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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 37 records · Page 2

Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste: First Feed Flowsheet - 17108

In support of hot commissioning of the Low-Activity Waste Pretreatment System (LAWPS) and the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) LAW facility, the First Feed Flowsheet was initiated to project process stream characteristics and unit operation performance. The First Feed Flowsheet uses flowsheet models to simulate the preparation of the first feed campaign in Tank Farms and the subsequent feeding of the waste to the Low-Activity Waste Pretreatment System (LAWPS) and the WTP LAW facility. Three different models were used: a chemistry model of waste transfers developed in the Environmental Simulation Program (ESP), Washington River Protection Solutions' (WRPS') dynamic gPROMS{sup TM} LAWPS flowsheet model, and WTP's Dynamic G2 flowsheet model. Information from all three models showed favorable comparison of the waste feeds and secondary liquid wastes against waste compatibility assessment and waste acceptance criteria at multiple stages in the flowsheet. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Addressing the recovery of feeding rates in post-exposure feeding bioassays: Cyathura carinata as a case study

Post-exposure bioassays are used in environmental assessment as a cost-effective tool, but the effects of organism's recovery after exposure to pollutant has not yet been addressed in detail. The recoveries of post-exposure feeding rates after being exposed to two sublethal concentrations of cadmium during two different exposure periods (48 h and 96 h) were evaluated under laboratory conditions using the estuarine isopod Cyathura carinata. Results showed that feeding depression was a stable endpoint up to 24 h after cadmium exposure, which is useful for ecotoxicological bioassays. - Highlights: • We studied recovery of post-exposure feeding rates 48–96 h after cadmium exposure. • The assay is based on the isopod Cyathura carinata. • Post-exposure feeding inhibition is a stable sublethal endpoint.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Foaming during Nuclear Waste Melter Feeds Conversion to Glass: Application of Evolved Gas Analysis

During the final stages of batch-to-glass conversion in a waste-glass melter, gases evolving in the cold cap produce primary foam, the formation and collapse of which control the glass production rate via its effect on heat transfer to the reacting batch. We performed quantitative evolved gas analysis (EGA) for several HLW melter feeds with temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 1150 °C, the whole temperature span in a cold cap. EGA results were supplemented with visual observation of batch-to-glass transition using the feed expansion tests. Upon heating, most of the gases—mainly H2O, CO2, NO, NO2, N2 and O2—evolve at temperatures below 700 °C and escape directly to the atmosphere through open porosity. However, as open porosity closes when enough glass-forming melt appears at 720 °C, the residual gas evolution leads to the formation of primary foam. We found that primary foaming is mostly caused by the decomposition of residual carbonates, though oxygen evolution from iron-redox reaction can also play a role. We also show that the gas evolution shifts to a higher temperature when the heating rate increases. The implications for the mathematical modeling of foam layer in the cold cap are presented.

Hujova, Miroslava↗

A Direct Ammonia Fuel Cell with a KOH-Free Anode Feed Generating 180 mW cm −2 at 120 °C

The motivations to operate the direct ammonia fuel cell (DAFC) with no addition of aqueous base, include facilitated fuel management and prevention of corrosion and shunt currents in the DAFC stack. We describe here a polymer electrolyte DAFC, operating at a cell temperature (T cell ) of 120 °C on ammonia and water alone as anode feed, that demonstrated peak power of 180 mW cm −2 —a record for this type of fuel cell. We offer a detailed analysis of polarization curves recorded for PE-DAFCs in the T cell range of 60 °C–120 °C, allowing to estimate the effects of KOH-free operation on the ionic and faradaic resistances, R i and R F , that determine together the value of R app , CL – an , the apparent resistance of the anode catalyst layer. The latter resistance drops ten times between 60 °C and 120 °C as result mainly of the drop in R F . Consequently, DAFC performance at T cell > 100 °C improves substantially, including the cell performance on a KOH-free anode feed. The demsontrated performance levels reported here for KOH-free DAFCs support further development of this type of ammonia/air fuel cells.

Achrai, Ben↗

Melter Feed Reactions at T ≤ 700°C for Nuclear Waste Vitrification

To understand feed‐to‐glass conversion for the vitrification of nuclear waste, we investigated batch reactions and phase transitions in a simulated nuclear waste glass melter feed heated at 5 K/min up to 700°C using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. To determine the content and composition of leachable phases, we performed leaching tests; the leachates were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. By 400°C, gibbsite and sodium borates lost water and converted to amorphous phase, whereas other metallic hydroxides dehydrated to oxides. Between 400°C and 700°C, carbonates decomposed before 500°C; amorphous aluminum oxide and calcium oxide reacted with the sodium borate and formed the more durable amorphous borate phase along with intermediate crystalline products; above 500°C, quartz began to dissolve, and hematite started to convert to trevorite.

Xu, Kai↗

Uranium Resource Recovery from Desalination Plant Feed and Reject Water Using Amidoxime Functionalized Adsorbent

With global demand for nuclear power expected to rise, new nuclear fuel resources must be explored to ensure the viability and sustainability of nuclear power. Uranium recovery from seawater is one potential source, though the low concentration of uranium in seawater is a significant obstacle. As a concentrate of seawater, desalination brine reject would have a significantly higher uranyl concentration. In this work, the adsorption of uranium and competing ions in brine reject is investigated. Adsorption experiments were performed over 84 days in 5-gallon batch tanks with amidoxime adsorbents and samples taken from the feed seawater and reverse osmosis brine reject of the Tampa Bay Desalination Plant. The aqueous concentration and adsorbed mass of uranium, zinc, copper, iron, vanadium, calcium, and magnesium were determined through inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Aqueous adsorption modeling was used to simulate speciation and adsorption of these ions under the experimental conditions. The adsorbed mass of uranium in seawater was 6.22 mg/g adsorbent which declined to 3.95 mg/g in brine. This is a result of increased competition from iron and vanadium whose adsorbed masses increased from 1.06 to 3.00 mg/g and 1.05 to 2.67 mg/g, respectively. Good agreement between experimental and predicted results was obtained for all ions in seawater. Uranium adsorption was overpredicted in brine which may be attributed to the presence of other competing ions and the system not being at equilibrium. Furthermore, results demonstrate that the influence of competing ions, such as those of iron and vanadium, on uranium adsorption would need to be reduced for brine reject to become a significant uranium resource.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Investigation of the effect of a power feed vacuum gap in solid liner experiments at 1 MA

We present an experimental study of plasma initiation of a solid metal liner at the 1 MA level. In contrast to previous work, we introduce a vacuum gap at one of the liner connections to the power feed to investigate how this affects plasma initiation and to infer how this may affect the symmetry of the liner in compression experiments. We observed that the vacuum gap causes non-uniform plasma initiation both azimuthally and axially in liners, diagnosed by gated optical imaging. Using magnetic field probes external to the liner, we also determined that the optical emission is strongly linked to the current distribution in the liner. The apparent persistent of azimuthal non-uniformities may have implications for fusion-scale liner experiments.

Bott-Suzuki, S. C.↗

Characterization of tapered slot antenna feeds and feed arrays

A class of feed antennas and feed antenna arrays used in the focal plane of paraboloid reflectors and exhibiting higher than normal levels of cross-polarized radiation in the diagonal planes is addressed. A model which allows prediction of element gain and aperture efficiency of the feed/reflector system is presented. The predictions are in good agreement with experimental results. Tapered slot antenna (TSA) elements are used an example of an element of this type. It is shown that TSA arrays used in multibeam systems with small beam spacings are competitive in terms of aperture efficiency with other, more standard types of arrays incorporating waveguide type elements.

Kim, Young-Sik↗

Recovery from feeding unconditioned feed to part of the solvent extraction process in Thorp - 14430

A recent event in the Thorp Reprocessing Plant involved unconditioned feed being sent to one of the main process solvent extraction vessels. As the feed was unconditioned the fissile material was lost to the aqueous raffinate stream. The plant was tripped and shutdown in line with the baseline criticality safety case. This paper describes the recovery option that was taken to remove the Pu from the raffinate tank and safely consign it to the downstream effluent vessels. Key assumptions that were fundamental to maintaining criticality safety throughout these operations were clearly highlighted in the supporting criticality safety assessment. Key learning points that are of relevance to the wider criticality safety assessment community are pulled out at the end of this paper. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Using steam explosion or AFEX™ to produce animal feeds and biofuel feedstocks in a biorefinery based on sugarcane residues: Using Steam Explosion or AFEX™ to Produce Animal Feeds and Biofuel Feedstocks in a Biorefinery Based on Sugarcane Residues

Sustainable integration of biofuel (primarily bioethanol) and highly digestible livestock feed in production systems is a potential way to increase the economic returns to agriculture and simultaneously promote energy security, particularly in developing countries. In this work we evaluated the efficacy of steam explosion (StEx) and ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX™) as potential processes for improving the in vitro rumen digestibility, metabolizable energy, and ethanol yields from sugarcane crop residues (bagasse and cane leaf matter, CLM). Ammonia fiber expansion pretreatment enhanced the in vitro true digestibility and metabolizable energy content of sugarcane crop residues by 69% and 26%, respectively compared to untreated controls. On the other hand, StEx increased the true digestibility and metabolizable energy content of the sugarcane residues by 54% and 7%, respectively. Ammonia fiber expansion also increased the total nitrogen content of both sugarcane bagasse and CLM to more than 20.2 g kg -1 dry forage, a more than 230% improvement relative to untreated controls. High solid-loading enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of StEx- and AFEX™-pretreated sugarcane crop residues generated yields of up to 3368 and 4360 L of ethanol per hectare of sugarcane cultivated, respectively, at a biomass-degrading enzyme dosage of 20 mg protein per gram glucan. This research strongly suggests that the use of suitably pretreated sugarcane crop residues in integrated sugarcane biofuel-livestock production systems can increase the total per hectare agricultural output without increasing the area of sugarcane cultivated. In effect, this integrated approach promotes more sustainable biofuel production and increased food production while avoiding the potential for indirect land use change.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗