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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 1,423 records · Page 79

Intermittency in Precipitation: Duration, Frequency, Intensity, and Amounts Using Hourly Data

Abstract Intermittency is a core characteristic of precipitation, not well described by data and very poorly modeled. Detailed analyses are made of near-global gridded (about 1°) hourly or 3-hourly precipitation rates from two updated observational datasets [3-hourly TRMM 3B42, version 7, and hourly CMORPH, version 1.0, bias corrected (CRT)] and from special runs of CESM from January 1998 to December 2013 to obtain hourly values. The analyses explore the intermittency of precipitation: the frequency, intensity, duration, and amounts. A comparison is made for all products using several metrics with a focus on the duration of events, and a new metric is proposed based on the ratio of the frequency of precipitation at certain rates (0.2–2 mm h−1) for hourly versus 3-hourly versus daily data. For all seasons and rain rates, TRMM values are similar in pattern to CMORPH, but durations are about 80%–85%. It is mainly over land in the monsoons that CMORPH exceeds TRMM rain durations. Observed duration of precipitation events in CMORPH over oceans are 12–15 h in the tropics and subtropics, much less than the ~20 h for CESM. Hence, the observational results differ somewhat but both are considerably different from the model, which has too much precipitation overall, and it precipitates far too often at low rates and not enough for intense rates, with the divide about 1–2 mm h−1. There is a need to properly represent precipitation phenomena and processes either explicitly or implicitly (parameterized).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Understanding Uncertainties in Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Hazard Modeling Using Synthetic Storms

Tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall hazard assessment is subject to the bias in TC climatology estimation from climate simulations or synthetic downscaling. In this study, we investigate the uncertainty in TC rainfall hazard assessment induced by this bias using both rain gauge and radar observations and synthetic-storm-model-coupled TC rainfall simulations. We identify the storm’s maximum intensity, impact duration, and minimal distance to the site to be the three most important storm parameters for TC rainfall hazard, and the relationship between the important storm parameters and TC rainfall can be well captured by a physics-based TC rainfall model. The uncertainty in the synthetic rainfall hazard induced by the bias in TC climatology can be largely explained by the bias in the important storm parameters simulated by the synthetic storm model. Correcting the distribution of the most biased parameter may significantly improve rainfall hazard estimation. Bias correction based on the joint distribution of the important parameters may render more accurate rainfall hazard estimations; however, the general technical difficulties in resampling from high-dimensional joint probability distributions prevent more accurate estimations in some cases. The results of the study also support future investigation of the impact of climate change on TC rainfall hazards through the lens of future changes in the identified important storm parameters.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Extending Petsc's Composable Hierarchically Nested Linear Solvers

The Contributions from the RELACS group at both Rice University and the University at Buffalo in this phase of the PETSc Composable Solvers effort have centered around four main areas: scalable mesh processing, mesh adaptivity, solvers for subsurface flow, and performance modeling. The prominence of mesh processing demonstrates the tight relationship between meshing and discretization on the one hand, and optimal solvers on the other. All optimal solvers that we consider depend on some notion of hierarchy, and we express this using the DMPlex abstraction in PETSc. This relationship demands tight integration between the DM and SNES/TS components in PETSc that is the foundation of much of this work. In addition, interpretation of performance results for scalable solvers necessitates that information from the discretization and solver enter the performance model. Without this, comparing different solvers can be a fruitless exercise. Some major accomplishment of the past three years in these areas include: scalable mesh loading in PETSc on more than 10K cores, integrated mesh adaptivity using both p4est and Pragmatic, scalable multigrid for DG discretizations of subsurface flow, and predictive performance modeling incorporating error estimates.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Multiphysics Simulations of MSRE with NEAMS Thermal Hydraulics Tools

This report documents the benchmarks being developed and simulations performed using tools and codes developed under the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, utilizing MSRE experimental data. In FY23, three main work scopes were investigated under the NEAMS MSR work package at ANL. The first scope investigated the Griffin-SAM coupling model for simulating the pump startup transient experiment of MSRE. The analyses start with a simple model (single-channel, single-lattice), gradually adding more details (multi-channel, full-core) into the model. The results show that the reactivity loss curve is very sensitive to the axial boundary conditions and the radial core discretization. The simple model can predict a similar reactivity trend as that of the more sophisticated model, which is likely due to error cancellation. Accurately modeling the axial boundary condition may further improve the reactivity trend but would require significant efforts to generate the mesh of the MSRE inlet and upper plenum. The core channel radial discretization for the Griffin-SAM coupled model also depends on the flow distribution. Given the complex geometry in the inlet plenum, the flow distribution needed to be calculated from CFD analysis, which was performed using the NekRS code. This analysis employed a MSRE CAD model developed by Copenhagen Atomics. The CAD model was disassembled to keep the inlet plenum region only, which was subsequently cleaned and modified so that the mesh generated is under the memory limit. The results are merged to a few radial regions to show that the flow rate is highest in the central region. This would be useful for future improvement of the Griffin-SAM coupling model of the MSRE core. The last task investigated is tritium transport modeling using the standalone SAM code. This task aimed to initiate the effort to demonstrate and validate the tritium transport model implemented in SAM. The preliminary investigation employed an MSRE model consisting of the primary loop. Three tritium transport pathways were examined including the retention in the graphite, the permeation through the HX tube wall, and the removal from the off-gas system. The results compare well with the MSRE data, but improvements are still needed on the initial conditions (i.e., the present state may not have reached equilibrium), the boundary conditions, the off-gas system modeling, and a better numerical strategy to reach the equilibrium state.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Framework for a Digital Documented Safety Analysis

This framework is developed to progress the digital implementation of digital tools applied to the DOE authorization process, with future applications to NRC SAR development/review, to accelerate the design and review processes of advanced nuclear reactors. The engineering design and licensing process for nuclear reactors is currently burdened by a document-based approach that leads to duplications and errors due to a lack of traceability among numerous static documents. Changes to design information require labor-intensive manual tracing through these documents, creating a high potential for human error. The adoption of a digital ecosystem, utilizing a digital thread to link various aspects of project design and analysis, promises dynamic documentation generation, automatic updates, and error reduction. Model Based Definition (MBD) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools are central to this digital transformation.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Integrated Tiger Series (ITS) Code Validation and Uncertainty Quantification for Electron Number Albedo in Various Materials

In the 1970’s and 1980’s, researchers at Sandia National Laboratories produced electron albedo data for a range of materials. Since that time, the electron albedo data has been used for a wide variety of purposes including the validation of Monte Carlo electron transport codes. This report was compiled to examine the electron albedo experiment results in the context of Integrated Tiger Series (ITS) validation. The report presents tables and figures that could provide insight into the underlying model form uncertainty present in the ITS code. Additionally, the report provides data on potential means to reduce these model form errors by highlighting potential refinements in the cross-section generation process.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Large Language Model for Validation, Optical Calibration, and Learning (VOCAL) Distributed Temperature Sensing Interface

Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) using fiber optic sensors (FOS) offers a promising method for temperature measurements in advanced reactors, such as sodium fast reactors and molten salt cooled reactors. To support the calibration and validation of DTS measurements, Argonne National Laboratory developed the Validation, Optical Calibration, and Learning (VOCAL) software package. This report describes the integration of a local large language model (LLM) with a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system into the VOCAL interface to serve as an interactive user assistant. The LLM framework enhances the VOCAL platform’s accessibility to users by explaining interface components, clarifying inputs and outputs, and answering user queries dynamically in real-time. The accuracy of the LLM assistant performance was evaluated with 20 queries regarding the interface and its parameters using experimental data from the Thermal Hydraulic Experimental Test Article (THETA) facility. Results demonstrate that the LLM achieved a 95% accuracy rate, with a BERTScore of 0.8816 and SBERT value of 0.7417. Furthermore, validation of the RAG system within the LLM framework showed optimal accuracy with k-values between 1 and 2 using the k-refinement convergence test. The prompt perturbation analysis demonstrated good initial consistency for the RAG system, exhibiting the highest accuracy under punctuation variations and the greatest sensitivity under query reordering. Notably, the model’s errors were limited to data retrieval failures rather than factual hallucinations, reinforcing its baseline reliability. The integration of LLM provides a highly accurate, userfriendly enhancement to the VOCAL platform without disrupting its core computational capabilities for FOS calibration and validation.

Hong, Evan↗

Stability analysis of model-free control under constrained inputs for control of building HVAC systems

Recently introduced model-free control method has witnessed successful applications in various domains. While the framework of model-free control renders it simple and efficient, it imposes difficulties in implementing the method for complex applications under external constraints. Moreover, there is a lack of literature on the study and application of model-free control under constrained environments. This paper attempts to further the study of model-free control by employing it for monitoring indoor temperature of buildings through the control of building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and studying the control design stability conditions under constrained inputs. Two kinds of constraints on the control input are considered and their stability conditions are investigated. The developed framework aims to highlight a potential path to analyze the stability under a given set of constraints. The results of employing model free control on the building HVAC system under unconstrained and constrained inputs are presented. The role of the model estimation error on the stability is also discussed.

Telsang, Bhagyashri↗

Indirect Validation of Probe Speed Data on Arterial Corridors

This study aimed to estimate the accuracy of probe speed data on arterial corridors on the basis of roadway geometric attributes and functional classification. It was assumed that functional class (medium and low) along with other road characteristics (such as weighted average of the annual average daily traffic, average signal density, average access point density, and average speed) were available as correlation factors to estimate the accuracy of probe traffic data. This study tested these factors as predictors of the fidelity of probe traffic data by using the results of an extensive validation exercise. This study showed strong correlations between these geometric attributes and the accuracy of probe data when they were assessed by using average absolute speed error. Linear models were regressed to existing data to estimate appropriate models for medium- and low-type arterial corridors. The proposed models for medium- and low-type arterials were validated further on the basis of the results of a slowdown analysis. These models can be used to predict the accuracy of probe data indirectly in medium and low types of arterial corridors.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Mariner/Jupiter/Saturn navigation in the presence of massive planetary satellites

Orbit determination accuracies attainable during a Mariner/Jupiter/Saturn encounter have been established by means of covariance analyses. Advanced earth-based multistation radiometric data, optical data consisting of star/satellite pictures provided by a narrow-angle TV camera on board the spacecraft, and batch sequential filtering methods were employed. An evaluation of sequential filter sensitivities to errors in modeling small nongravitational spacecraft accelerations is presented. Selected covariances developed in the orbit determination analysis are used in an investigation of the trajectory correction costs associated with a close Ganymede encounter. The 99 percentile Delta V contours in the Ganymede aiming plane are obtained for satellite encounters before or after Jupiter closed approach, and the sources of the dominant contributions to the Delta V costs are identified.

Hildebrand, C. E.↗

Cost optimization of spacecraft test levels

Common to all nondestructive type testing of hardware that provides the necessary confidence in the design is the question regarding the proper magnitude of the test level. The objective of this investigation was to study the possibility of establishing cost optimized test levels of a rather general nature. This investigation was based on studying the influence of test level on a cost of error cost model that reflects the adverse effects of 'undertesting' and 'overtesting'. For the assumed conditions of normal distribution for the random variables and a protoflight spacecraft case, the results indicated that the limits for an optimum test factor can range between slightly less than 1.0 to slightly more than 1.5.

Young, J. P.↗

Kalman filter estimation of human pilot-model parameters

The parameters of a human pilot-model transfer function are estimated by applying the extended Kalman filter to the corresponding retarded differential-difference equations in the time domain. Use of computer-generated data indicates that most of the parameters, including the implicit time delay, may be reasonably estimated in this way. When applied to two sets of experimental data obtained from a closed-loop tracking task performed by a human, the Kalman filter generated diverging residuals for one of the measurement types, apparently because of model assumption errors. Application of a modified adaptive technique was found to overcome the divergence and to produce reasonable estimates of most of the parameters.

Schiess, J. R.↗