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Bayesian inference for high confidence signal validation and sensor calibration assessment - 328

Online Monitoring (OLM) systems has been investigated for applications in the nuclear industry for the past two decades. These systems offer economic and technological advantages over the currently implemented time based testing methods for sensors and associated instrumentations. The advantages offered not only augment economic viability of current nuclear reactors but will be an inevitable change called for to suit the technologies of the advanced reactors (Gen III+). Irrespective, the acceptance of OLM into the regulatory structure in the U.S. is still hindered by technical and structural clarity on uncertainty quantification used by these systems. A Bayesian inference technique is implemented in the form of a residual model to quantify uncertainty in OLM predictions. The developed system used Gaussian processes to represent the OLM predictions and model inadequacy, the stationary representation of model based uncertainty. In addition, model selection techniques are used in conjunction with numerical methods such as Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Gibb's sampler to add robustness to the estimation model inadequacy, particularly in the presence of drifts and faulted conditions. The prediction model developed herein find applicability in fault detection, obtaining real values of processes after the onset of faults etc. Further development looks into the extension of current method for a multiple output scale implementation. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Microstructural creep, fatigue and creep-fatigue modeling of Nickel-based superalloy Inconel 617 at high temperature - 18506

Inconel 617 is a solution strengthened nickel-based alloy which has been considered as one of the leading structural material for the intermediate heat exchangers (IHX) in very high temperature reactor (VHTR). In order to gain understanding of the creep and fatigue deformation mechanisms and their interactions in alloy 617 operating in the VHTR environment, a computational model that operates at the microstructural scale has been developed for creep, fatigue and creep-fatigue modeling of alloy 617. This model is based on an isothermal, large deformation crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) formulation and idealizes the deformation in the crystal lattice as collective glide and climb of dislocations. A recently developed glide resistance evolution equation by the authors that can capture the intermediate softening observed in both fatigue and creep-fatigue cycles of Inconel 617 at high temperature is adopted for the dislocation glide formulation. Dislocation climb is incorporated to account for the interactions between dislocations and local point defects at high temperature. The CP equations are solved incrementally as the constitutive relationship in the context of FE analysis on fully resolved microstructure reconstructed from experiment data. Model parameters are calibrated and verified using experimental tests. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Post-Test Analysis of a 10-Year Sodium Heat Pipe Life Test

High-temperature heat pipes are being evaluated for use in energy conversion applications such as fuel cells, gas turbine re-combustors, Stirling cycle heat sources; and with the resurgence of space nuclear power both as reactor heat removal elements and as radiator elements. Long operating life and reliable performance are critical requirements for these applications. Accordingly, long-term materials compatibility is being evaluated through the use of high-temperature life test heat pipes. Thermacore, Inc., has carried out a sodium heat pipe 10-year life test to establish long-term operating reliability. Sodium heat pipes have demonstrated favorable materials compatibility and heat transport characteristics at high operating temperatures in air over long time periods. A representative one-tenth segment Stirling Space Power Converter heat pipe with an Inconel 718 envelope and a stainless steel screen wick has operated for over 87,000 hr (10 years) at nearly 700 C. These life test results have demonstrated the potential for high-temperature heat pipes to serve as reliable energy conversion system components for power applications that require long operating lifetime with high reliability. Detailed design specifications, operating history, and post-test analysis of the heat pipe and sodium working fluid are described. Lessons learned and future life test plans are also discussed.

Rosenfeld, John H.↗

Filter 'Cook-Off': Filter Selection via Side-by-Side Testing at Actual Process Conditions - 20040

In 2005, the THOR steam reforming fluidized-bed reactor technology was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for treatment of sodium-bearing waste at the INL. During the final phase of commissioning prior to radiological operations, regeneration of the high temperature filters in the process gas filter (PGF) vessel became ineffective. After approximately 50 days of testing, the differential pressure across the filters began increasing exponentially and the plant had to be shutdown. Subsequent investigation revealed that the Inconel 625 (I625) sintered metal filter media was corroding in the 550 deg. C reducing environment. A pilot plant run tested four candidate replacement filter media. The top candidate was further tested during a long-term pilot plant run to validate the selection. Data from the testing indicate the selected filters will provide reliable service throughout the life of the project, including after in-situ radiological decontamination. This paper presents the data from this effort and reinforces the value of pilot plant testing. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

A New Process for Small-Batch Purification of the Medical Isotope Molybdenum-99: Non-Technical Overview

The U.S. medical community depends on a reliable supply of the radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) for nuclear medical diagnostic procedures. Mo-99's decay product, technetium-99m (Tc-99m), is used in over 40,000 medical procedures in the United States each day to diagnose heart disease and cancer, to study organ structure and function, and to perform other important medical applications. For example, patients undergoing a common procedure—the cardiac “stress test”—likely have benefited from Tc-99m. Historically, Mo-99 was primarily produced through the fission of uranium-235, in the form of highly enriched uranium (HEU) targets irradiated in research and test reactors. HEU is a proliferation-sensitive material that, if diverted or stolen, could be used as a component of a nuclear weapon. NNSA’s Office of Material Management and Minimization (M3) manages the Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) Program as part of its mission to minimize the use of HEU in civilian applications. The Mo-99 Program assists global Mo-99 production facilities in converting to non-HEU processes and supports the establishment of domestic supplies of Mo-99 without the use of proliferation-sensitive HEU. As part of this program, M3 funds U.S. national laboratories to provide non-proprietary technical support to U.S. companies working to establish non-HEU-based Mo-99 production capabilities. The results of this research are published on OSTI.gov for the benefit of the Mo-99 community and the public. However, it can be difficult for readers without a scientific background to understand and interpret these publications. In order to increase public understanding of the work being done in M3’s Mo-99 Program, this paper aims to provide an overview of a key, recent national laboratory technical publication in terms that can be understood by readers without a technical background. To accomplish this, the paper first explains key scientific concepts—primarily related to chemistry—that provide a foundation for understanding research in this area. This includes chromatography, absorption vs. adsorption, dissolution and precipitation, and liquid-liquid extraction. Drawing on these concepts, the paper then provides an explanation for non-technical audiences of the Argonne National Laboratory publication entitled Recovery of High Specific Activity Molybdenum-99 from Accelerator-Induced Fission on Low-Enriched Uranium for Technetium-99m Generators (Brown, M.A. et al., 2021) and related article Separation and Purification of Mo-99 Produced from Natural U3O8 Targets via Photo-Fission (Brown, M.A. et al., 2021).

Stamler, Bradley↗

Proposed Guidance for Preparing and Reviewing Molten Salt Nonpower Reactor Licence Applications (NUREG-1537)

Development of non-power molten salt reactor (MSR) test facilities is under consideration to support the analyses needed for development of a full-scale MSR. These non-power MSR test facilities will require review by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff. This report proposes chapter adaptations for NUREG-1537 in the form of interim staff guidance to address preparation and review of molten salt non-power reactor license applications. The proposed adaptations are based on a previous regulatory gap analysis of select chapters from NUREG-1537 for their applicability to non-power MSRs operating with a homogeneous fuel salt mixture.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Microstructural characterization of an irradiated RERTR-6 U-7Mo/AA4043 alloy dispersion fuel plate specimen blister-tested to a final temperature of 500°C

The Material Management and Minimization (M3) Reactor Conversion Program, in the past called the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactor (RERTR) Program, is developing low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuels for application in research reactors. U–Mo alloy dispersion fuel is one type being developed. Blister testing has been performed on different fuel plate samples to determine the margin to failure for fuel plates irradiated to different fission densities. Microstructural characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy on a sample taken from a U-7Mo/AA4043 matrix dispersion fuel plate irradiated in the RERTR-6 experiment that was blister-tested up to a final temperature of 500°C. The results indicated that two types of grain/cell boundaries were observed in the U- 7Mo fuel particles, one with a relatively low Mo content and fission gas bubbles and a second type enriched in Si, due to interdiffusion from the Si-containing matrix, with little evidence of fission gas bubbles. With respect to the behavior of the major fission gas Xe, a significant amount of the Xe was still observed within the U-7Mo fuel particle, along with microns into the AA4043 matrix. For the fuel/matrix interaction layers that form during fabrication and then grow during irradiation, they change from the as-irradiated amorphous structure to one that is crystalline after blister testing. In the AA4043 matrix, the original Si-rich precipitates, which are typically observed in as-irradiated U-Mo dispersion fuel, get consumed due to interdiffusion with the U-7Mo fuel particles during the blister test. Lastly, the fission gas bubbles that were originally around 2 nm in diameter and resided on a fission gas superlattice in the intragranular regions of as-irradiated U-7Mo fuel grew in size (up to ~20 nm diameter) during blister testing.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

3-60B Type-B shipping cask enhanced operational features to facilitate leakage rate testing - 15585

EnergySolutions is fabricating a new 3-60B Type B Shipping Cask that will be ready for use in spring 2015, designed for shipping Type B quantities of activated and/or non-fuel-bearing reactor or accelerator components. EnergySolutions, in consult with Leak Testing Specialists, Inc., has implemented an improved design of the 3-60B cask closures to better facilitate periodic and maintenance leakage rate testing and to allow end users to more easily perform pre-shipment leakage rate testing to confirm proper assembly of the cask closures. A typical Type B cask closure lid design incorporates a double O-ring configuration, where the inner O-ring provides containment and the outer O-ring is used for leakage rate testing of the containment O-ring seal. Leakage rate testing of a double O-ring configuration is typically accomplished by filling the cask cavity with helium, pulling a vacuum on the annular space between the two O-rings and monitoring for helium leakage through the containment O-ring. One issue is the potential for helium saturation of the O-ring elastomeric material, which can result in leakage rate test failures. The cask cavity volume is typically large, and takes a significant amount of time to fill with helium. As a result, the saturation time for certain elastomeric compounds may be exceeded, leading to potential false-negative leakage rate testing results. To avoid this, that the cask cavity typically is loaded with sealed container(s) to reduce the free volume and the fill time. The improved 3-60B cask closure lid incorporates a triple O-ring seal configuration that facilitates maintenance leak rate testing of the closure lid containment O-ring seal and eliminates the issues discussed above. The triple O-ring configuration uses the middle O-ring as the containment seal, with the inner and outer test O-rings creating relatively small annular volumes for testing purposes. These small annular volumes are quick to fill, minimizing the issue of Helium saturation of the O-ring material. This seal configuration also makes it possible to detect and replace a damaged O-ring seal during loading operations, or dress a damaged sealing surface, and perform the required maintenance leakage rate testing of the replacement O-ring at the plant site without the need to unload the cask and send it to a maintenance facility. Also, a second test port has been added to each O-ring annulus to allow leakage rate testing to be accomplished using a formal system calibration that complies with the requirements and recommendations of ASME Section V, Article 10 [4], ANSI N14.5-97 [2], and ANSI N14.5-2014 [3]. This provides a simple, reliable, and accurate means to perform leakage rate testing with a test confidence level that cannot be achieved without the second test port. The improved closure and test port design simplifies and shortens the time required to perform leakage testing, resulting in reduced operating costs, greater schedule security, and dose savings for the cask users. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Nuclear Fusion Space Propulsion Research, Experimentation, Theory Development, and Systems Analysis Efforts Led by the NASA Glenn Research Center (1994-2004)

This review paper summarizes work performed from 1994 to 2004 by a several interrelated government, academic, and industry teams led by the NASA Glenn Research Center. The nuclear fusion space propulsion system concept was predicated on a spherical torus reactor, which enabled manned missions to the outer planets in less than one year. Moderate thrust levels (1,000’s lbf)from direct nuclear fusion exhaust plasma via a magnetic nozzle enabled high thrust-to-weight. An entire vehicle conceptual design, including an artificial gravity crew habitat, was created by the NASA Glenn Research Center. The proof of concept experiment test article and facility upgrade was performed at the Ohio State University which also included staff from the Ohio Aerospace Institute and Science Applications International Corporation.The governing equations for the plasma physics theory of magnetic nozzle operation were derived by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. A preliminary investigation of a proof of concept test utilizing Coaxial Helicity Ejection as a means to supply plasma for propulsion at the National Spherical Torus Experiment reactor was outlined by the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. An industry standard on nuclear fusion propulsion conceptual design was created by two AIAA teams. Despite extremely modest funding levels, significant progress was made advancing the state of the art.The result was a coordinated conceptual, theoretical, and experimental design effort to guide fusion space propulsion development.

Nuclear fusion↗

Experimental quantification of the background neutron flux in the Advanced Test Reactor fuel storage canal - 25562

The Advanced Test Reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory is one of only a few high-power, versatile, research reactors of its type in the world. The ATR fuel storage canal features a gamma irradiation facility that has various uses as well. It is composed of a simple dry tube that extends down into one of the fuel storage rack positions. This tube is surrounded by used fuel elements that can be selected from the inventory to produce the desired gamma radiation level and, to some extent, spectrum within the dry tube. The gamma field within the dry tube is accompanied by a small background neutron flux, produced primarily by photoneutron production in the small fraction of heavy water (D{sub 2}O) that is naturally present in light water. Neutron activation spectrometry was employed to quantify the background neutron flux in the dry tube in a configuration where the gamma exposure rate was approximately 5x10{sup 6} Roentgens per hour. The measurement technique used is very sensitive and provided self-consistent results in terms of raw activation data quality. The background neutron fluxes in the gamma facility were very low, but still detectable. The total neutron flux in the energy region above 0.414 eV and the thermal neutron flux (below 0.414 eV) were estimated from the activation measurements to be 7.5x10{sup 2} and 1.0x10{sup 2} n/cm{sup 2}-s, respectively. High uncertainties (factors of approximately 20-30% in the above-thermal range and 100% in the thermal range) apply to these results. These high uncertainties are primarily due to the limited number of activation interactions that could be used to detect such small fluxes and the resulting propagation of uncertainties associated with the various input parameters involved in the spectral unfolding process. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Development of multi-objective core optimization framework and application to sodium-cooled fast test reactors

The optimization of a Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) core is a challenging process, due to the large number of design parameters, the nonlinearities among inputs and outputs, and the complicated correlation among output parameters. This study attempts to develop a generalized framework for the SFR core optimization by coupling the sensitivity analysis, advanced optimization algorithm, and optionally the surrogate modeling. The framework is built based on the fast reactor modeling capability of the Argonne Reactor Computation (ARC) suite and the sensitivity analysis and optimization modules embedded in the DAKOTA code, both have been integrated within the NEAMS Workbench. The genetic algorithm is selected as the optimization method for its robustness, while the option of surrogate modeling is also explored to alleviate the computational burden caused by employing the ARC direct core physics simulation and thus enhance the efficiency of the optimization. Finally, the normalized deviations of performance parameters of the near-optimal solution from those of the ideal core are calculated and used as criteria to down select the final core design. The developed framework is applied to the Advanced Burner Test Reactor (ABTR) core, and optimal solutions are determined by balancing various objectives simultaneously, including peak fast flux, core volume, power, reactivity swing, plutonium mass feed, while at the same time satisfying the predefined constraints due to safety or economics considerations. The optimal ABTR core design obtained using the direct physical simulation and surrogated model are compared and discussed. It is found that using the accurately constructed surrogate models can significantly reduce the required computational time while maintaining satisfactory accuracy.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

AGR-5/6/7 Test Train Disassembly & Tools Phases I & II

This document provides the process for qualification of the AGR-5/6/7 Test Train Disassembly equipment for remote operation in the HFEF Main Cell. The test train is composed of five welded stainless steel capsules that are expected to be transported in two sections. The first section will be Capsules 1 and 2. The second section will include Capsules 3, 4 and 5. The capsules range in length from about 9 inches to about 12 inches. Inside the capsules is a graphite holder that contains multiple fueled AGR compacts.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

SENSITIVITY EVALUATION OF THE DAILY THERMAL PREDICTIONS OF THE AGR-2 EXPERIMENT IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR

A temperature sensitivity evaluation has been performed for the AGR-2 fuel experiment on an individual capsule. A series of cases were compared to a base case by varying different input parameters into the ABAQUS finite element thermal model. These input parameters were varied by ±10% to show the temperature sensitivity to each parameter. The most sensitive parameters are the outer control gap distance, heat rate in the fuel compacts, and neon gas fraction. Thermal conductivity of the fuel compacts and thermal conductivity of the graphite holder were in the middle of the list for sensitivity. The smallest effects were for the emissivities of the stainless steel and graphite, along with gamma heat rate in the non-fueled components. Sensitivity calculations were also performed varying with fast neutron fluence, showing a general temperature rise with an increase in fast neutron fluence. This is a result of the control gas gap becoming larger due to the graphite holder shrinkage with neutron damage. A smaller sensitivity is due to the thermal conductivity of the fuel compacts and graphite holder decreasing with fast neutron fluence.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Implementation of wireless technologies in nuclear power plants' electromagnetic environment using cognitive radio system - 153

Wireless technologies have increased efficiency in many industrial settings across the world by enabling a mobile workforce and improving communications. Unfortunately, the nuclear power industry has been slow to adopt wireless technology as a result of safety, security, and reliability concerns expressed by regulators and others. A Research and Development (R and D) effort is currently being conducted to address two significant technical concerns for the introduction of wireless technology in nuclear power plants, which are electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and wireless coexistence. Most equipment in nuclear power plants has never been tested for vulnerability to wireless transmission. As such, the impact of modern wireless devices on nuclear safety and plant reliability is not understood. Existing guidance from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) rely on the use of exclusion zones to protect plant equipment, which can result in exclusion zones of up to eight feet for some tablet devices rendering them ineffective for the mobile workforce. Another unknown is how different wireless devices will operate in close proximity to one another in the harsh electromagnetic environment of a nuclear power plant. These issues are being addressed through development of a cognitive radio system that has the ability to generate and output multiple wireless signals such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular communications at varying power levels and frequencies. The cognitive radio system is a modular system that can test nuclear plant equipment located in training areas, simulators, and the actual plant environment. In addition to using the system for testing plant equipment to wireless signals and EMC standards, the system can also monitor the radio spectrum for usage in other plant focuses such as cyber security. The R and D work will provide the objective guidance for the nuclear industry in the two areas mentioned and will develop a cognitive radio system for in-plant EMC and coexistence testing. The system will assist in the seamless use of wireless technology in nuclear power plants while greatly reducing the risks wireless signals may introduce. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Measurements of radioxenon activities during periods of gaseous release from an advanced gas-cooled reactor

Activities of radioxenon isotopes are reported from an Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) during periods of gaseous release. Xenon isotopes are relevant to the monitoring regime of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). These releases may affect detections from the International Monitoring System (IMS) by influencing the radioxenon background. Time series activity plots have been produced from both in-core monitoring and direct measurement at the point of release using a stack monitor system. Ratio plots using both data sets have been produced with results compared with a commonly chosen nuclear explosion “discrimination line.” The reported results improve the understanding of radionuclide emissions from civil nuclear power plants. This work is being performed as part of the Xenon Environmental Nuclide Analysis at Hartlepool (XENAH) collaboration between the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE, UK), EDF Energy (UK), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL, USA), and the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI).

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Status Report on Development of TREAT Water Loop

The Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility is a graphite based transient test reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). TREAT started operation in 1959 and performed thousands of transient irradiations for the primary purpose of nuclear fuel safety research. TREAT operations were suspended in 1994, and then, several years later, resumed reactor operations in 2017 to support development of advanced nuclear fuels. TREAT’s more recent historic focus had been for transients with relevance to sodium cooled fast spectrum reactors. TREAT’s first year of modern experiment work performed in 2018, however, saw the demonstration of new kinds of transients focused on light water reactor (LWR) needs including reactivity initiated accidents (RIA) and loss of coolant accidents (LOCA). The successful outcome of these efforts confirmed TREAT’s viability as a transient neutron source for LWR safety research. Since TREAT’s core is air cooled and provides no “built-in” thermal hydraulic boundary conditions for tests specimens, efforts have been underway to establish water-environment capabilities for testing specimens. Small static water capsules have been established to support single rod RIA testing where transient heating is brief. Similarly, deployment of enhanced water capsules with blowdown capability is nearing completion to support single rod LOCA testing. With careful experiment design these capsules can provide representative temperature response histories and water phase transitions for some experiment parameters. The capsule approach is appropriate for cost-effective early phase phenomena identification studies on novel fuels, or when the important test variables are thought to be fairly well understood so that they can be precisely targeted (such as they are for current fleet fuels with moderate burnup UO2 in uncoated zirconium alloy cladding). Due to lack of forced convection, however, the capsule approach cannot achieve representative temperature histories in all regions of the test fuel simultaneously (e.g. cladding and fuel centerline temperatures) while providing representative timing in water phase transitions. Nor can the capsule approach provide appropriate hydraulic conditions for multi-rod bundle testing. For these reasons, design and development has been undertaken for the TREAT Water-Environment Recirculating Loop (TWERL).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

AMMT FY23 HFIR Irradiation Test Matrix – Supported by the Design of a Miniature Bend Bar Irradiation Vehicle

With the continued advancement of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, interest has grown in the development and qualification of steels produced via these methods for use in the structural components of advanced nuclear reactors. Therefore, it is crucial that the properties of these materials such as the tensile strength and fracture toughness be investigated following neutron irradiation to support their use in industry. To that end, a test plan to irradiate several tensile and bend bar specimens in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was proposed, along with the development of a new “MINBEN” capsule design that features MBS-1 bend bar specimens that have a larger cross-sectional area than those of previous designs, which allows for higher temperature out-of-pile testing. The specimens include AM 316H stainless steel with wrought 316H and A709 stainless steels for reference, and they will be irradiated at 2 dpa and 10 dpa—corresponding to roughly 1 and 5 cycles at the HFIR midplane—at temperatures of 400°C and 600°C. The MINBEN design was found to be capable of providing specimen test plane average temperatures in the range of 220–660°C for six specimens, with a min-max spread in this temperature of ~40°C and a 95% confidence interval of ~24°C. This analysis shows that the capsule provides an effective vehicle for gathering needed high-temperature fracture toughness data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗