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MAAP-MELCOR ?Crosswalk? Phase 1 Review and Progress Update.
Abstract not provided.
Progress Update on the MUSIC Critical Benchmark
The Measurement of Uranium Subcritical and Critical (MUSiC) experiment was carried out from December 2020 through April 2021 at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC). This measurement campaign featured bare configurations of the Rocky Flats highly-enriched uranium (HEU) shells, with each configuration having different numbers of these shells. The goal of the experiment was to test multiple neutron multiplicity detectors and measurement methods for a large range of neutron multiplication values. The large range of multiplications allows researchers to see when the combination of detectors and methods break down as the configurations reach the delayed supercritical window. The critical configurations were the extreme end of the multiplication range in MUSIC configurations. A critical benchmark in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook is planned to help further validate nuclear data. Even though there are many benchmarks focusing on the fast spectrum for highly-enriched uranium, an additional benchmark that is well documented and up to the modern standard of the handbook would be a welcome addition. Given that there are no other materials such as moderators or significant reflectors, and its similarity to Lady Godiva, it is possible that this could be very useful for validation of 235 U nuclear data in the future.
IAEA Extended Synopsis: PROGRESS UPDATE ON EXPLORING NOVEL PHYSICAL SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL IRRADIATORS THROUGH GOVERNMENT-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS.
Abstract not provided.
A progress update on selected AREVA NP advanced BWR methodologies
This article presents an overview of select advances in AREVA NP methods concerning 3 topics: Analytical fuel rod model, Transient and accident simulation, and ATWSi post dryout treatment. Concerning the first topic, the analytical fuel rod model relies heavily on first-principles closed-form solutions instead of ever finer nodalization and higher dimensions of standard numerical methods such as finite differences or finite elements. This analytical fuel rod model takes full account of the complications that made numerical analysis necessary, e.g. variation of pellet thermal conductivity with temperature and burnup, and the radial dependence of fission power deposition in pellets. The model also calculates thermo-mechanical parameters such as clad stress and strain, fission gas release, pellet sintering and swelling, and pellet-clad gap size and thermal resistance. The model is suited for innovative fuel designs such as doped pellets. Concerning the second topic, the BWR evaluation model, AURORA-B, is an advanced transient and accident simulator including SRELAP5, a two fluid thermal hydraulic code comprehensively reviewed by international safety authorities for BWR and PWR applications; RODEX4, a best estimate fuel performance code used to evaluate the local thermal-mechanical behavior of fuel rods during postulated transients and accidents; and MB2-K, a neutron kinetics extension of the steady state core simulator MICROBURN-B2. The analytical domains will include transients as well as control rod drop and loss of coolant accidents. Extension of RODEX4 have been made to accommodate analysis of chromium-doped fuel. Concerning the third issue,The new AREVA post-dryout models can accurately predict dryout/re-wet followed by an ultimate failure to re-wet under oscillatory ATWSi (Anticipated Transient Without SCRAM with core instability) conditions. These models, while not a boiling curve based method, can qualitatively reproduce the characteristics of the boiling curve.
Progress Updates for the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Project - 17275
The Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Project is vital to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) mission to cleanup radioactive waste at the Hanford Site, located in southeastern Washington State. The overall WTP Project objective is to design, build, and commission the facilities and systems that will treat and immobilize approximately 211 983 m{sup 3} (56 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in Hanford's 177 underground storage tanks. The combination of technologies in the WTP makes it a first-of-a-kind facility at a scale larger than ever built for radioactive waste processing. In 2012, DOE suspended production work on the WTP's Pretreatment (PT) Facility and to a lesser degree the High-Level Waste (HLW) Facility because of unresolved technical issues associated with those facilities. DOE is proceeding with its approach to complete the WTP Project in phases, which includes the following principal actions: - Completing construction of the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility, Balance of Facilities (BOF), and Analytical Laboratory (LAB), collectively known as LBL; - Implementing a direct-feed low-activity waste (DFLAW) process to treat low-activity waste independent of the PT Facility; - Completing the design and construction of the HLW Facility; - Resolving the technical issues associated with the PT Facility; - Completing all WTP facilities to enable integrated WTP operations. In March 2016, a federal judge amended the 2010 Consent Decree, establishing revised milestone dates for the Hanford WTP that generally align with DOE's plans for completing the WTP facilities in sequence. In December 2016, DOE executed a contract modification and approved a change to the project's performance baseline to complete the LBL facilities and incorporate modifications needed to accommodate direct feed of low-activity waste to the LAW Facility. The contract modification and revised performance baseline support completion of hot commissioning of the WTP facilities needed for DFLAW operations no later than December 31, 2023. (authors)
Progress Updates for the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Project - 16281
The Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Project is vital to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) mission to clean up radioactive waste at the Hanford Site, located in southeastern Washington State. The overall WTP Project objective is to design, build, and commission the facilities and systems that will treat and immobilize approximately 56 million gallons of radioactive waste stored in Hanford's 177 underground storage tanks. The combination of technologies in the WTP makes it a first-of-a-kind facility at a scale larger than ever built for radioactive waste processing. The WTP includes several facilities that will contribute to waste processing: (1) the Pretreatment (PT) Facility, which is designed to receive waste retrieved from the Hanford tank farms and separate it into low-activity and high-level waste streams; (2) the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility, which will vitrify the low-activity waste stream; (3) the High-Level Waste (HLW) Facility, which will vitrify the high-level waste stream; (4) the Analytical Laboratory (Lab), which will support both vitrification facilities' operations; and (5) the Balance of Facilities (BOF), which will provide industrial support capabilities and infrastructure, like electricity and steam, needed for WTP operations. In 2012, DOE suspended production work on the WTP's Pretreatment (PT) Facility and to a lesser degree the High-Level Waste (HLW) Facility because of unresolved technical issues associated with those facilities. DOE has established an approach that would facilitate immobilization of tank waste to begin as early as practicable without waiting for completion of work to resolve the technical issues associated with the PT and HLW Facilities. This approach enables LAW treatment to begin before the PT and HLW facilities are completed by transferring low activity waste directly from the Hanford tank farms to the LAW Facility - referred to as Direct Feed LAW (DFLAW). ORP has placed the highest priority on completing the Low Activity Waste Facility, Balance of Facilities, and Analytical Laboratory (collectively known as LBL) in support of the planned phased start to the Hanford Tank waste treatment mission. DOE has requested, and the WTP contractor has delivered contract modifications proposals for: (1) design of a permanent capability to accommodate DFLAW in WTP; (2) procurement and construction of modifications to enable DFLAW operations in WTP, and (3) completion of LBL work scope in the current contract through hot commissioning in a manner to accommodate a phased start toward completing the WTP mission. DOE is reviewing and approving contract modifications in a sequence and schedule that allows for an orderly completion of the LBL Facilities and to begin treating low-activity tank waste as soon as practicable. In August 2014, ORP authorized the WTP contractor to resume all engineering work necessary to finalize the design of the HLW Facility. Authorization for HLW equipment procurements and construction is forthcoming, based on conditions that must be satisfied for a full release of these activities, including completion of an update to the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis. DOE has also established a comprehensive plan for resuming production activities for the PT Facility that is similar to the process established and implemented for the HLW Facility. Resolution of the technical issues and establishment of a revised safety basis are key prerequisites to resuming engineering, procurements, and construction. (authors)
Progress Update on the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Pulse- Jet Mixed Vessel Testing Program - 16286
The Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) is designed to use cylindrical-shaped pulse-jet mixers in the black cell vessels to mix the radioactive waste during process operations. Pulse-jet mixers operate like large turkey basters, using air pressure to suck radioactive waste up into the mixer and eject it back into the vessel at high velocity. Using pulse-jet mixers for keeping waste in process vessels adequately mixed is one of the design features that ensures that there are no mechanical parts inside the black cells that would require maintenance. The WTP Project is conducting a testing program to ensure the pulse-jet mixed vessels can address three design and nuclear safety concerns: 1) pulse jet mixer controls, 2) hydrogen gas generation, and 3) the potential for inadvertent criticality in the vessels. The currently planned pulse-jet mixed vessel testing program is divided into three major test campaigns. The first campaign consists of testing to demonstrate pulse-jet mixed vessel control system design and operating concepts. The second test campaign consisted of informational testing of select prototypic PJM vessel features in a reduced scale facility. This testing informed decision making on selection of different mixing system configurations. This test campaign was completed in March 2015. The third test campaign is planned to test the complete functionality of a pulse-jet mixed vessel at full-scale using a prototype standardized high-solids vessel design. (authors)
Humboldt Bay Power Plant Decommissioning Progress Update - 16358
Decommissioning of the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG and E) Company Humboldt Bay Power Plant (HBPP) Unit 3 nuclear facility achieved several significant milestones in the summer and fall of 2015 when the RPV Segmentation Project completed, the Caisson Removal project began and the Unit 3 Refueling building (RFB) and Main Plant Ventilation system were released for Open Air Demolition (OAD). At the end of 2014 the Civil Works prime contractor Chicago Bridge and Iron (CB and I) was also awarded the contract to complete the RPV Segmentation. This work scope continued to use the First of a Kind (FOAK) segmentation equipment that was designed and fabricated for the HBPP Reactor Project. The preparation for RFB OAD was part of the original Civil Works contract scope. It was important that this work and the segmentation of the reactor shell be finished to allow a portion of the Refueling building to be demolished to continue the installation of the perimeter water cutoff wall and the caisson Support of Excavation (SOE) shoring system. The CB and I Civil Works contract endorsed the October 2012 HBPP Caisson Removal Feasibility Study approach to install a perimeter cutoff wall intended to stop movement of groundwater by installation of cement-bentonite (CB) backfill in a slurry wall trench excavated to a depth of 53 meters and tied into the Unit F clay layer. The CB and I on-site project manager and principal engineer from their home office re-evaluated the design approach outlined in their proposal and awarded contract. As CB and I further developed design plans, an option to complete the perimeter wall with Cutter Soil Mixing (CSM) technology was developed. CB and I described the CSM process as a modified trench cutter technique, to be used for both perimeter groundwater cutoff, and for caisson demolition SOE. CSM technology blends slurry while mixing soil on the down stroke, and injects cement into the blended soil cuttings on the upstroke to create a cemented 'cutoff wall'. CB and I proposed several variations for three key support elements: the perimeter cutoff wall; the dewatering well system; and the caisson SOE shoring system. The proposed alternatives brought many enhancements in the design and integration of the work to be executed. CB and I personnel were persistent in seeing their vision through that resulted in a significant benefit in worker safety and schedule enhancement (early finish by 5 months). (authors)
Development of Multiresolution Capabilities for the Holistic Energy Resource Optimization Network (HERON) tool A progress update
INL researchers work on technoeconomic analyses for integrated energy systems (IES) using the Framework for Optimization of ResourCes and Economics (FORCE). Within FORCE, researchers use the Holistic Energy Resource Optimization Network (HERON) tool to conduct optimization of grid portfolios under uncertain market conditions. These optimizations determine optimal capacities for all IES components and strategies for resource dispatch which maximize some economic metric (e.g., net present value). Resource dispatch occurs on finer timescales (typically hours) and thus are asked to respond to a given time series (e.g. hourly load demand profiles for a grid, or pre-determined electricity prices). Volatile and complex bidding dynamics as well as poorly forecasted weather events within deregulated markets add uncertainty to the time series; FORCE can address this uncertainty by training a reduced order model on historical time series and generate unique synthetic time series which represent individual scenarios or realizations of the market. The IES configuration can be simulated under these different sampled realizations and a stochastic optimization is conducted which optimizes the expected value of the desired economic metric. The training of a synthetic time series generator is limited by the chosen time resolution; dynamics can occur on different time scales. Seasonal demand trends can dominate faster dynamical events (such as power outages from certain sectors or severe weather events) which might not get captured correctly by the trained model. In this report, we investigate different ways of addressing the training and generation of time series on multiple time scales using three main algorithms: wavelet decomposition, dynamic mode decomposition, and generative adversarial networks for time series. We demonstrate a time series analysis that yields information on not just the frequency space but also temporal space: where a fast Fourier transform can provide what frequencies dominate, the new algorithms can provide when the frequencies dominate as well. These analyses can help improve IES optimization by allowing researchers to couple simulations at different timescales when it is most needed - seasonal, day-ahead, and real time optimization - with greater computational efficiency. Future work will include implementation of a subset of the proposed algorithms into the FORCE toolset and application of these analyses into multiple timescale optimization.
Project Update
Monthly progress update presentation to be given to my graduate advisor at Texas Tech University.
OECD-NEA HTTF Benchmark Progress and Updates
General slides discussing High Temperature Test Facility benchmark progress, Prismatic HTGR deployment, modeling and simulation tools for validating systems, and verification and validation issues. Also discuss collaboration and conclusions of RELAP5-3D validation activities based on HTTF with trends in data and international impact to accelerate deployment of prismatic HTGR microreactors by providing an opportunity for designers to assess their codes against experimental data and solutions from other codes.
UT-NE Radiation Instrumentation Research Group Meeting: An Update on Progress
The purpose of this project is to design a system to image large and/or thick objects with high dynamic ranges using an intensified, charge coupled device (CCD) camera and a fast-pulsed, high energy neutron source; Improve image resolution by reducing scatter; and Design ultra-fast scintillator using nanotechnology to allow for better timing (and thus better scatter rejection).
Annual Technical Review, RA3-FA1 Progress and Updates
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Progress and Updates on Energy Resolved Neutron Imaging Capabilities at LANSCE
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