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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 73 records · Page 4

Update of the Nuclear Criticality Slide Rule: Review of the Estimation of the Number of Fissions

IRSN (France), LLNL (USA) and ORNL (USA) began a long-term collaboration effort in 2015 to update the nuclear criticality Slide Rule (https://ncsp.llnl.gov/analytical-methods/criticality-sliderule) for the emergency response to a nuclear criticality accident. The Slide Rule permits the estimation of neutron and gamma dose rates and integrated doses based upon estimated fission yields, as a function of distance from the fission source, and time after criticality accidents for different critical systems. This paper presents the review of the section “estimation of the number of fissions”, named “fission yield” in the Slide Rule document. This estimation is important because the other information provided by the Slide Rule is directly proportional to the number of fissions. The previous models, based on Hansen and Barbry formulae, will be presented with their associated assumptions and limitations. Then, new proposals will be presented with a comparison to past criticality accidents and experimental data. The new formulae, based on the heat energy equation, cover many types of criticality accidents (solution, dry or low-moderated powder, rods/assemblies in water and dry metal) and require limited information in an emergency situation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A Comparative Study of Joint Modeling Methods and Analysis of Fasteners [Slides]

Motivation: Crucial aspect of mechanical design is joining methodology of parts. Ability to analyze joint and fasteners in system for structural integrity is fundamental. Different modeling representations of fasteners include spring, beam, and solid elements. Various methods compared for linear system to decide method appropriate for design study. New method for modeling fastener joint is explored from full system perspective. Analysis results match well with published experimental data for new method.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Updating Fission Yield Data for Applications (Summary Report)

The First Research Coordination Meeting of the CRP on “Updating Fission Yield Data for Applications” was held by video conference from 31 August to 4 September 2020 with more than 50 international experts from 16 countries attending the meeting. The CRP is devoted to evaluation efforts of cumulative and independent fission yields for incident energies from the thermal point up to 14 MeV on actinide targets. Produced fission yield evaluations should include full uncertainty quantification and are expected to combine available experimental data and state-of-art model information. Four working groups were created within the collaboration: 1) Availability of experimental fission product yield data for evaluations; 2) New fission product yield experimental data; 3) Fission product yield evaluation; and 4) Fission product yield validation. Technical discussions and the resulting work plan of the Coordinated Research Programme are summarized in this report.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Summary Report of the 1st RCM of the CRP on the Updating Fission Yield Data for Applications

The First Research Coordination Meeting of the CRP on “Updating Fission Yield Data for Applications” was held by video conference from 31 August to 4 September 2020 with more than 50 international experts from 16 countries attending the meeting. The CRP is devoted to evaluation efforts of cumulative and independent fission yields for incident energies from the thermal point up to 14 MeV on actinide targets. Produced fission yield evaluations should include full uncertainty quantification and are expected to combine available experimental data and state-of-art model information. Four working groups were created within the collaboration: 1) Availability of experimental fission product yield data for evaluations; 2) New fission product yield experimental data; 3) Fission product yield evaluation; and 4) Fission product yield validation. Technical discussions and the resulting work plan of the Coordinated Research Programme are summarized in this report.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Heat Exchanger Intensification Through Powder Processing and Enhanced Design (HIPPED)

High intensity, supercritical CO 2 heat exchangers capable of operating at temperatures between 800 and 1100 ˚C and pressures greater than 80 bar are considered a critical component for high efficiency power generation and a range of next-generation industrial processes. A novel heat exchanger concept was proposed in this project. The proposed concept involved a plate-type architecture with three-dimensional fins, called twisted s-shaped fins, that capitalize on additive manufacturing. Four manufacturing processes were studied to realize the complex envisioned design: press and sinter of metallic powders, directed energy deposition, laser powder bed fusion, and a novel powder bed process involving a photoreactive polymer called SEAM (scalable expeditious additive manufacturing), that later was developed at MSU. The team was able to manufacture subscale heat exchangers using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and SEAM. The team settled on using SEAM as a final manufacturing approach due to its very low cost. The SEAM-manufactured heat exchanger, however, when tested under pressure, exhibited leaks and the process still requires further development beyond the timeline of the project. To support the heat exchanger design and testing, the team developed a new high temperature flow loop allowing testing under high temperature and pressure. Computational modeling of the heat exchanger was also performed for the twisted s-shaped fins and the computations were validated with experimental data. The new twisted fins resulted in enhanced heat transfer and reduced pressure drop. To further minimize pressure drop in the plate heat exchanger, the team also developed a simplified model for flow maldistribution in the manifolds, providing a new tool for designers that eliminates the need for complex CFD calculations. A technoeconomic analysis was also developed to contrast SEAM with LPBF, this tool indicated that SEAM is several times less costly and offer significant promises as a rapid low cost additive manufacturing process for metallic systems.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Improvements of Nuclear Data Evaluations for Lead Isotopes in Support of Next Generation Lead-Cooled Fast Systems

The neutron evaluation of the isotopes that comprise natural lead were undertaken as a part of DOE-NEUP Project #19-16739. The goal of the project was to update the neutron cross sections to account for new differential measurements and incorporate the most up-to-date physics. Shortcomings in the lead cross sections was made known by several independent reports. The work performed here repeated the simulation of all the “benchmark” validation systems and concluded that the major issue is the scattering cross sections in the major lead isotopes above 100 keV. Re-evaluation of 206,207,208 Pb included both the resolved resonance region and fast region evaluations of the cross sections. Combined these regions cover energies from thermal to 20 MeV. The most drastic improvement is the resolved resonance region evaluation of 208 Pb which is now extended from 1.0 to 1.5 MeV. Parameterization of these resonances in the R-matrix provides a superior reconstruction of not only the experimental cross section but also the scattering distributions via the Blatt-Biedenharn formalism. Fast region evaluations of the three major isotopes were done to include new inelastic experimental data from the neutron Time-of-Flight facility at CERN. The culmination of all the changes to the cross section is a drastic improvement in the scattering kernel as shown in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Quasi-Differential scattering measurements and improved prediction of keff for fast integral experiments. Alongside the new cross sections, new nuclear data covariance (uncertainties) have been computed and are included in the evaluation. Little is changed in the magnitude of the uncertainties but the correlations within the covariance display non-trivial changes. The new evaluations of 206,207,208 Pb have been submitted to the National Nuclear Data Center to be included in the ENDF/B-VIII.1 library. While the cross sections have been updated extensively, knowledge and modeling of the cross sections between 1.0 and 3.0 MeV for the isotopes remain a challenge. Most notably is the double differential elastic cross section for 208 Pb and 206 Pb. New quasi-differential measurements for pure samples of these two nuclei would go a long way in reducing compensating errors in the evaluations. Qualitatively, the project has produced a prosperous collaboration between the nuclear data group at RPI with staff scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. Quantitatively this is reflected in seven conference presentations, at least one journal submission, and one doctoral thesis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A novel high frequency, high bandwidth, three phase Mach–Zehnder optical data link

In inertial confinement fusion, hydrogen isotopes are fused together under high pressures and temperatures. Typically, the duration of these experiments is incredibly short, on the order of around 60–150 ps. Due to the high radiation environment, a detector’s signal is typically data linked far distances to a protected location. The diagnostic challenge for fusion reaction history measurements is to measure signals of interest maximizing dynamic range while also maintaining time resolution on the order of 10 ps. In this work, we present a new experimental optical data link used to efficiently transport diagnostic signals over great distances to the recording system while not restricting the dynamic range. The concept of a three phase Mach–Zehnder modulator system is introduced as well as a description of the physical prototype. The initial results from testing at the OMEGA facility show that this system is a viable method for signal transportation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Exclusive π - electroproduction off the neutron in deuterium in the resonance region

We report new results for the exclusive and quasi-free cross sections off neutrons bound in deuterium y v n(p) →p π - (p) are presented over a wide final state hadron angle range with a kinematic coverage of the invariant mass (W) up to 1.825 GeV and the virtual photon four-momentum transfer squared (Q 2 ) from 0.4 to 1.0 GeV 2 . The exclusive structure functions have been extracted and their Legendre moments were obtained. Final-state-interaction contributions have been kinematically separated from the extracted quasi-free cross sections off bound neutrons solely based on the analysis of the experimental data. These new results will serve as long-awaited input for phenomenological analyses to extract the Q 2 evolution of previously unavailable n → N* electroexcitation amplitudes and to improve state-of-the-art models of neutrino scattering off nuclei by augmenting the already available results from free protons.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Thermodynamic characterization of synthetic lead-arsenate apatites with different halogen substitutions

Abstract Thermodynamic parameters have been measured for synthetic analogs of the mimetite-group minerals Pb5(AsO4)3X (X = OH, Cl, Br, I) belonging to the apatite supergroup. Phases precipitated from aqueous solutions under ambient conditions with well characterized structures and compositions were studied. For each phase, dissolution enthalpy was experimentally determined by oxide melt drop solution calorimetry in a molten solvent of sodium molybdate (3Na2O·4MoO3) at 976 K. The enthalpy of formation from the elements ΔHf,elo was calculated using thermochemical cycles and was −3030.6 ± 11.5, −3026.6 ± 15.8, −2967.6 ± 25.0, and −2993.1 ± 12.2 kJ/mol for Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00OH0.86(CO3)0.07, Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00Cl0.80(CO3)0.10, Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00Br0.80(CO3)0.10, and Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00I0.45OH0.35(CO3)0.10, respectively. These ΔHf,elo values exhibit typical trends for apatites: they increased (were less negative) with the increasing molar mass and ionic radius of X and decreased with the electronegativity and ionization energy of X. The compilation and comparison of data for Ca-, Pb-, P-, and As-apatites revealed correlations indicating that thermodynamic enthalpic stability is largely influenced by chemical factors (e.g., differences in electronegativities of the elements, ionization energy, or ionic characteristics of the bonds) and to a lesser extent by physical and geometric parameters in the crystal structure related to the mass and size of the X anion. Using the correlations, it was possible to estimate the value of hitherto unknown ΔHf,elo for Pb5(AsO4)3F, −3144.3 ± 66.5 kJ/mol. The observed relationships apply to the entire apatite supergroup and can be used to predict the values of ΔHf,elo for phases that have not been studied experimentally. The new data on environmentally significant phases will contribute to the modeling of mineral-water interactions, particularly for potential use in the remediation of soils and wastes contaminated with Pb and As and in the immobilization of radioactive waste containing I-129.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗

Assessment of Buffer-IPyC Thermomechanical Debonding Behavior Using New Experiment Strength Data in BISON

TRIstructural ISOtropic (TRISO) single sub-millimeter-diameter nuclear fuel particle consists of a spherical fuel kernel surrounded by four coating layers. During reactor operation, the TRISO coating layers are subjected to irradiation-induced dimensional changes and the associated thermomechanical behavior of each layer. One of the observed behaviors is gap formation between the buffer and IPyC layer due to the porous buffer’s irradiation-induced shrinkage exceeding that of the IPyC layer. To predict TRISO thermomechanical performance, multi-physics models have been built that are continually updated and refined. The BISON code is a finite element-based nuclear fuel performance code that may be used for TRISO particle simulations. One of the recent additions to the BISON code is the ability to model the process of layer debonding. This paper will focus on the simulation results of the improved BISON debonding model that will utilize updated strengths measured from irradiated TRISO fuel particles. The new experimental strength data from micromechanical tests of irradiated TRISO fuel samples were exercised in the BISON simulations and compared to baseline strength data to assess their applicability in the models. This also includes updated buffer-IPyC bond strengths to simulate layer delamination. Based on current experimental observations it is noted that the buffer-IPyC separation occurs not exactly at the junction of these two layers, but more on the side of the buffer layer. This improved modeling approach using experimental strength data to characterize buffer-IPyC debonding and its potential subsequent cracking will be presented in the paper along with comparisons to available experimental observations.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Optimized thermodynamic properties of REE aqueous species (REE 3+ and REEOH 2+ ) and experimental database for modeling the solubility of REE phosphate minerals (monazite, xenotime, and rhabdophane) from 25 to 300 °C

Rare earth elements (REE) are critical elements found in monazite, xenotime, and hydrated REE phosphates which typically form in hydrothermal mineral deposits. Accurate predictions of the solubility of these REE phosphates and the speciation of REE in aqueous fluids are both key to understanding the controls on the transport, fractionation, and deposition of REE in natural systems. Previous monazite and xenotime solubility experiments indicate the presence of large discrepancies between experimentally derived solubility constants versus calculated solubilities by combining different data sources for the thermodynamic properties of minerals and aqueous species at hydrothermal conditions. In this study, these discrepancies were resolved by using the program GEMSFITS to optimize the standard partial molal Gibbs energy of formation (Δ f G° 298 ) of REE aqueous species (REE 3+ and REE hydroxyl complexes) at 298.15 K and 1 bar while keeping the thermodynamic properties fixed for the REE phosphates. A comprehensive experimental database was compiled using solubility data available between 25 and 300 °C. The latter permits conducting thermodynamic parameter optimization of Δ f G° 298 for REE aqueous species. Optimal matching of the rhabdophane solubility data between 25 and 100 °C requires modifying the Δ f G° 298 values of REE 3+ by 1–6 kJ/mol, whereas matching of the monazite solubility data between 100 and 300 °C requires modifying the Δ f G° 298 values of both REE 3+ and REEOH 2+ by ~15–31 kJ/mol and ~2–10 kJ/mol, respectively. For xenotime, adjustments of Δ f G° 298 values by 1–26 kJ/mol are only necessary for the REE 3+ species. The optimizations indicate that the solubility of monazite in acidic solutions is controlled by the light (L)REE 3+ species at <150 °C and the LREEOH 2+ species at >150 °C, whereas the solubility of xenotime is controlled by the heavy (H)REE 3+ species between 25 and 300 °C. Based on the optimization results, we conclude that the revised Helgeson-Kirkham-Flowers equation of state does not reliably predict the thermodynamic properties of REE 3+ , REEOH 2+ , and likely other REE hydroxyl species at hydrothermal conditions. We therefore provide an experimental database (ThermoExp_REE) as a basic framework for future updates, extensions with other ligands, and optimizations as new experimental REE data become available. As a result, the optimized thermodynamic properties of aqueous species and minerals are available open access to accurately predict the solubility of REE phosphates in fluid-rock systems.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Mechanical Comparison of Short Models of Nb$_3$ Sn Low-$\beta$ Quadrupole for the Hi-Lumi LHC

MQXF is the Nb 3 Sn Low-β quadrupole magnet that the HL-LHC project is planning to install in the LHC interaction regions in 2026 to increase the LHC integrated luminosity. The magnet will be fabricated in two different lengths: 4.2 m for MQXFA, built in the US by the Accelerator Upgrade Project (AUP), and 7.15 m for MQXFB, fabricated by CERN. In order to qualify the magnet design and characterize its performance with different conductors, cable geometries and pre-load configurations, five short model magnets, called MQXFS, were fabricated, assembled and tested. We compare the mechanical behavior of short model magnets using experimental data and new numerical models that take into account the measured coil sizes as a function of position.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

LigninGraphs: lignin structure determination with multiscale graph modeling

Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer found in ubiquitous sources of woody biomass. Designing and optimizing lignin valorization processes requires a fundamental understanding of lignin structures. Experimental characterization techniques, such as 2D-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, could elucidate the global properties of the polymer molecules. Computer models could extend the resolution of experiments by representing structures at the molecular and atomistic scales. We introduce a graph-based multiscale modeling framework for lignin structure generation and visualization. The framework employs accelerated rejection-free polymerization and hierarchical Metropolis Monte Carlo optimization algorithms. We obtain structure libraries for various lignin feedstocks based on literature and new experimental NMR data for poplar wood, pinewood, and herbaceous lignin. The framework could guide researchers towards feasible lignin structures, efficient space exploration, and future kinetics modeling. Its software implementation in Python, LigninGraphs, is open-source and available on GitHub.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Assessing the ASME Section III, Division 5, Class A Primary Load Design Rules Against Creep Notch Effects

This report assesses the ASME Section III, Division 5, Subsection HB, Subpart B rules covering the design and construction of high temperature Class A nuclear reactor components for their robustness against creep notch effects. The creep notch effect combines the effect of multiaxial stresses on material creep deformation and damage. This report considers both effects, including the potential for creep mechanism shifts affecting the extrapolation of design data from high stress, short-time experimental data to low stress, long time operating component conditions. The report summarizes the history of and literature on multiaxial creep and surveys the current ASME design rules dealing with multiaxial effects. The report then describes the results of two dedicated numerical studies, one assessing the robustness of the ASME rules against uncertainty in extrapolating from uniaxial creep test data to multiaxial component conditions and a second study examining the potential effects of a mechanism shift from high stress, dislocation-mediated creep to diffusion-dominated creep at lower stresses. The final conclusion of the report is that the ASME rules adequately guard against multiaxial creep failure, though there are several aspects of the Code that could be optimized to provide less over-conservative design predictions or to provide a more consistent design margin as a function of temperature and stress. In a few areas, particularly the potential for mechanism shifts outside the currently-available experimental data, the Code rules should be revaluated as additional experimental data and new modeling and simulation results become available

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Producing ENDF/B-quality Evaluations of 239 Pu(n,f) and 235 U(n,f) Average Prompt Neutron Multiplicities using the CGMF Model

This report documents evaluations of the neutron-induced 239 Pu and 235 U average prompt neutron multiplicities, $\overline{v}_p$, using the CGMF model developed at LANL. These evaluations are not updates of existing ENDF/B-VIII.0 nuclear data, but were both re-done from "scratch". That is, all experimental data were extracted from EXFOR, re-normalized to the newest nuclear data representing monitor observables, and detailed uncertainties were estimated from information in EXFOR as well as from templates of expected measurement uncertainties. We also included experimental data that were not yet available for ENDF/B-VIII.0, for instance, the data of Marini et al. for 239 Pu(n,f) $\overline{v}_p$ or the data of Khoklov et al. for 235 U(n,f) $\overline{v}_p$. Finally, we include the CGMF model; it computes $\overline{v}_p$ based on model parameters that at the same time calculate fission fragments as a function of mass, Y (A), the average total kinetic energy as a function of incident-neutron energy, $\langle TKE \rangle$(E inc ), etc. Such a detailed fission model that ties together many fission quantities has not been used to date for any $\overline{v}_p$ evaluation in ENDF/B. Here, we show that we can get evaluated 235 U(n,f) and 239 Pu $\overline{v}_p$ that not only correspond well to experimental $\overline{v}_p$, but that the associated evaluated model parameters also yield parameterizations of Y (A), $\langle TKE \rangle$(E inc ), etc., that correspond well to their respective experimental data. The new evaluated 239 Pu(n,f) $\overline{v}_p$ was also combined into a 239 Pu test file with the newest nuclear data for the 239 Pu prompt-fission neutron spectrum and fission cross sections. This new 239 Pu file performed reasonably well in predicting PU-MET-FAST assemblies, reaction rates in Jezebel and Flattop and three LLNL pulsed spheres. Due to that, the new 239 Pu(n,f) $\overline{v}_p$ evaluation presented here is being considered for ENDF/B-VIII.1. Hence, we can show here that CGMF is able to produce ENDF/B quality $\overline{v}_p$ nuclear data.

239Pu, 235U, Average Prompt-fission Neutron Multip↗

FEM Modeling and Simulation of 2-D High Specific Heat Nb 3 Sn Wires

In the past few years, new high specific heat Nb 3 Sn wires have gained much focus at FNAL. Indeed, they have proved to be more stable against thermal perturbations with respect to standard wires. Nevertheless, a trade off exists between their thermal efficiency and production feasibility. In this report I describe the thermal and structural models that I have developed by exploiting ANSYS Mechanical APDL ® , which I got acquainted with at the beginning of my training. The aim has been to optimize the location of high specific heat elements in order to obtain an optimal thermal stability, while minimizing the risk of wire breakage during drawing. FEM results are compared with experimental ones made beforehand. Other minimum quench energy (MQE) thermal models have been developed for expected new experimental results. New data may improve the understanding of the embedded physical uncertainties in the model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Methodology for Simulating Supercritical CO2 Heat Transfer Experiments Using Machine Learning Models

To support the growth of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles in the energy industry, this study seeks to train a machine learning model to mirror experimental data to predict new heat transfer data. To do this experimental data was amassed, one preliminary set comprised of 16 test results, and an expanded version comprised of 38 test results. With the goal of predicting experimental apparatus temperatures and pressures, several iterations of models were tested investigating the impact of model hyper-parameters, data inclusion, and data pre-processing on model performance. A total of 15 variations cumulatively of Gaussian Process Regressors, Gradient Boosting Regressors, and Multi-Layer Perceptrons were trained and validated on the preliminary set, and the best algorithm of each class was re-trained on the expanded set. These were compared based on test/train R^2 , test/train mean absolute error (MAE), and validation MAE, to identify the successfulness of these models. It was shown temperatures could be predicted within just a few degrees, showing the potential of this approach. Future research has been identified with approaches to improve pressure and temperature predictions going forward.

Grabowski, Owen↗

First data and preliminary experimental results from a new Doppler backscattering system on the MAST-U spherical tokamak

Abstract A new Doppler backscattering (DBS) system, consisting of Q-band and V-band, has been installed and achieved its first data on the MAST-U spherical tokamak. The Q-band and V-band have separate microwave source systems, but share the same optical front-end components. The Q-band and V-band sources simultaneously generate eight (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 GHz) and seven (52.5, 55, 57.5, 60, 62.5, 65 and 67.5 GHz) fixed frequency probe beams, respectively. These frequencies provide a large range of radial positions from the low-field-side edge plasma to the core, and possibly to the high-field-side edge, depending on the plasma conditions. The quasi-optical system consists of a remotely-tunable polarizer, a focusing lens and a remotely-steerable mirror. By steering the mirror, the system provides remote control of the probed density fluctuation wavenumber, and allow the launch angle to match the magnetic field. The range of accessible turbulence wavenumbers (k θ ) is reasonably large with normalized wavenumberk θ ρ s ranging from <0.5 to 9. The first data acquired by this DBS system is validated by comparing with the data from the other DBS system on MAST-U (introduced in ref. [21]). An example of measuring the velocity profile spanning from the edge to the center in a high-density plasma is presented, indicating the robust capabilities of the integrated Q-band and V-band DBS systems.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗