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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 811 records · Page 45

Interpretable Machine Learning Models for Practical Antimonate Electrocatalyst Performance

Computationally predicting the performance of catalysts under reaction conditions is a challenging task due to the complexity of catalytic surfaces and their evolution in situ, different reaction paths, and the presence of solid-liquid interfaces in the case of electrochemistry. We demonstrate here how relatively simple machine learning models can be found that enable prediction of experimentally observed onset potentials. Inputs to our model are comprised of data from the oxygen reduction reaction on non-precious transition-metal antimony oxide nanoparticulate catalysts with a combination of experimental conditions and computationally affordable bulk atomic and electronic structural descriptors from density functional theory simulations. From human-interpretable genetic programming models, we identify key experimental descriptors and key supplemental bulk electronic and atomic structural descriptors that govern trends in onset potentials for these oxides and deduce how these descriptors should be tuned to increase onset potentials. Here, we finally validate these machine learning predictions by experimentally confirming that scandium as a dopant in nickel antimony oxide leads to a desired onset potential increase. Macroscopic experimental factors are found to be crucially important descriptors to be considered for models of catalytic performance, highlighting the important role machine learning can play here even in the presence of small datasets.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Status of the Full Circumference Examination of the Inner Container Closure Weld Region for Selected 3013 DE Container

One of the main focus areas of the 3013 Surveillance Program is a thorough evaluation of the inner container closure weld region (ICCWR) opened for destructive examination (DE). As part of the protocol to investigate the corrosion in the ICCWR a laser confocal microscope (LCM) is used to perform close visual examination of the surface and measurements of corrosion features on the surface. In FY17, DE containers from FY13 through FY16 were evaluated to select candidates for a full circumference analysis of the ICCWR. In FY18, the selected DE containers for full circumference evaluation (FCE) were processed according to the ICCWR protocol. However, due to the time intensive task for collecting high magnification images for a full circumference, only FY15 DE07 was selected for completion of LCM data collection in FY18 with the remaining DE containers scheduled to be completed in FY19.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

FY17 ISCR Scholar End-of-Assignment Report - Robbie Sadre

Throughout this internship assignment, I did various tasks that contributed towards the starting of the SASEDS (Safe Active Scanning for Energy Delivery Systems) and CES-21 (California Energy Systems for the 21st Century) projects in the SKYFALL laboratory. The goal of the SKYFALL laboratory is to perform modeling and simulation verification of transmission power system devices, while integrating with high-performance computing. The first thing I needed to do was acquire official Online LabVIEW training from National Instruments. Through these online tutorial modules, I learned the basics of LabVIEW, gaining experience in connecting to NI devices through the DAQmx API as well as LabVIEW basic programming techniques (structures, loops, state machines, front panel GUI design etc).

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Reported Energy and Cost Savings from the DOE ESPC IDIQ Program: FY2021

The objective of this work was to determine the realization rate of energy and cost savings from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) program based on information reported by the energy services companies (ESCOs) that are carrying out ESPC projects at federal sites. Information was extracted from 201 measurement and verification (M&V) reports covering 193 projects to determine reported, estimated, and guaranteed cost savings and the associated reported and estimated energy savings for the previous contract performance year. This report covers projects that had a performance year ending in fiscal year 2021, between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, and had an M&V report issued. Additionally, the annual cost to perform M&V was extracted from the individual project Task Order (TO) Schedules.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Reported Energy and Cost Savings from the DOE ESPC IDIQ Program: FY 2022

The objective of this work was to determine the realization rate of energy and cost savings from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) program based on information reported by the energy services companies (ESCOs) that are carrying out ESPC projects at federal sites. Information was extracted from 190 measurement and verification (M&V) reports covering 182 projects to determine reported, estimated, and guaranteed cost savings and the associated reported and estimated energy savings for the previous contract performance year. This report covers projects that had a performance year ending in fiscal year 2021, between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022, and had an M&V report issued. Additionally, the annual cost to perform M&V was extracted from the individual project Task Order (TO) Schedules.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Reported Energy and Cost Savings from the DOE ESPC IDIQ Program: FY 2023

The objective of this work was to determine the realization rate of energy and cost savings from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) program based on information reported by the energy services companies (ESCOs) that are carrying out ESPC projects at federal sites. Information was extracted from 201 measurement and verification (M&V) reports covering 191 projects to determine reported, estimated, and guaranteed cost savings and the associated reported and estimated energy savings for the previous contract performance year. This report covers projects that had a performance year ending in fiscal year 2023, between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, and had an M&V report issued. Additionally, the annual cost to perform M&V was extracted from the individual project Task Order (TO) Schedules.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Conducting Beyond the Standard Model Searches in the MicroBooNE Detector with Machine Learning

MicroBooNE is one of the three neutrino detectors that comprise the Short Baseline Neutrino program at Fermilab. It utilizes Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) technology to probe the anomalous excess of electron-like events seen by its predecessor, MiniBooNE. Additionally, it provides a rich avenue of study for Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) theories. In the GeV energy regime relevant to MicroBooNE's beam neutrino program, many such theories lead to signatures which produce electron-positron (e+e-) final-states in the detector. While photons can pair produce into e+e- pairs with negligible opening angles, BSM theories often predict e+e- pairs with a broader range of opening angles. Thus, developing a tool that can reliably measure the opening angles of e+e- events is crucial for conducting rigorous BSM studies. However, these e+e- pairs result in topologically complex showers instead of clean tracks, making non-machine learning (ML) based methods such as line-fitting unsuitable for this task. This poster discusses the effectiveness of ML, namely a graph neural network called PointNet++, in accomplishing this goal. Our studies show promising results, with a resolution for the opening angle of 5 or less.

Bhelande, Vedang Adutya [Los Alamos]↗

IMPLEMENTING CYBERSECURITY INTO AN EXISTING NATIONAL NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION PROGRAMME – A CASE STUDY

Cyber threat profiling and risk mitigation is critical to any nuclear state organization and should be considered as part of any comprehensive nuclear security programme. Defining and evaluating the impact of the cyber threat to mission can be challenging. An existing national nuclear non-proliferation organization undertook an effort to incorporate computer security activities into its programme to address cyber risk. One of the primary goals of this endeavour was to develop a set of prioritised recommendations for organizational follow-through. The organization dedicated subject matter expert resources in the form of a cyber task force to support this goal. Opportunities were identified where computer security could be built into each programme including office-level strategies and tools. Of course, no new identified threat vector is easily considered and incorporated into existing programmes without impact. There are many obstacles to be overcome. Technically literate subject matter experts are difficult to find, management has comparatively less experience applying computer security into its programmes, and trying to change the culture to consider computer security risk at policy and programmatic levels takes time and management attention. As an outcome of this process, a roadmap for program integration was developed, including the establishment of a cyber support team. This paper will discuss the challenges and successes associated with establishing such a team.

Cyber Security, Nuclear, Non-proliferation↗

Long term predictions of coal fired power plant data using evolved recurrent neural networks

Abstract This work presents an investigation into the ability of recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to provide long term predictions of time series data generated by coal fired power plants. While there are numerous studies which have used artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict coal plant parameters, to the authors’ knowledge these have almost entirely been restricted to predicting values at the next time step, and not farther into the future. Using a novel neuro-evolution strategy called Evolutionary eXploration of Augmenting Memory Models (EXAMM), we evolved RNNs with advanced memory cells to predict per-minute plant parameters and per-hour boiler parameters up to 8 hours into the future. These data sets were challenging prediction tasks as they involve spiking behavior in the parameters being predicted. While the evolved RNNs were able to successfully predict the spikes in the hourly data they did not perform very well in accurately predicting their severity. The per-minute data proved even more challenging as medium range predictions miscalculated the beginning and ending of spikes, and longer range predictions reverted to long term trends and ignored the spikes entirely. We hope this initial study will motivate further study into this highly challenging prediction problem. The use of fuel properties data generated by a new Coal Tracker Optimization (CTO) program was also investigated and this work shows that their use improved predictive ability of the evolved RNNs.

Automation & Control Systems↗

DECOVALEX-2019 (Task G Final Report)

The DECOVALEX Project is an on-going international research collaboration, established in 1992, to advance the understanding and modeling of coupled Thermal (T), Hydrological (H), Mechanical (M) and Chemical (C) processes in geological in geological systems. This document is the final report of Task G which was proposed by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and coordinated by geomecon GmbH, presenting the technical definitions of the problems studied, approaches applied, achievements made and outstanding issues for future research. Task G in DECOVALEX-2019 is primarily concerned with the evolution of transmissivity throughout the lifetime of a repository for radioactive waste, and in particular of spent nuclear fuel, in sparsely fractured and competent crystalline rock masses, and the representation of these processes via numerical simulation. The numerical simulations were to be evaluated for their suitability, and to be validated. Over the course of the work presented here, not only were transmissivity changes and the best approaches to simulate those change examined, but also strategies were to be developed on how to monitor transmissivity change. Guidelines on what a control program and a monitoring system for a repository should include and be able to measure, and how this can be done in practice, was a key objective of the research project.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Optimizing Alabama’s CO 2 Storage in Shelby County (Project OASIS): Task 6.0 Deliverable – CarbonSAFE Phase III Readiness

The OASIS CarbonSAFE Phase II Project OASIS (Optimizing Alabama’s CO 2 Storage in Shelby County) is a geologic and reservoir characterization study designed to evaluate deep saline formations for potential long-term carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage in central Alabama near the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) and Alabama Power’s Plant Gaston. The project centers on understanding the potential of the Cambro-Ordovician Knox Group and underlying strata such as the Conasauga and Rome Formations for geologic storage of CO 2 . These formations were investigated as part of SECARB-USA (DE-FE0031830) and Project OASIS through the drilling of two stratigraphic test wells to obtain electronic well logs, core, and sidewall core plugs. These data provide direct measurements of porosity, permeability, and lithologic variability critical for reservoir characterization. Complementing the well program, a limited 2D seismic survey was conducted to help select the site for Westover #2 as part of SECARB-USA (DE-FE0031830), and a more regional Seismic Exchange (SEI) seismic survey was licensed and interpreted to define structural and stratigraphic frameworks in a new Static Earth Model (SEM), map reservoir continuity, and to identify potential sealing intervals. Integrated with geologic and reservoir modeling, these datasets form the basis for evaluating storage capacity, injectivity, and containment. While this document endeavors to provide readers with a high-level overview of Project OASIS activities and its suitability for subsequent CarbonSAFE Phases, such as a Phase III effort. Other project deliverables and milestones will provide more details on individual subjects.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Molten Salt Reactor Signatures and Modeling Study

Molten salt reactor (MSR) technologies, either liquid fueled and cooled or only liquid cooled, pose specific, unique challenges for safeguards of the special nuclear material during the operation, fueling, and maintenance of the reactor. MSRs are one type of Generation IV technologies being invested in and considered for U.S. domestic fabrication primarily for electricity and process heat production. These designs have generated growing commercial interest for several reasons, including high (≈40%) thermal efficiency, ease of fueling, improved use of uranium fuel, potential utilization of thorium fuel, and proposed inherent safety features. U.S. companies have several planned designs that differ in fuel, cooling, and neutron energy spectrum. Driven by commercial interest and the intent of licensing MSRs, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has developed a vision and strategy to accommodate non-light water reactors (LWR), which include MSRs (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2019). In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) Office of Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART), …sponsors research, development and deployment (RD&D) activities through its Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), Advanced Reactor Concepts (ARC), and Advanced Small Modular Reactor (aSMR) programs to promote safety, technical, economical, and environmental advancements of innovative Generation IV nuclear energy technologies. Reactor types considering the use of salts, liquid metals, or gases for coolant fall under both ARC and aSMR. Therefore, Research Design & Development is being pursued by DOE-NE through national laboratories, universities, and international and industrial collaborations. Additionally, the U.S. is a member of the Gen IV International Forum (GIF). The GIF is a cooperative, multinational organization to guide and carry out research and development needed for the GEN IV reactor systems (Forum 2018). GIF evaluated numerous reactor concepts and down-selected to the six most feasible advanced reactor technologies: gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), MSR, supercritical watercooled reactor (SCWR), sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), and very high temperature reactor (VHTR). In support of the growing interest domestically and internationally, the Materials Protection, Accounting, and Control Technologies (MPACT) campaign, under the DOE-NE Fuel Cycle Technologies (FCT) program, engages in R&D activities by developing advanced instrumentation and analysis for safeguards and security of modern, advanced nuclear fuel cycle (non-LWR) facilities. Because of the historic experience in the operation of the Aircraft Reactor Experiment (ARE) and the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) (Robertson, MSRE Design and Operations Report Part I 1965), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is heavily engaged in the various R&D activities through the DOE complex related to MSRs including national technical leadership of the DOE-NE MSR campaign. This report discusses and presents the outcomes of the FY19 MPACT MSR Safeguards task. The challenges presented by MSRs for nuclear material accountancy and control (NMAC) and associated safeguards will be investigated. The objective of this research is to explore and compile the safeguards requirements and identify measurement signatures through an initial high-level MSR design and develop complementary advanced simulation and modeling capabilities. A high-level ORNL-developed MSR design called the Molten Salt Demonstration Reactor (MSDR) (Bettis, Alexander and Watts 1972) was used as the target reactor design for this research. The MSDR model incorporates technology from the MSRE and the Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (Robertson, Conceptual Design of a Single-Fluid Molten-Salt Breeder Reactor 1971). But the MSDR is a 750 MWth graphite moderated liquid fueled (low-enriched uranium) MSR compared to the MSRE’s of 7.5 MWth. The focus of this report is to discuss the evaluation of novel signatures, correlations, and indicators to understand the applicability of current safeguards instrumentation to MSRs using the modeling results from the MSDR.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

The archives of the future

The term “artificial intelligence” (AI) - essentially programming machines to think like humans - conjures up different emotions in different people. Some view it with fear, imagining a malevolent AI similar to Skynet in the Terminator movies. Others see something benevolent, such as the character Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation . Still others see it as a means to advance the frontiers of science, engineering and technology to new levels not possible through traditional means. At the National Security Research Center (NSRC or the Center), which is the classified library at Los Alamos National Laboratory, we see AI as a tool to help us go through the monumental tasks we have in digitizing, cataloging, and searching our collections.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Unlocking load growth at the grid edge: Practices for managing, recovering, and allocating distribution system investments

Utilities and utility regulators are preparing to make significant investments in the electricity distribution system driven by expected load growth in coming years and decades. Regulators will be tasked with vetting investment proposals and implementing cost recovery and allocation mechanisms. In particular, state regulators are anticipating the need to make proactive distribution system investments, building the capability to serve new load in advance of demand. This report focuses on load growth from homes and businesses that adopt electric vehicles and heat pump heating technologies. Through a review of legislation and regulatory dockets in a subset of states, we provide insights into emerging utility and regulatory practices to recover and allocate costs of electrification-driven distribution system investments necessary to accommodate these technologies. Our review focused on utility electrification programs, line extension policies, and proactive investments. Our report is largely descriptive, offering detailed information about approaches different state commissions and utilities have implemented to inform future decision-making.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Modeling of Environmental-Economic Indicators of Regional Development

One of the current topical problems is the prediction of climate change and mitigation of its consequences. All-sided analysis of ecological, economic, and social aspects of climate issues relies on interdisciplinary assessment models. This article adapts the MERGE optimization model to the current state of the world economy and introduces into the model a new component that implements a simplified procedure of “green” GDP calculation (“green” GDP, or GGDP, provides information about the efficiency of use of environmental resources). The objective of our numerical simulations is to tests the consequences of Russia’s hypothetical participation in the program for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to analyze the environmental indicators of Russia’s GDP. The input data are mainly provided by the project of scenario conditions and main macroeconomic parameters for the forecasting of socio-economic development in Russia in the near future implemented by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The calculations reveal the existence of reserves for Russia’s “painless” participation in environment-preserving initiatives that call for not exceeding the 1990 emission level in 2020–2025. At the same time, increasing the environmental efficiency of Russia’s GDP is a relevant task that requires immediate attention.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Fluid-Structure Interaction of Deforming Porous Media

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Procter and Gamble Company (P&G) collaborated to develop a computational tool that predicts the in-use performance of consumer good products based on specific loading, geometries, materials, and boundary conditions. This computational tool is particularly useful in exploring the consumer-product interface and product performance. The benefit to P&G was many-fold, as the numerous project-tasks that were funded under this agreement led to advanced analysis software that allowed P&G to improve the performance and manufacturing of many of their products across several business units. The benefit to SNL was many-fold as well, including improved reduced-order models for thin-region dynamics (used for customers through DSA, NW, and EC PMUs), improved computational mechanics capability for capillary hydrodynamics, porous flow, structural mechanics, and more. Example applications of these improved capabilities at SNL include, but are not limited to, encapsulation, welding, soldering, and brazing models for NW, interface sliding models for DoD SPP programs, and porous-elastic subsidence modeling for energy and climate applications. Moreover, many current code developers on the ASC program’s SIERRA applications gained valuable skills working on this CRADA.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Evaluating FRI3D for Cost Savings in Fire Hazard Analysis at DOE Sites

A fire hazard analysis, required for many U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities, is a complex, cumbersome, and costly process. Fire hazard analyses may be viewed as a checkbox, but ideally and in spirit with the DOE-STD-1066, the fire hazard analysis (FHA) should be a part of the workflow and used to help in modifications, maintenance, and improving operational safety. With current FHA development processes, it is both time and cost prohibitive for true integration. A tool called Fire Risk Investigation in 3D or FRI3D was developed under the DOE Light Water Reactor Sustainability program to simplify and automate many aspects of a fire probabilistic risk analysis for existing nuclear power plants. The FRI3D tool automates fire scenarios by combining approved fire simulation codes, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission fire calculations methods, 3D modeling and visualization, and probabilistic risk analysis models into a single workflow supported with a user interface. FRI3D was initially designed for used in combination with a PRA, this case study, evaluated using FRI3D for a plant modification, determined the benefits that detailed fire modeling can have for U.S. Department of Energy facilities with or without a PRA model. It also looked at what tasks from DOE requirements could be reduced using the tool and what is needed to integrate fire hazard analysis into site workflow.

97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Energy Improvements of Fire Station 71

Since 2018, the City of Shawnee, Kansas has completed two phases of the State of Kansas Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP), an initiative that guarantees operational cost and energy savings through targeted construction improvements on City facilities and infrastructure. The City is currently in the third phase of this FCIP, where one of the projects included an investment in energy improvements for Fire Station 71 (FS 71). The City partnered with Navitas, an Energy Service Company (ESCO), to implement a Photovoltaic Solar Array on FS71. The purpose of this project was to invest in sustainable building improvements with Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) to bring cost savings to the City and to provide sustainable benefits to the residents of Shawnee. In the first task of the project, Navitas collaborated with the City of Shawnee and the Community Development Department to determine the optimal layout and schedule for the installation of the solar array on FS 71. In the second task of the project, Navitas installed the 99.8 kW DC Photovoltaic solar array system. This system installation comprised of racking, inverters, optimizers, load center, and disconnect, which were all installed at a total ECM price of $\$$247,948. The third task focused on start-up and commissioning of the array. Navitas installed a real-time data analytics information management system integrated with utility meters, which evaluates the operations of the utility system and verifies operation of equipment and ensures optimum operation for energy efficiency. In the final task of this project, this analytics system was used for monitoring and verification, which will continue to be used to evaluate the success of the project for the coming years. The primary goal of the project was to install the 99.8 kW DC PV solar array at FS 71 to demonstrate the viability of solar energy systems in essential municipal facilities. Fire stations are energy demanding structures, as they require a constant intake of power and have a high baseline energy usage. The success of solar arrays on a fire station exemplifies their energy efficiency and effectiveness and displays their potential for application on other city facilities. By installing a solar array at such a facility, the City sought not only to offset electricity usage but also to serve as a model for ECMs in other municipal facilities and infrastructure projects. From an economic standpoint, this project demonstrates the feasibility of renewable energy at the municipal level. The total project cost of $\$$247,948 was split evenly between city funds and award funding, minimizing financial risk while ensuring guaranteed long-term savings. Any excess savings that are beyond the guaranteed minimums remain with the city, which enables future investment in sustainable energy initiatives. This project provides many benefits to the public. In addition to reducing the environmental footprint of city operations, it lowers taxpayer-funded utility spending and improves the energy security of a critical facility. The knowledge gained from this implementation motivates the City to focus on similar efforts across other public facilities in future FCIP phases and other City projects.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗