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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 163 records · Page 9

Integral Experiment Validation of Hafnium with TEX-HEU and TEX-Hf [Slides]

Lead by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Criticality Safety Program. The goal of TEX is to provide integral benchmark experiments than span the entire neutron energy spectrum and incorporate high-priority materials. TEX includes two test bed configurations providing a baseline for comparison to better understand the contribution of additional materials

Highly Enriched Uranium↗

Optimal sizing of battery energy storage systems for peak shaving and demand response using a degradation-aware Bayesian Optimization-Mixed-Integer Linear Programming framework

The increasing integration of renewable energy and rising electricity demand highlight the importance of battery energy storage systems for peak shaving and demand response. Unlike prior approaches that overlook operational impacts on degradation, this study proposes a Bayesian Optimization–Mixed Integer Linear Programming framework for optimal battery energy storage system sizing. In this framework, Mixed Integer Linear Programming determines short-term scheduling while a calibrated electrochemical model iteratively evaluates degradation. The central hypothesis is that the framework can efficiently identify optimal sizes that yield realistic and economically robust outcomes. The method is tested across three scenarios: peak shaving, peak shaving with energy-reduction demand response, and peak shaving with power-reduction demand response. Results show that the framework converge to the optimum within 20 iterations out of 150 possible sizes. Under baseline conditions, the framework consistently selects the smallest feasible system, minimizing unnecessary degradation costs from oversized storage. Sensitivity analyses reveal that larger systems are favored as demand rates or incentives increase. Comparisons of demand response programs indicate that power-reduction demand response offers greater economic benefits than energy-reduction demand response, although demand savings from peak shaving remain the dominant contributor to overall performance. This study demonstrates that the proposed framework balances computational tractability with degradation fidelity, identifies critical economic thresholds for investment, and offers a practical, flexible tool to guide industrial stakeholders in cost-effective battery energy storage system deployment.

Batteries↗

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition for Electrochemical Separation Experimentation

The Python-based program is a laboratory automation tool designed to control and monitor electrochemical systems. The tool was developed for capacitive deionization (CDI) experiments, but it can be used for any system that requires controlled voltage or current segments and multi-parameter monitoring. The program integrates hardware components to run user-defined experimental parameters, providing operational control of a programmable power supply, peristaltic pump, and data acquisition devices. Currently, the program is structured with a workflow that includes an initialization (or pre-run) phase, a main loop, and a post-experiment stabilization (or post-run) phase. The initialization phase prepares and stabilizes the cell, ensuring that the electrodes and solution reach a baseline state before the experiment begins. The main loop consists of multiple voltage segments that repeat, controlling the experiment while recording key parameters such as time, voltage, current, pH, and conductivity. Finally, the post-experiment stabilization phase allows the system to stabilize after the experiment, returning the cell and solution to equilibrium conditions before ending the sequence. The program is designed with four variations, each tailored to different experimental needs. All variations include both the initialization and post-experiment stabilization stages, which run for a set amount of time, voltage, current, and flow rate before and after the main experiment block. The main loop runs for a set number of cycles, as defined by the user input, and each cycle is composed of 2 or 4 segments. The 4 program variations are described as follows: Program 1: The main program includes 2 segments. Each segment is defined to have a set duration, flow rate, voltage, and current. This program measures conductivity, flow rate, voltage, and current. Program 2: The main program expands Program 1 to include 4 segments. Each segment has a specified duration, flow rate, voltage, and current. Like Program 1, it measures conductivity, flow rate, voltage, and current. Program 3: The main program consists of 2 segments, each defined by time, flow rate, voltage, and current. In addition to conductivity, flow rate, voltage, and current, Program 3 collects pH and temperature data through a 4-channel data acquisition device. Program 4: This program independently controls two channels of a multi-channel power supply simultaneously. While conductivity can only be measured for one cell at a time, the dual-channel control makes it possible to operate two cells simultaneously under different voltage/current conditions. The main program includes 2 segments.For each program, all measurements are automatically logged and integrated into a single Excel output file. Data are displayed in numerical format and plotted, both in real time, to track system performance. A key feature of the program is its ability to synchronize all outputs so that every measurement shares a single timestamp, ensuring accurate alignment of voltage, current, pH, conductivity, and pH data.By combining hardware control, real-time monitoring, and unified data collection, this program significantly reduces manual workload and minimizes errors, making it a reliable platform for researchers, engineers, and laboratory technicians conducting CDI experiments, among other electrochemical tests.

Valentino, Lauren [Argonne National Laboratory (AN↗

Evaluation of Sandia NCS Benchmark Suite Updates

The Sandia Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) program’s benchmark suite was recently updated. This suite is used to ensure that NCS calculations using computer-based neutron transportation codes have an established baseline comparison of calculated versus known experimental results. The Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF) version used for the MCNP models in the suite was changed from ENDF/B-VII.1 to ENDF/B-VIII.0. Additionally, relevant thermal scattering law data libraries (TSLs) were updated. The sensitivity of the calculational bias of each benchmark model to these changes is discussed. Implementation of the ENDF/B-VIII.0 library and updated TSLs results in improvements to bias distribution in the intermediate enriched uranium, plutonium, and mixed uranium–plutonium (IEU, PU, and MIX) fissionable material benchmark categories, but a small bias increase in low- and high-enriched uranium categories (LEU and HEU, respectively). The results also highlight the sensitivity of the benchmarks, with average lethargy of neutrons causing fission energies (EALF) in the intermediate energy range to ENDF/B library changes. The most numerous bias changes were observed in the thermal energy region when transitioning from ENDF/B-VII.1 to ENDF/B-VIII.0. In conclusion, most of the unique bias changes observed in MCNP 6.3.0 between the two nuclear data libraries were in the LEU-COMP-THERM evaluation subset.

ICSBEP↗

Zero-Emissions Roadmap for Oakland County

This document outlines a strategic pathway for Oakland County, Michigan to achieve zero emissions by 2050 under the Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program. The report encompasses analyses and high-level modeling to guide Oakland County in its emission reduction goals. Key methods include establishing an emissions inventory baseline with ongoing evaluation of future projects’ emissions impacts. Core elements include decommissioning old infrastructure, enhancing energy efficiency, deploying hybrid and ground-source heat pumps, and transitioning to electric fleets. It is proposed to structure the planning process into 5-year strategic plans to make the decarbonization process manageable. The document also emphasizes the need for reassessment of goals and periodic updates to remain adaptive to technological advancements and funding considerations. A matrixed approach for evaluating projects by cost and emissions savings is suggested to optimize decision-making given finite resources.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

European Contributions to Fermilab Accelerator Upgrades and Facilities for the DUNE Experiment

The Proton Improvement Plan (PIP-II) to the FNAL accelerator chain and the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) will provide the world's most intense neutrino beam to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) enabling a wide-ranging physics program. This document outlines the significant contributions made by European national laboratories and institutes towards realizing the first phase of the project with a 1.2 MW neutrino beam. Construction of this first phase is well underway. For DUNE Phase II, this will be closely followed by an upgrade of the beam power to > 2 MW, for which the European groups again have a key role and which will require the continued support of the European community for machine aspects of neutrino physics. Beyond the neutrino beam aspects, LBNF is also responsible for providing unique infrastructure to install and operate the DUNE neutrino detectors at FNAL and at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). The cryostats for the first two Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detector modules at SURF, a contribution of CERN to LBNF, are central to the success of the ongoing execution of DUNE Phase I. Likewise, successful and timely procurement of cryostats for two additional detector modules at SURF will be critical to the success of DUNE Phase II and the overall physics program. The DUNE Collaboration is submitting four main contributions to the 2026 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics process. This paper is being submitted to the 'Accelerator technologies' and 'Projects and Large Experiments' streams. Additional inputs related to the DUNE science program, DUNE detector technologies and R&D, and DUNE software and computing, are also being submitted to other streams.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Job Scheduler-Driven Power Gateway for High Performance Computing

Power gateways in the form of a microgrid can incorporate multiple distributed energy resources (DER) in either grid forming or grid following mode and support high performance computing (HPC) power profiles including the large load-follow requirements observed in multi-user HPC systems. The microgrid’s flexibility to operate in either grid forming or grid following mode and to actively switch between these modes enables baseline power from multiple non-baseline DER while maintaining high power quality metrics for the HPC system. But this enormous flexibility in demand response and time of use shifting is generally programmed independently of any integration with an HPC job scheduler which can better inform the load shaping by the microgrid. While there are many existing approaches where the HPC job scheduler takes in information from the grid to make queue scheduling decisions, this work takes the opposite view and explores a scheduler where the jobs in the queue can directly impact the settings of the grid. Several HPC scheduler strategies are tested where the jobs in the queue directly impact the settings of a microgrid designed for HPC operation which is driving a datacenter with three classes of HPC architectures. The scheduler operation is shown using a microgrid with 64 kW of solar capacity and 320 kWh of battery over a period of 21 days operating with significant low-follow swings, a throttled grid, cloudy conditions, switching between grid following and grid forming modes, and a wide range of battery states-of-charge all while maintaining high quality power metrics. The scheduler provides a mechanism for the job queue to directly impact a power gateway like a microgrid and to improve HPC power outcomes such as maximizing renewable energy usage

microgrid↗

DUNE Software and Computing Research and Development

The international collaboration designing and constructing the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) has developed a two-phase strategy toward the implementation of this leading-edge, large-scale science project. The ambitious physics program of Phase I and Phase II of DUNE is dependent upon deployment and utilization of significant computing resources, and successful research and development of software (both infrastructure and algorithmic) in order to achieve these scientific goals. This submission discusses the computing resources projections, infrastructure support, and software development needed for DUNE during the coming decades as an input to the European Strategy for Particle Physics Update for 2026. The DUNE collaboration is submitting four main contributions to the 2026 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics process. This submission to the 'Computing' stream focuses on DUNE software and computing. Additional inputs related to the DUNE science program, DUNE detector technologies and R&D, and European contributions to Fermilab accelerator upgrades and facilities for the DUNE experiment, are also being submitted to other streams.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Scalability and Effectiveness of Smart Charge Management

The rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption presents growing challenges for power grids, particularly from simultaneous residential charging, which can cause voltage fluctuations and increase feeder peak loads. Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, initiated a pilot program to evaluate managed residential EV charging through Smart Charge Management (SCM). This study analyzes real-world charging behavior data from the pilot and feeder-level base loads from BGE to simulate residential charging scenarios through 2035 across the Washington, DC–Baltimore region. Grid impacts under unmanaged charging are compared to three SCM strategies: TOU-immediate, TOU-distributed, and Load Balancing. Results show that the magnitude of peak reduction is highly feeder-dependent. Some feeders achieve reductions of more than 40% at high enrollment levels, while others show improvements closer to 10–15%. This heterogeneity reflects differences in baseline feeder load shapes, EV penetration, and plug-in behavior across customers. Results also highlight trade-offs between shifting load away from peak periods and minimizing secondary demand peaks, offering practical insights for future utility program design.

Electric vehicle↗

High Energy Neutrino Physics

Of the twelve subatomic particles that are the building blocks of all the known matter in the universe, three are neutrinos, small neutral particles that interact through the weak interaction with other particles in the Universe. These three neutrinos, paired with the three charged leptons, the familiar electron, the heavier muon, and the still heavier tau, are some of the least well understood particles of these building blocks. Experiments using accelerator beams, like those that are the subject of this grant, can address some of the key questions scientists are posing with respect to the neutrino. Specifically, are there differences between neutrinos and their anti-particles, anti-neutrinos, that could give us some clue to the matter dominated universe, do we understand the spectrum of masses of the three neutrinos, and are there other kinds of neutirnos than the three neutrinos? Coupled with advances in precision neutrino detection, the US is addressing these questions from small scale experiments to the massive DUNE experiment. PI Fleming and her team play critical roles in accelerator based neutrino physics at short and long baseline with participation on MicroBooNE, SBND, and with the group's participation in DUNE. These experiments are at the heart of the US-based high energy physics program.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Neutrino oscillation prospects with a dual-baseline beam from BNL to SNOLAB and SURF

The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) is a next-generation accelerator primarily designed to study the internal structure of nucleons through high-precision electron-hadron collisions. In this work, we explore the feasibility of employing a 1 MW fraction of the EIC proton beam to generate a high-intensity GeV-scale neutrino beam for long-baseline oscillation studies. We have simulated proton-target interactions and optimize the resulting neutrino fluxes for water-based liquid scintillator (WbLS) detectors located at distinct baselines of 900 km and at 2900 km. Oscillation analyses performed with GLoBES show that extended baselines allow access to multiple oscillation maxima, significantly enhancing sensitivity to leptonic CP violation. The study also examines the interplay between matter effects and the intrinsic CP violating phase in shaping observable asymmetries. We note that simplified systematics and no backgrounds are used in this analysis to establish the baseline physics potential. These results suggest that the EIC proton beam could provide a novel and complementary source for precision neutrino physics, extending the scientific reach of the EIC program.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Installation and Demonstration of CNC Machining for Mechanical Test Specimens in the IFEL Hot Cell

This report documents the installation and demonstration of computer numerical control (CNC) machining capabilities in the Irradiated Fuels Examination Laboratory hot cell facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). A modified Tormach PCNC 440 mill was integrated into the hot cell with custom fixturing, fines management, and manipulator-compatible interfaces to enable the fabrication of axial tension test (ATT) and ring tension test (RTT) specimens from irradiated cladding. The first irradiated specimens machined included ATT and RTT geometries harvested from the high-burnup 6XV fuel rod. Dimensional inspections confirmed that machined specimens met the ±0.025 mm tolerance envelope established in prior development; deviations were consistent with expected measurement scatter and inherent specimen variability, such as wall thickness gradients and eccentricity. Comparisons with out-of-cell metrology confirmed that in-cell machining performance aligns with baseline scatter observed under ideal conditions. This work establishes reproducible, end-to-end specimen preparation at ORNL, directly supporting the US Department of Energy’s Accident-Tolerant Fuel program by enabling reliable, traceable mechanical testing of irradiated cladding.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Challenges in Tracking Waste Reduction Performance Improvement in Manufacturing Plants

The recently released Circularity Gap Report 2023 by the Circle Economy Foundation states that the circularity score for the global economy is declining. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tracked municipal solid waste from 1960 to 2018 and found that 50% of the waste was destined for landfills. EPA estimates that US industry is responsible for 2.7 Gt of solid nonhazardous waste annually in the US mostly linear economy model. The circular economy framework aims to decouple economic value generation from the extraction of virgin materials from nature. The linear model of material extraction and disposal at the end of life is highly unsustainable. Manufacturing companies are adopting ambitious waste reduction targets to achieve sustainability. Through the Better Plants program, US DOE has established the Waste Reduction Network, which offers technical assistance to partners to achieve their ambitious waste reduction goals. Basic requirements of establishing a target include identifying a baseline, quantifying waste performance, and measuring progress over time. One problem faced by industry is unstandardized metrics for quantifying waste performance that may not be well suited to demonstrate progress. This paper studies traditional methods used to measure waste performance and highlights advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each method. It also examines the suitability of applying the methods in different manufacturing circumstances. Finally, the paper presents a case study of a large manufacturer that faced inconsistencies in its tracked measurement metric. A solution was proposed and implemented to alter the methodology to enable more accurate waste performance tracking against a baseline.

circular economy↗

Advanced silver sheathed 2212/Ag wire for high field magnets

Commercial High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) are all tape shaped (widths > 10 times thickness), because achieving useful current densities required them to be processed into this form, even though this also makes it more problematic to use them in some important coil types. Our product is based on 2212 (Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8) and it is the only HTS that can be processed into high current density wire forms that are similar to proven low temperature superconductors (LTS), while surpassing them in field generating and operating temperature capability. Required now are higher current density, lower cost and longer length 2212 wires to enable broad utilization where HTS tape usage is problematic. In Phase II we developed vital cost-lowering process technology elements and we test-processed longer wires with the standard commercial design as baseline and benchmark for our lower cost, higher quality and longer piece length wire advances. By initial application of Jc-boosting wire features, these wires exhibited significant performance increases. This Phase IIA program has now developed and qualified these technologies for lower cost, higher quality and longer piece length manufacturing in combination with current density-boosting wire features, paving the way to manufacturing capability that is essential for cost-effective commercial utilization of 2212 wire. Technical areas included automated, high uniformity powder packing, advanced drawing, annealing, lubricant cleaning and filament bundling, followed by integration of higher current density wire features and process variations.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Computer Vision on Edge Devices for the Short Term Prediction of Cloud Cover

Edge Computing and IoT are important pieces of today's technological landscape. Here, we build a low-cost IoT sensor for sky imaging and program it using AWS GreenGrass, one of the leading IoT platforms. We demonstrate remote reprogramming of this device to load software that predicts sun shading events through the linear advection method, which is a baseline algorithm that can be used to benchmark algorithmic improvements in future work. Some future directions for sky imaging research are enumerated.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Development of the photon detector system for DUNE Vertical Drift TPC

The term DUNE stands for ”Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment”. The program will be carried out as an international, leading-edge, dual-site experiment for neutrino physics and proton decay studies, indeed, the main objective of this experiment is to study long-baseline neutrino oscillations (fig. 1.1)(experiments carried out over the past half century have revealed that neutrinos are found in three states, or flavors, and can transform from one flavor into another. These results indicate that each neutrino flavor state is a mixture of three different nonzero mass states). Moreover, this studies will help us discover more about why matter is more abundant than antimatter (the so called matter-antimatter asymmetry) and DUNE’s capability to collect and analyze neutrino signal from a supernova within the Milky Way would provide a rare opportunity to peer inside a newly formed neutron star and potentially witness the birth of a Black Hole.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Theory uncertainties of the irreducible background to VBF Higgs production

Higgs boson production through gluon fusion in association with two jets is an irreducible background to Higgs boson production through vector boson fusion, one of the most important channels for analyzing and understanding the Higgs boson properties at the Large Hadron Collider. Despite a range of available simulation tools, precise predictions for the corresponding final states are notoriously hard to achieve. Using state-of-the-art fixed-order calculations as the baseline for a comparison, we perform a detailed study of similarities and differences in existing event generators. We provide consistent setups for the simulations that can be used to obtain identical parametric precision in various programs used by experiments. We find that NLO calculations for the two-jet final state are essential to achieve reliable predictions.

Chen, Xuan [Shandong U.] (ORCID:0000000167722196)↗