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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 649 records · Page 36

Science and Technology (S and T) Roadmap Collaboration between SMC, NASA, and Government Partners

National Security Space (NSS) presents multi-faceted S and T challenges. We must continually innovate enterprise and information management; provide decision support; develop advanced materials; enhance sensor technology; transform communication technology; develop advanced propulsion and resilient space architectures and capabilities; and enhance multiple additional S and T domains. These challenges are best met by leveraging advanced S and T research and technology development from a number of DoD agencies and civil agencies such as NASA. The authors of this paper have engaged in these activities since 2006 and over the past decade developed multiple strategic S and T relationships. This paper highlights the Office of the Space Missile Systems Center (SMC) Chief Scientist (SMC/ST) collaboration with the NASA Office of Chief Technologist (NASA OCT), which has multiple S and T activities that are relevant to NSS. In particular we discuss the development of the Technology Roadmaps that benefit both Civil Space and NSS. Our collaboration with NASA OCT has been of mutual benefit to multiple participants. Some of the other DoD components include the Defense Advanced Research Projects agency (DARPA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), The USAF Office of Chief Scientist, the USAF Science Advisory Board (SAB), Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), and a number of other services and agencies. In addition, the human talent is a key enabler of advanced S and T activities; it is absolutely critical to have a strong supply of talent in the fields of Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Consequently, we continually collaborate with the USAF Institute of Technology (AFIT), other service academies and graduate schools, and other universities and colleges. This paper highlights the benefits that result from such strategic S and T partnerships and recommends a way forward that will continually build upon these achievements into the future.

Science Technology Collaboration↗

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Annual Progress Report for the Electric Drive Technologies Program

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced in May 2011 a new cooperative research effort comprising DOE, the US Council for Automotive Research (composed of automakers Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, and Chrysler Group), Tesla Motors, and representatives of the electric utility and petroleum industries. Known as U.S. DRIVE (Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle efficiency and Energy sustainability), it represents DOE’s commitment to developing public–private partnerships to fund high-risk–high-reward research into advanced automotive technologies. The new partnership replaces and builds upon the partnership known as FreedomCAR (derived from “Freedom” and “Cooperative Automotive Research”) that ran from 2002 through 2010 and the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles initiative that ran from 1993 through 2001. Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL’s) Electric Drive Technologies (EDT) subprogram within the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) provides support and guidance for many cutting-edge automotive technologies now under development. Research is focused on developing revolutionary new power electronics (PE), electric motor (EM), and traction drive system (TDS) technologies that will leapfrog current on-the-road technologies, leading to lower cost and better efficiency in transforming battery energy to useful work. The research and development (R&D) is also aimed at achieving a greater understanding of and improvements in the way the various new components of tomorrow’s automobiles will function as a unified system to improve fuel efficiency through research in more efficient TDSs. In supporting the development of advanced vehicle propulsion systems, the EDT subprogram fosters the development of technologies that will significantly improve efficiency, costs, and fuel economy

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Development of the Space Debris Sensor

The Space Debris Sensor (SDS) is a NASA experiment scheduled to fly aboard the International Space Station (ISS) starting in 2017. The SDS is the first flight demonstration of the Debris Resistive/Acoustic Grid Orbital NASA-Navy Sensor (DRAGONS) developed and matured by the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office. The DRAGONS concept combines several technologies to characterize the size, speed, direction, and density of small impacting objects. With a minimum two-year operational lifetime, SDS is anticipated to collect statistically significant information on orbital debris ranging from 50 micron to 500 micron in size. This paper describes the SDS features and how data from the ISS mission may be used to update debris environment models. Results of hypervelocity impact testing during the development of SDS and the potential for improvement on future sensors at higher altitudes will be reviewed.

Hamilton, J.↗

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office - In Service of Space Safety

Since the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office’s (ODPO) founding in 1979 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, it has been at the forefront of orbital debris research, modeling, and policy development. The ODPO has worked in collaboration with NASA and other U.S. government missions since the 1980s to mitigate the growth of the orbital debris environment and protect the population of the Earth. Two main products from the ODPO, the Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM) and the Debris Assessment Software (DAS), are frequently among the top three most-downloaded software packages from the NASA Software Catalog. These products are provided free of charge to the public in furtherance of the goal to ensure that new space missions, in compliance with NASA’s orbital debris mitigation requirements, are developed, operated, and disposed of responsibly. In addition to these external-facing software tools, the ODPO maintains high-fidelity internal tools for reentry simulation (the Object Reentry Survival Analysis Tool, ORSAT), short-term risk assessment for robotic and human spaceflight missions (the Satellite Breakup Risk Assessment Module, SBRAM), among others. Using data from the ORDEM model, as well as using the Meteoroid Environment Model (MEM) developed by the Meteoroid Environment Office (MEO) at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) team uses the BUMPER code to assess penetration risk to space vehicles in Earth orbit and beyond. This paper will discuss the services that the ODPO and HVIT provide, from mission concept development through end-of-mission, for NASA-related and commercial missions.

Chris Ostrom↗

Remote Sensing Capabilities to Detect Maritime Vessels in Distress

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has the responsibility for conducting research and development for search and rescue as charged under the National Search and Rescue Plan. For over two decades this task has been undertaken by the Search and Rescue Mission Office at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The technology used by the highly successful beacon locating satellite system, Cospas-Sarsat, was conceived and developed at GSFC and is managed by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Using beacon-less remote sensing to find people and vessels in distress complements the demonstrated life saving capabilities of this satellite system. The Search and Rescue Mission Office has been investigating the use of fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar to locate crashed aircraft. An overview of this effort and potential maritime applications of Search and Rescue Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) will be presented. The Mission Office has also developed a Laser search and rescue system called L-SAR. The prototype instrument was designed and built by SenSyTech Inc. It specifically targets the location of novel retro-reflective material easily applied to rescue equipment and vessels in distress. An overview of this effort will also be presented.

Larsen, Rudolph K.↗

Geothermal Energy R&D: An Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office

Geothermal energy can provide answers to many of America’s essential energy questions. The United States has tremendous geothermal resources, as illustrated by the results of the DOE GeoVision analysis, but technical and non-technical barriers have historically stood in the way of widespread deployment of geothermal energy. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has invested more than $470 million in research and development (R&D) since 2015 to meet its three strategic goals: (1) unlock the potential of enhanced geothermal systems, (2) advance technologies to increase geothermal energy on the U.S. electricity grid, and (3) support R&D to expand geothermal energy opportunities throughout the United States. Here, we describe many of those R&D initiatives and outlines future directions in geothermal research.

energy storage systems↗

Recovery of Mo in LEU-Modified Cintichem Process at Elevated Mo Concentrations

Argonne National Laboratory with support from DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Material Management & Minimization (M 3 ) is helping SHINE Medical Technologies in developing domestic production of Mo-99. SHINE is planning to produce Mo-99 by fission of low enriched uranium-235 (LEU) in a subcritical aqueous solution using accelerator-based neutron generation. SHINE’s subcritical system can contain ~250L of LEU solution that is processed through a recovery titania-based column to recover Mo, while the remaining LEU solution can be available for another irradiation. The Mo-containing solution is then fed into another titania-based concentration column to further concentrate the solution to allow for the final purification step using the LEU modified Cintichem (LMC) process. The LMC process is a relatively small-scale process that was designed to work with 50mL volumes. By concentrating the Mo solution that feeds into the LMC process from ~250L to ~50mL, the actual chemical concentration of Mo becomes important. It is estimated that up to ~15mM Mo concentration could be present in the LMC feed. Since the LMC process was originally proposed for purification of Mo after dissolution of irradiated U solid targets, the chemical concentration of Mo was not a concern, due to presence of only trace amounts of Mo.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Conceptual and Mathematical Foundation for the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model for Simulating CO 2 Enhanced Oil Recovery, Version 2

The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has developed the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model, which is Version 2 of CO 2 Prophet. This document describes the mathematical foundation for the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model. CO 2 Prophet was originally developed in the 1990s by Texaco Exploration and Production and Technology Department for DOE. The FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model is an oil reservoir simulator that is suitable for simulating water floods and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model uses a number of assumptions to simplify the equations describing the flow of oil, water (or brine), and CO 2 in the oil reservoir.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

User’s Manual for StrmtbFlow, the Stream Tube Multiphase Flow Part of the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model, Version 2

The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has developed the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model, which is an updated version of the CO 2 Prophet. This document is a user’s manual for StrmtbFlow, which is one part of the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model. CO 2 Prophet was originally developed in the 1990s by Texaco Exploration and Production Technology Department for DOE. The FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model is an oil reservoir simulator that is suitable for simulating water floods and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model uses a number of assumptions to simplify the equations describing the flow of oil, water (or brine), and CO 2 in the oil reservoir.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

User’s Manual for StrmtbGen, the Stream Tube Generating Part of the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model, Version 2

The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has developed the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model, which is Version 2 of CO 2 Prophet. This document is a User’s Manual for StrmtbGen, which is one part of the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model. CO 2 Prophet was originally developed in the 1990s by Texaco Exploration and Production Technology Department for DOE. The FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model is an oil reservoir simulator that is suitable for simulating water floods and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model uses a number of assumptions to simplify the equations describing the flow of oil, water (or brine), and CO 2 in the oil reservoir.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Nondestructive Evaluation of Concrete within Nuclear Applications

Structural defects that develop over the lifetime of nuclear power plants (NPPs) could threaten the safety and security of the concrete infrastructure. Developing a reliable nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method to evaluate the damage in NPPs and their associated structures will greatly improve the long-term operation and safety of NPPs. The purpose of the US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability program is to develop technologies and other solutions that can improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the operating lifetimes of NPPs beyond 60 years. This report describes the progress made toward growing NDE capabilities for NPPs. It also documents expanded collaborations with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and future opportunities to collaborate with industry partners (i.e., vendors and utilities) and university partners. These collaborations will continue to stand as a framework to provide value to stakeholders by reducing uncertainties and potential delayed maintenance costs in NPPs.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Irradiation of 20L LEU Uranyl Sulfate Solution for Production of Mo-99

Argonne National Laboratory, with support from the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Material Management and Minimization, is assisting SHINE Medical Technologies in the development of accelerator-driven production of 99 Mo using low-enriched uranium (LEU). Technetium-99m ( 99m Tc), a daughter of 99 Mo, is a workhorse of nuclear medicine, used in approximately 40,000 medical testing procedures each day just in the U.S.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) FY21 Update

This report summarizes the 2021 fiscal year (FY21) status of ongoing borehole heater tests in salt funded by the disposal research and development (R&D) program of the Office of Spent Fuel & Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) of the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy’s (DOE-NE) Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD). This report satisfies SFWST milestone M2SF- 21SN010303052 by summarizing test activities and data collected during FY21. The Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) is fielded in a pair of similar arrays of horizontal boreholes in an experimental area at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). One array is heated, the other unheated. Each array consists of 14 boreholes, including a central borehole with gas circulation to measure water production, a cement seal exposure test, thermocouples to measure temperature, electrodes to infer resistivity, a packer-isolated borehole to add tracers, fiber optics to measure temperature and strain, and piezoelectric transducers to measure acoustic emissions. The key new data collected during FY21 include a series of gas tracer tests (BATS phase 1b), a pair of liquid tracer tests (BATS phase 1c), and data collected under ambient conditions (including a period with limited access due to the ongoing pandemic) since BATS phase 1a in 2020. A comparison of heated and unheated gas tracer test results clearly shows a decrease in permeability of the salt upon heating (i.e., thermal expansion closes fractures, which reduces permeability).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) FY23 Update

This report summarizes the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) status of the second phase of a series of borehole heater tests in salt at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) funded by the Disposal Research and Development (R&D) program of the Spent Fuel & Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) office at the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy’s (DOE-NE) Office in the Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD) program.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Development of a CRAB-MELCOR Framework for Utilization in Support of Estimating a Realistic Mechanistic Source Term for Microreactors

Research and development activities are being performed to link important advanced non-light-water microreactor technology research and development activities sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy with regulatory requirements and critical licensing needs likely to impact the deployment of a domestic commercial microreactor fleet. This report presents the progress of ongoing work to perform a gap analysis of the coupling of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Comprehensive Reactor Analysis Bundle code suite and MELCOR code. This key Fiscal Year 2023 research reflects microreactor regulatory needs and challenges noted by industry, Department of Energy, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission stakeholders.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗