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At least 271 records · Page 15

Project 57 Air Monitoring Report: January 1 through September 30, 2020, with a Review of the Period of Record Radionuclide Analyses

The DOE Environmental Management Nevada Program (EM NV) identified the Project 57 contaminated area as Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 415, Project 57 No. 1 Plutonium Dispersion Site, which consisted of one Corrective Action Site (CAS): NAFR-23- 02, Pu Contaminated Soil (U.S. DOE, 2014). The CAS included several Project 57 operational facilities in addition to the plutonium-contaminated soil. With approval of the State of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, the DOE closed the Project 57 surface soil contamination site in October 2020. Closure was accomplished by installing a clean soil cap constructed over ground zero and the surrounding areas of the CA that may be entrained with wind-transported soil particles. After completion of the ground zero cap in October 2020, DRI discontinued monitoring of meteorological and associated environmental conditions at the Project 57 site as directed by DOE EM NV. Navarro dismantled air monitoring stations P57-3 and P57-4 and removed the equipment on October 20, 2020. This report presents the meteorological and dust observations and radiological analyses accomplished during the approximately 10 months when the air monitoring data collection equipment was operational during CY2020.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Streamlined Approach for Environmental Restoration (SAFER) Plan for Corrective Action Unit 114: Area 25 EMAD Facility Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, (Rev.0, with ROTC 1)

This Streamlined Approach for Environmental Restoration (SAFER) Plan addresses the actions needed to achieve closure for Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 114, Area 25 EMAD Facility, identified in the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (FFACO). CAU 114 comprises the following corrective action sites (CASs) located in Area 25 of the Nevada National Security Site (formerly, the Nevada Test Site): 25-41-03, EMAD Facility; 25-99-23, Manned Control Car (MCC) and Engine Installation Vehicle (EIV); and 25-33-05, Building 3901, Engine Transport System Maintenance Building. This plan provides the methodology for field activities needed to gather the necessary information for closing CAU 114. There is sufficient information and process knowledge from historical documentation and investigations of similar sites regarding the expected nature and extent of potential contaminants to recommend closure of CAU 114 using the SAFER process. Additional information will be obtained by conducting a field investigation before selecting the appropriate corrective actions for CAU 114. It is anticipated that the results of the field investigation and implementation of corrective actions will support a defensible recommendation that no further corrective action is necessary. The purpose of the corrective action investigation will be to document and verify the adequacy of existing information; to affirm the decision for either clean closure, closure in place, or no further action; and to provide sufficient data to implement the corrective action. The actual corrective action selected will be based on characterization activities implemented under this SAFER Plan. If specific conditions or findings fall outside the bounds of the SAFER Plan, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) will be consulted to determine the path forward before proceeding. Upon completion of SAFER activities, a closure report will be prepared and submitted to NDEP for review and approval. The schedule for completion of the closure report will be established at the FFACO annual meeting.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Post-Closure Inspection Report for the Tonopah Test Range and Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada for Calendar Year 2020 (Rev. 0)

This report provides the results of the annual post-closure use restriction (UR) inspections at corrective action sites (CASs) located on the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) and Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). This report covers post-closure UR inspections for calendar year 2020, and includes visual inspections and repair activities completed at the following corrective action units (CAUs): • CAU 407, Roller Coaster RadSafe Area (TTR) • CAU 424, Area 3 Landfill Complexes (TTR) • CAU 453, Area 9 UXO Landfill (TTR) • CAU 487, Thunderwell Site (TTR). Note: CAU 400, Bomblet Pit and Five Points Landfill (TTR) (CASs TA-19-001-05PT, Ordnance Disposal Pit; and TA-55-00-TAB2, Ordnance Disposal Pit) no longer requires inspection and reporting, as described in the Post-Closure Inspection Report for the Tonopah Test Range and Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada for Calendar Year 2019. Site figures are included in Appendix A. The Post-Closure Inspection Plans and Record of Technical Change modifying the requirements for each UR are included in Appendix B. The Post-Closure Inspection Checklists are included in Appendix C. Field Notes are included in Appendix D. Appendix E, Inspection Photographs, does not include photographs because none were taken during the 2020 post-closure inspections. Appendix F, Post-Closure Vegetation Monitoring Report, does not include any data because vegetation monitoring was not conducted or required at any CAU in 2020. Visual inspections were conducted according to the post-closure requirements outlined in specific CAU and CAS URs, and approved by NDEP. The annual post-closure inspections for CASs associated with CAUs 407, 424, 453, and 487 were conducted on May 20, 2020. No maintenance or repair issues were noted at CAUs 487, or at CASs associated with CAU 424 (except CASs 03-08-002-A304 and 03-08-002-A308). Maintenance items and subsequent repairs include the following: • CAU 407, CAS TA-23-001-TARC (Roller Coaster RadSafe Area): A UR sign was loose and was rehung during the inspection. • CAU 424, CAS 03-08-002-A304 (Landfill Cell A3-4): The northeast monument needed a UR sign. The UR sign was attached to the monument on August 11, 2020. • CAU 424, CAS 03-08-002-A308 (Landfill Cell A3-8): The southeast monument needed additional lava rock. The lava rock was added during the inspection. • CAU 453, CAS 09-55-001-0952 (Area 9 Landfill): Two animal burrows were noted in the western portion of the northern and southern trenches (one burrow per trench). The animal burrows were repaired on August 11, 2020.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Specification of EBR-II Contact Profilometry Data

All contact profilometry data stored in FIPD was originally measured using the HFEF vertical contact profilometer, which was an electronic gauge to measure the diameter profile of an element or capsule continuously over the region of interest. The element could be rotated as it passed through the probes if the wire wrap was not to be removed and the element could be returned to reactor for further irradiation. If the wire wrap was removed, the element could be drawn vertically through the probes, rotated, and the process repeated. In this way any cladding ovality could be observed. Figure 1 shows the setup used to measure the fuel pin diameter profile. The ambient temperature during the measurement was ~21-23 ºC. The cladding temperature during the measurement is considered to be similar to the ambient temperature by assuming the fuel decay heat did not impact the cladding temperature. Two documents contain most of the important details about contact profilometry measurements. The first one is the operational manual of the contact profilometer (title: Element contact profilometer operation and maintenance, HFEF/N OMM 4326, DOC. NO. W0202-0007-SA-01). This manual provides: (1) description of the contact profilometer including the functions of each component (support stage, sensing head, control system, and calibration standards, etc.); (2) step-by-step guidance on calibrations, operations, and measurements; and (3) maintenance procedures and other details of the contact profilometer. The second document is a publicly accessible report entitled “A Fuel-element Profilometer for the HFEF.” This report describes the development of the contact profilometer, including the design requirements, features, and details of each component, as well as the acceptance tests for the built system. This document is important because it reports the uncertainties of the measurements with detailed deduction procedures. The reported uncertainties should apply to all hard-copy contact profilometry data in FIPD. Some key information about contact profilometry measurements was extracted from these two documents. Combining the information with other sources, a specification for interpretating the contact profilometry data in FIPD was established.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Ductility of Zircaloy-4 Sibling Pin Cladding

This report summarizes the FY2022-23 work performed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) on sibling pins that are part of the High Burnup (HBU) Spent Fuel Data Project. The project is funded by the US Department of Energy’s Spent Fuel & Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) Office, which is part of the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition Office.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

R-Matrix Analysis of the Neutron-Induced Cross Sections on 143 Nd and 147,149 Sm Measured at LANSCE [Slides]

This presentation covers how an established used of R-Matrix codes is being implemented at LANSCE. This presentation displays how there are unique features accessible with detectors at LANSCE that can be used to perform more complete R-Matrix analysis. Additionally discussed is how spin separation is a powerful technique that can be applied in DANCE measurements. Unique method to measure transmission with DICER are discussed. Finally, transmission and capture data are being analyzed in this work. The study can be extended to other channels. The ongoing analysis of the 143 Nd data is presented in this work. The same method is being applied to analyze the 147,149 Sm data. The 143 Nd and 147,149 Sm work started in FY-23 funded by NCSP.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Airport Risk Assessment Model Stakeholder Symposium Event Report

On June 22-23, 2021, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory hosted a two-day virtual stakeholder symposium to share how the Airport Risk Assessment Model (ARAM) is putting security resource allocation planning into the hands of our airport’s front lines of defense. This report highlights the key takeaways from the discussions.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Chemical Characterization Results for Tank 40 Sludge Batch 10 Waste Acceptance Product Specifications (WAPS) Sample

A 3-L sample (HTF-40-23-24) obtained from Tank 40 following transfer of Tank 51 to achieve the final Sludge Batch 10 processing composition was received by Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). SRNL was tasked with characterization of the sample in accordance with requirements for reporting the Waste Acceptance Product Specifications. A representative subsample, approximately 500 mL, was prepared by continuously agitating the 3-L sample via a mixing blade inserted into the bottle. This subsample was then used for the chemical and physical characterization reported here. This characterization includes the following: (1) Supernate and slurry density; (2) Weight percent solids; (3) Mercury Analysis (supernate and slurry); (4) Anions; (5) Total Organic/Inorganic Carbon; (6) Free Hydroxide; (7) Other Base; (8) Elementals; (9) Volatile Organic Analysis and Semi-volatile Organic Analysis; and (10) Fissile Radionuclides and Uranium Enrichment. The results of this physical and chemical characterization of the sample are documented in this report.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Advanced Fuel Cycle Cost Basis Report: Module D1-1: Uranium-based Ceramic LWR Fuel Fabrication (Rev.2)

Cost module on LWR fuel fabrication to accompany the Advanced Fuel Cycle Cost Basis Report. In this update, we are adding detailed life cycle cost data and a calculated, levelized fabrication cost derived from a non-proprietary bottom-up estimate prepared in 1978 by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) (Judkins and Olsen 1978a). In 2018, the 1978 ORNL estimate was escalated by SA&I authors to 2017 USD using factors that represent inflation, escalation above inflation typical of nuclear projects, and the effects of more stringent safety and environmental regulations. In this FY-21 document, the $/kgU results in 2017 USD from the unpublished 2018 interim study (Williams and Ganda 2018) can be escalated to 2020 USD using a factor of 1.052. The literature-based unit cost (or price) data from previous (2004–2017) AFC-CBRs are escalated to 2020 USD using factors from Chapter 8 of the main FY-21 AFC-CBR document. This data, in addition to the results of the updated bottom-up estimate, are used to define the “what-it-takes” (WIT) range for the unit fabrication costs for conventional ceramic UOX light-water reactor (LWR) fuel. This FY-23 document also includes calculated unit costs for accident-tolerant LWR fuels (ATFs) of three different types. Some of these fuels constitute a ceramic pelletized form with fuel meat uranium compounds other than UO2 (a.k.a.,. UOX), thus the change in the title of this module in which the word “UO2” is changed to “Uranium-based Ceramic.”

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Fiscal Year 2023 Software Quality Assurance Activities for the ARC Software

The Argonne Reactor Code (ARC) software suite [1-17] has been developed by Argonne researchers for fast reactor design and analysis since the 1970s. With the ARC software suite, a user can quickly build a model of a proposed or existing fast spectrum reactor and carry out fuel cycle, nominal thermal analysis and flow requirements, and assess, as is appropriate, whether the core design and constraint system yield an acceptable mechanical behavior. For transient reactor analysis with SAS4A [18], the ARC software suite can be used to generate reactivity coefficients and kinetics parameters at any modeled fuel cycle time point which forms part of the input to SAS4A. The ARC suite was consistently being developed until the 1990s and followed a software QA program which was an appropriate standard for the time. In the 1990s, the DOE funding to fast reactor research and development was all but eliminated and the ARC software was put into maintenance mode. In the early 2000s, the software quality assurance (SQA) program for ARC was still in place to define an official version, but by 2005 it all but was abandoned as there were insufficient staff to fill the work roles. Since 2005, there has been a considerable increase in research and design work on fast spectrum reactors. The ARC software as a whole has since been exported to many universities and commercial companies and ANL support has been given to the various projects over the years [19-23]. Further, MC 2 -3, PERSENT, and DASSH were all developed after 2005 without any adherence to a software standard. In recent time, the DOE VTR project [22] paid for verification work to be done on the ARC software as part of the goal of making it NQA-1 complaint. The VTR project was not considered the appropriate pathway to fund and maintain a SQA program for the ARC software and while software developments (DASSH) were made and several manuals were updated and software verification work was carried out, the ARC software is not NQA-1 compliant. More recently the Advanced Reactor Development Program (ARDP [23]) has funded the creation of manuals for some ARC utility programs and funded additional software verification work on DIF3D [6, 7] and MC 2 -3 [2-5] for the purpose of commercial grade dedication. Because of the VTR and ARDP projects, software verification work was completed on MC 2 -3 and DIF3D, and detailed reports were created for each piece of software, which discuss the inputs and outputs from the codes that are covered by the verification work and link various analytic, code-to-code, and hand calculation based verification work presented in the report with verification test problems provided with the software. This is a key part of the commercial grade dedication work and constitutes the bulk of the cost to get the ARC software to commercial grade. The ARC software suite is a valuable asset as a fast reactor design and analysis tool set that has been reasonably well verified and validated with various fast reactor benchmark problems and experiments over decades. Some or all of the ARC software suite has been utilized for designing the IFR [20], PGSFR [21], VTR [22], and Natrium [23] reactors and we can expect it to continue to be used for advanced fast reactor design and/or confirmatory calculation purposes in the future. Due to increased interest by commercial companies and regulatory bodies, it is becoming more important to make the ARC software suite complete and ready-to-use in terms of its SQA pedigree and commercial grade dedication needs. This report discusses the achievements made towards building a new SQA program for the ARC software and dealing with outstanding identified QA gaps.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

California Offshore Wind Resource Bias Investigation and Correction [Slides]

This presentation highlights the findings of an investigation into the causes of high wind speed bias in offshore California's 20-year wind resource dataset, CA20, released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2020. Utilizing observations from floating lidars deployed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), considerable bias in modeled hub-height winds was identified. The study reveals that the choice of planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme significantly impacts wind speed accuracy, with the less common Yonsei University (YSU) scheme nearly eliminating bias compared to the widely used Mellor-Yamada-Nakanishi-Niino (MYNN) scheme. Furthermore, it shows that one of the key factors contributing to this modeled bias is the fact that MYNN overestimates the frequency of stable atmospheric conditions in offshore California. As a result, an updated dataset, NOW-23, incorporating YSU as the PBL scheme, has been produced.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Kokes Awards for the 28th North American Meeting (Final Technical Report)

The purpose of the Richard. J. Kokes Travel Award program is to recognize and provide financial support for students to attend and participate in North American Catalysis Society national meetings. The Department of Energy through the Catalysis Science program provided funds which supported 26 students from US institutions to attend the 28NAMS meeting which was held in Providence RI in 18-23 June 2023.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Measured Thermal and Fast Neutrons Fluence Rates for ATF-1 Holders During ATR Cycle 166B

This report contains the thermal (2200 m/s) and fast (E>lMeV) neutron fluence rate data for the ATF-1 holders located in core for ATR Cycle 166B which were measured by the Radiation Measurements Laboratory (RML) as requested by the Power Reactor Programs (ATR Experiments) Radiation Measurements Work Order. This report contains measurements of the fluence rates corresponding to the particular elevations relative to the 80-ft. core elevation. The data in this report consist of (1) a table of the ATR power history and distribution, (2) a hard copy listing of all thermal and fast neutron fluence rates, and (3) plots of both the thermal and fast neutron fluence rates. All "BR" holder monitor wires for this cycle are 56.375 inches long. This length allows measurements from 31.17 inches above core midplane to 19.81 inches below core midplane. The distance from the end of the wires to the first count position was 4.25 inches for all wires counted from this cycle. The monitors were located in an outward small I-holes,1-22 and 1-23. Thermal neutron fluence was determined based on the activation of the CoAl wires and resonance corrections determined in the irradiation of Cycle 152A when the RML measured cadmium-covered as well as bare neutron monitors in the Southwest, Southeast, and H positions at the Center lobe to determine the division in neutron energy between epithermal and thermal neutrons. For more information please refer to letter “Radiation Measurements Laboratory measurements of in core ATR physics testing during cycle 152A. The measured values documented in RML procedure, “ACMM-3600, Flux Monitoring,” will be used indefinitely until further measurements supersede the current values. Fast neutron fluence was determined using the activation of nickel wires. Typically, a fission spectrum averaged cross section (E>1 MeV) is used as determined in detailed measurements described in “ATR Neutron Spectral Characterization,” which gives an effective cross section of 97 mb for the small I-holes. However, those measurements were performed with unfueled experiments. The fast fluence values reported here use a perturbed 114 mb effective>1 MeV spectrum averaged cross section for the small I-holes based on MCNP simulations for a previous fueled experiment in the1-24 position. Refer to “LWR- ATR Irradiation Measured Thermal and Fast Neutron Fluence Rates ATR CYCLE 133A 04/19/04 thru 05/17/04” for more information.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Assessment of Amine-Based CO2BOLs for Direct Air Capture

Direct air capture (DAC) technologies extract CO 2 from the atmosphere for CO 2 storage, or utilization. Capturing CO 2 from the air is the most expensive application of carbon capture because CO 2 in the atmosphere is very dilute. There are limited number of CO 2 capture technologies for DAC application. This project aims at developing an energy efficient technology for DAC, leveraging two PNNL’s chemistries (solid and liquid CO 2 capture). Three CO 2 capture sorbents consisting of amine based CO 2 BOLs immobilized in mesoporous silica were designed, synthesized, and tested. These sorbents had ~ 19-23 wt.% amine loadings which is lower than typical amine-based silica sorbents. The surface area and pore volumes of these solid supported CO 2 BOLs are lower compared to those of the pristine silica support. The CO 2 capture performance of these materials was significantly lower than the typical silica supported amines due to low amine loading and higher molecular weight with low amine density. These results show that immobilize CO 2 BOLs in silica are not viable materials for removing CO 2 from ambient air. This project also designed, synthesized at tested liquid solvents for DAC application. Solvent properties that is vapor pressure, CO 2 uptake capacity, kinetics, and viscosity for three novel solvents were evaluated. The CO 2 uptake capacity for one of the most promising amine-based solvent BEPBEGDA was the highest at 13.2 wt% corresponding to 97 mol%. The vapor pressure of the BEPBEGDA solvents were very low at 80 °C compared to other solvents making them suitable for DAC application. The effect of humidity on the CO 2 capture performance of these solvents was evaluated which shows that presence of moisture doesn’t have a negative effect on the CO 2 uptake performance but makes it slightly better. The performances of these solvents were slightly below that of the 0.1M NaOH solution tested under similar conditions. Despite of the slightly lower CO 2 uptake, it is expected that these liquid solvents will have lower regeneration temperature and minimum evaporative losses due their low vapor pressure. Future work will focus on optimization of the liquid solvents for DAC application to improve both CO 2 capture efficiency and capacity without viscosity and vapor pressure increase. Testing of these solvents under DAC conditions using a gas liquid contactor that mimic industrial applications is needed. Solvent cost projection, techno-economic analysis and life cycle analysis are required to evaluate economic viability of this technology.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

ECAR-6564 MARVEL Project Primary Coolant System ASME BPVC Section III Division 5 Design by Analysis

This report demonstrates that the MARVEL Reactor Primary Coolant Boundary (herein referred to as the Primary Coolant System, or PCS) is designed to meet ASME BPVC Section III Division 5 elevated temperature service design-by-analysis criteria. The analysis approach that delineates division of responsibilities to meet project objectives is discussed herein. In short, Design and Service Level A, B, and C code calculations are detailed in ECAR-6580 for the majority of the PCS with complex geometry, while the Lower Downcomers, Bottom Head, and Reactor Core Barrel are analyzed in ANL-23/56. Service Level D code calculations are detailed in this document.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Proceedings of the 13 th US/German Workshop on Salt Repository Research, Design, and Operation

This report summarizes the proceedings of the 13 th US/German Workshop on Salt Repository Research, Design, and Operation hosted by Sandia National Laboratories on June 20-23, 2023, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Over 60 participants attended, representing Germany, United States, the Netherlands, Australia, and the United Kingdom, along with the IAEA. The purpose of the US/German Workshop is to foster in-person collaboration and dialogue amongst salt repository researchers and nuclear waste disposal implementers across international organizations. The workshop included five sessions of topical presentations and two breakout sessions to promote additional discussion on compelling topics.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗