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At least 1,693 records · Page 94

The Status of the Energy Calibration, Polarization and Monochromatization of the FCC-ee

The Future Circular electron-positron Collider, FCC- ee, is designed for unprecedented precision for particle physics experiments from the Z-pole up to above the top-pair-threshold, corresponding to a beam energy range from 45.6 to 182.5 GeV. Performing collisions at various particle-physics resonances requires precise knowledge of the centre-of-mass energy (ECM) and collision boosts at all four interaction points. Measurement of the ECM by resonant depolarization of transversely polarized pilot bunches in combination with a 3D polarimeter, aims to achieve a systematic uncertainty of 4 and 100 keV for the Z-pole and W-pair-threshold energies respectively. The ECM itself depends on the RF-cavity locations, beamstrahlung, longitudinal impedance, the Earth’s tides, opposite sign dispersion and possible collision offsets. Application of monochromatization schemes are envisaged at certain beam energies to reduce the energy spread. The latest results of studies of the energy calibration, polarization and monochromatization are reported here.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Status of Error Correction Studies in Support of FFA@CEBAF

In pursuit of higher energy at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), the FFA@CEBAF energy upgrade study is considering the implementation of a novel technology to recirculate electron beam through the accelerating gradient of the machine more times. The technology in question is Fixed-Field Alternating-gradient (FFA) bending accelerator arcs: these arcs may replace the present highest energy electromagnetic (EM) arcs, and due to a much wider energy acceptance allow several more passes. The survey and beam error tolerance of the FFA arcs need to be well understood prior to commissioning, in addition to the limits of planned correction magnets and diagnostics. This work explores the current state of error tolerance and correction studies in FFA arcs at CEBAF.

Benesch, J.↗

Status of the laser manipulations of H- beam at J-PARC

The laser manipulations of H- ion beam by single or double neutralization is a very promising technique and highly essential to utilized in accelerator processes such as stripping, pulse chopping, collimation, extraction, and beam diagnostics for the present and future high-intensity proton accelerators. At J-PARC, we are preparing for a POP (Proof-of-Principle) demonstration 400 MeV H- stripping by using only lasers. A prototype YAG laser system and a laser cavity system to reduce the laser power are being developed through 3 MeV H- neutralization studies. Fermilab utilizes H- neutralization at 0.75 MeV by establishing a laser Notcher system for a gap in the H- pulse needed for a clean beam extraction from the ring. To minimize the laser power and maximize the interaction efficiency are common issue at both laboratories. Under the US-Japan collaboration for high-intensity neutrino beam, we are closely working to establish recycling/reusing of seed laser pulses to reduce a size of the laser system. In parallel, we have also developed non-destructive beam diagnostic systems at lower H- energy of 3 MeV, which will be implemented to the 400 MeV as well as easily applicable to the Fermilab linac including PIP-II linac. Installation of the laser system at J-PARC linac for 400 MeV H- stripping is ongoing to start the POP experimental study in 2023.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Horizontal Splitter Design For FFA@CEBAF Energy Upgrade: Current Status

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is currently studying the feasibility of an energy upgrade based upon Fixed-Field Alternating Gradient (FFA) permanent magnet technology. The current plan is to replace the highest-energy recirculation arcs with FFA arcs, increasing the total number of beam recirculations, thus the energy. In order to accommodate multiple passes in the FFA arcs, horizontal splitters are being designed to control the beam parameters entering the FFA arcs, as well as the time of flight and R_56. In the current design, six passes will recirculate through the FFA arcs, necessitating the design of six independent beamlines to control the optics and beam dynamics matching into the arcs. These beamlines must fit into the current CEBAF tunnel, while allowing for personnel and equipment access. They must also be flexible enough to accommodate the beam under realistic operational conditions and fluctuations. The constraints on the system are highly restrictive, complicating the design. This document will describe the current state of the design, and indicate the work remaining for a complete conceptual design.

Benesch, Jay↗

First conduction cooled photoinjector status

SRF photoguns become a promising candidate to produce highly stable electrons for UEM/UED applications because of the ultrahigh shot-to-shot stability compared to room temperature RF photoguns. SRF technology was prohibitively expensive for industrial use until two recent advancements: Nb3Sn and conduction cooling. SRF gun can provide a CW operation capability while consuming only 2W of RF power which eliminates the need of an expensive high power RF system and saves a facility footprint. Euclid is developing a continuous wave (CW), 1.5-cell, MeV-scale SRF conduction cooled photogun operating at 1.3 GHz. We aim for generation of the first beam in 2024. In this paper, we present the most up-to-date progress including results of the first cool down of the gun-cavity in the newly developed conduction cooled cryomodule and LLRF system development.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Current status of permanent magnet radiation resiliency studies at CEBAF

One possible future for Jefferson Lab’s Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) lies in upgrading its maximum nominal energy using Fixed-Field Alternating-gradient (FFA) technology for its recirculating arcs. The current proposal aims to use permanent magnets to supply the fixed fields. One concern among reviewers is the degradation of these permanent magnets during operation due to the radiation environment in which they will be present. This work, funded by a Laboratory Directed R&D grant, aims to measure the magnet degradation in the CEBAF tunnel enclosure, and extrapolate to the energies expected from the upgrade. We present the latest results of this study, as well as plans moving forward.

Accelerator Physics↗

eLog analysis for accelerators: status and future outlook

This work demonstrates electronic logbook (eLog) systems leveraging modern AI-driven information retrieval capabilities at the accelerator facilities of Fermilab, Jefferson Lab, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. We evaluate contemporary tools and methodologies for information retrieval with Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAGs), focusing on operational insights and integration with existing accelerator control systems. The study addresses challenges and proposes solutions for state-of-the-art eLog analysis through practical implementations, demonstrating applications and limitations. We present a framework for enhancing accelerator facility operations through improved information accessibility and knowledge management, which could potentially lead to more efficient operations.

Accelerator Physics↗

Status Of the ILC Main Linac Design

International Linear collider (ILC) is a proposed accelerator facility which is primarily based on two 11-km long superconducting main linacs. In this paper we present recent updates on the main linac design and discuss changes made in order to meet specification outlined in the technical design report (TDR).

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Status of SNS Proton Power Upgrade SRF Cavities Production Qualification

The Pro­ton Power Up­grade pro­ject at Oak Ridge Na­tional Lab’s Spal­la­tion Neu­tron Source (SNS PPU) cur­rently being con­structed will dou­ble the pro­ton beam power from 1.4 to 2.8 MW by adding 7 ad­di­tional cry­omod­ules, each con­tains four six-cell high beta (\beta = 0.81) su­per­con­duct­ing radio fre­quency cav­i­ties. The cav­i­ties were built by Re­search In­stru­ments, Ger­many, with all the cav­ity pro­cess­ing done at the ven­dor site, in­clud­ing elec­trop­o­l­ish­ing as the final ac­tive chem­istry step. All 28 cav­i­ties needed for 7 cry­omod­ules were de­liv­ered to Jef­fer­son Lab, ready to be tested. The cryo­genic RF qual­i­fi­ca­tions and he­lium ves­sel weld­ing were done at Jef­fer­son Lab. The per­for­mance largely ex­ceed the re­quire­ments, and greatly ex­ceeded the per­for­mance of the orig­i­nal SNS cav­ity pro­duc­tion se­ries. Here, we pre­sent the sum­mary of RF test on pro­duc­tion cav­i­ties to this date.

Dhakal, P.↗

Status of the LCLS-II-HE Project at Jefferson Lab

The Linac Coherent Light Source II High Energy (LCLS-II-HE) upgrade at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is being constructed in partnership with the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL). The cryomodule production scope consists of the design, procurement, construction, and acceptance testing of 24 eight-cavity, 1.3 GHz cryomodules, as well as R&D activities necessary to develop the required technology. To achieve this, JLab and FNAL are also contributing to SLAC’s effort to develop the cavity recipe and production processes necessary to meet the LCLS-II-HE goal of 20.8 MV/m and average Q₀ of 2.7·10¹⁰. This paper details the JLab scope, focusing on the project initiation phase, in particular technology development and prototyping, project development and planning, and implementation of lessons learned from LCLS-II.

Wilson, K. M.↗

PIP-II Project Overview and Status

The Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) project is an essential upgrade to Fermilab’s particle accelerator complex to enable the world’s most intense neutrino beam for LBNF/DUNE and a broad particle physics program for many decades to come. PIP-II will deliver 1.2 MW of proton beam power from the Main Injector, upgradeable to multi-MW capability. The central element of PIP-II is an 800 MeV superconducting radio frequency (SRF) linac, which comprises a room temperature front end followed by an SRF section. The SRF section consists of five different flavors of cavities/cryomodules, including Half Wave Resonators (HWR), Single Spoke and elliptical resonators operating at, or above, state-of-the-art parameters. The first two PIP-II cryomodules, Half Wave Resonator (HWR) and Single Spoke Resonator 1 (SSR1) were installed in the PIP-II Injector Test facility (PIP2IT) and have accelerated beam to above 17 MeV. PIP-II is the first U.S. accelerator project that will be constructed with significant contributions from international partners, including India, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Poland. The project was baselined in April 2022, and the construction phase is underway.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ (CCC) Status Report

The Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ (CCC) process separates CO2 from light gases in essentially any continuous process. CCC cools the gases to the frost or desublimation point of CO2 (-100 to -135 °C), separates and pressurizes the solids, and warms all streams to produce a CO2-depleted stream at ambient pressure and a pure (99+%) pressurized liquid CO2 stream typically to about 150 bar, both at ambient temperature. The process also recovers all gas moisture and most gas impurities less volatile than CO2 (NOx, SOx, Hg, PM, UHC, CCC, etc.) in separable streams. CCC nearly eliminates refrigeration energy for sensible temperature changes through heat integration. CCC does require energy to change the CO2 phase from a mixed vapor to a pressurized fluid, which represents the minimum energy required of any process for this separation. CCC uses additional energy for turbomachinery inefficiencies, heat losses, moisture removal and overall process pressure drop. Aside from these real-world energy demands, CCC operates near the minimum energy required to perform this gas separation by minimizing stream recycling. CCC compresses CO2 as a liquid, which is one of several reasons it costs about about half as much and consumes about half as much energy as an amine process when using flue gases with about 15% CO2. The process also has several major additional advantages, including (a) it is a bolt-on retrofit technology that does not need steam or any modification of existing equipment, (b) it recovers water and nearly all pollutants in addition to CO2 from the flue gas, (c) it enables highly efficient and cost effective energy storage at grid scale and on time scales of minutes, (d) it enables NG storage if the energy storage option is used, and (d) it has a small footprint and is minimally disruptive to existing plants, requiring only electrical power and a gas source to operate. Sustainable Energy Solutions (SES) has scaled this technology through several levels, the largest of which captures nominally 1 tonne of CO2/day and is called the skid system. Skid system field tests include utility-scale power plants, cement plants, heating plants, and other utility or industrial sites that burn natural gas, biomass, coal, shredded tires, municipal waste, and combinations of these fuels. These field tests produced 95-99% CO2 capture with CO2 purities of 99+% and initial CO2 contents that range from 4 to 28%. SES currently seeks to scale the system to merchant scale (10-80 tonnes of CO2 per day). In the process of doing so, SES has demonstrated the potential for CCC to contribute to energy storage and direct air capture in innovative and cost-effective ways. This presentation discusses the overall process and highlights results from field and in-house tests. These include (a) measured CO2 capture rates and operating conditions from in-house and field tests, and (b) predicted utility-scale costs and energy demands. This discussion also includes the application of the CCC technology to energy storage and direct air capture.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

The status of the galactic center gamma-ray excess

The Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess has a spectrum, angular distribution, and overall intensity that agree remarkably well with that expected from annihilating dark matter particles in the form of a m_X \sim m X ∼ 50 GeV thermal relic. Previous claims that these photons are clustered on small angular scales or trace the distribution of known stellar populations once appeared to favor interpretations in which this signal originates from a large population of unresolved millisecond pulsars. More recent work, however, has overturned these conclusions, finding that the observed gamma-ray excess does not contain discernible small scale power, and is distributed with approximate spherical symmetry, not tracing any known stellar populations. In light of these results, it now appears significantly more likely that the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess is produced by annihilating dark matter.

Hooper, Dan↗

FY 2016 Status Report: CIRFT Testing Data Analyses and Updated Curvature Measurements

This report provides a detailed description of FY15 test result corrections/analysis based on the FY16 Cyclic Integrated Reversible-Bending Fatigue Tester (CIRFT) test program methodology update used to evaluate the vibration integrity of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) under normal transportation conditions. The CIRFT consists of a U-frame testing setup and a real-time curvature measurement method. The three-component U-frame setup of the CIRFT has two rigid arms and linkages to a universal testing machine. The curvature of rod bending is obtained through a three-point deflection measurement method. Three linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are used and clamped to the side connecting plates of the U-frame to capture the deformation of the rod. The contact-based measurement, or three-LVDT-based curvature measurement system, on SNF rods has been proven to be quite reliable in CIRFT testing. However, how the LVDT head contacts the SNF rod may have a significant effect on the curvature measurement, depending on the magnitude and direction of rod curvature. It has been demonstrated that the contact/curvature issues can be corrected by using a correction on the sensor spacing. The sensor spacing defines the separation of the three LVDT probes and is a critical quantity in calculating the rod curvature once the deflections are obtained. The sensor spacing correction can be determined by using chisel-type probes. The method has been critically examined this year and has been shown to be difficult to implement in a hot cell environment, and thus cannot be implemented effectively. A correction based on the proposed equivalent gauge-length has the required flexibility and accuracy and can be appropriately used as a correction factor. The correction method based on the equivalent gauge length has been successfully demonstrated in CIRFT data analysis for the dynamic tests conducted on Limerick (LMK) (17 tests), North Anna (NA) (6 tests), and Catawba mixed oxide (MOX) (10 tests) SNF samples. These CIRFT tests were completed in FY14 and FY15. Specifically, the data sets obtained from measurement and monitoring were processed and analyzed. The fatigue life of rods has been characterized in terms of moment, curvature, and equivalent stress and strain..

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Eleventh interim status report: Model 9975 O-Ring fixture long-term leak performance

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton® GLT O-rings used in the Model 9975 package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. One approach has been to periodically evaluate the leak performance of O-rings being aged in mock-up 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) at elevated temperature. Other methods such as compression-stress relaxation (CSR) tests and field surveillance are also on-going to evaluate O-ring behavior. Seventy tests using PCV mock-ups were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 ºF. They were leak-tested initially and have been tested periodically to determine if they continue to meet the leak-tightness criterion defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Due to material substitution, fourteen additional tests were initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 ºF.

42 ENGINEERING↗

FY16 Status Report on Development of Integrated EPP and SMT Design Methods

The goal of the Elastic-Perfectly Plastic (EPP) combined integrated creep-fatigue damage evaluation approach is to incorporate a Simplified Model Test (SMT) data based approach for creep-fatigue damage evaluation into the EPP methodology to avoid the separate evaluation of creep and fatigue damage and eliminate the requirement for stress classification in current methods; thus greatly simplifying evaluation of elevated temperature cyclic service. The EPP methodology is based on the idea that creep damage and strain accumulation can be bounded by a properly chosen “pseudo” yield strength used in an elastic-perfectly plastic analysis, thus avoiding the need for stress classification. The original SMT approach is based on the use of elastic analysis. The experimental data, cycles to failure, is correlated using the elastically calculated strain range in the test specimen and the corresponding component strain is also calculated elastically. The advantage of this approach is that it is no longer necessary to use the damage interaction, or D-diagram, because the damage due to the combined effects of creep and fatigue are accounted in the test data by means of a specimen that is designed to replicate or bound the stress and strain redistribution that occurs in actual components when loaded in the creep regime. The reference approach to combining the two methodologies and the corresponding uncertainties and validation plans are presented. Results from recent key feature tests are discussed to illustrate the applicability of the EPP methodology and the behavior of materials at elevated temperature when undergoing stress and strain redistribution due to plasticity and creep.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Status of FeCrAl ODS Irradiations in the High Flux Isotope Reactor

FeCrAl oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys are an attractive sub-set alloy class of the more global FeCrAl material class for nuclear applications due to their high-temperature steam oxidation resistance and hypothesized enhanced radiation tolerance. A need currently exists to determine the radiation tolerance of these newly developed alloys. To address this need, a preliminary study was conducted using the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) to irradiate an early generation FeCrAl ODS alloy, 125YF. Preliminary post-irradiation examination (PIE) on these irradiated specimens have shown good radiation tolerance at elevated temperatures (≥330°C) but possible radiation-induced hardening and embrittlement at irradiations of 200°C to a damage level of 1.9 displacement per atom (dpa). Building on this experience, a new series of irradiations are currently being conceptualized. This irradiation series called the FCAD irradiation program will irradiate the latest generation FeCrAl ODS and FeCr ODS alloys to significantly higher doses. These experiments will provide the necessary information to determine the mechanical performance of irradiated FeCrAl ODS alloys at light water reactor and fast reactor conditions.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

FY 2016 Status Report: Documentation of All CIRFT Data including Hydride Reorientation Tests (Draft M2)

The first portion of this report provides a detailed description of fiscal year (FY) 2015 test result corrections and analysis updates based on FY 2016 updates to the Cyclic Integrated Reversible-Bending Fatigue Tester (CIRFT) program methodology, which is used to evaluate the vibration integrity of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) under normal conditions of transport (NCT). The CIRFT consists of a U-frame test setup and a real-time curvature measurement method. The three-component U-frame setup of the CIRFT has two rigid arms and linkages connecting to a universal testing machine. The curvature SNF rod bending is obtained through a three-point deflection measurement method. Three linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are clamped to the side connecting plates of the U-frame and used to capture deformation of the rod. The second portion of this report provides the latest CIRFT data, including data for the hydride reorientation test. The variations in fatigue life are provided in terms of moment, equivalent stress, curvature, and equivalent strain for the tested SNFs. The equivalent stress plot collapsed the data points from all of the SNF samples into a single zone. A detailed examination revealed that, at the same stress level, fatigue lives display a descending order as follows: H. B. Robinson Nuclear Power Station (HBR), LMK, and mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX). Just looking at the strain, LMK fuel has a slightly longer fatigue life than HBR fuel, but the difference is subtle. The third portion of this report provides finite element analysis (FEA) dynamic deformation simulation of SNF assemblies . In a horizontal layout under NCT, the fuel assembly’s skeleton, which is formed by guide tubes and spacer grids, is the primary load bearing apparatus carrying and transferring vibration loads within an SNF assembly. These vibration loads include interaction forces between the SNF assembly and the canister basket walls. Therefore, the integrity of the guide tubes and spacer grids critically affects the vibration intensity of the fuel assembly during transport and must be considered when developing the multipurpose purpose canister (MPC) design for safe SNF transport.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗