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All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2021

Request for Information on Establishing a New Manufacturing Institute (DE-FOA-0002564)

Deep decarbonization of major industries such as metals manufacturing requires extensive process integration and controls to manage feedstocks, side reactions, heat, water, and waste streams. The scale of the energy and capital investment requires that process integration be validated to a high level of confidence with no bias. Industries such as steel production have very thin profit margins. Therefore, lack of confidence in process integration, product quality, and economics is a major deterrence to changes in manufacturing capital investment. Public sector investment in reconfigurable pilot testbeds and a first-of-a-kind plant would be necessary to de-risk technical and financial barriers prior to industry-wide buildout. DOE should consider a National Lab-led hub for the testbeds. Lab testbeds could be utilized in campaigns and allow multiple industrial partners to evaluate and validate technologies prior to making major capital investments.

08 HYDROGEN↗

NASA NTRS1983

Integrated water management system - Description and test results

Water recovery subsystems are being tested at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center for Space Station use to process waste water generated from urine and wash water collection facilities. These subsystems are being integrated into a water management system that will incorporate wash water and urine processing through the use of hyperfiltration and vapor compression distillation subsystems. Other hardware in the water management system includes a whole body shower, a clothes washing facility, a urine collection and pretreatment unit, a recovered water post-treatment system, and a water quality monitor. This paper describes the integrated test configuration, pertinent performance data, and feasibility and design compatibility conclusions of the integrated water management system.

Elden, N. C.↗

NASA NTRS1974

The MIST /MIUS Integration and Subsystems Test/ laboratory - A testbed for the MIUS /Modular Integrated Utility System/ program

The MIUS (Modular Integrated Utility System) concept is to be an energy-conserving, economically feasible, integrated community utility system to provide five necessary services: electricity generation, space heating and air conditioning, solid waste processing, liquid waste processing, and residential water purification. The MIST (MIUS Integration and Subsystem Test) integrated system testbed constructed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston includes subsystems for power generation, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), wastewater management, solid waste management, and control and monitoring. The key design issues under study include thermal integration and distribution techniques, thermal storage, integration of subsystems controls and displays, incinerator performance, effluent characteristics, and odor control.

Beckham, W. S., Jr.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Irradiation Assessment of a Lightweight Industrial Robot - Towards Faster, Safer and Sooner Waste Decommissioning - 20317

Robotic systems have been successfully applied in the nuclear industry for several decades as a safe approach to minimize the exposure dose of human operators. As nuclear waste management and decommissioning gathers pace, there is an emerging interest integrating modern off-the-shelf industrial robots in nuclear robotic systems which make use of complex electronics and software to improve functionality over traditional machines. The use of the industrial robots will significantly increase the pace of development of automated waste management systems at a reduced cost, and although these off-the-shelf robots are proven robust in typical industrial environments, performance in radioactive environments is less clear. This paper investigates the performance degradation of a lightweight industrial robot (KUKA iiwa 7 LBR 800) in a controlled radiation field, aiming to simulate conditions in highly radioactive nuclear waste handling facilities. The degradation of the industrial robot's performance is identified while measuring the air kerma dose-tolerance of sensitive components, via a systematic experimental methodology. The experience from this experiment has demonstrated the significant capabilities of industrial robots, which tolerated a large gamma dose of 164 Gy before a system failure. Future tests are planned, aiming to enable faster, safer and sooner waste management and decommissioning using complex robotic systems. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2021

LAW Simulant Recipes for Evaluation of Real-Time, In-Line Monitoring Instruments

Statistically designed recipes were generated for evaluation of in-line instrumentation for the Real-Time In-Line Monitoring (RTIM) program in support of the Hanford Direct-Feed Low Activity Waste (DFLAW) program. The composition matrices were prepared based on Low Activity Waste (LAW) feed vector, melter feed, and Effluent Management Facility (EMF) feed information provided by the flowsheet integration modelling for the DFLAW portion of the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) mission. These composition matrices were converted to recipes for the LAW feed using the approaches for LAW simulant recipes developed by Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). Recipes for the glass forming chemicals (GFCs) were developed based on expected mineral forms to be used to for each element to be added to the recipe.

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DOE OSTI2020

LAW Simulant Recipes for Evaluation of Real-Time, In-Line Monitoring Instruments

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DOE OSTI2025

Develop an efficient and cost-effective novel anaerobic digestion system producing high purity of methane from diverse waste biomass

This project focuses on developing an advanced, intensified anaerobic digestion system aimed at transforming the treatment and conversion of organic wastes into valuable products, specifically renewable natural gas. The motivation for this research stems from the limitations of conventional anaerobic digestion technologies, which often face challenges such as long retention times, high operational costs, and incomplete organic material degradation. The new technology called Intensified Versatile Anaerobic Digestion (IVAD), is developed to address these challenges by incorporating innovative reactors and processes that enhance the overall efficiency and output of anaerobic digestion. The significance of this project lies in its potential to revolutionize waste management practices and waste biomass utilization. The IVAD system integrates a hyperthermophilic anaerobic acidification reactor, a hydrothermal treatment (HTT) unit, and both thermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic reactors. This combination enables a higher rate of organic breakdown and energy recovery, resulting in faster processing times, reduced reactor sizes, and lower operational costs compared to traditional systems. Key data include an increase in methane productivity to 1.18 m 3 /m 3 /day, a significant improvement compared to the baseline technology’s 0.64 m 3 /m 3 /day. Additionally, the IVAD system achieves a 45% reduction in levelized cost of energy (LCOE), down to $\$$10.04/MMBTU, and an energy return on investment (EROI) of 3.19, representing an 87% increase over baseline levels. Technical and economic analyses highlight that the IVAD system significantly reduces hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solid retention time (SRT). The HRT for the HTT reactor can be reduced from 1 hour to 0.5 hours, while decoupling SRT from HRT in the anaerobic acidification reactor (AAR) allows for further reductions. These design optimizations lead to smaller reactor volumes, cutting down equipment and construction costs. Despite these advancements, energy consumption remains comparable to conventional methods due to a novel heat recovery strategy, enhancing overall process productivity. The system also achieves in-situ CO 2 removal and ammonia stripping features, resulting in biogas with a methane purity level of 75%, and produces high-quality nitrogen fertilizer as an additional by-product. Public benefits of the IVAD system are substantial, contributing to sustainable waste management and renewable energy production. By providing a scalable solution that can be adopted by dairy farms and similar agricultural operations, the IVAD system helps reduce waste, produce renewable natural gas (RNG) suitable for transportation fuel, and generate fertilizer, supporting a circular economy. This project plays a role in achieving broader environmental objectives by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy independence. Additionally, it offers a pathway for farmers to lower operational costs while adopting practices that are both environmentally sustainable and economically advantageous.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Session 097B - Panel: Pathway to End State at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, TN (2/4) (R1.16b)

This panel was to focus on the 'Pathway to End State at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP)'. It was to discuss the DoE's long-term vision for the ETTP site and the process for converting the site into a multi-use industrial park, historic preservation and national park, and conservation area. The Panelists were to discuss the challenges in executing a cleanup project of this magnitude, the waste management, and the monitoring efforts that supported the achievement of the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) Vision 2020. This session integrated with panel sessions 97A, 97C, and 97D. Panelists with presentations: Beginning with the End in Mind (Kevin Ironside); Project Execution (Daniel Macias); Waste Management (John Wrapp); Environmental Remediation (Samantha Pack); Waste Management (Josh Pemberton); DOE's Long-Range Vision (Laura Wilkerson)

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NASA NTRS1991

Manufacturing with the Sun

Concentrated solar radiation is now a viable alternative source for many advanced manufacturing processes. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have demonstrated the feasibility of processes such as solar induced surface transformation of materials (SISTM), solar based manufacturing, and solar pumped lasers. Researchers are also using sunlight to decontaminate water and soils polluted with organic compounds; these techniques could provide manufacturers with innovative alternatives to traditional methods of waste management. The solar technology that is now being integrated into today's manufacturing processes offer greater potential for tomorrow, especially as applied to the radiation abundant environment available in space and on the lunar surface.

Murphy, Lawrence M.↗

NASA NTRS1974

General survey of solid-waste management

Potential ways of providing solid-waste management for a building complex serviced by a modular integrated utility system (MIUS) were explored. Literature surveys were conducted to investigate both conventional and unusual systems to serve this purpose. The advantages and disadvantages of the systems most compatible with MIUS are discussed.

Reese, T. G.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Additive Manufacturing of Thermal Energy Storage Composites with Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials Supported in a Multipolymer Matrix

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques to directly integrate phase change materials (PCMs) are of interest for efficient thermal energy storage (TES) architectures. Complex, high surface-to-volume ratio composites embedded with PCM can improve thermal management with reduced material waste for customizable device fabrication. Reducing feature sizes of TES-integrated heat exchangers using AM can increase heat transfer without thermal conductivity enhancement. Here, composite AM materials containing 60 wt% microencapsulated phase change materials (MEPCM) are fabricated using off-the-shelf printers at common speeds and resolutions. High MEPCM loading in filaments is achieved with powder extrusion using two polymers, thermoplastic-polyurethane (TPU) and polycaprolactone (PCL), that mediate flexibility and rigidity for effective extrusion and printing without filament fracture or buckling. Furthermore, with PCL and TPU at 20 wt% each and 60 wt% MEPCM (P 20 T 20 M 60 ), smooth, form-stable filaments are consistently printed. Powder-based extrusion displays negligible damaging effects on the MEPCM. Printed P 20 T 20 M 60 demonstrates 105 J/g of energy storage with no degradation through 250 thermal cycles, within 5% of the theoretical storage enthalpy. Combining PCL/TPU shows good interfacial adhesion between print layers and produces high surface area objects, like 15% gyroids, and dense, 100% infilled pucks. Prints are also scalable to a 900 cm 3 honeycomb heat exchanger with an estimated 9 Wh energy storage.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA NTRS2003

Lyophilization for Water Recovery From Solid Waste

This abstract describes the development of a solid waste treatment system designed for a near term human exploration mission. The technology being developed is an energy- efficient lyophilization technique that recovers water from spacecraft solid waste. In the lyophilization process water in an aqueous waste is frozen and then sublimed, resulting in the separation of the waste into a dried solid material and liquid water. This technology is ideally suited to applications where water recovery rates approaching 100% are desirable but production of CO, is not. Water contained within solid wastes accounts for approximately 3% of the total water balance. If 100% closure of the water loop is desired the water contained within this waste would need to be recovered. To facilitate operation in microgravity thermoelectric heat pumps have be used in place of traditional fluid cycle heat pumps. A mathematical model of a thermoelectric lyophilizer has been developed and used to generate energy use and processing rate parameters. The results of laboratory investigations and discussions with ALS program management have been used to iteratively arrive at a prototype design. This design address operational limitations which were identified in the laboratory studies and handling and health concerns raised by ALS program management. The current prototype design is capable of integration into the ISS Waste Collection System.

Flynn, Michael↗

DOE OSTI2026

Integrated Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessments of Central Appalachian Legacy Mine Sites for Biomass Development and Waste Coal Utilization

This project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy – National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL) under award DE-FE0032212, evaluated how legacy coal mine lands and coal refuse piles in Central Appalachia (West Virginia and Pennsylvania) can be reclaimed and repurposed to support biomass development and beneficial utilization of waste coal, with the long-term goal of supporting net-zero or net-negative greenhouse gas (GHG) pathways. The project had two primary objectives: 1. Characterize legacy mine sites (including site conditions, waste coal/refuse resources, and soil/ecosystem indicators) and develop reclamation and best management practices (BMPs) for biomass cultivation; and 2. Conduct integrated machine learning (ML)-assisted life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) to quantify environmental and economic outcomes for multiple biomass and waste-coal utilization pathways. Across West Virginia, the team identified ~625 coal refuse sites covering ~19,705 acres, and developed methods to estimate refuse pile volume using digital elevation models (DEMs) and geospatial workflows. A large subset of sites received volume estimates totaling ~1.6 billion m³.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

NASA NTRS2020

Electric Aircraft Cooling with Bio-Inspired Exergy Management

Future air vehicles will increasingly incorporate electrical powertrains that require very tight system-level integration of power, propulsion, thermal, fault protection, and airframe technologies. This chapter provides an overview of a new category of thermal energy conversion technology and describes the development of the resulting Thermal Recovery Exergy Efficient System, TREES. TREES can be used to enable a fully solid-state integrated thermal and fault management electric aircraft protection system, while synergistically managing and recycling both the low-grade waste heat from electrical components and the high-grade waste heat from engine components. This is achieved with exergy amplification of the powertrain waste heat, a new class of fast flight-weight breakers, a new class of long variable-conductance heat pipes with multiple switchable condensers, a new class of turbofan-integrated heat exchangers, and a gradient-based powertrain system optimizer. This approach is like the human body’s thermal management system in which the heart, arteries, and veins are analogous to the turbofan, acoustic tubes, and heat pipes proposed herein.

Rodger W Dyson↗

DOE OSTI2026

Project Development of an Electrochemical Denitration and Caustic Generation System for HLW Pretreatment at Hanford - 26350

An engineering-scale electrochemical processing skid is proposed to perform the denitration of Hanford tank waste, which would help to mitigate a key process concern with the direct feed processing of the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). The reduction of nitrates and organic compounds in the waste feed will directly reduce hazardous NOx and ammonia gases generated during the vitrification process, which in turn will aid in addressing potential regulatory and safety challenges associated with processing large volumes of tank waste. This paper highlights the past legacy work, project layout, accomplishments from Phase 1 and research and development envisioned for Phase 2. An innovative electrochemical denitration and caustic generation (EDCGe) process was demonstrated for the pretreatment of tank waste at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in the early 2000s. The denitration electrolyzer, off-gas abatement system, and caustic generator electrolyzer are being developed with the intent that the denitration electrolyzer will convert nitrate and nitrite anions to nitrogen gas while also yielding other gaseous byproducts, which may include N2O, NH3, VOCs, and H2. The gaseous byproducts will be managed via a tandem off-gas catalyst-bed treatment system. The caustic generation electrolyzer will recycle NaOH from the feed to produce a clean caustic stream for use within the batching tanks at Hanford, aiding in the preparation of waste for WTP. The reduction in hazardous emissions and improved waste treatment processes provides a robust solution for nuclear waste management, contributing to environmental safety and regulatory compliance. The EDCGe technology is being adapted, modified, and updated for the preparation of the Direct Feed-High Level Waste (DF-HLW) flowsheet at Hanford. Phase 1 demonstrated a bench-scale proof-of-concept for reactions involving the denitration electrolyzer and gas phase abatement of ammonia. The electrochemical technology is drawing on the scientific outcomes that were reported in the legacy work. The results from Phase 1 demonstrated the viability of the EDCGe system in reducing the nitrogen species of simple non-radioactive waste simulants. Commercially available alloys used as electrode materials and membranes are being studied for the denitration and caustic generation electrolyzers. The continuation of this project holds promise for broader applications, such as energy-efficient ammonia production, and contributes significant advancements in nuclear waste management. Additional material discovery has been investigated into ceramic Na super ion conductive (NaSICON) materials and off-gas abatement catalyst discovery. NaSICON is of interest for selective transport of Na within the electrolyzers to make a clean caustic stream. Future integration and optimization efforts, informed by Phase 1 results and ongoing research, will continue to drive advancements in nuclear waste management technology. The technology developed for the EDCGe treatment of tank waste will also have broader potential to inform other fields, such as energy-efficient ammonia production, as well as ammonia abatement catalysis through the lessons learned in electrochemical nitrate reduction. The applications and benefits of this research extend beyond Hanford and the Savannah River Site, supported by a collaborative team of scientists and engineers from national labs, academia, and industry, ensuring a comprehensive approach to solving complex waste treatment challenges. The team is leveraging advanced electrochemical technologies, machine learning, novel catalysts tailored for gaseous nitrogen species, and cutting-edge reactor systems to enhance the process efficiency and effectiveness of the denitration process.

Rodene, Dylan [Savannah River National Laboratory ↗

NASA NTRS1982

Aerospace technology and commercial nuclear power; Proceedings of the Workshop Conference, Williamsburg, VA, November 18-20, 1981

An attempt has been made to compare the technologies, institutions and procedures of the aerospace and commercial nuclear power industries, in order to characterize similarities and contrasts as well as to identify the most fruitful means by which to transfer information, technology, and procedures between the two industries. The seven working groups involved in this study took as their topics powerplant design formulation and effectiveness, plant safety and operations, powerplant control technology and integration, economic and financial analyses, public relations, and the management of nuclear waste and spent fuel. Consequential differences are noted between the two industries in matters of certification and licencing procedures, assignment of responsibility for both safety and financial performance, and public viewpoint. Areas for beneficial interaction include systems management and control and safety system technology. No individual items are abstracted in this volume

Grey, J.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Development of Life Support System Technologies for Human Lunar Missions

With the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle planned to be completed in 2009, Exploration Life Support (ELS), a technology development project under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration s (NASA) Exploration Technology Development Program, is focusing its efforts on needs for human lunar missions. The ELS Project s goal is to develop and mature a suite of Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) technologies for potential use on human spacecraft under development in support of U.S. Space Exploration Policy. ELS technology development is directed at three major vehicle projects within NASA s Constellation Program (CxP): the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), the Altair Lunar Lander and Lunar Surface Systems, including habitats and pressurized rovers. The ELS Project includes four technical elements: Atmosphere Revitalization Systems, Water Recovery Systems, Waste Management Systems and Habitation Engineering, and two cross cutting elements, Systems Integration, Modeling and Analysis, and Validation and Testing. This paper will provide an overview of the ELS Project, connectivity with its customers and an update to content within its technology development portfolio with focus on human lunar missions.

Barta, Daniel J.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Analysis of Exposure during Transportation of Waste to the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) - 20445

Safety is a priority for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Environmental Management (EM) Nevada Program. This commitment to safety is integrated into requirements and work procedures at DOE sites across the U.S. that generate low-level radioactive waste, mixed low-level radioactive waste, and classified waste that is transported to the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for permanent disposal. Generators of this waste are responsible for ensuring it is packaged and transported in a safe and compliant manner. These generators and their contracted commercial carriers must comply with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations; the Nevada National Security Site Waste Acceptance Criteria (NNSSWAC); and other applicable federal, state, and local regulations and requirements. This includes packaging and shipping the waste to meet DOT regulatory radiation dose limits to ensure public safety during transportation. NNSS waste generators have a solid safety record for complying with these stringent regulations as demonstrated by the fact that no shipments exceeding DOT dose rate limits were received at the NNSS Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) during FY 2014 through FY 2018. A 2005 study conducted by the Desert Research Institute validated shipments to the NNSS comply with DOT radiation dose limits. In response to recent Nevada stakeholder requests for an updated study, an analysis was conducted to verify and provide evidence that the public continues to be safe from exposure to radioactive waste shipment to the NNSS. Radiation exposure from radioactive waste shipments in transit to the NNSS was evaluated. Three studies were performed: 1. Confirm compliance of waste shipments to the DOT radiation limits using dose rate surveys taken at the generator site and at the disposal site. 2. Estimate the dose to the public from waste shipments using the dosimetry results for disposal site personnel by comparing time of exposure for various individuals/scenarios. 3. Estimate the truck driver dose using the receipt dose rate surveys and time of exposure, and from dosimetry results. Study 1 confirmed compliance with the DOT dose rate limits for a sample of waste shipments (123 of 1,038) received during fiscal year (FY) 2017. Study 2 showed that the average annual radiation equivalent dose for disposal site personnel during FY 2017 was approximately 6.7% [0.415 mSv (41.5 millirem)] of the annual average dose that a person living in the U.S. receives from all sources [6.2 mSv (620 mrem)]. Maximum dose to a member of the public, a person resting/sleeping in an adjacent truck at a rest area to a waste shipment, was 0.0166 mSv (1.66 mrem), which is less than the dose received from a person taking a round trip from the east coast to the west coast of the continental U.S. on an airplane [0.07 mSv (7 mrem) per round trip]. Study 3 showed that the truck driver who made the most shipments of radioactive waste to the NNSS, who drove the most hours (estimated time of exposure 2,520 hours), during FY 2017 had a total dose of 0.15 mSv (15 mrem), which was obtained from their personal dosimeter. The annual dose recorded for disposal site personnel, the dose estimates for the public, and the truck driver dose were all a small percentage of the average radiation dose a person receives from all sources (e.g., background and medical radiation). At these levels, risk should only be described qualitatively. Radiation exposure from radioactive waste shipments to the NNSS were shown to be compliant with the DOT dose rate limits, safe, and very low (i.e., within background levels). (authors)

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