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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Impedance Modeling for Mixed Conductors with Simultaneous Insertion & Electrocatalytic Reactions: A Case Study of Transition-Metal Hydroxides in Aqueous Electrolyte

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is commonly used to investigate the kinetics of mixed ionic–electronic conductor (MIEC) electrodes. Across various applications, MIECs exhibit ionic (e.g., insertion) and/or electronic (e.g., electrocatalytic) charge transfer reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Bulk storage and transport of charge carriers also couple with these interfacial reactions. Here, we build a generalized, physics-based impedance model for MIECs with an ion-blocking current collector and explore how bulk and interfacial resistance, chemical capacitance, and DC polarization affect the impedance response. Using transition metal hydroxides as a case study, we provide guidance on extracting reaction kinetics or bulk resistance from the Nyquist plots in interface- or bulk-controlled conditions, respectively. Generalizing our EIS analysis enables a robust analysis of MIEC kinetics for a diverse set of systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

New Insertion Device Control System for the APS Upgrade

New Hybrid Permanent Magnet Undulators (HPMUs) have been designed and manufactured using servo motors for precise and reliable gap motion control for the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade (APS-U) project. Meanwhile, existing HPMUs equipped with legacy stepper motors are systematically replaced with servo motors. In parallel with mechanical modifications of the undulators, a comprehensive upgrade has been implemented for the control of the devices. This upgrade includes integration of standardized industrial components for replacement of motor controllers and motor drives using the Kollmorgen Programmable Controller Multi-axis Master (PCMM) controllers and the AKD2G series servo drives. Soft Input Output Controllers (IOCs) are developed and deployed to replace the legacy VME-based IOCs for both single-period undulators and Revolver undulators. In this paper, we will present the architecture of the new insertion device control system, including control mechanisms, interlock protocols, and tools for diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Li, W.↗
DOE OSTI2021

HFIR SiC Bowing Test Ready to Insert

This report describes the successful assembly of a High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) irradiation experiment designed to assess radiation-induced lateral bowing of silicon carbide fiber–reinforced, silicon carbide matrix composite (SiC/SiC) components under a radial fast neutron flux gradient. Excessive bowing of a SiC/SiC channel box in a boiling water reactor could potentially interfere with control blade movements. Similar concerns exist for SiC/SiC fuel cladding in light water reactors. The experiment described herein will provide experimental validation of the structural response of a miniature SiC/SiC channel box and tube specimens with pressurized water reactor diameters during irradiation. The significant radial fast neutron flux gradients that exist in the permanent reflector of HFIR were characterized using detailed three-dimensional neutronic calculations. The three-dimensional displacement damage dose rate profile and the resulting volumetric swelling in SiC were used as inputs to structural analyses that predicted the deformation and stresses in the channel box specimen. The specimens were thoroughly characterized prior to irradiation using traditional dimensional inspection and surface profilometry so that these measurements can later be compared with similar measurements that will be made post-irradiation to determine radiation-induced deformations. Furthermore, fine engraving markers were inscribed along all outer surfaces of the specimen and mapped using a digital microscope and a three-dimensional stage. This technique allowed for accurate measurements of the marker spacings, which can be compared with similar measurements that will be made post-irradiation to provide local radiation-induced strain mapping. The experiment was successfully assembled and is scheduled for insertion during HFIR cycle 492, which is currently scheduled to run from May 25, 2021 to June 18, 2021.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

WIRE-21 Sensor Irradiation Experiment Ready for HFIR Insertion

The ability to deploy new nuclear fuels for current or future reactor concepts requires a wealth of data regarding fuel performance during normal operation, anticipated operational occurrences, and design-basis accidents. Most of these data have historically been collected during experiments in materials test reactors, ideally with online instrumentation to collect as much data as possible. However, advanced instrumentation could also allow for in situ monitoring of fuel operating conditions during commercial reactor operation to maximize fuel utilization, reduce unnecessary conservativism in design margins, and improve operator understanding of limiting peaking factors. The latter approach would complicate fuel handling, particularly during refueling, unless the instrumentation could be placed inside the fuel rods and transmitted wirelessly to a receiver located outside the fuel’s primary pressure boundary. To this end, Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) developed wireless sensors based on inductive coupling that can transmit information regarding fuel centerline temperatures and rod internal pressures wirelessly from within a fuel rod to a nearby instrument thimble. After testing these sensors in lower-power university research reactors, the next step is to perform high neutron fluence testing to characterize the performance of these wireless sensors under conditions that are more representative of the intended application—in this case, light-water reactors (LWRs). The removable Be (RB) positions of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) provide the neutron flux, experiment volume, and access to instrument leads required to achieve these sensor testing goals. This report summarizes the design, analysis, and assembly of the Wireless Instrumented RB Experiment 2021 (WIRE-21). This is the most highly instrumented irradiation experiment ever performed in HFIR. The experiment will use seven different sensing techniques to measure temperature, pressure, neutron flux, and neutron fluence during reactor operation. In addition to WEC’s wireless temperature and pressure sensors, WIRE-21 includes an array of thermocouples, self-powered neutron detectors, spatially distributed fiber optic temperature sensors, passive SiC temperature monitors, and flux wires. The design of WIRE-21 and the cabling that was installed in HFIR also provide the infrastructure to enable accelerated, economical testing of advanced sensor technologies while leveraging the extremely high neutron flux that is available in HFIR. The containment for WIRE-21 is similar to previous RB irradiation vehicles but includes a few modifications, most notably the use of integrated compression seals to pass a larger number of sensor leads through the experiment’s pressure boundary. In addition to the sensor leads, inert gas lines are passed into the experiment to enable active temperature control and the ability to pneumatically actuate a bellows-driven pressure sensor. WIRE-21 is targeting component temperatures (300–350°C) and neutron fluence levels (~10 22 n/cm 2 ) that would be expected in the plenum region of LWR fuels, except for the active sensing region of the wireless temperature sensor, which is targeting LWR fuel centerline temperatures (~800–1,100°C). WIRE-21 was successfully assembled, passed all nondestructive examination, and was delivered to HFIR for insertion during upcoming cycle 498 (April 2022).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Improving Longitudinal Impedance of Inductive Inserts

Space charge compensation is essential to keeping the beam inside a ring such as PSR in the desired bunch form. The space charges of the ring will lead to the beam debunching, and the most prominent form of compensation for this is the use of RF to bunch the ring back. It has long been known however, that the impedance presented to the beam by its space charge could be compensated by a passive component. Such a passive component has been in use in PSR since 2000, but upgrading it could greatly improve the capabilities of the PSR. Additionally, the inserts presently used would require updating to match any changes in the beam pipe, both mechanically and to increase the space charge compensation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

ROADRUNNER MiniFuel Experiment: Readiness for Insertion

The Research On ADvancing the peRformance of UraNium Nitrides in Extreme enviRonments (ROADRUNNER) campaign is a collaborative irradiation experiment designed to evaluate the performance of uranium nitride (UN) fuel fabricated with controlled variations in density and impurity content. Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s MiniFuel irradiation platform and the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) are being used to irradiate six targets containing 36 UN miniature disks. These targets have been assembled to systematically investigate burnup and temperature effects under accelerated irradiation conditions. This report documents the finalized test plan, describes the experiment assembly and subcapsule integration process, and confirms the readiness of all ROADRUNNER targets for HFIR insertion. All targets have passed quality control procedures, and five have begun irradiation. The campaign will provide critical performance data to support fuel model validation and future UN qualification efforts.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

ROADRUNNER MiniFuel Experiment: Readiness for Insertion

The Research On ADvancing the peRformance of UraNium Nitrides in Extreme enviRonments (ROADRUNNER) campaign is a collaborative irradiation experiment designed to evaluate the performance of uranium nitride (UN) fuel fabricated with controlled variations in density and impurity content. Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s MiniFuel irradiation platform and the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) are being used to irradiate six targets containing 36 UN miniature disks. These targets have been assembled to systematically investigate burnup and temperature effects under accelerated irradiation conditions. This report documents the finalized test plan, describes the experiment assembly and subcapsule integration process, and confirms the readiness of all ROADRUNNER targets for HFIR insertion. All targets have passed quality control procedures, and five have begun irradiation. The campaign will provide critical performance data to support fuel model validation and future UN qualification efforts.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Long-Length SiC/SiC Tube Irradiation Experiment at LWR Temperatures Inserted into HFIR

This report describes the pre-irradiation characterization and successful assembly of a High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) irradiation experiment designed to assess radiation-induced lateral bowing of silicon carbide fiber–reinforced, silicon carbide matrix composite (SiC/SiC) components under a radial fast neutron flux gradient at representative light-water reactor (LWR) temperatures of approximately 300 °C. The over-arching goal of this work is to validate thermomechanical models of SiC/SiC composite fuel assembly distortion used to predict the extent of lateral bowing and dose at which bowing reaches a maximum value. Ultimately, these models are used to ensure that fuel assembly distortion does not block coolant channels, interfere with control rod/blade movements, and/or impact local reactivity. The experiment contains six cladding tube specimens that are approximately 558.5 mm long with representative pressurized water reactor (PWR) outer and inner diameters of 9.5 mm and 7.5 mm, respectively. The specimens were thoroughly characterized prior to irradiation using traditional dimensional inspection and surface profilometry so that these measurements can later be compared with similar measurements that will be made post-irradiation to determine radiation-induced deformations. Furthermore, fine engraving markers were inscribed along the outer surfaces of the specimen and mapped using analytic photography and a three-dimensional stage. This technique allowed for accurate measurements of the marker spacings, which can be compared with similar measurements that will be made post-irradiation to provide local radiation-induced strain mapping. A light curtain optical micrometer was also employed to measure the pre-irradiation bowing of each specimen. The experiment was successfully assembled and inserted into position VXF-19 for HFIR cycle 516, which began May 12, 2026. The experiment will be removed after cycle 519, which is currently scheduled to end in December 2026.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Real Time Observation of Lithium Insertion into Pre-Cycled Conversion-Type Materials

Conversion-type electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries experience significant structural changes during the first discharge–charge cycle, where a single particle is taken apart into a number of nanoparticles. This structural evolution may affect the following lithium insertion reactions; however, how lithiation occurs in pre-cycled electrode materials is elusive. In this work, in situ transmission electron microscopy was employed to see the lithium-induced structural and chemical evolutions in pre-cycled nickel oxide as a model system. The introduction of lithium ions induced the evolution of metallic nickel, with volume expansion as a result of a conversion reaction. After pre-cycling, the phase evolutions occurred in two separate areas almost at the same time. This is different from the first lithiation, where the phase change takes place successively, with a boundary dividing the reacted and unreacted areas. Structural changes were restricted at the areas having large amount of fluorine, implying the residuals from the decomposition of electrolytes may have hindered the electrochemical reactions. This work provides insights into phase and chemical evolutions in pre-cycled conversion-type materials, which govern electrochemical properties during operation.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental and numerical study on the impacts of various long carbon fiber inserts on the thermal performance of phase change materials

In thermal energy storage systems, phase change materials (PCMs) are widely used to provide efficient storing and extraction of thermal energy. However, most PCMs have low thermal conductivities, which limit the heat transfer of the latent energy inward/outward. In this study, the impacts of various fiber inserts on the solidification and melting processes with PCM were investigated by experiments and simulations. It was found that long anisotropic carbon fibers with high thermal conductivities can not only increase the heat transfer within PCM by enlarging hot-cold interface areas, but also act as crystallization nuclei and increase the solidification of PCM during the charging process. Recalescence of PCM during solidification was observed. COMSOL models were used to understand the thermal transfer mechanisms. COMSOL Multiphysics models of a single carbon fiber filament in PCM showed that the anisotropy in thermal conductivities controlled the radial and axial heat transfer ratios along its fiber axis and can enhance both the solidification and melting processes.

Zhou, Xinzhang↗
DOE OSTI2022

Rigid stiffener-reinforced flexible neural probes, and methods of fabrication using wicking channel-distributed adhesives and tissue insertion and extraction

A stiffener-reinforced microelectrode array probe and fabrication method using wicking channel-distributed adhesives which temporarily adheres a flexible device onto a rigid stiffener for insertion and extraction. Assembly is by dispensing a liquid adhesive into a narrow open groove wicking channel formed on the stiffener so that the adhesive is wicked along and fills the channel by capillary action, and adhering the adhesive-filled bonding side of the elongated section of the rigid substrate to a flexible device.

Shah, Kedar G.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Insert device for fuel injection

An insert device includes a body having an upper body portion configured to couple with a cylinder head of an engine cylinder and a lower body portion extending from the upper body portion toward a combustion chamber of the engine cylinder. The body includes an interior surface extending around a central volume positioned to receive liquid fuel from a fuel injector. The body includes gas inlet channels and fuel-and-gas mixture outlet channels. The gas inlet channels direct gas into the central volume where the gas mixes with the liquid fuel to form the fuel-and-gas mixture. The fuel-and-gas mixture outlet channels direct the mixture into the combustion chamber. The interior surface includes concave surface portions between the inlet channels and the outlet channels along a center axis of the body that are shaped to direct the gas into the central volume toward the liquid fuel in the central volume.

Heher, Brett↗
DOE OSTI2023

Predicting Safety Rod Reactivity Insertion in the Advanced Test Reactor

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), and complimentary zero-power ATR Critical (ATRC) reactor, located at Idaho National Labs (INL), are undergoing conversion from Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU). Both have a variety of testing locations that can receive large variations in flux due to its unique serpentine design, consisting of five lobes surrounding nine flux traps (see Figure 1). Initial criticality and power distribution throughout the core are controlled by core-external outer shim control cylinders (OSCCs). Distinct test loops allow for testing at specific temperatures, pressures, and irradiation conditions such as flux and fission density. The ATR is one of the key nuclear engineering research and testing facilities within the DOE National Laboratory Complex, and the ATRC supports its operation [1]. Currently, the Office of Material Management and Minimization (M3) within the National Nuclear Security Administration of the DOE is working to convert the remaining research reactors, including the ATR, from 93% HEU fuel to 19.75% LEU fuel (LEU) to support non-proliferation [2]. Extensive materials testing at INL and internationally has demonstrated that a high-density uranium molybdenum (U 10Mo) alloy can meet the performance requirements of the remaining high powered research reactors. The current LEU fuel element design is named the LOWE element. However, there are many technical challenges to address before the conversion to LEU can be successful, including the accurate characterization of the reactor core physics with LEU fuel. To ensure safe operation of the ATR, reactor engineers prepare a CSAP (Core Safety Assurance Package) before each cycle. The purpose of the CSAP is to verify the reactor performance calculation used to determine if the selected fuel loading meets operational, experimental, and safety criteria. Many of the criteria in the CSAP are limits on reactivity insertion in various accident scenarios.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Fast Proton Insertion in Layered H 2 W 2 O 7 via Selective Etching of an Aurivillius Phase

H 2 W 2 O 7 , a metastable material synthesized via selective etching of the Aurivillius-related Bi 2 W 2 O 9 , is shown as an electrode for high power proton-based energy storage. Comprehensive structural characterization is performed to obtain a high-fidelity crystal structure of H 2 W 2 O 7 using an iterative approach that combines X-ray diffraction, neutron pair distribution function, scanning transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory modeling. Electrochemical characterization shows a capacity retention of ≈80% at 1000 mV s –1 (1.5-s charge/discharge time) as compared to 1 mV s –1 (≈16-min charge/discharge time) with cyclability for over 100 000 cycles. Energetics from density functional theory calculations indicate that proton storage occurs at the terminal oxygen sites within the hydrated interlayer. Last, optical micrographs collected during in situ Raman spectroscopy show reversible, multicolor electrochromism, with color changes from pale yellow to blue, purple, and last, orange as a function of proton content. These results highlight the use of selective etching of layered perovskites for the synthesis of metastable transition metal oxide materials and the use of H 2 W 2 O 7 as an anode material for proton-based energy storage or electrochromic applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

In Situ Visualization of the Pinning Effect of Planar Defects on Li Ion Insertion

Longevity of Li ion batteries strongly depends on the interaction of transporting Li ions in electrode crystals with defects. However, detailed interactions between the Li ion flux and structural defects in the host crystal remain obscure due to the transient nature of such interactions. Here, by in situ transmission electron microscopy and density function theory calculations, we reveal how the diffusion pathways and transport kinetics of a Li ion can be affected by planar defects in a tungsten trioxide lattice. We uncover that changes in charge distribution and lattice spacing along the planar defects disrupt the continuity of ion conduction channels and dramatically increase the energy barrier of Li diffusion, thus, arresting Li ions at the defect sites and twisting the lithiation front. In conclusion, the atomic-scale understanding holds critical implications for rational interface design in solid-state batteries and solid oxide fuel cells.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Tuning Oxygen Redox Reaction through the Inductive Effect with Proton Insertion in Li-Rich Oxides

As a parent compound of Li-rich electrodes, Li 2 MnO 3 exhibits high capacity during the initial charge; however, it suffers notoriously low Coulombic efficiency due to oxygen and surface activities. Here, we successfully optimize the oxygen activities toward reversible oxygen redox reactions by intentionally introducing protons into lithium octahedral vacancies in the Li 2 MnO 3 system with its original structural integrity maintained. Combining structural probes, theoretical calculations, and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering results, a moderate coupling between the introduced protons and lattice oxygen at the oxidized state is revealed, which stabilizes the oxygen activities during charging. Such a coupling leads to an unprecedented initial Coulombic efficiency (99.2%) with a greatly improved discharge capacity of 302 mAh g -1 in the protonated Li 2 MnO 3 electrodes. These findings directly demonstrate an effective concept for controlling oxygen activities in Li-rich systems, which is critical for developing high-energy cathodes in batteries.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗