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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Electric fields and stationary drift flows in the island divertor SOL of Wendelstein 7-X

Abstract In the island divertor scrape-off layer (SOL) of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, 2D-resolved Langmuir probe measurements uncover a complex spatial structure of electron temperature, density, and floating potential. Depending on details of magnetic island size and position, significant poloidal gradients and non-monotonic radial profiles are observed. The resulting electric fields imply the presence of sheared stationary drift flows with poloidal velocities of a few km/s, with flow channels as narrow as one cm. Such flows are observed with a gas puff imaging diagnostic in qualitative agreement with the probe results and imply a significant transport channel in the SOL. The 2D distribution of plasma parameters is intricately associated to the unique magnetic structure of the island divertor SOL and highlights the necessity for more accurate magnetic field reconstructions.

Killer, Carsten (ORCID:0000000177473066)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Towards self-consistent integrated modeling of the tokamak pedestal, scrape-off layer, and divertor using SOLPS-ITER and EPED

A predictive, self-consistent integrated model of the tokamak edge plasma and neutral system has been developed and validated against experimental data from DIII-D, spanning from the divertor target and scrape-off layer to the top of the pedestal. The model uses the SOLPS-ITER fluid boundary plasma and neutral code to constrain the EPED prediction of the pedestal height and width by taking the separatrix temperature and density calculated from SOLPS as inputs to EPED. An empirical proxy function based on data from a subset of these discharges is then used to infer the ratio of density at the pedestal top to that at the separatrix based on the electron temperature at the divertor target. This allows the density at the top of the pedestal to be provided to EPED as well, so that knowledge of this quantity is no longer required a priori, while SOLPS radial transport coefficients are needed instead. The gas puff rate provided to SOLPS is then a primary model input for this forward model coupling (along with radial transport coefficients, which are kept fixed through each scan in this study). Comparisons with measurements from DIII-D density scans through a range of target conditions find significant pedestal pressure degradation as the density is increased towards detachment in three different divertor configurations, consistent with the experimental data in these ballooning-limited pedestal regimes.

core-edge integration↗
DOE OSTI2022

Deep Electric Field Predictions by Drift-Reduced Braginskii Theory with Plasma-Neutral Interactions Based on Experimental Images of Boundary Turbulence

We present 2-dimensional turbulent electric field calculations via physics-informed deep learning consistent with (i) drift-reduced Braginskii theory under the framework of an axisymmetric fusion plasma with purely toroidal field and (ii) experimental estimates of the fluctuating electron density and temperature on open field lines obtained from analysis of gas puff imaging of a discharge on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. The inclusion of effects from the locally puffed atomic helium on particle and energy sources within the reduced plasma turbulence model are found to strengthen correlations between the electric field and electron pressure. The neutrals are also directly associated with broadening the distribution of turbulent field amplitudes and increasing ${\bf E \times B}$ shearing rates. As a result, this demonstrates a novel approach in plasma experiments by solving for nonlinear dynamics consistent with partial differential equations and data without encoding explicit boundary nor initial conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

MHD-blob correlations in NSTX

This paper describes a study of the cross-correlations between edge fluctuations as seen in the gas puff imaging (GPI) diagnostic and low frequency coherent magnetic fluctuations (MHD) in H-mode plasmas in NSTX. The main new result was that large blobs in the SOL were significantly correlated with MHD activity the 3-6 kHz range in 21 of the 223 shots examined. There were also many other shots in which fluctuations in the GPI signal level and its peak radius Rpeak were correlated with MHD activity, but without any significant correlation of the MHD with large blobs. The structure and motion of the MHD is compared with that of the correlated blobs, and some possible theoretical mechanisms for the MHD-blob correlation are discussed.

blobs↗
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamics of filaments during the edge-localized mode crash on NSTX

Edge localized modes (ELMs) are routinely observed in H-mode plasma regimes of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). Due to the explosive nature of the instability, only diagnostics with high temporal and spatial resolution could provide a detailed insight into the dynamics associated with the ELMs. Gas-puff imaging (GPI) at NSTX provides 2D measurements of the magnetic field aligned fluctuations (e.g. ELM filaments) in the scrape-off layer and the at the plasma edge with 2.5 us temporal and 10 mm optical resolution.A novel analysis technique was developed to estimate the frame-by-frame velocities and the spatial parameters of the dominant structures associated with the ELMs. The analysis was applied to single ELM events to characterize the ELM crash dynamics, and then extended to a database of 169 ELM events.Statistical analysis was performed in order to find the characterizing dynamics of the ELM crash. The results show that on average an ELM crash consists of a filament with a circular cross-section which is propelled outwards with a characterizing peak radial velocity of ~3.3 km/s. The radial velocity was found to be linearly dependent on the distance of the filament from the separatrix, which has never been seen before. The ELM filament is characterized by propagation in the ion-diamagnetic direction poloidally with a peak velocity of 11.4 km/s. The ELM crash lasts for approximately 100us until the radial propulsion settles back to the pre-ELM level. The experimental findings were compared with analytical theory. Two possible mechanisms were identified for explaining the observations: the curvature interchange model and the current-filament interaction model.

correlation↗
DOE OSTI2020

Semi-analytic model of magnetized liner inertial fusion

The code that was developed is called SAMM (Semi-Analytic MagLIF Model). In 2015, McBride and Slutz published all of the equations that are solved by the code in the original SAMM paper: R. D. McBride and S. A. Slutz, ?A semi-analytic model of magnetized liner inertial fusion?, Phys. Plasmas 22, 052708 (2015); http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4918953. The SAMM code is now implemented in both the MATLAB and Python programming languages. Students from multiple universities have requested copies of the code so that they can become more familiar with the MagLIF concept. We would like to seek an open-source solution. There is no market value to this code, as there are plenty of more sophisticated simulation codes already available; SAMM is merely a simplified model that is purely for educational purposes. In fact, at least one graduate student (from the University of California, San Diego) has already implemented and published his own modified version of the model: J. Narkis, H. U. Rahman, J. C. Valenzuela, F. Conti, R. D. McBride, D. Venosa, and F. N. Beg, ?A semi-analytic model of gas-puff liner-on-target magneto-inertial fusion?, Phys. Plasmas 26, 032708 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5086056. SAND2020-12244 M 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.

Moore, Thomas↗
DOE OSTI2021

A novel approach to mitigating the potential release of radioisotopes under fire conditions - enhancing fire resiliency of radiological contamination fixatives during deactivation & decommissioning activities

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), in close collaboration with the Florida International University Applied Research Center (FIU ARC), successfully executed a technology development activity on behalf of the Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management (DOE EM). The purpose of the activity was to improve the capability of fixative technologies in immobilizing residual contamination when exposed to thermal stressors as postulated in accident scenarios in Basis for Interim Operations (BIO) documents across the DOE EM complex. The effort resulted in the test and evaluation of a down-selected, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) intumescent technology in a radioactive environment at the Savannah River Site (SRS) Building 235-F Plutonium Fuel Form (PuFF) Facility and highlighted the potential use of this technology as a stand-alone, fire retardant fixative. Furthermore, this activity highlighted significant shortfalls in common fixatives currently used to support decommissioning activities and brought to the forefront the need for a methodical, uniformed approach to certifying fixative technologies for operational use in Deactivation and Decommissioning (D&D) activities. An essential component of this research was to evaluate the state of industry fixatives currently in use and set the foundation for comparison to alternative technological solutions. A baseline of five (5) commonly used fixatives and decontamination gels (hereafter collectively referred to as fixatives) was conducted, and notable shortfalls and deficiencies were revealed, particularly when exposed to thermal, water, and other environmental stressors. At temperatures as low as 300 °F - 400 °F (148.89 °C – 204.44 °C), all commonly used fixatives melted from the substrates within 3-5 minutes of exposure, resulting in contaminant transport. Significant degradation in terms of mass loss, desiccation, and off-gassing occurred, and the chemical breakdown of the polymer was so complete researchers assessed there would likely have been a release of residual contamination. Additional vulnerabilities became evident when exposed to water immersion and high humidity; existing fixatives took up water, swelling and frequently delaminating from the substrate, once again increasing the likelihood of a contaminant release.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Development, Implementation, and Verification of Partially-Ionized Collisional Multifluid Plasma Models in Drekar

We consider the development of multifluid models for partially ionized multispecies plasmas. The models are composed of a standard set of five-moment fluid equations for each species plus a description of electromagnetics. The most general model considered utilizes a full set of fluid equations for each charge state of each atomic species, plus a set of fluid equations for electrons. The fluid equations are coupled through source terms describing electromagnetic coupling, ionization, recombination, charge exchange, and elastic scattering collisions in the low-density coronal limit. The form of each of these source terms is described in detail, and references for required rate coefficients are identified for a diverse range of atomic species. Initial efforts have been made to extend these models to incorporate some higher-density collisional effects, including ionization potential depression and three- body recombination. Some reductions of the general multifluid model are considered. First, a reduced multifluid model is derived which averages over all of the charge states (including neutrals) of each atomic species in the general multifluid model. The resulting model maintains full consistency with the general multifluid model from which it is derived by leveraging a quasi-steady-state collisional ionization equilibrium assumption to recover the ionization fractions required to make use of the general collision models. Further reductions are briefly considered to derive certain components of a single-fluid magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model. In this case, a generalized Ohm's law is obtained, and the standard MHD resistivity is expressed in terms of the collisional models used in the general multifluid model. A number of numerical considerations required to obtain robust implementations of these multifluid models are discussed. First, an algebraic flux correction (AFC) stabilization approach for a continuous Galerkin finite element discretization of the multifluid system is described in which the characteristic speeds used in the stabilization of the fluid systems are synchronized across all species in the model. It is demonstrated that this synchronization is crucial in order to obtain a robust discretization of the multifluid system. Additionally, several different formulations are considered for describing the electromagnetics portion of the multifluid system using nodal continuous Galerkin finite element discretizations. The formulations considered include a parabolic divergence cleaning method and an implicit projection method for the traditional curl formulation of Maxwell's equations, a purely- hyperbolic potential-based formulation of Maxwell's equations, and a mixed hyperbolic-elliptic potential-based formulation of Maxwell's equations. Some advantages and disadvantages of each formulation are explored to compare solution robustness and the ease of use of each formulation. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of various components of our implementation. Analytic solutions for a spatially homogeneous damped plasma oscillation are derived in order to verify the implementation of the source terms for electromagnetic coupling and elastic collisions between fluid species. Ionization balance as a function of electron temperature is evaluated for several atomic species of interest by comparing to steady-state calculations using various sets of ionization and recombination rate coefficients. Several test problems in one and two spatial dimensions are used to demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the discretization and stabilization approach for the fluid components of the multifluid system. This includes standard test problems for electrostatic and electromagnetic shock tubes in the two-fluid and ideal shock-MHD limits, a cylindrical diocotron instability, and the GEM challenge magnetic reconnection problem. A one-dimensional simplified prototype of an argon gas puff configuration as deployed on Sandia's Z-machine is used as a demonstration to exercise the full range of capabilities associated with the general multifluid model.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

ENDF/B-VIII.1 Validation: Covariance [Slides]

This presentation touches on ENDF/B-VIII.1 Validation: Covariance. Topics include inconsistencies in the ENDF files, derived matrices, lumped reactions and process ENDF data file with PUFF. Finally correcting data with cognac and redundant covariance that are not consistent are discussed.

Cognac↗
DOE OSTI2023

Boundary, SOL, and Divertor Physics Studies on TCV (Final Report for Research Funded by DoE Award DE-SC0020327)

Research supported under this grant was organized around two diagnostic systems installed on the TCV tokamak located at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland: Multi-Spectral Imaging (MSI) and Gas-Puff Imaging (GPI). MSI monitors 2-d time-history images of up to 10 spectral lines, in the visible, using identical views for all wavelengths. The primary application of MSI is to infer 2-d time histories of electron temperature and density in the Scrape-Off-Layer (SOL) of diverted plasmas, utilizing ratios of emission from multiple neutral helium lines. The atomic models are validated against 1-d Thomson scattering measurements. SOL density and temperature maps are analyzed to infer divertor dynamics, including particle and power flows, for a variety of divertor configurations, and specifically as flux expansion along the long-legged outboard divertor is systematically varied. GPI is used to measure details of edge fluctuations in the SOL, particularly as a function of plasma triangularity (δ), including both positive and negative δ. A threshold is found, whereby for δ<-0.3, edge turbulence in the far SOL is completely suppressed. Dynamics of the filamentary turbulence was also analyzed using advance machine learning techniques. Research in support of four PhD theses was carried out within the scope of this Award, including 2 at MIT and 2 at EPFL.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Absolute Neutron Rate Measurement and Non-Thermal/Thermonuclear Fusion Differentiation

The goal of fusion energy is to produce significantly more energy from fusion reactions than is input into the device. One of the products of fusion reactions is neutrons, which, due to their lack of charge, provide a unique view into the parameters of the device. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) have designed, assembled, and fielded a robust and portable neutron detection system known as PANDA (Portable and Adaptable Neutron Diagnostics for ARPA-E). This detector suite consists of three LaBr activation detectors that are calibrated to give a total neutron yield on shot, and twenty-four scintillators coupled to photo-multiplier tubes (SPMT). The SPMTs can be configured to attain spatial, temporal and/or energy information from fusion neutrons. The system was designed to be portable and is compartmentalized so that individual components can be used at different fusion facilities. During the duration of this work, part of the system was installed at the FuZE facility, a part of Zap Energy. Another component was installed that the CESZAR facility at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to support experiments by Magneto-Inertial Fusion Technologies, Inc. (MIFTI). The diagnostics were successful at both locations and the LLNL/UCB team supported the data analysis by creating and running analysis scripts and Monte-Carlo calculations. At Zap Energy the diagnostics demonstrated that the fusion from the FuZE device is thermonuclear in nature, a result that resulted in an invited talk at the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics and an invited paper. Additionally, temporal and spatial data was taken using the SPMTs to understand the duration and length of fusion production. At UCSD the neutron yield from the diagnostics was used to show improvements to fusion yields on their gas puff Z-pinch when using a gas shell surrounding the fuel. The success in this diagnostic has led to continued work at both Zap Energy and MIFTI, as well as follow on funding and interest at other fusion energy companies.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Utilizing HYSPLIT for Emergency Response Modeling at SRS

At SRS, emergency responders use a variety of tools to detect, track, and mitigate hazardous material releases into the atmosphere. Two models currently used at SRS are Puff-Plume and the Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model (LPDM), a Gaussian and Lagrangian model, respectively. A decision has been made to replace LPDM with the more widely-supported Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model for evaluating inhalation and ingestion doses following a release. HYSPLIT is designed to compute complex dispersion and deposition simulation To achieve the implementation of HYSPLIT, we have developed a preliminary UI framework that will allow HYSPLIT to be run on ATG computers without the need for active network connections, thus avoiding the loss of capabilities in the event of a network outage during an emergency.

Earley, Ian↗
DOE OSTI2024

Progress of Gas Injection EOR Surveillance in the Bakken Unconventional Play—Technical Review and Machine Learning Study

Although considerable laboratory and modeling activities were performed to investigate the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) mechanisms and potential in unconventional reservoirs, only limited research has been reported to investigate actual EOR implementations and their surveillance in fields. Eleven EOR pilot tests that used CO2, rich gas, surfactant, water, etc., have been conducted in the Bakken unconventional play since 2008. Gas injection was involved in eight of these pilots with huff ‘n’ puff, flooding, and injectivity operations. Surveillance data, including daily production/injection rates, bottomhole injection pressure, gas composition, well logs, and tracer testing, were collected from these tests to generate time-series plots or analytics that can inform operators of downhole conditions. A technical review showed that pressure buildup, conformance issues, and timely gas breakthrough detection were some of the main challenges because of the interconnected fractures between injection and offset wells. The latest operation of co-injecting gas, water, and surfactant through the same injection well showed that these challenges could be mitigated by careful EOR design and continuous reservoir monitoring. Reservoir simulation and machine learning were then conducted for operators to rapidly predict EOR performance and take control actions to improve EOR outcomes in unconventional reservoirs.

Energy & Fuels↗
DOE OSTI2022

Deep electric field predictions by drift-reduced Braginskii theory with plasma-neutral interactions based upon experimental images of boundary turbulence

We present 2-dimensional turbulent electric field calculations via physics-informed deep learning consistent with (i) drift-reduced Braginskii theory under the framework of an axisymmetric fusion plasma with purely toroidal field and (ii) experimental estimates of the fluctuating electron density and temperature obtained from analysis of gas puff imaging of a discharge on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. The inclusion of effects from the locally puffed atomic helium on particle and energy sources within the reduced plasma turbulence model are found to strengthen correlations between the electric field and electron pressure. The neutrals are also directly associated with an observed broadening in the distribution of turbulent field amplitudes and increased E×B shearing rates.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1972

Urban air pollution dispersion model

Three-dimensional integrated puff model simulates smoke plume dispersion processes and estimates pollutant concentration during periods of low wind speed. Applications for model are given.

Robert, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Exhaust pressure and density of various pulsed mpd-arc thruster systems

Exhaust flow in a new, 155 cm i.d., vacuum facility was compared with earlier measurements in a small (15.2 cm i.d.) duct. Reductions in post transient impact pressure were about 5:1 in the larger facility. Corresponding reduced electron number densities (approximately 2 x 10 to the 13th power/cucm) were noted. A new, 125 miscrosecond, pulse forming network power source produced no major differences in impact pressure compared to the crowbarred condenser bank used earlier. Comparing a puff gas feed of the arc chamber with a new 10 millisecond steady gas feed also showed no major difference in impact pressure for 125 miscrosecond powering.

Michels, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Exhaust pressure and density of various pulsed MPD-Arc thruster systems

Exhaust flow in a new 155-cm-i.d. vacuum facility is compared with earlier measurements in a small (15.2-cm-i.d.) duct. Reductions in post-transient impact pressure are about 5:1 in the larger facility. Corresponding reduced electron number densities (about 2 x 10 to the 13th power per cu cm) are noted. A new 125-microsec pulse-forming network power source produced no major differences in impact pressure compared to the crowbarred condenser bank used earlier. Comparing a puff gas feed of the arc chamber with a new 10-msec steady gas feed also shows no major difference in impact pressure for 125-microsec powering.

Michels, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Dynamic phenomena in sunspots

A detailed summary of observed dynamic phenomena associated with sunspots is presented, together with a description of the observational techniques and available analytical formulations for the processes under study. The phenomena detected thus far are grouped into aperiodic events and oscillations and waves. Aperiodic phenomena comprise umbral flares, the superpenumbra, and inverse Evershed flow. Internal, aperiodic manifestations include penumbral grains, the photospheric penumbral dark fibrils, Evershed flow, umbral dots, the inhomogeneity of the umbral magnetic field, and umbral turbulence. Oscillations and flashes are seen in the umbra, while running waves and dark puffs have been detected in the penumbra, and oscillations are located in the photosphere. All the observed features are evidence of mass motion and change on time scales of less than an hour.

Moore, R. L.↗