Upgrading ATR’s Diesel Generator Control Panels
This poster examines different upgrades made to ATR's diesel generator and how they can help improve reliability, performance, and safety.
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “CONTROL PANEL”
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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Primary Pump Motor Area - Transfer Fan Replacement PLC Design
My poster is about a project that I have worked on in my time at ATR as an intern. The Heating and Ventilation Control Panel (HVB-1) controls thirty-five heating and ventilation fans within the Advanced Test Reactor. This control panel needs replacement, as many of the components inside the existing panel are becoming old and degrading. In preparation for this replacement effort, concepts and component identification for the new control panel needed to be developed. Instead of replacing the new panel with replacement mechanical components, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is proposed as a solution. Although multiple fans are associated with this panel, my poster focuses on the replacement design for the Primary Pump Motor Area Transfer Fan. This will provide an example of how the entire cabinet may be upgraded.
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
Optical Engine Lockout System Design and Operation
Engine run days in the Diesel Combustion and Fuel Effects Lab are hectic. The long mental lists that must be kept by engine operators, paired with the tight time constraints between experiments, can cause operational issues that may be dangerous to personnel and/or cause damage to test equipment. Until now, a paper sign has been used to warn operators not to motor the engine when a foreign object has been placed inside of it. Unfortunately, this simple administrative control has failed in the past, motivating this effort to develop an improved system. The lockout system described in this document introduces an engineering control that, when activated, actually prevents the engine from being motored. The new system consists of a primary and a secondary control panel. Prior to an operator placing a foreign object into the cylinder, they press a button on the secondary control panel near the engine. This breaks the interlock circuit for the engine dynamometer and activates LEDs on both control panels to notify operators that a foreign object is present within the engine cylinder. Once the work is done and all foreign objects have been removed from the combustion chamber, two operators must be present to disable the system by simultaneously pressing the buttons on the primary and secondary control panels. Requiring a second operator to disable the system increases accountability and reduces the likelihood of potentially costly mistakes.
42 ENGINEERING↗
Dynamic Human-in-the-Loop Simulated Nuclear Power Plant Thermal Dispatch System Demonstration and Evaluation Study
An Idaho National Laboratory research team performed a human-in-the-loop study with two formerly licensed retired operators to evaluate thermal power dispatch operations supported by the modified GSE Systems GPWR plant simulator. Virtual representations of the analog control panels were presented on touch-screen bays configured to mimic the control room layout in the newly renovated Human Systems Simulation Laboratory. The operators performed 15 scenarios covering normal evolutions to transition the plant from full turbine operation to joint turbine and thermal power dispatch operations in addition to transient response scenarios induced with simulated faults to evaluate the impact of thermal power dispatch system on operator and plant responses. A prototype human-system interface (HSI) was developed and displayed in tandem with the virtual analog panels to support the operators executing the procedurally drive evolutions and transient responses. An interdisciplinary team of operations experts, nuclear engineers, and human factors experts observed the operators performing the scenarios to evaluate the operations. Only a preliminary analysis of the results has been performed. The full analysis will be shared in a milestone report scheduled for release at the end of September; however, some high-level conclusions were readily available. Two high level findings for the system design were captured in the study. The manual control supported by the HSI to transition from standard operations to thermal power dispatch operation imposed a considerable amount of workload on the operators due to tedious manual valve manipulations and system monitoring required to verify their intended effect. An additional operator would be required in the control room to support the daily evolution. Automatic control for the transition was deemed a requirement for plant adoption without imposing additional staffing costs. The second finding was the necessity for an automatic thermal power dispatch system trip isolation function linked to a turbine and reactor trip signal. The operators completed scenarios with automatic isolation functionality and manually required actuation of the thermal power dispatch system. The operator response was sufficiently slower in the manual trip condition, such that operators were unable to manually actuate key post trip safety functions an indicate a degraded control capability that should be avoided. With an automatic trip signal little to no impact of the thermal power dispatch system was identified on the primary plant response and therefore the system could be readily and safely adopted. Together these two findings represent the need to support the adoption of thermal power dispatch capability into existing operations by leveraging automation to augment any additional operator tasking required to control and monitor an additional system beyond existing operations.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
A low-cost and realistic noisy light system for studying photosynthesis
Unlike the light conditions commonly used to grow photosynthetic organisms in the research laboratory, the light intensity in real environments is dynamic. A simple and low-cost system is described in which a commercial dimmable LED panel is controlled to simulate a sinusoidal function representing daylight hours and overlaid with stochastic shading events. The output closely resembles light intensity measurements on Earth’s surface on partly cloudy days or in lower levels of plant canopies. Here, this tool may be useful to researchers studying photosynthetic acclimation responses.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Dynamic Modeling, Trajectory Optimization, and Linear Control of Cable-Driven Parallel Robots for Automated Panelized Building Retrofits
The construction industry faces a growing need for automation to reduce costs, improve accuracy and productivity, and address labor shortages. One area that stands to benefit significantly from automation is panelized prefabricated building envelope retrofits, which can improve a building’s energy efficiency in heating and cooling interior spaces. In this paper, we propose using cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs), which can effectively lift and handle large objects, to install these panels. However, implementing CDPRs presents significant challenges because of their nonlinear dynamics, complex trajectory planning, and precise control requirements. To tackle these challenges, this work focuses on a new application of established control and trajectory optimization theories in a CDPR simulation of a building envelope retrofit under real-world conditions. We first model the dynamics of CDPRs, highlighting the critical role of damping in system behavior. Building on this dynamic model, we formulate a trajectory optimization problem to generate feasible and efficient motion plans for the robot under operational and environmental constraints. Given the high precision required in the construction industry, accurately tracking the optimized trajectory is essential. However, challenges such as partial observability and external vibrations complicate this task. To address these issues, a Linear Quadratic Gaussian control framework is applied, enabling the robot to track the optimized trajectories with precision. Simulation results show that the proposed controller enables precise end effector positioning with errors under 4 mm, even in the presence of external wind disturbances. Through comprehensive simulations, our approach allows for an in-depth exploration of the system’s nonlinear dynamics, trajectory optimization, and control strategies under controlled yet highly realistic conditions. The results demonstrate the feasibility of CDPRs for automating panel installation and provide insights into their practical deployment.
CDPR↗
Smart dim fuse: electrical load flexibility controller using sub-circuit voltage modulation and load sensing
Improved control of electrical power consumption is provided with “Smart Dim Fuses” (SDF) which can alter their output voltage as provided to the load circuits they are connected to. SDF units can replace conventional circuit breakers in electrical panels. The voltage control capability provided by SDF units can lead to improved control of electrical power consumption, since many loads can smoothly operate at lower power consumption when the voltage they are driven with decreases. SDF units can comply with relevant safety requirements, such as uninterrupted neutral connections between electrical mains and load circuits. SDF units can also provide a current limiting function that can substitute for the protective action of conventional circuit breakers.
Goldin, Aaron↗
Infrared thermography NDT for in-situ defect detection in sandwich composite panel manufacturing
Composite manufacturing presents numerous challenges, as defects can arise from various sources throughout the process. In sandwich composite structures, the integration of a foam core introduces additional complexity and increases the likelihood of defect formation like delamination. To mitigate these issues and reduce the risk of future structural failures, in-situ monitoring during manufacturing is essential. This study investigates infrared (IR) thermography as a non-destructive technique for detecting manufacturing defects in foam-core sandwich composite panels under thermally excited conditions representative of in-situ processing. A stationary FLIR A8590 IR camera (640 × 512 pixels, 30Hz, 17mm lens, 9 ft stand-off distance) was used to monitor prefabricated panels subjected to controlled external heating simulating compression molding and resin cure exotherm. Interlaminar delamination defects with characteristic sizes ranging from 0.25 × 0.25in² to 5 × 5in² produced measurable surface temperature depressions of approximately 4–10°C during transient cooling, exceeding the effective noise floor of the camera by more than two standard deviations. Thicker laminates exhibited prolonged defect detectability windows due to increased thermal diffusion time. In contrast, embedded Teflon inclusions generated weak thermal contrasts of ≤ 3°C, approaching the measurement noise floor, due to limited thermal property contrast with the surrounding glass fiber composite. These results establish quantitative detectability limits for stationary thermographic inspection of sandwich composite panels under manufacturing-representative thermal cycles.
Barakat, Abdallah [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000296141398)↗
WholeTraveler Anonymized Data Phase 1
Phase 1 of the WholeTraveler Study data collection consisted of an online-only survey. This survey captured data on three categories of observable variation in the population relevant to transportation decisions. First, the survey collected traditional demographic data such as age, gender, income, and education level. Second, it collected data across personality, psychological, and preference categories. This included: 1. The "Big Five" inventory personality traits: openness to new experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism; 2. Risk and time preferences; and 3. Environmental preferences. Third, the survey collected data on historical behavior patterns including: 1. Adoption of (as well as interest in) new technologies or innovations (e.g., smartphones, PEVs, solar panels, adaptive cruise control [ACC]); 2. Car ownership history and current car ownership status; 3. Recent mode use across different time scales (e.g., previous week, previous month, previous year); and 4. Timing of major life events such as starting a family as well as overall lifecycle trajectory patterns. Data from Phase 1 and Phase 2 are linked by a unique respondent identifier. Anonymized versions of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 data are both available on Livewire.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Report for 2.2.1 Task 5: Develop and Document a State-Based Alarm System for a Nuclear Power Plant Control Room Using Machine Learning
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has contracted IFE to support human factors research and the development of leading-edge technology to support control room operators as the U.S. fleet undergoes modernization and digitalization in legacy plants and control rooms. As the nuclear industry starts to shift to more digital controls and systems, these upgrades provide more information to the main control room in the form of digital signals and values. Also, an increase in the number of alarms points is provided by the vendors. New digital control rooms shift from main control boards to soft controls, and alarm panels to a single display. This change to a single display has created a problem of alarm waterfall, a situation in which the addition of new alarm points causes an overload of information to the operator during either a plant disturbance or other than normal full power operations. IFE’s goal is to find a workable solution to assist operators in both handling and understanding incoming alarms during emergency situations under these waterfall conditions.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
Phase Control of Nanocrystalline Inclusions in Bioprecipitated Titania with a Panel of Mutant Silica-Binding Proteins
The biomimetic route to inorganic synthesis presents an opportunity to produce complex materials with superior properties under ambient conditions and from nontoxic precursors. While there has been significant progress in using solid-binding peptides (SBPs), proteins, and organisms to produce a variety of inorganic and hybrid structures, it has been more challenging to understand the interplay of solution conditions and solid-binding peptide (SBP) sequence, structure, and self-association on synthetic outcomes. Here, we show that fusing the Car9 silica-binding peptide—but not the silaffin-derived R5 peptide—to superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) enhances the ability of micromolar concentrations of protein to induce rapid titania (TiO 2 ) precipitation from acidified solutions of tetrakis(di-lactato)-oxo-titanate (TiBALDH). TiO 2 is produced stoichiometrically and although predominantly amorphous, contains nanosized anatase and monoclinic TiO 2 (B) inclusions. Remarkably, the phase of these nanocrystallites can be tuned from about 80% TiO 2 (B) to about 65% anatase by using Car9 mutants impaired in their ability to drive the formation of higher-order sfGFP-Car9 oligomers. Our results suggest that the presentation of multiple basic side chains in an extended plane formed by SBP self-association is critical to template the formation of monoclinic crystallites and underscore the subtle influence that single or dual substitutions in dodecameric SBPs can exert on the yield and crystallinity of biomineralized inorganics.
mutagenesis↗
High aspect ratio organic light-emitting diodes
Reliability is particularly challenging for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) used in solid-state lighting applications, because OLED lifetime is inversely proportional to luminance, and most lighting applications demand high luminance. Here we introduce a strategy to overcome this tradeoff by constructing OLEDs on a substrate with sub-mm, high aspect ratio surface texture. By creating more active OLED area per unit lighting panel area, the device current density required to generate a given panel luminance decreases. We validate this approach for fluorescent and phosphorescent OLEDs, demonstrating good thickness uniformity on corrugated substrates with area enhancement factors up to 1.4x using a standard thermal evaporator. Relative to planar controls at the same panel current density, the high aspect ratio devices achieve a 2.7-fold increase in operating lifetime and up to a 40% increase in external light extraction efficiency, indicating that this approach offers a powerful pathway to improve the efficiency and lifetime of OLED lighting.
OLED↗
High Aspect Ratio OLEDs
Long-term reliability is especially challenging for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) used in solid-state lighting applications because OLED lifetime is inversely proportional to luminance, and most lighting applications demand high luminance. This project explored a new strategy to overcome this tradeoff by constructing OLEDs on a substrate with sub-mm, high aspect ratio surface texture. By creating more active OLED area per unit lighting panel area, the device current density required to generate a given panel luminance decreases. We validated this approach for both fluorescent and phosphorescent OLEDs, demonstrating good thickness uniformity on corrugated substrates with area enhancement factors up to 1.4x using a standard thermal evaporator. Relative to planar controls at the same panel current density, the high aspect ratio devices achieve a 2.7-fold increase in operating lifetime and up to a 40% increase in external light extraction efficiency. Experiments carried out on a pilot-line OLED manufacturing system demonstrated good coating uniformity, indicating that this approach has the potential to be implemented at scale and therefore offers a powerful pathway to improve the efficiency and lifetime of OLED lighting.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Mapping of flumioxazin tolerance in a snap bean diversity panel leads to the discovery of a master genomic region controlling multiple stress resistance genes
Effective weed management tools are crucial for maintaining the profitable production of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Preemergence herbicides help the crop to gain a size advantage over the weeds, but the few preemergence herbicides registered in snap bean have poor waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) control, a major pest in snap bean production. Waterhemp and other difficult-to-control weeds can be managed by flumioxazin, an herbicide that inhibits protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). However, there is limited knowledge about crop tolerance to this herbicide. We aimed to quantify the degree of snap bean tolerance to flumioxazin and explore the underlying mechanisms. We investigated the genetic basis of herbicide tolerance using genome-wide association mapping approach utilizing field-collected data from a snap bean diversity panel, combined with gene expression data of cultivars with contrasting response. The response to a preemergence application of flumioxazin was measured by assessing plant population density and shoot biomass variables. Snap bean tolerance to flumioxazin is associated with a single genomic location in chromosome 02. Tolerance is influenced by several factors, including those that are indirectly affected by seed size/weight and those that directly impact the herbicide's metabolism and protect the cell from reactive oxygen species-induced damage. Transcriptional profiling and co-expression network analysis identified biological pathways likely involved in flumioxazin tolerance, including oxidoreductase processes and programmed cell death. Transcriptional regulation of genes involved in those processes is possibly orchestrated by a transcription factor located in the region identified in the GWAS analysis. Several entries belonging to the Romano class, including Bush Romano 350, Roma II, and Romano Purpiat presented high levels of tolerance in this study. The alleles identified in the diversity panel that condition snap bean tolerance to flumioxazin shed light on a novel mechanism of herbicide tolerance and can be used in crop improvement.
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
Smart Energy Storage Integration and Management Platform for Buildings (SESIMP-B)
This project involved the design, development, and testing of a commercial smart service panel. It includes an innovative AI-driven control method to manage smart functions of the panel and a technical-economic feasibility assessment for enhancing building energy resilience and grid-edge technology integration.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Longitudinal genome-wide association study reveals early QTL that predict biomass accumulation under cold stress in sorghum
Sorghum bicolor is a promising cellulosic feedstock crop for bioenergy due to its high biomass yields. However, early growth phases of sorghum are sensitive to cold stress, limiting its planting in temperate environments. Cold adaptability is crucial for cultivating bioenergy and grain sorghum at higher latitudes and elevations, or for extending the growing season. Identifying genes and alleles that enhance biomass accumulation under early cold stress can lead to improved sorghum varieties through breeding or genetic engineering. We conducted image-based phenotyping on 369 accessions from the sorghum Bioenergy Association Panel (BAP) in a controlled environment with early cold treatment. The BAP includes diverse accessions with dense genotyping and varied racial, geographical, and phenotypic backgrounds. Daily, non-destructive imaging allowed temporal analysis of growth-related traits and water use efficiency (WUE). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify genomic intervals and genes associated with cold stress response. The GWAS identified transient quantitative trait loci (QTL) strongly associated with growth-related traits, enabling an exploration of the genetic basis of cold stress response at different developmental stages. This analysis of daily growth traits, rather than endpoint traits, revealed early transient QTL predictive of final phenotypes. The study identified both known and novel candidate genes associated with growth-related traits and temporal responses to cold stress. The identified QTL and candidate genes contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying sorghum's response to cold stress. These findings can inform breeding and genetic engineering strategies to develop sorghum varieties with improved biomass yields and resilience to cold, facilitating earlier planting, extended growing seasons, and cultivation at higher latitudes and elevations.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Corrosion Control in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) Composite-Aluminum Closure Panel Hem Joints
This project targeted the implementation of CFRP/Al closure panels as a drop-in replacement for all-aluminum closures used in automobile production today. The project focused on the development of corrosion fundamentals involving CFRP materials and the use of those materials in mixed-material joints. Numerous studies were completed to benchmark current materials and test mixed metal joints. Good correlation was found between outdoor exposures and laboratory cyclic corrosion testing. The insights from the corrosion testing fundamentals and benchmarking phases informed the development of low-cure adhesive and electrocoats and conductive primers for the CFRP. Adhesive and electrocoat materials were successfully developed meeting low-cure targets for bake (150C/10min). These materials were scaled-up and used to produce 5 prototype liftgates to further evaluate CFRP/Al joints in a full-scale part. The lower cure materials enabled mitigation of CTE mismatch and reduced the required bake temperature, resulting in reduced part distortion. Corrosion testing of the liftgates revealed unexpected increases in corrosion relative to the standard bake materials. While rigorous evaluation of the parts was not possible due to numerous complexities associated with prototype testing, the results provided significant insights into the material behavior of CFRP/Al joints. Key learnings from the project included a better understanding of the system complexity (interplay of substrate/primer conductivity, production of full-scale prototypes), advances in coating/adhesive design for low-cure applications involving CFRP, and advancement of corrosion test protocols for CFRP.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Systems-Theoretic Hazard Analysis of Digital Human-System Interface Relevant to Reactor Trip
Slides for 2021 ANS-NPIC-HMIT conference
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗