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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 253 records · Page 14

Open-Source Framework for Data Storage and Visualization of Real-Time Experiments

Digital real time simulators (DRTS) are increasingly being used for the evaluation of power hardware and controller hardware in the laboratory prior to field deployment. Although DRTS are capable of simulating large models in real-time, it is challenging to visualize the results of large models without overdrawing or confounding the viewer. This paper provides an open-source framework for users to visualize their DRTS-based hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental results in real-time. This proposed framework can be used by experimental test beds that can push data through an internet protocol based network. The proposed framework includes three main components. First, it includes the DRTS that generates and pushes the data to a relay. Second, it includes an application that serves multiple purposes, from data storage, testing, and translation of the data to a publisher/subscriber protocol. Finally, it includes libraries and applications that can be used to visualize the data by subscribing to the relay. This framework is available in open source, and it is tested using the HIL platform developed for testing advanced distribution management systems.

advanced distribution management systems↗

Predicting the potential for mineral scale precipitation in unconventional reservoirs due to fluid-rock and fluid mixing geochemical reactions

Mineral precipitation within hydraulically fractured shale may affect fluid flow pathways and impact longterm hydrocarbon production. The ability to predict geochemical reactions that lead to problematic mineral precipitation will lead to active reservoir management strategies to improve overall production. Using the Marcellus Shale as a case study, a combination of laboratory experiments and reaction path modeling was applied to determine which reactions are likely to occur upon introduction of hydraulic fracturing fluid into the shale reservoir. Experimental results indicate that contact between fracturing fluid and shale will result in dissolution of primary minerals (quartz, feldspars, kaolinite, chlorite, pyrite) and secondary mineral precipitation over time periods of less than one week. Precipitation of barite, Fe-oxides, feldspars, amorphous silica and clay is likely to occur within the reservoir during shut in and early flowback due to mixing between fracturing fluid and reservoir brine as based on modeling saturation indices using experimental fluid data. Reaction path modeling of the experimental scenarios corroborates the specific dissolution and precipitation reactions observed experimentally. Comparison of the results to injected and produced waters from a Marcellus Shale well pad in Greene County, PA, USA, shows that the mineral reactions occur during the hydraulic fracturing, shut in, and early flowback periods. The results presented in this paper demonstrate the value in applying experimental approaches to identify mineral precipitation/dissolution reactions that may significantly impact reservoir performance. The good agreement between geochemical models and experimental results provides confidence that numerical models can be applied to screen the potential fluid-mineral and fluid-mixing reactions in unconventional reservoirs that result in undesired mineral scale precipitation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Correlations between azimuthal anisotropy Fourier harmonics in PbPb collisions at sNN =2.76 TeV in the HYDJET++ model and in the multiphase transport model

Correlations between azimuthal anisotropy Fourier harmonics vn (n=2,3,4) are studied using the events from PbPb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV generated by the HYDJET++ and multiphase transport (AMPT) models, and compared to the corresponding experimental results obtained by the ATLAS Collaboration. The Fourier harmonics vn are measured over a wide centrality range using the two-particle azimuthal correlation method. The slopes of the v2-v3 correlation from both models are in a good agreement with the ATLAS data. The HYDJET++ model predicts a stronger slope for the v2-v4 and v3-v4 correlations than the ones experimentally measured, while the results from the AMPT model are in a rather good agreement with the experimental results. In contrast to the HYDJET++ predictions, the AMPT model predicts a boomeranglike shape in the structure of the correlations as found in the experimental data. © 2020 American Physical Society.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Rate constants and third-body collision efficiencies for recombination of Na with OH and O2: Implications for flame inhibition by alkali salts

Flame inhibition by alkali metals has implications for solid fuel combustion, fire safety, and a number of industrial processes. While the mechanism of inhibition is fairly well understood, details related to thermodynamic properties and rate constants are still in question. In the present work, the recombination of Na with OH (R5) and O2 (R7), respectively, was characterized theoretically, and the implications for modeling laminar premixed hydrogen flames doped with sodium species were examined. Third-body collision efficiencies and low-pressure-limit rate constants were obtained using newly fitted ab initio-based potential energy surfaces, classical trajectories, and one-dimensional master equation calculations. The results are consistent with available experimental results and aid in the present modeling study by providing rate information for bath gases and conditions that remain unexplored experimentally. Chemical kinetic modeling of relative Na and absolute H and OH profiles in H2-fueled laminar, premixed flames doped with a sodium salt shows that the most important radical removal cycle is the sequence Na + OH (+M) → NaOH (+M) (R5), NaOH + H → Na + H2O (R12), even under oxidizing conditions. A secondary cycle, Na + O2 (+M) ⇄ NaO2 (+M) (R7), NaO2 + OH → NaOH + O2 (R14), is less important due to the low thermal stability of NaO2. In most flames, reaction R7 is partially equilibrated, and reaction R14 becomes rate-limiting for the second cycle. The flame analysis supports a lower value of k14 than indicated by recent work on KO2 + OH, but more work is required to confirm this.

Jasper, Ahren W.↗

Reactor scale simulations of ALD and ALE: Ideal and non-ideal self-limited processes in a cylindrical and a 300 mm wafer cross-flow reactor

Here, we have developed a simulation tool to model self-limited processes such as atomic layer deposition (ALD) and atomic layer etching inside reactors of arbitrary geometry as well the output of in situ quartz crystal microbalance and mass spectrometry. We have applied this model to two standard types of cross-flow reactors: a cylindrical tube reactor and a model 300 mm wafer reactor, and explored both ideal and nonideal self-limited kinetics. The model results are in agreement with experimental results and analytic expressions obtained using a simple plug-flow model for the cylindrical tube reactor. We also extended the simulations to consider two nonideal self-limited processes: soft-saturating processes characterized by a slow reaction pathway and processes where surface by-products can compete with the precursor for the same pool of adsorption sites. Our results show that it is possible to have a self-limited process with saturated yet inhomogeneous growth profiles due to the competition of reactor by-products. This is in agreement with experimental observations for titanium dioxide ALD from titanium tetraisopropoxide and titanium tetrachloride precursors.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Determination of single-crystal elastic moduli of Li RE F 4 ( RE =Y, Gd, and Tb) by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy

The tetragonal fluoro-scheelite Li RE F 4 compounds (RE = rare earth) have been shown to exhibit a variety of useful optical and magnetic properties. While LiYF 4 has been widely studied, many of the fundamental thermodynamic properties of other members of this family remain unknown. Here, we report the complete elastic tensors (C ij ) of single-crystalline LiYF 4 , LiTbF 4 , and LiGdF 4 using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). Here we compare the results for LiYF 4 with prior experimental results using time-of-flight ultrasound methods. This is the first report, however, of the experimental elastic tensors of LiTbF 4 and LiGdF 4 . The present results point to a softening of the elastic moduli of the Li RE F 4 system when Y is replaced by the larger ionic radius of Tb or Gd. Furthermore, we find that just 0.3% doping with Nd on the Y site also leads to a slight softening of the moduli. The variation of the elastic moduli as a function of temperature up to 216°C was also measured. A nearly linear softening of all seven independent elastic moduli was observed with increasing temperature. Phonon dispersions and phonon density of states obtained by DFT support the experimental finding of a significantly higher sound velocity due to lighter Y atoms in LiYF 4 , as compared to heavier LiTbF 4 and LiGdF 4 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Final Design of a New Pulsed-Neutron Die-Away Experimental Testbed for Thermal Scattering Law Benchmarks (PNDA) (IER-501 CED-2)

This report presents the final design (CED-2) of IER-501, a testbed for pulsed-neutron die-away (PNDA) experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The PNDA experiments will be high-quality benchmarks that serve to optimize and validate thermal neutron scattering laws (TSLs), which are high-priority nuclear data for the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP). This CED-2 was guided by experimental results gathered from a prototype experimental set-up rather than with detailed simulations as is typically done for criticality experiments. The report presents the PNDA design and its equipment, and it documents the methodology used to postprocess the measured data. It discusses how experimental configurations influenced the decay-constant eigenvalue, or the integral parameter, of the experiment. The studied variations included the distance from the target to the generator, the orientation of the generator relative to the box, the orientation of the target to the generator, the effect of HDPE lining in the shielding box, the settings of the generator, and finally the benefits of using a low-scatter facility. From these results, a final configuration for the target, detectors, shielding box, and neutron generator was chosen. Two factors particularly influenced the chosen configuration: the reproducibility of the experiment’s geometry for benchmark modeling, and the minimization of measured neutrons scattered off the shielding box.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Integrated Heat Exchanger-Phase Change Material Thermal Energy Storage System

The purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the thermal performance of an innovative thermal energy storage (TES) system that combines the advantages of the phase-change material (PCM)/graphite foam latent heat TES medium developed at Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) and the internally supported plate-fin (ISPE) cell architecture heat transfer fluid (HTF) flow channels developed at Brayton Energy (Brayton). Several essential tasks were accomplished: (1) Thermal property characterization. Thermal properties of the graphite foam were characterized, providing necessary data for experimental result analysis and numerical simulation. (2) Design and optimization of lab-scale test module. Based on Brayton’s full-scale heat exchanger (HX)-TES system, the experimental test module was designed, optimized, and fabricated. (3) Thermal performance testing and data analysis. Five cycle tests were successfully conducted—including one with approximately 3.5 psig of pressure applied to the diaphragms—to investigate the thermal performance of the experimental test module for charging and discharging. Temperature profiles were generated for each charging test and discharging test as a function of time. The temperature profiles clearly show three TES stages: sensible heat (temperature increase), latent heat (melting), and sensible heat (temperature increase) for the charging process. Similarly, the temperature profiles clearly show three thermal energy release stages: sensible heat (temperature decrease), latent heat (solidification), and sensible heat (temperature decrease). Melting and solidification of the PCM generally occurred in relatively narrow temperature ranges, indicated by the flattened temperature regions in the temperature profiles. These phase changes ranged approximately 3°C for melting and 3.5°C for solidification. The charging and discharging temperature profiles were similar for similar experimental parameter tests whether or not pressure was applied to the diaphragm to eliminate the gap between the HX surface and the TES subsystem. This indicates that the effect of a small gap between the HX surface and the TES subsystem is insignificant for charging and discharging. (4) Comparison of experimental data and simulation results. We compared the experimental data to the numerical simulation results. Numerical simulations were conducted by using the ANSYS FLUENT 2019 R3 commercial computational fluid dynamics software. The predicted phase-change times agreed reasonably well with those from the experimental data. In most cases, the estimated time differences between the relative phase changes were within 16%. The predicted start and end times for the charging process agreed well with those from the experimental data. However, the simulation results showed earlier start and end times than the experimental data for the discharging process. Overall, the experimental data and its comparison with the simulation predictions verified the technical viability of the integrated ISPF HX-PCM/graphite foam latent-heat TES system.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

The simulation of 3D hypervelocity spallation using a hydrocode PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM

n this work, a hydrocode PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM is presented and exercised to investigate the fracture in ductile material. The merit of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM to solve the advection problem is first illustrated by a solid piston periodically moving in a sealed tube with air. Furthermore, the ability of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM to capture the fracture in material is shown by a simple stretching fracture in ductile material. In both of two benchmark problems, the PAGOSA results and analytical solutions are also presented for comparison. Then PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM is used to model complex spall in ductile material, which is a challenging problem in engineering applications. The convergences of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM—based on both the mesh size and the marker density—are investigated by monitoring free surface velocity. To further show the ability of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM to predict fracture in ductile material, the numerical results are compared with the experimental results and other published numerical results. Moreover, the effect of the spall parameter in PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM on the numerical simulation is also analyzed by investigating the free surface velocity. Finally, the effects of the peak compressive stress, the tensile strain rate, and the loading rate on the spallation are further investigated. The numerical results show that PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM can improve PAGOSA's performance when applied to predicting fracture in ductile materials, and is robust enough to accurately predict spall fracture in ductile materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Linking constituent phase properties to ductility and edge stretchability of two DP 980 steels

Two DP 980 steels were characterized with multiple methods to determine its microstructure characteristics, tensile properties and edge stretchability. The first (DP980-B) is a commercial grade DP980 steel produced by AK Steel, while the second (DP980-T) is a modification of the first one by a tempering process. Both contain two individual phases: ferrite and martensite with body centered cubic (BCC) and tetragonal (BCT) crystal structure respectively. ASTM standard tensile tests were performed for both materials, revealing that DP980-B has higher work hardening and larger total elongation than DP980-T. Standard hole piercing and subsequent hole expansion and extrusion tests were also performed. The critical hole expansion ratio (HER) of hole pierced sheet at different nominal clearances, on the other hand, show an opposite trend: the HER of DP980-T almost doubles that of DP980-B. This indicates the tensile ductility and edge stretchability are determined by different mechanisms due to different deformation modes. The ductility of sheet metal during uniaxial tension is determined by deformation instability, i.e. necking, due to less constraint at the region of deformation and fracture will occur quickly after necking. The contribution of post-necking deformation to the total elongation is insignificant for the high strength grades such as DP980 steels. The ductility during hole-expansion, however, is mainly determined by material fracture behavior that is dependent on phase property disparity and material intrinsic fracture parameters. With the individual phase properties for both DP steels determined by in situ tensile tests under high energy X-ray diffraction, the results show that DP980-T steel has lower property disparities between the two phases than DP980-B steel, due to the tempering process. This explains why the DP980-T steel has higher HER than DP980-B steel: lower phase disparity will lead to less local deformation during loading. The higher work hardening rate for DP980-B steel contributes to its higher uniform elongation compared with DP980-T steel based on the maximum load condition of deformation instability. An integrated finite element simulation framework for studying hole expansion is also presented here, based on the calculated individual phase properties from the combined high energy x-ray diffraction (HEXRD) and elastic plastic self-consistent modeling. The simulation results correlate well with the experimental results on the HER difference between the two materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Disorder-induced heating as a mechanism for fast neutral gas heating in atmospheric pressure plasmas

Abstract Recent findings suggest that ions are strongly correlated in atmospheric pressure plasmas if the ionization fraction is sufficiently high ( ≳ 10 − 5 ). A consequence is that ionization causes disorder-induced heating (DIH), which triggers a significant rise in ion temperature on a picosecond timescale. This is followed by a rise in the neutral gas temperature on a longer timescale of up to nanoseconds due to ion–neutral temperature relaxation. The sequence of DIH and ion–neutral temperature relaxation suggests a new mechanism for ultrafast neutral gas heating. Previous work considered only the case of an instantaneous ionization pulse, whereas the ionization pulse extends over nanoseconds in many experiments. Here, molecular dynamics simulations are used to analyze the evolution of ion and neutral gas temperatures for a gradual ionization over several nanoseconds. The results are compared with published experimental results from a nanosecond pulsed discharge, showing good agreement with a measurement of fast neutral gas heating.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

New level scheme and lifetime measurement of the 13/2 + state in 209 Po

The level structure of 209 Po has been studied by in-beam 𝛾-ray spectroscopy with the 209 Bi ⁢( 6 Li ,𝛼⁢2⁢𝑛) 209 Po reaction at beam energies of 28, 30, 34 MeV. The level scheme of 209 Po is expanded by the 𝛾−𝛾 coincidence measurement, where 27 new transitions and 23 new levels are observed. The lifetimes of 13/2 − , 17/2 − , and 23/2 + states are obtained and are consistent with the previous work, while the one of the 13/2 + state is measured for the first time. A configuration-interaction-shell-model calculation is performed, and its results are compared with the experimental results for 209 Po , with an emphasis on the coupling between the single valence neutron hole and the even-even core of 210 Po . A systematic comparison of the 13/2 + state in N = 125 chain is also studied in the current work.

190 ≤ A ≤ 219↗

Malicious Cyber Activity Detection using Zigzag Persistence

In this study we synthesize zigzag persistence from topological data analysis with autoencoder-based approaches to detect malicious cyber activity, and derive analytic insights. Cybersecurity aims to safeguard computers, networks, and servers from various forms of malicious attacks, including network damage, data theft, and activity monitoring. We focus on the cybersecurity domain and investigate the detection of malicious activity using log data. We consider the dynamics of the log data and explore the changing topology of a hypergraph representation of this data to gain insights into the underlying activity. These hypergraphs capture complex interactions between processes, together with their temporal information. To study the changing topology we use zigzag persistence, which captures how topological features persist at multiple dimensions over time. We observe that this detects malicious activity in a cyber data set. To automate this detection we implement an autoencoder trained on a vectorization of the resulting zigzag persistence barcodes. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the autoencoder in detecting malicious activity. Overall, this study highlights the potential of zigzag persistence and its combination with temporal hypergraphs for analyzing cybersecurity log data and detecting malicious behavior.

hypergraphs, temporal hypergraph, topological data↗

Designing an Intrusion Proof Adjustable Speed Drive System Controlling a Critical Process

In this paper, an intrusion proof adjustable speed drive system controlling a critical process in an industrial control system is detailed. In such a system, should the motor speed sensor signal data be compromised and/or altered via a cyber-attack, the system can potentially be unregulated, over speed and/or malfunction thereby disrupting the critical process. The proposed active detection scheme detailed in this paper introduces a private (secret) random signal termed as "watermark" into the inverter control signal that determines the PWM gating signals of the DC-AC inverter powering the motor. The watermarking signal introduced into the PWM modulation for the DC-AC inverter is shown to propagates its unique signature, which appears in all sensors signals at the inverter output such as voltage/current/speed used to control the motor. Now employing the measured data (from sensors), two statistical variance tests are conducted to identify anomalies if any in the presence of the watermarking signal. It is shown when an intrusion occurs to manipulate the sensor data to disturb and/or destabilize the process, the proposed tests immediately display a high value indicating a compromise in sensor data. It is shown that the proposed system is capable of immediate detection of a sophisticated attacks such as record/reply attack in which the actual speed sensor is disconnected and a prerecorded speed signal from the past of the same magnitude is played back to the controller. Several types of cyber-attacks such as speed reduction/increase including vibration have been tested. Extensive simulation results verify the proposed concepts. Experimental results will be discussed in the conference presentation.

Alotaibi, Faris↗

ADVANCED THERMAL-HYDRAULIC MODEL OF HEAT RECOVERY STEAM GENERATORS

Steam-side oxidation at elevated temperatures in heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) can lead to overheating of local tubes, potential oxide scale exfoliation, and damage to critical equipment. Predicting the oxide growth distribution requires detailed knowledge of the distribution of tube metal temperatures. To address these challenges, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a high-pressure superheater (HPSH) was developed within the Siemens’ STAR-CCM+ CFD commercial software. The HPSH section of the steam generator was selected for modeling because of its high oxidation rates.The model development included several steps. In the first step, an oxidation model based on a parabolic oxidation relationship was implemented. The oxidation growth predicted by the model was then verified for a full-load boiler operation case. In the second step, a three-dimensional CFD model was developed to account for the thermal and flow physics involved in HRSGs. The CFD model was then verified and validated on a simplified geometry that contained six row-tubes which mimicked the tube arrangements of an HPSH section. Numerical results compared well with published experimental results. In the third step, the oxidation model was coupled to the HRSG’s CFD model, and a comparison study was performed for two cases: (a) regular finless tubes and (b) finned tubes. Preliminary results showed that the oxide thickness predicted by the case with tube fins was higher compared to that of the finless tube case, thus demonstrating the need to model the effects of the tube fins on oxide thickness.

Panicker, Nithin↗

Regimes of Kinetic Magnetic Reconnection in the Laboratory (Final Technical Report)

The DOE award No. DE-SC0019153, supported in part one graduate student (J. Olson) and material expenses, enabling the student to prepare a basic plasma physics experiment on magnetic reconnection (which we now call the Terrestrial Reconnection Experiment, TREX) within at the Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL). The study of the collisionless magnetic reconnection constituted the primary research carried out under this grant and lead to new observations of unexpected shock formation below the TREX reconnection layer. The shock formation was found fundamental to regulating the normalized rate of reconnection, and the results were part of our experimental observations detailed in a paper first authored by Dr. J. Olson and now published in the Journal of Plasma Physics. In this Report we review the general motivation of this work and provide an overview of our experimental results enabled by the support through the award.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Independent Fuel Property Effects of Fuel Volatility on Low Temperature Heat Release and Fuel Autoignition (Final Report)

This Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) project between Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Shell Global Solutions (Shell) was initiated as part of a Directed Funding Opportunity (DFO) call for proposals from the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) initiative. Shell had observed that volatile fuels suppress low temperature heat release (LTHR) more than expected based on conventional gasoline autoignition metrics: research octane number (RON) and motor octane number (MON). The role of LTHR contributes to autoignition phenomena for both boosted spark ignition (BSI) and advanced compression ignition (ACI) combustion modes. ACI combustion modes are applicable to large engines in the hard-to-electrify applications such as off-road, rail, and marine. Thus, having a reliable understanding of autoignition phenomena, including being able to accurately account for the effects of fuel volatility, is particularly important as new synthetic and bio-fuel compositions are considered.This CRADA project aimed to test the hypothesis that the decreased LTHR is due to preferential evaporation of multicomponent fuels when using direct injection (DI) fueling technology, creating composition and reactivity stratification. A custom set of fuels was designed and blended to test this hypothesis by Shell, with experimental engine studies at ORNL and engine combustion modeling by ANL. However, the initial experimental findings did not show the expected effect of fuel volatility suppressing LTHR. Instead, the LTHR propensity observed was independent of the fuel volatility. Due to the unexpected experimental result, the remainder of the experimental effort was redirected to study the effect of fuel volatility on emissions under spark-ignited cold-start conditions. However, as with the LTHR experiments, the cold start effort did not show a meaningful effect of fuel volatility on cold start emissions. Meanwhile, improved engine CFD models have been developed for both LTHR and cold start operations for the Shell fuels with different volatilities. While the simulation efforts were not pursued further due to the insignificant effects of fuel volatility as shown in experiments, the models developed can be easily retooled for off-road, rail, and marine applications.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Prediction of Substrate Distortion in Powder DED Using Finite Element Model

Abstract Leveraging the capabilities of both additive and subtractive manufacturing to repair tooling and other high value items can result in significant cost and time saving opportunities. However, when dimensional accuracy of the repaired component must be held within a specified tolerance, distortion of the component induced during repair can lead to an out of specification final component. This work presents simulation of a novel method to mitigate part distortion using sacrificial support structures. A blown powder directed energy deposition system was utilized for deposition of sacrificial support structures and clad surface depositions. Sacrificial support structures were deposited on the underside of the substrate with varying geometries prior to clad surface depositions. A finite element model was developed and verified using experimental results. The simulation and experimental control results were found to match within 6%. It has been shown that simulation can be used to predict effects of sacrificial support structures on substrate distortion in a blown powder directed energy deposition process.

Burl, Alan G.↗