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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 1,603 records · Page 89
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

National Smart Manufacturing Strategic Plan: To Facilitate More Rapid Development, Deployment and Adoption of Smart Manufacturing Technologies

Smart manufacturing technologies provide real-time data and insight to improve the productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing, creating the potential for new jobs in the manufacturing sector. These technologies can support U.S. manufacturers’ ability to increase throughput and energy efficiency, and decrease waste, defects, and costs. A wide range of manufacturing and industrial subsectors, particularly energy-intensive and energy-dependent industries, have the potential to benefit from smart manufacturing technologies. There are technical improvements still needed to reduce the costs and barriers (trained workforce and upskilling, software-hardware integration, cost, and technical barriers to deployment of advanced sensors, computing, and communication technologies for existing manufacturing assets) to the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies, especially to small and medium-sized manufacturers, and subsequently, increase the overall adoption rate of smart manufacturing technologies. This report outlines the Department of Energy’s (DOE) strategic plan to accelerate the development and implementation of smart manufacturing technologies in the United States and the actions DOE has taken to use these technologies in smart manufacturing for the United States. DOE’s plan to facilitate more rapid development, deployment and widespread adoption of smart manufacturing technologies derive from the 2018 Strategy for American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing. The strategy outlines a vision for America’s leadership in advanced manufacturing including the development of intelligent manufacturing systems to optimize manufacturing facilities and support the manufacturing of transformative materials. DOE’s Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII), a Manufacturing USA Institute, focuses on accelerating the development and adoption of advanced sensors, controls, platforms, and models needed for smart manufacturing. The objective is to enhance U.S. manufacturing productivity and global competitiveness through the research and development of these technologies. Smart manufacturing has the potential to improve the overall performance, energy productivity, and efficiency of manufacturing, fostering the economic competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Distribution System Plan Template and Guide for Electric Utilities for Adaptation by States and Utilities [Slides]

LBNL researchers developed a template and companion guide for structuring distribution system plans. The template covers 10 key sections in utility distribution system plans and underlying topics: -Executive Summary -Planning Objectives -Current Distribution System -Planning Approach -Asst Management, Reliability and Resilience -O&M Expenses -Capacity Expansion Planning -Solution Identification -Cost-effectiveness -Implementation For each section in the template, the companion guide provides: a description of the topics covered and their importance; the type of content to include in the plan; an example utility approach; and references to other utility plans that serve as models for the topic.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1977

Planning for Materials Processing in Space

A systems design study to describe the conceptual evolution, the institutional interrelationshiphs, and the basic physical requirements to implement materials processing in space was conducted. Planning for a processing era, rather than hardware design, was emphasized. Product development in space was examined in terms of fluid phenomena, phase separation, and heat and mass transfer. The effect of materials processing on the environment was studied. A concept for modular, unmanned orbiting facilities using the modified external tank of the space shuttle is presented. Organizational and finding structures which would provide for the efficient movement of materials from user to space are discussed.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-241: Reduction in Planning Errors Via a Process Control Developed Using the Eclipse Scripting API

Purpose: Errors found during initial physics plan checks frequently require replanning and reprinting, resulting decreased departmental efficiency. Additionally, errors may be missed during physics checks, resulting in potential treatment errors or interruption. This work presents a process control created using the Eclipse Scripting API (ESAPI) enabling dosimetrists and physicists to detect potential errors in the Eclipse treatment planning system prior to performing any plan approvals or printing. Methods: Potential failure modes for five categories were generated based on available ESAPI (v11) patient object properties: Images, Contours, Plans, Beams, and Dose. An Eclipse script plugin (PlanCheck) was written in C# to check errors most frequently observed clinically in each of the categories. The PlanCheck algorithms were devised to check technical aspects of plans, such as deliverability (e.g. minimum EDW MUs), in addition to ensuring that policy and procedures relating to planning were being followed. The effect on clinical workflow efficiency was measured by tracking the plan document error rate and plan revision/retirement rates in the Aria database over monthly intervals. Results: The number of potential failure modes the PlanCheck script is currently capable of checking for in the following categories: Images (6), Contours (7), Plans (8), Beams (17), and Dose (4). Prior to implementation of the PlanCheck plugin, the observed error rates in errored plan documents and revised/retired plans in the Aria database was 20% and 22%, respectively. Error rates were seen to decrease gradually over time as adoption of the script improved. Conclusion: A process control created using the Eclipse scripting API enabled plan checks to occur within the planning system, resulting in reduction in error rates and improved efficiency. Future work includes: initiating full FMEA for planning workflow, extending categories to include additional checks outside of ESAPI via Aria database queries, and eventual automated plan checks.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

LANL Water Protection Status Report - FY12 3rd Qtr. (Apr thru Jun 2012)

Continued monitoring of the Buckman Direct Diversion and Los Alamos County Water Supply Wells; Groundwater Protection - Continued implementation of the Interim Facility-Wide Groundwater Monitoring Plan (IFGMP); Surface Water Protection - Continued protection of surface water through implementation of the Individual Stormwater Permit (IP); Buckman Early Notification System operability at 100% per MOU Requirements.

Environmental Protection↗
NASA NTRS1991

Design controls for large order systems

The output of this task will be a program plan which will delineate how MSFC will support and implement its portion of the Inter-Center Computational Controls Program Plan. Another output will be the results of looking at various multibody/multidegree of freedom computer programs in various environments.

Doane, George B., III↗
DOE OSTI2025

IDAES GTEP 0.1 Release

The Institute for the Design of Advanced Energy Systems (IDAES) Generation and Transmission Expansion Planning (GTEP) package provides a Pyomo-based implementation of a modular, flexible, Generalized Disjunctive Programming (GDP) formulation for power infrastructure planning problems. This package is designed with the following goals in mind: - Abstract GTEP modeling away from any particular case study or fixed modeling assumptions (e.g., technologies, temporal resolution, spatial resolution, policy implications, etc.) - Admit flexible decision sets and heterogeneous parameterization - Allow high-level modeling options to be understood easily, chosen modularly, and changed rapidly

AS↗
NASA NTRS1987

Qualitative models for planning: A gentle introduction

Qualitative modeling is the study of how the physical world behaves. These physical models accept partial descriptions of the world and output the possible changes. Current systems assume that the model is static and that physical entities do not effect change into the world. An approach to planning in physical domains and a working implementation which integrates qualitative models with a temporal interval-based planner are described. The planner constructs plans involving physical qualities and their behavioral descriptions.

Johannes, James D.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Seventh Oregon Climate Assessment

Consistent with its charge under Oregon House Bill 3543, the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute (OCCRI) conducts a biennial assessment of the state of climate change science, including biological, physical, and social science, as it relates to Oregon and the likely effects of climate change on Oregon. This seventh Oregon Climate Assessment, which builds on the previous assessments, is structured with the goal of supporting the state's mitigation planning for natural hazards and implementation of the Oregon Climate Change Adaptation Framework.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Fully Automated Simultaneous Integrated Boosted-Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning Is Feasible for Head-and-Neck Cancer: A Prospective Clinical Study

Purpose: To prospectively determine whether overlap volume histogram (OVH)-driven, automated simultaneous integrated boosted (SIB)-intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment planning for head-and-neck cancer can be implemented in clinics. Methods and Materials: A prospective study was designed to compare fully automated plans (APs) created by an OVH-driven, automated planning application with clinical plans (CPs) created by dosimetrists in a 3-dose-level (70 Gy, 63 Gy, and 58.1 Gy), head-and-neck SIB-IMRT planning. Because primary organ sparing (cord, brain, brainstem, mandible, and optic nerve/chiasm) always received the highest priority in clinical planning, the study aimed to show the noninferiority of APs with respect to PTV coverage and secondary organ sparing (parotid, brachial plexus, esophagus, larynx, inner ear, and oral mucosa). The sample size was determined a priori by a superiority hypothesis test that had 85% power to detect a 4% dose decrease in secondary organ sparing with a 2-sided alpha level of 0.05. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression model was used for statistical comparison. Results: Forty consecutive patients were accrued from July to December 2010. GEE analysis indicated that in APs, overall average dose to the secondary organs was reduced by 1.16 (95% CI = 0.09-2.33) with P=.04, overall average PTV coverage was increased by 0.26% (95% CI = 0.06-0.47) with P=.02 and overall average dose to the primary organs was reduced by 1.14 Gy (95% CI = 0.45-1.8) with P=.004. A physician determined that all APs could be delivered to patients, and APs were clinically superior in 27 of 40 cases. Conclusions: The application can be implemented in clinics as a fast, reliable, and consistent way of generating plans that need only minor adjustments to meet specific clinical needs.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Patient Evaluation and Preparation in Vascular and Interventional Radiology: What Every Interventional Radiologist Should Know (Part 1: Patient Assessment and Laboratory Tests)

Performing an interventional procedure imposes a commitment on interventional radiologists to conduct the initial patient assessment, determine the best course of therapy, and provide long-term care after the procedure is completed. After patient referral, contact with the referring physician and multidisciplinary team approach is vital. In addition, clinical history, physical examination, as well as full understanding of the pre-procedural laboratory results and imaging findings can guide the interventional radiologist to implement the most appropriate management plan, avoid unnecessary procedures, and prevent complications to achieve a successful outcome. We provide a comprehensive, methodical review of pre-procedural care and management in patients undergoing vascular and interventional radiology procedures.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Radioxenon detector calibration spike production and delivery systems

Abstract Beta-Gamma coincidence radioxenon detectors must be calibrated for each of the four-radioxenon isotopes (135Xe, 133Xe, 133mXe, and 131mXe). Without a proper calibration, there is potential for the misidentification of the amount of each isotope detected. It is important to accurately determine the amount of each radioxenon isotope, as the ratios can be used to distinguish between an anthropogenic source and a nuclear explosion. We have developed a xenon calibration system (XeCalS) that produces calibration spikes of known activity and pressure for field calibration of detectors. The activity concentrations of these calibration spikes are measured using a beta-gamma coincidence detector and a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. We will present the results from the development and commissioning of XeCalS, along with the future plans for a portable spike implementation system.

beta-gamma coincidence detector↗
DOE OSTI2016

Adaptation of EVIAVE methodology for monitoring and follow-up when evaluating the environmental impact of landfills

Treatment and final disposal of Municipal Solid Waste can have a significant role in the generation of negative environmental impacts. As a prevention strategy, such activities are subjected to the process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Still, the follow-up of Environmental Management Plans or mitigation measures is limited, for one due to a lack of methodological approaches. In searching for possibilities, the University of Granada (Spain) developed a diagnostic methodology named EVIAVE, which allows one to quantify, by means of indexes, the environmental impact of landfills in view of their location and the conditions of exploitation. EVIAVE is applicable within the legal framework of the European Union and can be adapted to the environmental and legal conditions of other countries. This study entails its adaptation in Colombia, for the follow-up and control of the EIA process for landfills. Modifications involved inclusion of the environmental elements flora and fauna, and the evaluation of the environmental descriptors in agreement with the concept of vulnerability. The application of the modified EVIAVE in Colombian landfills allowed us to identify the elements affected by the operating conditions and maintenance. It may be concluded that this methodology is viable and effective for the follow-up and environmental control of EIA processes for landfills, and to analyze the associated risks, as it takes into account related environmental threats and vulnerabilities. - Highlights: • A modified methodology is used to monitor and follow-up environmental impacts in landfills. • The improved methodology includes the Vulnerability of Flora and Fauna to evaluate environmental impact of landfills. • The methodology serves to identify and evaluate the sources of risk generated in the construction and siting of landfills. • Environmental vulnerability indicators improve effectiveness of the control and follow-up phases of landfill management. • The follow-up of environmental management plans may help diminish the implementation gap in Environmental Impact Assessment.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Enhancements to the New TREAT Automatic Reactor Control System (ARCS)

The Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility recently replaced the automatic reactor control system (ARCS). Here, this paper discusses some of the enhancements that were made during the ARCS replacement such as calculations to take into account the nonadiabatic effects and increasing the dynamic range for power and period indication. This paper also discusses upgrades that had been planned but were unable to implemented and potential upgrades for the future.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

PROTOTYPING NON-EQUILIBRIUM VISCOUS-TIMESCALE ACCRETION THEORY USING LMC X-3

Explaining variability observed in the accretion flows of black hole X-ray binary systems remains challenging, especially concerning timescales less than, or comparable to, the viscous timescale but much larger than the inner orbital period despite decades of research identifying numerous relevant physical mechanisms. We take a simplified but broad approach to study several mechanisms likely relevant to patterns of variability observed in the persistently high-soft Roche-lobe overflow system LMC X-3. Based on simple estimates and upper bounds, we find that physics beyond varying disk/corona bifurcation at the disk edge, Compton-heated winds, modulation of total supply rate via irradiation of the companion, and the likely extent of the partial hydrogen ionization instability is needed to explain the degree, and especially the pattern, of variability in LMC X-3 largely due to viscous dampening. We then show how evaporation-condensation may resolve or compound the problem given the uncertainties associated with this complex mechanism and our current implementation. We briefly mention our plans to resolve the question, refine and extend our model, and alternatives we have not yet explored.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Assessing the Optimality of LinDist3Flow for Optimal Tap Selection of Step Voltage Regulators in Unbalanced Distribution Networks

The adoption of distributed energy resources such as photovoltaics (PVs) has increased dramatically during the previous decade. The increased penetration of PVs into distribution networks (DNs) can cause voltage fluctuations that have to be mitigated. One of the key utility assets employed to this end are step-voltage regulators (SVRs). It is desirable to include tap selection of SVRs in optimal power flow (OPF) routines, a task that turns out to be challenging because the resultant OPF problem is nonconvex with added complexities stemming from accurate SVR modeling. While several convex relaxations based on semi-definite programming (SDP) have been presented in the literature for optimal tap selection, SDP based schemes do not scale well and are challenging to implement in large-scale planning or operational frameworks. This paper deals with the optimal tap selection (OPTS) problem for wye-connected SVRs using linear approximations of power flow equations. Specifically, the LinDist3Flow model is adopted and the effective SVR ratio is assumed to be continuous- enabling the formulation of a problem called LinDist3Flow-OPTS, which amounts to a linear program. The scalability and optimality gap of LinDist3Flow-OPTS are evaluated with respect to existing SDP-based and nonlinear programming techniques for optimal tap selection in three standard feeders, namely, the IEEE 13-bus, 123-bus, and 8500-node DNs. For all DNs considered, LinDist3Flow-OPTS achieves an optimality gap of approximately 1% or less while significantly lowering the computational burden.

linear approximations↗
DOE OSTI2012

A method to evaluate dose errors introduced by dose mapping processes for mass conserving deformations

Purpose: To present a method to evaluate the dose mapping error introduced by the dose mapping process. In addition, apply the method to evaluate the dose mapping error introduced by the 4D dose calculation process implemented in a research version of commercial treatment planning system for a patient case. Methods: The average dose accumulated in a finite volume should be unchanged when the dose delivered to one anatomic instance of that volume is mapped to a different anatomic instance--provided that the tissue deformation between the anatomic instances is mass conserving. The average dose to a finite volume on image S is defined as d{sub S}=e{sub s}/m{sub S}, where e{sub S} is the energy deposited in the mass m{sub S} contained in the volume. Since mass and energy should be conserved, when d{sub S} is mapped to an image R(d{sub S{yields}R}=d{sub R}), the mean dose mapping error is defined as {Delta}d{sub m}=|d{sub R}-d{sub S}|=|e{sub R}/m{sub R}-e{sub S}/m{sub S}|, where the e{sub R} and e{sub S} are integral doses (energy deposited), and m{sub R} and m{sub S} are the masses within the region of interest (ROI) on image R and the corresponding ROI on image S, where R and S are the two anatomic instances from the same patient. Alternatively, application of simple differential propagation yields the differential dose mapping error, {Delta}d{sub d}=|({partial_derivative}d/{partial_derivative}e)*{Delta}e+({partial_derivative}d/{partial_derivative}m)*{Delta}m|=|((e{sub S}-e{sub R})/m{sub R})-((m{sub S}-m{sub R})/m{sub R}{sup 2})*e{sub R}|={alpha}|d{sub R}-d{sub S}| with {alpha}=m{sub S}/m{sub R}. A 4D treatment plan on a ten-phase 4D-CT lung patient is used to demonstrate the dose mapping error evaluations for a patient case, in which the accumulated dose, D{sub R}={Sigma}{sub S=0}{sup 9}d{sub S{yields}R}, and associated error values ({Delta}D{sub m} and {Delta}D{sub d}) are calculated for a uniformly spaced set of ROIs. Results: For the single sample patient dose distribution, the average accumulated differential dose mapping error is 4.3%, the average absolute differential dose mapping error is 10.8%, and the average accumulated mean dose mapping error is 5.0%. Accumulated differential dose mapping errors within the gross tumor volume (GTV) and planning target volume (PTV) are lower, 0.73% and 2.33%, respectively. Conclusions: A method has been presented to evaluate the dose mapping error introduced by the dose mapping process. This method has been applied to evaluate the 4D dose calculation process implemented in a commercial treatment planning system. The method could potentially be developed as a fully-automatic QA method in image guided adaptive radiation therapy (IGART).

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Evaluation of an analytic linear Boltzmann transport equation solver for high-density inhomogeneities

Purpose: Acuros external beam (Acuros XB) is a novel dose calculation algorithm implemented through the ECLIPSE treatment planning system. The algorithm finds a deterministic solution to the linear Boltzmann transport equation, the same equation commonly solved stochastically by Monte Carlo methods. This work is an evaluation of Acuros XB, by comparison with Monte Carlo, for dose calculation applications involving high-density materials. Existing non-Monte Carlo clinical dose calculation algorithms, such as the analytic anisotropic algorithm (AAA), do not accurately model dose perturbations due to increased electron scatter within high-density volumes. Methods: Acuros XB, AAA, and EGSnrc based Monte Carlo are used to calculate dose distributions from 18 MV and 6 MV photon beams delivered to a cubic water phantom containing a rectangular high density (4.0-8.0 g/cm{sup 3}) volume at its center. The algorithms are also used to recalculate a clinical prostate treatment plan involving a unilateral hip prosthesis, originally evaluated using AAA. These results are compared graphically and numerically using gamma-index analysis. Radio-chromic film measurements are presented to augment Monte Carlo and Acuros XB dose perturbation data. Results: Using a 2% and 1 mm gamma-analysis, between 91.3% and 96.8% of Acuros XB dose voxels containing greater than 50% the normalized dose were in agreement with Monte Carlo data for virtual phantoms involving 18 MV and 6 MV photons, stainless steel and titanium alloy implants and for on-axis and oblique field delivery. A similar gamma-analysis of AAA against Monte Carlo data showed between 80.8% and 87.3% agreement. Comparing Acuros XB and AAA evaluations of a clinical prostate patient plan involving a unilateral hip prosthesis, Acuros XB showed good overall agreement with Monte Carlo while AAA underestimated dose on the upstream medial surface of the prosthesis due to electron scatter from the high-density material. Film measurements support the dose perturbations demonstrated by Monte Carlo and Acuros XB data. Conclusions: Acuros XB is shown to perform as well as Monte Carlo methods and better than existing clinical algorithms for dose calculations involving high-density volumes.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗