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At least 145 records · Page 8

Technical Assistance for Digital Assurance: DistribuTECH Workshop

Idaho National Laboratory, the Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office, and other national laboratories are collaborating to ensure the U.S. energy infrastructure is reliable, resilient, and secure. This involves strategically leveraging digital technologies to modernize the grid, enhance its resilience against all hazards and disruptions, and fortify national energy security across a diverse energy portfolio. In this workshop you will learn about Idaho National Lab’s Technical Assistance programs, where organizations will be matched with a national laboratory subject matter expert to focus on their key topical area. The technical assistance offered through this track is designed to be responsive to a rapidly changing regulatory landscape and cutting-edge technologies that enhance grid reliability and efficiency. Users will be guided through a tailored analysis and mitigation program to determine their current security posture and given assistance in evaluating supply chain and protection choices against potential consequences.

Digital assurance↗

Defense Technical Assistance - Infographic 4/24/25

Defense Technical Assistance (TA) Infographic designed to inform potential pilot partnerships with military installation about the TA opportunities available. - Secure and reliable energy is crucial for the operational readiness and resilience of military installations. The Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office has funded a new initiative at Idaho National Laboratory to conduct technical, on-site assessments that aim to secure the power infrastructure of military bases reliant on civilian utilities for their operations, both CONUS and OCONUS. Including how the assessments work and INL capabilities, partnership model as well as outcomes.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗

Defense Resilience Technical Assistance Options - Initial Overview

The Defense Resilience Technical Assistance (TA) project, a collaboration between the DOE Grid Deployment Office and the DoD, aims to enhance energy infrastructure at military installations and utilities and the surrounding community. It focuses on improving energy system performance, addressing power infrastructure inadequacies, enhancing power quality, reducing cyber sabotage impacts, and strengthening digital supply chains. Defense Resilience Technical Assistance Options - Initial Overview. Intend to tailor to the pilot installation.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Polyurethanes Based on Unmodified and Refined Technical Lignins: Correlation between Molecular Structure and Material Properties

The structural complexity and robust intermolecular interactions have challenged the incorporation of technical lignin into value-added polymeric materials for decades. To study the correlation between lignin molecular structure and material properties of lignin-based polyurethanes, we applied co-solvent enhanced lignocellulosic fractionation pretreatment followed by sequential precipitation to produce three distinct lignin preparations with narrowly distributed (molecular weight dispersity <2) and comparatively low molecular weight (<1500 g/mol) from poplar biomass. Structural characterization indicated that these lignin preparations differed in average molecular chain length and stiffness as well as hydroxyl group distribution. Secondary hydroxyl group providers such as aliphatic diols and polyethers were incorporated as building blocks into the lignin-based polyurethanes to provide additional hydrogen capacity to improve the dispersion of lignin in the polyurethane network. The selected aliphatic diols and polyethers interacted with lignin molecules at different levels of strength depending on their molecular structure, and their impacts were ultimately reflected in the mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting lignin-based polyurethanes. The copolymerization of technical lignin with tailored structure and secondary hydroxyl providers could provide new strategies in formulating lignin-based/containing polyurethanes for various functional applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DeepPatent2: A Large-Scale Benchmarking Corpus for Technical Drawing Understanding

Abstract Recent advances in computer vision (CV) and natural language processing have been driven by exploiting big data on practical applications. However, these research fields are still limited by the sheer volume, versatility, and diversity of the available datasets. CV tasks, such as image captioning, which has primarily been carried out on natural images, still struggle to produce accurate and meaningful captions on sketched images often included in scientific and technical documents. The advancement of other tasks such as 3D reconstruction from 2D images requires larger datasets with multiple viewpoints. We introduce DeepPatent2, a large-scale dataset, providing more than 2.7 million technical drawings with 132,890 object names and 22,394 viewpoints extracted from 14 years of US design patent documents. We demonstrate the usefulness of DeepPatent2 with conceptual captioning. We further provide the potential usefulness of our dataset to facilitate other research areas such as 3D image reconstruction and image retrieval.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Physical and technical basis of Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment from modeling and Proto-MPEX results *

Abstract The Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) is a steady-state linear plasma device that will address plasma-material interaction (PMI) science and enable testing of fusion reactor-relevant divertor plasma-facing materials. The MPEX source concept consists of a helicon plasma source to generate the plasma, electron cyclotron heating (ECH) for electron heating, and ion cyclotron heating (ICH) for ion heating. The MPEX source plasma is then transported axially to the PMI material target region to test material samples in fusion reactor-relevant divertor conditions. This paper will summarize the physical and technical basis of MPEX. The paper will first define the MPEX parameters and scenarios at the target relevant to PMI science for various fusion reactor-relevant divertor conditions and show plasma transport modeling results to set the MPEX source parameters. Recent experimental and modeling results from Proto-MPEX, a short-pulse experiment to develop the plasma production, heating, and transport physics for MPEX, will be shown. From these results, it will be shown that MPEX can reach its desired scenarios. The MPEX physical and technical basis will also determine important functional requirements for magnetic field, radiofrequency (RF) power, RF frequency, and neutral pressure in the helicon, ECH, ICH, and PMI regions that are required to achieve the desired MPEX scenarios. The necessity for key in-vessel components such as skimmers, limiters, and microwave absorbers will also be highlighted.

Lau, C. (ORCID:0000000285765867)↗

Carbon Storage Technical Viability Approach (CS TVA) Database

The Carbon Storage Technical Viability Approach (CS TVA) database was developed to support the implementation of the CS TVA Matrix to a national data availability assessment for technically viable carbon storage. This database leverages the efforts of multiple adjacent and overlapping databases by non-redundantly combining the databases into a single database along with additionally providing tags facilitating the CS TVA. The non-redundant aspect of the database permits an accurate assessment of the concentration of available data, aiding in spatial and categorical data gaps analysis relative to the individual CS TVA Matrix Components. Version 2.0 of the database is an expansion of Version 1.0. Version 2.0 was created to include additional data gathered to fill gaps in the existing data set. Downloading the CS TVA v2.0 database will result in two separate databases, the version 1.0 original .gdb, and a second addendum .gdb with the new data gathered, together these two databases make up v2.0. Please see the ReadMe file below for full details, metadata information, use disclaimer, and attributions.

Coal↗

Managing technical debt across large-scale control systems

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of technical debt in the context of control systems for large-scale physics facilities. We will explore its various forms, common causes, and potential consequences on system reliability, maintainability, and upgradability. Drawing on experiences from multiple projects, we will present a range of strategies for proactively managing technical debt, including best practices in design, development, testing, and documentation, as well as reactive approaches for identifying and mitigating existing issues. The presentation will also emphasize the importance of a collaborative approach and the use of modern tools, like fault tracking systems, to ensure the long-term health and success of control systems in our field.

Watts, Adam [Fermilab]↗

100 Gbps Radiation Tolerant Optical Transceiver (Final Technical Report)

The overall technical objective in phase I for the Surface Emitting Laser-Electro-Absorption Modulator (EAM) was to demonstrate feasibility of this approach by designing and building the laser-EAM chips, optimizing the fabrication process for the Laser/EAM in a series of 3 fabrication runs, irradiating Laser/EAM chips from each run and DC testing of the chips post radiation. 100 Gbps/channel testing would be done at the end of the phase II program before and after radiation. The overall technical objective for the driver circuit was to demonstrate the radiation tolerance of a circuit using the same technology as the driver, and to design the appropriate driver circuit.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), Far Detector Technical Design Report, Volume II: DUNE Physics

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early universe, the dynamics of the supernovae that produced the heavy elements necessary for life, and whether protons eventually decay -- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our universe, its current state, and its eventual fate. DUNE is an international world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions as it searches for leptonic charge-parity symmetry violation, stands ready to capture supernova neutrino bursts, and seeks to observe nucleon decay as a signature of a grand unified theory underlying the standard model. The DUNE far detector technical design report (TDR) describes the DUNE physics program and the technical designs of the single- and dual-phase DUNE liquid argon TPC far detector modules. Volume II of this TDR, DUNE Physics, describes the array of identified scientific opportunities and key goals. Crucially, we also report our best current understanding of the capability of DUNE to realize these goals, along with the detailed arguments and investigations on which this understanding is based. This TDR volume documents the scientific basis underlying the conception and design of the LBNF/DUNE experimental configurations. As a result, the description of DUNE's experimental capabilities constitutes the bulk of the document. Key linkages between requirements for successful execution of the physics program and primary specifications of the experimental configurations are drawn and summarized. This document also serves a wider purpose as a statement on the scientific potential of DUNE as a central component within a global program of frontier theoretical and experimental particle physics research. Thus, the presentation also aims to serve as a resource for the particle physics community at large.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A Benthic Habitat Monitoring Approach for Marine and Hydrokinetic Sites (Final Technical Report)

This final technical report summarizes the work completed as part of the Standardized and Cost-Effective Benthic Habitat Mapping and Monitoring Tools for MHK Environmental Assessments project funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under contract DE-EE007826 to Integral Consulting Inc. The overall goal of this project was to demonstrate a consistent, repeatable, and semi-automated seafloor and sediment mapping approach for rapidly characterizing benthic physical and biological/habitat conditions to support marine environmental assessments for marine and hydrokinetic energy sites. The approach evaluated combines sediment profile imaging and plan view (SPI/PV) technology with multibeam echosounder surveys as an effective and low-cost benthic habitat mapping protocol. A key innovation was the development of a semi-automated computer vision system that standardizes the extraction of data from the SPI/PV images. Other elements of the project were SPI camera hardware modifications, including the design and fabrication of a prototype “power” SPI camera to improve camera prism penetration in firm substrates, and outreach to agency regulators and other stakeholders on this habitat mapping approach. This technical report consists of five main subsections that summarize: 1) the benthic mapping approach; 2) benthic mapping results from the three areas’ surveys; 3) the development and performance of the image processing algorithms; 4) SPI camera hardware improvements and prototype testing; and 5) the regulatory outreach efforts.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Technical Gaps in Hanford High-Level Waste Solids Settling Behavior and Settling Time Evaluation for Direct Feed High-Level Waste (DFHLW) Operations

Settling of high-level waste (HLW) solids in process vessels is a key conceptual process step in providing HLW feed directly to the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) HLW Vitrification Facility. Direct Feed High-Level Waste (DFHLW) is a potential approach to initiating HLW vitrification prior to completing of the WTP Pretreatment Facility. Settling would be used with subsequent supernatant decant to concentrate HLW feed. To support planning for DFHLW, Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) requested support from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to evaluate the current data set available to predict the time needed for HLW solids to settle, to identify gaps in the understanding and predictive capability of HLW solids waste settling times, and to provide scoping estimates of the potential settling time. Eight technical gaps were identified for predicting settling times and characteristics of the formed sediment layers including: Gap 1: In-Tank Settling Rates Faster than Settling of Laboratory Samples, Gap 2: Effect of Sludge Leaching/Washing on Predicted Settling Times, Gap 3: Predicting Waste Settling from Waste Chemistry (Waste Type), Gap 4: Predicting Waste Settling from Particle Size and Density Distributions (PSDDs), Gap 5: Insufficient Laboratory and In-Tank Settling Data to Represent Hanford Waste, Gap 6: Methods for Real-Time, In-Tank Tracking of Settling, Gap 7: Prediction of Sediment Erosion Resistance as a Function of Settling Time, and Gap 8: Prediction of Sediment Solids Content as a Function of Settling Time. In addition to the data gaps, an overarching observation of the settling rate and settled layer data is the significant variation in behavior. At similar solids concentrations, settling rates can vary by as much as 3 orders of magnitude depending on the source waste tank, and significantly different settling rates are noted between laboratory and in situ tests for the same waste tank. The range of average solids concentration in existing HLW sediment, which may have been quiescent for decades, can vary from less than 7 wt% to greater than 74 wt% solids. The shear strengths (or yield stresses) measured on laboratory samples range from less than 27 Pa to greater than 6400 Pa. These variations can challenge process planning for the application of a settle/decant process for DFHLW. This report describes the significance of the gaps to the settle/decant process and presents uncertainties by way of examples. Potential technical approaches for resolving these gaps are described and the estimated difficulty in resolving these gaps is evaluated. Based on the significance of the gap and the difficulty of resolution, recommendations are made to address specific gaps. Scoping estimates of the potential settling times for DFHLW solids have been made based on the existing data set with its associated gaps. Depending on the process vessel depth and final sediment concentration, substantial fractions of the scoping estimate results for settling times for characterized HLW exceed the 2-week period that has been previously assumed for process planning. There is also significant disparity, potentially greater than a factor of 5000 difference, in the estimated settling times depending on process vessel depth and final sediment solid concentration. This variation in results underscores the significance of the identified gaps and uncertainties with respect to process planning for utilizing settle/decant operations for DFHLW.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

World Congress on High Entropy Alloys (HEA 2019) (Final Technical Report)

The World Congress on High Entropy Alloys (HEA 2019) was a new, cross-disciplinary technical forum designed to share the latest research advances in materials with high configurational entropy, including both single-phase and multiphase (compositionally complex) alloys. This inaugural World Congress on High Entropy Alloys (HEA 2019) was held in Seattle, Washington from November 17-20, 2019 with the goal of HEA 2019 to assemble the international community of HEA stakeholders – including researchers, educators, and engineers – to capture the current state-of-the-art, identify current gaps in HEA efforts, and to set the stage for the future growth and application of HEAs worldwide. HEA 2019 was the environment for leaders in this field to showcase their researc, and network with their peers to informally discuss the latest developments in high entropy alloys, while also making valuable professional connections. The goal of the organizers was to ensure a high-quality conference that held a strong international presence and aimed to highlight the important advances in HEA research on a global scale. Student participation was greatly encouraged in order to give students exposure to recent advances in this field. This meeting was open to all interested individuals and attempted to provide the most advanced technical meeting possible, with a mixture of attendees from research and development, industry, and education.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Modernization of Technical Requirements for Licensing of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors: Selection and Evaluation of Licensing Basis Events

This report, “Modernization of Technical Requirements for Licensing of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors: Selection and Evaluation of Licensing Basis Events,” represents a key element in the development of a methodology for the efficient licensing of advanced non-light water reactors (non-LWRs). It is the result of a Licensing Modernization Project (LMP) led by Southern Company and cost-shared by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The LMP will result in detailed proposals for establishing licensing technical requirements to facilitate risk-informed and performance-based design and licensing of advanced non-LWRs. Such a methodology acknowledges enhancements in safety achievable with advanced designs and reflects more recent states of knowledge regarding safety and design innovation, creating an opportunity for reduced regulatory complexity with increased levels of safety. The project builds on best practices as well as previous activities through DOE and industry-sponsored advanced reactor licensing initiatives.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Modernization of Technical Requirements for Licensing of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors: Probabilistic Risk Assessment Approach

This report, “Modernization of Technical Requirements for Licensing of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors: Probabilistic Risk Assessment Approach,” represents a key element in the development of a methodology for the efficient licensing of advanced non-light water reactors (non-LWRs). It is the result of a Licensing Modernization Project (LMP) led by Southern Company and cost-shared by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The LMP has developed detailed proposals for establishing licensing technical requirements to facilitate risk-informed and performance-based design and licensing of advanced non-LWRs. Such a methodology acknowledges enhancements in safety achievable with advanced designs and reflects more recent states of knowledge regarding safety and design innovation, creating an opportunity for reduced regulatory complexity with increased levels of safety. The project builds on best practices, as well as previous activities through DOE and industry-sponsored advanced reactor licensing initiatives.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DPC Direct Disposal R&D Independent Technical Review: Plan

Developing and evaluating approaches for direct geologic disposal of commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in dual-purpose canisters (DPCs) is a cross-cutting multi-disciplinary activity that is directly tied to the implementation of DPCs by the nuclear industry. The ultimate goal of the DPC direct disposal R&D program is to facilitate and maximize safe, cost-effective, licensed direct disposal. Independent Technical Review (ITR) is needed to maximize the impact of the R&D program on future implementation. The review will involve a team of experts representing the nuclear industry, repository sciences, and licensing. The team will be charged to review a set of representative technical reports and other information, and answer a set of questions that focus on R&D steering.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Universality in Quantum Gravity. Final Technical Report

This is the final technical report for the DOE Early Career Award to PI Thomas Hartman at Cornell University, outlining the goals of the research project and summarizing its main technical achievements. These include the discovery of new constraints on quantum field theory, new theoretical methods that allow for a direct derivation of emergent spacetime from conformal field theory in certain settings, and the discovery of fundamental bounds on the dynamics of quantum information.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

An Overview of Non-LWR Vessel Cooling Systems for Passive Decay Heat Removal (Technical Letter Final Report)

The following report provides a technical review of various reactor vessel cooling system (VCS) concepts under consideration for decay heat removal (DHR) in non-light water advanced reactor designs. This review focuses on ex-vessel designs, including the Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS), the Reactor Vessel Auxiliary Cooling System (RVACS), and hybrid iterations, using both air and water cooling to achieve their heat removal function. Based on a literature review of publicly available sources published between 1979 and 2021, a technical summary is presented detailing existing and planned VCS design options, their applicability to specific reactor type, and review of authored research and development studies. Following an assessment of the availability of data and modeling tools, an evaluation was performed analyzing their likely performance during normal, degraded, and accident conditions, including reliability, stability, and longevity. With renewed consideration of air-based DHR systems by some US vendors, there is a need to fully understand the complexities inherent to natural circulation systems, and more importantly, how they may influence safety-related heat removal functions and system performance. For DHR systems that rely on air-based mode of cooling, this entails quantification of the impacts of low flow conditions during start-up, relative elevations of inlet and outlet ducts for below-grade installations, effects of the use of multiple parallel chimneys for redundancy, and impact of weather conditions at the plant site. For systems relying on water-based mode cooling, reliance on limited coolant inventory in an event of pipe break or extended duration accident scenarios, sensitivities related to stability of boiling flow and heat transfer conditions, and quantification of full-scale structural vibrations on balance of plant structures are among the complicating factors.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗