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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

TU-A-9A-03: Development and Verification of a Forward Model That Assists in Iterative Post-Processing Algorithms Used to Reduce Blur in Compton Backscatter Imaging Systems

Purpose: In Compton Backscatter Imaging (CBI), the source and detector reside on the same side of the patient. We previously demonstrated the applicability of CBI systems for medical purposes using an industrial system. To assist in post-processing images from a CBI system, a forward model based on radiation absorption and scatter principles has been developed. Methods: The forward model was developed in C++ using raytracing to track particles. The algorithm accepts phantoms of any size and resolution to calculate the fraction of incident photons scattered back to the detector, and can perform these calculations for any detector geometry and source specification. To validate the model, results were compared to MCNP-X, which is a Monte Carlo based simulation software, for various combinations of source specifications, detector geometries, and phantom compositions. Results: The model verified that the backscatter signal to the detector was based on three interaction probabilities: a) attenuation of photons going into the phantom, b) Compton scatter of photons toward the detector, and c) attenuation of photons coming out of the phantom. The results from the MCNP-X simulations and the forward model varied from 1 to 5%. This difference was less than 1% for energies higher than 30 keV, but was up to 4% for lower energies. At 50 keV, the difference was less than 1% for multiple detector widths and for both homogeneous and heterogeneous phantoms. Conclusion: As part of the optimization of a medical CBI system, an efficient and accurate forward model was constructed in C++ to estimate the output of CBI system. The model characterized individual components contributing to CBI output and increased computational efficiency over Monte Carlo simulations. It is now used in the development of novel post-processing algorithms that reduce image blur by reversing undesired contribution from outside the region of interest.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Report on all ARRA Funded Technical Work

The main focus of this American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funded project was to design an energy efficient carbon capture and storage (CCS) process using the Recipients membrane system for H 2 separation and CO 2 capture. In the ARRA-funded project, the Recipient accelerated development and scale-up of ongoing hydrogen membrane technology research and development (R&D). Specifically, this project focused on accelerating the current R&D work scope of the base program-funded project, involving lab scale tests, detail design of a 250 lb/day H 2 process development unit (PDU), and scale-up of membrane tube and coating manufacturing. This project scope included the site selection and a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study of a nominally 4 to 10 ton-per-day (TPD) Pre-Commercial Module (PCM) hydrogen separation membrane system. Process models and techno-economic analysis were updated to include studies on integration of this technology into an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power generation system with CCS.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2018

Industrial Scale Demonstration of Smart Manufacturing, Achieving Transformational Energy Productivity Gains

While many U.S. manufacturing operations utilize optimization for individual unit processes, smart manufacturing (SM) systems that integrate manufacturing intelligence in real time across an entire production operation are rare in large companies and virtually nonexistent in smaller organizations. One example of an area where SM systems can be applied is in the management of waste heat. A smart system that not only seeks to recover waste heat, but also to use energy more efficiently, is a more cost-effective approach because energy use, waste energy loss and product output are optimized together. The overall objective of this project was to develop an industry-accepted SM Platform that enables smart systems by accelerating and lowering the cost of development and implementation scales for use in diverse sets of manufacturing industry sectors, manufacturing operations and company sizes. Specifically, the project (1) designed and demonstrated the application of a prototype SM Platform for two diverse commercial test beds, (2) demonstrated at one and estimated for the other test bed the potential reduction in waste heat generation, and (3) worked with leading automation vendors to catalyze low-cost commercialization of the technology developed. The Smart Manufacturing Application and Data Platform (SM Platform) developed during this project is an innovative approach that marries IT virtualization technologies with operational data and modeling system requirements to construct a ready-to-go platform for enabling sensor – data – modeling – actuation systems, driven by real-time plant data and performance metrics. This SM Platform allows manufacturing organizations, regardless of their industry or size, to assemble new operational systems at a much lower cost, optimizing process knowledge and improving energy productivity by integrating with existing process control and automation systems. Also developed during this project is a methodology for developing energy productivity metrics that use real-time process information and provide comparisons for potential, practical, and actual performance, as well as examples and the methodology for provisioning of an Energy Dashboard that displays alternatives to optimize energy use within specific business contexts aimed at helping improve energy productivity and reduce emissions in U.S. manufacturing. The SM Platform designed utilizes current manufacturing, operational and IT industry standards. The platform can be used to expedite sensor – data – model – actuation system development and deployment in a cloud-based environment using a novel end-to-end workflow as a service capability that is already integrated with data connection, ingestion, and contextualization services. In addition, the methodology for development of energy productivity metrics and reusable application templates called Toolkits have been defined so that they can be tailored to a specific business situation. The project’s two test beds, one in a hydrogen production plant and the other in a forging, heat treatment, and machining operation, utilize sensor-driven modeling, measurement, and simulation systems. In these two test beds, the implementation of these as a comprehensive system has made it possible for energy productivity to be managed in real-time throughout the plant and enterprise using an energy dashboard. The development pathway to direct machine actuation was articulated. During the first year, the project team developed the most highly instrumented steam-methane reformer (SMR) in the U.S. using infrared cameras and thermocouples. Real-time data are streamed to high fidelity and reduced-order models for analysis. A high fidelity CFD model, parallelized in the SM Platform cloud environment, was demonstrated for operational use. This is the first real-time operational productivity system of a steam methane reformer using both high fidelity and data-driven models together in a real time situation to balance natural gas flow to the reformer tubes. An infrared camera system was developed and shown to outperform thermocouples in coverage, accuracy, reliability, and cost effectiveness for use in a high temperature, harsh environment. A forging, heat-treating, machining line operation test bed includes new instrumentation for data capture analysis, modeling, and simulation and will be integrated into SM Platform workflows so that business performance can be managed in real-time. Composable metrics were developed using the SM Platform to drive improvements in energy productivity, environmental performance, safety, asset management, costs, and overall operations. A major focus of the SM systems developed was optimization of energy productivity at the enterprise level, which resulted in reductions in waste heat generation for the two project test beds. Reductions in the waste heat generated will result in greater energy savings than will waste heat recovery due to inefficiencies in the heat transfer process. For the SMR test bed an efficiency improvement of 1 – 2% with a corresponding waste heat reduction of 5% were demonstrated. It should be noted that the test bed SMR unit had an efficiency of more than 90% as compared to 70 to 80% efficiencies of most SMR units. So implementation of similar SM systems at typical SMR units could yield more than 15 to 25% waste heat reductions. Similarly the forging, heat-treating, machining line operation test bed is a DOE AMO Platinum Level Superior Energy Performance plant with a much higher than typical overall operating efficiency. For this test bed heat integration using recuperators is estimated to result in fuel savings of 15.9% due to waste heat recovery compared to the base case without recuperators with negligible changes in part exit conditions. This results in an 18.9% energy efficiency improvement. The project team estimates that broad multi-sector adoption of the developed technology could reduce waste heat generation by an amount equivalent to 1.3% of total U.S. energy use. This waste heat reduction is associated with 69 million tons reduction in annual carbon dioxide emissions. Other potential benefits include reducing process times, solid and liquid wastes, environmental impacts, and water use. It is estimated that this investment has an anticipated payback period of less than one year in energy-intensive applications. The SM Platform could also reduce the costs of deploying SM systems by 50% in manufacturing operations. Commercialization of the SM Platform will require significant cross-industry collaboration and technology provider market changes. Steps taken toward commercialization included 1) analyzing savings from deployment of the SM Platform and 2) holding SM Platform workshops, webinars, and conferences with targeted individual industry segments, with a focus on small and medium-sized organizations. An upgraded community website has been established as a portal for accessing and distributing information. Most importantly, the SM platform enabling technology developed during this project and its commercialization will continue, evolve and expand under the Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII).

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2019

Physical processes affecting the survival of microbiological systems in laser printing of gel droplets

We consider laser printing of gel microdroplets – a promising method for microbiology, biotechnology and medicine. In the printing process, small volumes of gel containing living microorganisms are transferred as a result of cavitation caused by the absorption of a short laser pulse in a metal film. However, in such a transfer, certain physical factors arise that can lead to damage and death of biological material. These factors include elevated temperature and pressure, high radiation intensity and some others. Experimental estimates of these parameters are conducted, based on measurements of the acoustic response of laser printing, electron microscopy of the affected areas and the results of high-speed imaging of the transfer process. It is shown that these factors are not a significant limitation for the technology being developed. Laser printing is performed by exposing a metal film to laser pulses with an energy of 5 – 30 μJ and a duration of 8 – 14 ns, the laser beam diameter being 30 μm. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development of the INL Thermal Energy Distribution System (TEDS) in the Modelica Eco-System for Validation and Verification

This report provides an overview on the development of the Thermal Energy Distribution System (TEDS) in the Modelica process model eco-system at Idaho National Laboratory as part of the integrated energy system initiative. Model development has led to the creation of a dynamic process model of the experimental TEDS facility housed within the Engineering Science Laboratory (ESL) at INL. The model was then used during the pre-construction phase of the experimental effort to inform experimental design (insulation requirements, bypass line placement, expected performance of components) and to test innovative control schemes prior to the initial operation. The TEDS model developed in Modelica includes the primary components of the TEDS experimental unit including: a 200kW Chromalox heater, a single-tank packed bed thermal energy storage system filled with 0.125 inch Alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), an ethylene-glycol to Therminol-66 heat exchanger, system piping, six control valves, and all associated temperature, pressure, and mass flow sensors. The model does not include nitrogen fill gas tanks, or associated overfill tanks, as these are not part of standard system control. Two simulation sets were run. The first is a five-hour test that operates as a shakedown test for the facility. This simulation puts the facility through all five potential operating modes and showcases the ability of valving, control sensors, and component controllers to meet the system demands. The second case imposes a typical summer day demand on the system from a region with mixed commercial and residential electrical needs where the generator alone cannot meet peak demand but instead requires the thermal storage unit to act as a peaking unit. Over the course of the fifteen-hour discharge cycle heat losses account for a heat loss of approximately 15°C in outlet temperature. Such heat losses would lead to a decrease in overall system efficiency and may lead to additional design changes for such designs in the future that may include a topping heater. Through commencement of this work, a systems level model of TEDS with associated control systems, sensors, piping diameters, and component capabilities has been created. This model has been utilized in the pre-experimental phase to inform system design, insulation thicknesses, and potential control schemes to operate the system effectively and safely. Once TEDS begins operation, this model will be refined, tuned, and used for validation and verification purposes.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Flume and single-pass washing systems for fresh-cut produce processing: Disinfection by-products evaluation

Free chlorine is widely used in fresh-cut produce washing to minimize microbial cross-contamination, but its application can also lead to the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs). This study compared DBPs in process water and washed produce during commercial operation. Samples of shredded lettuce and diced cabbages washed in chlorinated water in the traditional double-flume wash and novel immersion-free single-pass wash systems were collected at multiple time points and locations from the processing lines. A suite of 33 conventional and emerging DBPs, including 4 trihalomethanes (THMs), 9 haloacetic acids (HAAs), 9 nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs), and 11 carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs), were investigated. Overall, N-DBPs and HAAs dominated the concentration of detected DBPs. Wash water in the flumes contained 7–111 folds higher DBP levels compared to that in the single-pass system, with the abundance of DBPs following the order of N-DBPs > HAAs > C-DBPs > THMs. DBPs were detected on washed produce, presenting primarily in the forms of N-DBPs and HAAs followed by C-DBPs and THMs. While higher levels of DBPs were detected in flume-washed produce, the final potable water rinse significantly reduced the DBP concentration in these products. The concentrations of THMs and HAAs on these washed products were used to estimate potential exposure via consumption of fresh-cut produce and the levels were below the daily allowable exposure for drinking water standard established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The detected high concentration and potential toxicity of N-DBPs indicate the need for further research. Here, the findings of this study advance the understanding of the formation and removal of DBPs during wash processes, and identify additional research opportunities for further reduction in DBPs and food safety improvement.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Work stealing for GPU-accelerated parallel programs in a global address space framework

Task parallelism is an attractive approach to automatically load balance the computation in a parallel system and adapt to dynamism exhibited by parallel systems. Exploiting task parallelism through work stealing has been extensively studied in shared and distributed-memory contexts. In this paper, we study the design of a system that uses work stealing for dynamic load balancing of task-parallel programs executed on hybrid distributed-memory CPU-graphics processing unit (GPU) systems in a global-address space framework. We take into account the unique nature of the accelerator model employed by GPUs, the significant performance difference between GPU and CPU execution as a function of problem size, and the distinct CPU and GPU memory domains. We consider various alternatives in designing a distributed work stealing algorithm for CPU-GPU systems, while taking into account the impact of task distribution and data movement overheads. These strategies are evaluated using microbenchmarks that capture various execution configurations as well as the state-of-the-art CCSD(T) application module from the computational chemistry domain

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Secure hierarchical processing using a secure ledger

Disclosed is a system and method for processing data using blockchain technology. The system includes a memory having programmable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the system to: authenticate one or more sensors in anticipation of receiving component data; receive component data, upon successful authentication; store the component data locally or to a cloud-based server and/or calculate a root value for the component data; store or embed the root value with the stored component data; condense the component data and link the condensed component data to the stored component data via the root value. The system further includes instructions to log the condensed data, including the root value, to a ledger, and to identify a tag or transaction id corresponding to the logging event for subsequent retrieval of the condensed data using the tag or transaction id.

Zhao, Wenbing↗
DOE OSTI2013

Acquisition of material properties in production for sheet metal forming processes

In past work a measurement system for the in-line acquisition of material properties was developed at IVP. This system is based on the non-destructive eddy-current principle. Using this system, a 100% control of material properties of the processed material is possible. The system can be used for ferromagnetic materials like standard steels as well as paramagnetic materials like Aluminum and stainless steel. Used as an in-line measurement system, it can be configured as a stand-alone system to control material properties and sort out inapplicable material or as part of a control system of the forming process. In both cases, the acquired data can be used as input data for numerical simulations, e.g. stochastic simulations based on real world data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Combined Sorbent/WGS-based CO 2 Capture Process with Integrated Heat Management for IGCC Systems

Southern Research has developed a combined CO 2 capture water-gas shift (WGS) process for integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) applications. A highly efficient regenerable magnesium based sorbent was prepared to remove CO 2 . It offers high and stable CO 2 capacity with minimum requirement for temperature and pressure swings. Under optimized conditions, the sorbents achieved up to 8 mmol/g of CO 2 working capacity and remained stable over 500 cycles of adsorption and regeneration. The selected WGS process achieved 96% CO per pass conversion and remained isothermal during the test duration that lasted over 500 cycles. The approach showed potential to reduce cost of electricity (COE) compared to the baseline carbon capture approaches. The process is for bench-scale and pilot development. In a commercial embodiment, syngas from the gasifier is cooled to warm gas conditions. It then enters the CO 2 sorbent-shift reactor that uses an efficient MgO-based CO 2 sorbent and a commercial catalyst to shift the CO to CO 2 and capture 90% + of the carbon. Using a dual-bed arrangement, the sorbent is regenerated periodically by a combination of pressure and temperature swing to maintain steady state conditions and produce a 95+ % CO 2 stream for sequestration. The hydrogen rich syngas is sent to the IGCC for power production. In addition to consolidating CO 2 capture with WGS, the proposed process reduces parasitic energy losses by operating at warm gas temperatures and reduces parasitic plant load (i.e., steam and auxiliary power) by reducing energy required for regeneration. The project consisted of 3 budget periods (BP) of laboratory-scale research and testing with go/no-go decisions after BP-1 and BP-2. In the 12 month BP-1, it was shown show that one promising sorbent maintained the required CO 2 capacity and durability of >1.5 mmol/g over 100 cycles. Also based on sorbent and WGS experiments in separate reactors and combined reactor modeling, it was shown that the process had the potential to capture 90% of the CO 2 at a lower than conventional amine-based approach. In the 18 month BP-2, a lab scale combined sorbent/WGS reactor system was built, commissioned, and tested with the promising sorbent from BP-1. 90% carbon capture was demonstrated over 100 cycles and it was shown that the process continued to have potential to capture 90% of the carbon at a cost that was less than the conventional amine-based approach. In the 6 month BP-3, a long term test was conducted using the best SR sorbent. The required durability of > 2 mmol/g was demonstrated after 500 cycles. Also, 90% carbon capture and 96% CO conversion was maintained over 1000 cycles. A technical and economic feasibility study was carried out to compare the proposed pre-combustion approach to a gasification plant employing a conventional pre-combustion approach and a conventional pulverized caol (PC) plant employing a conventional post combustion CO 2 capture approach.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2015

A Hybrid Multiscale Framework for Subsurface Flow and Transport Simulations

Extensive research efforts have been invested in reducing model errors to improve the predictive ability of biogeochemical earth and environmental system simulators, with applications ranging from contaminant transport and remediation to impacts of biogeochemical elemental cycling (e.g., carbon and nitrogen) on local ecosystems and regional to global climate. While the bulk of this research has focused on improving model parameterizations in the face of observational limitations, the more challenging type of model error/uncertainty to identify and quantify is model structural error which arises from incorrect mathematical representations of (or failure to consider) important physical, chemical, or biological processes, properties, or system states in model formulations. While improved process understanding can be achieved through scientific study, such understanding is usually developed at small scales. Process-based numerical models are typically designed for a particular characteristic length and time scale. For application-relevant scales, it is generally necessary to introduce approximations and empirical parameterizations to describe complex systems or processes. This single-scale approach has been the best available to date because of limited understanding of process coupling combined with practical limitations on system characterization and computation. While computational power is increasing significantly and our understanding of biological and environmental processes at fundamental scales is accelerating, using this information to advance our knowledge of the larger system behavior requires the development of multiscale simulators. Accordingly there has been much recent interest in novel multiscale methods in which microscale and macroscale models are explicitly coupled in a single hybrid multiscale simulation. A limited number of hybrid multiscale simulations have been developed for biogeochemical earth systems, but they mostly utilize application-specific and sometimes ad-hoc approaches for model coupling. We are developing a generalized approach to hierarchical model coupling designed for high-performance computational systems, based on the Swift computing workflow framework. In this presentation we will describe the generalized approach and provide two use cases: 1) simulation of a mixing-controlled biogeochemical reaction coupling pore- and continuum-scale models, and 2) simulation of biogeochemical impacts of groundwater – river water interactions coupling fine- and coarse-grid model representations. This generalized framework can be customized for use with any pair of linked models (microscale and macroscale) with minimal intrusiveness to the at-scale simulators. It combines a set of python scripts with the Swift workflow environment to execute a complex multiscale simulation utilizing an approach similar to the well-known Heterogeneous Multiscale Method. User customization is facilitated through user-provided input and output file templates and processing function scripts, and execution within a high-performance computing environment is handled by Swift, such that minimal to no user modification of at-scale codes is required.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Feasibility Analysis of Converter-Interfaced Combined Heat and Power System

As a promising new design concept, the converter-interfaced combined heat and power (CHP) system is coupled to the bulk grid through a rectifier and a grid-ready tied inverter. Compared to the traditional directly-coupled CHP system, it removes the requirement for oversizing the CHP generator, limits the short-circuit contribution of the generator and simplifies the grid integration process of CHP system. This paper evaluates the economic benefits of this concept by calculating the annualized Return-on-Investment (ROI) and comparing it to the directly-coupled system. The economic analysis includes timeseries simulations to compute energy transactions with the bulk grid as well as sizing the equipment to calculate the capital and operational costs. Obtained results indicate that in majority of user cases evaluated, the converter-interfaced CHP systems can provide better ROI than directly-coupled systems. Given the additional technical benefits provided by inverter-based distributed energy resources (DERs), the proposed concept is proved to be technically viable and economically feasible.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Opportunities and challenges in process modeling and simulation of electrochemical systems

Electrochemical technologies have garnered intense interest in both academic research and industrial applications due to their potential to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint. However, electrochemical process fundamentals have been absent from the chemical process simulators available to millions of chemical engineers worldwide. To expedite process research and development of electrochemical technologies in the chemical industry, it is imperative that essential electrochemical process fundamentals be incorporated into process simulators to support modeling and simulation of electrochemical processes. Here, this study examines three process fundamentals key to the research and development of electrochemical processes: electrochemical reaction kinetics, electrolyte thermodynamics, and heat and mass transfer. It further illustrates application of these process fundamentals with a case study modeling an electrochemical process for the conversion of acrylonitrile to adiponitrile. The modeling example highlights the roles of applied voltage on reaction rates, and electron flow rates on the performance of electrochemical processes. It suggests that the applied voltage and electron flow rates are two unique concepts that should be included in simulators for electrochemical processes.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Field Testing of Cryogenic Carbon Capture

Sustainable Energy Solutions has been developing Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ (CCC) since 2008. In that time two processes have been developed, the External Cooling Loop and Compressed Flue Gas Cryogenic Carbon Capture processes (CCC ECL™ and CCC CFG™ respectively). The CCC ECL™ process has been scaled up to a 1TPD CO2 system. In this process the flue gas is cooled by an external refrigerant loop. SES has tested CCC ECL™ on real flue gas slip streams from subbituminous coal, bituminous coal, biomass, natural gas, shredded tires, and municipal waste fuels at field sites that include utility power stations, heating plants, cement kilns, and pilot-scale research reactors. The CO2 concentrations from these tests ranged from 5 to 22% on a dry basis. CO2 capture ranged from 95-99+% during these tests. Several other condensable species were also captured including NO2, SO2 and PMxx at 95+%. NO was also captured at a modest rate. The CCC CFG™ process has been scaled up to a .25 ton per day system. This system has been tested on real flue gas streams including subbituminous coal, bituminous coal and natural gas at field sites that include utility power stations, heating plants, and pilot-scale research reactors. CO2 concentrations for these tests ranged from 5 to 15% on a dry basis. CO2 capture ranged from 95-99+% during these tests. Several other condensable species were also captured including NO2, SO2 and PMxx at 95+%. NO was also captured at 90+%. Hg capture was also verified and the resulting effluent from CCC CFG™ was below a 1ppt concentration. This paper will focus on discussion of the capabilities of CCC, the results of field testing and the future steps surrounding the development of this technology.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Pitfalls in parameters: practical process development in chemical vapor processing of SiC

Vapor processing of high-value materials, such as silicon carbide (SiC), is of interest for many industries, including aerospace and energy production. Chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of additively manufactured components is an especially attractive manufacturing process currently in development. Here, a novel development workflow is demonstrated with the H 2 –CH 3 SiCl 3 gas system for SiC to accelerate the process optimization of CVI SiC. A combination of calculated thermodynamics and high-throughput experimental chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coatings substantially reduced the experiments required with slow CVI processes. The computational results accurately predicted changes in the thermodynamic conditions tested, while CVD coatings – characterized by Raman spectroscopy – addressed changes in kinetic parameters. This workflow is also applicable to other vapor-processing systems, such as pyrolytic carbon, ZrC, or Si 3 N 4 .

Lamm, Benjamin W. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy efficient integrated photonic systems based on inverse design

The energy footprint of modern information processing and communications systems is immense and utilizes a significant fraction of total global energy usage. Data centers alone consume over 70 billion kilowatt-hours per year. Much of this energy usage is intrinsic to the use of electronic wiring, making optical-based technologies a necessary and promising route to mitigating energy consumption in short- to medium-distance communication links. In this project, we developed and implemented a framework for the design of optical components, based on machine learning, which enables optical components relevant to optical information processing to be realized at their physical performance limits.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2017

A new APDS approach - alarm processing based on alarm prioritization - 201

We take for granted that the advances in technology bring improvements to the conditions in which humans perform activities associated to them. Is that the case for digital alarm systems in nuclear power plants? The answer is not that simple. A review of the related literature, shows that still, the single most significant problem with alarm systems, is the large number of alarm messages presented to the operator at once. This is an issue that affects analog I and C control rooms with conventional annunciators and gets aggravated in digital I and C based control rooms. Digital alarm systems present the alarms in the form of lists in computer screens. This kind of presentation forces the operator to scroll or navigate pages to review the active alarms. Also, the alarm lists do not allow the operator to apply the pattern recognition practices acquired during training when using with fixed position alarm systems. An Alarm Processing and Diagnostic System (APDS) facilitates the alarm monitoring task by applying alarm reduction techniques based on alarm priorities. It allows the operators to focus on the most important alarms during plant upsets. A new generation of APDS should be based in an improved alarm analysis methodology. To develop such methodology, Tecnatom reviewed applicable standards and our own alarm analysis experiences. This paper documents the process and conclusions of the methodology development. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enhancing Reliability of Classified Shipments Between the Nuclear Security Enterprise

The extent of this project, as related to by the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE), is related to the current shipping and logistical issues and optimization opportunities between several different NSE sites that are the basis of the enterprise. This current scope is part of every site’s, described as Design Agency (DA) and Production Agency (PA), normal operation to meet the needs and mission of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The NSE has a broad mission scope encompassing several differing DA and PA sites to meet the NNSA’s mission. These sites require frequent interaction and shipments of material and items between one another in order to meet the mission needs of the enterprise. Currently, there is no methodology that integrates schedules, standards, orders, processes, and best practices to optimize transfers between the differing sites. A centralized location and standard shipping process will optimize and improve the systems behavior, reducing lag time and increasing throughput at sites today. Ultimately this project proposes a central logistical platform, tiered escalation process, and standardized shipping forms to reduce taxpayer costs to meet the NSE’s mission more efficiently. This increase in processing logistics and process accuracy of shipments will save the NSE, not only from a monetary value, but it will reduce the frustrations of individuals working these outdated and over processed systems to improve their quality of life.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗