SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “doe”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

At least 145 records · Page 8

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2019

NSRD-16: Computational Capability to Substantiate DOE-HDBk-3010 Data

Safety basis analysts throughout the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex rely heavily on the information provided in the DOE Handbook, DOE-HDBK-3010,Airborne Release Fractions/Rates and Respirable Fractions for Nonreactor Nuclear Facilities, to determine radionuclide source terms from postulated accident scenarios. In calculating source terms, analysts tend to use the DOE Handbook's bounding values on airborne release fractions (ARFs) and respirable fractions (RFs) for various categories of insults (representing potential accident release categories). This is typically due to both time constraints and the avoidance of regulatory critique. Unfortunately, these bounding ARFs/RFs represent extremely conservative values. Moreover, they were derived from very limited small-scale bench/laboratory experiments and/or from engineered judgment.Thus, the basis for the data may not be representative of the actual unique accident conditions and configurations being evaluated.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

DOE OSTI2019

Initial DOE SNF Standardized Canister Storage Configuration Alternatives Study

This study looks at storage configuration alternatives for United States Department of Energy (DOE) Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) Standardized Canisters loaded with DOE-owned SNF. The focus of the study is for the DOE SNF Standardized Canisters that would be packaged in the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) area at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), but its general findings are useful across the DOE Complex. The study considered storage in existing facilities, modified existing facilities, new facilities, and new modular systems. The existing INTEC facilities considered in the study include the CPP-603 Irradiated Fuel Storage Facility (IFSF), the CPP-749 Underground Fuel Storage Facility (UFSF), the CPP-666 SNF Wet Storage Basin Facility, CPP-1774 Three Mile Island (TMI) Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISFSF), and the CPP-2707 Cask Pad Facility. The new facilities considered in the study include the Foster Wheeler designed Idaho Spent Fuel (ISF) Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) and some conceptual designs. The new modular systems considered in the study include Holtec International’s HI-STAR/HI-STORM, NAC International’s MAGNASTOR/UMS/MPC and Orano TN’s MATRIX/NUHOMS. Based on considerations of various factors, including but not limited to capacity, impact to facility operations, capital costs, expenditure rate, licensing issues, agreements with the State of Idaho, and road ready conditions, new modular storage systems from commercial vendors may have clear advantages over other storage alternatives. This is further supported by recent experience with West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) storage project for High Level Waste Glass canisters.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Summary of US DOE R&D Activities on Graphite Oxidation (2006–2021)

The objective of the international collaboration between United States Department of Energy (U.S.-DOE) and Generation IV International Forum (GIF) is the development of the next generation of nuclear energy systems. The current GIF Project Arrangement (PA) on Materials (2018-2022) was revised in 2019 and extended for another 10 years (2020-2030). The Work Package 1 (“Graphite”) of the extended Project Plan (PP) on Materials specifies technical tasks and High Level Deliverables for research and development (R&D) activities related to using graphite in fuel elements, reflectors, and support structures of Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTR). The graphite tasks include specification and acquisition, qualification and development of new grades, characterization of properties, and development of behavior models. Specifically, Task 1.4 (“Graphite Oxidation Behavior”) outlines planned activities related to acute oxidation by air and chronic oxidation by impurities in the helium coolant. A final report on experimental data regarding graphite oxidation behavior is scheduled for 2022 (deliverable 3.1.1.4.a). In preparation of this deliverable, this document summarizes the R&D activities funded by U.S.-DOE from 2006 (the inception of the VHTR system arrangement) through present (2021). This report is being submitted to the GIF Graphite Working Group (GWG) to serve as input for the GWG high-level deliverable to the Project Management Board (PMB) of PA on Materials. Besides U.S.-DOE, other organizations participating to Task 1.4 of the current PA on Materials are: European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC), Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). U.S.-DOE is the main contributor on graphite oxidation R&D, with 85 % commitment of total funding during 2018-2022.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Modeling DOE Standard Canister Configurations with Updated Surface Chemistry

Road-ready and final disposition packaging configurations for the advanced test reactor (ATR) fuel currently specifies storage within helium backfilled DOE sealed standard canisters. The aluminum cladding of the ATR fuel contains an oxyhydroxide layer of boehmite/bayerite that generates hydrogen when subjected to irradiation. Understanding the effect of this hydrogen buildup over time to important for long term storage considerations. Previous modeling efforts have built a coupled CFD-chemical model to simulate the temperature gas phase concentrations within the DOE sealed standard canisters. These models have coupled the temperature conditions to both the gas phase radiolysis chemistry and the surface chemistry associated with the oxyhydroxide layer. Continued experimental work has identified trends for aluminum surrogate samples with oxyhydroxide layers for tests done at higher dose rates. At low initial doses a fast generation rate of hydrogen occurs which starts to roll over to a lower generation rate as the total dose applied in increased. A previous study created a small-scale chemical model was built to replicate a mini-canister surrogate system at SRNL as well as for the smaller capsule tests performed at INL. The previous iteration of the model utilized step function for its G-values for the hydrogen generation over a 200-year period. This model makes an update to the surface chemistry to account for theorized surface chemistry reactions allowing for oxygen to remain bounded to the oxyhydroxide layer. As additional experiments continue, the kinetic fits may be adjusted to adapt to new data. Three canister configurations are modeled – the base 18-inch, 15-foot DOR standard canister with 30 ATR fuel elements, an 18-inch, 10-foot DOE standard canister with 32 ATR fuel elements and a 24-inch, 10-foot DOE standard canister with 40 ATR fuel elements. In previous reports, the primary sensitivity of the canister conditions was identified as the decay heat of the fuel and the dried condition of the fuel. Only these parameters are studied in the report. For the nominal case with dried fuel, the hydrogen generation is only about 2%, so it is even less than the flammability limit if it were exposed to oxygen. For the densely packed 18-inch case the total hydrogen concentration is only around 4% with the nominal decay heat. For the densely packed 24-inch case the total hydrogen concentration is only 2.5%, roughly 20% higher than the original packing design, and still under flammability conditions if exposed to oxygen.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2020

Chemical Modeling of ATR Fuel in DOE Standard Canisters with Borated Stainless Steel Corrosion

Road-ready and final disposition packaging configurations for the ATR fuel dictates storage within helium backfilled sealed DOE standard canisters. The packaging configuration for the DOE canisters places 10 ATR elements within a Type 1a basket, and three baskets are loaded within each DOE canister. In order to provide a criticality control mechanism, these stainless baskets are proposed to be built with 1-2 weight percentage of boron. This report seeks to identify effects of corrosion of this basket material over time. The primary reaction found through surveying literature was the oxidation of the iron in steel by water to produce some hydrogen. This reaction was built into the previous chemical model of the DOE canister to assess additional hydrogen and pressure build up over time. Literature for non-borated stainless steel, and carbon steel has shown that irradiation increases the rate of corrosion, and it is assumed a similar effect would occur with borated stainless steel. Due to the wide range of results in literature, and the variation of the corrosion with boron content, a wide range of corrosion rates was tested in the model from 80 nm/yr up to 1800 nm/yr.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2024

Technical Basis for Proposed Changes to DOE-STD-1194-2019, Nuclear Material Attractiveness Determination and Categorization

The Department of Energy (DOE)’s Technical Standard DOE-STD-1194-2019 (dated September 2019), Nuclear Materials Control and Accountability, provides key guidance for the determination of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) attractiveness levels. Attractiveness levels are a key component in the security categorization of SNM processed, used, and stored at DOE facilities. Upon review, the writing team identified specific components relating to the determination of attractiveness levels that could be modified to improve clarity, reduce burden on sites, and/or better align with the graded safeguards principle that is central to the DOE’s nuclear security program. The report outlines the original verbiage, issues with implementation of that verbiage, proposed new verbiage, and the expected benefits thus serving as the technical basis for the proposed changes.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

DOE OSTI2025

DOE Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Accountable Nuclear Material Needs for Development and Commercialization of Fusion Nuclear Energy

Fusion energy represents a transformative opportunity to deliver a safe, plentiful, and carbon-free source of reliable primary power. In recent years, fusion research and development have accelerated significantly, particularly within the US, driven by decades of foundational public investment. Notably, in 2024 the US Department of Energy (DOE) established a comprehensive Fusion Energy Strategy aimed at collaborating with industry partners to enable the deployment of fusion power plants and grid integration by the 2030s. This strategy is chiefly implemented through the DOE Office of Science (SC) Fusion Energy Sciences program. This project was initiated to identify potential approaches for the Office of Environment, Safety, and Health (NA-ESH-12) within DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration to begin engagement with the fusion community on future accountable material needs. The goal of the project is to inform and influence the supply of and demand for accountable nuclear materials as fusion energy is developed and commercialized. NA-ESH-12 must proactively engage with the fusion community regarding the production and management of accountable nuclear materials. Given the complexity and scale of materials required for research, pilot projects, and eventual commercial reactors, early coordination is vital. The project’s objective is to provide insights that will shape the supply and demand landscape for critical nuclear materials, ensuring that DOE is prepared to effectively support fusion energy development and commercialization. In FY 2025, an initial limited review was conducted to identify the status of the fusion energy community’s progress toward full-scale energy production and the need for accountable nuclear material. This included communications with SC, NA-ESH-12, Savannah River National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and attending the Rutgers University–sponsored Supply Chain Workshop: Scaling the Fusion Industry and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Ninth DEMO Programme Workshop. The review to date indicates that the amounts of tritium, lithium-6, and deuterium required by the fusion industry will be dependent on fuel type, breeding technology, blankets, and R&D improvements. One concern is that the commercial sector does not have a sufficient supply chain to meet the demand for development and commercialization for fusion energy production. The supply and demand estimates for these materials should be routinely reviewed as fusion technologies mature.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1984

Non-doe-sponsored Domestic Dish Activities

The parabolic dish development activities being undertaken within the private sector of the United States were addressed. The primary emphasis of these non-DOE-sponsored activities is the development of commercial products that can penetrate the market in the near term. The exchange of information between these activities and the complementary DOE-sponsored work directed toward developing advancements in technology is considered to be of major importance. The experiences and problems encountered in the private sector serve as inputs that will help guide in the planning of the DOE program. In turn, a principal objective of the DOE program is the transfer findings of its technological development activities to the private sector. Activities in the private are characterized by their diversity in terms of both product design and marketing approach. The differences in the design concepts and the sizes of the dish concentrators under development are particularly noteworthy.

Fujita, T.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Technology Assessment of Doe's 55-we Stirling Technology Demonstrator Convector (TDC)

The Department of Energy (DOE), Germantown, Maryland and the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), Cleveland, Ohio are developing a Stirling Convertor for an advanced radioisotope power system as a potential power source for spacecraft on-board electric power for NASA deep space science missions. The Stirling Convertor is being evaluated as an alternative high efficiency power source to replace Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs). Stirling Technology Company (STC), Kennewick, Washington, is developing the highly efficient, long life 55-We free-piston Stirling Convertor known as the Technology Demonstrator Convertor (TDC) under contract to DOE. GRC provides Stirling technology expertise under a Space Act Agreement with the DOE. Lockheed Martin Astronautics (LMA), Valley Forge, Pennsylvania is the current power system integrator for the Advanced Radioisotope Power System (ARPS) Project for the DOE. JPL is responsible for the Outer Planets/Solar Probe Project for NASA.

Furlong, Richard↗

DOE OSTI2016

Transition and Transfer of Remediated Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) Sites from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) expects to receive the transfer of 10 FUSRAP Sites from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) over the next 10 years; however, the timing of the transfers is highly dependent upon federal funding of the ongoing remedial actions. When remediation for each site is complete and the 2-year operations and maintenance period has concluded, each site will transfer from USACE to DOE for long-term surveillance and maintenance (LTS&M). US DOE’s Office of Legacy Management (LM) will accept program responsibility for these sites and conduct LTS&M activities required to maintain protectiveness, preserve site-specific knowledge, and retain the cleanup and stewardship records while keeping stakeholders informed. Since the last FUSRAP site transfer occurred in 2007, LM in coordination with USACE intends to establish a transition process to promote the seamless transfer of sites from the time when the first record of decision is signed to the completion of FUSRAP activities. The approach to transfer active FUSRAP sites to completed sites status has been historically outlined in foundational documents such as the 1999 Memorandum of Understanding and supporting letters of agreement between the two agencies. As more complex FUSRAP sites are completed, this transition process will provide a model between the two agencies to communicate future long-term care liabilities. Ultimately, the FUSRAP transition process is structured to acquire and preserve site knowledge and information necessary for protecting the environment and public health. As of 2015, LM has transitioned and accepted programmatic responsibility for over 90 sites. From LM’s perspective, successful transition of any site includes understanding the long-term environmental liabilities. LM uses site transition framework requirements from past transitions to develop site-specific transition plans. Site-specific transition plans are developed by LM in coordination with USACE and executed during the 2-year operations and maintenance period. An integrated project team of subject matter experts is assembled to address the conditions of the transitioning site; acquire a site records collection; evaluate site operations and final site conditions and associated risks; identify and contact stakeholders; and document the basis for site LTS&M requirements. While the majority of the transition activities are completed by LM, close coordination between US DOE LM and USACE throughout this process is essential for an effective and seamless transfer to assure that there is no lapse in site protectiveness.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

The DOE Joint Genome Institute Enabling Advances in Energy & Environmental Research (2016 Fact Sheet)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI) is the only federally-funded high-throughput genome sequencing and analysis facility dedicated to genomes of non-medical microbes, microbial communities, plants, fungi and other targets relevant to DOE missions in energy, climate, and environment. DOE JGI provides collaborators around the world with access to massive-scale DNA sequencing to underpin modern systems biology research and provide fundamental data on key genes that may link to biological functions, including microbial metabolic pathways and enzymes that are used to generate fuel molecules, affect plant biomass formation, degrade contaminants, or capture CO 2 . The information can then be used to optimize organisms for biofuels production and other DOE missions.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2015

The SRNL technical assistance program: transferring lessons learned from two decades of remedial successes to the DOE complex - 15438

The Savannah River Site has an established history of developing implementable risk reduction strategies, developing and deploying innovative technological solutions, and collaboratively achieving realistic and protective environmental end states for complex environmental problems. Part of this success results from the strong historical collaboration between site environmental restoration groups and the Savannah River National Laboratory which results in the promulgation of innovative technical approaches and technologies from the laboratory to ongoing remediation campaigns. Much of the underlying research and development effort was funded by DOE's Office on Environmental Management through a series of applied technology demonstration projects (Integrated Demonstration Project, Integrated Programs and the Applied Field Research Site). Concomitant with the research efforts, SRNL has managed a dynamic and efficient national program that provides teams of technical experts with a broad experience base to recommend strategies that reduce risk and/or technical uncertainty for challenging environmental problems at other DOE facilities. At many of these sites, standard remedial approaches (e.g., excavation, pump and treat, soil vapor extraction) have either failed or proved to be too costly, inadequate, or ineffective. Alternatively, other sites struggle with implementation of innovative but less well understood approaches. The technical assistance teams use a structured process that based on several basic concepts, specifically, development of site specific technical frameworks, and careful matching of remedies to site-specific chemical, geological and physical conditions. Development of technical frameworks is a key strategy to apply basic science to an applied field problem. When directed toward understanding complex real-world environmental remediation challenges, frameworks are tools that support practical identification and incorporation of the key-controlling scientific processes and principles. Frameworks can also be used to minimize technical risks, encourage efficiency and effectiveness, and provide the basis for innovative and creative solutions. Efficient and effective environmental cleanup also requires matching the character of remediation and stabilization methods to the nature of the target zone of contamination as the nature of the target zone evolves through the life of the remedial project. A contaminant plume can be divided into the following zones: the source zone, the impact zone, and the transitional zone that then can be used to identify classes of technologies that are appropriate to that zone. For example, physical and chemical methods (e.g., trapping, immobilization, destruction, or isolation) that directly address the source contaminants are often appropriate for the disturbed zone during the remedial process. A variety of methods that include both active treatments (e.g., pump and treat or active bioremediation) and enhanced attenuation technologies (e.g., geochemical manipulation or reactive barriers) are often suitable for the primary contamination zone or impact zone. Various strategies based on natural attenuation processes may be applicable to the primary contamination zone and these methods are typically applied for the transition or baseline portions of the plume. Careful matching of remedies to site-specific conditions is critical to long-term success in environmental cleanup and restoration. The matching process facilitates selection of technologies with particular strengths that align with real-world needs and constraints, encourages strategic use of multiple or combined technologies to address major plume sub-domains, and supports transitioning technologies in space and time as remediation progresses. Since 2006, the SRNL Technical Assistance program has focused on providing support across the DOE complex. During this time, over 25 teams have visited eleven DOE sites and made recommendations that yielded an estimated cost savings of $100 M. Examples will be provided that illustrate key aspects and significant successes of the technical assistance program. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2015

Utilization of GIS technology to support development of flow and contaminant fate and transport models at US DOE sites - 15457

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites have accumulated years of data and millions of spatial and temporal records related to the hydrological cycle, contaminant transport, and parameters of remediation technologies. In addition, numerical models which use field monitoring data to help understand flow and transport produce gigabytes of computed spatial and temporal data for each computation node. There is a need therefore for an advanced spatial data structure that can be used to address the management, processing, and analysis of spatial and temporal numerical modeling data derived from multiple sources. This can be accomplished using a geo-database. The development of an ArcSDE geo-database facilitates the centralized storage, backup, accessibility, organization, and management of model configuration and computed simulation data, putting it into a structured, coherent, and logical computer-supported system. GIS data processing and automation would enable faster and hence more complex analyses of field test data. The Applied Research Center (ARC) at Florida International University (FIU) has provided analysis of flow and transport for several watersheds at DOE's Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR), including East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC), Upper EFPC in the Y-12 National Security Complex area (Y-12 NSC) and White Oak Creek (WOC). Integrated surface and subsurface flow, fate and transport models were developed to provide analysis of contaminant patterns within each watershed. In addition, digital monitoring data available from the Oak Ridge Environmental Information System (OREIS) related to mercury (Hg) contamination and remediation within these watersheds was used for calibration and verification of the model. Experimental studies were also carried out which provided kinetic and equilibrium data about important parameters related to Hg transport, speciation and methylation/demethylation kinetics within the watershed. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology was employed to support the modeling work through storage and geo-processing of spatial and temporal data required by the models and to produce hydrogeological maps for visualization. An ArcGIS geo-database was developed for centralized storage and management of experimental and computed model data and its capabilities were extended over the years using tools such as ModelBuilder combined with Python scripting to automate repetitive tasks, perform statistical analyses and generate maps and reports. The hydrologic geo-database model developed possesses a structure that enables linkage with scalable hydrologic modeling tools/applications to model hydrologic systems, and in this case, enables the testing of the potential impacts of various remediation scenarios on the ORR watersheds. The ArcSDE geo-database can also be used to automate and simplify the process of calling stored GIS and time series data. This geo-database can serve as a tool for contaminant flow and transport analyses which require large amounts of high-quality spatial and temporal data in order to ensure reliability and validity of modeling results. The existing geo-database structure developed for the hydrological modeling at ORR was designed to be replicable for application at other DOE sites. An investigation of downloadable free/open source GIS software along with required security protocols to facilitate online querying of the database was also conducted to determine methods by which project-derived data can be more easily shared with other project stakeholders such as DOE personnel and site contractors. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2019

Panel Session 61: Challenges in the US DOE HLW Tank Management Program

Approximately 50 people attended this panel session which focused on the successes and challenges in DOE high-level radioactive tank waste management with special emphasis on tank waste processing and waste disposition. Panelists discussed approaches, results, and lessons learned in addressing challenges in construction, start-up, and processing of tank waste and its ultimate disposition that is critical to tank waste management at Hanford, Savannah River, and Idaho sites. Presentations proposed include: 1 - Liquid Waste Program at the Savannah River Site (James Folk, US DOE (USA)); 2 - Progress on Hanford's Tank Waste Treatment Mission (Tom Fletcher, US DOE (USA)); 3 - Idaho Tank Waste Program (Joel Case, US DOE (USA))

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2020

Panel Session 13: D and D Collaboration Between US DOE EM and NNSA (R6.3)

This panel focused on the interaction and collaboration between US Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE EM) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) offices and sites. Panelists with presentations: NNSA and DOE EM Collaboration on Facility Disposition (Deborah Couchman-Griswold); DOE EM and NNSA D and D Collaboration at the Y-12 National Security Complex (Diane McDaniel); Working Together to Achieve Environmental Cleanup Success in Oak Ridge (Laura Wilkerson, James Daffron); DOE-EM - NNSA (Rick Demmer)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2020

On the Road to Achieving Safety Excellence at the Idaho Cleanup Project: The Initial Challenges, Solutions, and Positive Results of Striving to be the Best and Safest in the DOE Complex - 20518

When Fluor Idaho, LLC (Fluor Idaho) assumed the Idaho Cleanup Project Core contract (ICP Core) in mid-2016, it inherited the successful multi-faceted, employee-owned safety programs of two prior contractors supporting cleanup operations at the Idaho National Laboratory Site. Fluor Idaho incorporated the best of both safety programs along with Fluor Corporate's 106-year legacy of safety initiatives and successes. Fluor Idaho integrated the separate programs and cultures under a One Fluor approach - one project, one mission, One Fluor. Job changes, management changes, and procedures, processes, and system changes presented multiple challenges. Those challenges combined with the severe Winter of 2016/2017 resulted in numerous slips, trips, and falls first aids and reportable injuries. The road to safety excellence started off bumpy and stayed that way for some time. Since then, Fluor Idaho has successfully implemented several key initiatives including employee engagement; management engagement and time in the field; communications improvements; safety culture sustainment; injury/illness prevention; organizational learning; and DOE Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) readiness and preparation. Management became more engaged by making more workplace visits and increasing their supervision of 'life critical work' or complex activities. Additional training became mandatory for first-line supervisors and front-line workers. Most recently, Fluor Idaho increased its injury and illness prevention initiatives extensively. In the last year, things have turned around in a dramatic way. This shift is directly attributable to the significant number of initiatives launched in late 2017 and 2018. These initiatives addressed safety performance in the five key areas of the DOE VPP and promoted sustainability of the company's safety culture. The five key areas are: management leadership, employee involvement, work-site analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training. Employees and managers alike recommitted to making safety the highest value. The result of this laser-like focus on safety and accident and injury prevention is that injuries and first aids are a fraction of what they were. During FY 2019, employees worked more than 4.2 million hours without a serious injury or lost work-day and 1 million hours without a recordable injury. Fluor Idaho is proud of its safety trend. The company invested significant resources in improving its safety record, and that investment is paying off. Other contractors in the DOE Complex can learn and benefit from this discussion of the challenges Fluor Idaho faced, as well as its innovative safety initiatives that are producing results that are being recognized by our U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) customer. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2015

The U.S. DOE Criticality Safety Enterprise - Next Generation - 00001

Star Trek has been a popular cultural icon worldwide since the mid-1960's. It spans roughly through the cold-war era just after World War II until now. The original cast and crew have mostly retired or passed away and the mission of space exploration has been handed off to a new starship and a new crew, the next generation. There was a transition movie in the series, Star Trek Generations, in which Captain Kirk and Captain Picard meet and the torch is passed. I am going to use this familiar movie franchise as a framework for my remarks on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Criticality Safety Enterprise because I see us at such a crossroads. Many new frontiers have been explored by the old crew but new challenges await a younger captain and crew. Many old challenges have been solved but new ones are appearing. My remarks are formed from within the vantage-point of the U.S. DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). I would venture to say that the situation is similar in the realm of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its Licensees, but I do not pretend to speak authoritatively for that community. I'm going to review what has been accomplished by the U.S. DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) and cover broadly what is the state of criticality safety in the U.S. DOE and NNSA. Then I will look at the transition taking place now and identify what I believe to be new challenges for the next crew. Finally, I will suggest some recommendations that I hope the next generation crew, which will be a multi-national crew, will find helpful as they navigate uncharted regions going forward. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2024

Estimation of General Area Dose Rates During Closure Weld Operations on the DOE Standard Canister Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference 2024

The Department of Energy (DOE) Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) Road Ready Demonstration Project is an effort to package DOE-managed SNF for road-ready dry storage. A key operation in this demonstration is performing the closure weld on the DOE Standard Canister after it has been loaded with the SNF. Planning the closure weld operations is ongoing and must consider what parts of the operations (if any) can be done manually and what parts must be done remotely. A key parameter to inform the evolving planning of these operations is the dose rate in the vicinity of the canister and the dose hazard posed to the closure weld operators and collocated workers. This study developed a Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) model of the closure weld operation, which was used to estimate general area dose rates as well as dose rates to the welding location, weld operators, and collocated workers. These estimates provide some insight into the potential radiation exposure hazard for workers during the operations and are a factor to be considered in the ongoing development of designs, technology, processes, and administrative controls for packaging DOE-managed SNF for road-ready dry storage.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗