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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Identifying Opportunities at the Interface of Chemistry and Quantum Information Science (Final Technical Report)

This project convened a National Academies committee to identify opportunities and research priorities at the interface of chemistry and quantum information science (QIS). The work culminated in a consensus study report that (1) articulates three fundamental research areas to advance QIS (design and synthesis of molecular qubits; measurement and control of molecular quantum systems; and experimental and computational scaling of qubit design and function), and (2) underscores the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration, access to facilities and instrumentation, FAIR-aligned data infrastructure, and workforce development initiatives to sustain U.S. leadership in QIS. The report and all other material associated with this project can be downloaded on the project webpage: https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DELS-BCST-21-01 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

In-Depth Mass Spectrometry-Based Single-Cell and Nanoscale Proteomics

Leukemic stem cells are highly dynamic and heterogeneous. Analysis of leukemic stem cells at the single cell level should provide a wealth of insights that would not be possible using bulk measurements. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic workflows can quantify hundreds or thousands of proteins from a biological sample and has proven invaluable for biomedical research, but samples comprising large numbers of cells are typically required due to limited sensitivity. Recent developments in sample processing, chromatographic separations and MS instrumentation are now extending in-depth proteome profiling to single mammalian cells. We describe specific techniques that increase the sensitivity of single-cell proteomics by orders of magnitude, enabling the promise of single cell proteomics to become a reality. We anticipate such techniques could significantly advance our understanding of leukemic stem cells.

Liang, Yiran↗
DOE OSTI2022

Forecasting ground-based sensitivity to the Rayleigh scattering of the CMB in the presence of astrophysical foregrounds

The Rayleigh scattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons off the neutral hydrogen produced during recombination effectively creates an additional scattering surface after recombination that encodes new cosmological information, including the expansion and ionization history of the universe. A first detection of Rayleigh scattering is a tantalizing target for next-generation CMB experiments. We have developed a Rayleigh scattering forecasting pipeline that includes instrumental effects, atmospheric noise, and astrophysical foregrounds (e.g., Galactic dust, cosmic infrared background, or CIB, and the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect). We forecast the Rayleigh scattering detection significance for several upcoming ground-based experiments, including SPT-3G+, Simons Observatory, CCAT-prime, and CMB-S4, and examine the limitations from atmospheric and astrophysical foregrounds as well as potential mitigation strategies. When combined with Planck data, we estimate that the ground-based experiments will detect Rayleigh scattering with a significance between 1.6 and 3.7, primarily limited by atmospheric noise and the CIB.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Fiber optic instrumentation for nuclear fuels and materials irradiations

The ability to predict the safety and reliability of new and advanced nuclear fuels and materials requires high-fidelity measurements during instrumented irradiation experiments. Optical fiber-based sensors are promising candidates for instrumentation in high-temperature (300-1200 C. degrees) irradiation environments, provided that signal attenuation due to radiation damage and/or high-temperature operation is not prohibitively large. To determine the feasibility of using silica optical fibers in instrumented irradiation capsules, a computational model has been developed to predict broadband optical attenuation in fused silica fiber materials as a function of time, temperature, and dose. Defect concentrations are calculated using a set of 11 coupled differential equations that include neutron-induced displacement, radiation-induced bond cleavage at precursor sites, and thermally-assisted molecular diffusion and defect recombination at elevated temperatures. Defect concentrations are coupled with the known optical properties of the various defects in fused silica to predict optical attenuation. The effects of radiation-induced compaction (i.e., formation of the 'metamict' phase) on the optical attenuation are also included. Results show that elevated temperatures significantly reduce attenuation resulting from defect centers (attenuation below ∼750 nm) as well as attenuation resulting from radiation-induced compaction (attenuation above ∼800 nm). The predicted attenuation is acceptable for most fiber optic-based sensor systems with a dynamic range on the order of 20-50 dB for a reasonable length (1-2 meters) of fiber in the high-flux region. Many optical components use a wavelength of 850 nm, which lies in the low-attenuation window. An irradiation campaign has been initiated to provide temperature-dependent optical attenuation data at high dose to validate the predictive model. (author)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Formalization of the functional analysis methodology to improve NPP I and C system design process - 244

Functional analysis is a universal methodology, which is able to support NPP and I and C design process. The paper proposes an approach to combining the functional analysis process and I and C design process into a single I and C functional design process. Operation of a system is considered as a set of functions providing not only the achievement of goal, but also keeping material and energy balances. A notation for graphical representation of semantic network (hierarchy of functions) describing a system is suggested. This network includes four levels, namely functional goals, abstract functions level, process functions level, and equipment level. The elements of the hierarchy are connected by three kinds of relationships, namely: parent-child, main-support, and cause-consequence. Then the semantic network (hierarchy) of functions is converted into a functional network which looks as a directed graph. This graph is used for development of control algorithm and for building of instrumentation and control functions hierarchy. Farther analysis of process functions reveals a set of criteria indicating real-time status and effectiveness of functions. The criteria are used for allocation of instruments and actuators. The process of functional analysis and design is illustrated in application to a simple heat generation system. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Future Opportunities for LWR Irradiations in US Test Reactors

After several years of relatively low activity in the field of Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel development, the Department of Energy again began to engage in developing new fuel technologies and irradiation performance data prompted by the Fukushima Daichi nuclear accidents. New competencies for irradiation testing in material test reactors in the United States began to be developed at this time using the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor (MITR), and the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT). Capsules for testing fuel and cladding materials in ATR and HFIR were deployed, a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) condition loop for testing fuel rods was established in ATR, cladding corrosion studies were performed using a water loop in MITR, and TREAT pulse testing capabilities were commissioned for fuel rods in water capsules. The more recent and unexpected closure of the Halden Boiling Water Reactor (HBWR) also prompted further investments in Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) testing capabilities at TREAT. New configurations of these test devices show further potential in enhanced steam condition control and other investigations are building toward a flowing water loop for testing transient to dryout conditions. The closure of HBWR also prompted a major project currently underway to construct additional water loops in ATR where a novel approach is being pursued to enable Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) conditions. A meaningful collaborative project was awarded to MITR which, amidst an unexpected major overhaul of the reactor, has expanded cladding corrosion test capabilities at MITR. New explorations have led to methods for unique experiments at HFIR including channel box irradiations. New device developments are also bridging toward future potential for instrumented capsule irradiation tests in ATR and HFIR. Finally, a new project referred to as the System Physics Advanced Reactor Critical facility (SPARC) is gaining traction towards a large zero-power reactor able to produce physics validation data for LWR fuel bundle designs with increased enrichment and enhanced absorbers for 24-month operation cycles. This paper provides a brief summary of the status of these irradiation testbed capabilities with an emphasis on current efforts toward future capabilities to obtain new data and maximize the performance potential of LWR fuel technologies.

Woolstenhulme, Nicolas [Idaho National Laboratory ↗
DOE OSTI2024

INL Poster - Juan Barrera Salazar

Generation IV nuclear reactors introduce several advantages and benefits in terms of safety and efficiency when compared with their predecessors from previous generation. This is due, among many things, to the use of innovative forms of fuel and coolant, different from the conventional ones used in the last decades. Given that these upcoming designs utilize emerging technologies, the related instrumentation is also in the process of being developed; therefore, it is necessary to establish the sensitivity requirements and the effects of uncertainty on different properties of the components and elements of the reactor designs. This report presents the results of simulations that quantify the impacts of the uncertainties of four thermophysical properties of the refrigerant salt (LiF-BeF2) for the Kairos Power benchmark model (g-FHR) for steady state making use of the Sobol’ method through polynomial chaos surrogate modeling. The properties of the salt to which uncertainty was evaluated were density, dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity and heat capacity. This study was carried out using the Griffin/Pronghorn multiphysics model under the computational resources of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High Performance Computing (HPC). The results indicate a weak dependence of the uncertainty of thermal conductivity on the quantities of core pressure drop and core outlet temperature.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Sensing for Environmental and Subsurface Monitoring

Groundwater monitoring is essential to timely and accurately reflect the current situations and the trends of water quality. However, the long-term stability and survival of any potential in-situ monitoring method is threatened by the harsh conditions and the groundwater monitoring in downhole environments poses numerous challenges to the sensor community. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been demonstrated as a promising technology for chemical monitoring in high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) environments and hard to reach places. The technique demonstrates several advantages, such as rapid, real-time, in-situ, and simultaneous detection of multiple elements with simple or no sample preparation. This chapter includes a brief review of the field-portable LIBS systems, and development of a compact, robust, and simple LIBS instrument for downhole HTHP water quality monitoring. The fieldable prototype sensor is tested in an onsite monitoring well where trace elements’ concentrations are tracked over an extended period. The testing has verified that the fiber coupled design performs as desired. The system shows good calibration linearity for tested elements and collection times, and Limits of Detection (LODs) that are comparable to those of tabletop LIBS instruments. In addition to groundwater quality monitoring, the fabricated LIBS-based sensor could have widespread sub-surface detection applications.

Jain, Jinesh [NETL Site Support Contractor, Nation↗
DOE OSTI2018

Lidar Buoy Data Analysis: Basic Assessment of Observed Conditions and Instrument Performance Off Virginia and New Jersey

One of the challenges for developing offshore wind energy in the United States has been a lack of long-term observations to characterize the wind resource and design load conditions and to provide validation for the numerical weather prediction models. To address this challenge, the U.S. Department of Energy supported the procurement in 2014 and subsequent deployment of two buoys equipped with motion-compensated lidars and a comprehensive set of supporting meteorological and oceanographic (“metocean”) measurement systems. Each of the systems was deployed off the U.S. East Coast in excess of one year—one each near the coasts of Virginia and New Jersey. One notable observation from both buoys is the dramatic dependence of the wind shear on atmospheric stability as indicated by the air-sea temperature difference. This observation suggests that the commonly used neutral log law will not be a fully suitable representation of wind shear off the U.S. East Coast. This report provides a basic summary of observations at each location from key systems on each of the buoys as well as an assessment of instrument performance. These data are beginning to fill a long-standing observational gap for the wind energy community in the United States.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development of the methods for simulating the neutron spectrometers and neutron-scattering experiments

Reviewed are the results of simulating the neutron scattering instruments with the program package VITESS upgraded by the routines for treating the polarized neutrons, as developed by the authors. The reported investigations have been carried out at the Frank Laboratory for Neutron Physics at JINR in collaboration with the Juelich research center (Germany). The performance of the resonance and gradient adiabatic spin flippers, the Drabkin resonator, the classical and resonance spin-echo spectrometers, the spin-echo diffractometer for the small-angle neutron scattering, and the spin-echo spectrometer with rotating magnetic fields is successfully modeled. The methods for using the 3D map of the magnetic field from the input file, either mapped experimentally or computed using the finite-elements technique, in the VITESS computer code, are considered in detail. The results of neutron-polarimetry experiments are adequately reproduced by our simulations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

An analysis method for experiment power in the ATR

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is used for testing and qualification of nuclear fuels and materials. The ATR has been irradiating the lead test assembly (LTA) for the planned Ki-Jang Research Reactor (KJRR) in Korea. Irradiation and subsequent Post-Irradiation Examination (PIE) of the LTA will lead to qualification of the fuel to support licensing activities. Qualification of the LTA requires the experiment to meet specific thermal and burn-up conditions. In particular, plate 20 of the experiment must obtain a heat flux between 137 and 200 W/cm{sup 2} with a target U-235 depletion of 79-84%. Due to the limited instrumentation and burn-up monitoring capabilities, assurance of meeting experiment goals is verified through modelling. In order to validate the experiment model using ATR operating data, a methodology was developed to compare the calculated experiment power with ATR power monitoring instrumentation. This paper discusses the methodology used to quantify the experiment power and uncertainty in the model based on ATR operating conditions. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2020

X-ray free-electron laser wavefront sensing using the fractional Talbot effect

Wavefront sensing at X-ray free-electron lasers is important for quantitatively understanding the fundamental properties of the laser, for aligning X-ray instruments and for conducting scientific experimental analysis. A fractional Talbot wavefront sensor has been developed. This wavefront sensor enables measurements over a wide range of energies, as is common on X-ray instruments, with simplified mechanical requirements and is compatible with the high average power pulses expected in upcoming X-ray free-electron laser upgrades. Single-shot measurements were performed at 500 eV, 1000 eV and 1500 eV at the Linac Coherent Light Source. These measurements were applied to study both mirror alignment and the effects of undulator tapering schemes on source properties. The beamline focal plane position was tracked to an uncertainty of 0.12 mm, and the source location for various undulator tapering schemes to an uncertainty of 1m, demonstrating excellent sensitivity. These findings pave the way to use the fractional Talbot wavefront sensor as a routine, robust and sensitive tool at X-ray free-electron lasers as well as other high-brightness X-ray sources.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Hydrogen Storage for Load-Following and Clean Power: Duct-firing of Hydrogen to Improve the Capacity Factor of NGCC Plants (Final Report, Phase II Pre-Front End Engineering Design Study)

GTI Energy (GTI) and team members Southern Company Services (SCS), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) performed a Phase II Pre-Feed Study under contract DE-FE0032008 for Hydrogen Storage for Load-Following and Clean Power. The configuration of the proposed system consists of subsystems for on-site H 2 production, on-site H 2 storage (up to 54 MWth in commercial vessels) and H 2 combustion in a duct burner in a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) integrated with an existing fossil asset. Here, the firing rate of the duct burner is varied to let the plant respond to fluctuations of electrical load and H 2 production is relatively constant by storing H 2 . The proposed system is an improvement over alternate low carbon dispatchable power options. Technoeconomic analyses show H 2 produced with GTI’s patented Compact Hydrogen Generator (CHG) with inherent carbon capture will be lower cost (Levelized Cost of Hydrogen, LCOH) relative to hydrogen produced with a Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) with an amine system for carbon capture. This lower cost hydrogen enables our integrated system to deliver electricity (Levelized Cost of Electricity, LCOE) at 17.4% lower cost relative to a SMR sourced H 2 -fired HRSG (with an amine system for carbon capture) – Steam Turbine Generator (STG). Our analysis using EPRI’s US REGEN macroeconomic model shows our system will have significant demand in the power market and therefore require significant capacity expansion (CHG plants built to deliver hydrogen) to deliver low cost, low carbon power. In Phase II, our Team has completed a detailed system definition including the development of process models, definition of battery limits, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping and Instrumentation Drawings (P&IDs), and a plant layout. A preliminary design for the key components of the CHG was developed including component lists & specifications. An evaluation of environmental and permitting considerations was completed and included the development of an Environmental Information Volume (EIV). The duct burners, which are flexible and can burn hydrogen and/or natural gas, were defined and initial CFD analyses were completed.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2017

American Society of Composites, 32nd Technical Conference

Resin transfer molding (RTM) has become increasingly popular for the manufacturing of composite parts. To enable high volume manufacturing and obtain good quality parts at an acceptable cost to automotive industry, accurate process simulation tools are necessary to optimize the process conditions. Towards that goal, General Motors and the ESI-group are involved in developing a state of the art process simulation tool for composite manufacturing in a project supported by the Department of Energy. This paper describes the modeling of various stages in resin transfer molding such as resin injection, resin curing, and part distortion. An instrumented RTM system located at the General Motors Research and Development center was used to perform flat plaque molding experiments. The experimental measurements of fill time, in-mold pressure versus time, cure variation with time, and part deformation were compared with the model predictions and very good correlations were observed.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development of an Advanced Integrated Operations Concept for Hybrid Control Rooms

The U.S. Nuclear Industry has an urgent need to reduce the operations and maintenance costs to remain economically competitive in today’s energy market. Measures to improve efficiency in operations will need to leverage technology in a way that safely transforms how plants are operated. This work describes the development of an integrated operations concept that integrates data from existing Instrumentation and Control (I&C) infrastructure, upgraded I&C systems, new sensors, and field technologies such as computer-based procedures to provide operators with centralized, streamlined instructions. The concept was developed to allow for an operator to remotely supervise many plant activities and to dramatically streamline plant operations and maintenance. This report describes the design philosophy, the analysis used to inform design, the implementation in the Human Systems Simulation Laboratory, and illustrates the design concept.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Design of a Do-It-Yourself Geiger-Muller Counter With Smartphone Mapping Application

Legacy Geiger-Muller (GM) survey meters recovered from fallout shelters have been used by several nuclear scientific societies as part of high school outreach programs. A donated antique instrument helps teachers demonstrate radiological principles, but fails to develop student's electronics skills, generate excitement for nuclear careers, or provide individuals with their own devices to explore the radioactive planet. A simple, affordable GM survey meter built by each student would increase direct engagement while providing hands-on experience with circuit-building, soldering, and computer programming. The inclusion of an affordable single-board computer as a component in the survey meter would enable students to tackle more various computer science and electronics projects, thereby potentially recruiting more students into technology and engineering. This paper details the challenges faced by an interdisciplinary undergraduate team designing an easy-to-assemble smart GM survey meter. Their iterative research, design, and testing process included modification to a basic circuit to enable use of different tube types, component cost reduction, application development, and data communication. The ultimate product of the team's efforts, a survey meter with affordable components and a smartphone application capable of creating radiation maps, is detailed in full.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

Beam Instrumentation Challenges for the Fermilab PIP-II Accelerator

Fermilab is undertaking the development of a new 800 MeV superconducting RF linac to replace it’s present normal conducting 400 MeV linac. The PIP-II linac warm front-end consists of an ion source, LEBT, RFQ and MEBT which includes an arbitrary pattern bunch chopper, to generate a 2.1 MeV, 2mA H⁻ beam. This is followed immediately by a series of superconducting RF cryomodules to produce a 800 MeV beam. Commissioning, operate and safety present challenges to the beam instrumentation. This paper describes these beam instrumentation challenges and the choices made for PIP-II.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Use of DOE SGP Radars in Support of ASR Modeling Activities

The objective of this work was to use the DOE Southern Great Plains (SGP) precipitation radars to investigate physical characteristics of clouds and precipitation, and use this knowledge in support of DOE ASR modeling efforts. The goal was to develop an integrated data set based on the SGP instrumentation to yield statistically robust fields to aid in the task of verifying simulated cloud dynamical and microphysical fields. For this effort we relied heavily on the ARM scanning precipitation radars, X-SAPR’s and C-SAPR, and also incorporating data from wind profilers, surface disdrometers and the nearby WSR-88D radar, KVNX. Initially we lent our expertise to quality controlling the data from the newly installed ARM radars, particularly the X-band polarimetric data, and additionally assessed automatic radial velocity unfolding algorithms developed by other ASR researchers. We focused our efforts on four cases from the MC3E field campaign in 2011 and developed a dataset including microphysical information derived from hydrometeor identification and kinematic analysis using multiple-Doppler retrieval techniques. This dataset became a PI product and was released to the community in 2014. This analysis was used to investigate the source of big drops (> 5 mm) observed with disdrometers at the surface. It was found that the big drops were coincident with the strongest updrafts, suggesting they resulted from the melting of large precipitation ice, likely hail. We teamed up with W-K Tao and T. Matsui to statistically compare radar-derived observational kinematics and microphysics to WRF model output for the 25 April 2011. Comparisons highlighted some areas where the model may need improvement, such as generating too much hail and big drops, as well as overly-strong updrafts and overly-weak of downdrafts.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗