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At least 325 records · Page 18

Interconnected Risks in Electricity Systems: Understanding Research Challenges, Needs, and Partnerships

The U.S. federal government has a potential role in mitigating the most poorly addressed risks across electricity markets and interdependent systems. Electricity system risks stem from extreme acute shocks (e.g., cyberattacks, extreme weather, and supply chain disruptions) and chronic stressors (e.g., global economic competition, uncertainties surrounding emerging technologies, climate change, and related conflicts). These acute shocks and chronic stressors can result in dire consequences for society, underscoring the need for better information for decision makers in both public and private sectors. Best practices and a shared understanding of risk management and risk quantification must be rapidly developed and disseminated. Informed by a quantitative treatment of risk to electrical infrastructure and interdependent systems, decision makers can more prudently and efficiently prioritize mitigation initiatives to maximize benefits to government, businesses, and the public.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Management and Operation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

ThermaMatrix, Inc provides novel vision inspection solutions for a wide range of manufacturers and industries, providing and implementing the leading technologies for nondestructive inspection (NDI) and material characterization. Many other inspection solutions are either not adequate or are not approachable due to implementation barriers needing expert level operators, excessive inspection time, and high cost. ThermaMatrix’sadvanced vision inspection technology addresses all of these limitations. The Lab Embedded Entrepreneurial Program (LEEP) opportunity by the Department of Energy (DOE) allows small-business start-ups to leverage national laboratory capabilities and skilled scientists to rapidly develop their technology that aligns with DOE goals. ThermaMatrix, Inc.was positioned in the Innovation Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to further develop thenovel Watson Vision Inspection System to support manufacturing quality control efforts. Theresearch goals were (1) explore fundamental parameters that would improve preexisting capabilities, (2) full-scale industrial setup for demonstration, and (3) capability testing and verification. Manufacturing is demanding more NDI implementation to support their quality control needs, which this technology development would support. Figure 1: Ryan Spencer of ThermaMatrix with Watson Vision Inspection System.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

CRADA Final Report: CRADA Number NFE-24-10036 with ThermaMatrix, Inc.

ThermaMatrix, Inc provides novel vision inspection solutions for a wide range of manufacturers and industries, providing and implementing the leading technologies for nondestructive inspection (NDI) and material characterization. Many other inspection solutions are either not adequate or are not approachable due to implementation barriers needing expert level operators, excessive inspection time, and high cost. ThermaMatrix’s advanced vision inspection technology addresses all of these limitations. The Lab Embedded Entrepreneurial Program (LEEP) opportunity by the Department of Energy (DOE) allows small-business start-ups to leverage national laboratory capabilities and skilled scientists to rapidly develop their technology that aligns with DOE goals. ThermaMatrix, Inc. was positioned in the Innovation Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to further develop the novel Watson Vision Inspection System to support manufacturing quality control efforts. The research goals were (1) explore fundamental parameters that would improve preexisting capabilities, (2) full-scale industrial setup for demonstration, and (3) capability testing and verification. Manufacturing is demanding more NDI implementation to support their quality control needs, which this technology development would support.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Guidance Regarding Probable Approaches and Instrumentation to Liquid Fuel Molten Salt Reactor Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) Rev. 1

With the rapid development of advanced reactors and numerous companies requesting pre-application engagements with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), there is need for the NRC to best prepare themselves for new challenges presented by advanced technologies. One specific reactor type of interest is the molten salt reactor (MSR) that uses liquid salt as the fuel for the reactor. Liquid salt fuel reactors have specific challenges with regards to performing material control and accounting (MC&A). The challenges result from the fuel form being a continuous fissile material form rather than discrete units like is found with fuel assemblies in traditional light water reactors (LWRs). The goal of this document is to provide the NRC with guidance on the different approaches and technologies that may be proposed by reactor designers to address these problems to prepare staff for regulatory reviews.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Digital Droplet PCR and Mesocosm-Based Methods to Evaluate Biocontainment Strategies in a Native Soil Ecosystem

Genetically modified industrial production microbes and their associated bioproducts have emerged as an integral component of a sustainable bioeconomy. However, the rapid development of these innovative technologies raises biosecurity concerns, namely, the risk of environmental escape. Thus, the realization of a bioeconomy hinges not only on the development and deployment of microbial production hosts, but also on the development of secure biosystems and biocontainment designs. Current laboratory-based biocontainment testing systems do not accurately reflect the complexities found in natural environments, necessitating an environmentally relevant analysis pipeline that allows for the detection of rare escapees within a complex soil microbiome and differentiation between closely related strains. To this end, we have developed an approach that utilizes soil mesocosms and integrated digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) system to evaluate the efficacy of novel biocontainment strategies. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by modeling contamination with industrial microbial chasses versus their biocontained counterparts. Here we demonstrate the broad utility of this system by highlighting findings from strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are contained with an inducible toxin anti-toxin system, strains of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 contained via gene knockout or toxin anti-toxin system, and strains of Escherichia coli that are contained via genomic recoding. We also show that ddPCR can be used to detect gene copies from E. coli equal to those counted by traditional spot plating assays. The resultant data demonstrates that this system has broad utility across diverse microbial chassis and biocontainment strategies and enables researchers to track the fate of our contaminating microbe with high sensitivity in the soil. The findings presented here support the use of this mesocosm-based approach to assess the environmental impact of industrial microbes and to validate biocontainment strategies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Convex Optimization with Smart Grid Examples

In this talk, we give an overview of the field of convex optimization and work through four canonical problems that relate to electrical power systems and smart grids. The purpose of these examples is to demonstrate the breadth of applications of convex optimization in energy research and to show that toy versions of these problems can be solved in just a few lines of code, indicating the scale and complexity of problems that can be tackled with a more detailed treatment. We emphasize the cvxpy modeling language as a foundational technology that enables rapid development and prototyping of convex optimization problems, allowing researchers to focus on model development rather than get caught in the weeds of numerical and code implementation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

POWER ELECTRONICS GRID TIED SYSTEM FINAL REPORT

Across the country, electric utilities are grappling with the persistent hurdles of integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). Managing these assets safely and effectively is a complex endeavor, complicated by varying ownership structures, management philosophies, and the diversity of the technologies themselves. Consequently, the industry has seen a proliferation of bespoke system designs, control strategies, and communication frameworks—forcing utilities to spend significant time and resources developing one-off integration solutions. This project addressed these integration hurdles through a scalable demonstration of intelligent devices designed to coordinate and control diverse resources in low-voltage applications. This concept minimized the need for complex integration by transforming the separate DERs into a dispatchable virtual power plant (VPP) with integrated resiliency functions (called a Node). By collaborating with a utility partner, the project focused on developing rapidly implementable use cases that bridged the gap between theoretical control and real-world deployment

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

The Lunar Communications Relay Unit system design

Lunar Surface Exploration by Early Apollo Astronauts was limited by the range capabilities and configuration of the surface communications. To permit greater scientific yield from manned lunar exploration, it was necessary to provide improvements in crew mobility plus communications compatible with extended extravehicular activity. Expansion of EVA** and video communications capability was constrained by the requirement of interfacing with existing earth and lunar surface facilities, vehicle payload requirements, and crew operational considerations. Various trade-off s were conducted to permit rapid development of a feasible communication’s system which are described herein. The revision of the EVA mission profile necessitated establishment of new signal design parameters compatible with mobile and fixed site relay configurations. The design approach selected required strict discipline to enable integration of the electrical, mechanical, thermal and human factor fields. The resultant design of the Lunar Communications Relay Unit is a portable communications package to provide relay-to-earth of voice, data and color television from lunar surface locations far beyond the LM landing site and relay of ground voice to the EVA crew.

B. Trachtenberg↗

The geology of the moon.

With traditional astronomical methods in the background, geological exploration of the Moon has developed rapidly, but logically, since the dawn of the space age. As a result of these tremendous strides forward, we have been forced to revise our views of a cold, rigid moon built predominantly from stony meteorites. The interior of the moon is hot; the distant past has seen not only major impacts but also extensive volcanism altering the lunar surface, and major motions within the moon. Even today, weak moonquakes remain to remind us of the past upheavals that accompanied the geological processes now being unraveled through detailed studies of the lunar rocks.

Fielder, G.↗

An initial step: A demonstration project

To initiate the transition into a clean and diverse energy environment independent of fossil-based fuels, the rapid development of a subsonic, hydrogen-fueled aircraft is recommended. Tables are presented on characteristics of synthetic fuels, comparisions with JP-4 and gasoline, comparison of nitric oxide emissions from hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuels vs. final flame temperature, and sensitivity limits of LH2 detectors.

Source record↗

Use of remote sensing techniques for inventorying and planning utilization of land resources in South Dakota

The basic procedures for interpreting remote sensing imagery to rapidly develop general soils and land use inventories were developed and utilized in Pennington County, South Dakota. These procedures and remote sensing data products were illustrated and explained to many user groups, some of whom are interested in obtaining similar data. The general soils data were integrated with land soils data supplied by the county director of equalization to prepare a land value map. A computer print-out of this map indicating a land value for each quarter section is being used in tax reappraisal of Pennington County. The land use data provided the land use planners with the present use of land in Pennington County. Additional uses of remote sensing applications are also discussed including tornado damage assessment, hail damage evaluation, and presentation of soil and land value information on base maps assembled from ERTS-1 imagery.

Myers, V. I.↗

The application of remote sensing techniques: Technical and methodological issues

Capabilities and limitations of modern imaging electromagnetic sensor systems are outlined, and the products of such systems are compared with those of the traditional aerial photographic system. Focus is given to the interface between the rapidly developing remote sensing technology and the information needs of operational agencies, and communication gaps are shown to retard early adoption of the technology by these agencies. An assessment is made of the current status of imaging remote sensors and their potential for the future. Public sources of remote sensor data and several cost comparisons are included.

Polcyn, F. C.↗

The National Geothermal Energy Research Program

The continuous demand for energy and the concern for shortages of conventional energy resources have spurred the nation to consider alternate energy resources, such as geothermal. Although significant growth in the one natural steam field located in the United States has occurred, a major effort is now needed if geothermal energy, in its several forms, is to contribute to the nation's energy supplies. From the early informal efforts of an Interagency Panel for Geothermal Energy Research, a 5-year Federal program has evolved whose objective is the rapid development of a commercial industry for the utilization of geothermal resources for electric power production and other products. The Federal program seeks to evaluate the realistic potential of geothermal energy, to support the necessary research and technology needed to demonstrate the economic and environmental feasibility of the several types of geothermal resources, and to address the legal and institutional problems concerned in the stimulation and regulation of this new industry.

Green, R. J.↗

The NSF/RANN FY 1975 program for geothermal resources research and technology

The specific goal of the NSF geothermal program is the rapid development by industry of the nation's geothermal resources that can be demonstrated to be commercially, environmentally and socially acceptable as alternate energy sources. NSF, as the lead agency for the federal geothermal energy research program, is expediting a program which encompasses the objectives necessary for significant utilization. These include: acceleration of exploration and assessment methods to identify commercial geothermal resources; development of innovative and improved technology to achieve economic feasibility; evaluation of policy options to resolve environmental, legal, and institutional problems; and support of experimental research facilities for each type of geothermal resource. Specific projects in each of these four objective areas are part of the NSF program for fiscal year 1975.

Kruger, P.↗

Flight management - Pilot procedures and system interfaces for the 1980-1990's

In the air transportation system of the 1980-1990's, aircraft must perform with greater precision in time and position than is possible today. Rapid development in electronics technology makes renovation in airborne-system concepts feasible. The Ames Research Center is conducting research on pilot procedures and pilot-system interfaces for such systems. Research on various pilot-system interface devices and manned simulations was conducted to study rules of distributed decision making authority among pilots and controllers with various airborne display concepts, and a pilot-oriented command logic for the control of avionic systems was studied. Results are summarized, and ongoing work and future research plans described.

Wempe, T. E.↗

Mechanisms for the emission and absorption of gravitational radiation

Following some introductory comments on the fundamentals or first principles governing jointly the emission and absorption of gravitational waves, a list is given of observational targets or goals for gravitational wave astronomy which have been selected from recent critical reviews. Then theoretical studies of plunge radiation and gravitational synchrotron radiation are surveyed, since in this area new techniques are developing rapidly although new observational prospects have not yet been found.

Misner, C. W.↗

Ocean tides

Progress in the understanding of ocean tides since the field was reviewed two years ago by Hendershott and Munk [1970] has confirmed their characterization of the field as rapidly developing. The First Geodesy/ Solid‐Earth and Ocean Physics (GEOP) Research Conference on Solid‐ Earth and Ocean Tides provided an opportunity to gather subsequent results and to view them in the context of long‐term trends in the development of the field. This review, therefore, largely picks up where that of Hendershott and Munk [1970] left off; the two reviews together are intended to provide a modern view of our state of understanding of ocean tides. Vital progress in instrumentation, in data analysis, and in the closely related field of solid‐earth tides is outlined in the accompanying summary of conference discussions beginning on page 96 of this issue.

M. C. Hendershott↗