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At least 145 records · Page 8

Semi-Abelian gauge theories, non-invertible symmetries, and string tensions beyond N -ality

We study a 3d lattice gauge theory with gauge group U(1) N– 1 ⋉ S N , which is obtained by gauging the S N global symmetry of a pure U(1) N– 1 gauge theory, and we call it the semi-Abelian gauge theory. We compute mass gaps and string tensions for both theories using the monopole-gas description. We find that the effective potential receives equal contributions at leading order from monopoles associated with the entire SU( N ) root system. Even though the center symmetry of the semi-Abelian gauge theory is given by ℤ N , we observe that the string tensions do not obey the N -ality rule and carry more detailed information on the representations of the gauge group. We find that this refinement is due to the presence of non-invertible topological lines as a remnant of U(1) N– 1 one-form symmetry in the original Abelian lattice theory. Upon adding charged particles corresponding to W -bosons, such non-invertible symmetries are explicitly broken so that the N -ality rule should emerge in the deep infrared regime.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Monitor for measuring mercury emissions

A mercury emissions monitor includes a mercury sensor tape configured to be fed in a reel-to-reel manner between first and second tape reels, wherein the mercury sensor tape includes a thin metallic film configured to form an amalgam with detected mercury. A mercury collection unit is configured to receive into a chamber a sample of a gas containing mercury, wherein the mercury collection unit is further configured to permit passage of portions of the mercury sensor tape through the chamber containing the gas sample so that the amalgam is formed with the thin metallic film. A mercury analysis unit includes a total reflection x-ray fluorescence (“TXRF”) system configured to perform a TXRF analysis of the amalgam, wherein the mercury analysis unit is configured to permit passage of the mercury sensor tape within a proximity of an XRF detector of the TXRF system. The mercury collection unit and the mercury analysis unit are positioned between the first and second tape reels so that the mercury sensor tape can move in a continuous manner from the first tape reel through the chamber of the mercury collection unit, then within sufficient proximity to the XRF detector, to be then taken up onto the second tape reel.

Kumar, Nalin↗

Experimental studies of glass refining

The basic components of the experimental apparatus were selected and acquired. Techniques were developed for the fabrication of the special crucibles necessary for the experiments. Arrangements were made for the analysis of glass and gas bubble samples for composition information. Donations of major equipment were received for this project from Owens, Illinois where a similar study had been conducted a few year ago. Decisions were made regarding the actual glass composition to be used, the gas to be used in the first experiments, and the temperatures at which the experiments should be conducted. A microcomputer was acquired, and work was begun on interfacing the video analyzer to it.

Subramanian, R. S.↗

Efficient space propulsion and power using a high-temperature, gaseous radiation receiver

A two-dimensional analysis is carried out for a flowing gas radiation heater, a device whereby focused solar radiation is deposited volumetrically in a gas to produce high temperatures for space power or propulsion. The paper includes radiative losses to the walls of the absorption chamber, and demonstrates that if wall reflectivity exceeds 75 percent, gas temperatures above 3000 K are possible.

Mattick, A. T.↗

Use of Gas Adsorption and Inversion Methods for Shale Pore Structure Characterization

The analysis of porosity and pore structure of shale rocks has received special attention in the last decades as unconventional reservoir hydrocarbons have become a larger parcel of the oil and gas market. A variety of techniques are available to provide a satisfactory description of these porous media. Some techniques are based on saturating the porous rock with a fluid to probe the pore structure. In this sense, gases have played an important role in porosity and pore structure characterization, particularly for the analysis of pore size and shapes and storage or intake capacity. In this review, we discuss the use of various gases, with emphasis on N2 and CO2, for characterization of shale pore architecture. We describe the state of the art on the related inversion methods for processing the corresponding isotherms and the procedure to obtain surface area and pore-size distribution. The state of the art is based on the collation of publications in the last 10 years. Limitations of the gas adsorption technique and the associated inversion methods as well as the most suitable scenario for its application are presented in this review. Finally, we discuss the future of gas adsorption for shale characterization, which we believe will rely on hybridization with other techniques to overcome some of the limitations.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗

Modeling and Simulation of Xe-100-type Pebble Bed Gas-Cooled Reactor with SCALE

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) to accelerate the deployment of advanced reactor concepts. Awardees of ARDP funds are expected to demonstrate the operation of an advanced reactor within 7 years of receiving the award. X-Energy’s advanced reactor concept, the Xe-100, was selected as one of two advanced reactor concepts to receive funding to demonstrate the operation of its high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed reactor before the end of this decade. As a result of this push to bring advanced reactors to maturation and commercialization, transition and deployment scenario studies are being performed under the Systems Analysis and Integration (SA&I) campaign within the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) to evaluate the transition of the current US commercial fleet of light-water reactors (LWRs) to a future fleet of advanced reactors consisting of a mix of ARDP type reactor concepts and advanced LWRs. To accurately evaluate the front- and back-end resource requirements, it is important to perform reactor physics calculations to determine the discharge burnup and isotopic content, fuel residence time, as well as other parameters. For this purpose, a summer project funded by the SA&I campaign allowed for the setup of SCALE models for full-core Xe-100 type high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed reactor and a Xe-100 type slice using publicly available information. The core-averaged equilibrium compositions and zone-wise equilibrium compositions for the slice and 3D models, respectively, were obtained following an iterative depletion method developed by Bostelmann et al. using SCALE’s reactor physics sequence TRITON. The slice model was used with TRITON to generate burnup-dependent cross section libraries at different temperatures which can be used with SCALE’s ORIGAMI code to rapidly determine fuel inventory and therefore to perform quick sensitivity studies on parameters such as the pebble location in the core. The SCALE/TRITON transport and depletion calculation for the Xe-100 type slice model indicates that the isotopic concentrations are in good agreement at 1,300 effective full power days (EFPD) for 235 U. An analysis of 236 U results match 239 Pu results would seem to indicate a typographical error in Mulder and Boyes wherein the reported results of 236 U and 239 Pu are reversed. In addition to SCALE/TRITON calculations, a new capability within SCALE/ORIGAMI for the simulation of pebble-bed reactors was used to study the burnup sensitivity with respect to the pebble pathway through the core. The SCALE/ORIGAMI results show that pebbles that travel closer to the reflector for the entire depletion history have a higher burnup than pebbles that travel through the middle of the core because of the higher thermal to fast flux ratio near the reflector. Consequently, a pebble’s burnup is strongly affected by the pebble’s pathway for each pass. Additional phenomena such as temperature distributions in the core and different travel times of the pebbles in the individual radial zones further affect the burnup distribution. The sensitivity of the discharge vector to the pebble pathways taken during each pass can be evaluated in the future using SCALE/ORIGAMI now that the SCALE inputs have been established.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Extended convex hull-based distributed optimal energy flow of integrated electricity-gas systems

Integrated electricity and gas systems are constructed to facilitate the gas-fired generation, and the distributed operation of these integrated systems have received much attention due to the increased emphasis on data security and privacy between different agencies. This paper proposes an extended convex hull based method to address optimal energy flow problems for the integrated electricity and gas systems in a distributed manner. First, a multi-block electricity-gas system model is constructed by dividing the whole system into N blocks considering both physical and regional differences. This multi-block model is then convexified by replacing the nonconvex gas transmission equation with the extended convex hull-based constraints. The Jacobi-Proximal alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm is adopted to solve the convexified model and minimize its operation cost. Finally, the feasibility of the optimal solution for the convexified model is checked, and a sufficient condition is developed. If the sufficient condition is satisfied, the optimal solution for the original nonconvex problem can be recovered from that for the convexified problem. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method is tractable and effective in obtaining feasible optimal solutions for multi-block optimal energy flow problems.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Insulation Test Cryostat with Lift Mechanism

A multi-purpose, cylindrical thermal insulation test apparatus is used for testing insulation materials and systems of materials using a liquid boil-off calorimeter system for absolute measurement of the effective thermal conductivity (k-value) and heat flux of a specimen material at a fixed environmental condition (cold-side temperature, warm-side temperature, vacuum pressure level, and residual gas composition). The apparatus includes an inner vessel for receiving a liquid with a normal boiling point below ambient temperature, such as liquid nitrogen, enclosed within a vacuum chamber. A cold mass assembly, including the upper and lower guard chambers and a middle test vessel, is suspended from a lid of the vacuum canister. Each of the three chambers is filled and vented through a single feedthrough. All fluid and instrumentation feedthroughs are mounted and suspended from a top domed lid to allow easy removal of the cold mass. A lift mechanism allows manipulation of the cold mass assembly and insulation test article.

Fesmire, James E.↗

Portable Medical Diagnosis Instrument

A system that integrates several technologies into a single, portable medical diagnostic apparatus for analyzing a sample body fluid (liquid and/or gas): (1) a mechanism to capture airborne microdroplets and to separate the body fluid into a first fluid component (primarily gas) and a second fluid component (primarily liquid); (2) a volatilizer to convert a portion of the second fluid component into a third fluid component that is primarily a gas; (3) a functionalized nanostructure (NS) array configured to receive, identify, and estimate concentration of at least one constituent in the first and/or third fluid components; (4) a miniaturized differential mobility spectrometer (DMS) module; and (5) a biomarker sensor, to detect volatile and non-volatile molecules in a sample fluid, which may contain one or more components of blood, breath, perspiration, saliva, and urine.

Straume, Tore↗

Design and fabrication of brayton cycle solar heat receiver

A detail design and fabrication of a solar heat receiver using lithium fluoride as the heat storage material was completed. A gas flow analysis was performed to achieve uniform flow distribution within overall pressure drop limitations. Structural analyses and allowable design criteria were developed for anticipated environments such as launch, pressure containment, and thermal cycling. A complete heat receiver assembly was fabricated almost entirely from the refractory alloy, niobium-1% zirconium.

Mendelson, I.↗

Modeling of High-Strain-Rate Deformation, Fracture, and Impact Behavior of Advanced Gas Turbine Engine Materials at Low and Elevated Temperatures

Gamma titanium aluminides have received considerable attention over the last decade. These alloys are known to have low density, good high temperature strength retention, and good oxidation and corrosion resistance. However, poor ductility and low fracture toughness have been the key limiting factors in the full utilization of these alloys. More recently, Gamma-met PX has been developed by GKSS, Germany. These alloys have been observed to have superior strengths at elevated temperatures and quasi-static deformation rates and good oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures when compared with other gamma titanium aluminides. The present paper discusses results of a study to understand dynamic response of gamma-met PX in uniaxial compression. The experiments were conducted by using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar between room temperature and 900 C and strain rates of up to 3500 per second. The Gamma met PX alloy showed superior strength when compared to nickel based superalloys and other gamma titanium aluminides at all test temperatures. It also showed strain and strain-rate hardening at all levels of strain rates and temperatures and without yield anomaly up to 900 C. After approximately 600 C, thermal softening is observed at all strain rates with the rate of thermal softening increasing dramatically between 800 and 900 C. However, these flow stress levels are comparatively higher in Gamma met PX than those observed for other TiAl alloys.

Shazly, Mostafa↗

Ground test program for a full-size solar dynamic heat receiver

Test hardware, facilities, and procedures were developed to conduct ground testing of a full size, solar dynamic heat receiver in a partially simulated, low Earth orbit environment. The heat receiver was designed to supply 102 kW of thermal energy to a helium and xenon gas mixture continuously over a 94 minute orbit, including up to 36 minutes of eclipse. The purpose of the test program was to quantify the receiver thermodynamic performance, its operating temperatures, and thermal response to changes in environmental and power module interface boundary conditions. The heat receiver was tested in a vacuum chamber using liquid nitrogen cold shrouds and an aperture cold plate. Special test equipment were designed to provide the required ranges in interface boundary conditions that typify those expected or required for operation as part of the solar dynamic power module on the Space Station Freedom. The support hardware includes an infrared quartz lamp heater with 30 independently controllable zones and a closed Brayton cycle engine simulator to circulate and condition the helium xenon gas mixture. The test article, test support hardware, facilities, and instrumentation developed to conduct the ground test program are all described.

Sedgwick, L. M.↗

Ground test program for a full-size solar dynamic heat receiver

Test hardware, facilities, and procedures were developed to conduct ground testing of a full-size, solar dynamic heat receiver in a partially simulated, low earth orbit environment. The heat receiver was designed to supply 102 kW of thermal energy to a helium and xenon gas mixture continuously over a 94 minute orbit, including up to 36 minutes of eclipse. The purpose of the test program was to quantify the receiver thermodynamic performance, its operating temperatures, and thermal response to changes in environmental and power module interface boundary conditions. The heat receiver was tested in a vacuum chamber using liquid nitrogen cold shrouds and an aperture cold plate. Special test equipment was designed to provide the required ranges in interface boundary conditions that typify those expected or required for operation as part of the solar dynamic power module on the Space Station Freedom. The support hardware includes an infrared quartz lamp heater with 30 independently controllable zones and a closed-Brayton cycle engine simulator to circulate and condition the helium-xenon gas mixture. The test article, test support hardware, facilities, and instrumentation developed to conduct the ground test program are all described.

Sedgwick, L. M.↗

Overview and status of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility Far Site cryogenics system

The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) will host the Far Detector of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), an international multi-kiloton Long-Baseline neutrino experiment that will be installed about one and a half kilometers underground in Lead, SD. Detectors will be located inside four cryostats filled with almost 70,000 metric tons of ultrapure liquid argon, with a level of impurities lower than 100 parts per trillion of oxygen equivalent contamination. The cryogenics infrastructure supporting this experiment is provided by the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF). This contribution presents modes of operation, layout, and main features of the LBNF Far Site cryogenic system, which is composed of three subsystems: Infrastructure, Proximity, and Internal cryogenics. The Infrastructure cryogenics supports the needs of the cryostat and Proximity cryogenics. It includes the equipment to receive the argon in liquid phase, vaporize it and transfer it underground as a gas, the nitrogen system (composed of the refrigeration system, liquid nitrogen buffer tanks and liquid and gaseous nitrogen distribution), liquid and gaseous argon distribution and process controls. The Proximity cryogenics receives fluids from the Infrastructure cryogenics and delivers them to the Internal cryogenics at the required temperature, pressure, purity and mass flow rate. It includes the argon condensers, liquid and gaseous argon purification and regeneration systems, nitrogen and argon phase separators, piping, valves, and instrumentation. The Internal cryogenics comprises the liquid and gaseous argon distribution inside the cryostats for the commissioning, cool down, fill, and steady state operations of the cryostats and detectors. An international engineering team is designing these systems and will manufacture, install, commission, and qualify them. This contribution describes the main features, performance, functional requirements, and modes of operation of the LBNF Far Site cryogenics system. It also presents the status of the design, along with present and future needs to support the DUNE experiment.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Particulates for additive manufacturing techniques

A method of making a particulate for an additive manufacturing technique includes receiving particulate at a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor, flowing a hydrocarbon gas into the CVD reactor, decomposing the hydrocarbon gas in the CVD reactor, and depositing a carbonaceous coating on the particulate using a product of the decomposed hydrocarbon gas. The coating deposited over the particulate has a reflectivity that is lower than the reflectivity the underlying particulate body to reduce an energy input requirement for purposes of fusing the particulate into a layer of an article using an additive manufacturing technique. In embodiments, the coated particulate can be received at an additive manufacturing apparatus and fused into a layer of an article as a metallic-carbon composite using a high-density energy source.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Fluid absorption solar energy receiver

A conventional solar dynamic system transmits solar energy to the flowing fluid of a thermodynamic cycle through structures which contain the gas and thermal energy storage material. Such a heat transfer mechanism dictates that the structure operate at a higher temperature than the fluid. This investigation reports on a fluid absorption receiver where only a part of the solar energy is transmitted to the structure. The other part is absorbed directly by the fluid. By proportioning these two heat transfer paths the energy to the structure can preheat the fluid, while the energy absorbed directly by the fluid raises the fluid to its final working temperature. The surface temperatures need not exceed the output temperature of the fluid. This makes the output temperature of the gas the maximum temperature in the system. The gas can have local maximum temperatures higher than the output working temperature. However local high temperatures are quickly equilibrated, and since the gas does not emit radiation, local high temperatures do not result in a radiative heat loss. Thermal radiation, thermal conductivity, and heat exchange with the gas all help equilibrate the surface temperature.

Bair, Edward J.↗

Galaxy Cluster Gas Mass Fractions From Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect Measurements: Constraints on Omega(M)

Using sensitive centimeter-wave receivers mounted on the Owens Valley Radio Observatory and Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland-Association millimeter arrays, we have obtained interferometric measurements of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich(SZ) effect toward massive galaxy clusters. We use the SZ data to determine the pressure distribution of the cluster gas and, in combination with published X-ray temperatures, to infer the gas mass and total gravitational mass of 18 clusters. The gas mass fraction, f(g), is calculated for each cluster and is extrapolated to the fiducial radius r(500) using the results of numerical simulations. The mean f(g) within r(500) is 0.081(+ 0.009 / - 0.011) per h(100) (statistical uncertainty at 68% confidence level, assuming Omega(M) = 0.3, Omega(Lambda) = 0.7). We discuss possible sources of systematic errors in the mean f(sub g) measurement. We derive an upper limit for Omega(M) from this sample under the assumption that the mass composition of clusters within r(500) reflects the universal mass composition: Omega(M)h is less than or equal to Omega(B)/f(g). The gas mass fractions depend on cosmology through the angular diameter distance and the r(500) correction factors. For a flat universe (Omega(Lambda) is identical with 1 - Omega(M)) and h = 0.7, we find the measured gas mass fractions are consistent with Omega(M) is less than 0.40, at 68% confidence. Including estimates of the baryons contained in galaxies and the baryons which failed to become bound during the cluster formation process, we find Omega(M) is approximately equal to 0.25.

Grego, Laura↗

Thermal Stability and Outgassing Behaviors of High‐nickel Cathodes in Lithium‐ion Batteries

Abstract LiNiO 2 ‐based high‐nickel layered oxide cathodes are regarded as promising cathode materials for high‐energy‐density automotive lithium batteries. Most of the attention thus far has been paid towards addressing their surface and structural instability issues brought by the increase of Ni content (>90 %) with an aim to enhance the cycle stability. However, the poor safety performance remains an intractable problem for their commercialization in the market, yet it has not received appropriate attention. In this review, we focus on the gas generation and thermal degradation behaviors of high‐Ni cathodes, which are critical factors in determining their overall safety performance. A comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of outgassing and thermal runaway reactions is presented and analyzed from a chemistry perspective. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the insights into developing robust, safe high‐Ni cathodes.

Cui, Zehao↗