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DOE OSTI2022

Developments and Challenges in the Design of the ITER DRGA

We report the ITER Diagnostic Residual Gas Analyzer (DRGA) will measure the distribution of gas species, i.e., deuterium (D), tritium (T), and impurities, in the divertor exhaust stream and in the plasma periphery, with time resolution relevant to fusion plasma–wall particle dynamics. The uniqueness of the DRGA, over previous implementations of plasma dynamics residual gas analysis, is an integrated approach, combining mass and low-temperature plasma-activated optical spectroscopy, in a differentially pumped analysis station. A further unique feature of the ITER divertor-specific DRGA is an ~8-m separation of the analysis station from the sampled pumping duct, while still maintaining a ~1-s response time for hydrogen isotopic concentrations. ITER DRGA final design activities are strongly benefiting from testing of prototypical DRGA components and methods on present fusion devices, most currently on JET and W7-X. DRGA systems are implemented on both these devices and include sensors (and pumping methods) that are directly relevant to the ITER DRGA design. The recent JET-DTE2 campaign has provided the first experience on operating the combined ITER DRGA sensors with D-T plasmas. While enhancing system design for ITER, this experience on operating devices has also revealed additional engineering challenges, which further guide the continuing final design project. Meanwhile, the recent determination that the ITER DRGA, with slight optimization, will resolve the helium isotopes well enough to support an ITER pre-DT, He-3-based heating scheme, has greatly increased ITER Research Program interest in the DRGA and its implementation well ahead of the DT phase.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-330: Characterization of the Clinically Released ScandiDos Discover Diode Array for In-Vivo Dose Monitoring

Purpose: The ScandiDos Discover has obtained FDA clearance and is now clinically released. We studied the essential attenuation and beam hardening components as well as tested the diode array’s ability to detect changes in absolute dose and MLC leaf positions. Methods: The ScandiDos Discover was mounted on the heads of an Elekta VersaHD and a Varian 23EX. Beam attenuation measurements were made at 10 cm depth for 6 MV and 18 MV beam energies. The PDD(10) was measured as a metric for the effect on beam quality. Next, a plan consisting of two orthogonal 10 × 10 cm2 fields was used to adjust the dose per fraction by scaling monitor units to test the absolute dose detection sensitivity of the Discover. A second plan (conformal arc) was then delivered several times independently on the Elekta VersaHD. Artificially introduced MLC position errors in the four central leaves were then added. The errors were incrementally increased from 1 mm to 4 mm and back across seven control points. Results: The absolute dose measured at 10 cm depth decreased by 1.2% and 0.7% for 6 MV and 18 MV beam with the Discover, respectively. Attenuation depended slightly on the field size but only changed the attenuation by 0.1% across 5 × 5 cm{sup 2} and 20 − 20 cm{sup 2} fields. The change in PDD(10) for a 10 − 10 cm{sup 2} field was +0.1% and +0.6% for 6 MV and 18 MV, respectively. Changes in monitor units from −5.0% to 5.0% were faithfully detected. Detected leaf errors were within 1.0 mm of intended errors. Conclusion: A novel in-vivo dosimeter monitoring the radiation beam during treatment was examined through its attenuation and beam hardening characteristics. The device tracked with changes in absolute dose as well as introduced leaf position deviations.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

WE-DE-201-04: Cross Validation of Knowledge-Based Treatment Planning for Prostate LDR Brachytherapy Using Principle Component Analysis

Purpose: To validate a knowledge-based algorithm for prostate LDR brachytherapy treatment planning. Methods: A dataset of 100 cases was compiled from an active prostate seed implant service. Cases were randomized into 10 subsets. For each subset, the 90 remaining library cases were registered to a common reference frame and then characterized on a point by point basis using principle component analysis (PCA). Each test case was converted to PCA vectors using the same process and compared with each library case using a Mahalanobis distance to evaluate similarity. Rank order PCA scores were used to select the best-matched library case. The seed arrangement was extracted from the best-matched case and used as a starting point for planning the test case. Any subsequent modifications were recorded that required input from a treatment planner to achieve V100>95%, V150<60%, V200<20%. To simulate operating-room planning constraints, seed activity was held constant, and the seed count could not increase. Results: The computational time required to register test-case contours and evaluate PCA similarity across the library was 10s. Preliminary analysis of 2 subsets shows that 9 of 20 test cases did not require any seed modifications to obtain an acceptable plan. Five test cases required fewer than 10 seed modifications or a grid shift. Another 5 test cases required approximately 20 seed modifications. An acceptable plan was not achieved for 1 outlier, which was substantially larger than its best match. Modifications took between 5s and 6min. Conclusion: A knowledge-based treatment planning algorithm for prostate LDR brachytherapy is being cross validated using 100 prior cases. Preliminary results suggest that for this size library, acceptable plans can be achieved without planner input in about half of the cases while varying amounts of planner input are needed in remaining cases. Computational time and planning time are compatible with clinical practice.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2019

Easing the Control System Application Development for CMS Detector Control System with Automatic Production Environment Reproduction

The Detector Control System (DCS) is one of the main pieces involved in the operation of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the LHC. The system is built using WinCC Open Architecture (WinCC OA) and the Joint Controls Project (JCOP) framework which was developed on top of WinCC at CERN. Following the JCOP paradigm, CMS has developed its own framework which is structured as a collection of more than 200 individual installable components each providing a different feature. Everyone of the systems that the CMS DCS consists of is created by installing a different set of these components. By automating this process, we are able to quickly and efficiently create new systems in production or recreate problematic ones, but also, to create development environments that are identical to the production ones. This latter one results in smoother development and integration processes, as the new/reworked components are developed and tested in production-like environments. Moreover, it allows the central DCS support team to easily reproduce systems that the users/developers report as being problematic, reducing the response time for bug fixing and improving the support quality.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Design of the PIP-II 650 MHz Low Beta Cryomodule

The Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) that will be installed at Fermilab is the first U.S. accelerator project that will have significant contributions from international partners. CEA joined the international collaboration in 2018, and is responsible of the 650 MHz low-beta section made of 9 cryomodules, with the design of the cryostat (i.e the cryomodule without the cavities, the power couplers and the frequency tuning systems) and the manufacturing of its components, the assembly and tests of the pre-production cryomodule and the 9 series ones. This paper will present the design of the 650 MHz low-beta cryomodule.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Final Design of the LB650 Cryomodule for the PIP-II Linear Accelerator

The Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) that will be installed at Fermilab is the first U.S. accelerator project that will have significant contributions from international partners. CEA joined the international collaboration in 2018, and its scope covers the supply of the 650 MHz low-beta cryomodule section, with the design of the cryostat (i.e the cryomodule without the cavities, the power couplers and the frequency tuning systems) and the manufacturing of its components, the assembly and tests of the pre-production cryomodule and 9 production modules. An important milestone was reached in April 2023 with the Final Design Review. This paper presents the detailed design of the 650 MHz low-beta cryomodules.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Tap Testing Hammer using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs)

This is the final poster for a Student Symposium at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This research describes the development, validation, and testing of a remote concrete tapping mechanism enabled by UAS. The conclusion is the following: The results quantify for the first time concrete tapping data collected remotely with UAS, enabling cost-effective, safer and sustainable upgrade prioritization of railroad bridges inventories.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2017

Sandia National Laboratories, Tonopah Test Range Assembly Building 9B (Building 09-54): Photographs and Written Historical and Descriptive Data

Assembly Building 9B (Building 09-54) is a contributing element to the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Tonopah Test Range (TTR) Historic District. The SNL TTR Historic District played a significant role in U.S. Cold War history in the areas of stockpile surveillance and non-nuclear field testing of nuclear weapons designs. The district covers approximately 179,200 acres and illustrates Cold War development testing of nuclear weapons components and systems. This report includes historical information, architectural information, sources of information, project information, maps, blueprints, and photographs.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Sandia National Laboratories, Tonopah Test Range Fire Control Bunker (Building 09-51): Photographs and Written Historical and Descriptive Data

The Fire Control Bunker (Building 09-51) is a contributing element to the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Tonopah Test Range (TTR) Historic District. The SNL TTR Historic District played a significant role in U.S. Cold War history in the areas of stockpile surveillance and non-nuclear field testing of nuclear weapons design. The district covers approximately 179,200 acres and illustrates Cold War development testing of nuclear weapons components and systems. This report includes historical information, architectural information, sources of information, project information, maps, blueprints, and photographs.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2016

The Regional Test Center Data Transfer System

The Regional Test Centers are a group of several sites around the US for testing photovoltaic systems and components related to photovoltaic systems. The RTCs are managed by Sandia National Laboratories. The data collected by the RTCs must be transmitted to Sandia for storage, analysis, and reporting. This document describes the methods that transfer the data between remote sites and Sandia as well as data movement within Sandia’s network. The methods described are in force as of September, 2016.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2017

Supplemental Environmental Baseline Survey for Proposed Land Use Permit Modification for Expansion of the Dynamic Explosive Test Site (DETS) 9940 Main Complex Parking Lot

The proposed use of the subject property is for the purpose of adding a parking lot to serve the increase in customer vehicles that is occurring as the 9940 Main Complex is more heavily utilized, and as the 2009 Expansion areas come online as operational training facilities. The subject property would be used only for parking, not for testing or training activities. The parking lot would have a gravel surface. Current and future work at the 9940 Main Complex involves arming, fuzing, and firing of explosives and the testing of explosive systems components in both terrestrial and aquatic settings. It also involves specialized training activities for a variety of first responder customers, both DOE and non-DOE agencies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Innovative Development Selection and Testing to Reduce Cost and Weight of Materials for BOP Components

The primary objective of this effort is to identify alloys to replace type 316/316L in hydrogen service for balance of plant (BOP) applications onboard fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Type 316/316L austenitic stainless steels are used extensively in hydrogen systems for their resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, which is attributed to the relatively high nickel content of type 316/316L alloys. Nickel content, however, drives the cost of austenitic stainless steels, thus type 316/316L alloys impose a cost premium compared to similar alloys with lower nickel content. Since the cost of BOP components is a large fraction of the cost of hydrogen fuel systems (even dominating the cost at low production volumes [1]), alternative materials are desired. In addition, type 316/316L alloys are relatively low strength, thus high-pressure components tend to be heavy to accommodate the stresses associated with the pressure loads. Higher-strength materials will reduce weight of the components (an added benefit for onboard components) and contribute to lower cost since less material is needed. However, engineering data to justify selection of lower cost and higher strength alloys for high-pressure hydrogen service are currently unavailable. Moreover, alloy design could enable low cost solutions to the specific needs of onboard hydrogen storage.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Ibis Networks/WattIQ (IN2 Final Report)

Ibis Networks is a full-stack cleantech company that provides plug-level energy monitoring and control to solve energy and asset management problems for the enterprise. During DATES – DATES, an NREL research team worked with the Ibis team to validate their product, the InteliSocket. The Ibis InteliSocket is a pass-through plug-load energy monitor and controller that is designed to reduce energy wasted by common 120 V plug-in devices in commercial office buildings, such as computer peripherals, conference room AV equipment, and break-room appliances. The system can shut off supply power to these end uses via remote control, manual switches, pre-set schedules, or automated control algorithms. The scope of this IN2 project was the development and refinement of “smart” learning behavior algorithms (LBAs), which could help installation processes and dramatically expand the sockets’ capabilities and energy-saving potential by suggesting suitable control schedules that are based on monitored use patterns. While Ibis has the analytical and software expertise for algorithm development, the lack of test data, both in a controlled laboratory setting and in real-life deployment scenarios, represented a key barrier toward commercialization of the product. Assistance through the IN2 program provided an opportunity to conduct the needed “trial and error” algorithm development. The project included baseline field-data collection, laboratory testing, and field validation components, all of which were conducted at the NREL campus between April 2017 and July 2019.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2020

Demonstrate embedding of sensors in a relevant microreactor component

This report describes the first successful embedding of sensors in stainless steel pipe specimens and a miniature hex block to support structural health monitoring of microreactor components during electrically heated testing in non-nuclear testbed facilities. Sensors were embedded with an ultrasonic additive manufacturing process that uses a combination of downward pressure and an ultrasonic scrubbing motion to bond stainless steel foils to underlying materials. After placing sensors within cavities that have been machined to the size of the sensors, the ultrasonic bonding process fills the gaps around the sensors and embeds them within the part. Both Type K thermocouples and spatially distributed fiber-optic strain sensors were successfully embedded within two pipe specimens and a miniature hex block. After the fiber-optic sensors were embedded, they were interrogated and found to have minimal signal attenuation within the embedded region—a significant improvement compared to previous trials. This is likely because of the low-bend-loss fiber that was used, which greatly reduces microbending losses that occur after the embedding process. In addition to showing minimal signal attention, the fibers also showed adequate compressive strain, which is a strong indication that the sensors are physically embedded in the parts as opposed to simply being loosely contained inside the machined cavities. The embedded fibers were able to capture the strain induced in one of the pipe specimens while the pipe was actively heated with a moving heat source.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2021

Technical Procedures Writer's Guide

Technical procedures systematically describe a series of steps for the operation, maintenance, or testing of systems or components. They are widely used as a method for ensuring consistency, reducing human error, and improving the quality of the end-product. This guide provides specific guidance to procedure writers to help them generate high-quality technical procedures. The guidance is aimed at reducing confusion or ambiguity on the part of the operator, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing errors and rework. The appendices to this document define key terms associated with the creation of technical procedures, list common error traps, and define a set of action verbs that should be used in technical procedures.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Validation of an Advanced High-Pressure PEM Electrolyzer and Composite Hydrogen Storage

One of the challenges associated with transitioning our nation’s transportation economy to any alternative fuel is bringing fuel production, storage, transportation, and end-customer delivery infrastructure online. There are challenges associated with planning and implementing hydrogen fueling stations at locations relevant to the parallel effort of bringing the related transportation vehicles into the market. There are additional challenges associated with the operation of hydrogen fueling stations and reducing operating costs through energy reduction. Through calculation and design efforts it was concluded that elevating the pressure of a PEM cell stack and further developing hydrogen processing equipment that support elevated pressures while maintaining similar characteristics to their current production counterparts will yield in energy savings and by extension cost reductions. In this report, the design of a 57-bar (827-psig) electrolysis system and electrolysis cell stack is described. Furthermore, the fabrication, component verification, and integrated testing are summarized. Prior to this development effort, Proton had demonstrated thousand of hours of durability on 30-bar (435-psig) differential pressure PEM electrolysis hardware. Proton has sold and installed many of these 30-bar devices at customer sites. Through this project, Proton has developed and tested 57-bar PEM electrolysis, thereby extending the proven capability of PEM electrolysis as a hydrogen generation and electrochemical compression device. A design and validation effort to arrange hydrogen processioning equipment for refueling OEM vehicles was also undertaken within this project. By arranging equipment within two 6-meter ISO shipping containers and further developing NFPA 2 Hydrogen Technologies Code to support containerized hydrogen equipment, efforts to site, install, and commission, and approve hydrogen fueling stations were reduced and now provide a groundwork for future installations.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2021

Commissioning of a Cask Enabling Characterization of Irradiated Nuclear Fuels with Pulsed Neutrons

Irradiation tests are a key component of nuclear fuel development and identifying typical and atypical regions in the irradiated fuel volume relies on very few characterization techniques. The goal of the effort reported here is to provide complementary measurements adding to the available parameter space for post irradiation examination as well as to inform subsequent hot cell PIE examinations by identifying typical and atypical regions with respect to microstructure, tomographic data, or isotope densities. Pulsed neutrons, enabling diffraction as well as energy-resolved neutron imaging and neutron absorption resonance spectroscopy, offer unique capabilities for this purpose. Time-of-flight neutron diffraction has the potential to offer efficient, non-destructive and non-contact microstructural characterization of irradiated fuel pins with spatial resolution of 1 mm 3 to 1 cm 3 while for energy-resolved neutron imaging (and by extension tomography) a resolution of 100 μm was demonstrated. The potential results include crystallinity vs. amorphous volumes and microstructural information such as phase compositions, lattice strains (indicative of residual stresses or chemistry variations) and textures from the diffraction data as well as distances (e.g. pellet to cladding), cracks, and isotopic distributions of minor actinides, fission products as well as fission gas partial pressures e.g. in the plenum from energy resolved neutron imaging.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Fiber optic system for direct detection of CO 2 leakage in carbon storage wells (Abbreviated Final Report)

The feasibility study focused on the development of new fiber for distributed chemical sensing that will allow direct detection of CO2 leakages in the environment. This is particularly important for monitoring well integrity for carbon capture and storage (CSS), which can provide early warning for an incoming well failure and potential CO2 leaking through it. We proposed Raman or IR interrogation within gas-filled Holey Fibers (HoFs) interleaved with Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sections, so that the location and concentration of the gases would be provided simultaneously. The methodology would overcome current roadblocks to using fiber optics for CO2 (and other gases) detection in wells with direct in-situ measurements of concentration along with other important parameters such as temperature and pressure. We were able to assess commercially available IR/Raman hollow core fiber and demonstrated detection of CO2 through them in our controlled environment setups at various pressure conditions. We have also established the ability of drilling precisely with fs-lases side holes to enable penetration of CO2 into the hollow core fiber and reduce diffusion rates. Open joint collars were also explored with double functionality: to obtain splice to solid core fiber critical for field deployment and create gas ingress locations. Both diffusion-only and pressurized fiber system have been constructed following COMSOL based semi-hybrid optical /fluidodynamics models. FBGs have been identified and procured and characterized. Along the work we leveraged internal modeling/design, photonics/laser characterization, optical fiber fabrication, and AM lab capabilities to design, develop and test in-house components or assemblies. Our results indicate the potential of HoF for CO2 downhole direct detection.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗