Search NASA⌕ Search
Home/Archive/DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI · 3027723

Microreactor Program Technology Maturation MACS system reports

Crawford, Anthony L. [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)] (ORCID:0000000283378636)·Jackson, John [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)] (ORCID:0000000302258825)·Heim, Andrew Joseph [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)]·Daw, Joshua E. [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)] (ORCID:0000000343776231)
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

This submission contains several reports associated with the DOE Microreactor Program Technology Maturation MACS system. These include milestone reports: M3AT-24IN0804031-Optimized MACS architecture M3AT-24IN0804033-Light and temp sensor integration M4AT-23IN0804055-Update Microreactor Automated Control System (MACS) hardware based on input from demonstration M2AT-23IN0804054-Demonstrate actuation of control system using Microreactor Automated Control System (MACS)

Explore related subjects

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY73 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTINGControlsDigital TwinMicroreactorSimulationSurrogate

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Crawford, Anthony L. [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)] (ORCID:0000000283378636), Jackson, John [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)] (ORCID:0000000302258825), Heim, Andrew Joseph [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)], Daw, Joshua E. [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)] (ORCID:0000000343776231). 2025-03-14. Microreactor Program Technology Maturation MACS system reports. https://doi.org/10.2172/3027723

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related reports

DOE OSTI2026

FPMS_XPeRT_INL_Poster

As nuclear energy expands and experimental programs increasingly rely on the facilities at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for reactor and fuel testing, research capabilities must also expand to meet these demands. A new Fission Product Monitoring System (FPMS) has been deployed at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Auxiliary Lead-out Experiment (ALE) House to support this expanding fuel testing mission. By tracking gaseous fission products releases from test fuel in near real-time, release rates, calculated from FPMS data, can be used to characterize the effectiveness of fuel cladding, especially for Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel concepts. The new iteration of the FPMS supports up to 14 fission product monitors for online fission-product tracking via gamma-ray spectroscopy of the experiment’s effluent gas. Each monitor consists of a nominally 10% HPGe detector housed in a copper-lined lead shield with a warm gas trap. The new system features gamma-ray count rate information with a five-second temporal resolution and provides isotopic activity every five minutes, capable of resolving multiple overlapping fission product releases over a broad range of activities in near real-time. This work includes data from ATR cycle 175D data to demonstrate these capabilities. The hourly resolution data shows general trends and significant releases over the cycle, while the 5-minute resolution data allows for a more detailed examination of events due to unexpected particle releases.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗
DOE OSTI2026

Overview of IMPACT Data Acquisition System and Data Reduction Process

This report documents the development of the data acquisition system (DAS) and data reduction methodologies for the Irradiated Material Property Accelerated Characterization Test (IMPACT) experiment at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). The IMPACT experiment is designed to enable in-pile measurement of thermal conductivity in metallic nuclear fuels, specifically U-10Zr, using an instrumented thermal conductivity probe. The DAS supports both passive temperature monitoring and active thermal interrogation of the probe through controlled AC and DC excitation. Significant modifications to laboratory-scale systems were required to accommodate the higher resistance paths associated with the in-pile application. Custom electronics and relay-controlled measurement sequencing were developed to enable the measurement and sufficient power delivery to the sensing region. A reduced-order, axisymmetric thermal model based on the thermal quadrupoles method is presented to support data interpretation. This model enables efficient evaluation of transient heat transfer behavior and facilitates solution of the inverse problem required to extract thermal properties from measured signals. Multiple boundary condition formulations are discussed to address varying experimental time scales and geometries. Additionally, machine learning techniques are introduced to support data reduction and improve confidence in inverse solutions. Convolutional neural networks are applied to identify the presence of gas gaps and other evolving geometric features that significantly impact thermal response during irradiation. These efforts contribute to the broader integration of digital twin frameworks and real-time modeling capabilities within the Advanced Fuels Campaign.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗
DOE OSTI2026

Thermal Performance of Neutron Sensor Qualification Device

The neutron sensor qualification device was developed to provide a temperature-controlled environment for neutron sensors and dosimetry, enabling irradiation in a neutron field at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) TRIGA reactor facility. The device, constructed from low-activation and low neutron cross-section materials, features a modular tube furnace design with three independently controlled heating zones for controlling axial temperature distribution. Laboratory testing validated the device's thermal performance, including uniform temperature distribution with less than 6°C variation across the central region, a steady-state operational temperature of 350°C achieved in approximately 3 hours, and a cooling time constant of 3.5 hours. External surface temperatures remained safe for handling, with the surrounding aluminum structure remaining at ambient conditions. The results confirm the device’s suitability for neutron sensor qualification experiments, with potential for future operation at higher temperatures and further optimization of performance.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗