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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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At least 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Fundamental Studies of Tritium Diffusivity in Irradiation Defective Lithium Aluminate and Lithium Zirconates Pellets Used in TPBAR

Due to its excellent irradiation behavior at elevated temperatures, lithium aluminate (LiAlO 2 ) is used in the form of annular ceramic pellets enriched with the 6Li isotope in tritium producing burnable absorber rod (TPBAR). To simulate the nuclear characteristics and produce tritium (T), TPBAR is irradiated by a neutron flux in a pressurized water reactor (PWR). The T diffuses through the pellets and is captured by the metal getter where it chemically reacts and leads to formation of metal hydride. The transport of T in radiation damaged pellets that contain defects and impurities is not clearly understood due to the lack of fundamental studies of T solubility and diffusivity. The other candidate material possessing a similar physical and chemical properties and can be potentially useful as a tritium breading blanket in the future is Lithium Zirconates (Li 2 ZrO 3 ). In FY2017, we investigated the diffusion and solubility properties in irradiation defective LiAlO 2 and Li 2 ZrO 3 crystals with different level of tritium concentration. In FY2018 we continued to explore the diffusivity and solubility properties extensively in those candidate materials.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Hydrogen Diffusion Coefficient Measures on Thin Film Uranium Oxide

Thin films of uranium oxides, putatively UO 2 and U 3 O 8 , were deposited on palladium/silver (75/25) foil discs (10 μm thick, 10 mm diameter). Methodology for sealing these foils, applying a hydrogen pressure (~ 1 atm) to the oxide side, and measuring the pressure on the permeate side (opposite side of foil) is reported. The experimental apparatus is held at 100 °C to speed diffusion, aided by the pressure differential across the foil (~1 atm (750 torr) on oxide side, initially low vacuum on permeate side, ~1x 10 -4 torr). Early results indicate an effective diffusion coefficient of roughly 7.66 x 10 -17 +/- 2.22 x 10 -17 cm 2 /sec for UO 2 . These values are in line with expectations and prior measures relative to large lag times for system baseline (substrate only). Evaluation of the technique for U 3 O 8 thin films suggests further development will be needed to extend the technique to more oxidized films (U 3 O 8 , UO 3 ). Characterization of the foils (thickness and speciation) post diffusion experiments will be carried out by SIGMA (Eric Tegtmeier and Andy Richards) in FY24 which will sharpen the uncertainty quantification for UO 2 diffusion coefficients, aiding the nucleation model for DRACO.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

First-Principles Studies of Tritium Species Diffusivity Across the Interface of Nickel-Plated Zircaloy-4

In this study, we will calculate the 3H2 and 3H2O diffusion mechanism in the Ni coated layer and the dominant 3H species dissolution into the Zircaloy-4 getter. We will optimize the Ni/Zr interface and introduce Sn and O impurities. To achieve the objectives, we will perform the investigation by using spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) methods to capture the effects of Ni magnetic properties on 3H diffusion. We will introduce NiO/Ni(OH) on the Ni side closer to the interface. Then, the 3H diffusion pathways and barriers from Ni side to the zircalory-4 will be explored. We will investigate how NiO/Ni(OH) affects the 3H diffusion across the interface.

Paudel, Hari P.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Probing Galactic Diffuse TeV Gamma-Ray Emission with the HAWC Observatory

Galactic diffuse TeV gamma-ray emission is produced by the interaction of high-energy cosmic- ray particles with matter and radiation in our Galaxy. The measurement of Galactic diffuse TeV gamma-ray emission would provide strong constraints on the acceleration and propagation of Galactic cosmic rays. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory, located in central Mexico at 4100 m above sea level, is sensitive to gamma rays between a few hundreds GeV and ~100 TeV. Thanks to its large field of view of 2 steradians and excellent background estimation, HAWC has a unique capability to observe large extended sources such as Galactic diffuse emission. We present the analysis strategy to detect the Galactic diffuse emission with HAWC, including techniques to remove contaminations from localized sources.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Diffuse Bands 9577 and 9633: Relations to Other Interstellar Features

We study, for the first time, the relations of two strong diffuse bands (DIBs) at 9633 and 9577 Å, commonly attributed to C{sub 60}{sup +}, to other interstellar features seen in optical and UV spectra including H i, Ca i, Fe ii, Na i, Ti ii, CN, CH, CH{sup +}, and C{sub 2} and DIBs 5780, 5797, 6196, 6269, 6284, and 6614. We analyzed 62 lines of sight where the stellar contamination by Mg ii was corrected or found negligible for DIB 9633. Equivalent widths of DIB 9577 were measured in 62 lines of sight. Poor mutual correlation between the strengths of the above features and the major diffuse bands (5780 and 5797) as well as with other DIBs (with some exceptions) were revealed. The considered DIBs are also poorly correlated with the features of neutral hydrogen, molecular carbon, and those of simple interstellar radicals. Perhaps this phenomenon can be explained if the diffuse band 9577 is an unresolved blend of two or more interstellar features. There are indications that 9633 and 9577 diffuse bands are stronger in σ-type clouds, i.e., these features resemble the behavior of reasonably broad DIBs, which are strong in the lines of sight where the UV flux from the very hot nearby stars plays an important role.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Parallel Diffusion Coefficient of Energetic Charged Particles in the Inner Heliosphere from the Turbulent Magnetic Fields Measured by Parker Solar Probe

Diffusion coefficients of energetic charged particles in turbulent magnetic fields are a fundamental aspect of diffusive transport theory but remain incompletely understood. In this work, we use quasi-linear theory to evaluate the spatial variation of the parallel diffusion coefficient κ ∥ from the measured magnetic turbulence power spectra in the inner heliosphere. We consider the magnetic field and plasma velocity measurements from Parker Solar Probe made during Orbits 5–13. The parallel diffusion coefficient is calculated as a function of radial distance from 0.062 to 0.8 au, and the particle energy from 100 keV to 1 GeV. We find that κ ∥ increases exponentially with both heliocentric distance and energy of particles. The fluctuations in κ ∥ are related to the episodes of large-scale magnetic structures in the solar wind. By fitting the results, we also provide an empirical formula of κ ∥ = (5.16 ± 1.22) × 10 18 r 1.17 ± 0.08 E 0.71 ± 0.02 (cm 2 s -1 ) in the inner heliosphere, which can be used as a reference in studying the transport and acceleration of solar energetic particles as well as the modulation of cosmic rays.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Preliminary Monte Carlo and Thermal Hydraulic Analysis using a Hybrid ETF-Corrected-Diffusion Prediction Block

This paper builds upon previous work to accelerate the Picard iteration (PI) method typically applied for coupled Monte Carlo-Thermal hydraulic (MC-TH) solutions. Previously, the use of the generalized transfer functions (GTFs) to predict variation in macroscopic cross sections following a perturbation in TH properties was demonstrated for a subset of simple 3D problems. In addition, the reduced-order transport prediction block relied on the first order perturbation (FOP) method, which was shown to have computational overheads. Recent work replaced the FOP block with a 1-group nodal diffusion solver to eliminate these overheads. While the use of diffusion is desirable for large-scale problems, the new solver introduces significant homogenization error. This work aims to address this issue by using the Jacobian-Free Newton Krylov (JFNK) method to generate a set of super homogenization (SPH) factors to improve the accuracy of the diffusion solution. The SPH factors will be used in conjunction with an improved cross section prediction method – the expanded transfer function (ETF) method – to produce a highly accurate flux prediction for an axial 1D boiling water reactor (BWR) pincell following a large perturbation in moderator density. The ETF-corrected diffusion (ETF-CD) block is shown to be highly accurate for the 1D test case. Future work will investigate the accuracy of the method for a realistic 3D pressurized water reactor core.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effective Lanthanide Diffusivity through U-Zr Metallic Fuel

Fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) is one of the main concerns for the performance of U-Zr metallic fuels. Although FCCI results in complex phase transformations and morphological changes in both the fuel and cladding sides of the interface, the formation of a brittle layer in the cladding side of the interface (sometimes referred to as wastage) has one of the most significant impacts on the cladding mechanical integrity. This brittle layer is associated with the formation of intermetallic compounds between the cladding constituents Fe, Cr and the lanthanide fission product species. The formation of this cladding wastage layer has been the focus of recent efforts to develop a mechanistic modeling framework, including production of lanthanides in the fuel, transport through the fuel to the fuel-cladding interface, and phase transformation to form intermetallic phases. To calculate the rate of transport of lanthanides through the fuel, a multi-scale computational approach has been used. Atomistic calculations have been performed to determine the diffusivities of Nd, the most prevalent lanthanide species, through the solid fuel matrix and along pore surfaces. These diffusivities have been used as input parameters for a mesoscale model to determine an effective diffusion coefficient that accounts for the formation of porosity, its interconnection, and infiltration with bond sodium from the fuel-cladding gap. The effective diffusivity has been used in engineering-scale simulations using the BISON fuel performance code, and BISON simulations have been compared to representative validation cases from the EBR-II reactor.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

An agent-based approach to study the diffusion rate and the effect of policies on joint placement of photovoltaic panels and green roof under climate change uncertainty

As two of the highest trending green technologies, photovoltaic panels and green roofs are proven to be effective practices for energy generation and energy saving. The achievable impact from the widespread installation of such technologies is, however, not clearly established. This is mainly because the degree of this impact highly depends on the inherently uncertain environmental and climate factors, as well as the unknown adoption rates of these technologies, which in turn depend on different characteristics of decision makers and interactions among them. To that end, this study aims to investigate the diffusion rate of these green technologies under uncertainties caused by climate change, characteristics of adopters, and their interactions. An integrated framework is developed to capture the interplay between financial and attitudinal aspects, as well as the uncertainties due to both the stochastic nature of system parameters and the interactions among agents involving human beings. Specifically, this framework consists of a integer programming model to optimize the green roof and/or photovoltaic panel installation settings for a given building under climate change uncertainty, and an agent-based model to factor in the role of human behavior and interactions. A case study for the city of Knoxville, TN, is presented to evaluate the effects of different policies on the diffusion rate of the green technologies of interest. The results show that the affordability of green technologies and public awareness are the key drivers of the adoption of these technologies, which highlight the important role of the decision makers in impacting the diffusion rate.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Reduction of vanadium diffusivity within copper grain boundaries due to enhanced binding

We investigate permeation of vanadium (V) through copper (Cu) layers in V/Cu/niobium (Nb) and molybdenum (Mo)/Cu/V tri-layer composites and compare it with the permeation behavior of Nb. Despite their low solubility in single-crystal Cu, both V and Nb permeate readily due to short-circuit transport through Cu grain boundaries (GBs). However, Nb permeates preferentially to V. Atomistic simulations suggest that this difference is due to lower V diffusivity at general GBs in Cu, compared to Nb. Here, the lower V diffusivity, in turn, arises from stronger V binding to the boundary, which manifests as a greater equilibrium GB concentration as well as a higher activation energy for GB diffusion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sequential Infiltration Synthesis of Multinary Metal Oxides: The Role of Precursor Diffusion and Reactivity

Understanding volatile metal–organic precursor transport in polymer matrices during sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) is critical to the design of hybrid materials of tailored composition and uniform structure. Here, we investigate the diffusion and reaction behavior of diethylzinc (DEZ) in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrices with variable indium and zinc incorporation. Unlike conventional SIS where precursors adduct or react directly with the polymer backbone, DEZ shows minimal interaction with PMMA. However, DEZ may interact strongly with In–OH or Zn–OH moieties that are previously incorporated into a PMMA thick film. Using spectroscopic ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling, and EDX line scans, we quantify Zn incorporation as a function of exposure time, polymer thickness, and previous infiltration steps. The Zn distribution evolves from surface-localized to deep within the ∼1 μm thick film with increasing DEZ exposures up to 30 min. A reaction-diffusion model incorporating a hindering factor to capture diffusivity decay due to product accumulation reproduces the Zn depth profile and yields physically meaningful parameters to guide future growth. Furthermore, this study provides a framework for interpreting metal–organic precursor infiltration behavior and highlights the utility of model-guided SIS process design.

diethylzinc↗
DOE OSTI2024

Moisture Performance of Unvented Attics With Vapor Diffusion Ports and Buried Ducts in Hot, Humid Climates

Energy efficiency measures, such as cool roofs, radiant barriers, interior radiative control coatings, and buried ducts are increasing in popularity and are promoted by energy codes because of their energy-saving potential. However, these strategies can also pose moisture risks in attics by lowering surface temperatures and increasing condensation potential and moisture accumulation. Of particular concern in hot-humid climates is dripping condensation on cold air-conditioning ductwork in the summer - commonly referred to as duct "sweating" - which threatens the attic floor with conditions conducive to mold growth and rot. One strategy to mitigate these moisture issues is to wrap ductwork in thicker duct-wrap insulation with an integrated exterior vapor barrier, but thick duct wrap can be difficult to come by, expensive, and unwieldy to work with. This study explores an alternative strategy of reducing moisture issues while embracing energy efficiency by using unvented attics with vapor diffusion ports and buried ductwork in hot-humid climates. Vapor diffusion ports have been studied so far in a wide range of U.S. climates, mostly in the context of conditioned attics. In this study, the strategy is implemented in the novel context of hot-humid climates with ductwork sitting atop blown-in attic floor insulation in unconditioned attics. Using a combination of field experiments and hygrothermal modeling, the findings of this project indicate that an unvented attic with vapor diffusion ports and buried ducts may be a key part of a successful low-cost method for reducing the attic moisture load by venting excess moisture out of the attic, keeping duct-jacket surfaces above dew point temperature, and keeping the roof deck safe from winter moisture accumulation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structural Tuning of Self‐Conductive Polymer as Gas Diffusion Layer for Electrocatalytic Reactions at High Current

Electrocatalytic conversions offer a promising route for sustainable chemical production using renewable energy. Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) enable selective product formation at high current densities but suffer from electrolyte flooding, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based GDLs typically require metal conductive layers, which constrain catalyst development. A recently developed GDL configuration, electropolymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-coated PTFE, demonstrates notable flooding resistance, but suffers from gas diffusion limitations at elevated currents due to limited gas diffusion through the PEDOT layer. Here, different dopants in PEDOT are exploited to modify the physical properties and enhance gas transport. ClO 4 − -doped PEDOT exhibits superior performance due to optimized physical structure, leading to increased gas permeance and faradaic efficiency (FE) for CO production during electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction. Further optimization of coverage and thickness achieved by adjusting charge density led to an optimal configuration at 33 mC cm −2 . This GDL supports various metal electrocatalysts and demonstrates FE CO of > 90% for over 150 h at −200 mA cm −2 using a commercial silver electrocatalyst. This work highlights the importance of GDL engineering in enhancing performance and durability for long-term electrocatalytic processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

A GPU Accelerated Mixed‐Precision Finite Difference Informed Random Walker (FDiRW) Solver for Strongly Inhomogeneous Diffusion Problems

In nature, many complex multi‐physics coupling problems exhibit significant diffusivity inhomogeneity, where one process occurs several orders of magnitude faster than others temporally. Simulating rapid diffusion alongside slower processes demands intensive computational resources due to the necessity for small time steps. To address these computational challenges, we have developed an efficient numerical solver named Finite Difference informed Random Walker (FDiRW). In this study, we propose a GPU‐accelerated, mixed‐precision configuration for the FDiRW solver to maximize efficiency through GPU multi‐threaded parallel computation and lower precision computation. Numerical evaluation results reveal that the proposed GPU‐accelerated mixed‐precision FDiRW solver can achieve a 117× speedup over the CPU baseline, while an additional 1.75× speedup is achieved by employing lower precision GPU computation. Notably, for large model sizes, the GPU‐accelerated mixed‐precision FDiRW solver demonstrates strong scaling with the number of nodes used in simulation. When simulating radionuclide absorption processes by porous wasteform particles with a medium‐sized model of 192 × 192 × 192, this approach reduces the total computational time to 10 min, enabling the simulation of larger systems with strongly inhomogeneous diffusivity.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Grassmannian diffusion maps based surrogate modeling via geometric harmonics

Abstract A novel surrogate model based on the Grassmannian diffusion maps (GDMaps) and utilizing geometric harmonics (GH) is developed for predicting the response of complex physical phenomena. The method utilizes GDMaps to obtain a low‐dimensional representation of the underlying behavior of physical/mathematical systems with respect to uncertain input parameters. Using this representation, GH, an out‐of‐sample extension technique, is employed to create a global map from the input parameter space to a Grassmannian diffusion manifold. GH is further employed to locally map points on the diffusion manifold onto the tangent space of a Grassmann manifold. The exponential map is then used to project the points in the tangent space onto the Grassmann manifold, where reconstruction of the full solution is performed. The performance of the proposed surrogate model is verified with three examples. The first problem is a toy example used to illustrate the technique. In the second example, errors associated with the various mappings are assessed by studying response predictions of the electric potential of a dielectric cylinder in a homogeneous electric field. The last example applies the method for uncertainty prediction in the strain field evolution in a model amorphous material using the shear transformation zone theory of plasticity.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Manning condensation in ion exchange membranes: A review on ion partitioning and diffusion models

Here, the rational design of ion exchange membranes (IEMs) is becoming more pertinent as their usage becomes broader and as their staple applications (i.e., electrodialysis, flow batteries, and fuel cells) improve in commercial viability. Such efforts would be catalyzed by an improved fundamental understanding of ion transport in IEMs. This review discusses recent progress in modeling ion partitioning and diffusion in IEMs in an effort to relate IEM performance metrics to fundamental membrane properties over which researchers and membrane manufacturers possess direct and sometimes precise control. Central focus is given to the Donnan-Manning model for ion partitioning and the Manning-Meares model for ion diffusion in IEMs. These two frameworks, which are derived from Manning's counter-ion condensation theory for polyelectrolyte solutions, have been widely used within the IEM literature since their recent introduction. To explore this topic, the mathematical derivation of both models is revisited, followed by a survey of experimental and computational discussions of counter-ion condensation in IEMs. Alternative models which fulfill similar roles in predicting IEM transport properties are compared. This review concludes by highlighting the uniquely favorable positions of the Donnan-Manning and Manning-Meares models and discussing their prospects as leading predictors of IEM partitioning and diffusive properties.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Predicting Fluid Flow Regime, Permeability, and Diffusivity in Mudrocks from Multiscale Pore Characterisation

In geoenergy applications, mudrocks prevent fluids to leak from temporary (H 2 , CH 4 ) or permanent (CO 2 , radioactive waste) storage/disposal sites and serve as a source and reservoir for unconventional oil and gas. Understanding transport properties integrated with dominant fluid flow mechanisms in mudrocks is essential to better predict the performance of mudrocks within these applications. In this study, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments were conducted on 71 samples from 13 different sets of mudrocks across the globe to capture the pore structure of nearly the full pore size spectrum (2 nm–5 μm). We develop fractal models to predict transport properties (permeability and diffusivity) based on the SANS-derived pore size distributions. The results indicate that transport phenomena in mudrocks are intrinsically pore size-dependent. Depending on hydrostatic pore pressures, transition flow develops in micropores, slip flow in meso- and macropores, and continuum flow in larger macropores. Fluid flow regimes progress towards larger pore sizes during reservoir depletion or smaller pore sizes during fluid storage, so when pressure is decreased or increased, respectively. Capturing the heterogeneity of mudrocks by considering fractal dimension and tortuosity fractal dimension for defined pore size ranges, fractal models integrate apparent permeability with slip flow, Darcy permeability with continuum flow, and gas diffusivity with diffusion flow in the matrix. This new model of pore size-dependent transport and integrated transport properties using fractal models yields a systematic approach that can also inform multiscale multi-physics models to better understand fluid flow and transport phenomena in mudrocks on the reservoir and basin scale.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Influence of Particle Size on Apparent Diffusivity During Spark Plasma Sintering of Crystalline Powders

Abstract:: A theoretical framework is presented to determine an apparent diffusivity D during powder sintering and further elucidate the underlying interrelation between D and shrinkage behaviors of powders. Furthermore, to eliminate the influence of crystalline defects that are typically present in raw powders, complete crystallization of metallic glass powders is performed to allow the investigation of the influence of particle size solely on powder densification. Furthermore, to validate the framework developed, Ti{sub 40.6}Zr{sub 9.4}Cu{sub 37.5}Ni{sub 9.4}Sn{sub 3.1} crystalline alloy powders constituting particles with different sizes are examined to establish a correlation between D and the sintering behaviors of the powders. The findings show that the value of the apparent diffusivity D increases with the increasing particle size, which accelerates powder densification during spark plasma sintering. Furthermore, the results quantitatively support the argument that particle size can affect atomic diffusion during powder sintering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗