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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.

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At least 1,477 records · Page 82
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for SNL/CA Reporting Year 2022-2023

The Sandia National Laboratories, California (SNL/CA) site comprises approximately 410 acres and is located in the eastern portion of Livermore, Alameda County, California. The property is owned by the United States Department of Energy and is being managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC. The facility location is shown on the Site Map(s) in Appendix A. This Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is designed to comply with California’s General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activities (General Permit) Order No. 2015-0122-DWQ (NPDES No. CAS000001) issued by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) (Ref. 6.1). This SWPPP has been prepared following the SWPPP Template provided on the California Stormwater Quality Association Stormwater Best Management Practice Handbook Portal: Industrial and Commercial (CASQA 2014). In accordance with the General Permit, Section X.A, this SWPPP contains the following required elements: Facility Name and Contact Information; Site Map; List of Significant Industrial Materials; Description of Potential Pollution Sources; Assessment of Potential Pollutant Sources; Minimum BMPs; Advanced BMPs, if applicable; Monitoring Implementation Plan (MIP); Annual Comprehensive Facility Compliance Evaluation (Annual Evaluation); and, Date that SWPPP was Initially Prepared and the Date of Each SWPPP Amendment, if Applicable.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for Site Wide Landscaping Project

Kier + Wright, as Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), puts forth this Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the SNL/CA Site Landscaping Project at Sandia National Laboratories/California (SNL/CA), 7011 East Avenue, Livermore, California (SNL/CA). The property is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, and managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS), LLC. The project proposes landscape improvements throughout SNL/CA. Per the California State Water Resources Control Board’s (California State Water Board) Construction General Permit (CGP), a SWPPP is required when 1 acre or more of land is disturbed. The project site area exceeds the minimum acreage threshold of 1 acre and therefore requires SWPPP implementation. QSD has determined the sediment risk for this project, based on soil type at the site and starting and ending dates of construction, to be low (Section 3.4.1 and Appendix B). Receiving water for this project is the Arroyo Seco. QSD has determined the Arroyo Seco to be a high-risk receiving water because it has the three beneficial uses of “spawn”, “cold”, and “migratory” (Sections 3.3 and 3.4.2 and Appendix B). QSD has determined the overall risk level for the site to be Risk Level 2, based on a combination of low sediment risk and high receiving water risk (Appendix B). As such, QSD has delineated a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be employed during project construction to reduce or eliminate pollutants in stormwater runoff or any other discharges from the Project site. In addition to site-specific BMPs, this SWPPP report provides instruction for on site monitoring. Electronic copies of required documentation such as inspection reports, REAPs, annual report documentation, etc. shall be submitted to NTESS Sandia Delegated Representative via Newforma.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of a Pronghorn Model of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor: Preliminary Results from Loss of Forced Cooling #3 [Slides]

This presentation contains results from a Pronghorn model of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The model was used to simulate a loss of forced cooling (LOFC) experiment. This presentation contains preliminary results from a standalone thermal hydraulics model of this LOFC test and some discussion of the results compared to data

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Report on Preliminary Detailed Experimental Plan for Neutron Irradiation of A709 at ATR and HFIR

Advanced nuclear power technologies will use higher temperatures as a means to extract energy at a higher efficiency than current plants and therefore put a larger demand on the structural materials. Improved performance of structural materials could enable greater safety margins, longer plant lifetimes, and reduce maintenance costs. Alloy 709 is championed as the next generation of austenitic alloys for advanced nuclear reactors. In parallel to the ASME code case pursued, the AMMT program is initiating a neutron irradiation campaign to provide first-of-a-kind engineering data to establish operational design parameters and how the mechanical response is modified by environmental factors. This document refines the AMMT neutron irradiation campaign to a 4 year program to support the generation of creep knockdown factors for Alloy 709 and welded Alloy 709. The campaign is divided among two national laboratories, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, to use the strengths of each laboratory. Through a cooperative plan, time-independent properties and time-dependent properties will be obtained across a large temperature window, nominally 300°C to 800°C, damage levels up to 10 dpa, and with and without the impacts of transmutation produced helium.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Report on Preliminary Detailed Experimental Plan for Neutron Irradiation of A709 at ATR and HFIR

Advanced nuclear power technologies will use higher temperatures as a means to extract energy at a higher efficiency than current plants and therefore put a larger demand on the structural materials. Improved performance of structural materials could enable greater safety margins, longer plant lifetimes, and reduce maintenance costs. Alloy 709 is championed as the next generation of austenitic alloys for advanced nuclear reactors. In parallel to the ASME code case pursued, the AMMT program is initiating a neutron irradiation campaign to provide first-of-a-kind engineering data to establish operational design parameters and how the mechanical response is modified by environmental factors. This document refines the AMMT neutron irradiation campaign to a 4 year program to support the generation of creep knockdown factors for Alloy 709 and welded Alloy 709. The campaign is divided among two national laboratories, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, to use the strengths of each laboratory. Through a cooperative plan, time-independent properties and time-dependent properties will be obtained across a large temperature window, nominally 300°C to 800°C, damage levels up to 10 dpa, and with and without the impacts of transmutation produced helium.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2010

Assessment of Potential Flood Events and Impacts at INL's Proposed Remote-Handled Low-Level Waste Disposal Facility Sites

Rates, depths, erosion potential, increased subsurface transport rates, and annual exceedance probability for potential flooding scenarios have been evaluated for the on-site alternatives of Idaho National Laboratory’s proposed remote handled low-level waste disposal facility. The on-site disposal facility is being evaluated in anticipation of the closure of the Radioactive Waste Management Complex at the INL. An assessment of flood impacts are required to meet the Department of Energy’s Low-Level Waste requirements (DOE-O 435.1), its natural phenomena hazards assessment criteria (DOE-STD-1023-95), and the Radioactive Waste Management Manual (DOE M 435.1-1) guidance in addition to being required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessment (EA). Potential sources of water evaluated include those arising from (1) local precipitation events, (2) precipitation events occurring off of the INL (off-site precipitation), and (3) increased flows in the Big Lost River in the event of a Mackay Dam failure. On-site precipitation events include potential snow-melt and rainfall. Extreme rainfall events were evaluated for the potential to create local erosion, particularly of the barrier placed over the disposal facility. Off-site precipitation carried onto the INL by the Big Lost River channel was evaluated for overland migration of water away from the river channel. Off-site precipitation sources evaluated were those occurring in the drainage basin above Mackay Reservoir. In the worst-case scenarios, precipitation occurring above Mackay Dam could exceed the dam’s capacity, leading to overtopping, and eventually complete dam failure. Mackay Dam could also fail during a seismic event or as a result of mechanical piping. Some of the water released during dam failure, and contributing precipitation, has the potential of being carried onto the INL in the Big Lost River channel. Resulting overland flows from these flood sources were evaluated for their erosion potential, ability to overflow the proposed disposal facility, and for their ability to increase migration of contaminants from the facility. The assessment of available literature suggests that the likelihood of detrimental flood water impacting the proposed RH-LLW facility is extremely low. The annual exceedance probability associated with uncontrolled flows in the Big Lost River impacting either of the proposed sites is 1x10-5, with return interval (RI) of 10,000yrs. The most probable dam failure scenario has an annual exceedance probability of 6.3x10-6 (1.6x105 yr RI). In any of the scenarios generating possible on-site water, the duration is expected to be quite short, water depths are not expected to exceed 0.5 m, and the erosion potential can easily be mitigated by emplacement of a berm (operational period), and an engineered cover (post closure period). Subsurface mobilization of radionuclides was evaluated for a very conservative flooding scenario resulting in 50 cm deep, 30.5 day on-site water. The annual exceedance probability for which is much smaller than 3.6x10-7 (2.8x106 yr RI). For the purposes of illustration, the facility was assumed to flood every 500 years. The periodically recurring flood waters were predicted to marginally increase peak radionuclide fluxes into the aquifer by at most by a factor of three for non-sorbing radionuclides, and to have limited impact on peak radionuclide fluxes into the aquifer for contaminants that do sorb.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Numerical and Experimental Study of an Aircraft Igniter Plasma Jet Discharge

The spark discharge of an aircraft plasma jet igniter is studied using high-fidelity numerical simulations and X-ray radiography measurements. The target problem here features the thermal expansion of hot gas introduced by the electric spark within a confined igniter cavity, which eventually evolves into a pulsed jet of a high-temperature kernel. A comprehensive set of models adapted from existing strategies for internal combustion engine spark plug discharge is extended to the target problem, including the modeling of energy deposition, plasma reactions, thermodynamic properties, and heat losses. A series of validation and parameter studies are performed and presented. The kernel size is found to be sensitive to heat losses arising from radiation and hot gas remained within the discharge cavity, rather than heat conduction to the wall in the discharge cavity. Depending on the enforced shape of the post-breakdown electric arc, the spark kernel can be off-centered, tilted, and considerably asymmetric. These features have been previously not considered when studying such igniter configurations and may have a first-order impact on the ignition process. Provided a proper setup of the heat loss models and electric arc shape, the numerical results are quantitatively comparable to the experimental results in terms of the kernel size, shape, and velocity throughout different stages after the spark discharge.

Tang, Yihao↗
DOE OSTI2017

Real-time phase evolution of Selective Laser Melted (SLM) Inconel 718 with temperature through synchrotron X-rays

Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing process that uses laser scanning to achieve melting and solidification of a metal powder bed. This process, when applied to develop high temperature material systems, holds great promise for more efficient manufacturing of turbine components that withstand extreme temperatures, heat fluxes, and high mechanical stresses associated with engine environments. These extreme operational conditions demand stringent tolerances and an understanding of the material evolution under thermal loading. This work presents a real-time approach to elucidating the evolution of precipitate phases in SLM Inconel 718 (IN718) under high temperatures using high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Four representative samples (taken along variable build height) were studied in room temperature conditions. Two samples were studied as-processed (samples 1 and 4) and two samples after different thermal treatments (samples 2 and 3). The as-processed samples were found to contain greater amounts of weakening phase, δ. Precipitation hardening of Sample 2 reduced the detectable volume of δ, while also promoting growth of γ00 in the γ matrix. Inversely, solution treatment of Sample 3 produced an overall decrease in precipitate phases. High-temperature, in-situ synchrotron scans during ramp-up, hold, and cool down of two different thermal cycles show the development of precipitate phases. Sample 1 was held at 870°C and subsequently ramped up to 1100°C, during which the high temperature instability of strengthening precipitate, γ00, was seen. γ00 dissolution occurred after 15 minutes at 870°C and was followed by an increase of δ-phase. Sample 4 was held at 800°C and exhibited growth of γ00 after 20 minutes at this temperature. These experiments use in-situ observations to understand the intrinsic thermal effect of the SLM process and the use of heat treatment to manipulate the phase composition of SLM IN718.

Sarley, Brooke A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Demonstrating autonomous controls on hardware test beds is a necessity for successful missions to Mars and beyond

NASA and the Department of Defense are planning for a mission to Mars in the 2030s–2040s using nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP). NTP uses a nuclear reactor to heat flowing hydrogen and create thrust. A serious concern for crewed and uncrewed missions to Mars is the loss of reactor control. The reactor startup and initial rocket impulse are initiated in cislunar or near-earth orbital regions; therefore, radio communications between ground control and the NTP engine should occur in real time. However, radio communications can take more than 20 min, depending on planet positions, to reach Mars orbiters from ground control. To address this delay, local autonomous controls are implemented onboard the NTP engine to ensure acceptable operation. However, autonomous controls have not been demonstrated or implemented in research or power reactor contexts because of safety and reliability concerns. To enable autonomous controls development, demonstration, and validation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has created a nonnuclear hardware-in-the-loop test bed. Sensors throughout the test bed relay system status and hardware response to the user control algorithm, including measurements of temperature, flow, pressure of a loop, control drum position, and drum speed. This paper discusses the development of this facility and user accessibility.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

A New Modeling Framework for Geothermal Operational Optimization with Machine Learning (GOOML)

Geothermal power plants are excellent resources for providing low carbon electricity generation with high reliability. However, many geothermal power plants could realize significant improvements in operational efficiency from the application of improved modeling software. Increased integration of digital twins into geothermal operations will not only enable engineers to better understand the complex interplay of components in larger systems but will also enable enhanced exploration of the operational space with the recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools. Such innovations in geothermal operational analysis have been deterred by several challenges, most notably, the challenge in applying idealized thermodynamic models to imperfect as-built systems with constant degradation of nominal performance. This paper presents GOOML: a new framework for Geothermal Operational Optimization with Machine Learning. By taking a hybrid data-driven thermodynamics approach, GOOML is able to accurately model the real-world performance characteristics of as-built geothermal systems. Further, GOOML can be readily integrated into the larger AI and ML ecosystem for true state-of-the-art optimization. This modeling framework has already been applied to several geothermal power plants and has provided reasonably accurate results in all cases. Therefore, we expect that the GOOML framework can be applied to any geothermal power plant around the world.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hybrid Fuel Cell Systems for Heavy-Duty Trucks: Configuration, Heat Rejection, and Performance

Low-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems can achieve higher efficiency than diesel engines, but heat rejection remains a major challenge in class-8 heavy-duty fuel cell trucks. For the same rated power, the radiator heat load is greater than that in a diesel engine, while the allowable operating temperatures are lower. This work proposes and evaluates 400 kWe fuel cell–battery hybrid (FCH) platforms and operating strategies that manage heat rejection without enlarging the radiator frontal area. Three FCH platforms are identified, each varying in fuel cell system (FCS) rated power, battery energy storage system (ESS) capacity, and maximum stack coolant exit temperature (T h1 ). All three satisfy key system and vehicle requirements, including 175 kWe FCS power at top sustained speed, 400 kWe FCH power on a 6% grade climb, a target stack power density (PD) of 750 mW e /cm 2 , and heat rejection constraints. The first FCH has the smallest FCS, the largest ESS, and a T h1 of 90 °C. The second achieves the highest PD of 840 mW e /cm 2 at a T h1 of 95 °C. The third has the largest FCS, the smallest ESS, and a T h1 of 102 °C. At a Th1 of 115 °C, the platform can be configured as a stand-alone 400 kWe(net) FCS without hybridization, but the achievable PD drops to 460 mW e /cm 2 .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Numerical Investigation of Spark Ignition Events in Lean and Dilute Methane/Air Mixtures using a Detailed Energy Deposition Model

It is beneficial but challenging to operate spark-ignition engines under highly lean and dilute conditions. The unstable ignition behavior can result in downgraded combustion performance in engine cylinders. Numerical approach is serving as a promising tool to identify the ignition requirements by providing insight into the complex physical/chemical phenomena. An effort to simulate the early stage of flame kernel initiation in lean and dilute fuel/air mixture has been made and discussed in this paper. The simulations are set to validate against laboratory results of spark ignition behavior in a constant volume combustion vessel. In order to present a practical as well as comprehensive ignition model, the simulations are performed by taking into consideration the discharge circuit analysis, the detailed reaction mechanism, and local heat transfer between the flame kernel and spark plug. The energy profile and the energy source geometry are investigated in detail to represent the physics of electrical discharge. It was observed in the experiments that a sufficiently high ambient pressure is necessary for a successful ignition event in the lean and dilute mixture when the spark plug gap size and primary energy input are held constant. By adopting realistic energy levels, this detailed energy deposition model showed the capability to reasonably present such ignition behavior transition. The unique combination of energy deposition profile and geometry reveals the complexity of electrical discharge during the spark ignition event. The response of the combustible gas to the energy deposition showed dependency on the volumetric energy density, energy source’s surface area, temperature gradient at the energy source boundary, as well as the heat transfer condition local to the flame kernel.

Zhang, Anqi↗
DOE OSTI2023

Code for BALDR Study 07.05 v.1.0.0

SAND2024-01293O The Code for BALDR Study 07.05 software reproduces results from the BALDR study concerning "A Semi-Supervised Learning Method to Produce Explainable Radioisotope Proportion Estimates for NaI-based Synthetic and Measured Gamma Spectra." The code for BALDR Study 07.05 can reproduce a scientific study following the step numbers within the file names. Using synthetic and measured data to find the best model for the radioisotope proportion estimation task of interest, the study generated results for inclusion in a paper. The high-level methods involved are neural networks, semi-supervised learning, and out-of-distribution detection. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Morrow, Tyler↗
DOE OSTI2024

pCubit

SAND2025-01894O pCubit is a software tool that can easily place particles or pores into a given geometry using desired statistics and the Poisson point process. It reduces the need for users to manually create complex geometry creation and placement. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Buche, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2022

statMechCrack

SAND2022-12599 O statMechCrack is a Python package providing an API to run calculations based on certain statistical mechanical models for cracks and crack growth. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Grutzik, Scott [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Liv↗
DOE OSTI2022

Polymer Modeling Library

SAND2022-12598 O The Polymer Modeling Library is a software package for modeling polymer chains, networks, and materials by applying existing theories and methods. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Buche, Michael [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Liv↗
DOE OSTI2011

Weapons engineering tritium facility overview

Materials provide an overview of the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility (WETF) as introductory material for January 2011 visit to SRS. Purpose of the visit is to discuss Safety Basis, Conduct of Engineering, and Conduct of Operations. WETF general description and general GTS program capabilities are presented in an unclassified format.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Novel Characterization of GDI Engine Exhaust for Gasoline and Mid-Level Gasoline-Alcohol Blends

Gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines can offer improved fuel economy and higher performance over their port fuel-injected (PFI) counterparts, and are now appearing in increasingly more U.S. and European vehicles. Small displacement, turbocharged GDI engines are replacing large displacement engines, particularly in light-duty trucks and sport utility vehicles, in order for manufacturers to meet more stringent fuel economy standards. GDI engines typically emit the most particulate matter (PM) during periods of rich operation such as start-up and acceleration, and emissions of air toxics are also more likely during this condition. A 2.0 L GDI engine was operated at lambda of 0.91 at typical loads for acceleration (2600 rpm, 8 bar BMEP) on three different fuels; an 87 anti-knock index (AKI) gasoline (E0), 30% ethanol blended with the 87 AKI fuel (E30), and 48% isobutanol blended with the 87 AKI fuel. E30 was chosen to maximize octane enhancement while minimizing ethanol-blend level and iBu48 was chosen to match the same fuel oxygen level as E30. Particle size and number, organic carbon and elemental carbon (OC/EC), soot HC speciation, and aldehydes and ketones were all analyzed during the experiment. A new method for soot HC speciation is introduced using a direct, thermal desorption/pyrolysis inlet for the gas chromatograph (GC). Results showed high levels of aromatic compounds were present in the PM, including downstream of the catalyst, and the aldehydes were dominated by the alcohol blending.

gasoline direct injection↗