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At least 397 records · Page 22

Feasibility of full-core pin resolved CFD simulations of small modular reactor with momentum sources

Complex flow structure interactions and heat transfer processes take place in nuclear reactor cores. Given the extreme pressure/temperature and radioactive conditions inside the core, numerical simulations offer an attractive and sometimes more feasible approach to study the related flow and heat transfer phenomena in addition to the experiments. Under the Exascale Computing Project, the full-core simulation of a small modular reactor (SMR) has been pursued coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and neutronics. A key aspect of the modeling of SMR fuel assemblies is the presence of spacer grids and the mixing promoted by mixing vanes or the equivalent. A reduced order methodology is adopted based on momentum sources to mimic the mixing of the vanes. The momentum sources have been carefully calibrated with detailed Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of spacer grids performed with Nek5000. Modeling the spacer grid and mixing vanes (SGMV) effect without body-fitted computational grid avoids the excessive costs in resolving the local geometric details, and thus supports the simulation to be scaled up to the full core. Besides the progress on momentum source modeling, this paper also features the first full-core pin resolved CFD simulation ever performed to the authors' knowledge. This represents a significant advancement in capability for the CFD of nuclear reactors, which will hopefully serve as an inspiration for further integrating high-fidelity numerical simulations in actual engineering designs.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

HART-II Acoustic Predictions using a Coupled CFD/CSD Method

This paper documents results to date from the Rotorcraft Acoustic Characterization and Mitigation activity under the NASA Subsonic Rotary Wing Project. The primary goal of this activity is to develop a NASA rotorcraft impulsive noise prediction capability which uses first principles fluid dynamics and structural dynamics. During this effort, elastic blade motion and co-processing capabilities have been included in a recent version of the computational fluid dynamics code (CFD). The CFD code is loosely coupled to computational structural dynamics (CSD) code using new interface codes. The CFD/CSD coupled solution is then used to compute impulsive noise on a plane under the rotor using the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings solver. This code system is then applied to a range of cases from the Higher Harmonic Aeroacoustic Rotor Test II (HART-II) experiment. For all cases presented, the full experimental configuration (i.e., rotor and wind tunnel sting mount) are used in the coupled CFD/CSD solutions. Results show good correlation between measured and predicted loading and loading time derivative at the only measured radial station. A contributing factor for a typically seen loading mean-value offset between measured data and predictions data is examined. Impulsive noise predictions on the measured microphone plane under the rotor compare favorably with measured mid-frequency noise for all cases. Flow visualization of the BL and MN cases shows that vortex structures generated in the prediction method are consist with measurements. Future application of the prediction method is discussed.

Boyd, D. Douglas, Jr.↗

Sequences of seismic and aseismic slip on bimaterial faults show dominant rupture asymmetry and potential for elevated seismic hazard

Here we perform numerical simulations of sequences of earthquake and aseismic slip on planar rate and state faults separating dissimilar material within the 2-D plane strain approximation. We resolve all stages of the earthquake cycle from aseismic slip to fast ruptures while incorporating full inertia effects during seismic event propagation. We show that bimaterial coupling results in favorable nucleation site and subsequent asymmetric rupture propagation. We demonstrate that increasing the material contrast enhances this asymmetry leading to higher slip rates and normal stress drops in the preferred rupture propagation direction. The normal stress drop, induced by the bimaterial effect, leads to strong dynamic weakening of the fault and may destabilize the creeping region on a heterogeneous rate and state fault, resulting in extended rupture propagation. Such rupture penetration into creeping patches may lead to more frequent opening of earthquake gates, causing increased seismic hazard. Furthermore, bimaterial coupling may lead to irregular seismicity pattern in terms of event length, peak slip rates, and hypocenter location, depending on the properties of the creeping patches bordering the seismogenically active part of the fault. Our results highlight robust characteristics of bimaterial interfaces that persist over long sequence of events and suggest the need for further exploration of the role of material contrast in earthquake physics and models of seismic hazard.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Long duration battery sizing, siting, and operation under wildfire risk using progressive hedging

Battery sizing and siting problems are computationally challenging due to the need to make long-term planning decisions that are cognizant of short-term operational decisions. This paper considers sizing, siting, and operating batteries in a power grid to maximize their benefits, including price arbitrage and load shed mitigation, during both normal operations and periods with high wildfire ignition risk. Here we formulate a multi-scenario optimization problem for long duration battery storage while considering the possibility of load shedding during Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events that de-energize lines to mitigate severe wildfire ignition risk. To enable a computationally scalable solution of this problem with many scenarios of wildfire risk and power injection variability, we develop a customized temporal decomposition method based on a progressive hedging framework. Extending traditional progressive hedging techniques, we consider coupling in both placement variables across all scenarios and state-of-charge variables at temporal boundaries. This enforces consistency across scenarios while enabling parallel computations despite both spatial and temporal coupling. The proposed decomposition facilitates efficient and scalable modeling of a full year of hourly operational decisions to inform the sizing and siting of batteries. With this decomposition, we model a year of hourly operational decisions to inform optimal battery placement for a 240-bus WECC model in under 70 min of wall-clock time.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

The Singlet–Triplet Gap of Cyclobutadiene: The CIPSI-Driven CC( P ; Q ) Study

An accurate determination of singlet−triplet gaps in biradicals, including cyclobutadiene in the automerization barrier region where one has to balance the substantial nondynamical many-electron correlation effects characterizing the singlet ground state with the predominantly dynamical correlations of the lowest-energy triplet, remains a challenge for many quantum chemistry methods. High-level coupled-cluster (CC) approaches, such as the CC method with a full treatment of singly, doubly, and triply excited clusters (CCSDT), are often capable of providing reliable results, but routine application of such methods is hindered by their high computational costs. We have recently proposed a practical alternative to converging the CCSDT energetics at small fractions of the computational effort, even when electron correlations become stronger and connected triply excited clusters are larger and nonperturbative, by merging the CC(P;Q) moment expansions with the selected configuration interaction methodology abbreviated as CIPSI. We demonstrate that one can accurately approximate the highly accurate CCSDT potential surfaces characterizing the lowest singlet and triplet states of cyclobutadiene along the automerization coordinate and the gap between them using tiny fractions of triply excited cluster amplitudes identified with the help of relatively inexpensive CIPSI Hamiltonian diagonalizations.

Basis sets↗

Molecular Modeling and Molecular Dynamics Simulation of a Packed and Intact Bacterial Microcompartment

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are protein-bound organelles found in some bacteria which encapsulate enzymes for enhanced catalytic activity. These compartments spatially sequester enzymes within semipermeable shell proteins and are packed full of enzyme cargoes and metabolites as they fulfill their function. Coupling together recent SAXS and proteomics work, it is possible to develop molecular models for these microcompartments and interrogate enzyme and metabolite dynamics within. Our primary goal of this study is to quantify the permeability of metabolite glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) across the BMC shell through classical molecular dynamics simulation. The Haliangium ochraceum model of BMC shell (PDB: 6MZX) was used to model an intact BMC of approximately 10 million atoms. Working at this scale presented its own challenges in managing large data sets, with multiple challenges and hardware advances discussed that facilitated this work. Over approximately 750 ns of aggregate simulation, we see multiple permeation events for these metabolites that were added at high concentration through the pores present within BMC shell tiles. When compared to independent permeability estimates for the same metabolites determined through replica exchange umbrella sampling simulations, the permeabilities varied by approximately 3 orders of magnitude. Regardless, the permeability coefficients for both G3P and DHAP are highly similar and very high, such that only very small concentration gradients can be maintained across the BMC shell between the cytosol and BMC interior. The large simulation systems also facilitated comparisons for molecular diffusivity in the crowded environment within the BMC shell. By our estimates, the viscosity within a packed BMC shell is at least 10-fold higher than it would be in neat solution and is the real driver for varying permeability estimates we obtained through simulation. These findings will be used as design inputs for future bioengineering efforts to make products from BMCs, highlighting how permeable BMC shells can be.

Diffusion↗

Direct Electrochemical Reduction of CO 2 to C 2+ Chemicals: Catalysts, Microenvironments, and Mechanistic Understanding

The electrochemical reduction reaction of CO 2 (eCO 2 RR) to chemicals presents a viable solution for addressing climate change and sustainable manufacturing. In this Review, we describe the recent advancements in eCO 2 RR for multicarbon (C 2+ ) chemicals production from the aspects of catalyst structure, reaction microenvironments, and mechanistic understanding. Here, we draw experimental and theoretical comparisons between the catalyst systems containing bulk and highly dispersed metals, alloys, and metal compounds and recount new results of microenvironmental impacts as well as the catalytic mechanism. From our own recent studies, we offer some viewpoints on the electrocatalytic mechanism during complex multistep proton-coupled electron transfers and propose several research directions in unlocking the full potential of eCO 2 RR as a scalable industrial solution for CO 2 -to-C 2+ conversion.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Hyporheic Exchange Due to Cobbles on Sandy Beds

Hyporheic exchange induced by riverbed topography and roughness provides important ecosystem functions. We investigated how cobble clusters embedded in a finer-grained sand bed affect the near-bed channel flow and the exchange of surface and subsurface water. We tested how the spacing and embeddedness of cobbles altered hyporheic exchange through a three-dimensional fully coupled surface-subsurface model. The 3D modeling framework captured the full physics of the exchange process locating the lateral position of upwelling zones on the side of the cobble. As the cobbles protrude more into the channel, eddies appear downstream, with smaller vortices where cobbles are closer together. In our simulations, hyporheic exchange increased with the spacing and protrusion ratio. The travel time in the hyporheic zone also increased with the protrusion ratio because the hyporheic flow paths are longer when the cobble is more protruded. With different spacings at the highest protrusion ratio, the average slope of early time breakthrough curve was steeper for large spacing settings: the travel time increases as the spacing decreases.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Reconfigurable quantum phononic circuits via piezo-acoustomechanical interactions

Abstract We show that piezoelectric strain actuation of acoustomechanical interactions can produce large phase velocity changes in an existing quantum phononic platform: aluminum nitride on suspended silicon. Using finite element analysis, we demonstrate a piezo-acoustomechanical phase shifter waveguide capable of producing ± π phase shifts for GHz frequency phonons in 10s of μm with 10s of volts applied. Then, using the phase shifter as a building block, we demonstrate several phononic integrated circuit elements useful for quantum information processing. In particular, we show how to construct programmable multi-mode interferometers for linear phononic processing and a dynamically reconfigurable phononic memory that can switch between an ultra-long-lifetime state and a state strongly coupled to its bus waveguide. From the master equation for the full open quantum system of the reconfigurable phononic memory, we show that it is possible to perform read and write operations with over 90% quantum state transfer fidelity for an exponentially decaying pulse.

Taylor, Jeffrey C. (ORCID:0000000215982436)↗

Ground and excited state properties of ThBe and AcBe

In this work, the ground and excited states of ThBe and AcBe were investigated by performing high-level multireference and single-reference coupled-cluster quantum chemical calculations with large correlation consistent basis sets. Full potential energy curves (PECs), chemical bonding patterns, energetics, spectroscopic parameters (T e , r e , ω e , and ω e x e ), and spin–orbit effects of 13 and 8 electronic states of ThBe and AcBe, respectively, are reported. The ground electronic states of ThBe and AcBe are single-reference 1 3 Σ − (1σ 2 2σ 2 1π 2 ) and 1 2 Π (1σ 2 2σ 2 1π 1 ), respectively, and originate from their corresponding ground state fragments. The chemical bonding of ThBe (1 3 Σ − ) and AcBe (1 2 Π) are π-dative in character and are formed by d-electron transfers from Th/Ac to the empty 2p x and 2p y of the Be atom. The electron populations of the f-orbitals of both ThBe (1 3 Σ − ) and AcBe (1 2 Π) are minor which exhibit their “transition-metal-like” nature. The estimated bond energies of the spin–orbit ground states of ThBe (1 3 Σ − 0+ ) and AcBe (1 2 Π 1/2 ) are 12.79 and 11.02 kcal mol −1 , respectively. Finally, the bond energy of ThBe was used to estimate its heat of formation ΔH 0 f (298 K) of 869.61 ± 6 kJ mol −1 .

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Magnetic reconnection in 3D fusion devices: non-linear reduced equations and linear current-driven instabilities

Abstract Magnetic reconnection in 3D fusion devices is investigated. With the use of Boozer co-ordinates, we reduce the non-linear resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations in the limit of large aspect ratio and finite pressure fluctuations, to obtain a set of non-linear equations suitable for magnetic reconnection studies in stellarators. Magnetic flux unfreezing due to a finite electron mass is also considered. Equations that govern the linear regime and some of their general properties are given. We emphasise the role of magnetic geometry and identify how some aspects of stellarator optimisation could have an impact on reconnecting instabilities, in particular by exacerbating those enabled by electron inertia. The effect of 3D coupling on the linear reconnection rates and the mode structure is quantitatively addressed in the case in which the equilibrium rotational transform has one specific resonant location for which one mode can reconnect while coupled to an arbitrary number of non-resonant harmonics. The full problem is rigorously reduced to an equivalent cylindrical one, by introducing some geometrically modified plasma inertial and dissipative scales. The 3D scalings for the growth rates of reconnection instabilities and their destabilisation criteria are given.

Physics↗

High dynamic range CdTe mixed-mode pixel array detector (MM-PAD) for kilohertz imaging of hard x-rays

A hard x-ray, high-speed, high dynamic range scientific x-ray imager is described. The imager is based on the mixed-mode pixel array detector (MM-PAD) readout chip coupled to a 750 µm thick cadmium telluride (CdTe) sensor. The full imager is a 2 × 3 tiled array of MM-PAD sensor/readout chip hybrids. CdTe improves detection for high energy x-rays as compared to silicon sensors, enabling efficient x-ray imaging to extend to >100 keV. The detector is capable of 1 kHz imaging and in-pixel circuitry has been designed to allow for well depths of greater than 4 × 10 6 80 keV x-rays. Here, a charge integrating front-end allows for quantitative measurement of high flux x-ray images beyond the capabilities of photon counting detectors. Detector performance is summarized and experimental measurements are presented.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Lightwave terahertz quantum manipulation of nonequilibrium superconductor phases and their collective modes

In this work, we present a gauge-invariant density matrix description of nonequilibrium superconductor (SC) states with spatial and temporal correlations driven by intense terahertz (THz) lightwaves. We derive superconductor Bloch-Maxwell equations of motion that extend Anderson pseudospin models to include the Cooper pair center-of-mass motion and electromagnetic propagation effects. We thus describe quantum control of dynamical phases, collective modes, quasiparticle coherence, and high nonlinearities during cycles of carrier wave oscillations, which relates to our recent experiments. Coherent photogeneration of a nonlinear supercurrent with a dc component, achieved via condensate acceleration by an effective lightwave field, dynamically breaks the equilibrium inversion symmetry. Experimental signatures include high harmonic light emission at equilibrium-symmetry-forbidden frequencies, Rabi-Higgs collective modes and quasiparticle coherence, and nonequilibrium moving condensate states tuned by few-cycle THz fields. We use such lightwaves as an oscillating accelerating force that drives strong nonlinearities and anisotropic quasiparticle populations to control and amplify different classes of collective modes, e.g., damped oscillations, persistent oscillations, and overdamped dynamics via Rabi flopping. Recent phase-coherent nonlinear spectroscopy experiments can be modeled by solving the full nonlinear quantum dynamics including self-consistent light-matter coupling.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

NuLattice: Ab initio computations of atomic nuclei on lattices

Here, we introduce NuLattice, a Python software package for ab initio computations of atomic nuclei on lattices. The computational tools consist of Hartree Fock, the coupled cluster method, the in-medium similarity renormalization group, and full configuration interaction. At present, the employed interactions are from pion-less effective field theory at leading order and consist of two-body and three-body contacts. We present results for light nuclei 2 H, 3,4 He, 8 Be, 12 C, and 16 O. NuLattice algorithms exploit the sparsity and locality of lattice interactions, and as a result computations can be run on laptops.

Rothman, Maxwell [Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, T↗

In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy of a Plasma Jet and Data-Driven Solution of Multi-Scale Plasma Chemistry Problems

Multi-scale problems are commonly known in many scientific and engineering fields where microscopic behaviors are coupled with macroscopic processes. This is also an unsolved problem in low-temperature plasma chemistry where hundreds of chemical species are involved in thousands of chemical reactions. To address this problem, a physics-informed data-driven modeling is developed to solve such a multi-scale problem using the experimental Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements of several species’ concentrations. The modeling based on modern machine learning techniques provides concentrations of other relevant species along with the electron temperature and gas temperature at the location of FTIR measurements. For example, the concentrations O, OH, and H 2 O 2 play key roles in plasma-based cancer therapy. This approach overcomes the multi-scale difficulties of microscopic low-temperature plasma chemistry coupling with macroscopic gas flow and allows the acquisition of a full picture of output species concentrations. Presented here for the helium-air jet at atmospheric pressure, the ML-based modeling can be used to describe and possibly control multiscale systems using partial experimental data sets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Sparse and Random Sampling Techniques for High-Resolution, Full-Field, BSS-Based Structural Dynamics Identification from Video

Video-based techniques for identification of structural dynamics have the advantage that they are very inexpensive to deploy compared to conventional accelerometer or strain gauge techniques. When structural dynamics from video is accomplished using full-field, high-resolution analysis techniques utilizing algorithms on the pixel time series such as principal components analysis and solutions to blind source separation the added benefit of high-resolution, full-field modal identification is achieved. An important property of video of vibrating structures is that it is particularly sparse. Typically video of vibrating structures has a dimensionality consisting of many thousands or even millions of pixels and hundreds to thousands of frames. However the motion of the vibrating structure can be described using only a few mode shapes and their associated time series. As a result, emerging techniques for sparse and random sampling such as compressive sensing should be applicable to performing modal identification on video. This work presents how full-field, high-resolution, structural dynamics identification frameworks can be coupled with compressive sampling. The techniques described in this work are demonstrated to be able to recover mode shapes from experimental video of vibrating structures when 70% to 90% of the frames from a video captured in the conventional manner are removed.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The Martian climate: Energy balance models with CO2/H2O atmospheres

Progress in the development of a multi-reservoir, time dependent energy balance climate model for Mars driven by prescribed insolation at the top of the atmosphere is reported. The first approximately half-year of the program was devoted to assembling and testing components of the full model. Specific accomplishments were made on a longwave radiation code, coupling seasonal solar input to a ground temperature simulation, and conceptualizing an approach to modeling the seasonal pressure waves that develop in the Martian atmosphere as a result of sublimation and condensation of CO2 in polar regions.

Hoffert, M. I.↗

Simplified Analysis Of Vehicle/Payload Vibrations

Simplified mathematical model of coupled vibrations of vehicle and its payloads used in stability analysis for control purposes. Multiple-payload stability criterion extension of single-payload criterion based on measurements and detailed calculations of fundamental vibrational modes of vehicle and payload. Represented in simplified form by coupled masses and springs vibrating in one dimension, each spring having stiffness that gives rise to previously determined fundamental vibrational frequency associated mass in absence of coupling with other mass. Developed to avoid complexity and cost of full vibrations/stability calculations for each different combination of Space Shuttle payloads, simplified analysis technique also useful in assessing stability in loaded airplanes, ships, trucks, cranes, and conveyor systems.

Yu, Reginald R. J.↗