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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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During this thirteen month award, we focused on two main tasks relevant to the development of the CMB-S4 project: (1) The refinement of sensitivity models and use of those to optimize the instrument design, and (2) the final development and testing a cryogenic blackbody calibrator prototype, of which we then produced three copies for CMB-S4's detector testing systems at FNAL, SLAC and UIUC.
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) methodologies for test system development often require simulations capable of running at MHz speeds on FPGAs. The stringent memory and speed constraints necessitate compromises between model fidelity and execution speed. Numerically solving the underlying governing equations represents the highest accuracy, but slowest responding approach. By storing pre-determined results in look-up-tables (LUT), one can balance speed and accuracy.
A pulsed laser testing system for rapid screening of single-event latch-up (SEL) in microelectronics with real-time visualization of sensitive nodes via photo-emission is presented. We provide a detailed overview of the system, followed by SEL threshold measurements in an analog-to-digital converter (AD9240). We find that SEL thresholds are comparable to measurements taken with a low-repetition rate, fixed beam system, and demonstrate full-die scanning speeds can be an order of magnitude faster
Genetically modified industrial production microbes and their associated bioproducts have emerged as an integral component of a sustainable bioeconomy. However, the rapid development of these innovative technologies raises biosecurity concerns, namely, the risk of environmental escape. Thus, the realization of a bioeconomy hinges not only on the development and deployment of microbial production hosts, but also on the development of secure biosystems and biocontainment designs. Current laboratory-based biocontainment testing systems do not accurately reflect the complexities found in natural environments, necessitating an environmentally relevant analysis pipeline that allows for the detection of rare escapees within a complex soil microbiome and differentiation between closely related strains. To this end, we have developed an approach that utilizes soil mesocosms and integrated digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) system to evaluate the efficacy of novel biocontainment strategies. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by modeling contamination with industrial microbial chasses versus their biocontained counterparts. Here we demonstrate the broad utility of this system by highlighting findings from strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are contained with an inducible toxin anti-toxin system, strains of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 contained via gene knockout or toxin anti-toxin system, and strains of Escherichia coli that are contained via genomic recoding. We also show that ddPCR can be used to detect gene copies from E. coli equal to those counted by traditional spot plating assays. The resultant data demonstrates that this system has broad utility across diverse microbial chassis and biocontainment strategies and enables researchers to track the fate of our contaminating microbe with high sensitivity in the soil. The findings presented here support the use of this mesocosm-based approach to assess the environmental impact of industrial microbes and to validate biocontainment strategies.
General MTES overview with specific capabilities related to grid integration, ARIES, and controllable grid interface test systems.
During the High Luminosity phase of LHC, up to 200 proton-proton collisions per bunch crossing will bring severe challenges for event reconstruction. To mitigate pileup effects, an extended upgrade program of the CMS experiment is expected. Among which, a new timing layer, the MIP Timing Detector (MTD), will be integrated between the tracker and the calorimeters. With a time resolution of 30-60 ps, the MTD will enable 4D vertexing, bringing significant improvements in track-to-vertex association and object identification. The MTD is composed of two subsystems based on different technologies: the Barrel Timing Layer (BTL) consists of LYSO:Ce scintillating crystals readout by SiPMs, and the Endcap Timing Layer (ETL) is made of Low-Gain Avalanche Diodes. The BTL is currently under production, while ETL sensor prototyping and validation are ongoing. Recent system tests have confirmed the performance of the full acquisition chain. This talk will provide an overview of the MTD design, along with the physics motivation, and the current status of BTL construction and ETL development.
The primary objective of the work described herein was to determine the effect of two forms of chromium reported to be abundant in the waste (Cr(OH) 3 and chromite) on spinel formation in the glass, feed properties, and feed processing characteristics during the vitrification process. A secondary objective of the work was to evaluate oxidants that influence the redox state of chromium in the glass, which has the potential to reduce spinel crystallization thereby allowing potential increases in waste loadings in HLW glasses with high chromium content. This was accomplished through a combination of crucible-scale and DM100 melter system tests.
The initial objective of the present work was to review Hanford HLW compositions to identify HLW streams that are good candidates for the HLW direct feed vitrification option. Another objective was to develop and identify HLW glass compositions and glass forming additive blends for vitrification of two HLW streams identified from the review that could be treated with little or no washing or other pretreatment and would be, therefore, good direct feed candidates. The HLW glass compositions and additive blends were developed to maintain high waste loadings, high processing rates, and acceptable product glass properties. This was accomplished through a combination of crucible-scale and DM100 melter system tests.
Optical flow cells are critical measurement interfaces, yet sampling under harsh conditions — high pressure, high temperature, particles, moisture, or corrosive gases — makes it difficult to maintain optical quality without perturbing the measurement. To address this challenge, a new flow cell was developed using a laminar coaxial flow field that separates the purge and sample flows. A dedicated test system was built to evaluate particle size distribution (PSD) measurements using a Malvern Panalytical Insitec analyzer. Results demonstrated that the sample flow alone defines the measurement zone, while the purge flow effectively shields the optical windows from deposition, eliminating sampling bias. The flow cell enables reliable PSD measurement under high pressure and temperature in moist, corrosive environments. As a key demonstration, the instrument was successfully deployed for on-line PSD measurement of flue gas from a 100 kWth pressurized oxy-coal combustor at 15 bara.
This presentation provides an overview of the hydrogen R&D activities at NREL, including make, store, move, and use hydrogen. At NREL, our research spans the advanced water splitting materials (AWSM) and hydrogen storage R&D, performed within the HydroGEN and HyMARC Energy Materials Networks (EMN), respectively, to the materials integration and scale up work done within the H2NEW consortium, to fuel cell R&D within the M2FCT consortium, to stack and systems testing at the MW-level. These R&D activities are funded by U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
This report presents a modeling and evaluation framework developed through the Inter-Regional Transmission Operational Coordination (IRTOC) project to study market-to-market (M2M) congestion management across day-ahead and real-time markets. The framework extends the Sienna platform through Sienna Decomposition, a multi-stage evaluation architecture that enables flexible representation of multiple regions and systematic assessment of alternative market coordination designs. Additional modeling capabilities include reserve deliverability constraints, High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) optimization for Alternating Current (AC) congestion management, and several real-time distributed coordination algorithms. Case studies using the RTS-GMLC test system and a large-scale Eastern Interconnection model demonstrate that the framework can evaluate alternative coordination structures and quantify their economic and operational impacts. The proposed framework provides a scalable platform for analyzing inter-regional coordination strategies in large-scale electricity markets.
This presentation summarizes the integration of a programmable logic controller (PLC) into the Horn A magnetic field mapping device for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF). The device is used to position magnetic field probes along the centerline of the Horn A inner conductor to verify that the magnetic field within this region is approximately zero. The presentation covers the PLC hardware and electrical integration, stepper motor and encoder control, ladder logic development, mechanical integration, and system testing. Results include successful bidirectional motion and encoder feedback for the translation and rotation axes, as well as characterization of translational motion for repeatable probe positioning.
Introduction: Vaccine platforms used in successful, licensed vaccines have varied among pathogens. However, antibody level is still the main clinical correlate of protection in most approved vaccines. Decisions as to the best vaccine platform to pursue for a given pathogen may be informed through improved understanding of the process of antibody generation and its temporal dynamics, as well as the relationship between these processes and the type of vaccine. Methods: We have analyzed the dynamics of antibody generation for different vaccine platforms against diverse pathogens, and developed a consensus mathematical model that captures antibody dynamics across these diverse systems. Initially, the model was fitted to a rich dataset of antibody and immune cell concentrations in a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine experiment. We then used concepts from machine learning, such as transfer learning, to apply the same model to a variety of systems, involving different pathogens, vaccine platforms, and booster dose use/timing, fixing most parameter values relating to the dynamics of the immune system. Results: The model includes B cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as the generation of plasma cells, which secrete large amounts of antibody, and memory B cells. Overall, the model describes antibody generation in all systems tested well and shows that the main differences across platforms are related to the dynamics of antigen presentation. Discussion: This model can be used to predict antibody generation in pairs of vaccine platform/pathogen, allowing for the use of in silico results to narrow down experimental burden in vaccine development.
A flow cell is a critical measurement interface for many optical instruments. However, the flows are often sampled under harsh conditions, such as under high pressure and/or high temperature, in the presence of particles, moisture, vapors with high dew points or corrosive gases. Therefore, obtaining a high-optical-quality flow cell that does not perturb the measurement is a significant challenge. To address this challenge, we proposed a new flow cell that employs a unique laminar coaxial flow field (for the purge and sample flows). A test system was built to conduct particle size distribution (PSD) measurements with no sampling bias using a state-of-the-art analyzer (Malvern Panalytical Insitec). The results revealed that the measurement zone is well defined solely by the sample flow, and the optical windows are well protected by the purge flow, with minimal risk of any depositions from the sample flow. Using this flow cell, the Insitec can successfully measure PSD under high pressure and temperature under moist, corrosive conditions without generating any sampling bias. Importantly, we successfully applied this flow cell for on-line PSD measurement for the flue gas of a 100 kWth pressurized oxy-coal combustor operating at 15 bara.
This data set comprises cumulative ambient ice-nucleating particle (INP) concentrations measured at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA’s) Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory (71.3230° N, 156.6114° W, “BRW” hereafter), next to the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site and ~ 6 km northeast of the town of Utqiaġvik. Our INP abundance data were generated using a combination of online instrument, the Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment chamber ver. 3 (PINE-03), and an offline cold stage, the West Texas Cryogenic Refrigerator Applied to Freezing Test system (WT-CRAFT). Our online INP data are all from the Examining the Ice-Nucleating Particles from NSA (ExINP-NSA) campaign conducted from October 19, 2021 to May 24, 2024. The offline INP concentration analysis was performed at West Texas A&M University for aerosol particle samples collected on polycarbonate filters (with 0.2-micron diameter pores). The PINE-03 measurements, as well as sampling activities for offline INP measurements, were conducted using the BRW site. An inset laminar sampling stack was mounted to the instrument platform, allowing PINE-03 to intake particle-laden air. For most of the campaign period, the semi-autonomous PINE-03 chamber was remotely controlled from West Texas A&M University using the LabView interface through the BeyondTrust remote-access console. PINE-03 was set to conduct an immersion freezing expansion experiment (i.e., simulated adiabatic cooling along with RHw at or above 100%). Except during the scheduled maintenance periods, the time resolution of each expansion experiment was approximately 12 minutes. PINE-03 continuously measured INP concentrations during the entire campaign without any substantial breaks. For most of the campaign period, PINE scanned its set-point vessel air temperatures from -14 °C to -31 °C and back to -14 °C about every 120 minutes.
This data set comprises cumulative ambient ice-nucleating particle (INP) concentrations measured at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA’s) Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory (71.3230° N, 156.6114° W, “BRW” hereafter), next to the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site and ~ 6 km northeast of the town of Utqiaġvik. Our INP abundance data were generated using a combination of online instrument, the Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment chamber ver. 3 (PINE-03), and an offline cold stage, the West Texas Cryogenic Refrigerator Applied to Freezing Test system (WT-CRAFT). Our online INP data are all from the Examining the Ice-Nucleating Particles from NSA (ExINP-NSA) campaign conducted from October 19, 2021 to May 24, 2024. The offline INP concentration analysis was performed at West Texas A&M University for aerosol particle samples collected on polycarbonate filters (with 0.2-micron diameter pores). The PINE-03 measurements, as well as sampling activities for offline INP measurements, were conducted using the BRW site. An inset laminar sampling stack was mounted to the instrument platform, allowing PINE-03 to intake particle-laden air. For most of the campaign period, the semi-autonomous PINE-03 chamber was remotely controlled from West Texas A&M University using the LabView interface through the BeyondTrust remote-access console. PINE-03 was set to conduct an immersion freezing expansion experiment (i.e., simulated adiabatic cooling along with RHw at or above 100%). Except during the scheduled maintenance periods, the time resolution of each expansion experiment was approximately 12 minutes. PINE-03 continuously measured INP concentrations during the entire campaign without any substantial breaks. For most of the campaign period, PINE scanned its set-point vessel air temperatures from -14 °C to -31 °C and back to -14 °C about every 120 minutes.
This is my internship poster. In the poster I talk about the level controllers that I wired together and installed to support electrolysis testing systems in efforts to make the systems more efficient and run based on the communication between devices to ensure a closed loop system that can run on its own in a safe and controlled manner. I included pictures of some of the wiring as well as the level sensor devices and relays. I also included pictures of the tanks that will be filled at different heights with deionized water based on where the level sensors are.
Outline • Background • Previous development efforts • Air Squared redesign • Non-scroll alternatives • Pump performance • Pump performance comparison • Test system overhaul • Conclusions