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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 OSTI2024

MFANS 2024 - Formally Proving Characteristics of Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are engineered systems that rely on the smooth integration of computational algorithms and physical elements. This integration presents new challenges for verifying that systems will behave as expected. The goal of this presentation is to present current challenges and potential solutions for the formal verification of cyber-physical systems. For cyber systems, formal methods refer to systematically rigorous mathematical techniques employed in the specification, development, analysis, and verification of both software and hardware systems. Recent advancements in computer science have yielded sophisticated tools specifically designed to address challenges associated with formal methods in complex systems. These tools leverage various foundational concepts such as logic, formal languages, program semantics, type systems, type theory, and automata theory. A notable achievement in the application of formal methods is the seL4 microkernel, claimed to be the first general-purpose operating-system kernel to be verified. Its proof implies the absence of bugs and guarantees that the kernel meets specifications. For physical systems, dynamic and control theory has a history of using rigorous analytic techniques to prove functional correctness. Lyapunov, optimal, classical, modern, and robust control theories all provide rigorous mathematical methods both to analyze system performance and to design controller that can be guaranteed to meet certain objectives. Recent computational techniques like level set theory and reachability analysis provide assertions that a system's state will avoid unsafe regions. Even though success has been independently achieved for cyber systems and physical systems, the integration of such systems creates new challenges. In particular, there is an obvious discrepancy between finite-state machines and infinite-state systems, resulting in different approaches for modeling and analyzing these system. While it is possible to simulate hybrid systems, this provides only a demonstration of a performance and not proof. For hybrid systems, current formal methods and system analysis approaches typically require a workarounds to work on hybrid systems like CPS. This paper will outline the state of the art and limits of current practice for formally verifying CPS and will identify possible research directions that require attention.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Primary Pump Motor Area - Transfer Fan Replacement PLC Design

My poster is about a project that I have worked on in my time at ATR as an intern. The Heating and Ventilation Control Panel (HVB-1) controls thirty-five heating and ventilation fans within the Advanced Test Reactor. This control panel needs replacement, as many of the components inside the existing panel are becoming old and degrading. In preparation for this replacement effort, concepts and component identification for the new control panel needed to be developed. Instead of replacing the new panel with replacement mechanical components, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is proposed as a solution. Although multiple fans are associated with this panel, my poster focuses on the replacement design for the Primary Pump Motor Area Transfer Fan. This will provide an example of how the entire cabinet may be upgraded.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A flexible data acquisition system architecture for the Nab experiment

Here, the Nab experiment will measure the electron–neutrino correlation and Fierz interference term in free neutron beta decay to test the Standard Model and probe Beyond the Standard Model physics. Using National Instrument’s PXIe-5171 Reconfigurable Oscilloscope module, we have developed a data acquisition system that is not only capable of meeting Nab’s specifications, but flexible enough to be adapted in situ as the experimental environment dictates. The L1 and L2 trigger logic can be reconfigured to optimize the system for coincidence event detection at runtime through configuration files and LabVIEW controls. This system is capable of identifying L1 triggers at a rate of at least 1 MHz, while reading out a peak signal rate of approximately 2 GB/s. During the commissioning phase of the experiment, the system ran at a sustained readout rate of 400 MB/s of detector signal data originating from roughly 6 kHz L2 triggers, well within the peak performance of the system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Control System Upgrade for Canal ARC SAW

Upgrading the specific components of the Arc Saw, such as the HMI, the components of the chassis involving the I/O modules, servo motor modules, and PLC modules offers numerous advantages. By enhancing the HMI, the operators will benefit having a user-friendly interface, enabling smoother control and monitoring of the ARC SAW’s functionality. Upgrading the modules will contribute to an improved precision and responsiveness in changing modes of the ARC SAW as well as the adjusting the saw blades position, further enhancing the system's overall performance. These upgrades, while maintaining the same functionality, enable the latest technological advancements without needing significant changes or disruptions to existing operations.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

StructuredFuzzer: Fuzzing Structured Text-Based Control Logic Applications

Rigorous testing methods are essential for ensuring the security and reliability of industrial controller software. Fuzzing, a technique that automatically discovers software bugs, has also proven effective in finding software vulnerabilities. Unsurprisingly, fuzzing has been applied to a wide range of platforms, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs). However, current approaches, such as coverage-guided evolutionary fuzzing implemented in the popular fuzzer American Fuzzy Lop Plus Plus (AFL++), are often inadequate for finding logical errors and bugs in PLC control logic applications. They primarily target generic programming languages like C/C++, Java, and Python, and do not consider the unique characteristics and behaviors of PLCs, which are often programmed using specialized programming languages like Structured Text (ST). Furthermore, these fuzzers are ill suited to deal with complex input structures encapsulated in ST, as they are not specifically designed to generate appropriate input sequences. This renders the application of traditional fuzzing techniques less efficient on these platforms. To address this issue, this paper presents a fuzzing framework designed explicitly for PLC software to discover logic bugs in applications written in ST specified by the IEC 61131-3 standard. The proposed framework incorporates a custom-tailored PLC runtime and a fuzzer designed for the purpose. We demonstrate its effectiveness by fuzzing a collection of ST programs that were crafted for evaluation purposes. We compare the performance against a popular fuzzer, namely, AFL++. The proposed fuzzing framework demonstrated its capabilities in our experiments, successfully detecting logic bugs in the tested PLC control logic applications written in ST. On average, it was at least 83 times faster than AFL++, and in certain cases, for example, it was more than 23,000 times faster.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

From Obsolete to Optimal (ATR Demineralized Water System)

My project was migrating a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) program from legacy software to a modern platform, enhancing operational efficiency and eliminating unsupported, obsolete equipment. Initially, I used a migration tool to transfer the programs to the new software, then manually updated variables to align with the new PLC. I optimized the PLC code by leveraging new scaling features in the I/O cards, removing over 45 obsolete rungs, and enhancing clarity with functional tag aliases. Next, I modernized the HMI's visuals with an updated color scheme and 3D buttons. I developed multiple interface versions iteratively refining them based on operator feedback. I also designed and created a dedicated "Rounds" screen incorporating insights from a previous intern’s project to streamline daily rounds. To improve clarity, consistency, and efficiency I redesigned the entire interface. Adding visual indicators to enhance operational awareness: red is used for values outside normal specifications, green for normal operating modes, yellow for manual mode, and grey for offline units. Additionally, I added a dynamic visual representation of tank levels, creating PLC logic to show the level in inches as well as inches and feet. I then incorporated a navigation sidebar to facilitate efficient screen transitions. Risk of human error was mitigated by defining narrow input ranges for tank level shutoff and password protecting setpoint changes. I also fixed issues with datatypes that caused inaccuracies in the original code. Overall, this comprehensive upgrade significantly enhanced the HMI's functionality, user experience, and operational reliability.

47 - OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

SULI Deliverables Using: Python-B1500 [Slides]

A new electrical setup for testing ECRAM devices is described in this presentation. This presentation details the background of ECRAM devices, how the B1500 is used to program ECRAM devices, and the python GUI that was created for controlling the B1500. ECRAM devices are a form of non-volatile memory. The stored data is the resistance between two of the terminals on the device. Using only the B1500, the ECRAM devices can be programmed and the state read out. This creates a simple, logical testing setup. The overall setup was successful, ECRAM devices could easily be programmed and measured. However, there is still room for improvement. Specifically, in the creation of an automated “Program” feature and a “Data Collection” feature. These features will require additional advances in the understanding of ECRAM devices but will greatly automate and improve the current data collection and application of ECRAM devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Rate expressions and kinetic parameters for metal ferrites in relation to applications of fossil fuel conversion to hydrogen: Part 1 of 2

Here, the goal of the present work was to provide the necessary reaction emulation information to enable detailed process simulation of a chemical looping H 2 production system from fossil fuels using CaFe 2 O 4 . This specifically pertained to the necessary kinetic data, reaction model development, and model rate parameters required for reaction emulation in both reducing and oxidizing environments. A logical methodology was defined, which included discretization of the reaction network, establishing a core model for reaction emulation that could be adapted based on the system phenomena, and development of a rate parameter regression tool designed around the core model. An extensive array of data sets was acquired by which parametric regressions were performed. The work presented and tabulated a comprehensive set of rate parameters for the reduction and oxidation reactions of CaFe 2 O 4 and descendent phases of Ca 2 Fe 2 O 5 , FeO, Fe 3 O 4 , Fe, and CaO to emulate reaction behavior in a looping-based process environment. This included direct reduction using CH 4 , H 2 , and CO, and direct oxidation reactions with steam, CO 2 and O 2 . Dynamic equilibrium was quantified for reactions that could utilize H 2 O and CO 2 as soft oxidants to re-saturate lattice oxygen in the depleted structure/phases. The kinetics associated with the oxidative mechanisms with the soft oxidants were quantified and compared to those of the reducing counterparts. The analysis provided critical insight to emulate reactions for a process that seeks to use natural gas (NG) or other fossil fuels as a direct reductant for the end goal of H 2 production.

calcium ferrite oxygen carriers↗
DOE OSTI2026

Magnetic flux imaging in a 3D superconductor integrated circuit

We report on imaging magnetic flux distributions in a multilayered superconductor integrated circuit which emerge during magnetization and after field cooling of the circuit in the DC magnetic field. The obtained complicated field maps expose the flux propagation across the patterned superconducting ground planes sandwiching layers with Josephson junction-based logic cells, fine wire grid around the functional units, and multiple superconducting fill structures located in different inner layers. The observed intricate flux distributions are explained by specific patterns of Meissner screening currents and superconducting critical currents in different mutually interacting parts of the integrated circuit. Our results provide important insights into possible ways of improving the protection of superconductor integrated circuits from magnetic fields and their resilience against flux trapping.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of Data Reporting Standards for High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) Thermal-Fluid Experiments

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy's Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) has been at the forefront of nuclear research, specifically concentrating on advancing high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technologies. By Fiscal Year 2023, NEUP has authorized 35 projects dedicated to HTGR research, each contributing significantly to the enhancement of our understanding of this technology. The outcomes of these diverse projects have been disseminated through final NEUP reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, and presentations at academic conferences, forming a comprehensive tapestry of knowledge. Despite the substantial value of these findings, their dissemination has been fragmented, posing challenges for accessibility to researchers and policymakers and leading to underutilization of DOE investments. Recognizing this critical gap and its potential consequences for the future of nuclear research, the Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART) Gas-Cooled Reactor (GCR) program conducted an extensive survey of completed and ongoing HTGR NEUP projects. This survey enabled the compilation of crucial data, resulting in the development of a specialized public-access database tailored for computational fluid dynamics and system code validation, specifically designed for HTGR applications. However, the data collection process revealed a significant challenge in central data organization due to individual researchers from different institutes employing varying logics and preferences for recording and documenting experimental data. Consequently, an urgent need has been identified to establish a standardized reporting format for HTGR experimental projects. Addressing this issue is essential for enhancing collaboration, maximizing the impact of DOE investments, and ensuring the seamless advancement of HTGR technologies in nuclear research.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

HTGR Validation: NEUP Survey and Database - Data Reporting Standard for HTGR Thermal-Fluid Experiments

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy's Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) has been at the forefront of nuclear research, specifically concentrating on advancing high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technologies. By Fiscal Year 2024, NEUP has authorized 36 projects dedicated to HTGR research, each contributing significantly to the enhancement of our understanding of this technology. The outcomes of these diverse projects have been disseminated through final NEUP reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, and presentations at academic conferences, forming a comprehensive tapestry of knowledge. Despite the substantial value of these findings, their dissemination has been fragmented, posing challenges for accessibility to researchers and policymakers and leading to underutilization of DOE investments. Recognizing this critical gap and its potential consequences for the future of nuclear research, the Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART) Gas-Cooled Reactor (GCR) program conducted an extensive survey of completed and ongoing HTGR NEUP projects. This survey enabled the compilation of crucial data, resulting in the development of a specialized public-access database tailored for computational fluid dynamics and system code validation, specifically designed for HTGR applications. However, the data collection process revealed a significant challenge in central data organization due to individual researchers from different institutes employing varying logics and preferences for recording and documenting experimental data. Consequently, an urgent need has been identified to establish a standardized reporting format for HTGR experimental projects. Addressing this issue is essential for enhancing collaboration, maximizing the impact of DOE investments, and ensuring the seamless advancement of HTGR technologies in nuclear research.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multi-Label Classification with Constraint-Based Learning for Hierarchical Consistency

We explore the limitations of traditional crossentropy loss in a hierarchical multi-label classification setting and introduce a novel loss function. This function is designed to integrate hierarchical constraints directly into the training process. By incorporating such constraints into the loss, our approach slightly improves the logical consistency of predictions in structured domains. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach through experiments on primary site and histology classification by using electronic pathology reports. These results show that our proposed hierarchical loss function enhances the model's ability to produce predictions that are logically consistent with the natural data hierarchies, and it slightly improves predictive accuracy. Our framework may be extended to other hierarchical domains, however the performance gains are context specific.

Shivanna, Abhishek [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000665228593)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Energy Analysis of Combi Heat Pump System Configurations for Space Conditioning and Domestic Hot Water Heating in Residential Buildings

Combi heat pump systems, also referred to multifunctional variable refrigerant flow heat recovery (MF-VRFHR) systems, are specifically designed for residential applications to manage both space conditioning and domestic hot water (DHW). They have attracted attention due to their potential for energy conservation through heat recovery. The incorporation of a hot water tank introduces various system configurations, each characterized by distinct pros and cons related to energy efficiency, system stability, and maintenance. Despite this, a critical gap exists as the specific energy performance remains unquantified under diverse operational modes (e.g., heating mode and heat recovery mode). This paper aims to bridge this gap by conducting a comprehensive comparative analysis of two prevalent system configurations while considering feasible proposed control logics. Configuration 1 integrates a separate hot water tank and a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger (HEX), also known as a Hydro Kit while Configuration 2 incorporates a refrigerant-wrapped hot water tank. To facilitate this analysis, we developed high-fidelity system models for both configurations in Modelica, capturing system dynamics and detailed control sequences effectively. These system models were built upon the TIL library for HVAC equipment components and the Buildings library for residential building thermal load calculations. The validation of the simulation testbed utilized data from experiments conducted in the PNNL lab home for Configuration 1. To establish the simulation testbed for Configuration 2, we extended the modeling setup derived from Configuration 1. This extension specifically involved substituting the separate hot water tank and Hydro Kit with a refrigerant-wrapped hot water tank of similar sizing sourced from an actual product. The simulation analysis of heating-only and heat recovery modes reveals that Configuration 2 not only saves energy and maintains warmer tank temperatures but also demonstrates faster water heating capabilities. This is attributed to decreased energy loss and improved heat transfer. The study encompasses a wide range of scenarios, considering diverse thermal loads and water usage patterns across heating and heat recovery modes. Overall, the comprehensive results indicate that Configuration 2 achieves energy savings ranging from 3.5% to 12.2% compared to Configuration 1, depending on factors such as water usage patterns, thermal loads, and operational modes.

Configuration, Comparison, Multi-functional, Resid↗
DOE OSTI2026

Advancements in NbTiN based circuits for Superconducting Digital Logic

Superconducting (SC) electronics have emerged as a promising platform for high-speed, energy-efficient computing and quantum information processing. This work, centered on NbTiN, presents recent advances in material science and fabrication methods leading to significant improvements in performance, scalability and vertical integration. We specifically report on fabrication and characterization of key components, including Josephson junctions (JJs), flux trapping structures and SC interconnects. Together, these efforts represent critical steps towards realizing practical, complex, dense and large-scale SC integrated circuits.

Pokhrel, A. [Imec,Heverlee,Belgium]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Accelerating polyketide synthase engineering for high TRY production of biofuels and bioproducts (Final Technical Report)

Polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymes have a modular, deterministic logic that holds the potential to act as a flexible chemical factory for the biological production of a huge diversity of valuable small molecule compounds. However, engineering a custom PKS to produce a specific desired product currently requires years of trial and error, for reasons that remain poorly understood. In this project, we have developed a rapid, high throughput, Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle for polyketide synthases (PKSs) and demonstrate its utility for production of materials precursors. The objectives are 1) to develop a rapid, high-throughput (HT) DBTL cycle for PKSs that will enable production of a large number of unnatural, organic molecules on demand at high titer, rate, and yield (TRY); 2) to demonstrate the utility of the PKS DBTL cycle to produce three molecules: one commodity chemical (caprolactam or valerolactam) and two novel materials precursors (caprolactam or valerolactam derivatives); and 3) to demonstrate the utility of the PKS DBTL cycle to increase the TRY of one molecule (caprolactam or valerolactam). In this project, we have successfully demonstrated our high throughput PKS DBTL pipeline, and have biologically produced valerolactam and several other novel nylon monomers.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Surf-Deformer: Mitigating Dynamic Defects on Surface Code via Adaptive Deformation

In this paper, we introduce Surf-Deformer, a code deformation framework that seamlessly integrates adaptive defect mitigation functionality into the current surface code workflow. It crafts several basic deformation instructions based on fundamental gauge transformations, which can be combined to explore a larger design space than previous methods. This enables more optimized deformation processes tailored to specific defect situations, restoring the QEC capability of deformed codes more efficiently with minimal qubit resources. Additionally, we design an adaptive code layout that accommodates our defect mitigation strategy while ensuring efficient execution of logical operations. Our evaluation shows that Surf-Deformer outperforms previous methods by significantly reducing the end-to-end failure rate of various quantum programs by 35× to 70×, while requiring only about 50% of the qubit resources compared to the previous method to achieve the same level of failure rate. Ablation studies show that Surf-Deformer surpasses previous defect removal methods in preserving QEC capability and facilitates surface code communication by achieving nearly optimal throughput.

Yin, Keyi↗
DOE OSTI2024

Real-Time Protocol Engineering with the B Language

It is an invariant that critical cyberphysical systems should not fail. Mission assurance requires systems to behave with predictability, especially in their ability to satisfy real-time constraints. The NIST standard for Engineering Trustworthy Secure Systems, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-160v1r1 states that formal methods are the highest level for meeting assurance requirements. There is a tension between the formal method software development process (Figure 1), which does not introduce time specificity until the latter stages of the development process (concrete model), and the need to gain confidence that time constraints will be satisfied. This paper formalizes the practical application of temporal entities e.g. Propositional Temporal Logic (PTL), Temporal Logic of Actions Plus (TLA+), etc. to critical systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Geometric Structure and Transversal Logic of Quantum Reed–Muller Codes

Designing efficient and noise-tolerant quantum computation protocols generally begins with an understanding of quantum error-correcting codes and their native logical operations. The simplest class of native operations are transversal gates, which are naturally fault-tolerant. Here, in this paper, we aim to characterize the transversal gates of quantum Reed–Muller (RM) codes by exploiting the well-studied properties of their classical counterparts. We start our work by establishing a new geometric characterization of quantum RM codes via the Boolean hypercube and its associated subcube complex. More specifically, a set of stabilizer generators for a quantum RM code can be described via transversal X and Z operators acting on subcubes of particular dimensions. This characterization leads us to define subcube operators composed of single-qubit π/2 k Z -rotations that act on subcubes of given dimensions. We first characterize the action of subcube operators on the code space: depending on the dimension of the subcube, these operators either (1) act as a logical identity on the code space, (2) implement non-trivial logic, or (3) rotate a state away from the code space. Second, and more remarkably, we uncover that the logic implemented by these operators corresponds to circuits of multi-controlled-Z gates that have an explicit and simple combinatorial description. Overall, this suite of results yields a comprehensive understanding of a class of natural transversal operators for quantum RM codes.

Reed–Muller (RM) codes↗