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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Autonomous Tools for Attack Surface Reduction (Final Report)

The electric power grid is a complex critical infrastructure that forms the lifeline of modern society, and its secure and reliable operation is of paramount importance to national security and economic wellbeing. However, recent findings documented in authoritative sources indicate the threat of cyber-based attacks growing in numbers and sophistication. However, securing the grid against stealthy cyberattacks is a challenging task due to legacy nature of the infrastructure coupled with dynamic nature of threat landscape and ever-growing sophistication of the adversaries. Additionally, the grid’s attack surface continues to grow with the increased dependence on digital communications and control that now extends to each consumer through smart meters and distributed energy resources. Unfortunately, this expansive surface increases the grid’s vulnerability and further exposes critical control systems in both substations and control centers. To respond to this emerging need, we had successfully assembled an interdisciplinary team with academic- industry partnership to successfully conduct research, development, evaluation, demonstration, and commercialization of attack surface reduction tools, whose goal was to significantly reduce the cyber attack surface in the North American power grid. Our proposed project was a synergistic collaborative effort leveraging the synergistic expertise of the team members across power systems, cyber security and CPS security, testbeds, field deployments and demonstration, and successful commercialization. The following are the specific tasks that have been successfully completed two phases (2016-2020). Phase I: Task 1: Developed and implemented a robust Project Management and Data Management Plan, coupled with a well thought out Risk Mitigation Plan. Task 2.1: Developed a comprehensive framework that continually assesses and autonomously reduces the attack surface for the power grid control environment spanning across substations, control center and the SCADA network to significantly reduce the risks of cyber attacks. Task 2.2: Developed attack surface analysis techniques, metrics, and tools that assess the attack surface at multiple levels including the control center, substations, and the SCADA network. Task 2.3: Developed attack surface reduction techniques and tools that dynamically reduce attack surface and hence increase attacker’s cost without interfering in the critical functions of the system. Task 2.4: Prototyped, implemented, and quantitatively evaluated/validated the techniques and tools on a realistic industrial CPS security testbed environment by leveraging the unique resources of the team. Task 3: Developed Commercialization plan to transition the developed tools into power system industry stakeholders for a broader adoption by leveraging the expertise of our industrial members. Phase II: Task 4: Successfully completed field demonstration, verification, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the attack surface analysis and reduction techniques on a realistic utility testbed environment. This also involved the development of realistic scenarios, sound metrics, data sets, evaluation criteria, and documentation. Technology integration & Field demonstration: The project had significantly advanced the state-of-the-art research and practice in improving the cybersecurity of our nation’s power grid infrastructure against cyber threats. In particular, the proposed, designed, and deployed attack surface analysis and reduction algorithms and tools have contributed to significantly reducing the exposure and risk of the devices, substations, and the integrated SCADA/EMS/ DMS grid environment to cyber threat. Strong demonstration and evaluation techniques have verified the feasibility of the developed techniques on realistic cyber-physical testbeds and utility partner's real grid environment, and collaborative research and evaluation of attack surface reduction techniques (for wide-are monitoring and control) within a vendor (GE) EMS platform. The Attack Host Analyzer (AHA) tool that was developed through this project was made available through GitHub.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tools Assessing Performance (FY2022 Quarter 4 Report)

We were finally successful in acquiring TTU’s 200-meter tower data for the duration of the Isolated Building Wake Experiment (IBWE). This data will provide an independent measurement of the undisturbed wind profile including heights far above those that are typical of meteorological sensor networks. These measurements will characterize the mean and turbulence throughout the atmospheric surface layer, which will be particularly useful for validation of highfidelity computational fluid dynamics models. This dataset can be shared freely among the TAP team but not outside of it as TTU sells this data to the wind power industry. The journal article overview has been submitted to LANL’s publication review and will be submitted to the Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics once the review is complete. We are nearing completion on another two articles. The first discusses analyses of the evolution of the measurements of mean wind speed along the centerline of the building as a function of atmospheric stability. Rather than using individual time steps, all of the wind speed measurements are normalized using the upwind measurement at 2 building heights (H) and filtered by wind direction and atmospheric stability. The second discusses the development of the diffusive wake model and uses the averaged profiles from the first article to validate the behavior of the model. The portion of the section below on the diffusive wake model discussing comparisons with the averaged profiles, will be included in the validation section of this paper.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1988

Browsing schematics: Query-filtered graphs with context nodes

The early results of a research project to create tools for building interfaces to intelligent systems on the NASA Space Station are reported. One such tool is the Schematic Browser which helps users engaged in engineering problem solving find and select schematics from among a large set. Users query for schematics with certain components, and the Schematic Browser presents a graph whose nodes represent the schematics with those components. The query greatly reduces the number of choices presented to the user, filtering the graph to a manageable size. Users can reformulate and refine the query serially until they locate the schematics of interest. To help users maintain orientation as they navigate a large body of data, the graph also includes nodes that are not matches but provide global and local context for the matching nodes. Context nodes include landmarks, ancestors, siblings, children and previous matches.

Ciccarelli, Eugene C.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Binder Jet Tooling for Automotive Lighting Industry. CRADA Final Report

The goal of this collaborative project between Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) and Grote Industries, LLC was to develop additively manufactured tooling to produce lighting products in a production environment. The project explored the use of metal powder bed systems to rapidly manufacture moderately sized injection molding tools (less than 8” x 8” x 2”) for automotive lamps. The team designed the mold (male and female), manufactured the mold using the binder jet process, experimented with finishing processes, manufactured parts using the molds, and monitored the wear on the mold to predict life.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS2011

Developmental Testing of Habitability and Human Factors Tools and Methods During Neemo 15

Currently, no established methods exist to collect real-time human factors and habitability data while crewmembers are living aboard the International Space Station (ISS), traveling aboard other space vehicles, or living in remote habitats. Currently, human factors and habitability data regarding space vehicles and habitats are acquired at the end of missions during postflight crew debriefs. These debriefs occur weeks or often longer after events have occurred, which forces a significant reliance on incomplete human memory, which is imperfect. Without a means to collect real-time data, small issues may have a cumulative effect and continue to cause crew frustration and inefficiencies. Without timely and appropriate reporting methodologies, issues may be repeated or lost. TOOL DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION: As part of a directed research project (DRP) aiming to develop and validate tools and methods for collecting near real-time human factors and habitability data, a preliminary set of tools and methods was developed. These tools and methods were evaluated during the NASA Extreme Environments Mission Operations (NEEMO) 15 mission in October 2011. Two versions of a software tool were used to collect observational data from NEEMO crewmembers that also used targeted strategies for using video cameras to collect observations. Space habitability observation reporting tool (SHORT) was created based on a tool previously developed by NASA to capture human factors and habitability issues during spaceflight. SHORT uses a web-based interface that allows users to enter a text description of any observations they wish to report and assign a priority level if changes are needed. In addition to the web-based format, a mobile Apple (iOS) format was implemented, referred to as iSHORT. iSHORT allows users to provide text, audio, photograph, and video data to report observations. iSHORT can be deployed on an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad; for NEEMO 15, the app was provided on an iPad2.

Thaxton, S. S.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multiphysics Design Optimization and Additive Manufacturing of Nuclear Components (Final CRADA Report - Executive Summary)

Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) actively participated in the advancement of the nuclear fuel and reactor design space and requested the help of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the creation of a new design tool set. This report details the creation of a collection of software tool sets that are linked together to collectively assist WEC design engineers in developing novel ideas outside the normal scope of traditional nuclear fuel and reactor design formulas. Specifically, Siemens HEEDS, a design space exploration and parametric optimization software, monitored and changed parameters in a collection of softwares to meet the team’s objective. The HEEDS parametric optimization method, SHERPA, was developed to control the Siemens NX CAD platform to adjust the native CAD of a hexahedral spacer grid. This new geometry can be used to execute a topological design optimization by the NX Topology software add-in. The resulting geometry is additively manufacturable. This topological optimization occurred twice—once on the spacer grid’s spring, and once on the dimple geometry. These new geometries were imported by Siemens’ STAR-CCM+, a multiphysics structural and fluid dynamic computational solver in which the spring geometry is deflected to match the rod insertion configuration. Along with the dimple geometry, this new deflected spring was used to complete a hydraulic assessment of a single-unit cell comprising one rod, one spring, and two dimples. The HEEDS SHERPA algorithm ranks the design based on the final mass of the unit cell and the hydraulic pressure drop performance. The ORNL team demonstrated the ability to use this software and provided engineering judgement to apply modern aerospace aerodynamic design. The effort has been focused on thinking outside the conventional design space and redesigning a spacer grid to perform beyond the WEC set objectives. Furthermore, the ORNL team also demonstrated that the HEEDS optimization routine can independently develop a design that meets the WEC design goals. Although these designs were at a low technology readiness level, their demonstration confirmed the team’s capability to create novel advanced nuclear concepts.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Validation of NEAMS Tools Using MSRE Data

This report documents the benchmarks developed and performed for the tools and codes developed under the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program utilizing the MSRE experiment data. There are three focus areas explored in this work: fuel evolution, CFD, and system transient analyses. Fuel depletion is important for MSR reactor physics and fuel cycle analysis. Fuel depletion capability is currently being developed in the Griffin reactor physics code. To support this, a benchmark problem is developed using the MSRE data and an existing depletion code with flowing fuel analysis functionality (ADDER) to validate this new capability in Griffin. The ADDER calculation is compared with the TRITON-MSR results as well as the MSRE experimental data. This benchmark can be directly used to verify and validate the Griffin fuel depletion capability in future years. For CFD simulation, the MSRE CAD model is obtained from the Copenhagen Atomics and a mesh is generated for the MSRE inlet plenum. The Nek5000 code will be employed to find the flow distribution in the MSRE inlet plenum based on the mesh generated. For system analysis, a simple benchmark problem for three types of MSR system transients is developed. The SAM and SPECTRA codes are used to solve the simple problem, and the results from the two codes agree well. The SAM code is also employed to obtain the frequency response of the MSRE system at the 5 and 8 MWt power levels. The results agree well with the experiment measurements. These verification and validation efforts gives SAM users more confidence in MSR system transient simulations using SAM. Lastly, the SAM-Griffin Multiphysics coupling work is initiated. A simple one-way coupling of evaluating the precursor drift effect on the MSRE k-eff is demonstrated. This preliminary coupling work serves as the basis for future more complex Multiphysics simulation and modelling.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

Industry Fire Modeling Enhancement Tools and Methods. Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program report

Modeling and implementing fire safety for nuclear power plants is a costly activity. Because of the complexity of fire phenomenon and multiple operational procedures, it is difficult to computationally provide assurance that the mitigation methods are adequate for critical areas using current analysis methods. An economical method to provide more accurate modeling and optimize mitigation methods is needed to improve nuclear power viability. This report describes the background of current fire model strategy; the first stage of a tool to help reduce resources needed in fire analysis and the plan for the next step in advancing fire. The report lays out the path decided upon by Idaho National Laboratory and Industry representatives to best help reduce costs and improve realism in Fire Probabilistic Risk Analysis.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

EEL: A MOOSE-based Application for 3D Electro-Chemo-Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Solid-State Batteries

This report describes a tool for three dimensional, high fidelity, coupled electro-chemo-thermo-mechanical modeling of solid-state batteries. A complete version of the tool is available as open source software at https://github.com/hugary1995/eel.git. The theoretical framework of the tool revolves around an inf-sup statement on a total potential, comprising the Helmholtz free energy, the electrical kinetic potential, the chemical potential, the Fourier potential, the chemical reaction potential, and the external power expenditure. The tool uses the finite element framework of Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) and a variational formulation to solve the boundary value problem for solid-state battery incorporating the full set of multiphysics couplings. The variational formulation also enables a modular software architecture for the tool so additional physics can be easily included by specifying the new contribution to the total potential. The report discusses several method of manufactured solutions that were used to verify the implementation of different physics and the Butler-Volmer reaction kinetics at the electrolyte-electrode interface. Finally, the report discusses results from complete charge/discharge simulations of a quasi-1D and a 3D solid-state battery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

"Isotopics by nuclides" tool performance in InterSpec

This report provides a performance summary of the “Isotopics by Nuclides” tool in InterSpec. The primary objective of the NA-241 FY25 project was the detection and characterization of non-homogeneous uranium samples. However, the tool also demonstrates effectiveness in determining the enrichment of homogeneous uranium or plutonium from single gamma spectra. This paper presents a subset of evaluated data to avoid distribution limitations while offering potential users’ insight into the tool's performance.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS2009

Workflow Agents vs. Expert Systems: Problem Solving Methods in Work Systems Design

During the 1980s, a community of artificial intelligence researchers became interested in formalizing problem solving methods as part of an effort called "second generation expert systems" (2nd GES). How do the motivations and results of this research relate to building tools for the workplace today? We provide an historical review of how the theory of expertise has developed, a progress report on a tool for designing and implementing model-based automation (Brahms), and a concrete example how we apply 2nd GES concepts today in an agent-based system for space flight operations (OCAMS). Brahms incorporates an ontology for modeling work practices, what people are doing in the course of a day, characterized as "activities." OCAMS was developed using a simulation-to-implementation methodology, in which a prototype tool was embedded in a simulation of future work practices. OCAMS uses model-based methods to interactively plan its actions and keep track of the work to be done. The problem solving methods of practice are interactive, employing reasoning for and through action in the real world. Analogously, it is as if a medical expert system were charged not just with interpreting culture results, but actually interacting with a patient. Our perspective shifts from building a "problem solving" (expert) system to building an actor in the world. The reusable components in work system designs include entire "problem solvers" (e.g., a planning subsystem), interoperability frameworks, and workflow agents that use and revise models dynamically in a network of people and tools. Consequently, the research focus shifts so "problem solving methods" include ways of knowing that models do not fit the world, and ways of interacting with other agents and people to gain or verify information and (ultimately) adapt rules and procedures to resolve problematic situations.

Clancey, William J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Light Water Sustainability Program: Optimizing Information Automation Using a New Method Based on System-Theoretic Process Analysis

This report describes the interim progress for research supporting the design and optimization of information automation systems for nuclear power plants. Much of the domestic nuclear fleet is currently focused on modernizing technologies and processes, including transitioning toward digitalization in the control room and elsewhere throughout the plant, along with a greater use of automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging technologies. While there are significant opportunities to apply these technologies toward greater plant safety, efficiency, and overall cost-effectiveness, optimizing their design and avoiding potential safety and performance risks depends on ensuring that human-performance-related organizational and technical design issues are identified and addressed. This report describes modeling tools and techniques, based on sociotechnical system theory, to support these design goals and their application in the current research effort. The report is intended for senior nuclear energy stakeholders, including regulators, corporate management, and senior plant management. We have developed and employed a method to design an optimized information automation ecosystem (IAE) based on the systems-theoretic constructs underlying sociotechnical systems theory in general and the Systems-Theoretic Accident Modeling and Processes (STAMP) approach in particular. We argue that an IAE can be modeled as an interactive information control system whose behavior can be understood in terms of dynamic control and feedback relationships amongst the system’s technical and organizational components. Up to this point, we have employed a Causal Analysis based on STAMP (CAST) technique to examine a performance- and safety-related incident at an industry partner’s plant that involved the unintentional activation of an emergency diesel generator. This analysis provided insight into the behavior of the plant’s current information control structure within the context of a specific, significant event. Our ongoing analysis is focused on identifying near-term process improvements and longer-term design requirements for an optimized IAE system. The latter analyses will employ a second STAMP-derived technique, System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA). STPA is a useful modeling tool for generating and analyzing actual or potential information control structures. Finally, we have begun modeling plantwide organizational relationships and processes. Organizational system modeling will supplement our CAST and STPA findings and provide a basis for mapping out a plantwide information control architecture. CAST analysis findings indicate an important underlying contributor to the incident under investigation, and a significant risk to information automation system performance, was perceived schedule pressure, which exposed weaknesses in interdepartmental coordination between and within responsible plant organizations and challenged the resilience of established plant processes, until a human caused the initiating event. These findings are discussed in terms of their risk to overall system performance and their implications for information automation system resilience and brittleness. We present two preliminary information automation models. The proactive issue resolution model is a test case of an information automation concept with significant near-term potential for application and subsequent reduction in significant plant events. The IAE model is a more general representation of a broader, plantwide information automation system. From our results, we have generated a set of preliminary system-level requirements and safety constraints. These requirements will be further developed over the remainder of our project in collaboration with nuclear industry subject matter experts and specialists in the technical systems under consideration. Additionally, we will continue to pursue the system analyses initiated in the first part of our effort, with a particular emphasis on STPA as the main tool to identify weak or weakening control structures that affect the resilience of organizations and programs. Our intent is to broaden the scope of the analysis from an individual use case to a related set of use cases (e.g., maintenance tasks, compliance tasks) with similar human-system performance challenges. This will enable more generalized findings to refine the Proactive Issue Resolution and IAE models, as well as their system-level requirements and safety constraints. We will use organizational system modeling analyses to supplement STPA findings and model development. We conclude the report with a set of summary recommendations and an initial draft list of system-level requirements and safety constraints for optimized information automation systems.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Tools for Accurate and Efficient Analysis of Complex Evolutionary Mechanisms in Microbial Genomes (Final Report)

I proposed to develop computationally efficient tools for accurate detection and reconstruction of microbes' complex evolutionary mechanisms, thus enabling rapid and accurate annotation, analysis and understanding of their genomes. To achieve this goal, I proposed to address three aspects. (1) Mathematical modeling. A major challenge facing the accurate detection of HGT is that of distinguishing between these two events on the one hand and other events that have similar "effects." I proposed to develop a novel mathematical approach for distinguishing among these events. Further, I proposed to develop a set of novel optimization criteria for the evolutionary analysis of microbial genomes in the presence of these complex evolutionary events. (2) Algorithm design. In this aspect of the project, I proposed to develop an array of efficient and accurate algorithms for analyzing microbial genomes based on the formulated optimization criteria. Further, I proposed to test the viability of the criteria and the accuracy of the algorithms in an experimental setting using both synthetic as well as biological data. (3) Software development. I proposed the final outcome to be a suite of software tools which implements the mathematical models as well as the algorithms developed.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗