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DOE OSTI2021

Quantitative assessment of Distributed Acoustic Sensing at the Source Physics Experiment, Phase II

In this report, we assess the data recorded by a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) cable deployed during the Source Physics Experiment, Phase II (DAG) in comparison with the data recorded by nearby 4.5-Hz geophones. DAS is a novel recording method with unprecedented spatial resolution, but there are significant concerns around the data fidelity as the technology is ramped up to more common usage. Here we run a series of tests to quantify the similarity between DAS data and more conventional data and investigate cases where the higher spatial resolution of the DAS can provide new insights into the wavefield. These tests include 1D modeling with seismic refraction and bootstrap uncertainties, assessing the amplitude spectra with distance from the source, measuring the frequency dependent inter-station coherency, estimating time-dependent phase velocity with beamforming and semblance, and measuring the cross-correlation between the geophone and the particle velocity inferred from the DAS. In most cases, we find high similarity between the two datasets, but the higher spatial resolution of the DAS provides increased details and methods of estimating uncertainty.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2021

SYSM-562: DIM Fiber Connection Improvement Analysis

The National Ignition Facility is equipped with a wide suite of diagnostics including optical, x-ray, and neutron diagnostics to analyze experiments and look for areas of improvements. NIF diagnostics are either deployed to a fixed location on the target chamber or on a Diagnostic Instrument Manipulator (DIM). DIMs are two-stage telescoping devices used to insert, retract, position, and align a diagnostic instrument in the target chamber. Additionally, DIMs provide a standard set of cables to support operation of all DIM-based diagnostic instruments.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2021

Lambda Plate Seal for HFVMTF Anticryostat

Fermilab is currently designing a High Field Vertical Magnet Test Facility in order to test superconducting cables and magnets. The goal of this project was to analyze the thermal performance of three different seal designs and provide recommendations for the HFVMTF.

Gasior, Brett↗

DOE OSTI2022

WIRE-21 Sensor Irradiation Experiment Ready for HFIR Insertion

The ability to deploy new nuclear fuels for current or future reactor concepts requires a wealth of data regarding fuel performance during normal operation, anticipated operational occurrences, and design-basis accidents. Most of these data have historically been collected during experiments in materials test reactors, ideally with online instrumentation to collect as much data as possible. However, advanced instrumentation could also allow for in situ monitoring of fuel operating conditions during commercial reactor operation to maximize fuel utilization, reduce unnecessary conservativism in design margins, and improve operator understanding of limiting peaking factors. The latter approach would complicate fuel handling, particularly during refueling, unless the instrumentation could be placed inside the fuel rods and transmitted wirelessly to a receiver located outside the fuel’s primary pressure boundary. To this end, Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) developed wireless sensors based on inductive coupling that can transmit information regarding fuel centerline temperatures and rod internal pressures wirelessly from within a fuel rod to a nearby instrument thimble. After testing these sensors in lower-power university research reactors, the next step is to perform high neutron fluence testing to characterize the performance of these wireless sensors under conditions that are more representative of the intended application—in this case, light-water reactors (LWRs). The removable Be (RB) positions of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) provide the neutron flux, experiment volume, and access to instrument leads required to achieve these sensor testing goals. This report summarizes the design, analysis, and assembly of the Wireless Instrumented RB Experiment 2021 (WIRE-21). This is the most highly instrumented irradiation experiment ever performed in HFIR. The experiment will use seven different sensing techniques to measure temperature, pressure, neutron flux, and neutron fluence during reactor operation. In addition to WEC’s wireless temperature and pressure sensors, WIRE-21 includes an array of thermocouples, self-powered neutron detectors, spatially distributed fiber optic temperature sensors, passive SiC temperature monitors, and flux wires. The design of WIRE-21 and the cabling that was installed in HFIR also provide the infrastructure to enable accelerated, economical testing of advanced sensor technologies while leveraging the extremely high neutron flux that is available in HFIR. The containment for WIRE-21 is similar to previous RB irradiation vehicles but includes a few modifications, most notably the use of integrated compression seals to pass a larger number of sensor leads through the experiment’s pressure boundary. In addition to the sensor leads, inert gas lines are passed into the experiment to enable active temperature control and the ability to pneumatically actuate a bellows-driven pressure sensor. WIRE-21 is targeting component temperatures (300–350°C) and neutron fluence levels (~10 22 n/cm 2 ) that would be expected in the plenum region of LWR fuels, except for the active sensing region of the wireless temperature sensor, which is targeting LWR fuel centerline temperatures (~800–1,100°C). WIRE-21 was successfully assembled, passed all nondestructive examination, and was delivered to HFIR for insertion during upcoming cycle 498 (April 2022).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Report on High Energy Arcing Fault Experiments

This report documents an experimental program designed to investigate High Energy Arcing Fault (HEAF) phenomena for medium voltage electrical switchgear containing aluminum conductors. This report covers full-scale laboratory experiments using representative nuclear power plant (NPP) three-phase electrical equipment. Electrical, thermal, and pressure data were recorded for each experiment and documented in this report. This report covers four of the fourteen planned medium voltage electrical enclosure experiments. Subsequent reports will document the additional experiments performed in the future. The experiments were performed at KEMA Labs located in Chalfont, Pennsylvania. The experimental design, setup, and execution were completed by staff from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and KEMA. In addition, representatives from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) observed some of the experimental setups and execution. The HEAF experiments were performed on four near-identical units of General Electric metal-clad medium voltage switchgear. The three-phase arcing fault was initiated on the primary cable connection bus. All four experiments used the same system voltage (6.9 kV) but varied the current and duration. Real-time electrical operating conditions, including voltage, current and frequency, were measured during the experiments. Heat fluxes and incident energies were measured with plate thermometers and slug calorimeters at various locations around the electrical enclosures. Internal enclosure pressures were measured during the experiments. The experiments were documented with normal and high-speed videography, infrared imaging, and photography. Insights from the experimental series included timing information related to enclosure breach, event progression, mass loss measurements for electrodes and steel enclosures, peak pressure rise, particle analysis, along with visual and thermal imaging data to better understand and characterize the hazard. These results will be used in subsequent efforts to advance the state of knowledge related to HEAF.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Quantitative assessment of Distributed Acoustic Sensing at the Source Physics Experiment (Phase II)

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

The Demand for a Domestic Offshore Wind Energy Supply Chain

In March of 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration established a National Offshore Wind Target to install 30 GW by 2030. This ambitious goal was not only intended to help reduce dependencies on fossil fuels, but also represents an opportunity to establish a new and sustainable industry in the United States. The announcement referenced the potential benefits of establishing a domestic supply chain, including the opportunity for existing suppliers to produce thousands of components while creating tens of thousands of jobs over the course of the decade. This vision by the Biden-Harris Administration aligns with the perspective of the offshore wind industry. At a Leadership 100 event hosted by the Business Network for Offshore wind in 2019, offshore wind developers and manufacturers identified the need for a roadmap outlining a pathway to a domestic supply chain as the top priority facing the industry. Building up domestic manufacturing capabilities will not only energize local industries but can potentially de-risk individual project by reducing reliance on importing resources from European or Asian markets. Although establishing a domestic supply chain will require significant investment, it has the potential to create substantial benefits throughout the industry and, by extension, on the decarbonization goals of the United States. This study characterizes the challenges and opportunities facing the growth of a domestic supply chain industry and evaluates the potential benefits that could be achieved through the creation of the supply chain. This report is the first of a two-part series which will describe the full supply chain roadmap and the associated benefits; the current report focuses on the high-level deployment, workforce, and component requirements that need to be met to achieve the National Offshore Wind Target. We will present: 1. A deployment pipeline that demonstrates the pathway to 30 GW, the associated demand for major fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind components (turbines, foundations, cables, substations), and the vessel and port requirements to support these installation activities. 2. A series of sensitivity analyses showing how the demand for components, ports, and vessels changes for different technology pathways and availability of the global supply chain. 3. An estimate of the total number of jobs that would be required to support these deployment scenarios under varying levels of assumed domestic content. 4. A comprehensive list of the Tier 1, 2, and 3 components (finished components, subassemblies, and subcomponents) required to construct fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind projects. 5. A discussion of critical path components that represent a significant challenge, bottleneck, or risk for a future domestic supply chain.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Test samples and infrastructure for accelerator magnet developments

LHC still does not operate at full energy due to training features in magnets. Higher field practical superconductors (Nb 3 Sn) show much worse training behavior than NbTi. Most magnet performance issues relate to quenching, and it is this phenomenon and its dependencies that need to be understood for us to succeed addressing them in magnets. For pragmatic and scientific reasons underlying mechanisms are hard to investigate in real magnets. Available data suggest that emulating local conditions at quench location may be enough to arrive at a good understanding of what drives observed behavior. "Local" conditions imply emulation by small samples of cables/"stacks" powered within a facility with controllable conditions, including external magnetic and force fields. This paper argues about the necessity of this approach, while reminding current understanding and directions of quench studies, and pointing out inadequacy of available techniques. Improved facilities and change of perspective are required for consistent and affordable development.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Mutual Inductance Level Sensor for Use in Liquid Metals

Electromagnetic instrumentation capable of measuring the level of liquid metal has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory’s (ANL) Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL). The mutual inductance level sensor (MILS) utilizes the electromagnetic coupling between two coil conductors and a surrounding liquid metal to determine the level of the liquid metal. Mineral insulated cables wrapped on a stainless steel core provide a durable sensor construction. The use of a sealed stainless steel thimble isolates the sensor from the high-temperature liquid metal, allowing for easy sensor maintenance. Modern digital electronics allow for reliable and accurate operation of the sensor. Two sensor variations have been designed and fabricated, and the first variation has seen extensive testing in a non-sodium testing stand as well as in the high-temperature sodium environment of METL. Electromagnetic finite-element analysis studies have been performed using the COMSOL Magnetic Fields Solver. Regular operation of the MILS will commence following in-situ calibration of the sensors in the METL environment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Summary Report of HERO WEC Test Article for Waves to Water: Electrical Power Take-Off

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) designed and fabricated the hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis (HERO) wave energy converter (WEC), which is a modular system that can utilize either an electrical or hydraulic power take-off (PTO) system to power a desalination device. The method by which this device can convert mechanical work to either hydraulic or electrical energy is by harnessing the energy from waves via a rotary output shaft. This report describes the electrical configuration, where a rotary generator replaces the pump in the hydraulic configuration to power a submersible pump and reverse osmosis unit via an electrical cable, rather than a hydraulic line/hose. This device is of a non-proprietary design where every aspect of the design is made public, including the physical designs, non-proprietary cost data, and electrical drawings developed for the build of this device.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

DOE OSTI2022

San Juan Islands Tidal Energy Characterization

The San Juan Islands are an archipelago with multiple tidal channels that produce strong tidal currents that could be harnessed for electricity generation. At present, there is limited electrical generation on the islands, with power primarily provided by a subsea cable connection with the mainland. As part of the C-MIST program, NOAA's CO-OPS program collected ADCP data at 46 stations in the San Juan Islands and adjacent waterways, from April to August of 2017. PNNL has recently developed a 3-D tidal hydrodynamic model for tidal energy resource characterization and assessment in the Salish Sea (Yang et al. 2021). Several tidal channels in the San Juan Islands were identified as top hotspots for potential tidal energy extraction. However, due to the complex geometry and inter-connected waterways, tidal currents around San Juan Islands also exhibit strong spatial and temporal asymmetry. Therefore, it is important to analyze the NOAA ADCP data to define metrics relevant to tidal energy, and further refine PNNL's tidal hydrodynamic model to accurately simulate currents in small tidal channels and account for sharp bathymetry gradients. The outcome of this technical assistance will allow developers to identify the promising opportunities for tidal energy in the San Juan Islands.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

DOE OSTI2023

Situational Awareness of Grid Anomalies (SAGA) for Visual Analytics—Near-Real-Time Cyber-Physical Resiliency Through Machine Learning

The Situational Awareness of Grid Anomalies (SAGA) project built upon foundational power system tools developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) integrated with an ever-increasing set of Gridmetrics data extracted from the cable television (CATV) broadband network infrastructure while assimilating other time-series geospatial data and information, such as weather and cyber-physical phenomena, to demonstrate a disruptive technology for power system data analytics relying on existing infrastructure. Three research thrusts supported (1) visual analytics, (2) cyber-physical power system simulation, and (3) anomaly detection. SAGA created technology that leverages, couples, and fortifies two vastly different realms - power and broadband - to increase the resiliency of the power grid in the face of increasing cyberattacks and operational challenges related to integrating DERs. The exploration of potential synergies of broadband-enabled grids resulted in identifying a mutually beneficial symbiosis that can increase the resiliency of both power and broadband services. Broadband networks perform better with reliable power and are good at providing real-time measurements that identify where the grid is under attack, is failing, or is weak. Likewise, sensor-starved distribution grids perform better and can be more reliable when their operation is buttressed with observations of broadband-detected anomalies. Future research can explore broadband's contribution to continuing to improve grid resiliency, reliability, and cost-effective operation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Report of METL Mutual Inductance Level Sensor Development for Use in Liquid Metals – FY2023

A robust mutual inductance level sensor (MILS) for use in high temperature liquid metals has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The current design utilizes mineral insulated cables with a 300-series stainless steel sheath, magnesium oxide insulation, and a single copper conductor. Two coils are wrapped on a common core made of a 300-series stainless steel tube. One coil is energized with an alternating current (AC) source, and this electromagnetically couples with the second coil to generate an induced voltage. The voltage is measured to determine the mutual induction between the coils, and the mutual inductance measurement can be used to determine the level of a nearby liquid metal volume. The MILS can be located in an isolating thimble that is fully sealed to a vessel containing liquid metal for ease of maintenance and replacement. When the primary coil is energized with the AC source, the coil not only electromagnetic (EM) couples with the second coil, but also the surrounding liquid metal. The EM coupling with the surrounding liquid metal reduces the EM coupling with the second coil, producing an inverse-linear relationship between liquid metal level and secondary coil voltage. This has all been demonstrated at the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) liquid sodium facility at ANL. The most current iteration of the MILS system is the MILS-MK-II. This sensor system has been commissioned in a non-sodium test stand where calibrations were performed using a sodium analog. The calibrations proved to be highly linear and repeatable. The MILS-MK-II has been installed in the METL expansion tank where high temperature sodium tests have been performed. The MILS-MK-II has been calibrated against a known standard at temperature of 300°C, and the calibrations have proved to be highly linear and repeatable. The calibrated MILS-MK-II has been in operation in the METL facility for several thousands of hours at temperatures around 300°C. The experimental data has been used to develop and validate electromagnetic finite element models in COMSOL Multiphysics, and now these models can be used to advance the development of the sensor system. Next steps will include temperature compensation to allow for operation at various temperatures. Additionally, efforts to incorporate a self-calibration methodology are underway.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2022

OPALCO - Decatur Island Solar and Energy Storage Project: An Assessment of Battery Technical Performance

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is a member-owned, nonprofit cooperative utility that provides energy services to approximately 11,200 customers across 20 islands in San Juan County, Washington. OPALCO’s mostly hydroelectric power is generated by Bonneville Power Administration and delivered to the islands by submarine cables. In 2016, as part of the second round of funding from the Washington state Clean Energy Fund, OPALCO received a $1 million matching grant to support a project that deployed a 504-kW LG community photovoltaic (PV) system in combination with a 1 MW/2 MWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery energy storage system (BESS) on Decatur Island, Washington. The Decatur Island Substation is essential to ensuring reliable energy for the residents of the San Juan Islands as it is the point of interconnection with the mainland transmission system. The BESS, in combination with the community solar array, will deliver an innovative method to both defer the costly upgrade of the transmission system and allow for other high-value applications intended to benefit the utility and its customers. In 2018, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) completed a preliminary economic assessment for several identified use cases in collaboration with OPALCO. Between August 2021 and May 2022, extensive testing was conducted, and the results were used to assess the technical performance of the BESS subjected to actual field operations. Both reference performance and use case tests were performed: (a) Reference performance tests assess the general technical capabilities of the BESS, such as energy capacity, round-trip efficiency (RTE), ramp rate, and signal tracking capability. These are the first tests performed (baseline) and are repeated after use case tests (post cycle). A standardized U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy storage performance protocol was used to characterize the BESS, including representative duty cycle profiles, test procedure guidance, and calculation guidance for determining key characteristics. (b) Use case tests examine the performance of the BESS for specific use cases using duty cycles developed by PNNL in collaboration with OPALCO. Four use cases were selected for testing: 1) demand charge reduction, 2) load shaping, 3) outage mitigation, and 4) transmission deferral. The use case duty cycles were developed based on utility and site-specific characteristics in addition to the technical characteristics and physical capabilities of the BESS. Use case tests were performed between the baseline and post cycle tests. This report describes the BESS and its components, presents testing and performance analysis results, and shares key insights and lessons learned from this project. Outcomes of the tests and analyses will help OPALCO understand the performance of the Decatur Island BESS in its current state and design appropriate operational strategies for this and other BESSs over the long term.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Offshore Wind Energy and Communities: Perspectives on Local Impacts [Slides]

In this webinar hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's WINDExchange initiative, an expert panel discusses the myriad ways that offshore wind may impact communities. Impacted communities can take a variety of forms, from coastal communities hosting ports and cable landings to ocean users such as commercial fishermen, and can experience a range of environmental, economic, cultural, and other impacts related to offshore wind energy. This webinar explores these topics from diverse perspectives and provides an introduction to the local footprints of this emerging industry.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Reflections

Flash radiography is a much used diagnostic technique for high-explosively driven hydrodynamic experiments. Two linear-induction electron accelerators (LIAs) at the Los Alamos Dual Axis Radiography of Hydrodynamic Tests (DARHT) facility provide the source spots for point projection radiography of exceptionally large and dense experiments. In these LIAs, the beam acceleration is provided by high-voltage pulses applied to a number of inductively isolated gaps. The high-voltage pulses are produced by remotely located pulsedpower generators and delivered to the gaps by long highvoltage cables. For Scorpius, these pulse generators are called line replacement units (LRUs).

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2023

Ultrasonic waveguide reflectometry for quench detection (CRADA Final Report)

Early detection of thermal runaway (quench) is critical for safely operating high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets. Voltage-based techniques provide late detection of quenching in HTS, which can lead to magnet burnout and system damage. Various non-voltage quench-detection approaches are therefore investigated nowadays that are based on magnetic, acoustic, and optical sensing. LBNL has been actively developing the quench detection principle based on diffuse ultrasonic wave propagation since 2017 and has demonstrated the approach's viability with several peer-reviewed publications and a patent application. Over the last decade, Etegent, LBNL partner for this proposal and effort, has been developing a sensing technology that utilizes the propagation of stress waves through the solid metallic and nonmetallic waveguides (WG). The method is based on the dependence of materials' elastic properties and the speed of sound on temperature. Compared with optical analog, acoustic WG operates at much lower frequencies, eliminating the need for expensive, complex, highly sensitive receivers and data processing. Etegent proved this technology in many harsh environments, mainly concentrated high-temperature measurements. The initial contact between LBNL and Etegent started in 2020, aiming at combining our knowledge and effort toward developing a viable ultrasound-based quench detection technique for use with HTS magnets. A preliminary study conducted jointly in 2022 found no principle restrictions for expanding the WG technology toward cryogenic temperature operation. The present CRADA work aimed at designing, building, and testing ultrasonic waveguide temperature sensors at relevant cryogenic conditions, and demonstrating this technology's applicability to detecting heating and quenching in High Temperature Superconductor (HTS)-based cables and magnets. The technical objectives of the project included: (1) Design and fabricate ultrasonic WG sensors suitable for cryogenic operation, (2) Test ultrasonic WGs under cryogenic conditions, (3) Determining a suitable way of insulating WGs to prevent ultrasonic leakage while maintaining good thermal contact with the surrounding medium, (4) WG integration and cryogenic test with HTS conductors and HTS magnets, and (5) Design and basic prototyping of a standalone WG-based quench detection system. This project adds value to the present LBNL magnet diagnostics portfolio and enables a breakthrough in addressing the HTS magnet quench detection challenge.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Definition of the Stiesdal Offshore TetraSpar Floating Wind System for OC6 Phase IV

The Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration, Continued, with Correlation, and unCertainty (OC6) is an international project focused on verifying and validating modeling tools used in the analysis of floating offshore wind systems. The fourth phase of the project aims to assess the ability of the tools to model a novel floating wind design. The TetraSpar was designed by Stiesdal Offshore Technologies and was selected as the subject platform for the project. The platform is a unique design that features spar-like stability with a very low center of gravity, but does not require rare deep-water ports. This combination is achieved with a system made of two separate steel structures, a hull at the water's surface that supports the wind turbine tower, and a keel that is suspended below the main body. This lower keel has a very high density and drives the total platform's low center of gravity. The TetraSpar, with hull and keel, spar-type stability, and relatively slender components, is unique compared to platforms studied in earlier phases of OC3-OC6 projects, and it offers an opportunity to evaluate the applicability of modeling tools to a novel design, especially unique hydrodynamics and compliant cables. Scaled model tests of the TetraSpar design were performed in 2018-2019 by the University of Maine. The data collected in the model tests provides a detailed description of the response of the platform in various controlled and relatively well understood conditions. Comparison with this data provides a good opportunity for validation of numerical models. The OC6 Phase IV work focuses on the specific parameters used in these scaled model tests. Descriptions of the platform and the test campaign in this document are based on the report written by Allen and Fowler of the University of Maine in 2019.

17 WIND ENERGY↗