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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 1,099 records · Page 61
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

High Temperature Irradiation-Resistant Thermocouple Qualification (Test Results Report)

This is a qualification report for the high-temperature irradiation-resistant thermocouple (HTIR-TC) developed by Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation program. Utilizing the Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) 5/6/7 test conducted in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory, the HTIR-TCs measured temperatures upwards of 1500°C during accident conditions. The HTIR TCs are thus qualified to perform and withstand an 18-month refueling cycle typical of nuclear power plants at the normal operating temperature, with a drift of less than ±1%. The HTIR-TC is also qualified for incorporating into a test fixture during new fuels tests.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Geophysical Signatures of Crack Network Coalescence in Rocks at Multiple Length Scales

The main goal of the research project was to identify the geophysical signatures of fracture growth in natural rocks by utilizing novel geophysical techniques. The research objectives were to (a) investigate the potential for geophysical methods to determine when cracks initiate, the types and locations of propagated cracks, and the coalescence of networks of cracks in natural rocks at multiple scales, (b) determine how damage at the microscale evolved into damage at the macroscale and then link the microscopic and macroscopic observations, (c) quantify crack coalescence in rocks under realistic stress conditions using coupled mechanical-geophysical-optical visualization, and (d) identify the precursors in geophysical signals to crack coalescence. The following research thrusts were explored to achieve the research objectives: (1) uniaxial compression testing of rock specimens with and without a set of pre‐existing flaws and (2) triaxial compression testing of natural rock specimens. These thrusts allowed for exploring fracturing in rocks under realistic in situ environments and at multiple scales. This project provided educational opportunities for nine graduate and undergraduate students and resulted in 27 peer-reviewed publications. This first research thrust focused on investigating the micromechanics of fractures in rocks through uniaxial compression testing combined with advanced geophysical and imaging techniques, specifically acoustic emission (AE) monitoring, ultrasonic imaging, and 2-dimensional Digital Image Correlation (2D-DIC). By examining damage processes under time-independent and time-dependent loading conditions, insights into damage localization, crack initiation, and fracturing mechanisms were gained. It was observed that the AE signals and the strain-based measurements directly reflect the state of damage in the rock specimen and could be used to identify the cracking levels, such as the crack initiation (CI) and crack damage (CD), and the mode of deformation. A novel calibration apparatus was developed to enhance the accuracy of AE sensors, allowing for the estimation of key parameters such as magnitude, source dimension, stress drop, and radiated seismic energy associated with the fractures. The findings highlighted significant variations in the temporal evolution of AE source parameters during the primary, secondary, and tertiary stages of creep, identifying tensile cracking as the primary deformation mode. The second research thrust focused on enhancing the understanding of fracturing processes in natural rocks through triaxial compression testing, real-time AE monitoring, and ultrasonic monitoring. We investigated the impact of various factors such as fracture propagation regimes, injection parameters, rock types, and pre-existing conditions on the hydraulic fracture (HF) behavior using scaled true-triaxially loaded specimens of Barre granite and Lyons sandstone. Custom sensor housing facilitated concurrent active and passive monitoring to analyze hydro-mechanical responses and microseismicity associated with different HF scenarios. A coupled investigation of passive microseismicity and active signal attributes permitted a detailed comprehension of the various HF processes (aseismic deformation, fracture initiation and propagation, fluid permeation, and leak-off) and their dependence on the specific rock type. The findings of this research demonstrated the effectiveness of AE monitoring techniques in providing valuable insights into the impact of various factors on the behavior and dynamics of HF processes. The advancements in monitoring techniques, offering a more thorough and precise approach, represent a significant step towards optimizing HF practices and ensuring sustainable resource extraction.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Creating and Interfacing Designer Chemical Qubits (Final Technical Report)

The Final Technical Report describes a multi‑institution effort to develop programmable molecular qubits as precision quantum sensors for probing quantum materials. The team created chemically tunable qubits with optical addressability and practical coherence, integrated them into thin films and frameworks while preserving functionality, and established new magnetic and electric sensing methods suited to two‑dimensional magnets, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics. They also built computational models and spectroscopic tools that connect molecular design to material behavior, enabling access to quantum phenomena that previously could not be measured. The project produced more than 40 publications and trained a large cohort of graduate students and postdocs, strengthening the workforce and infrastructure needed for DOE's quantum information science mission.

2D Quantum Materials↗
DOE OSTI2019

Using acoustic telemetry for high-resolution sablefish movement informing potential interactions with a tidal turbine

As the MHK industry moves forward to the commercial phase, knowledge of potential environmental effects need to be documented and established. At present, the potential for fish interactions and subsequent injury or mortality are a significant concern with instream turbines. Sensors, methodologies, and analyses need to be developed to detect collision or near-miss events. These data will reduce uncertainty of the likelihood of such events and provide information to regulators to make informed decisions on permitting and possible mitigation measures if needed. Acoustic telemetry is a primary method for studying fine-scale fish movements because it can remotely track fish in three dimensions with accuracy. The Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS) developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has proven effective for fish passage estimates and fine-scale movement in river impoundments and near dams. Leveraging the success of previous JSATS applications and applying it to the marine environment, juvenile sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) were tagged and tracked using a fixed-position receiver array in a marine tidal channel for the first time. Applying this technology to future installations of MHK turbines will provide information on fish avoidance and evasion behavior as well as blade strike and potential injury and mortality.

Staines, Garrett J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Negative Index Metamaterial Lens for Subwavelength Microwave Detection

Metamaterials are engineered periodic structures designed to have unique properties not encountered in naturally occurring materials. One such unusual property of metamaterials is the ability to exhibit negative refractive index over a prescribed range of frequencies. A lens made of negative refractive index metamaterials can achieve resolution beyond the diffraction limit. This paper presents the design of a metamaterial lens and its use in far-field microwave imaging for subwavelength defect detection in nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Theoretical formulation and numerical studies of the metamaterial lens design are presented followed by experimental demonstration and characterization of metamaterial behavior. Finally, a microwave homodyne receiver-based system is used in conjunction with the metamaterial lens to develop a far-field microwave NDE sensor system. A subwavelength focal spot of size 0.82λ was obtained. The system is shown to be sensitive to a defect of size 0.17λ × 0.06λ in a Teflon sample. Consecutive positions of the defect with a separation of 0.23λ was resolvable using the proposed system.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Methane Trace-Gas Sensing Enabled by Silicon Photonic Integration

Fugitive methane leaks occurring during extraction at typical natural gas wells have an adverse environmental impact due to the methane’s large radiative forcing, in addition to reducing the producer’s overall efficiency and cost. Mitigation of these concerns can benefit from cost-effective sensor nodes, performing reliable, rapid and continuous tracking of methane emissions. The efficacy of laser spectroscopy has been widely demonstrated in both environmental and medical applications due to its sensitivity and specificity to the target analyte. However, the present cost and lack of manufacturing scalability of traditional free-space optical systems can limit their viability for deployment in economical wide-area sensor networks. This presentation will review the development and performance of a cost-effective silicon photonic trace gas sensing platform that leverages silicon photonic waveguide and packaging technologies to perform on-chip evanescent field spectroscopy of methane.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Temperature Dependence of Band Gap Renormalization in High-T Sensor Materials via First-Principles and Experimental Corroboration

Understanding the temperature dependence of functional properties of high-T gas sensing materials is vital for their applications in combustion environments. The electron-phonon coupling that derives the electronic structure change with temperatures is a key property of interest as it affects other sensing responses. Herein, we assess the temperature dependence of band gap renormalization in metal oxides and perovskites by employing Allen-Heine-Cardona theory with first-principles simulations and corroborate with experimental observation. The calculated temperature-dependent band gap changes of these materials studied are in good agreement with in-house experimental data, proving that the theory can adequately predict renormalization on the band gap in the system of interest. The predicted and measured band gap variations are characterized using an analytical model, which can provide useful insights on the simulated zero-temperature band gaps. Based on the available data, a set of 53 metal oxides and perovskites were identified as potential high-T gas sensors. A machine learning model has been developed to predict the band-gap change by capturing the overall trend of the empirical parameters with respect to a reduced feature obtained by transforming the set of available physical features.

Park, Jongwoo↗
DOE OSTI2023

Methodology and Tool for the Physical Security Analysis of Micro and Advanced Reactors

This work proposes a dynamic evaluation methodology to relax the conservatism in physical security evaluation, by leveraging an ongoing work in the Light Water Reactor Sustainability pathway. This methodology is implemented in a dynamic risk assessment tool named Event Modeling Risk Assessment using Linked Diagrams (EMRALD). The work extends EMRALD’s capability to support a sandbox feature where analysts can easily create attack scenarios and modify advanced/small modular reactor (A/SMR) security and safety features using templates. This approach saves time and cost since the analysis does not require creating detailed computer-aided design models, as is commonly required in commercial force-on-force software tools. EMRALD is completely free to use at https://emraldapp.inl.gov. We have developed basic templates including physical barriers, intrusion sensors, physical areas, and safety actions, that can be downloaded from EMRALD’s GitHub site: https://github.com/idaholab/EMRALD. These templates use generic data commonly used for training purposes, which do not reflect any actual operating nuclear reactor. Users may adjust the data in the templates with their own dataset and/or create new templates in EMRALD. The proposed methodology combines security and safety by assessing sabotage effects up to the radiological consequence to the public instead of merely the core damage state. This practice follows the industry standard for advanced non-light-water reactors currently proposed for endorsement by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The combination of security and safety is expressed in an achievability-consequence chart. EMRALD can be used to generate data for this chart. A hypothetical case study using a representative sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) facility is presented in this report to demonstrate this methodology. This case study does not contain any actual nuclear plant information. This work will benefit A/SMR vendors and utilities to implement security by design during the reactor design iteration phase, such that they do not have to perform upgrades and retrofits to the reactor after it is installed to improve its physical protection system. The tool may also be used to analyze domestic or foreign reactor designs to support the International Nuclear Security Techniques for Advanced Reactors (INSTAR) bilateral missions. Future works are planned to implement the methodology on a reference SFR reactor and a reference high-temperature gas-cooled reactor to obtain insights and lessons-learned for the A/SMR community.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

(Poster) TRIPWIRE: Multi-modal Distributed Sensing For Repository Verification

Poster submission. This project is developing and demonstrating a multi-modal sensor system, TRIPWIRE, for containment verification in inaccessible radiological and nuclear waste repositories. The TRIPWIRE system will continuously monitor ionizing radiation, electromagnetic fields and vibration in the vicinity of emplaced nuclear materials buried in a repository, reporting on disturbances with a real-time alarm control station.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗
DOE OSTI2021

(Paper) TRIPWIRE: Multi-modal Distributed Sensing For Repository Verification

Underground geological repositories for storing used nuclear fuel are being planned and developed around the world. Research is being performed to understand technical aspects of sealing entombed materials and underground repositories to ensure the radiological and nuclear materials remain contained. To support safeguards verification for these facilities research at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is underway to develop and demonstrate a multi-modal sensor system, TRIPWIRE, for containment verification in inaccessible radiological and nuclear waste repositories. The TRIPWIRE system will continuously monitor ionizing radiation and electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of emplaced nuclear materials buried in a repository, reporting on disturbances with a real-time alarm control station. The system will use long-length scintillating fiber bundles (SFBs) to perform area radiation monitoring; these will be coupled to kilometer-scale multimodal optical communication fibers – all light sensors and electronic components used with this system will be located above ground. Electromagnetic fields, and changes in local dielectric conditions caused by intrusion and soil movement, will be monitored using commercial grade, ported "leaky" coaxial cables (PCCs), with control electronics also located above ground. Tamper-indicating self-diagnostic assessments will be done using optical and electronic time domain reflectometry in the SFBs and PCCs, respectively. The result will be a long, kilometer-scale multi-modal SFB-PCC system. Simulation and modeling are being used to inform the work and a demonstration of the system's utility is planned at a nuclear storage facility in the future.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗
DOE OSTI2022

Progress of Tripwire: Multi-Modal Distributed Sensing for Repository Verification

This project is developing and demonstrating a multi-modal sensor system, TRIPWIRE, for containment verification in inaccessible radiological and nuclear waste repositories. The TRIPWIRE system will continuously monitor ionizing radiation and electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of emplaced nuclear materials buried in a repository, reporting on disturbances with a real-time alarm control station. The system will use long-length scintillating fiber bundles (SFBs) to perform area radiation monitoring; these will be coupled to kilometer-scale multimodal optical communication fibers – all light sensors and electronic components used with this system will be located above ground. Electromagnetic fields, and changes in local dielectric conditions caused by intrusion and soil movement, will be monitored using commercial grade, ported "leaky" coaxial cables (PCCs), with control electronics also located above ground. This paper documents the results of the simulations and modeling efforts that have helped identify the optimal placement of the SFBs. Additionally, the paper includes the current progress on the multi-modal SFB-PCC system, including the fabrication of long-length (>3-m) fibers and their coupling to optical fibers.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗
DOE OSTI2022

Progress of Tripwire: Multi-modal Distributed Sensing for Repository Verification

This project is developing and demonstrating a multi-modal sensor system, TRIPWIRE, for containment verification in inaccessible radiological and nuclear waste repositories. The TRIPWIRE system will continuously monitor ionizing radiation and electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of emplaced nuclear materials buried in a repository, reporting on disturbances with a real-time alarm control station. The system will use long-length scintillating fiber bundles (SFBs) to perform area radiation monitoring; these will be coupled to kilometer-scale multimodal optical communication fibers – all light sensors and electronic components used with this system will be located above ground. Electromagnetic fields, and changes in local dielectric conditions caused by intrusion and soil movement, will be monitored using commercial grade, ported "leaky" coaxial cables (PCCs), with control electronics also located above ground. This paper documents the results of the simulations and modeling efforts that have helped identify the optimal placement of the SFBs. Additionally, the paper includes the current progress on the multi-modal SFB-PCC system, including the fabrication of long-length (>3-m) fibers and their coupling to optical fibers.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗
DOE OSTI2026

Impact of front-end parameters of the ARCADIA MD3 on charged particle detection

The ARCADIA INFN R&D project developed a Fully Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (FD-MAPS) using a customized LFoundry 110 nm CIS process. The first in-beam characterization of the ARCADIA Main Demonstrator 3 (MD3) sensor with 200 $μ$m active thickness has been performed at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility with a 120 GeV proton beam. The Device Under Test (DUT) is tested with a trigger-less telescope composed of two ARCADIA MD3 tracking planes. This early study investigates the effect of the front-end parameters on the tracking performance.

Pantouvakis, C. [Padua U.; INFN, Padua]↗
DOE OSTI2018

Single sensor bluethooth multilateration from arbitary locations

The genesis of bluetooth heralded a massive influx of tiny, easily produced, data transmitting devices, which due to their low power draw, could be connected to a decent sized battery and transmit data for weeks on end. Now that nearly all phones and computers have this capability built in, it has become useful for any number of reasons to know what type of devices are within an area, and their precise location. Systems have been developed which locate these devices, but only as long as they are within the range of multiple stationary beacons, which, depending on the area wishing to be monitored, may have severe limitations. This paper outlines the development of a system that uses a single sensor to determine the location of bluetooth devices over any sized area.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2015

A contactless approach for respiratory gating in PET using continuous-wave radar

Purpose: Respiratory gating is commonly used to reduce motion artifacts in positron emission tomography (PET). Clinically established methods for respiratory gating in PET require contact to the patient or a direct optical line between the sensor and the patient’s torso and time consuming preparation. In this work, a contactless method for capturing a respiratory signal during PET is presented based on continuous-wave radar. Methods: The proposed method relies on the principle of emitting an electromagnetic wave and detecting the phase shift of the reflected wave, modulated due to the respiratory movement of the patient’s torso. A 24 GHz carrier frequency was chosen allowing wave propagation through plastic and clothing with high reflections at the skin surface. A detector module and signal processing algorithms were developed to extract a quantitative respiratory signal. The sensor was validated using a high precision linear table. During volunteer measurements and [{sup 18}F] FDG PET scans, the radar sensor was positioned inside the scanner bore of a PET/computed tomography scanner. As reference, pressure belt (one volunteer), depth camera-based (two volunteers, two patients), and PET data-driven (six patients) signals were acquired simultaneously and the signal correlation was quantified. Results: The developed system demonstrated a high measurement accuracy for movement detection within the submillimeter range. With the proposed method, small displacements of 25 μm could be detected, not considerably influenced by clothing or blankets. From the patient studies, the extracted respiratory radar signals revealed high correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient) to those derived from the external pressure belt and depth camera signals (r = 0.69–0.99) and moderate correlation to those of the internal data-driven signals (r = 0.53–0.70). In some cases, a cardiac signal could be visualized, due to the representation of the mechanical heart motion on the skin. Conclusions: Accurate respiratory signals were obtained successfully by the proposed method with high spatial and temporal resolution. By working without contact and passing through clothing and blankets, this approach minimizes preparation time and increases the convenience of the patient during the scan.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Mutual Inductance Level Sensor for Use in Liquid Metals

Electromagnetic instrumentation capable of measuring the level of liquid metal has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory’s (ANL) Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL). The mutual inductance level sensor (MILS) utilizes the electromagnetic coupling between two coil conductors and a surrounding liquid metal to determine the level of the liquid metal. Mineral insulated cables wrapped on a stainless steel core provide a durable sensor construction. The use of a sealed stainless steel thimble isolates the sensor from the high-temperature liquid metal, allowing for easy sensor maintenance. Modern digital electronics allow for reliable and accurate operation of the sensor. Two sensor variations have been designed and fabricated, and the first variation has seen extensive testing in a non-sodium testing stand as well as in the high-temperature sodium environment of METL. Electromagnetic finite-element analysis studies have been performed using the COMSOL Magnetic Fields Solver. Regular operation of the MILS will commence following in-situ calibration of the sensors in the METL environment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗