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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

ITER Central Solenoid Module Fabrication

The fabrication of the modules for the ITER Central Solenoid (CS) has started in a dedicated production facility located in Poway, California, USA. The necessary tools have been designed, built, installed, and tested in the facility to enable the start of production. The current schedule has first module fabrication completed in 2017, followed by testing and subsequent shipment to ITER. The Central Solenoid is a key component of the ITER tokamak providing the inductive voltage to initiate and sustain the plasma current and to position and shape the plasma. The design of the CS has been a collaborative effort between the US ITER Project Office (US ITER), the international ITER Organization (IO) and General Atomics (GA). GA’s responsibility includes: completing the fabrication design, developing and qualifying the fabrication processes and tools, and then completing the fabrication of the seven 110 tonne CS modules. The modules will be shipped separately to the ITER site, and then stacked and aligned in the Assembly Hall prior to insertion in the core of the ITER tokamak. A dedicated facility in Poway, California, USA has been established by GA to complete the fabrication of the seven modules. Infrastructure improvements included thick reinforced concrete floors, a diesel generator for backup power, along with, cranes for moving the tooling within the facility. The fabrication process for a single module requires approximately 22 months followed by five months of testing, which includes preliminary electrical testing followed by high current (48.5 kA) tests at 4.7K. The production of the seven modules is completed in a parallel fashion through ten process stations. The process stations have been designed and built with most stations having completed testing and qualification for carrying out the required fabrication processes. The final qualification step for each process station is achieved by the successful production of a prototype coil. Fabrication of the first ITER module is in progress. The seven modules will be individually shipped to Cadarache, France upon their completion. This paper describes the processes and status of the fabrication of the CS Modules for ITER.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Development and Optimization of a Flocculation Procedure for Improved Solid-Liquid Separation of Digested Biomass

One viable treatment method for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels begins with saccharification (thermochemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis), followed by fermentation or catalytic upgrading to fuels such as ethanol, butanol, or other hydrocarbons. The post-hydrolysis slurry is typically 4-8 percent insoluble solids, predominantly consisting of lignin. Suspended solids are known to inhibit fermentation as well as poison catalysts and obstruct flow in catalyst beds. Thus a solid-liquid separation following enzymatic hydrolysis would be highly favorable for process economics, however the material is not easily separated by filtration or gravimetric methods. Use of a polyacrylamide flocculant to bind the suspended particles in a corn stover hydrolyzate slurry into larger flocs (1-2mm diameter) has been found to be extremely helpful in improving separation. Recent and ongoing research on novel pretreatment methods yields hydrolyzate material with diverse characteristics. Therefore, we need a thorough understanding of rapid and successful flocculation design in order to quickly achieve process design goals. In this study potential indicators of flocculation performance were investigated in order to develop a rapid analysis method for flocculation procedure in the context of a novel hydrolyzate material. Flocculation conditions were optimized on flocculant type and loading, pH, and mixing time. Filtration flux of the hydrolyzate slurry was improved 170-fold using a cationic polyacrylamide flocculant with a dosing of approximately 22 mg flocculant/g insoluble solids at an approximate pH of 3. With cake washing, sugar recovery exceeded 90 percent with asymptotic yield at 15 L wash water/kg insoluble solids.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2017

FIRST BEAM TESTS OF THE APS MBA UPGRADE ORBIT FEEDBACK CONTROLLER

The new orbit feedback system required for the APS multi-bend acromat (MBA) ring must meet challenging beam stability requirements. The AC stability requirement is to correct rms beam motion to 10 % the rms beam size at the insertion device source points from 0.01 to 1000 Hz. The vertical plane represents the biggest challenge for AC stability which is required to be 400 nm rms for a 4 micron vertical beam size. In addition long term drift over a period of 7 days is required to be 1 micron or less at insertion de- vice BPMs and 2 microns for arc bpms. We present test re- sults of theMBA prototype orbit feedback controller (FBC) in the APS storage ring. In this test, four insertion device BPMs were configured to send data to the FBC for process- ing into four fast corrector setpoints. The configuration of four bpms and four fast correctors creates a 4-bump and the configuration of fast correctors is similar to what will be implemented in the MBA ring. We report on performance benefits of increasing the sampling rate by a factor of 15 to 22.6 kHz over the existing APS orbit feedback system, lim- itations due to existing storage ring hardware and extrapo- lation to theMBA orbit feedback design. FBC architecture, signal flow and processing design will also be discussed.

Sereno, N. S.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advanced fuels from ethanol – a superstructure optimization approach

We develop a superstructure framework for the design of biorefineries for ethanol upgrading into advanced biofuels to replace gasoline, jet fuel or diesel. The framework integrates catalysis, process synthesis, and fuel property modelling towards the design of biorefineries producing fuels with specified properties. The proposed framework is applied to identify strategies for the upgrading of ethanol into one or more fuels with specific properties. We discuss the trade-off between profit and biorefinery complexity, as well as the relation among fuel property constraints, the optimal upgrading strategy selected, and process economics. Lastly, we show how to find the optimal biorefinery associated with a particular chemistry or catalyst. The results presented constitute the first systematic study of ethanol upgrading considering, simultaneously, fuel and process design.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Innovative Joining Method for Hybrid Composites with Tailored Performance

In various industries, such as renewables and aerospace, the demand for carbon fiber is rapidly growing to meet the requirements of high-performance applications with optimized designs. Traditionally, these optimized designs have been limited to single-material composites due to process constraints. However, this study aims to explore the feasibility of transitioning between two different fiber types for pultrusion and filament winding processes, thereby enhancing design flexibility, and optimizing performance. This research introduces a novel method of hybrid reinforcement through splicing techniques. By employing a splicing method, fibers are merged prior to infusion, resulting in a transition of higher strength compared to traditional joints. Moreover, this technique enables the creation of composites with variable compositions, allowing for the selective placement of properties in a process previously characterized by static properties. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the mechanical properties of dry fiber splicing and its impact on the resulting composite material. Through comprehensive analysis, we aim to provide insights into the feasibility and advantages of employing this innovative splicing technique in composite manufacturing processes.

Guzorek, Steven↗
DOE OSTI2018

Design Considerations for the Field Use of Safeguards Technology

The process of safeguards technology development, deployment, and use should be carried out in such a way that it supports the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) international safeguards verification mission, while also being efficient in terms of both cost and time. This process, however, may be hindered by a lack of communication between the scientists or engineers developing the technology and the safeguards inspectors who would be using the equipment, as well as by a general lack of facility experience among the scientists or engineers designing safeguards technology. The latter point is particularly true for new graduates and junior staff working at design laboratories, who typically have not had significant experience in an industrial facility setting or in working with or for the IAEA directly. As a result, junior safeguards staff may have difficulty understanding inspector needs and the limitations of using safeguards technology in the field, often leading to inefficiencies (in the form of increased cost and time spent) in the safeguards technology design process. To mitigate this knowledge gap, the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has developed a list of design considerations that should be incorporated when developing safeguards technology. Project findings with respect to nondestructive assay technology are detailed in this paper.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Advanced CO 2 Capture Technology for Low Rank Coal IGCC System

The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of a new Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant designed to efficiently process low rank coals. The plant uses an integrated CO 2 scrubber/Water Gas Shift (WGS) catalyst to capture over90 percent capture of the CO 2 emissions, while providing a significantly lower cost of electricity (COE) than a similar plant with conventional cold gas cleanup system based on Selexol TM technology and 90 percent carbon capture. TDA’s system uses a high temperature physical adsorbent capable of removing CO 2 above the dew point of the synthesis gas and a commercial WGS catalyst that can effectively convert CO in The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of a new Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant designed to efficiently process low rank coals. The plant uses an integrated CO 2 scrubber/Water Gas Shift (WGS) catalyst to capture over90 percent capture of the CO 2 emissions, while providing a significantly lower cost of electricity (COE) than a similar plant with conventional cold gas cleanup system based on Selexol TM technology and 90 percent carbon capture. TDA’s system uses a high temperature physical adsorbent capable of removing CO 2 above the dew point of the synthesis gas and a commercial WGS catalyst that can effectively convert CO in bituminous coal the net plant efficiency is about 2.4 percentage points higher than an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant equipped with Selexol TM to capture CO 2 . We also previously completed two successful field demonstrations: one at the National Carbon Capture Center (Southern- Wilsonville, AL) in 2011, and a second demonstration in fall of 2012 at the Wabash River IGCC plant (Terra Haute, IN). In this project, we first optimized the sorbent to catalyst ratio used in the combined WGS and CO 2 capture process and confirmed the technical feasibility in bench-scale experiments. In these tests, we did not observe any CO breakthrough both during adsorption and desorption steps indicating that there is complete conversion of CO to CO 2 and H 2 . The overall CO conversions above 90 percent were observed. The sorbent achieved a total CO 2 loading of 7.82 percent wt. of which 5.68 percent is from conversion of CO into CO 2 . The results of the system analysis suggest that the TDA combined shift and high temperature PSA-based Warm Gas Clean-up technology can make a substantial improvement in the IGCC plant thermal performance for a plant designed to achieve near zero emissions (including greater than 90 percent carbon capture). The capital expenses are also expected to be lower than those of Selexol. The higher net plant efficiency and lower capital and operating costs result in substantial reduction in the COE for the IGCC plant equipped with the TDA combined shift and high temperature PSA-based carbon capture system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2015

Pilot testing of a membrane system for postcombustion CO 2 capture

This final report summarizes work conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE) to scale up an efficient post-combustion CO 2 capture membrane process to the small pilot test stage (award number DE-FE0005795). The primary goal of this research program was to design, fabricate, and operate a membrane CO 2 capture system to treat coal-derived flue gas containing 20 tonnes CO 2 /day (20 TPD). Membrane Technology and Research (MTR) conducted this project in collaboration with Babcock and Wilcox (B&W), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), WorleyParsons (WP), the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), Enerkem (EK), and the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC). In addition to the small pilot design, build and slipstream testing at NCCC, other project efforts included laboratory membrane and module development at MTR, validation field testing on a 1 TPD membrane system at NCCC, boiler modeling and testing at B&W, a techno-economic analysis (TEA) by EPRI/WP, a case study of the membrane technology applied to a ~20 MWe power plant by ISTC, and an industrial CO 2 capture test at an Enerkem waste-to-biofuel facility. The 20 TPD small pilot membrane system built in this project successfully completed over 1,000 hours of operation treating flue gas at NCCC. The Polaris™ membranes used on this system demonstrated stable performance, and when combined with over 10,000 hours of operation at NCCC on a 1 TPD system, the risk associated with uncertainty in the durability of postcombustion capture membranes has been greatly reduced. Moreover, next-generation Polaris membranes with higher performance and lower cost were validation tested on the 1 TPD system. The 20 TPD system also demonstrated successful operation of a new low-pressure-drop sweep module that will reduce parasitic energy losses at full scale by as much as 10 MWe. In modeling and pilot boiler testing, B&W confirmed the viability of CO 2 recycle to the boiler as envisioned in the MTR process design. The impact of this CO 2 recycle on boiler efficiency was quantified and incorporated into a TEA of the membrane capture process applied to a full-scale power plant. As with previous studies, the TEA showed the membrane process to be lower cost than the conventional solvent capture process even at 90% CO 2 capture. A sensitivity study indicates that the membrane capture cost decreases significantly if the 90% capture requirement is relaxed. Depending on the process design, a minimum capture cost is achieved at 30-60% capture, values that would meet proposed CO 2 emission regulations for coal-fired power plants. In summary, this project has successfully advanced the MTR membrane capture process through small pilot testing (technology readiness level 6). The technology is ready for future scale-up to the 10 MWe size.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2024

Schema Elements for Granta Annual Report: FY2024

Granta: Materials Intelligence (Granta: MI) is a commercial database software distributed by Ansys, Inc. that is utilized by the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) to organize and store relevant materials data. Lack of standard and well-documented database schema is the primary obstacle to an NSE materials data management solution, so the objective of this project is to create and document such a schema. In FY21, an approach for designing, documenting, and managing a standard database schema was described based on the creation of schema elements (collections of attributes used to describe particular aspects of the data) to be used as building blocks for creating various database tables without duplication. In FY22, these methods were applied through a multi-site collaboration to create and document the schema elements necessary to build a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) testing table. In FY23 the schema was expanded to include elements for a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) table, along with schema for supporting metadata tables including Instruments, Projects, Documents, and Testing Series. In FY24 the following progress was made, again through multi-site collaboration: • The existing schema elements were modified to accommodate thermomechanical analysis (TMA) data, and a table, Test Data: TMA, was created for managing TMA data. • The elements necessary for the following additive manufacturing (AM) data tables (directed at data specific to selective laser sintering AM technology) were created: • AM Builds • AM Processes • AM Part Designs • Built AM Parts • AM Feedstock Materials • AM Feedstock Material Batches • The elements necessary for creating a Calibrated Material Models table were created, and the Calibrated Material Models table was created. In FY25 the existing schema will be deployed on the production enterprise Granta instance on the enterprise secure network. Schema elements will be appended, and new elements created as necessary, to allow the creation of tables specifically to support materials testing, AM process development, and design and analysis for modernization programs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Optimization of the Observing Cadence for the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time: A Pioneering Process of Community-focused Experimental Design

Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a ground-based astronomical facility under construction, a joint project of the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to conduct a multipurpose 10 yr optical survey of the Southern Hemisphere sky: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Significant flexibility in survey strategy remains within the constraints imposed by the core science goals of probing dark energy and dark matter, cataloging the solar system, exploring the transient optical sky, and mapping the Milky Way. The survey’s massive data throughput will be transformational for many other astrophysics domains and Rubin’s data access policy sets the stage for a huge community of potential users. To ensure that the survey science potential is maximized while serving as broad a community as possible, Rubin Observatory has involved the scientific community at large in the process of setting and refining the details of the observing strategy. The motivation, history, and decision-making process of this strategy optimization are detailed in this paper, giving context to the science-driven proposals and recommendations for the survey strategy included in this Focus Issue.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Xi-cam : a versatile interface for data visualization and analysis

Xi-cam is an extensible platform for data management, analysis and visualization. Xi-cam aims to provide a flexible and extensible approach to synchrotron data treatment as a solution to rising demands for high-volume/high-throughput processing pipelines. The core of Xi-cam is an extensible plugin-based graphical user interface platform which provides users with an interactive interface to processing algorithms. Plugins are available for SAXS/WAXS/GISAXS/GIWAXS, tomography and NEXAFS data. With Xi-cam 's `advanced' mode, data processing steps are designed as a graph-based workflow, which can be executed live, locally or remotely. Remote execution utilizes high-performance computing or de-localized resources, allowing for the effective reduction of high-throughput data. Xi-cam 's plugin-based architecture targets cross-facility and cross-technique collaborative development, in support of multi-modal analysis. Xi-cam is open-source and cross-platform, and available for download on GitHub.

Pandolfi, Ronald J. (ORCID:0000000308248548)↗
DOE OSTI2014

A streamlined failure mode and effects analysis

Purpose: Explore the feasibility and impact of a streamlined failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) using a structured process that is designed to minimize staff effort. Methods: FMEA for the external beam process was conducted at an affiliate radiation oncology center that treats approximately 60 patients per day. A structured FMEA process was developed which included clearly defined roles and goals for each phase. A core group of seven people was identified and a facilitator was chosen to lead the effort. Failure modes were identified and scored according to the FMEA formalism. A risk priority number,RPN, was calculated and used to rank failure modes. Failure modes with RPN > 150 received safety improvement interventions. Staff effort was carefully tracked throughout the project. Results: Fifty-two failure modes were identified, 22 collected during meetings, and 30 from take-home worksheets. The four top-ranked failure modes were: delay in film check, missing pacemaker protocol/consent, critical structures not contoured, and pregnant patient simulated without the team's knowledge of the pregnancy. These four failure modes hadRPN > 150 and received safety interventions. The FMEA was completed in one month in four 1-h meetings. A total of 55 staff hours were required and, additionally, 20 h by the facilitator. Conclusions: Streamlined FMEA provides a means of accomplishing a relatively large-scale analysis with modest effort. One potential value of FMEA is that it potentially provides a means of measuring the impact of quality improvement efforts through a reduction in risk scores. Future study of this possibility is needed.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2014

WE-G-BRE-01: A High Power Nanotube X-Ray Microbeam Irradiator for Preclinical Brain Tumor Treatment

Purpose: Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a new type of cancer treatment undergoing studies at various synchrotron facilities. The principle of MRT is using arrays of microscopically small, low-energy X-radiation for the treatment of various radio-resistant, deep-seated tumors. Our motivation is to develop a compact and inexpensive image guided MRT irradiator to use in the research lab setting. After a successful initial demonstration, here we report a second generation carbon nanotube (CNT) cathode based MRT tube, capable of producing multiple microbeam lines with an anticipated dose rate of 11 Gy/min per line. Methods: The system uses multiple line CNT source arrays to generate multiple focal lines on the anode. The increase in dose-rate, compared to our first generation system, is achieved by increasing the operating voltage from 160 kVp to 225kVp, adding multiple simultaneous focal lines on the anode, and a more efficient cooling mechanism using a 6kW oil-cooled anode. Results: This work will present the design and development process, challenges and solutions to meeting operating specifications, and the final design of the tube and collimator, along with optimization and stabilization of its use. A detailed characterization of its capabilities will be included with a comprehensive measurement of its X-ray focal line dimensions, an evaluation of its collimator alignment and microbeam dimensions, and phantom-based quantification of its dosimetric output. Conclusion: The development of a second generation, compact, multiple line MRT device using carbon nanotube (CNT) cathode based X-ray technology and a novel oil cooled anode design is presented here. With this new source, we are capable of delivering a total microbeam radiation dose comparable to the low end of the synchrotron based MRT systems for small animal brain tumor models.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Automated qualification data tool for high temperature metallic materials

This report describes a framework for storing, processing, and displaying qualification data for high temperature mechanical properties. The framework automates the process of generating design data from mechanical test results, for example for a data qualification report for the ASME Boiler \& Pressure Vessel Code. The framework has three parts: a data storage model with common formats for several types of typical mechanical property tests, a backend based on the \pycreep Python library for correlating and extrapolating the data to generate design material properties and allowable stresses, and a demonstration user interface for displaying, sorting, and filtering the data and exploring different options for modeling the design mechanical properties. The report discusses the options available for data processing, with illustrations from real test data on Alloy 617, Alloy 709, Alloy 740H, and Laser-Powder Bed Fusion 316H. The framework is complete for ASME type data analysis and will be used to store test data generated by the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies sponsored qualification programs. Future work could extend the tool to other types of material properties and/or expand the demo user interface to make it accessible across the AMMT program.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Cryogenic Carbon Capture Development (Final Report)

This project extends and leverages the work completed under funding from ARPA-E and other sources by exploring aspects of the Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ (CCC) process and issues discovered during those projects, but that were not within the scope or budget of previous projects or that became apparent during field tests. Our successful completion of the tasks outlined in this project has increased the reliability, efficiency, and scalability of the CCC process and we are better prepared for pilot-scale testing. The first phase of this project improved key areas of the process through iterative design and experiment, culminating with recommendations for improvements to the existing skid-scale system developed under non-federal funding. The second phase of this project implemented the improved unit operations into the Cryogenic Carbon Capture External Cooling Loop (CCC ECL™) skid and field tests the improved system at a coal-fired power plant. The specific areas of work in this project are: Budget Period 1: 1) Selection of the most energy-efficient drying system for ambient-pressure flue gas. Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC (SES) has successfully demonstrated a dryer that removes bulk water using a low-temperature brine to remove about 99% of the water followed by a mol sieve 3A desiccant dryer to remove the remaining 1% water; 2) Selection and demonstration of efficient solution to fouling due to dissolved CO 2 . SES has tested several commercial heat exchangers that purport to be able to handle fouling issues similar to those experienced in the contact liquid chiller. Replicated tests using the CCC ECL™ skid and dimpled brazed plate heat exchangers demonstrate that quick throttling of refrigerant combined with a burst of clean gas mitigate the fouling caused by CO 2 solubility in contact liquid with only minor increases in parasitic load. SES models indicate that parasitic load would increase by approximately 0.0125 GJ/tonne, an order of magnitude less than what was determined to be the maximum allowable additional parasitic load caused by this system; 3) Selection and demonstration of efficient and scalable solid–liquid separation system. The screw press technology met or exceeded the 70% solids loading benchmark during several test runs exceeding 24 hours on the CCC ECL™ skid. The average solids loading during the entire 50-hour run was 67%. The energy demand for this system is less than 0.1 GJ e /tonne of CO 2 processed; 4) Optimize design and demonstration of patented desublimating heat exchangers. We designed and built a hybrid spray tower that was tested over many hundreds of hours and a 50-hour continuous test run was completed capturing over 0.5 tonne CO 2 /day at >90% capture; (5) Plan for safe dilution of oxygen-depleted, cleaned flue-gas stream. The AERSCREEN simulator developed by the EPA modeled the dispersion of oxygen-depleted flue gas from the CCC process at a commercial plant. The results indicate that this plan effectively mitigates the flue gas hazards; (6) Simulation of and experimental work related to multi-pollutant capture. SES programmed an upgrade to its solid/vapor/liquid equilibrium (SVLE) algorithm. This enables simultaneous modeling of multiple pollutants (i.e., CO 2 , SO x , NO x , Hg, HCl). Budget Period 2; (7) Modify the CCC ECL™ skid for field testing and complete shakedown testing. The plans for modifying the CCC ECL™ skid were finalized and put into place. Shakedown testing of the updated CCC ECL™ skid occurred at SES using closed-loop mode (i.e., using a synthetic flue gas consisting of only N 2 and CO 2 ) and at the Hunter Power Plant using flue gas from the coal-fired boiler. Shakedown testing took longer than expected due to delays in receiving equipment and unexpected equipment performance in the field; (8) Operate the CCC ECL™ skid in the field. Longer testing of the CCC ECL™ skid occurred at the Hunter Power Plant. Multiple tests exceeding 35 hours were completed, with a total of over 600 hours of CO 2 capture completed using flue gas at the Hunter Power Plant with an average CO 2 capture rate of over 91% during those hours. Extensive notes and documentation were acquired informing improved methods for controls, startup, operation, and shut down; (9) Determine figures of merit and quantify process improvement. SES defined figures of merit for unit operation performance and overall CCC ECL™ process performance. All figures of merit were achieved or surpassed, except for 500 continuous hours of demonstration at the Hunter Power Plant; (10) Complete an Environmental Health and Safety Risk assessment by a third party. Tri-State completed an Environmental Health and Safety Risk assessment; (11) Update techno-economic analysis with third-party validation. The techno-economic analysis has been completed. It confirms the potential large reduction in energy and cost of the CCC process compared with leading alternatives and that the estimates and estimation techniques are reliable.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2015

BioEarth: Envisioning and developing a new regional earth system model to inform natural and agricultural resource management

As managers of agricultural and natural resources are confronted with uncertainties in global change impacts, the complexities associated with the interconnected cycling of nitrogen, carbon, and water present daunting management challenges. Existing models provide detailed information on specific sub-systems (land, air, water, economics, etc). An increasing awareness of the unintended consequences of management decisions resulting from interconnectedness of these sub-systems, however, necessitates coupled regional earth system models (EaSMs). Decision makers’ needs and priorities can be integrated into the model design and development processes to enhance decision-making relevance and "usability" of EaSMs. BioEarth is a current research initiative with a focus on the U.S. Pacific Northwest region that explores the coupling of multiple stand-alone EaSMs to generate usable information for resource decision-making. Direct engagement between model developers and non-academic stakeholders involved in resource and environmental management decisions throughout the model development process is a critical component of this effort. BioEarth utilizes a "bottom-up" approach, upscaling a catchment-scale model to basin and regional scales, as opposed to the "top-down" approach of downscaling global models utilized by most other EaSM efforts. This paper describes the BioEarth initiative and highlights opportunities and challenges associated with coupling multiple stand-alone models to generate usable information for agricultural and natural resource decision-making.

agricultural↗
DOE OSTI2013

On-Site Pilot Study - Removal of Uranium, Radium-226 and Arsenic from Impacted Leachate by Reverse Osmosis - 13155

Conestoga-Rovers and Associates (CRA-LTD) performed an on-site pilot study at the Welcome Waste Management Facility in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, to evaluate the effectiveness of a unique leachate treatment process for the removal of radioactive contaminants from leachate impacted by low-level radioactive waste. Results from the study also provided the parameters needed for the design of the CRA-LTD full scale leachate treatment process design. The final effluent water quality discharged from the process to meet the local surface water discharge criteria. A statistical software package was utilized to obtain the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the results from design of experiment applied to determine the effect of the evaluated factors on the measured responses. The factors considered in the study were: percent of reverse osmosis permeate water recovery, influent coagulant dosage, and influent total dissolved solids (TDS) dosage. The measured responses evaluated were: operating time, average specific flux, and rejection of radioactive contaminants along with other elements. The ANOVA for the design of experiment results revealed that the operating time is affected by the percent water recovery to be achieved and the flocculant dosage over the range studied. The average specific flux and rejection for the radioactive contaminants were not affected by the factors evaluated over the range studied. The 3 month long on-site pilot testing on the impacted leachate revealed that the CRA-LTD leachate treatment process was robust and produced an effluent water quality that met the surface water discharge criteria mandated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the local municipality. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2019

Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements

This paper addresses the need of multi-tube latent heat thermal storage (LHTES) systems with enhanced heat transfer performance. Uniquely, this work draws from topology optimization method for thermal energy storage to search for the optimal configuration of fins in multi-tube LHTES systems with different phase change materials (PCMs), flow arrangements and design constraints. The design freedom of topology optimization allows the discovery of innovative LHTES designs and elucidate the link between design and physical processes occurring during charging/discharging. Three key results of this study are: i) the optimized fin design is tightly connected to the type of storage duty cycle, which demonstrates the necessity to account for realistic operating conditions in the optimization process. ii) The fin material should be chosen in parallel with the layout of the fins and not sequentially as commonly done; this indicates that the optimization of LHTES systems is a co-design challenge. iii) Topology optimized multi-tube LHTES units surpass in performance fins optimized for a single-tube configuration in a multi-tube unit. Finally, this work demonstrates for the first time the manufacturability of topology-optimized LHTES units by using 3D printing.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗