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At least 1,279 records · Page 71

Covering complete proteomes with X-ray structures: a current snapshot

The current and the attainable coverage by X-ray structures of proteins and their functions on the scale of the ‘protein universe’ are estimated. A detailed analysis of the coverage across nearly 2000 proteomes from all superkingdoms of life and functional annotations is performed, with particular focus on the human proteome and the family of GPCR proteins. Structural genomics programs have developed and applied structure-determination pipelines to a wide range of protein targets, facilitating the visualization of macromolecular interactions and the understanding of their molecular and biochemical functions. The fundamental question of whether three-dimensional structures of all proteins and all functional annotations can be determined using X-ray crystallography is investigated. A first-of-its-kind large-scale analysis of crystallization propensity for all proteins encoded in 1953 fully sequenced genomes was performed. It is shown that current X-ray crystallographic knowhow combined with homology modeling can provide structures for 25% of modeling families (protein clusters for which structural models can be obtained through homology modeling), with at least one structural model produced for each Gene Ontology functional annotation. The coverage varies between superkingdoms, with 19% for eukaryotes, 35% for bacteria and 49% for archaea, and with those of viruses following the coverage values of their hosts. It is shown that the crystallization propensities of proteomes from the taxonomic superkingdoms are distinct. The use of knowledge-based target selection is shown to substantially increase the ability to produce X-ray structures. It is demonstrated that the human proteome has one of the highest attainable coverage values among eukaryotes, and GPCR membrane proteins suitable for X-ray structure determination were determined.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Program Generators for Exascale and Beyond (Final Technical Report)

The major goals of this project were to devise programming models and supporting tools that simplify the construction of specialized high‐performance generators, leading to improvements over the state of the art along the various dimensions of portability, performance, and productivity. In particular, the project achieved these goals by focusing on domain‐specific languages (DSLs) as intermediate layers in a translation and optimization framework, on composability of program generators, on re‐targeting legacy code, and on fundamental methodologies such as stage polymorphism or "generic programming in time".

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Innovative Research Methods to Advance Precision in Home Visiting for More Efficient and Effective Programs

Abstract Home visiting during early childhood can improve a range of outcomes for children and families. As evidence‐based models are implemented across the nation, two questions have emerged. First, can home visiting improve outcomes more efficiently? Second, can overall effects be strengthened for specific subgroups of families? For the past several decades, research focused on testing the average effects of home visiting models on short‐ to long‐term outcomes has found small impacts. These effects are not the same for all families. The field needs new evidence produced in new ways to overcome these challenges. In this article, we provide an overview of the evidence in this field, including what works and for whom. Next, we explain precision approaches to various fields and how this approach could be used in home visiting programs. Research on precision home visiting focuses on the ingredients of home visiting models, collaborating with practitioners to identify the ingredients and testing them on near‐term outcomes , and using innovative study designs to learn more quickly what works best for which families. We conclude by proposing four pillars of research that will help achieve precision home visiting services.

Supplee, Lauren H.↗

Calculating Average Hot Water Mixes of Residential Plumbing Fittings Using the ANSI 301-2019 Hot Water Draw Model and National Residential Data to Estimate Hot Water Use in Showerheads and Lavatory Faucets

Available studies of hot water use percentages may not necessarily be generalized to a national level given regional differences, varying methodological approaches, and limited sample sizes. While some publicly available usage data, reports, and surveys estimate actual household usage, a lack of water use data specific to end uses make more precise savings calculations difficult. Additionally, most hot water draw models tend to focus on overall household use and may not readily estimate lavatory fixture use. However, reviewing more recent studies and standards enables the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program to update its estimates for hot water use and consumers’ corresponding energy and monetary savings to better reflect realworld conditions. This report specifically focuses on improving hot water use and savings estimates of lavatory faucets and showerheads. To estimate the hot water use of lavatory faucets and showerheads, we employed the 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Surveys (RECS) microdata alongside the ANSI 301-2019 Hot Water Draw Model. These estimates account for regional differences in hot water use, including regional cold water inlet temperatures. As a result, the refinements presented in this report are more robust, more recent, and better describe the geographic variation than previous inputs used by the WaterSense program. In addition, the approach described in this paper can be updated over time or tailored to regionally specific needs given available inputs. We conclude that hot water percentages for showers and faucets calculated using publicly available national data are close to the percentages found by regional studies and are consistent with household-level models of water use.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Programming approaches for scalability, performance, and portability of combustion physics codes

Here, this paper presents the process, strategy, and results associated with porting a typical combustion physics flow solver to current state-of-the-art and future massively-parallel computer architectures. Major focus is placed on the distinct algorithmic structure of these types of codes and how it can be integrated with modern programming paradigms for heterogeneous platforms (i.e., distributed many-core systems with accelerators). An end-to-end case study is presented that exemplifies the process in a generic manner, which then serves as a clear guide with respect to the strategy and best practices leading to a robust and adaptable framework that performs well, is durable over time, is portable, and requires minimal human-effort. This end is accomplished beginning with the use of a mature, validated, structured, multiblock code framework optimized for application of both Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). This code has been ported to a variety of platforms over the past decade, including most recently the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility’s “Summit” Platform. The experience gained on these multiple platforms provides general insights and thus the results presented are not specific to any one code or platform other than the overarching trend toward distributed many-core systems with accelerators in order to move toward exascale performance. The resultant performance and scalability of the ported code is demonstrated on a real-world application; a state-of-the-art rotating detonation rocket engine simulation that matches the complex geometry and boundary conditions imposed as part of a companion experimental campaign.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

ENTERPRISE SRS: LEVERAGING ONGOING OPERATIONS TO ADVANCE RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is repurposing its vast array of assets to solve future national issues regarding environmental stewardship, national security, and clean energy. The vehicle for this transformation is Enterprise SRS which presents a new, strategic view of SRS as a united endeavor for “all things nuclear” as opposed to a group of distinct and separate entities with individual missions and organizations. Key among the Enterprise SRS strategic initiatives is the integration of research into facilities in conjunction with ongoing missions to provide researchers from other national laboratories, academic institutions, and commercial entities the opportunity to demonstrate their technologies in a relevant environment and scale prior to deployment. To manage that integration of research demonstrations into site facilities, The DOE Savannah River Operations Office, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) have established a center for applied nuclear materials processing and engineering research (hereafter referred to as the Center). The key objective of this initiative is to bridge the gap between promising transformational nuclear materials management advancements and large-scale deployment of the technology by using SRS assets (e.g. facilities, staff, and property) for those critical engineering-scale demonstrations necessary to assure the successful deployment of new technologies. The Center will coordinate the demonstration of R&D technologies and serve as the interface between the engineering-scale demonstration and the R&D programs, essentially providing cradle-to-grave support to the R&D team during the demonstration. While the initial focus of the Center will be on the effective use of SRS assets for these demonstrations, the Center also will work with research teams to identify opportunities to perform R&D demonstrations at other facilities. Unique to this approach is the fact that these SRS assets will continue to accomplish DOE’s critical nuclear material missions (e.g., processing in H-Canyon and plutonium storage in K-Area). These demonstrations can be accomplished in a more cost-effective manner through the use of existing facilities in conjunction with ongoing missions. Essentially, the R&D program would not need to pay the full operational cost of a facility, just the incremental cost of performing the demonstration. Current Center activities have been focused on integrating advanced safeguards monitoring technology demonstrations into the SRS H-Canyon and advanced location technology demonstrations into K-Area Materials Storage. These demonstrations are providing valuable information to researchers and program owners. In addition these demonstrations are providing the Center with an improved protocol for demonstration management that can be exercised across the entire SRS (and to offsite venues) to ensure that future demonstrations are done efficiently and provide an opportunity to use these unique assets for multiple purposes involving national laboratories, academia, and commercial entities. Key among the envisioned future use of SRS assets is the demonstration of new radioactive waste management technologies critical for advancing the mission needs of the DOE-EM program offices in their efforts to cleanup 107 sites across the United States. Of particular interest is the demonstration of separations technologies in H-Canyon. Given the modular design of H-Canyon, those demonstrations would be accomplished using a process frame. The demonstration equipment would be installed on the process frame and that frame would then be positioned into an H-Canyon cell so that the demonstration is performed in a radiological environment involving prototypic nuclear materials.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Demonstrating Advanced Sensors for In-Situ Monitoring Towards Qualification of Nuclear Relevant Components

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies (AMMT) program is pursuing qualification of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) components for nuclear applications. A major focus of this effort is the use of in situ process monitoring and machine learning–based tools to establish real-time quality assurance. The primary objective of this report is to identify and evaluate the most relevant in situ sensor systems for LPBF, and to document the deployment of these systems across platforms critical to the AMMT program. This work demonstrates how in situ monitoring can detect process anomalies, track geometry-dependent flaws, and identify limiting combinations of processing parameters—particularly those related to energy density and complex geometries (e.g., overhanging structures). To support this goal, a diverse suite of sensor modalities was evaluated across LPBF platforms, including visible and near-infrared (NIR) imaging, fringe projection profilometry, long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) thermography, and high-speed photodiode/pyrometry systems. These sensor streams were integrated with Peregrine, a machine-agnostic software platform that, among other capabilities, can generate real-time process anomaly classification. This report documents sensor deployments on multiple AMMT flagship platforms, including the Concept Laser M2 and Renishaw AM400/AM250 systems. Calibration builds with complex, flaw-prone geometries such as unsupported overhangs, stepped features, and thin walls, were used to evaluate how well Peregrine and its associated sensors could detect process anomalies and other instabilities under varied energy densities. It will be shown how Peregrine reliably identifies common process anomalies such as recoater streaking, superelevation, etc., and can be used in post-build analysis for anomaly spatial distributions throughout the build height to better understand the impact of geometry and processing parameter choice on the build. This work demonstrates measurable progress toward the vision that components can be born-qualified by establishing a real-time monitoring framework, identifying limiting process conditions, and laying the foundation for sensor fusion–enabled prediction pipelines that are scalable across platforms and applicable to nuclear-relevant components.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Prototype Laboratory Concept

The prototype laboratory concept was developed to simplify the laboratory design process, and should be considered for use as a new laboratory design methodology. Many developing countries lack adequate public and animal health laboratories and typically do not have the economic means and the design and construction expertise to build a laboratory on their own. These countries rely on international sponsors to provide the funds necessary to design and construct a laboratory. However, these international sponsors are often located far away, making travel back and forth difficult, which leads to an increase in overall costs and delays for the project. The prototype laboratory concept and design methodology were developed to streamline the design process, saving time and money, while also minimizing the number of errors that typically arise using a traditional design process by providing well considered design decisions in advance of the project. By solving numerous detailed design issues early, this methodology will allow the time, attention and energies of the design team to be focused on addressing the specific needs of the end users, the unique design challenges related to a given site and scientific program, and the biosafety and biosecurity risks associated with the scientific activities planned to be conducted in the facility. While the concept could be expanded to cover other types of laboratories to date, it has primarily focused on supporting the implementation of good laboratory design best practices for infectious disease diagnostic and research laboratories for both the human and animal health sectors. This report presents the laboratory design concept and details associated with the modular layouts. It builds on the work previously provided in the interim prototype laboratory concept report delivered to the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in 2014. This report includes a number of revised and additional module layouts, more detailed information regarding laboratory finishes and equipment, engineering service information, electrical and lighting layouts, plumbing service information and two mechanical service options for each prototype module. Additionally, this report also includes a description of a cost estimating tool that will accompany this report and allow funding agencies to generate an approximate cost for the construction of a laboratory that utilizes the prototype laboratory concept modules. This report is intended to serve a complete document and includes all relevant information from the 2014 prototype laboratory concept report.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Algorithms for Mathematical Programming with Emphasis on Bi-level Models (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

The research supported by this grant was focused primarily on first-order methods for solving large scale and structured convex optimization problems and convex relaxations of nonconvex problems. These include optimal gradient methods, operator and variable splitting methods, alternating direction augmented Lagrangian methods, and block coordinate descent methods.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Accelerator challenges in the Fermilab Neutrino Program

In Fermilab's 2022-2023 proton complex run, Fermilab recovered from an unexpected failure in the neutrino focusing horn to achieve a record beam power of 960 kW. For Snowmass and P5, Fermilab recently proposed a new upgrade plan known as Accelerator Complex Evolution (ACE) to occur after PIP-II upgrade in tandem with DUNE/LBNF operation. The first phase of ACE, is the ACE Main Injector Ramp and Targetry upgrade, would raise the LBNF beam power from 1.2 MW to 2 MW by shortening the Main Injector cycle time to around 0.65s. The second phase of ACE, the ACE Booster Replacement, would replace the Booster with a new machine and achieve 2.4 MW for DUNE/LBNF. The core accelerator challenges, present and future, for operating intense neutrino beams at Fermilab will be highlighted.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The DUNE Phase II Detectors

The international collaboration designing and constructing the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) has developed a two-phase strategy for the implementation of this leading-edge, large-scale science project. The 2023 report of the US Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) reaffirmed this vision and strongly endorsed DUNE Phase I and Phase II, as did the previous European Strategy for Particle Physics. The construction of DUNE Phase I is well underway. DUNE Phase II consists of a third and fourth far detector module, an upgraded near detector complex, and an enhanced > 2 MW beam. The fourth FD module is conceived as a 'Module of Opportunity', aimed at supporting the core DUNE science program while also expanding the physics opportunities with more advanced technologies. The DUNE collaboration is submitting four main contributions to the 2026 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics process. This submission to the 'Detector instrumentation' stream focuses on technologies and R&D for the DUNE Phase II detectors. Additional inputs related to the DUNE science program, DUNE software and computing, and European contributions to Fermilab accelerator upgrades and facilities for the DUNE experiment, are also being submitted to other streams.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Omen: identifying potential spear-phishing targets before the email is sent.

We present the results of a two year project focused on a common social engineering attack method called "spear phishing". In a spear phishing attack, the user receives an email with information specifically focused on the user. This email contains either a malware-laced attachment or a link to download the malware that has been disguised as a useful program. Spear phishing attacks have been one of the most effective avenues for attackers to gain initial entry into a target network. This project focused on a proactive approach to spear phishing. To create an effective, user-specific spear phishing email, the attacker must research the intended recipient. We believe that much of the information used by the attacker is provided by the target organization's own external website. Thus when researching potential targets, the attacker leaves signs of his research in the webserver's logs. We created tools and visualizations to improve cybersecurity analysts' abilities to quickly understand a visitor's visit patterns and interests. Given these suspicious visitors and log-parsing tools, analysts can more quickly identify truly suspicious visitors, search for potential spear-phishing targeted users, and improve security around those users before the spear phishing email is sent.

Wendt, Jeremy Daniel.↗

Tough Errors Are no Match (TEAM): Optimizing the Quantum Compiler for Noise Resilience

This report summarizes research performed under the Tough Errors Are no Match (TEAM) project. The primary focus of TEAM has been to research and develop a compilation toolbox leveraging techniques from quantum characterization and control, probabilistic programming, and approximate computing. Our goal was to develop robust protocols that can be integrated into quantum compilers to optimize and enhance the robustness of noisy computation. Here, we provide a summary of TEAM work focused on characterization and control of quantum systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Stepping into the Midwest Bioeconomy: Stakeholder Engagement and Geospatial Tools to Assist in Perennial Bioenergy Crop Decision Making and Entrepreneurship

This project, “Ecosystem Services and Farm Entrepreneurship Technical Assistance,” was a three-year project originally planned for FY22–FY24. Due to a late start and a few extensions, it is being completed in early FY25. This project explored opportunities to support the deployment of a bioeconomy with a circular, more sustainable supply chain. Using a tool developed by Argonne to identify agricultural areas suitable for use in the bioeconomy, we sought to create opportunities in the bioeconomy as biomass producers, bioenergy users, and environmental entrepreneurs. We proposed to focus at the beginning on enhancing the tool’s capabilities, while engaging with key stakeholders to improve and expand the tool’s functionality for all potential stakeholders in the bioeconomy. We believe that expanding our tools and technologies, coupled with conversations in agricultural spaces, will be needed as we continue to explore how best to offer farmers whole-of supply-chain opportunities to participate in the bioeconomy. Through this project we have continued to gain a better understanding of the ways in which farmers, landowners, bioenergy users, and environmental entrepreneurs may approach the bioeconomy. In addition, as we improve our analytic toolkit, we can continue to refine our communication and the ways in which we can valuate the bioeconomy. Refining these tools allows us to dive deeper into conversations around plausible policies and drivers for future bioeconomy investment and engagement by stakeholders. By working with farmers and agricultural landowners to enable a sustainable bioeconomy business model, enhance their energy options, and recover resources from their waste streams, this project directly responds to the Bioenergy Technology Office’s (BETO) priorities of building a resilient energy economy. It addresses BETO’s focus on fostering the development and adoption of energy technologies that enable the conversion of waste to energy, efficient land use, and robust job creation. By establishing a technical assistance program that develops capabilities and practices in agricultural areas to implement a bioeconomy future, this program will develop an important linkage between technology being developed at U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories and the agricultural communities of the Midwest. This project focuses on farmers with lower productivity farmland. Because less productive lands create a more difficult revenue stream for conventional crops, these farmers may therefore be more open to alternative agricultural land management regimes. Consequently, the technical assistance program and the methodologies for targeting perennial bioenergy crop application on marginal land provide a distinct opportunity to engage with and invest in the bioeconomy in these economically stressed areas. Stakeholders in this project include farmers and landowners, local conservation organizations (NRCS, SWCS, etc.), universities, non-profit environmental and agricultural entities, farm consultants, environmental regulators, and industry, including the industries working on conversion technologies, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, and biochar generation, and the companies interested in trading or purchasing/supporting the valuation of ecosystem services (ES).

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

The Essential Role of Integrated Nuclear-Renewable Energy Systems in Achieving Economy-wide Net Zero Solutions

Background/Objectives. The Biden administration has committed to full decarbonization of the U.S. electricity grid by 2035 and economy-wide net zero emissions by 2050. These aggressive goals demand immediate action if we are to be successful, and they require us to think more holistically about our clean energy options. Focused laboratory initiatives, such as the INL Integrated Energy Systems (IES) Initiative, and multiple programs within the Department of Energy are working together to address these holistic solutions. Approach/Activities. Traditionally, electricity generation and management and meeting energy demands for industry and transportation are considered independently. As we seek to achieve net zero, we need to reassess our energy demands. When we consider overall energy use, only one-third is in the form of electricity. Additional energy demands are in the form of heat or steam for industrial processes, as well as transportation. Emissions across these sectors are much harder to abate, and electrification may not be the best option. Reducing environmental emissions at an affordable cost, while maintaining grid reliability and resilience, will require us to use all of the clean energy resources that we have available. That means coordinating the use of nuclear, renewables, and fossil fuels with carbon capture to meet growing demands for electricity, industrial applications, and mobility. The primary focus of IES research is to assess the technical and economic potential of various IES solutions to enhance the flexibility and utilization of nuclear energy generators working alongside renewable generators to meet an array of energy demands—thereby maximizing the utilization of clean energy resources across all energy sectors. Various energy applications and product streams beyond electricity are being evaluated, ranging from generation of potable water to production of hydrogen, fertilizers, synthetic fuels, and various chemicals. Results/Lessons Learned. This presentation will highlight the wide array of RD&D being conducted to develop and deploy nuclear-based IES that will be key to achieving our net zero goals. By working with key collaborators in the nuclear industry, analytical studies are now becoming a reality in multiple demonstration projects.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Microanalysis of Irradiated Metallic Hydride Nuclear Fuel (U{sub 0.17}ZrH{sub 1.6})

Metallic hydride nuclear fuels (U{sub 0.17} ZrH{sub 1.6}) have been under consideration for use in Light Water Reactors (LWRs). The fuel matrix consists of isolated particles of uranium metal within a zirconium hydride matrix. Erbium was also added as a neutron poison enabling higher reactor performance. These fuels were encased in a Zircaloy-2 cladding with a Bi/Pb eutectic liquid metal filled-gap to improve thermal conductivity. The inner and outer cladding surfaces were oxidized to nominal 1 μm thickness to eliminate hydrogen attack. The fuels were termed UCB to note the location of fabrication as the University of California-Berkeley. Irradiations were performed in the MITR research reactor. The details are described elsewhere. We originally reported on post-irradiation analysis of the fuel elements of two of the rodlets using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). In this further study, funded as a rapid turnaround experiment (RTE) through the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) program, we performed high-resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) of thin lift-out specimens prepared from specific regions in the fuel matrix using an SEM-Focused Ion Beam (FIB) instrument, and again compared these results to the unirradiated material. Earlier investigations using SEM-EDS showed that ∼8% of the Zircaloy cladding had dissolved in the Pb-Bi eutectic during irradiation over 1000 hrs. However, the SEM-EDS failed to show any detectable evidence of damage of the fuel matrix. There was no obvious swelling or migration of elements; hence, we focused on these specific regions in greater detail. Much of the data on hydride fuels come from the Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program from the 1960's. The principle difference between oxide and hydride fuel is the high thermal conductivity of the latter. This feature greatly decreases the temperature drop over the fuel during operation, thereby reducing the release of fission gases to the fraction due only to recoil. However, very unusual early swelling due to void formation around the uranium metal particles has been reported in hydride fuels over 700 deg. C. In this investigation, the fuel did not reach these extreme temperatures. Phases formed in this system have been previously experimentally investigated using thermal analysis techniques, and wavelength and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS/WDS) in scanning electron microscopes (SEM). Major changes were observed in the liquid metal and cladding components but at the scale of the SEM observations, it was not readily apparent that any major changes had occurred to the fuel matrix (i.e. U metal particles in the zirconium hydride matrix with interdispersed erbium metal). Rapid oxidation of the SEM mechanically polished cross-sections, may have obscured our ability to see major changes. By using the SEM-FIB slices, it was possible to remove oxide coatings and the smoother surfaces were found to be less susceptible to oxidation once removed from the vacuum chamber. The high spatial resolution of STEM allowed characterization of individual matrix phases.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Enterprise SRS: Leveraging Ongoing Operations to Advance National Programs - 13108

The SRS is re-purposing its vast array of assets to solve future national issues regarding environmental stewardship, national security, and clean energy. The vehicle for this transformation is Enterprise SRS which presents a new, strategic view of SRS as a united endeavor for 'all things nuclear' as opposed to a group of distinct and separate entities with individual missions and organizations. Key among the Enterprise SRS strategic initiatives is the integration of research into facilities in conjunction with ongoing missions to provide researchers from other national laboratories, academic institutions, and commercial entities the opportunity to demonstrate their technologies in a relevant environment and scale prior to deployment. To manage that integration of research demonstrations into site facilities, The DOE Savannah River Operations Office, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) have established the Center for Applied Nuclear Materials Processing and Engineering Research (CANMPER). The key objective of this initiative is to bridge the gap between promising transformational nuclear materials management advancements and large-scale deployment of the technology by leveraging SRS assets (e.g. facilities, staff, and property) for those critical engineering-scale demonstrations necessary to assure the successful deployment of new technologies. CANMPER will coordinate the demonstration of R and D technologies and serve as the interface between the engineering-scale demonstration and the R and D programs, essentially providing cradle-to-grave support to the R and D team during the demonstration. While the initial focus of CANMPER will be on the effective use of SRS assets for these demonstrations, CANMPER also will work with research teams to identify opportunities to perform R and D demonstrations at other facilities. Unique to this approach is the fact that these SRS assets will continue to accomplish DOE's critical nuclear material missions (e.g., processing in H-Canyon and plutonium storage in K-Area). The demonstration can be accomplished in a more cost-effective manner through the use of existing facilities in conjunction with ongoing missions. Essentially, the R and D program would not need to pay the full operational cost of a facility, just the incremental cost of performing the demonstration. Current CANMPER activities have been focused on integrating advanced safeguards monitoring technology demonstrations into the SRS H-Canyon and advanced location technology demonstrations into K-Area Materials Storage. These demonstrations are providing valuable information to researchers and program owners. In addition these demonstrations are providing CANMPER with an improved protocol for demonstration management that can be exercised across the entire SRS (and to offsite venues) to ensure that future demonstrations are done efficiently and provide an opportunity to use these unique assets for multiple purposes involving national laboratories, academia, and commercial entities. Key among the envisioned future demonstrations is the use of H-Canyon to demonstrate new nuclear materials separations technologies critical for advancing the mission needs of three major program offices: DOE-EM, DOE-Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), and the NNSA. Given the modular design of H-Canyon, the demonstrations would be accomplished using a process frame. The demonstration equipment would be installed on the process frame and that frame would then be positioned into an H Canyon cell so that the demonstration is performed in a radiological environment involving prototypic nuclear materials. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗