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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 1,747 records · Page 97
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Samuel P. Massie Chair of Excellence In Environmental Disciplines: Hampton University 1994-2010 Year Report

The establishment of the DOE-EM Dr. Samuel P. Massie Chair of Excellence provides an excellent opportunity for Hampton University to be involved in key environmental issues in the 21 st Century. The main areas of focus are on: 1. Coal gasification with respect to pollution prevention and reduction. 2. Solid waste treatment through bioremediation technology and 3. Industrial wastewater treatment Synthesizing ion catalysts suitable for use in slurry bubble column reaction was carried out. Construction of an autoclave continuous stirred tank reactor has been completed. At the initial stage of the development of this program, work was conducted in the area of formic acid recovery from waste streams, which yielded useful results. We also succeeded in the removal of priority metal ions such as cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, thallium, zinc, etc., from industrial and municipal wastewater by using natural wastes. The process uses tree leaves to adsorb the metal ions in the wastewater. The ultimate goal is to develop inexpensive, highly available, effective metal ion adsorbents from natural wastes as an alternative to existing commercial adsorbents, and also to explain the possible adsorption mechanism that is taking place. This technology uses natural wastes to eliminate other wastes. Obviously, there are several advantages: (1) the negative impact on environment is eliminated, (2) the complicated regeneration step is not needed, and (3) the procedure saves money and energy. Twelve different types of leaves have been tested with lead, zinc, and nickel. The study mechanism showed that the leaf tannin is an active ingredient in the adsorption of metal ions. The ion-exchange mechanism controlled the adsorption process.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fitness Tracker for Weight Lifting Style Workouts

This document proposes an early, high level design for a fitness tracking system which can automatically log weight lifting style workouts. The system will provide an easy to use interface both physically through the use of several wireless wristband style motion trackers worn on the limbs, and graphically through a smartphone application. Exercise classification will be accomplished by calibration of the user’s specific motions. The system will accurately track a user’s workout, miscounting no more than one repetition in every 20, have sufficient battery life to last several hours, work with existing smartphones and have a cost similar to those of current fitness tracking devices. This document presents the mission background, current state-of-theart, stakeholders and their expectations, the proposed system’s context and concepts, implementation concepts, system requirements, first sublevel function decomposition, possible risks for the system, and a reflection on the design process.

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DOE OSTI2018

AM Modeling & Simulation

A predictive simulation capability for AM is important to improve quality, decrease processing time and minimize costs. Has significant impact as LANL continues to be a leader in modeling and simulation for AM. This improved simulation capability will allow important AM specific physics questions to be answered for the first time. This approach, in combination with LANL's HPC resources will enable tractable, predictive simulation of AM and other solidification processes.

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DOE OSTI2019

Volume Imaging & Tracking Radar Open Research Topics

The Volume Imaging & Tracking Radar (VITR) is a multistatic broadband system designed to track multiple centimeter sized objects whose velocities exceed 1 km/s. The VITR characteristics are: Multistatic, multiple transmitters & receivers; Spatially diverse & aperiodic: The transmitting and receiving antennas may be arbitrarily located; Pulsed, broad band (6-13 GHz); Time-domain; One pulse in the air at a time; No carrier; Returns digitized, processed & analyzed at RF frequencies. The data products are: Three dimensional object of interest (OOI) tracks; Multistatic Doppler velocity estimates of the OOIs; Evolution of radar cross-section (RCS) as a function of time along the track; Volume movies (three spatial dimensions and time) of the OOIs; Bistatic inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) processing.

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DOE OSTI2018

Influence of Diffusional Surface Alloying on the Hardened-Layer Thickness for Gray-Iron Machine Parts

In diffusional surface alloying, gray-iron components of vehicles and machines are heated in contact with oxides of the alloying elements (chromium, titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum). The influence of the sample temperature and holding time in diffusional surface alloying on the thickness of the hardened layer is investigated, on the basis of experiment planning. The models obtained may be used to ensure specified thickness of the hardened layer in diffusional surface alloying, with maximum productivity in both production and repair processes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Articulating feedstock delivery device

A fully articulable feedstock delivery device that is designed to operate at pressure and temperature extremes. The device incorporates an articulating ball assembly which allows for more accurate delivery of the feedstock to a target location. The device is suitable for a variety of applications including, but not limited to, delivery of feedstock to a high-pressure reaction chamber or process zone.

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DOE OSTI2023

Process Optimization

Process optimization is the discipline of adjusting a process to optimize a specified set of parameters without violating engineering constraints. This article reviews data-driven optimization methods based on genetic algorithms and stochastic models and demonstrates their use in powder-bed fusion and directed energy deposition processes. In the latter case, closed-loop feedback is used to control melt pool temperature and cooling rate in order to achieve desired microstructure.

Sprayberry, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2017

Utilizing the Shift Technical Engineer Pipeline to Develop the Next Generation of Engineers - 17354

As the liquid waste contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS), Savannah River Remediation (SRR) is responsible for safely treating and dispositioning approximately 35 million gallons of liquid waste stored at SRS. To achieve this mission, SRR manages and operates several complex nuclear facilities. These nuclear facilities include the H and F Tank Farms, the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF), and the Saltstone Processing and Disposal Facility. To support the operations of these complex nuclear facilities, a Shift Technical Engineer (STE) is stationed for every shift. The STE is the sole Engineering Organization representative on-shift and serves as a direct technical resource for operations, including safety basis interpretation, process monitoring and prompt troubleshooting support. The training and qualification for an STE is more intensive than for typical technical staff personnel at SRR, involving additional classes, under-instruction watches, demonstration of practical factors, and culminating in an intense oral board examination. Like many other contractors in the DOE complex, SRR faces the challenge of preparing a significant number of new generation engineers to take the place of an aging workforce. Beyond the traditional training to establish minimum technical qualifications, SRR has established a number of initiatives aimed at accelerating the process of preparing early career engineers to replace experienced senior engineers. These initiatives include an internal rotational program, technical exchange activities with companies at other DOE sites, and an STE pipeline. The STE role provides a unique mechanism for select, early career engineers to gain in-depth knowledge and significant responsibility normally not achieved until much later in their careers. Once qualification is complete, the engineers perform the STE duties, providing technical support for nuclear facility operations. In addition, creating an STE pipeline, where promising young engineers are continually being qualified to replace the on-shift STEs, provides the company with a source of experienced engineers with in-depth technical knowledge as well as valuable experience interfacing with operations and other facility support groups. This paper will discuss the STE position, the qualification process, and how SRR is using the STE qualification pipeline to benefit both the company and the individual engineer. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2022

Bayesian Framework for Multi-Timescale State Estimation in Low-Observable Distribution Systems

To support the smart grid paradigm, there has been a significant increase in sensor deployments and metering infrastructure in distribution systems. However, the measurements provided by these sensors and metering devices are typically sampled at different rates and could suffer from losses during the aggregation process. It is crucial to effectively reconcile the time-series measurements for a reliable state estimation. While weighted least squares has been the traditional approach for state estimation, sparsity-based approaches like matrix completion have become popular due to their superior performance in low-observability conditions. This paper proposes a Bayesian framework for both multi-timescale data aggregation and matrix completion based state estimation. Specifically, the multiscale time-series data aggregated from heterogenous sources are reconciled using a multitask Gaussian process that exploits the spatio-temporal correlations. Here, the resulting consistent timeseries alongwith the confidence bound on the imputations are fed into a Bayesian matrix completion method augmented with linearized power-flow constraints to accurately estimate the states in low-observability conditions. Results on three phase unbalanced IEEE 37 and IEEE 123 bus test systems reveal the superior performance of the proposed Bayesian framework. The computational complexity for the proposed Bayesian framework is also quantified.

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DOE OSTI2012

Binding of ReO[subscript 4];#8722; with an engineered MoO[subscript 4 superscript 2];#8722;-binding protein: towards a new approach in radiopharmaceutical applications

Radiolabeled biomolecules are routinely used for clinical diagnostics. {sup 99m}Tc is the most commonly used radioactive tracer in radiopharmaceuticals. {sup 188}Re and {sup 186}Re are also commonly used as radioactive tracers in medicine. However, currently available methods for radiolabeling are lengthy and involve several steps in bioconjugation processes. In this work we present a strategy to engineer proteins that may selectively recognize the perrhenate (ReO{sub 4}{sup -}) ion as a new way to label proteins. We found that a molybdate (MoO{sub 4}{sup 2-})-binding protein (ModA) from Escherichia coli can bind perrhenate with high affinity. Using fluorescence and isothermal titration calorimetry measurements, we determined the dissociation constant of ModA for ReO{sub 4}{sup -} to be 541 nM and we solved a crystal structure of ModA with a bound ReO{sub 4}{sup -}. On the basis of the structure we created a mutant protein containing a disulfide linkage, which exhibited increased affinity for perrhenate (K{sub d} = 104 nM). High-resolution crystal structures of ModA (1.7 {angstrom}) and A11C/R153C mutant (2.0 {angstrom}) were solved with bound perrhenate. Both structures show that a perrhenate ion occupies the molybdate binding site using the same amino acid residues that are involved in molybdate binding. The overall structure of the perrhenate-bound ModA is unchanged compared with that of the molybdate-bound form. In the mutant protein, the bound perrhenate is further stabilized by the engineered disulfide bond.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

In Situ Decommissioning (ISD) Concepts and Approaches for Excess Nuclear Facilities Decommissioning End State - 13367

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) currently has numerous radiologically contaminated excess nuclear facilities waiting decommissioning throughout the Complex. The traditional decommissioning end state is complete removal. This commonly involves demolishing the facility, often segregating various components and building materials and disposing of the highly contaminated, massive structures containing tons of highly contaminated equipment and piping in a (controlled and approved) landfill, at times hundreds of miles from the facility location. Traditional demolition is costly, and results in significant risks to workers, as well as risks and costs associated with transporting the materials to a disposal site. In situ decommissioning (ISD or entombment) is a viable alternative to demolition, offering comparable and potentially more protective protection of human health and the environment, but at a significantly reduced cost and worker risk. The Savannah River Site (SRS) has completed the initial ISD deployment for radiologically contaminated facilities. Two reactor (P and R Reactors) facilities were decommissioned in 2011 using the ISD approach through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The SRS ISD approach resolved programmatic, regulatory and technical/engineering issues associated with avoiding the potential hazards and cost associated with generating and disposing of an estimated 124,300 metric tons (153,000 m{sup 3}) of contaminated debris per reactor. The DOE Environmental Management Office of Deactivation and Decommissioning and Facility Engineering, through the Savannah River National Laboratory, is currently investigating potential monitoring techniques and strategies to assess ISD effectiveness. As part of SRS's strategic planning, the site is seeking to leverage in situ decommissioning concepts, approaches and facilities to conduct research, design end states, and assist in regulatory interactions in broad national and international government and private industry decommissioning applications. SRS offers critical services based upon the SRS experience in decommissioning and reactor entombment technology (e.g., grout formulations for varying conditions, structural and material sciences). The SRS ISD approach follows a systems engineering framework to achieve a regulatory acceptable end state based on established protocols, attains the final end state with minimal long stewardship requirements, protects industrial workers, and protects groundwater and the environment. The ISD systems engineering framework addresses key areas of the remedial process planning, technology development and deployment, and assessment to attain the ultimate goal of natural resource stewardship and protecting the public. The development and deployment of the SRS ISD approach has established a path for ISD of other large nuclear facilities in the United States and around the globe as an acceptable remedial alternative for decommissioning nuclear facilities. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2019

Hanford Surface Barrier Design Guidance

This status report presents results of progress made during fiscal year 2019 towards developing a software tool for designing surface barriers in the Central Plateau. This tool is intended to be used to support feasibility studies and remedy applications. This status report summarizes the methodology followed to develop preliminary vadose zone reduced order models (VZ-ROMs) for use in such a tool. The ROM development process required generation of a training and testing dataset representing an example waste site in the Central Plateau. This training data was prepared via eSTOMP simulations that simulated variable drainage through hypothetical surface barriers into waste sites within the Central Plateau. Prior to regression analysis, these numerical results were analyzed to understand the behavior of contaminant solutes under different drainage conditions in the vadose zone. Results from eSTOMP simulations provided an understanding of the effectiveness of hypothetical surface barriers in isolating the subsurface system and mitigating contaminant transport. The primary objective of the work was to establish an appropriate ROM methodology. Further development is required to adapt the ROMs presented here to appropriately couple surface barrier construction design. Future iterations will be used to predict the performance of different surface barrier engineering designs. Future development will follow a similar process to the one demonstrated in this document.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

An empirical investigation of organic software product lines

Abstract Software product line engineering is a best practice for managing reuse in families of software systems that is increasingly being applied to novel and emerging domains. In this work we investigate the use of software product line engineering in one of these new domains, synthetic biology. In synthetic biology living organisms are programmed to perform new functions or improve existing functions. These programs are designed and constructed using small building blocks made out of DNA. We conjecture that there are families of products that consist of common and variable DNA parts, and we can leverage product line engineering to help synthetic biologists build, evolve, and reuse DNA parts. In this paper we perform an investigation of domain engineering that leverages an open-source repository of more than 45,000 reusable DNA parts. We show the feasibility of these new types of product line models by identifying features and related artifacts in up to 93.5% of products, and that there is indeed both commonality and variability. We then construct feature models for four commonly engineered functions leading to product lines ranging from 10 to 7.5 × 10 20 products. In a case study we demonstrate how we can use the feature models to help guide new experimentation in aspects of application engineering. Finally, in an empirical study we demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of automated reverse engineering on both complete and incomplete sets of products. In the process of these studies, we highlight key challenges and uncovered limitations of existing SPL techniques and tools which provide a roadmap for making SPL engineering applicable to new and emerging domains.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Achieving high strength and ductility in traditionally brittle soft magnetic intermetallics via additive manufacturing

Intermetallic alloys possess exceptional soft magnetic properties, including high permeability, low coercivity, and high saturation induction, but exhibit poor mechanical properties that make them impractical to bulk process and use at ideal compositions. We used laser-based Additive Manufacturing to process traditionally brittle Fe–Co and Fe–Si alloys in bulk form without macroscopic defects and at near-ideal compositions for electromagnetic applications. The binary Fe–50Co, as a model material, demonstrated simultaneous high strength (600–700 MPa) and high ductility (35%) in tension, corresponding to a ~300% increase in strength and an order-of-magnitude improvement in ductility relative to conventionally processed material. Atomic-scale toughening and strengthening mechanisms, based on engineered multiscale microstructures, are proposed to explain the unusual combination of mechanical properties. Here, this work presents an instance in which metal Additive Manufacturing processes are enabling, rather than limiting, the development of higher-performance alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Engineering-scale Modeling of High-Temperature Creep and Creep Crack Growth in Alloy 316H

This document demonstrates completion of the goals described in the technical narrative of the Department of Energy’s Industry Funding Opportunity Announcement (iFOA) project entitled “Modeling and Simulation Development Pathways to Accelerating KP-FHR Licensing,” which relates to the development and demonstration of capabilities for conducting engineering-scale simulations of Alloy 316H components under high-temperature conditions. This work encompassed two major aspects: integrating and testing constitutive models for the creep response of 316H at high temperatures, and developing tools for modeling creep crack growth (CCG) in 316H. Two classes of constitutive models were used in this effort: phenomenological models based on behavior observed at the engineering scale, and reduced-order models (ROMs) that represent the nonlinear response of mesoscale models that capture the sensitivity to material microstructure and processing. Likewise, the approaches employed for CCG modeling considered both simplified engineering approaches and detailed simulations of creep and damage ahead of the crack tip. These developments, which were performed by utilizing the Grizzly code as well as the open-source libraries it depends on, strengthen Grizzly’s ability to support licensing and safety analyses of high-temperature reactor components.

316H↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fundamental insights on ignition and combustion of natural gas in an active fueled pre-chamber spark-ignition system

Pre-chamber spark-ignition (PCSI), either fueled or non-fueled, is a leading concept with the potential to enable diesel-like efficiency in medium-duty (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) natural gas (NG) engines. However, the inadequate scientific base and simulation tools to describe/predict the underlying processes governing PCSI systems is one of the key barriers to market penetration of PCSI for MD/HD NG engines. To this end, experiments were performed in a heavy-duty, optical, single-cylinder engine fitted with an active fueled PCSI module. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal progress of ignition and subsequent combustion of lean-burn natural gas using PCSI system were studied using optical diagnostic imaging and heat release analysis based on main-chamber and pre-chamber pressure measurements.

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DOE OSTI2021

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement among National Energy Technology Laboratory, The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia by and on behalf of Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Texas at El Paso [Abstract]

Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT), University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will collaborate and develop cyber-physical systems for advanced power systems. GIT will test virtual models on hybrid power system hardware and cyber physical components. UTEP will test novel actuators on hybrid power system hardware. NETL will access GIT’s expertise in the engineering and real time simulation of power system processes for cyber-physical systems and simulations to control hardware. NETL will establish a relationship to promote UTEP’s capabilities in additive manufacturing and high-temperature piezo-electric devices with the potential for controlling high-temperature flows with a light and inexpensive device at high response rates. This project is the result of an EERE Advanced Manufacturing Office open Multi-Topic awarded proposal led by GIT titled, “Robust Combined Heat and Hybrid Power (CHHP) for High Electrical Efficiency Cogeneration”.

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