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DOE OSTI2021

Containerization in ATLAS Software Development and Data Production

The ATLAS experiment's software production and distribution on the grid benefits from a semi-automated infrastructure that provides up-to-date information about software usability and availability through the CVMFS dis-tribution service for all relevant systems. The software development process uses a Continuous Integration pipeline involving testing, validation, packag-ing and installation steps. For opportunistic sites that can not access CVMFS, containerized releases are needed. These standalone containers are currently created manually to support Monte-Carlo data production at such sites. In this paper we will describe an automated procedure for the containerization of AT-LAS software releases in the existing software development infrastructure, its motivation, integration and testing in the distributed computing system.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2021

System and method for large-scale PCB production including continuous selective adhesion

A method for the large-scale production of PCBs including a continuous selective adhesion process for creating printed circuit traces providing input to a production line. A roll of printed circuit traces is produced using rolls of flexible substrate, conductive layer, and conductive layer support by applying adhesive between the rolls of flexible substrate and conductive layer, bringing the rolls together, transferring a circuit pattern onto the flexible substrate, curing the adhesive through non-opaque areas of the circuit pattern, and separating the non-bonded areas. The resulting printed circuit traces are applied from the roll to mounts, and circuit components are applied from a roll to the traces as the mounts move along the line. Additional rolls of printed circuit traces and circuit components may be incorporated, and multi-layer PCBs may be produced. As part of the production line, the finished PCBs may be applied to flat or contoured products.

Hatch, Jonathan Douglas↗

DOE OSTI2022

Separation of rare earth elements using supported membrane solvent extraction

A system and method for the recovery and separation of rare earth elements (REEs) are provided. The system and method include the supported membrane solvent extraction of REEs and the separation of light and heavy REEs that have been recovered from scrap permanent magnets and other electronic waste. In supported membrane solvent extraction, an organic phase consisting of an extractant and an organic solvent is immobilized in the pores of hollow fibers. An aqueous feed solution and a strip solution flow along the shell side and lumen side of the hollow fibers, respectively. The extractant functions as a carrier to selectively transport certain rare earth metal ions from the feed side to the strip side. The rare earth metals are concurrently back extracted in the strip solution, allowing processing to proceed continuously without equilibrium limitations.

Bhave, Ramesh R.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Passive Temperature Sensors for Nuclear Applications

Thermocouples are generally used to provide real-time temperature indications in instrumented tests performed at material and test reactors. Passive temperature monitors, such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and melt wires, may be included in such tests as an independent technique of detecting peak temperatures experienced during irradiation. In less expensive static (drop-in) capsule tests, which have no leads attached for real-time data transmission, melt wires, and SiC temperature monitors (TMs) are essentially the only possibility for peak temperature indication. A melt wire involves placing materials (wires) of a known composition and melting temperature in a test. An inventory is maintained at Material Science Laboratory (MSL) for melt wires ranging in temperatures from 30°C to 1500°C. Unfortunately, melt wires are limited in that it can only detect whether a single temperature is or is not exceeded (melt wire melted or not). SiC TMs, which can also be used to detect peak irradiation temperatures, are advantageous because a single monitor can allow to determine the peak temperature reached within a relatively broad range (100 – 1200°C) resulting in accuracies within ±20°C. Irradiation temperature is determined by measuring a property change after isochronal annealing or during a continuously monitored annealing process using specialized equipment at MSL. Recent research has produced a passive monitor known as sublime temperature monitor. This passive sensor has the capability of recording temperature gradients and pinpointing exactly where a temperature is located along that gradient. Long measurement lengths are achieved with very high accuracy in the location of desired temperature measurements (±2 mm over a 1 m span); however, this sensor has not been deployed in a nuclear reactor. This article will focus only on passive temperature sensors currently being researched and implemented under the Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation (ASI) program at Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS1987

Spacecraft technology trends - A view from the past

Future spacecraft will be sent on missions to complete the exploration of the solar system, to return samples from celestial bodies, record the process of creation of stars, galaxies, and the universe itself, to provide a continuous record of earth processes, and to maintain vital space communications. A key ingredient to projecting the future is to comprehend the historic record and to understand the significance of trends. This paper focuses on spacecraft cost and life trends, as well as those of the major subsystems. Throughout the history of the 'space age' there has been significant progress in the performance of spacecraft and their subsystems. However, various aspects of spacecraft performance lag behind what is technically feasible by a considerable margin. In addition, examination of the historical trend implies that future spacecraft will likely continue to be relatively unique in their design features. This is in contrast to the technically realizable future attributes such as large space platforms, modularity, system autonomy and on-orbit repair and servicing.

Hudson, Wayne R.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Cesium Ion Exchange Testing Using Crystalline Silicotitanate with Hanford Tank Waste 241-AP-107

At the time of this testing, the Low-Activity Waste Pretreatment System (LAWPS) was to provide for the initial production of immobilized low-activity waste by feeding Hanford tank supernate from tank farms to the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility for immobilization. Washington River Protection Solutions requested that Hanford tank waste collected from tank 241-AP-107 (hereafter called AP-107) be processed using conceived pretreatment steps (suspended solids removal by filtration, Cs removal by ion exchange) then vitrified. A small-scale test platform to demonstrate the solids filtration, Cs removal, and LAW vitrification was constructed and installed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Bench-scale ion exchange testing with approximately 9 L of AP-107 supernate was conducted using crystalline silicotitanate (CST) ion exchange media. The IONSIV R9140-B CST was provided by Honeywell UOP, LLC in 2018 (Batch 2081000057). The ion exchange media was first tested with simulant and was previously described. This report describes the Cs ion exchange batch contact and column test results with the AP-107 tank waste. Batch contact testing helps to evaluate CST performance on tank waste supernate prior to processing it in the ion exchange columns. Batch contacts were performed with the waste at four Cs concentrations at a phase ratio of 200 (liquid volume to exchanger mass) with AP-107. The distribution coefficient (K d ) at the equilibrium condition of 8.57 µg Cs/mL (AP-107 feed condition) was determined to be 669 mL AP-107/g CST. With a CST bed density of 1.00 g/mL, this K d corresponded to a predicted 50% Cs breakthrough of 669 bed volumes (BVs). The Cs load capacity at the equilibrium feed condition was determined to be 7.5 mg Cs/g dry CST. The column testing was prototypic to the intended LAWPS operations in a lead-lag column format, although on a small-scale basis with 10-mL CST beds. The feed was processed downflow through the lead column and then through the lag column at ~2.2 BV/h. Loading continued until the lag column reached the WTP waste acceptance criteria (WAC) for receiving supernatant waste for vitrification (a function of the Na and 137 Cs concentrations). For AP-107, the WAC is 0.114% of the influent 137 Cs concentration; this required a Cs decontamination factor of 876. The Cs effluent from the lag column reached the WAC after processing ~410 BVs. To keep the subsequent product effluent below the WAC, a replacement lag column was prepared, the lead column was removed from service (after processing a total of 471 BVs), the lag column was put into the lead column position, and the replacement lag column was installed. Feed processing continued and after another ~290 BVs the Cs effluent from the lag column again exceeded the WAC. In both cases, the lead columns only reached 25% Cs breakthrough before removal. Although 50% Cs breakthrough was not reached, this value was estimated and averaged based on extrapolation of the loading curves (640 BVs) and agreed within 4% of the predicted 50% Cs breakthrough from batch contact test results (669 BVs). Table ES.1 summarizes the observed column performance and relevant Cs loading characteristics.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

NASA NTRS1973

Characteristics of nonthermal electrons accelerated during the flash phase of small solar flares

Observations of impulsive hard X-rays and other flash phase emissions from small solar flares are analyzed in order to determine the characteristics of energetic electrons accelerated during the flash phase. The electron spectrum and its time variation are deduced from a model of the X-ray source in which the electron injection is continuous, and the electron energy loss is primarily due to collisions with the ambient plasma and escape into the corona. The instantaneous electron spectrum in the X-ray source, as well as the acceleration spectrum, are found to be nonthermal. The observations are consistent with a flare model having the following properties: (1) the acceleration region is located in the lower corona where the ion density is less than 10 to the 9th power per cubic centimeter, (2) the total kinetic energy of the nonthermal electron is approximately 10 percent of the total flare energy, so that the efficiency of the acceleration process is very high, (3) the nonthermal electrons (and protons) provide energy for all flash phase emissions, (4) the acceleration is a continuous process with a time constant less than 1 second, or a continuous series of impulses each lasting less than 1 second and a total duration of approximately 100 seconds, (5) the electron spectrum continuously hardens during the increasing phase of the X-ray burst and softens during the decreasing phase and, (6) the more energetic flares to not necessarily produce a harder electron spectrum.

Kane, S. R.↗

DOE OSTI2023

On-line Measurement of Hydrogen Gas using Raman Spectroscopy for Process Gas Systems

Advanced reprocessing schemes such as the Zircex process are important for continued development of the nuclear fuel cycle. The hydrochlorination reaction of the Zircex process flow sheet for metallic fuels has a known off-gas stream of H 2 (g) and HCl. The flow sheet can be simplified through HCl recycling, which requires detection and quantification of any residual H 2 (g) for safety and purity. In this work, commercially available Raman spectroscopy was applied for low-level, on-line detection of H 2 (g) in process gas streams, and parameters were adjusted to optimize the H 2 (g) Raman signal. Increasing the number of scans and exposure time in the spectrometer increased the signal-to-noise ratio of the H 2 (g) Raman signal, while the gas flow rate was optimized at 2.3 L/min. The limit of detection for H 2 (g) was estimated to be 2,100 ppm H 2 (g) in an N 2 (g) background. This scoping study for the application of Raman spectroscopy for on-line measurements of H 2 (g) shows that H 2 (g) can be detected at low levels (approximately 5% of the lower explosive limit (LEL)) in flowing gas streams.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS1986

Distributed automatic control of technological processes in conditions of weightlessness

Some problems associated with the automatic control of liquid metal and plasma systems under conditions of weightlessness are examined, with particular reference to the problem of stability of liquid equilibrium configurations. The theoretical fundamentals of automatic control of processes in electrically conducting continuous media are outlined, and means of using electromagnetic fields for simulating technological processes in a space environment are discussed.

Kukhtenko, A. I.↗

NASA NTRS2014

Conducting Research on the International Space Station Using the EXPRESS Rack Facilities

EXPRESS Racks provide capability for payload access to ISS resources. The successful on-orbit operations and versatility of the EXPRESS Rack has facilitated the operations of many scientific areas, with the promise of continued payload support for years to come. EXPRESS Racks are currently deployed in the US Lab, Columbus and JEM. Process improvements and enhancements continue to improve the accommodations and make the integration and operations process more efficient. Payload Integration Managers serve as the primary interface between the ISS Program and EXPRESS Payload Developers. EXPRESS Project coordinates across multiple functional areas and organizations to ensure integrated EXPRESS Rack and subrack products and hardware are complete, accurate, on time, safe, and certified for flight. NASA is planning to expand the EXPRESS payload capacity by developing new Basic Express Racks expected to be on ISS in 2018.

Thompson, Sean W.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Reinvention/reengineering of business and technical processes

The changing marketplace as evidenced by global competition is requiring American organizations to rethink, regroup, and redesign their processes. The umbrella of total quality management (TQM) includes many quality methods, techniques, tools, and approaches. There is no right way for every situation or circumstance. Adaptability and experimentation of several tools is necessary. Process management when properly applied can lead to continuous quality improvements. But some processes simply need to be discarded and new ones developed. This reengineering often results in vertical compression and job redesign and restructuring. Work activities must be designed around processes, not processes around work activities. Reengineering and process management do not stand alone--they support each other. Senior executive leadership and empowerment of workers at all organizational levels is vital for both short-term and long-term success.

Olsen, Eugene A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

SEL's Software Process-Improvement Program

The goals and operations of the Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL) is reviewed. For nearly 20 years the SEL has worked to understand, assess, and improve software and the development process within the production environment of the Flight Dynamics Division (FDD) of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The SEL was established in 1976 with the goals of reducing: (1) the defect rate of delivered software, (2) the cost of software to support flight projects, and (3) the average time to produce mission-support software. After studying over 125 projects of FDD, the results have guided the standards, management practices, technologies, and the training within the division. The results of the studies have been a 75 percent reduction in defects, a 50 percent reduction in cost, and a 25 percent reduction in development time. Over time the goals of SEL have been clarified. The goals are now stated as: (1) Understand baseline processes and product characteristics, (2) Assess improvements that have been incorporated into the development projects, (3) Package and infuse improvements into the standard SEL process. The SEL improvement goal is to demonstrate continual improvement of the software process by carrying out analysis, measurement and feedback to projects with in the FDD environment. The SEL supports the understanding of the process by study of several processes including, the effort distribution, and error detection rates. The SEL assesses and refines the processes. Once the assessment and refinement of a process is completed, the SEL packages the process by capturing the process in standards, tools and training.

Basili, Victor↗

DOE OSTI2020

FY19 Status Report on the Computing Systems for the Yucca Mountain Project TSPA-LA Models and Preliminary Testing of a Selected Process Model

Sandia National Laboratories continued evaluation of total system performance assessment (TSPA) computing systems for the previously considered Yucca Mountain Project. This was done to maintain the operational readiness of the computing infrastructure (computer hardware and software) and knowledge capability for total system performance assessment) type analysis, as directed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOE 2010. The FY19 task included continued operation of the cluster; maintenance of the TSPA-LA models (with Gold Sim 9.60.300); preliminary assessment of the status of the Infiltration Model (a process model that feeds the TSPA-LA). In addition, precautionary actions were needed to extend the life of the cluster hardware. To do that, three new nodes were added to the cluster. In the event any of the original nodes fail they will be replaced with the new nodes, thereby maintaining the core capability. The 2014 cluster and supporting software systems are currently fully operational to support TSPA-LA type analysis.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

NASA NTRS1992

Prediction of the energy-absorption capability of composite tubes

A method of predicting the crack-related energy-absorption capability of composite tubes is presented. The method is based upon a phenomenological model of the crushing process exhibited by continuous-fiber-reinforced tubes. A finite element method is used to model the crushing process. The analysis is compared with experiments on Kevlar-epoxy and graphite-epoxy tubes. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the analysis and experiment.

Farley, Gary L.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Experimental studies of ionospheric irregularities and related plasma processes

Utah State University (USU) continued its program of measuring and interpreting electron density and its variations in a variety of ionospheric conditions with the Experimental Studies of Ionospheric Irregularities and Related Plasma Processes program. The program represented a nearly ten year effort to provide key measurements of electron density and its fluctuations using sounding rockets. The program also involved the joint interpretation of the results in terms of ionospheric processes. A complete campaign summary and a brief description of the major rocket campaigns are also included.

Baker, Kay D.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Carbon fiber-nanoparticle composites with electromechanical properties

A carbon fiber composite material comprising: (i) a carbon fiber having an outer surface, a thickness of at least 1 micron, and an aspect ratio of at least 1000; (ii) a sizing agent coated on the outer surface of the carbon fiber, wherein the sizing agent has a thickness of up to 200 nm; and (iii) nanoparticles having a size in at least one dimension of up to 100 nm embedded within the sizing agent, wherein the nanoparticles have a metal carbide, metal oxide, metal nitride, and/or metal boride composition. A method for producing the fiber composite material comprises: (a) continuously feeding and coating a continuous carbon fiber with a liquid containing a solvent, sizing agent, and nanoparticles in a continuous feed-through process to result in said sizing agent and nanoparticles coating the surface of the continuous carbon fiber; and (b) removing the solvent from the coated fiber.

Bowland, Christopher C.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Design, processing, and testing of LSI arrays for space station

The work on the Process Analysis Structure was continued with the layout being completed, the 100X and 10X artwork being finalized, and the process and test sequences being prepared. Test programs were written for computer-controlled integrated-circuit testing and data reduction.

Ipri, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1995

A Snapshot of the Continuous Emission of the Active Galactic Nucleus in NGC 3783 from Gamma-Ray to Radio Wavelengths

To better understand the physical processes that produce the continuous emission in active galactic nuclei (AGN), a snapshot of the overall continuous energy distribution of NGC 3783, from gamma ray to radio wavelengths, has been obtained within the framework of the World Astronomy Days. The data collected in this campaign are from GRO, ROSAT, Voyager 2, IUE, HST, CTIO, SAAO, and the VLA. Great care has been taken in disentangling the genuine AGN continusous emission from other contributions; depending on the waveband, the latter might be (1) unrelated contaminating sources in cases where the instrument field of view is large (2) components within which the AGN is embedded, such as the stellar bulge population which accounts for a significant fraction of the optical continuum, and free-bound and FE2 blends wich contribute to the ultraviolet flux. After correction for these other contributins, the continuous emission of the isolated AGN appears to be rather flat (i.e., approximately equal energy per unit logarithmic frequency) from soft gamma ray to infrared wavelengths. At high energies (0.1 MeV to 0.1 keV), the AGN continuum can be fitted by a power law F nu approaches Nu(exp -a) with a spectral index of alpha approximately 1. At longer wavelengths, two excesses above this power law ('bumps') appear: in the ultraviolet, the classical big blue bump, which can be interpreted as thermal emission from the accretion disc surrounding a massive black hole, and in the infrared, a second bump which can be ascribed to thermal emission from dust in the vicinity of the AGN, heated by ultraviolet radiation from the central source. By fitting accretion-disk models to the observed AGN spectral energy distribution, we find values for the accretion disk innermost temperature, accretion rate, and black hole mass, with some differences that depend on whether or not we extrapolate the high energy power law up to infrared wavelengths. A fit to the IR bump above the extended alpha equals 1 power law suggests the presence of a dust component covering the region from a distance rho approximately equals 80 light days (hot grains at a temperature of approximately equals 1500 K) to rho approximately equals 60 light years (cool grains at T approximately equals 200 K). The total mass of dust is around 60 solar masses.

Alloin, D.↗