carefully to optimize pricing and sizing the program offering Over the course of the 42 month grant period, SEPA and its project team conducted a series of activities all designed to accelerate the number and size of community solar programs across the country. These activities included: Community Solar Program Design Models (2 reports) – SEPA, in collaboration with its projects team, the Coalition for Community Solar Access, and over 60 administrators of actual community solar programs, developed two reports providing hard data on the developments of community solar. These reports touched on program performance, quantity and type of programs, and program design steps, among other aspects. The reports collectively received over 2000 unique downloads. Market Research Report – SEPA, in collaboration with The Shelton Group, conducted a series of national surveys and focus groups to identify what customers were looking for in a community solar offering. The resulting report, “What the Community Solar Customer Wants”, received over 1,000 unique downloads. Technical Assistance Projects – SEPA supported 8 organizations who were pursuing community solar programs. Based on this support, over 5.7 MWs of new solar capacity have been developed. Technical Assistance Case Studies – SEPA developed two case studies detailing the technical assistance work in Fremont, NE Department of Utilities and the public power arm of Minster Ohio. These two reports have received 1,002 unique downloads. Webinar – SEPA hosted two webinars on community solar which collectively received 743 participants. The webinars focused on disseminating the findings of the research conducted under this project, as well as the research conducted in separate solar market pathways projects. Community Solar Design Workshops – 120 registrants learned about the trends in community solar and participated a business case exercise to design their own programs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Nuclear aircraft carrier inactivation - Execution of waste management initiatives - 15565

After 6 years of planning efforts, in June 2013, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) began the execution phase of the inactivation of the USS Enterprise. The USS Enterprise decommissioning involves implementation of a new approach to defueling aircraft carriers, utilizing new processes for defueling and shipment of spent nuclear fuel and waste. During planning for this complex endeavor, NNS developed several process improvement initiatives including streamlining waste management processes and technology insertion using modeling and simulation (M and S) capabilities. One of the new approaches involves the establishment of a Waste Packaging Area (WPA) onboard the ship. The process assists with maximizing waste loading and shipments directly from the ship. Another waste management initiative includes the NNS/ Waste Vendor teaming effort to facilitate more efficient loading and shipment of inactivation waste. With execution underway, these initiatives are being put to the test to see if they can withstand the rigors of day-to-day production. NNS has implemented the use of the Modeling and Simulation (M and S) technology. During the planning phase, the M and S 3D Spatial Arrangement Tool was utilized to determine the optimal equipment layout within the new M-290 facility used for spent fuel packaging and ship-out and to determine the appropriate shipping container placement on the ship to maximize waste loading. The M and S technology proved to be a beneficial application resulting in continued utilization through the execution phase of the carrier inactivation. NNS is currently expanding the M-290 Facility Model to provide a visual representation of the facility, its processes, resources, and variable parameters that can be utilized as a decision support tool through simulation of the spent fuel packaging and ship-out process through the facility's life-cycle. NNS is also expanding the application of the waste management model to effectively predict waste forecast. The simulation model is linked with the defueling schedule which captures the operational elements of the waste flow process. The model extrapolates the data to provide waste generation output to assess the most efficient and cost effective path for radiological waste shipments offsite. The ability to conduct waste forecasting allows streamlining of the waste management process in support of complex defueling operations. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗