Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “monitoring demonstrations”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Rapid measurement of soluble xylo-oligomers using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and multivariate statistics: calibration model development and practical approaches to model optimization

Rapid monitoring of biomass conversion processes using techniques such as near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can be substantially quicker and less labor-, resource-, and energy-intensive than conventional measurement techniques such as gas or liquid chromatography (GC or LC) due to the lack of solvents and preparation methods, as well as removing the need to transfer samples to an external lab for analytical evaluation. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of rapid monitoring of a biomass conversion process using NIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical modeling, and to examine the impact of (1) subsetting the samples in the original dataset by process location and (2) reducing the spectral range used in the calibration model on model performance. We develop multivariate calibration models for the concentrations of soluble xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), monomeric xylose, and total solids at multiple points in a biomass conversion process which produces and then purifies XOS compounds from sugar cane bagasse. A single model using samples from multiple locations in the process stream showed acceptable performance as measured by standard statistical measures. However, compared to the single model, we show that separate models built by segregating the calibration samples according to process location show improved performance. We also show that combining an understanding of the sample spectra with simple multivariate analysis tools can result in a calibration model with a substantially smaller spectral range that provides essentially equal performance to the full-range model. We demonstrate that real-time monitoring of soluble xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), monomeric xylose, and total solids concentration at multiple points in a process stream using NIR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistics is feasible. Segregation of sample populations by process location improves model performance. Models using a reduced spectral range containing the most relevant spectral signatures show very similar performance to the full-range model, reinforcing the importance of performing robust exploratory data analysis before beginning multivariate modeling.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Performance of High Stopping Power Bismuth-Loaded Plastic Scintillators for Radiation Portal Monitors

Plastic scintillators are widely used in radiation portal monitors because of their low cost and availability in large sizes. However, due to their low density and low effective atomic number (Z), they offer low intrinsic efficiency and little spectroscopic information. The addition of high-Z constituents to these plastics can greatly increase both their total stopping power and the amount of photoelectric absorption, leading to full-energy deposition and thus useful gamma spectra. Herein, we present the performance of the latest formulation of Bi-loaded plastic scintillators showing their useful spectroscopic information up to relatively high energy (~1 MeV) due to their high stopping power compared to the current commercially available plastics. These Bi-loaded plastics use 20 weight percent (wt%) Bi-pivalate (8 wt% elemental Bi) dissolved in polyvinyltoluene (PVT) matrix and conventional fast fluors (~10 ns decay time). These Bi-loaded plastics achieve up to approximately 6000 photons/MeV and have been produced in sizes up to 17 in 3 . The performance of these Bi-loaded plastics is also demonstrated in the existing portal monitor hardware (Rapiscan Model TSA Trainer 770) showing the possibility to provide improved sensitivity as a drop-in replacement with continued scale-up.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real-time well integrity monitoring in underground gas storage wells using distributed temperature and strain sensing: a field demonstration

Here, this article presents the first successful field demonstration of a combined distributed temperature and strain sensing (DTSS) system installed directly on newly replaced tubing in a 5400-ft-deep operational underground gas storage well. The DTSS system uses a single optical fiber to monitor temperature and strain in real-time, providing a cost-effective solution for long-term well integrity assessment. In this study, the strain–stress correlation of the tubing—representative of material behavior analysis—is investigated as a potential method for monitoring tubing integrity throughout its lifetime. Moreover, the DTSS system’s capability to support both continuous and discrete monitoring is evaluated by comparing future data with historical records, enabling the early detection of issues such as material fatigue, corrosion, or deformation. Overall, the work examines the effectiveness and scalability of the DTSS system for real-time monitoring of well operations and integrity in a newly replaced well.

Distributed Strain Sensing↗
DOE OSTI2024

CCUS 2024, Interpreting the strain tensor Larry Murdoch Interpreting strain tensor data to characterize and monitor reservoirs for CO2 storage and other applications

Recent advances in instrumentation have made it feasible to measure the transient strain tensor caused by small changes in fluid volume or pressure in the subsurface and this has opened the door to new opportunities for characterization and monitoring during CCUS. We have demonstrated this method by deploying strainmeters at shallow depths (30 to 40m) and then conducting injection well tests in an underlying reservoir at 530m depth. The resulting data indicated that the horizontal strain at shallow strainmeters was tensile and the vertical strain was compressive. The radial strain was less than the horizontal strain, and the strain rates decreased from 100 nanostrain/day to roughly 10 ne/d over a few days (1 nanostrain = 1 part per billion strain). We then used the strain data to estimate reservoir properties, geometry and pressure through inversion of poroelastic forward models using both numerical and novel analytical methods. The average horizontal strain in the caprock resembles the transient pressure in the underlying reservoir and classic type-curve methods from transient well testing can be used for preliminary interpretations of strain data. We have developed fast, closed-form analytical solutions to a pressurized poroelastic inclusion and inhomogeneity in a half-space. Numerical models developed using finite element methods allow more details of the subsurface to be included in the inversion, but they require much longer run times and this makes inversion cumbersome using standard methods. We have developed an inversion approach that uses a proxy model created using machine learning to do most of the forward calculations. This approach markedly reduces the computational requirements and makes it feasible to use Bayesian inversion with large numerical models. Bayesian inversion is important because it provides predictions with uncertainties, which makes the results useful for decision making. We have shown with field tests and simulations that the strain tensor in the caprock is sensitive to pressure in the reservoir, reservoir properties and boundaries, and pressure in the caprock caused by leaks. These results indicate that measuring and interpreting the shallow strain tensor could be a valuable tool for both initial reservoir characterization efforts and long-term monitoring during CCUS. Recent advances in instrumentation have made it feasible to measure the transient strain tensor caused by small changes in fluid volume or pressure in the subsurface and our objective was to evaluate opportunities for strain monitoring during characterization and monitoring for CCUS. Our approach was to deploy strainmeters at shallow depths (30 to 40m) and then conduct injection well tests in an underlying reservoir at 530m depth. The results indicate that the horizontal strain at shallow strainmeters was tensile and the vertical strain was compressive. The radial strain was less than the horizontal strain, and the strain rates decreased from 100 nanostrain/day to roughly 10 ne/d over a few days (1 nanostrain = 1 part per billion strain). We then used the strain data to estimate reservoir properties, geometry and pressure through inversion of poroelastic forward models using both numerical and novel analytical methods. The average horizontal strain in the caprock resembles the transient pressure in the underlying reservoir and classic type-curve methods from transient well testing can be used for preliminary interpretations of strain data. We have developed fast, closed-form analytical solutions to a pressurized poroelastic inclusion and inhomogeneity in a half-space. Numerical models developed using finite element methods allow more details of the subsurface to be included in the inversion, but they require much longer run times and this makes inversion cumbersome using standard methods. We have developed an inversion approach that uses a proxy model created using machine learning to do most of the forward calculations. This approach markedly reduces the computational requirements and makes it feasible to use Bayesian inversion with large numerical models. Bayesian inversion is important because it provides predictions with uncertainties, which makes the results useful for decision making. In conclusion, we have shown with field tests and simulations that the strain tensor in the caprock is sensitive to pressure in the reservoir, reservoir properties and boundaries, and pressure in the caprock caused by leaks. These results indicate that measuring and interpreting the shallow strain tensor could be a valuable tool for both initial reservoir characterization efforts and long-term monitoring during CCUS.

Murdoch, Larry↗
DOE OSTI2020

Smart Composite Pressure Vessels (SCPV) with Integrated Health Monitoring

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is promoting and developing more energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies that will enable America to use less petroleum. Hydrogen fuel cells – which directly convert the chemical energy in hydrogen to electricity with only water and heat as byproducts – are a very attractive solution that can enable this to happen. To date, DOE's efforts have culminated in commercial demonstration of on-board vehicular hydrogen storage systems that can allow for a driving range of greater than 300 miles. This requires storing 5 Kgs of hydrogen onboard a light vehicle. In order to store this quantity of hydrogen, the hydrogen gas needs to be stored in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) at a very high internal pressure. The objective of the program was to demonstrate continuous and predictable health-monitoring of composite pressure vessels. A higher confidence in the operational safety of the vessels will lead to reduced burst factor of safety imposed by regulatory standards and hence will help reduce the structural wall thickness that drives the cost of the vessel. Highly optimized Type III (metal lined) and Type IV (polymer lined) COPVs that are manufactured using filament winding process have been designed and qualified for the above mentioned application. However, the main structural component of the COPVs is carbon fiber and the high cost of carbon fiber composite in a pressure vessel is a primary challenge in reducing the cost of gaseous hydrogen storage. Continuous and remote monitoring of structural health of the COPVs as well as optimization of the strength translation of carbon fibers have the potential to allow for reduced factor of safety, thereby reduced amount of carbon and associated cost of the vessel. In the current program, the project team including Steelhead Composites (SHC), University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), Teijin Carbon America, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and LUNA designed, fabricated, and tested smart composite pressure vessels with integrated sensors. Iterative loops of design and testing using coupons, subscale STEB vessels and full size vessels proved that a new generation of high performance carbon fiber can be used for efficient design of Type 3 vessels for H2 storage. Novel analysis techniques were developed to predict the initiation and propagation of interlaminar damage inside the composite shell due to impact damage, a real threat in practical operation. Such an analysis scheme is typically not used in tank design but is an essential tool for health monitoring of composite vessels. Remote sensing of the key signatures of the tank’s operating parameters such as pressure, acceleration and humidity was demonstrated using a unique device that can wirelessly transmit and stream the data to a remote server. Fiber optic sensors were successfully integrated during fabrication of the tanks. These sensors provide a wealth of information regarding the structural health of the vessel when it is subsequently pressurized or subjected to impact damage. Excellent correlation was demonstrated between the fiber optic sensor and mechanical strain gage data, and between the measurements and analytical predictions.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Integrating Mercury Concentrations in American Alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis ) with Hunter Consumption Surveys to Estimate Exposure Risk

Mercury is a naturally occurring element but is also considered a widespread contaminant due to global anthropogenic activity. Even in moderate amounts, mercury (Hg) is an established neurotoxin and is associated with a range of adverse outcomes both in humans and wildlife. Humans in the United States are most commonly exposed to Hg through contaminated food or drinking water, and the consumption of game species, particularly those occupying higher trophic levels, has the potential to expose hunters to high concentrations of Hg. In the present study, we determined Hg concentrations in tail muscle and blood from American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) inhabiting a region (Savannah River Site, SC, USA) with known Hg contamination. We then integrated these data with alligator harvest records and previously published surveys of alligator meat consumption patterns to estimate potential exposure risk. We found that the average Hg concentrations in tail muscle (1.34 mg/kg, wet wt) from sampled alligators exceeded the recommended threshold for Hg exposure based on the World Health Organization's guidelines (0.5mg/kg, wet wt). In addition, based on regional consumption patterns reported for both adults and children, we estimated Hg exposures (x¯ Adult = 0.419 μg/kg/day, x¯ Child = 2.24 μg/kg/day) occurring well above the US Environmental Protection Agency methylmercury reference dose of 0.1 μg/kg/day. Although the two reservoirs sampled in the present study are not currently open to alligator hunting, they are connected to waters that are publicly accessible, and the extent of alligator mobility across these sites is not known. Together, the findings reported in the present study further demonstrate the need for active monitoring of Hg concentrations in game species, which can convey substantial exposure risks to the public.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Controlling Metal–Organic Framework/ZnO Heterostructure Kinetics through Selective Ligand Binding to ZnO Surface Steps

Metal–organic framework (MOF) heterostructures exhibit unique properties beyond those of individual components, but their design requires an understanding of energetic and kinetic controls at MOF–substrate interfaces. Although the structural relationship has been widely used in heterostructure design, it overlooks the interplay between the organic ligand and the substrate which controls the kinetics and energetics of growth of the final structure. In this study, we used zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) on ZnO as a model system to evaluate this interplay via in situ monitoring and simulations. Our results demonstrate multiple roles of the 2-methyl-imidazole (2-MIM) ligand as “dissolution-promoter”, “step-pinner”, and “terrace-binder” on the ZnO (001) face and “dissolution-promoter” and “terrace-binder” on the ZnO (100) face. Through these multiple face-specific roles, 2-MIM modulates ZnO dissolution kinetics and, hence, the Zn 2+ release rate, tuning local supersaturations that dictating the characteristic ZIF-8 crystallization kinetics on different substrate faces. The critical thickness for transition from 2D to 3D growth is dictated by competition between interfacial and strain energies. The atomic-scale mechanism of the coupled substrate dissolution and MOF growth, mediated by selective linker–substrate binding, furnishes a new synthesis pathway for other complex heterostructures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sparge Sampling of Molten Salts for Online Monitoring via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

A method was developed to sample molten salts by sparging to generate and transport aerosols to an isolated instrument for compositional analysis by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Real-time monitoring of molten salt composition is critical to developing molten salt nuclear reactors, which offer enhanced safety and efficiency. In this article, the sparge sampling method is described and compared with sampling using a Collison nebulizer. The size distribution and transport of aerosols produced from molten eutectic NaNO 3 –KNO 3 salt were compared for multiple gas flow rates (75–1200 mL min –1 ) and transport distances (0.68–2.61 m). Both methods produced aerosols ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 μm determined using a cascade impactor. Aerosols were effectively transported without pre- or trace-heating of gas lines, but transport efficiency was reduced by the formation of agglomerates. Sparge sampling was found to use less sample and less gas than a Collison nebulizer while producing a more concentrated aerosol stream (up to 5 μg L –1 ). The effects of laser energy and delay time on the signal quality of LIBS measurements of these aerosols were also studied. High energy and short delay times were found to enhance signal and repeatability, whereas signal-to-background and signal-to-noise ratios were highest at low energy and longer delay times. The capabilities of this system for online monitoring of molten salts were demonstrated with calibrations for Sr and Li with relative standard deviations of 2.6% and 1.5% and limits of detection of 380 and 180 μg g –1 , respectively.

Aerosols↗
DOE OSTI2021

Trace Key Mechanistic Features of the Arsenite Sequestration Reaction with Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) is considered as a highly efficient material for sequestrating arsenite, but the origin of its high efficacy as well as the chemical transformations of arsenite during reaction is not well understood. Here, in this study, we report an in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study to investigate the complex mechanism of nZVI reaction with arsenite under anaerobic conditions at the time scale from seconds to days. The time-resolved XAS analysis revealed a gradual oxidation of As III to As V in the course of minutes to hours in both the solid and liquid phase for the high (above 0.5 g/L) nZVI dose system. When the reaction time increased up to 60 days, As V became the dominant species. The quick-scanning extended X-ray absorption fine structure (QEAXFS) was introduced to discover the transient intermediate at the highly reactive stage, and a small red-shift in As K-edge absorption edge was observed. The QEAXFS combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggested that the red-shift is likely due to the electron donation in a Fe-O-As complex and possible active sites of As sequestrations include Fe(OH) 4 and 4-Fe cluster. This is the first time that the transient reaction intermediate was identified in the As-nZVI sequestration system at the fast-reacting early stage. This study also demonstrated usefulness of in situ monitoring techniques in environmental water research.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Critical needs to close monitoring gaps in pan-tropical wetland CH 4 emissions

Global wetlands are the largest and most uncertain natural source of atmospheric methane (CH 4 ). The FLUXNET-CH 4 synthesis initiative has established a global network of flux tower infrastructure, offering valuable data products and fostering a dedicated community for the measurement and analysis of methane flux data. Existing studies using the FLUXNET-CH 4 Community Product v1.0 have provided invaluable insights into the drivers of ecosystem-to-regional spatial patterns and daily-to-decadal temporal dynamics in temperate, boreal, and Arctic climate regions. However, as the wetland CH 4 monitoring network grows, there is a critical knowledge gap about where new monitoring infrastructure ought to be located to improve understanding of the global wetland CH 4 budget. Here we address this gap with a spatial representativeness analysis at existing and hypothetical observation sites, using 16 process-based wetland biogeochemistry models and machine learning. We find that, in addition to eddy covariance monitoring sites, existing chamber sites are important complements, especially over high latitudes and the tropics. Furthermore, expanding the current monitoring network for wetland CH 4 emissions should prioritize, first, tropical and second, sub-tropical semi-arid wetland regions. Considering those new hypothetical wetland sites from tropical and semi-arid climate zones could significantly improve global estimates of wetland CH 4 emissions and reduce bias by 79% (from 76 to 16 TgCH 4 y -1 ), compared with using solely existing monitoring networks. Our study thus demonstrates an approach for long-term strategic expansion of flux observations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Primary Frequency Control Using Motor Drives for Short Term Grid Disturbances

Industrial motor systems make up a quarter of all electric sales in the United States. Variable speed drives (VSDs) can provide energy efficiency savings to the customer by regulating motor speed based on specific and varying needs. In addition to the benefits provided to the customer, VSDs can provide support to the grid through ancillary services. The Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT) developed a power electronics converter-based grid emulator to allow testing of various power system architectures and demonstration of key technologies in monitoring, control, actuation, and visualization. This paper proposes using an active front-end VSD's connected motor load to provide frequency regulation to a large scale power grid. Each part of the emulator is described including motor and power electronics model and control. The proposed frequency regulation is implemented in VSDs and modeled in both a transmission system in EMTDC/PSCAD and verified on CURENT's hardware testbed.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bacterial response to the 2021 Orange County, California, oil spill was episodic but subtle relative to natural fluctuations

ABSTRACT An oil spill began in October 2021 off the coast of Orange County, California, releasing 24,696 gallons of crude oil into coastal environments. Although oil spills, such as this one, are recurrent accidents along the California coast, no prior studies have been performed to examine the severity of the local bacterial response. A coastal 10-year time series of short-read metagenomes located within the impacted area allowed us to quantify the magnitude and duration of the disturbance relative to natural fluctuations. We found that the largest change in bacterial beta-diversity occurred at the end of October. The change in taxonomic beta-diversity corresponded with an increase in the sulfur-oxidizing clade Candidatus Thioglobus, an increase in the total relative abundance of potential hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, and an anomalous decline in the picocyanobacteria Synechococcus . Similarly, changes in function were related to anomalous declines in photosynthetic pathways and anomalous increases in sulfur metabolism pathways as well as aromatic degradation pathways. There was a lagged response in taxonomy and function to peaks in total PAHs. One week after peaks in total PAH concentrations, the largest shifts in taxonomy were observed, and 1 week after the taxonomy shifts were observed, unique functional changes were seen. This response pattern was observed twice during our sampling period, corresponding with the combined effect of resuspended PAHs and increased nutrient concentrations due to physical transport events. Thus, the impact of the spill on bacterial communities was temporally extended and demonstrates the need for continued monitoring for longer than 3 months after initial oil exposure. IMPORTANCE Oil spills are common occurrences in waterways, releasing contaminants into the aquatic environment that persist for long periods of time. Bacterial communities are rapid responders to environmental disturbances, such as oil spills. Within bacterial communities, some members will be susceptible to the disturbance caused by crude oil components and will decline in abundance, whereas others will be opportunistic and will be able to use crude oil components for their metabolism. In many cases, when an oil spill occurs, it is difficult to assess the oil spill’s impact because no samples were collected prior to the accident. Here, we examined the bacterial response to the 2021 Orange County oil spill using a 10-year time series that lies within the impacted area. The results presented here are significant because (i) susceptible and opportunistic taxa to oil spills within the coastal California environment are identified and (ii) the magnitude and duration of the in situ bacterial response is quantified for the first time.

Brock, Melissa L. (ORCID:0000000340329241)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Detection of Off-Gassed Products From Molten Salts Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The detection of off-gassed sodium from molten sodium nitrate (NaNO 3 ) at temperatures between 330 °C and 505 °C and off-gassed calcium from molten lithium chloride–potassium chloride eutectic (LKE) mixtures at 510 °C with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was demonstrated. NaNO 3 and LKE samples were melted in a custom-built crucible that promoted the generation of off-gassed products from the molten sample. The off-gassed products were analyzed with a LIBS system designed to probe the high-temperature environment. Na D emission lines, Na(I)588.99 nm and Na(I) 589.59 nm, were detected from the NaNO 3 samples after reaching a temperature threshold, which indicated the occurrence of phase change. In LKE mixtures, the detection of Ca impurities at a concentration of 78 mg/kg was possible using the emission lines Ca(II) 393.66 nm and Ca(II) 395.85 nm. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the real-time monitoring capabilities of LIBS in high-temperature environments that simulate the conditions of molten salt reactors.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Determining fast-S and slow-S propagation directions with SV-P data produced by buried explosives and recorded with vertical geophones

We have evaluated the concept of practicing S-wave reflection seismology with legacy 3D seismic data generated by a P-wave source and recorded with only vertical geophones. This type of S-wave imaging is based on the principle that seismic P-wave sources not only produce a downgoing illuminating P wavefield, but they also simultaneously produce a downgoing illuminating SV wavefield that, in almost all cases, is suitable for S-wave reflection imaging. The S-mode used in this study is the SV-P, or converted-P, mode. This mode involves a downgoing illuminating SV wavefield and an upgoing reflected P-mode that is recorded by vertical geophones. In flat-layered stratigraphy, the lengths of the SV and P raypaths in SV-P imaging are identical to the lengths of the SV and P raypaths in P-SV imaging with P-sources and 3C geophones. P-SV imaging of deep rocks has been practiced for more than two decades; SV-P imaging is a new concept. SV-P data should provide the same options for investigating deep rocks as do P-SV data. We have determined one of the equivalences between SV-P data extracted from vertical-geophone data and P-SV data extracted from horizontal geophones: that both modes react to azimuth-dependent variations in the S velocity in anisotropic rocks. Azimuthal variations in the SV-P traveltime can be used to define the polarization direction of the fast-S-wave mode, which is also the azimuth of the maximum horizontal stress (SHmax). Our investigation demonstrates a noninvasive method for monitoring changes in the SHmax azimuth across a CO 2 storage reservoir, or any targeted porous rock, as fluids are cycled into, and then out of, that rock’s pore space.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dissolved oxygen sensor in an automated hyporheic sampling system reveals biogeochemical dynamics

Many river corridor systems frequently experience rapid variations in river stage height, hydraulic head gradients, and residence times. The integrated hydrology and biogeochemistry of such systems is challenging to study, particularly in their associated hyporheic zones. Here we present an automated system to facilitate 4-dimensional study of dynamic hyporheic zones. It is based on combining real-time in-situ and ex-situ measurements from sensor/sampling locations distributed in 3-dimensions. A novel dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor was integrated into the system during a small scale study. We measured several biogeochemical and hydrologic parameters at three subsurface depths in the riverbed of the Columbia River in Washington State, USA, a dynamic hydropeaked river corridor system. During the study, episodes of significant DO variations (~+/- 4 mg/l) were observed, with minor variation in other parameters (e.g., <~+/-0.15 mg/l NO 3 ). DO concentrations were related to hydraulic head gradients, showing both hysteretic and non-hysteretic relationships with abrupt (hours) transitions between the two types of relationships. The observed relationships provide a number of hypotheses related to the integrated hydrology and biogeochemistry of dynamic hyporheic zones. We suggest that preliminary high-frequency monitoring is advantageous in guiding the design of long term monitoring campaigns. The study also demonstrated the importance of measuring multiple parameters in parallel, where the DO sensor provided the key signal for identifying/detecting transient phenomena.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Applying Acoustic Emission to Large Format Additive Manufacturing

Large format additive manufacturing (AM) is being adapted as a method of producing large structures in a short lead time and cost-effective way. With the growing advancement in AM techniques and application, machine monitoring and part qualification is highly needed. There has been leading research focused on the manufacturing development and feedstock material but minimum research on the structural health monitoring (SHM), defect detection, and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) for large format AM. Scanning large structure using conventional nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques, such as ultrasound or X-ray, and searching for potential defects can be very time consuming, challenging and cost prohibitive. Acoustic emission (AE) is a passive technique that can be used to monitor and locate defect progression in large structures by distributing group of sensors around the part. This research outlines the necessary procedure for implementing AE to AM as a reliability method. The topics this research will display are: (a) Wave propagation/velocity evaluation, (b) an AE attenuation characterization for the anisotropic printed structure and material, (c) background noise measurements of the extruder and gantry system, and (d) assist in optimal sensor selection and placement for monitoring large AM structures with demonstration. This work establishes the foundation for scaling up the SHM-AE system for the large additive platform.

Spencer, Ryan↗
DOE OSTI2025

Large Area Airborne Contamination Monitoring

The individual components of a Large Area Airborne Contamination Monitoring (LAACM) system have been demonstrated as functional and the concept of a low-cost, rapidly deployable, and rapidly expandable system has been validated. All components of a previously demonstrated system were re-evaluated. Based on this evaluation, recommendations were made for air collection equipment, scintillating material was synthesized and optimized for application, and improved images were acquired. A preliminary concept of operations was developed, outlining the need for an automated scintillation application system and software for data acquisition and analysis. The work conducted under this program in FY24 has raised the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the LAACM from TRL 3 to TRL 4.

Whiteside, Tad S. [Savannah River National Laborat↗