Engineering topics

Williams, Ammon N.

Publications and source records attributed to Williams, Ammon N..

3 records

DOE OSTI2024

Mass measurement systems and related methods for measuring mass of solids within a liquid

A measurement system includes a vessel for containing a fluid and at least one solid material and a probe assembly for disposing partially into the fluid within the vessel. The probe assembly includes a hollow tube having an open lower longitudinal end and at least one pressure sensor within the hollow tube, the at least one pressure sensor configured to measure pressures of the fluid within the hollow tube at at least two different elevations. A method of measuring a mass of suspended solids within a fluid, the method includes receiving pressure measurements representing two different elevations of the fluid within a hollow tube and substantially free of the suspended solids and based at least partially on the received pressure measurements, determining a mass of the suspended solids.

Galbreth, Gregory G.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Triple bubbler system, fast-bubbling approach, and related methods

A triple bubbler system includes a first fluid probe, a second fluid probe, a third fluid probe, a gas source operably coupled to the first fluid probe, the second fluid probe, and the third fluid probe and configured to meter gas through the first fluid probe, the second fluid probe, and the third fluid probe to form bubbles at tips of each of the first fluid probe, the second fluid probe, and the third fluid probe, and a cover member disposed over the tips of the first, second, and third fluid probes and configured to at least partially prevent bubbles formed and escaping the tips of the first, second, and third fluid probes from interfering with other bubbles formed at each other tips. The bubbler system includes a thermocouple having a plurality of junctions disposed along an axis parallel to longitudinal axes of the first, second, and third fluid probes.

Galbreth, Gregory G.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Voltammetry measurements in lithium chloride-lithium oxide (LiCl–Li 2 O) salt: An evaluation of working electrode materials

Instrumentation to provide process monitoring (PM) and safeguards for the oxide reduction (OR) step in the electrochemical processing of used oxide nuclear fuel is necessary to ensure equipment is operated as declared. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) has been proposed for real-time monitoring of the operation of an OR process for safeguards purposes. In this study, different materials including 316 stainless steel (SS), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), platinum (Pt), and iridium (Ir) were evaluated as potential working electrode (WE) materials based on their chemical inertness, corrosion resistance, and sensitivity in detecting Li 2 O and other chloride salts in the OR electrolyte. Of the electrodes evaluated, 316 SS, Ir, and Pt all performed reasonably well in the LiCl-Li 2 O electrolyte. Here, stainless steel was operated in the cathodic potential and had reasonable corrosion resistance and is relatively inexpensive. Iridium could be operated in both the cathodic and anodic potentials and was the most corrosion resistant of those evaluated. Platinum is limited to the anodic potential range, had reasonable corrosion resistance, and was the most sensitive to Li 2 O concentrations in the salt. In the development of a stand-alone safeguards instrumentation, our recommendation is a CV sensor fitted with both Ir and Pt WEs. The results in this study may also be helpful for anode material selection in other electrometallurgy industries, such as molten salt electrolysis.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗