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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 1,117 records · Page 62
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Sub-grid-scale description of turbulent magnetic reconnection in magnetohydrodynamics

Magnetic reconnection requires, at least locally, a non-ideal plasma response. In collisionless space and astrophysical plasmas, turbulence could transport energy from large to small scales where binary particle collisions are rare. We have investigated the influence of small scale magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) turbulence on the reconnection rate in the framework of a compressible MHD approach including sub-grid-scale (SGS) turbulence. For this sake, we considered Harris-type and force-free current sheets with finite guide magnetic fields directed out of the reconnection plane. The goal is to find out whether unresolved by conventional simulations MHD turbulence can enhance the reconnection process in high-Reynolds-number astrophysical plasmas. Together with the MHD equations, we solve evolution equations for the SGS energy and cross-helicity due to turbulence according to a Reynolds-averaged turbulence model. The SGS turbulence is self-generated and -sustained through the inhomogeneities of the mean fields. By this way, the feedback of the unresolved turbulence into the MHD reconnection process is taken into account. It is shown that the turbulence controls the regimes of reconnection by its characteristic timescale τ{sub t}. The dependence on resistivity was investigated for large-Reynolds-number plasmas for Harris-type as well as force-free current sheets with guide field. We found that magnetic reconnection depends on the relation between the molecular and apparent effective turbulent resistivity. We found that the turbulence timescale τ{sub t} decides whether fast reconnection takes place or whether the stored energy is just diffused away to small scale turbulence. If the amount of energy transferred from large to small scales is enhanced, fast reconnection can take place. Energy spectra allowed us to characterize the different regimes of reconnection. It was found that reconnection is even faster for larger Reynolds numbers controlled by the molecular resistivity η, as long as the initial level of turbulence is not too large. This implies that turbulence plays an important role to reach the limit of fast reconnection in large Reynolds number plasmas even for smaller amounts of turbulence.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE MAGNETIC SYSTEMS TRIGGERING THE M6.6 CLASS SOLAR FLARE IN NOAA ACTIVE REGION 11158

We report a detailed event analysis of the M6.6 class flare in the active region (AR) NOAA 11158 on 2011 February 13. AR 11158, which consisted of two major emerging bipoles, showed prominent activity including one X- and several M-class flares. In order to investigate the magnetic structures related to the M6.6 event, particularly the formation process of a flare-triggering magnetic region, we analyzed multiple spacecraft observations and numerical results of a flare simulation. We observed that, in the center of this quadrupolar AR, a highly sheared polarity inversion line (PIL) was formed through proper motions of the major magnetic elements, which built a sheared coronal arcade lying over the PIL. The observations lend support to the interpretation that the target flare was triggered by a localized magnetic region that had an intrusive structure, namely, a positive polarity penetrating into a negative counterpart. The geometrical relationship between the sheared coronal arcade and the triggering region is consistent with the theoretical flare model based on the previous numerical study. We found that the formation of the trigger region was due to the continuous accumulation of small-scale magnetic patches. A few hours before the flare occurred, the series of emerged/advected patches reconnected with a pre-existing field. Finally, the abrupt flare eruption of the M6.6 event started around 17:30 UT. Our analysis suggests that in the process of triggering flare activity, all magnetic systems on multiple scales are included, not only the entire AR evolution but also the fine magnetic elements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Design of a pilot scale directly irradiated, high temperature, and low pressure moving particle cavity chamber for metal oxide reduction

Recently a novel design concept of a reactor—the cascading pressure reactor—for the thermochemical fuel production, using a solar-driven redox cycle, was proposed. In this concept, thermal reduction of metal oxide particles is completed in multiple stages, at successively lower pressures. This leads to an order of magnitude decrease in the pumping power demand as compared to a single stage, which in turn increases the solar to fuel efficiency. An important step in the process is the transfer of heat in the form of concentrated solar radiation to the particles, while providing reducing conditions in the space surrounding the particles. In this context, a novel system for heating and reducing particles, with a focus on operating at the small prototype scale (below 20 kW), is investigated. The key goals of the system are continuous operation, uniform heating of the reactive material, the ability to heat reactive material to 1723 K or higher, and flexibility of control. These criteria have led to the conceptual design of a continuous thin-layer particle conveyor, contained in an apertured, windowed cavity and enclosed in a vacuum chamber. This chamber, in combination with a water-splitting chamber and other system components, allows the possibility of testing multiple redox materials without any significant change in the reactor design. The present work shows a potential design for the proposed component, feasibility tests of the physics of moving particles with relevant materials, and series of interconnected numerical models and calculations that can be used to size such a system for the appropriate scales of power and mass flow rates. The use of a unified design strategy has led to efficient development of the system. Experimental investigations of the horizontal motion plate allowed effective determination of motion profiles and bed uniformity. We note the most important factors determined through the modeling effort were the aperture diameter, which serves as the coupling point between the solar simulator lamp array and the cavity particle heating, and the particle bed thickness, which has a strong effect on the outlet temperature of the particles.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Manipulating meso-scale solvent structure from Pd nanoparticle deposits in deep eutectic solvents

Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are complex solutions that present unique challenges compared to traditional electrolytes. Unlike most electrolytes and ionic liquids, DESs have delicate hydrogen bond networks that are responsible for their highly sensitive compositional dependence on the melting point. Prior work has demonstrated unique nanoscale structure both experimentally and theoretically that brings both challenges and opportunities to their adoption in traditional electrochemical processes. In this study, we use in-situ sample-rotated ultra-small angle X-ray scattering to resolve the near-interface solvent structure after electrodepositing Pd nanoparticles onto a glassy carbon electrode in choline chloride:urea and choline chloride:ethylene glycol DESs. Our results indicate that solvent structure can be observed on the meso-scale in the choline chloride:urea and choline chloride:ethylene glycol systems. Importantly, this extended solvent structure peaks at -0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and decreases slightly with higher overpotentials during Pd electrodeposition. Experimentally, the nature of this structure is more pronounced in the ethylene glycol system, as evidenced by both the X-ray scattering as well as the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Here, molecular dynamics simulations and dipolar orientation analysis reveal that chloride delocalization near the Pd interface and long-range interactions between the choline and each hydrogen bond donor are very different and qualitatively consistent with the experimental data. These results show how the long-range solvent-deposit interactions can be tuned by changing the hydrogen bond donor in the DES and the applied potential.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Performance of CMOS pixel sensor prototypes in ams H35 and aH18 technology for the ATLAS ITk upgrade

Pixel sensors based on commercial high-voltage CMOS processes are an exciting technology that is considered as an option for the outer layer of the ATLAS inner tracker upgrade at the High Luminosity LHC. Here, charged particles are detected using deep n-wells as sensor diodes with the depleted region extending into the silicon bulk. Both analog and digital readout electronics can be added to achieve different levels of integration up to a fully monolithic sensor. Small scale prototypes using the ams CMOS technology have previously demonstrated that it can achieve the required radiation tolerance of 10(15) n(eq)/cm(2) and detection efficiencies above 99.5%. Recently, large area prototypes, comparable in size to a full sensor, have been produced that include most features required towards a final design: the H35demo prototype produced in ams H35 technology that supports both external and integrated readout and the monolithic ATLASPix1 pre-production design produced in ams aH18 technology. Both chips are based on large fill-factor pixel designs, but differ in readout structure. Performance results for H35DEMO with capacitively-coupled external readout and first results for the monolithic ATLASPix1 are shown.

ATLAS ITk upgrade↗
DOE OSTI2018

Development and thermal performance verification of composite insulation boards containing foam-encapsulated vacuum insulation panels

High-performance thermal insulation is a critical need for buildings. This article presents the development and thermal characterization of composite foam insulation boards containing low-cost vacuum insulation cores. The composite foam-vacuum insulation boards were created in a semi-automatic operation in a foam insulation manufacturing plant. The low-cost vacuum insulation is a new technology called modified atmosphere insulation. The production process of modified atmosphere insulation is much simpler than traditional vacuum insulation manufacturing, and it has the potential for significant cost reduction at the same thermal performance. Prototypes of small- and full-scale composite insulation boards were created for testing and evaluation under laboratory and natural weatherization conditions. The laboratory tests showed that the overall thermal resistance of the composite insulation board is at least twice that of current rigid foam insulation used in building envelope. Lastly, ongoing test of the composite insulation in a natural exposure test facility indicates that the high thermal performance was retained through handling and installation as well as natural aging over a period of one and a half years.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Combined Land Use of Solar Infrastructure and Agriculture for Socioeconomic and Environmental Co-Benefits in the Tropics

Solar photovoltaics (PV) are on the rise even in areas of low solar insolation. However, in developing countries with limited capital, land scarcity, or with geographically isolated agrarian communities, large solar infrastructures are often impractical. In these cases, implementation of low-density PV over existing crops may be required to integrate renewable energy services into rural communities. Here, using Indonesia as a model system, we investigated the land use, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, economic feasibility, and the environmental co-benefits associated with off-grid solar PV when combined with high value crop cultivation. The life cycle analyses indicate that small-scale dual land-use systems are economically viable in certain configurations and have the potential to provide several co-benefits including rural electrification, retrofitting diesel electricity generation, and electricity for processing agricultural products locally. A hypothetical full-density off-grid solar PV for a model village in Indonesia shows that electricity output (1907.5 GJ yr-1) is much higher than the total residential consumption (678 GJ yr-1), highlighting the opportunity to downscale the PV infrastructure by half to lower capital cost, to co-locate crops, and to support secondary income generating activities. Economic analysis shows that the 30-year net present cost of electricity from the half-density co-located PV system (12,257 million IDR) is significantly lower than that of the flat cost of diesel required to generate equivalent electricity (14,702 million IDR). Our analysis provides insights for smarter energy planning by optimizing the efficiency of land use and limiting conversion of agricultural and forested areas for energy production.

agrivoltaics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enabling high-throughput enzyme discovery and engineering with a low-cost, robot-assisted pipeline

Abstract As genomic databases expand and artificial intelligence tools advance, there is a growing demand for efficient characterization of large numbers of proteins. To this end, here we describe a generalizable pipeline for high-throughput protein purification using small-scale expression in E. coli and an affordable liquid-handling robot. This low-cost platform enables the purification of 96 proteins in parallel with minimal waste and is scalable for processing hundreds of proteins weekly per user. We demonstrate the performance of this method with the expression and purification of the leading poly(ethylene terephthalate) hydrolases reported in the literature. Replicate experiments demonstrated reproducibility and enzyme purity and yields (up to 400 µg) sufficient for comprehensive analyses of both thermostability and activity, generating a standardized benchmark dataset for comparing these plastic-degrading enzymes. The cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation of this platform render it broadly applicable to diverse protein characterization challenges in the biological sciences.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Technical Report on Preliminary Methodology for Enhancing Risk Monitors with Integrated Equipment Condition Assessment

Small modular reactors (SMRs) generally include reactors with electric output of ~350 MWe or less (this cutoff varies somewhat but is substantially less than full-size plant output of 700 MWe or more). Advanced SMRs (AdvSMRs) refer to a specific class of SMRs and are based on modularization of advanced reactor concepts. AdvSMRs may provide a longer-term alternative to traditional light-water reactors (LWRs) and SMRs based on integral pressurized water reactor concepts currently being considered. Enhancing affordability of AdvSMRs will be critical to ensuring wider deployment. AdvSMRs suffer from loss of economies of scale inherent in small reactors when compared to large (~greater than 600 MWe output) reactors. Some of this loss can be recovered through reduced capital costs through smaller size, fewer components, modular fabrication processes, and the opportunity for modular construction. However, the controllable day-to-day costs of AdvSMRs will be dominated by operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. Technologies that help characterize real-time risk are important for controlling O&M costs. Risk monitors are used in current nuclear power plants to provide a point-in-time estimate of the system risk given the current plant configuration (e.g., equipment availability, operational regime, and environmental conditions). However, current risk monitors are unable to support the capability requirements listed above as they do not take into account plant-specific normal, abnormal, and deteriorating states of active components and systems. This report documents technology developments that are a step towards enhancing risk monitors that, if integrated with supervisory plant control systems, can provide the capability requirements listed and meet the goals of controlling O&M costs. The report describes research results from an initial methodology for enhanced risk monitors by integrating real-time information about equipment condition and POF into risk monitors.

advanced small modular reactor↗
NASA NTRS1973

Characteristics of a gelled liquid hyprogen polyphenylene oxide (PPO) foam open-cell insulation system, phase 1

A large scale gel production and storage facility and a small scale facility, the latter used for detailed visual examination of the gel/PPO foam interface, were developed. A subcontract was given to investigate techniques for the production of gelled liquid hydrogen, develop a process design for scale-up to a 1.89 cu m (500 gallon) gel production and storage facility, determine gel transfer characteristics, determine the solubility rate of gaseous helium in the gel, and investigate the gross gel/PPO foam interfacial phenomena. An inside-tank process for scaled-up production of gelled liquid hydrogen was selected. No detectable gel structure degradation occurred during repeated shearing. The viscosity of gelled liquid hydrogen at shear rates of 300/sec and higher is 2 to 5-fold greater than that of neat liquid hydrogen. No clogging problems were encountered during the transfer of gelled liquid hydrogen through warmed transfer lines. The solubility rate of helium in liquid hydrogen was significantly reduced by the presence of gel structure. The boil-off rates from gelled liquid hydrogen were reduced from 25 to 50 percent compared to those observed for the neat liquid hydrogen under compatible conditions. The polyphenylene oxide (PPO) foam insulation was found to be compatible with liquid ethane.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

Fluxless Brazing and Heat Treatment of a Plate-Fin Sandwich Actively Cooled Panel

The processes and techniques used to fabricate plate-fin sandwich actively cooled panels are presented. The materials were 6061 aluminum alloy and brazing sheet having clad brazing alloy. The panels consisted of small scale specimens, fatigue specimens, and a large 0.61 m by 1.22 m test panel. All panels were fluxless brazed in retorts in heated platen presses while exerting external pressure to assure intimate contact of details. Distortion and damage normally associated with that heat treatment were minimized by heat treating without fixtures and solution quenching in an organic polymer solution. The test panel is the largest fluxless brazed and heat treated panel of its configuration known to exist.

Beuyukian, C. S.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Corrosion evaluation of metal foams in eutectic molten salts for high temperature latent heat energy storage application

High-temperature Thermal Energy Storage (TES) has drawn great attention as a technology that can increase the role and profitability of micro nuclear reactors in the decentralized clean energy market. Various research needs have been proposed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in "the Integrated Energy Systems: 2020 Roadmap" with the goal of utilizing the high temperature of 550 degrees or more generated in the 4th generation reactor to industrial purposes from the standpoint of integrated energy systems [1]. With the recent development of the 4th generation nuclear power plant, including micro nuclear reactor, there is a great deal of interest in researching how to efficiently couple a heat source to an industrial process through thermal processing. Texas A&M University (TAMU) and INL are currently collaborating to develop a novel latent heat storage design called HITB (Heat pipe-Integrated Thermal Battery). As part of the small-scale experimental demonstration research for HITB, a study for storage medium selection was conducted at TAMU. Eutectic salts have attracted interest as high-temperature heat storage medium for HITB. Especially, chloride molten salts and fluoride molten salts are considered promising candidates due to their high melting temperature, thermal stability, and high latent heat of fusion. Since eutectic salts have poor thermal conductivity in general, it is critical to distribute materials with high thermal conductivity evenly to facilitate the charging and discharging of heat. In this study, metal foam was considered in the HITB system to overcome the poor heat transfer characteristics of eutectic salts. In order to improve heat transfer, it is necessary to study materials with high thermal conductivity, corrosion resistant to molten salts, such as fins, extended surfaces, particles, microcapsulation, or foam structure. Porous structure of copper or aluminum can increase heat transfer area, form a thermal transfer network, and increase the effective thermal conductivity of thermal storage medium [2]. Since the melting temperature is required to be at least 450? in the current HITB design, various eutectic salts are being considered. FLiNaK and FLiBe, which are famous for fluoride salts, are good candidates, but due to the sharp rise in the price of LiF recently, they are excluded for economic reasons to be applied to large-capacity thermal energy storage. On the other hand, chloride salts are very cheap and easy to obtain, have a high melting temperature, and have a high latent heat of fusion, so they are recently in the spotlight as a phase change material. However, because of the hygroscopic nature of chloride salts, HCl gas due to impurity is easy to be released and is particularly vulnerable to corrosion. Chloride eutectic salts have been tested and suggested for metal alloys that are particularly resistant to corrosion, such as SS304, SS316, Hastelloy, Inconel 625, Incoloy 800H, which has low thermal conductivity, and is very expensive [3-6]. Porous materials with high thermal conductivity such as copper and aluminum have been tested for stability in fluids such as paraffin or water as metal foam or metal fin structures, but high temperature corrosion tests were not performed on various eutectic salts yet. Therefore, this study investigated the high temperature corrosion characteristics of metal alloys, such as C10100 foam, C10100 plate, 6101 alloy foam, and SS316 plate, while immersed in the candidate eutectic salts. A total of 20 tests for SS316 coupons and 10 tests for C10100 coupons were performed to ensure the repeatability of the present measurements. Since it is difficult to completely remove the salt inside metal foam due to the complex inner structure of the metal foam, only the surface condition was observed with a microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image, except for measuring the corrosion rate and average mass loss.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Nanoscale cooperative adsorption for materials control

Abstract Adsorption plays vital roles in many processes including catalysis, sensing, and nanomaterials design. However, quantifying molecular adsorption, especially at the nanoscale, is challenging, hindering the exploration of its utilization on nanomaterials that possess heterogeneity across different length scales. Here we map the adsorption of nonfluorescent small molecule/ion and polymer ligands on gold nanoparticles of various morphologies in situ under ambient solution conditions, in which these ligands are critical for the particles’ physiochemical properties. We differentiate at nanometer resolution their adsorption affinities among different sites on the same nanoparticle and uncover positive/negative adsorption cooperativity, both essential for understanding adsorbate-surface interactions. Considering the surface density of adsorbed ligands, we further discover crossover behaviors of ligand adsorption between different particle facets, leading to a strategy and its implementation in facet-controlled synthesis of colloidal metal nanoparticles by merely tuning the concentration of a single ligand.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamics of nanoscale phase decomposition in laser ablation

Abstract Laser ablation is a process that bears both fundamental physics interest and has wide industrial applications. For decades, the lack of probes on the relevant time and length scales has prevented access to the highly nonequilibrium phase decomposition processes triggered by laser excitation. In this study, a close integration of time-resolved probing by intense femtosecond X-ray pulses with large-scale atomistic modeling has yielded unique insights into the ablation dynamics of thin gold films irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses. The emergence and growth of nanoscale density heterogeneities in the expanding ablation plume, predicted in the simulations, are mapped to the rapid evolution of distinct small angle diffraction features. This mapping enables identification of the characteristic signatures of different phase decomposition processes occurring simultaneously in the plume, which are driven by photomechanical and thermodynamic driving forces. Beyond the specific insights into the ablation phenomenon, this study demonstrates the power of joint X-ray probing and atomistic modeling of material dynamics under extreme conditions of thermal and mechanical nonequilibrium.

Sun, Yanwen (ORCID:0000000159266565)↗
NASA NTRS2007

Foods for a Mission to Mars: Equivalent System Mass and Development of a Multipurpose Small-Scale Seed Processor

The candidate crops for planetary food systems include: wheat, white and sweet potatoes, soybean, peanut, strawberry, dry bean including le ntil and pinto, radish, rice, lettuce, carrot, green onion, tomato, p eppers, spinach, and cabbage. Crops such as wheat, potatoes, soybean, peanut, dry bean, and rice can only be utilized after processing, while others are classified as ready-to-eat. To process foods in space, the food processing subsystem must be capable of producing a variety of nutritious, acceptable, and safe edible ingredients and food produ cts from pre-packaged and resupply foods as well as salad crops grown on the transit vehicle or other crops grown on planetary surfaces. D esigning, building, developing, and maintaining such a subsystem is b ound to many constraints and restrictions. The limited power supply, storage locations, variety of crops, crew time, need to minimize waste , and other equivalent system mass (ESM) parameters must be considere d in the selection of processing equipment and techniques.

Gandolph, J.↗
DOE OSTI2011

OECD MCCI project long-term 2-D molten core concrete interaction test design report, Rev. 0. September 30, 2002.

The Melt Attack and Coolability Experiments (MACE) program at Argonne National Laboratory addressed the issue of the ability of water to cool and thermally stabilize a molten core-concrete interaction when the reactants are flooded from above. These tests provided data regarding the nature of corium interactions with concrete, the heat transfer rates from the melt to the overlying water pool, and the role of noncondensable gases in the mixing processes that contribute to melt quenching. As a follow-on program to MACE, The Melt Coolability and Concrete Interaction Experiments (MCCI) project is conducting reactor material experiments and associated analysis to achieve the following two technical objectives: (1) resolve the ex-vessel debris coolability issue through a program that focuses on providing both confirmatory evidence and test data for the coolability mechanisms identified in MACE integral effects tests, and (2) address remaining uncertainties related to long-term two-dimensional molten core-concrete interactions under both wet and dry cavity conditions. Achievement of these two objectives will demonstrate the efficacy of severe accident management guidelines for existing plants, and provide the technical basis for better containment designs for future plants. In terms of the first program objective, the Small-Scale Water Ingression and Crust Strength (SSWICS) test series has been initiated to provide fundamental information on the ability of water to ingress into cracks and fissures that form in the debris during quench, thereby augmenting the otherwise conduction-limited heat transfer process. A test plan for Melt Eruption Separate Effects Tests (MESET) has also been developed to provide information on the extent of crust growth and melt eruptions as a function of gas sparging rate under well-controlled experiment conditions. In terms of the second program objective, the project Management Board (MB) has approved startup activities required to carry out experiments to address remaining uncertainties related to long-term two-dimensional molten core-concrete interaction. In particular, for both wet and dry cavity conditions, there is uncertainty insofar as evaluating the lateral vs. axial power split during a core-concrete interaction due to a lack of experiment data. As a result, there are differences in the 2-D cavity erosion predicted by codes such as MELCOR, WECHSL, and COSACO. The first step towards generating this data is to produce a test plan for review by the Project Review Group (PRG). The purpose of this document is to provide this plan.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Using X-Ray Computed Tomography in Pore Structure Characterization for a Berea Sandstone: Resolution Effect

X-raycomputedtomography (XCT) is a powerful tool for detecting the micro-scale porestructure and has been applied to many natural and synthetic porous media. However, due to the resolution limitations, either non-representative view of the sample or inaccurate results can be produced from the XCT image processing. In this paper, two XCT (micro-CT and CT with synchrotron radiation) with different resolutions of 12.7 μm and 0.35 μm, as well as mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) with a minimum detection limit of 3 nm, were used for Berea sandstone to investigate the effect of detecting resolution on the porestructure. Several key porestructure parameters, including porosity, pore size distribution, pore connectivity, surface area, hydraulic radius, and aspect ratio were analyzed in a manner of quantitative comparison between different resolutions of XCT and MIP. The low resolution XCT can capture the large-pore porosity, while overestimates the pore size and pore connectivity. The high resolution XCT is more accurate in describing the pore shape, porosity, pore size; however, it is not representative since narrower detecting pore size range and small volume represented. A representative element volume related to large-pore porosity and probably large-pore connectivity with diameter and height of 2.8 mm is obtained through scale effect analysis. Therefore, selecting an appropriate resolution should be a compromise between the pore size and the representative element volume for the specific property or process of interest.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2024

Unraveling the Threads of Environmental Justice in Critical Mineral Extraction: A Framework for Regionalized Life Cycle Data

As we transition to a more sustainable energy system, the extraction and processing of critical minerals becomes increasingly important. However, these industries often raise concerns about environmental and social impacts, particularly in disadvantaged communities. To address these concerns, our research focuses on regionalizing environmental life cycle data to connect it with communities affected by mineral extraction. A framework was developed for collecting life cycle background data that supports the Justice40 Toolset, a market-based approach to evaluating net benefits and costs of critical mineral material recovery pathways. A goal was to alleviate public skepticism around mineral extraction processes, including secondary and unconventional feedstocks, by highlighting both environmental and social impacts. To achieve this, computational analysis and geospatial data science techniques were employed, such as within-scale and across-scale methods and proxy dataset usage. By doing so, we were able to develop a framework for identifying and disaggregating data down to regions small enough to support Justice40 goals. Our approach not only provides valuable tools fo insight into the environmental implications of mineral extraction but also helps policymakers evaluate the social impacts on local communities. This research contributes to a more just and equitable transition to a sustainable energy system, ensuring that marginalized voices are heard in decision-making process.

Davis, Tyler [NETL Site Support Contractor, Nation↗