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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 OSTI2020

Dual Phase Soft Magnetic Laminates for Low-cost, Non/Reduced-Rare-Earth Containing Electrical Machines

To accelerate the mass market adoption of electric drive vehicles, the key technology barriers in electric motors are (1) magnet cost and rare-earth element price volatility; (2) non-rare-earth electric motor performance; and (3) materials property optimization. The goal of this project was to address these barriers by advancing a unique and innovative dual phase soft magnetic material technology and demonstrating the material in a 30-kW synchronous reluctance motor without using any permanent magnet for electric vehicles. Dual phase magnetic materials offer the electric motor designer the ability to locally control the magnetic saturation level in a motor laminate, while at the same time enhancing the mechanical strength of the laminate material, resulting in an enhancement in motor performance and efficiency. Scalable dual phase soft magnetic laminates manufacturing technologies were developed in collaboration with multiple US manufacturers. 1000 lbs of alloy sheet with a thickness of 0.25mm and width of 280 mm was manufactured within the specifications. Batch sizes of up to 240 laminates per run were produced from the alloy sheet. Two prototype motors with dual phase soft magnetic laminates were designed, built, and tested. The major goal of building the subscale prototype as a pathway to develop scalable manufacturing technologies for the dual phase soft magnetic laminates was met. The additional goal of building and testing the subscale prototype in order to validate the calculated performance with the tested motor performance was also met. For the full-scale 30kW continuous power synchronous reluctance motor prototype, the tested performance met the targets in terms of continuous power at the operating speeds up to 8000 rpm. Post-test studies were conducted and the root causes for the discrepancy between the predicted and tested peak power, continuous power at high speed range, and efficiency were identified. Further modeling study showed that the dual phase rotor machine has a 27% higher torque to active weight ratio than an equivalent performance silicon steel rotor machine. Application space and multiple discussions with traction motor and electric vehicle manufacturers for commercialization of the dual phase soft magnetic material technology were identified and conducted. An initial cost model was established based on the developed manufacturing technologies with the US manufacturers. Future paths for further cost reduction were identified, including increasing the market volume by broadening the applications of the dual phase soft magnetic laminate technology for electric machines in other energy sections such as oil & gas, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and power generation.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Scientific Data Compression for Large Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulations

This Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and General Electric (GE) investigated methods for reducing the size of large computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation datasets using scientific data compression techniques. The work focused on adapting the MultiGrid Adaptive Reduction of Data (MGARD) compression framework and integrating it with high-performance I/O and visualization tools used in CFD workflows. MGARD uses hierarchical multilevel decomposition to enable error-controlled compression of floating-point scientific data while preserving quantities of interest. During the project, MGARD compression was integrated with the ADIOS I/O framework and visualization tools such as ParaView to enable efficient storage, transfer, and analysis of simulation data. The collaboration also explored approaches for improving compression performance for CFD data defined on unstructured meshes. Results demonstrate that scientific data compression can significantly reduce storage requirements and improve data management for large-scale CFD simulations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigating Material Properties of Subsurface Rock Formations Modified by Engineering Mineral Precipitation (Final Scientific and Technical Report)

Montana State University’s (MSU) Energy Research Institute (ERI), in collaboration with the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE) and the Department of Civil Engineering (CE), has conducted a long‐term research program aimed at developing a novel cementing agent to address wellbore integrity and reduce the unwanted upward migration of fluids and greenhouse gases from the subsurface. The primary technology developed through this research program is known as ureolysis‐induced calcite precipitation (UICP), which harnesses bio‐chemical processes to precipitate calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). The same general process can also be called microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) when microbes provide the process-catalyzing urease enzyme. Both terms are used in this report. Results have conclusively demonstrated that, if properly controlled, UICP can successfully seal fractures, high permeability zones, and compromised cement in the vicinity of wellbores and in nearby caprock. This technology has been successfully deployed to mitigate annular leakage in two test wells and over sixty commercial wells with a 100% success rate. This success in downhole deployment generates consideration of other subsurface applications where UICP could provide benefit to the energy sector, such as shale property modification for unconventional oil and gas recovery. The focus of this research project was to investigate fundamental material and mechanical properties of select shale cores and analyze how these properties change due to engineered mineral precipitation with the intent to control these properties to achieve a range of engineering objectives. Ultimately, the project aim was to identify valuable new areas where application of UICP might contribute to national energy security and environmental protection. The research workplan coupled UICP treatment of core samples, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterization, and mechanical strength testing at MSU with advanced X‐Ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging and numerical modeling performed by collaborators at two national laboratories, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Experimental results are useful to inform geo-mechanical models which could be applied to predict mineralized rock formation behavior at field scale. Our findings suggest that NMR and μCT methods to detect and quantify biomineral formation in shale fractures are complementary and consistent with each other. Either could be used to estimate the volume of new mineral formed by UICP in shale fractures. The use of surfactants and guar gum to enhance biomineral precipitation in shale fractures merits further research. UICP can, under some conditions, increase the tensile strength of sealed shale fractures beyond that of the intact shale. These findings demonstrate that continued research in this area may be valuable to understanding and improving shale resource recovery techniques.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Connecting AmeriFlux to the Globe, Extending the Partnership with Global Flux Network FLUXNET

We propose a project that will extend and expand the activities and contributions of AmeriFlux, to the global stage by working with our international partners to continue operating and expand the functioning of global FLUXNET database. One goal is to produce the next-generation FLUXNET dataset. This will be an integrated dataset on carbon, water and energy fluxes, on meteorological conditions and on the structure and function of the ecosystems; we have to potential to construct a new database, double the size of the La Thuile dataset, with over 2000 site-years of trace gas flux measurements, and supporting meteorological and site meta-data from over 400 sites world-wide. The production of the next FLUXNET database is critical to the activities of this ROSE’s solicitation because these data will drive many of the carbon cycle synthesis activities and the model parameterization and validation activities. A second goal is to build the next-generation, data-system that will house, distribute and query data and discover new information by the broader biogeoscience user community. The third goal is to use these data in synthesis activities that improve our understanding on how climate, weather, ecological, physiological and soil factors govern the exchange of carbon, water and energy between vegetation and the atmosphere at multiple time and space scales. The fourth goal is to act as a coordinator of the project to recruit data, to organize a workshop/conference and to build a community of data sharing and interaction across vast cultural spectrum of participating scientists. The rationale for proposing this work is based on the fact that the vast databases that are produced by flux networks cannot perpetuate and evolve without continued support of the intellectual activities of scientists who produce data, expert in databases, and scientists who use data for modeling. The actuality of a flux network takes human intervention to recruit data from different countries and cultures, to build trust to share data in open-access format, to support data users, and to collaborate. Specifically, we will develop an updated data portal that is easy to navigate and conducive for distributing, visualization, evaluation and discovery of the multiple types of flux and environmental data and information. We will foster collaboration and interactions with our national and international partners and the recruitment of data by: 1) continuing the periodic publication of the newsletter, FLUXLETTER; 2) by hosting an international conference; 3) by coordinating and launching multi-investigator data synthesis activities; and 4) by developing tools that coordinate the development of research papers resulting from the dataset. Data products include raw and gap-filled data at their native time steps (30 minute averages), data products that are integrated on daily and annual time scales and value added products like ecosystem respiration and canopy photosynthesis. Uncertainty analysis and quality control metrics will be produced in coordination with AmeriFlux and ICOS. We will also work with colleagues to expand the scope of FLUXNET beyond carbon dioxide and water vapor, and start archiving the growing methane flux databases that are being collected, world-wide. The interpretation of the flux data relies on good meta-data. We will work with data providers to populate and expand the meta-data archives. We will also work with collaborators to incorporate data from remote sensing products such as MODIS and Landsat, from corresponding climate and weather stations. Another goal is to incorporate new data on canopy structure, with recent LIDAR acquisitions, to populate the data archive with automated soil respiration and understory flux measurements, where available and local climate records for corresponding sites. And, we will collaborate with the TRY database, by merging flux data with plant trait information.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Engineered Barrier System R&D and International Collaborations – LANL (FY20): Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition

The United States Department of Energy’s Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD) program is investigating the design and safety function of generic nuclear geologic repositories in a variety of geologic settings (salt, argillite, and crystalline rock). Different configurations and loadings of spent nuclear fuel and waste within disposal canisters are also being investigated, some of which have the potential to generate repository temperatures higher than previously considered (i.e., temperatures >100ºC) by foreign and domestic concepts. This report expands on engineered barrier material stability in a high temperature crystalline rock repository through high temperature hydrothermal experiments. Experiments were designed to develop engineered barrier system (EBS) concepts in a hightemperature crystalline environment in 1) bentonite-Grimsel Granodiorite interactions, 2) bentonite-cement reactions, and 3) interaction between waste canister materials and bentonite. Experiment results are applied to understanding long-term repository performance in terms of radionuclide isolation. One hydrothermal experiment was completed in the rocking autoclaves at LANL in FY-20: IEBS-6 (Grimsel Granodiorite + Wyoming bentonite + cured ordinary Portland cement + Grimsel Granodiorite synthetic groundwater, 250ºC/150 bar, 8 weeks). Several other experiments were planned but were delayed due to the COVID-19 pause in laboratory work. In addition, some characterization of the reaction products of experiments conducted in FY-20 was prevented by COVID-19. Mineral phase chemistry was not measured via electron microprobe analyses for IEBS-6. Quantitative X-ray diffraction results from IEBS-6 and HBT-1 were not completed. The missing analyses and discussion of the results will be included in next year’s report. New characterization that was completed includes scanning electron microscopy of reaction products from IEBS-6, quantitative X-ray diffraction results are presented from IEBS-1 through IBES-5, preliminary scanning electron microscope images and chemical analyses for IEBS-6, X-ray diffraction of the clay fraction from all experiments, measurement/imaging of mineral growth on the surface of steel coupons. Major observations pertaining to bentonite stability in a Grimsel Granodiorite environment include the stability of Na-montmorillonite at 250°C, the formation of trace CSH phases, and the formation of bentonite colloids on experiment cooling. The addition of a cured chip of Portland cement to the bentonite-Grimsel system results in slightly higher pH values and the formation of diverse secondary mineral phases that were not observed in the previous experiments (e.g., analcime, garronite, CSH phases). The new characterization efforts related to the interaction of stainless-steel coupons and bentonite clay focused on thickness and mineralogy of phases that formed at the steel surface. In Wyoming bentonite + Grimsel Granodiorite systems, newly formed minerals at the bentonitesteel coupon interface included alteration of the outermost steel edge to Fe,Cr-oxide phases, followed by Fe-rich phyllosilicates (Fe-saponite, chlorite) and interbedded Fe,Cr,Ni-sulfide phases (pentlandite). Hydrothermal experiments were completed to assess uranium-carbonate complexation at conditions relevant to high-temperature disposal. Autoclave solubility experiments were conducted at 150 to 250ºC with a range of carbonate and uranium concentrations. The experiment results were characterized via situ UV-Visible spectroscopy and synchrotron-based in situ XAS techniques. Results show a significant decrease in the stability of uranyl-carbonate complexes at temperatures above 100ºC along with the precipitation of uranium oxides. Further, at T > 200ºC, results show that uranyl-hydroxyl complexes control solubility of uranium instead of the previously predicted uranyl-carbonate species. These results are significant for understanding the mobility of uranium in the EBS, which will likely contain carbonate-rich fluids. International research efforts focused on three main areas: 1) participation in international conferences, 2) building collaborations with foreign repository programs, and 3) the initiation of an experimental program to complement the full-scale HotBENT test at the Grimsel test site. This experiment included Wyoming bentonite + low carbon steel + Grimsel Granodiorite synthetic groundwater and was run at the planned maximum temperature of the HotBENT test (200°C). Complete characterization of reaction products was hindered by disruptions to laboratory work but will be reported in the next FY. The experimental results obtained in FY-20 continue to document the wide-ranging effects of bulk composition and pressure-temperature conditions in the mineralogical and geochemical evolution of a high-temperature repository environment. Concepts developed will be used to inform models of long-term material stability in a generic crystalline rock-hosted repository.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of a Multi-Robot System for Autonomous Inspection of Nuclear Waste Tank Pits

This paper introduces the overall design plan, development timeline, and preliminary progress of the Autonomous Pit Exploration System project. This project aims to develop an advanced multi-robot system for the efficient inspection of nuclear waste-storage tank pits. The project is structured into three phases: Phase 1 involves data collection and interface definition in collaboration with Hanford Site experts and university partners, focusing on tank riser geometry and hardware solutions. Phase 2 includes the selection of sensors and robot components, detailed mechanical design, and prototyping. Phase 3 integrates all components into a cohesive system managed by a master control package which also incorporates digital twin and surrogate models, and culminates in comprehensive testing and validation at a simulated tank pit at the Idaho National Laboratory. Additionally, the system’s communication design ensures coordinated operation through shared data, power, and control signals. For transportation and deployment, an electric vehicle (EV) is chosen to support the system for a full 10 h shift with better regulatory compliance for field deployment. A telescopic arm design is selected for its simple configuration and superior reach capability and controllability. Preliminary testing utilizes an educational robot to demonstrate the feasibility of splitting computational tasks between edge and cloud computers. Successful simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) tasks validate our distributed computing approach. More design considerations are also discussed, including radiation hardness assurance, SLAM performance, software transferability, and digital twinning strategies.

Nuclear waste management↗
DOE OSTI2020

Innovative Approaches to the Decommissioning of a Redundant Plutonium Processing Facility - 20147

At Sellafield, in the North West of the United Kingdom (UK), there are a number of redundant plutonium processing facilities. Over the past three decades several decommissioning strategies have been deployed to clean up these redundant facilities. Whilst there have been many successes previously reported, there remain many challenges. As previously presented at WM2017 (Paper Ref 17081) some of these challenges have recently been addressed through a new approach which introduced a number of innovations. The purpose of these innovations is to seek ways to significantly reduce risks to both decommissioning personnel and the environment by minimising the extent of physical 'hands on' decommissioning activities and by simplifying the waste production process. This paper provides an update on the progress of these innovations since 2017. Additionally, the paper also provides details of the new decommissioning technologies which have been introduced over the past 2 years to enable the most challenging aspects of the redundant plutonium processing facility to be decommissioned. These new decommissioning technologies address challenges associated with the preparation of process vessels and pipework to enable their safe in-situ size reduction by remote means: - New decommissioning techniques have been introduced to allow penetrations to be remotely cut into process vessels and pipework to provide a means of accessing and controlling the venting of any potential hydrogen gas present. - Additionally, a new large scale bespoke remote diamond wire cutting machine has been designed and manufactured to enable the process vessels to be size reduced in situ. Both of these new cutting technologies have involved collaborative working with specialist equipment suppliers including extensive development, trialling demonstration and commissioning prior to bringing the equipment into operational service. Several years of work have now culminated in reaching the final stages of decommissioning of the redundant plutonium processing facility with decommissioning of the final process vessels now underway and completion expected by the end of 2019. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2019

The neutron electric dipole moment experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source

Novel experimental techniques are required to make the next big leap in neutron electric dipole moment experimental sensitivity, both in terms of statistics and systematic error control. The nEDM experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source (nEDM@SNS) will implement the scheme of Golub & Lamoreaux [Phys. Rep., 237, 1 (1994)]. The unique properties of combining polarized ultracold neutrons, polarized 3 He, and superfluid 4He will be exploited to provide a sensitivity to ~ 10-28 e · cm. Our cryogenic apparatus will deploy two small (3 L) measurement cells with a high density of ultracold neutrons produced and spin analyzed in situ. The electric field strength, precession time, magnetic shielding, and detected UCN number will all be enhanced compared to previous room temperature Ramsey measurements. Our 3 He co-magnetometer offers unique control of systematic effects, in particular the Bloch-Siegert induced false EDM. Furthermore, there will be two distinct measurement modes: free precession and dressed spin. This will provide an important self-check of our results. Following five years of “critical component demonstration,” our collaboration transitioned to a “large scale integration” phase in 2018. An overview of our measurement techniques, experimental design, and brief updates are described in these proceedings.

Leung, Kent↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mic-hackathon 2024: hackathon on machine learning for electron and scanning probe microscopy

Microscopy is one of the primary sources of information on materials structure and functionality at the nanometer and atomic scales. The data generated through microscopy is often contained in well-structured datasets, enriched with extensive metadata and sample histories, although not always with the same level of detail or storage format. The broad incorporation of data management plans by major funding agencies ensures the preservation and accessibility of this data. However, deriving insights from these rich datasets remains challenging due to the lack of established code ecosystems, standardized benchmarks, and integration strategies. Correspondingly, the efficiency of data usage is very low, and time expenditures at the analysis stage are enormous. In addition to post-acquisition data analysis, the emergence of application programming interfaces by major microscope manufacturers now creates opportunities for real-time ML-based data analytics to enable automated decision making, and particularly ML-agent controlled real-time microscope operation. Despite these opportunities, there is a significant gap in integrating the ML community with the broader microscopy community, limiting the value that these methods bring to physics and materials discovery and materials optimization. Hackathons address these challenges by fostering collaboration between ML experts and microscopy professionals, encouraging the development of innovative solutions that leverage ML for microscopy and preparing the workforce of the future both for microscopy-intensive domains areas, instrument manufacturers, and ML scientists interested in real world applications for fundamental research, materials optimization, and manufacturing. The hackathon generated benchmark datasets and digital twins of microscopes that further contribute to the development of the field and establish data analysis ecosystems. All the codes can be found at GitHub(https://github.com/KalininGroup/Mic-hackathon-2024-codes-publication/tree/1.0.0.1) and Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/records/15579940).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advanced Accelerator Technology (Final Report)

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) acceleration, together with high precision RF field control and high precision beam instrumentation and control, is a key technology for future next generation accelerators. In the past 10 years, significant progress on these technologies has been made jointly at KEK and US laboratories. The research progress summarized here is Cornell University’s contribution to a continued US-Japan collaborative accelerator research effort. The combined objectives of this collaboration were to solve critical technical issues related to SRF acceleration technology, related to low emittance beam generation, and related to reducing the vertical beam size of the ATF2 final focus beam line. These joint efforts significantly advance current accelerator technologies. The specific objective of the Cornell University part of this collaboration was to develop, in close connection with KEK and FNAL, new SRF cavity Nb3Sn thin-film coating technologies for transformational cavity performance. Cornell is a world leader in the synthesis of Nb3Sn for SRF application, and has produced the first-ever next-generation non-niobium (i.e., Nb 3 Sn) prototype SRF accelerator cavities with cryogenic efficiency exceeding that of traditional niobium cavities. These next-generation Nb 3 Sn SRF cavities strongly reduce AC power consumption of SRF based accelerators, and also enable using greatly simplified cryogenic cooling infrastructure, thereby making SRF technology available to a much wider range of accelerator applications. During this project, Cornell has designed and started fabrication of a new Nb 3 Sn coating setup, which will be large enough to coat full-scale (i.e., multi-cell) SRF accelerator cavities. In addition, Cornell University has participated in other collaborative activities at KEK and partner US laboratories.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Collaborative Research: Enhancing Laser-Based Ion Sources with High Data Rate Techniques

This collaborative research project focuses on leveraging advanced machine learning techniques to analyze and optimize data from high-repetition-rate laser experiments. The main goal is to apply modern computing hardware, customized data acquisition firmware/software, and machine learning approaches to improve data analysis and experimental control. The project also explores how methodology can be developed on smaller-scale experimental setups and then translated to larger facilities within DOE's LaserNetUS network. With extensive data collection and modeling, the research aims to predict and optimize experimental parameters to enhance performance and efficiency.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cybersecurity Standards for Distributed Energy Resources: Gaps and Harmonization Strategy

This report examines cybersecurity standards for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in light of their rapid growth and increasing integration into energy systems. It identifies critical gaps in existing frameworks, including inadequate coverage of DER-specific challenges, complexities in implementing comprehensive standards, integration issues with legacy systems, adoption hurdles for newer standards, and a lack of harmonization across regulatory landscapes. The analysis highlights vulnerabilities such as data integrity risks, unauthorized device control, and denial-of-service attacks across various DER technologies like solar PV, wind turbines, energy storage systems, and hydrogen fuel cells. The report proposes a harmonization strategy to address these deficiencies by developing unified cybersecurity requirements, certification programs, and training resources while fostering collaboration among stakeholders such as government agencies, industry groups, DER operators, manufacturers, and research institutions. A phased roadmap is outlined to refine and implement these measures through pilot testing and widespread adoption. Ultimately, the report underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to enhance DER cybersecurity and ensure the reliable operation of future energy systems.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Performance Analysis and Simulaion of the Hydraulic Scram System in TREAT Reactor

The Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) serves a vital role in nuclear fuel safety research, enabling transient experiments that simulate reactivity excursions and accident scenarios. Central to these operations is the transient control rod drive system (TCRDS), which drives rapid motion of the transient control rods such that TREAT can simulate rapid power changes typical of reactor accidents. The reliability and performance of this system are critical for protecting both fuel specimens and reactor infrastructure. This study presents the initial phase of a two-year investigation into the dynamics and reliability of the TREAT hydraulic TCRDS. Conducted in collaboration with INL, the research employs a combined computational and experimental approach to analyze the system's response time, pressure transients, and potential failure modes. Emphasis is placed on understanding how fluid characteristics influence the TCRDS’s ability to achieve both rapid power changes and mechanical stability. The TRDS and the skid that powers it will be analyzed throughout this investigation. Computational modeling using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) will simulate the hydraulic response under varying conditions. In parallel, experimental testing planned at INL will validate these models and capture key performance metrics. This paper outlines the system design, analytical framework, and modeling strategies that form the foundation for later testing. Ultimately, this work aims to support improvements to the TCRDS’s design and reliability, contributing to the broader goal of enhancing nuclear fuel safety and sustaining TREAT’s mission as a premier nuclear fuel test facility.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fuel performance evaluation of two high burnup PWR core designs during normal operation, control rod withdrawal, and control rod ejection scenarios

There is interest among utilities to extend the current, 18-month operating cycle to 24 months. Economically, this extension would require greater than 5 % enrichment and peak rod average discharge burnup levels above 62 GWd/MTU. A notable challenge of increasing enrichment is the resulting additional excess reactivity encountered during the early stages of fuel life. To accommodate, burnable absorbers beyond soluble boron are introduced into the fuel system. In high burnup fuels, the possibilities of cladding lift-off and fuel melting increase due, in part, to increased rod internal pressures and limited fuel thermal conductivity, respectively. This work collaboratively employs PARCS, RELAP5-3D, and BISON to compare the fuel performance of two high burnup fuel candidates with higher than 5 % enrichment. Here, the fuel performance parameters were compared to current NRC guidance. The results demonstrate an annular fuel design with homogenously blended gadolinium as a burnable absorber operates with greater safety margins during normal operation, allowing for additional operational flexibility. During normal operation, the core design utilizing Integral Fuel Burnable Absorber pins contained fuel pins which reached plenum pressures above 15.5 MPa by the end of the first fuel cycle and fuel pins experienced cladding hoop strains above 1 %. In the Gd core design, only two observed pins experienced plenum pressures above 15.5 MPa and no pins exceeded 1 % cladding hoop strain. During the control rod withdrawal scenario, plenum pressures for pins in both designs marginally exceeded system pressure, however neither experienced excessive hoop strain. The Gd core design experienced a maximum fuel temperature of 2418 K, which is significantly higher than the Integral Fuel Burnable Absorber design at 2157 K, but still within regulatory guidance. We predicted that the fuel in both could return to service after the CRW event. We also predicted that cladding would not fail during the Control Rod Ejection in either core design. Generally, the Integral Fuel Burnable Absorber core design performed with greater safety margin with regards to temperature during normal operation and the transient events. However, the Gd core design performed with greater safety margin regarding plenum pressure and hoop strain limits during normal operation and both transient events.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Development of FELIX based readout system for HV-CMOS sensor testbeam

The High Voltage CMOS (HV-CMOS) sensors are extensively investigated by the ATLAS collaboration for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) upgrade of the Inner Tracker (ITk) detector. The HV-CMOS technology is a commercial integrated circuit process with the advantages of monolithic readout and fast charge collection. A front-end test platform of CaRIBOu (Control and Readout Itk BOard) and a testbeam Telescope based on the ATLAS IBL (Insertable B-Layer) silicon pixel modules, have been developed for the HV-CMOS sensor study and characterization in testbeam experiments. The Front-End LInk eXchange (FELIX) system is a newapproach to function as the gateway between detector front-end electronics and the commodity switched network in the ATLAS upgrade. A FELIX based readout system has been developed for both the CaRIBOu and the testbeam Telescope. It has been deployed successfully in the testbeam at theCERNSPS H8 beamline in August 2017. The test results show that the readout system is capable of sensor calibration and readout of a high-density pixel detector with high trigger rate in testbeam experiments.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Detailed study of quark-hadron duality in spin structure functions of the proton and neutron

Background: The response of hadrons, the bound states of the strong force (QCD), to external probes can be described in two different, complementary frameworks: as direct interactions with their fundamental constituents, quarks and gluons, or alternatively as elastic or inelastic coherent scattering that leaves the hadrons in their ground state or in one of their excited (resonance) states. The former picture emerges most clearly in hard processes with high momentum transfer, where the hadron response can be described by the perturbative expansion of QCD, while at lower energy and momentum transfers, the resonant excitations of the hadrons dominate the cross section. The overlap region between these two pictures, where both yield similar predictions, is referred to as quark-hadron duality and has been extensively studied in reactions involving unpolarized hadrons. Some limited information on this phenomenon also exists for polarized protons, deuterons, and 3 He nuclei, but not yet for neutrons. Purpose: In this paper, we present comprehensive and detailed results on the correspondence between the extrapolated deep inelastic structure function g 1 of both the proton and the neutron with the same quantity measured in the nucleon resonance region. Thanks to the fine binning and high precision of our data, and using a well-controlled perturbative QCD (pQCD) fit for the partonic prediction, we can make quantitative statements about the kinematic range of applicability of both local duality and global duality. Method: We use the most updated QCD global analysis results at high x from the Jefferson Lab Angular Momentum Collaboration to extrapolate the spin structure function g 1 into the nucleon resonance region and then integrate over various intervals in the scaling variable x. We compare the results with the large data set collected in the quark-hadron transition region by the CLAS Collaboration, including, for the first time, deconvoluted neutron data, integrated over the same intervals. We present this comparison as a function of the momentum transfer Q 2 . Results: We find that, depending on the integration interval and the minimum momentum transfer chosen, a clear transition to quark-hadron duality can be observed in both nucleon species. Furthermore, we show, for the first time, the approach to scaling behavior for g 1 measured in the resonance region at sufficiently high momentum transfer. Conclusions: Here, our results can be used to quantify the deviations from the applicability of pQCD for data taken at moderate energies and can help with extraction of quark distribution functions from such data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Monitoring and Enhancing Plant Productivity

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing extensive capabilities to improve plant drought tolerance; water and nutrient use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and natural systems. By monitoring plant function, stress responses, water and nutrient use, greenhouse gas emissions, and analyzing rhizosphere and plant microbiomes, results have shown improved plant performance and stress tolerance, production of plant pro- and prebiotics, and ability to control greenhouse gas emissions from indoor and outdoor agricultural systems. We seek a commercialization partner to fund precision agriculture specific research & development (R&D) through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). Our goal is to further research and develop our laboratory scale capabilities with a collaborative partner to achieve two goals: 1) reduce the use of water and fertilization in agricultural systems; and 2) create carbon neutral food and energy technologies to support precision agriculture at commercial scale.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Concentrating Rare Earth Elements in Coal mine drainage Using Coal Combustion Products through Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation

Rare earth elements (REEs) (including scandium, yttrium and a group of 15 lanthanides) are often considered to be critical components in the productions of renewable energy hardware, electric vehicles, health care and military equipment, and consumer electronic products. The demand of REEs has been projected to be growing at an annual rate of 5-9% in the next 25 years. In 2011, the global demand of total rare earth oxides (REOs) was estimated to be approximately 105,000 tons, which is expected to grow to 210,000 tons by 2025. China overwhelmingly dominates the current worldwide rare earth productions but has strategically restricted its exports, causing significant instability for the global market. In response to the increasing demand for REEs and the supply dominance of China, identifying alternative sources of REEs has become a critical issue for the United States and other countries. Coal, coal ash, and coal mine drainage (CMD) are considered to be the alternative sources of REEs. In the U.S., high REE concentrations have been reported to be closely associated with coal deposits, including the Appalachian Basins. When surface and/or groundwater come in contact with geologic strata containing sulfide minerals exposed by coal mining, the accelerated oxidation of sulfide minerals in the presence of ferric iron and/or oxygen can produce sulfuric acid. The process promotes the weathering of REE-bearing rocks and minerals in the host geologic strata. Compared to average river water and seawater, the concentrations of REEs can be orders of magnitude higher in CMD. In this study, we demonstrated a trap-extract-precipitate (TEP) process that can effectively recover REEs from CMD. The three-stage TEP process uses alkaline industrial by-products to capture REEs from CMD and then applies an extraction/precipitation procedure to produce a feedstock that can be economically processed to produce marketable rare earth oxides. The alkaline industrial by-products tested in this study include the residual from a water softening process (DRWP sludge) and two types of stabilized flue gas desulfurization materials (sFGDs). sFGD material is a mixture of lime (CaO) and two coal combustion by-products, calcium sulfite FGD by-product and fly ash. The objectives of this study are to (1) validate the effectiveness and feasibility; (2) determine mechanisms controlling the rare earth recovery, (3) quantify the associated economic and environmental benefits, and (4) evaluate the full-scale application. To achieve these objectives, tasks to be carried out in this proposed project are organized into three phases. In the first phase, the research team collaborated with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, American Electric Power, The Wilds (a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization), and a private landowner to carry out field investigations aimed to screen and evaluate the seasonal changes of rare earths in the CMD discharges that have high recovery potentials. Next, the recovery of REEs from CMD was tested using a series of lab-scale column and batch tests under, respectively, percolation and completely mixed conditions. Results obtained from these lab-scale studies show that all three tested solids are very effective in retaining REEs. Over 98% of the CMD REEs that contacted the solids were captured before the solids exhausted their neutralization capacities. We also determined an extraction process using a non-acid, organic ligand extraction solution that can effectively remobilize the retained REEs from the spent solids (over 90%). The REE concentrate (>7.5 wt. % of total REEs) is then formed in an aeration process. The TEP process uses environmentally benign industrial by-products and a naturally-occurring organic ligand to mitigate CMD and recover REEs. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out in the third phase. The engineering-economic costs and net energy, net CO2 emissions, and water and other requirements were investigated to understand the economic and environmental implications of this process. This work uses mass and energy balances from laboratory-scale experiments to estimate the economic costs and environmental impacts. The results suggest that passive treatment systems that use DRWP sludge are preferred over those that use sFGD material, because of lower economic costs ($89,300/yr with a unit cost of $86/gT-REE vs. $89,800/yr, or $278/gT-REE) and improved environmental performance across all indicators from two different impact assessment methods. These differences are largely attributable to the larger capacity of DRWP sludge in the passive treatment application. We envision this TEP process can be integrated with abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation to create an approach that can add economic incentives for AML reclamation, remediate CMD discharge, and eliminate public safety hazards and threats to local environment and ecological systems posed by AMLs. It can restore lands and communities that are adversely impacted by legacy mining.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗