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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 1,711 records · Page 95
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Novel features and GPU performance analysis for EM particle transport in the Celeritas code

Celeritas is a new computational transport code designed for high-performance simulation of high-energy physics detectors. This work describes some of its current capabilities and the design choices that enable the rapid development of efficient on-device physics. The abstractions that underpin the code design facilitate low-level performance tweaks that require no changes to the higher-level physics code. We evaluate a set of independent changes that together yield an almost 40% speedup over the original GPU code for a net performance increase of 220× for a single GPU over a single CPU running 8.4M tracks on a small demonstration physics app.

Johnson, Seth R.↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Validation and Code-to-Code Verification of FAST for a Megawatt-Scale Wind Turbine with Aeroelastically Tailored Blades

This paper presents validation and code-to-code verification of the latest version of the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory wind turbine aeroelastic engineering simulation tool, FAST v8. A set of 1,141 test cases, for which experimental data from a Siemens 2.3 MW machine have been made available and were in accordance with the International Electrotechnical Commission 61400-13 guidelines, were identified. These conditions were simulated using FAST as well as the Siemens in-house aeroelastic code, BHawC. This paper presents a detailed analysis comparing results from FAST with those from BHawC as well as experimental measurements, using statistics including the means and the standard deviations along with the power spectral densities of select turbine parameters and loads. Results indicate a good agreement among the predictions using FAST, BHawC, and experimental measurements. Here, these agreements are discussed in detail in this paper, along with some comments regarding the differences seen in these comparisons relative to the inherent uncertainties in such a model-based analysis.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1992

Solution of the Burnett equations for hypersonic flows near the continuum limit

The INCA code, a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code for analysis of hypersonic flowfields, was modified to analyze the lower reaches of the continuum transition regime, where the Navier-Stokes equations become inaccurate and Monte Carlo methods become too computationally expensive. The two-dimensional Burnett equations and the three-dimensional rotational energy transport equation were added to the code and one- and two-dimensional calculations were performed. For the structure of normal shock waves, the Burnett equations give consistently better results than Navier-Stokes equations and compare reasonably well with Monte Carlo methods. For two-dimensional flow of Nitrogen past a circular cylinder the Burnett equations predict the total drag reasonably well. Care must be taken, however, not to exceed the range of validity of the Burnett equations.

Imlay, Scott T.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Delayed Fission Gamma-ray Characteristics of 232 Th, 233 U, 235 U, 238 U, and 239 Pu

Delayed fission gamma-rays play an important role in determining the time dependent ionizing dose for experiments in the central irradiation cavity of the Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR). Delayed gamma-rays are produced from both fission product decay and from activation of materials in the core, such as cladding and support structures. Knowing both the delayed gamma-ray emission rate and the time-dependent gamma-ray energy spectrum is necessary in order to properly determine the dose contributions from delayed fission gamma-rays. This information is especially important when attempting to deconvolute the time-dependent neutron, prompt gamma-ray, and delayed gamma-ray contribution to the response of a diamond photo-conducting diode (PCD) or fission chamber in time frames of milliseconds to seconds following a reactor pulse. This work focused on investigating delayed gamma-ray characteristics produced from fission products from thermal, fast, and high energy fission of Th-232, U-233, U-235, U-238, and Pu-239. This work uses a modified version of CINDER2008, a transmutation code developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, to model time and energy dependent photon characteristics due to fission. This modified code adds the capability to track photon-induced transmutations, photo-fission, and the subsequent radiation caused by fission products due to photo-fission. The data is compared against previous work done with SNL- modified CINDER2008 and experimental data and other published literature, including ENDF/B-VII.1. The ability to produce a high-fidelity (7,428 group) energy-dependent photon fluence at various times post-fission can improve the delayed photon characterization for radiation effects tests at research reactors, as well as other applications.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Neutronics/Thermal-hydraulics coupling with RMC and CTF for BEAVRS benchmark calculation

As the computational accuracy required for design and safety analysis of current and future nuclear reactors is continuously increasing, high fidelity numerical reactor simulations including different physics raise wide concern of researchers. The interplay between neutronic and thermal-hydraulic (N-TH) effects of a nuclear reactor core plays an important role in reactor design, safety analysis and core performance. Monte Carlo method can provide high fidelity neutronics analysis of different nuclear reactors, owing to its advantages of the flexible geometry modeling and the use of continuous-energy nuclear cross sections. Armed with the massively parallel algorithms, the computational cost of Monte Carlo codes can be greatly reduced. Compared to single channel thermal process, sub-channel codes have enormous advantages of detailed modeling of full-core reactor or single assembly and high accuracy of calculation results. Detailed sub-channel modeling of a full-core also needs running in parallel, otherwise the computational cost will be relatively high. In this paper, a new hybrid coupling with continuous-energy Monte Carlo code RMC and the sub-channel code CTF has been developed. The coupling codes are applied to steady-state simulations of BEAVRS benchmark in hot full power condition. In order to deal with the temperature dependence of cross sections for Monte Carlo code, the on-the-fly cross sections treatment has been developed in RMC. The on-the-fly method was applied to the N-TH coupling in this work. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration, Continuation within IEA Wind Task 30: Phase II Results Regarding a Floating Semisubmersible Wind System: Preprint

Offshore wind turbines are designed and analyzed using comprehensive simulation tools (or codes) that account for the coupled dynamics of the wind inflow, aerodynamics, elasticity, and controls of the turbine, along with the incident waves, sea current, hydrodynamics, and foundation dynamics of the support structure. This paper describes the latest findings of the code-to-code verification activities of the Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration, Continuation (OC4) project, which operates under the International Energy Agency (IEA) Wind Task 30. In the latest phase of the project, participants used an assortment of simulation codes to model the coupled dynamic response of a 5-MW wind turbine installed on a floating semisubmersible in 200 m of water. Code predictions were compared from load-case simulations selected to test different model features. The comparisons have resulted in a greater understanding of offshore floating wind turbine dynamics and modeling techniques, and better knowledge of the validity of various approximations. The lessons learned from this exercise have improved the participants? codes, thus improving the standard of offshore wind turbine modeling.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

NEUTRINO TRANSFER IN THREE DIMENSIONS FOR CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE. I. STATIC CONFIGURATIONS

We develop a numerical code to calculate the neutrino transfer with multi-energy and multi-angle in three dimensions (3D) for the study of core-collapse supernovae. The numerical code solves the Boltzmann equations for neutrino distributions by the discrete-ordinate (S{sub n} ) method with a fully implicit differencing for time advance. The Boltzmann equations are formulated in the inertial frame with collision terms being evaluated to the zeroth order of v/c. A basic set of neutrino reactions for three neutrino species is implemented together with a realistic equation of state of dense matter. The pair process is included approximately in order to keep the system linear. We present numerical results for a set of test problems to demonstrate the ability of the code. The numerical treatments of advection and collision terms are validated first in the diffusion and free-streaming limits. Then we compute steady neutrino distributions for a background extracted from a spherically symmetric, general relativistic simulation of a 15 M{sub Sun} star and compare them with the results in the latter computation. We also demonstrate multi-dimensional capabilities of the 3D code solving neutrino transfers for artificially deformed supernova cores in 2D and 3D. Formal solutions along neutrino paths are utilized as exact solutions. We plan to apply this code to the 3D neutrino-radiation hydrodynamics simulations of supernovae. This is the first article in a series of reports on the development.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-107: An Investigation Into Attenuation Effects On the Energy Spectrum for {sup 137}Cs Using Monte Carlo Techniques

Purpose: The calibration of radiation protection instrumentation including ionization chambers, scintillators, and Geiger Mueller (GM) counters used as survey meters are often done using {sup 137}Cs irradiators. During calibration, irradiators use a combination of attenuators with various thicknesses to modulate the beam to a known air-kerma rate. The variations in energy spectra as a result of these attenuators are not accounted for and may play a role in the energy-dependent response of survey meters. This study uses an experimentally validated irradiator geometry modeled in the MCNP5 transport code to characterize the effects of attenuation on the energy spectrum. Methods: A Hopewell Designs G-10 {sup 137}Cs irradiator with lead attenuators of thicknesses of 0.635, 1.22, 2.22, and 4.32 cm, was used in this study. The irradiator geometry was modeled in MCNP5 and validated by comparing measured and simulated percent depth dose (PDD) and cross-field profiles. Variations in MCNP5 simulated spectra with increasing amounts of attenuation were characterized using the relative intensity of the 662 keV peak and the average energy. Results: Simulated and measured PDDs and profiles agreed within the associated uncertainty. The relative intensity of the 662 keV peak for simulated spectra normalized to the intensity of the unattenuated spectra ranged from 0.16% to 100% based on attenuation thickness. The average energy for simulated spectra for attenuators ranged from 582 keV with no attenuation to 653 keV with 5.54 cm of attenuation. Statistical uncertainty for MCNP5 simulations ranged from 0.11% to 3.69%. Conclusion: This study successfully used MCNP5 to validate a {sup 137}Cs irradiator geometry and characterize variations in energy spectra between different amounts of attenuation. Variations in the average energy of up to 12% were determined through simulations, and future work will aim to determine the effects of these differences on survey meter response and calibration.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Energy Savings Analysis: ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2016

To meet statutory requirements, DOE conducted an analysis to quantify the expected energy savings associated with Standard 90.1-2016. This report documents the methodology used to conduct the analysis. Based on the analysis, DOE has determined that the 2016 edition of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 would improve overall energy efficiency in buildings subject to the code compared to the 2013 edition of Standard 90.1.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Model study of the energy dependence of the correlation between anisotropic flow and the mean transverse momentum in Au + Au collisions

A hybrid model that employs the hadron-string transport model UrQMD and the (3+1)-dimensional relativistic viscous hydrodynamic code vHLLE, is used to investigate the beam energy dependence of the correlation coefficient ρ(v$^{2}_{2}$,[p T ]) between the average transverse momentum [p T ] of hadrons emitted in an event and the square of the anisotropic flow coefficient v$^{2}_{2}$. For Au+Au collisions, the model predicts characteristic patterns for the energy and event-shape dependence of the variances for [p T ] and v$^{2}_{n}$ [Var([p T ] and Var(v$^{2}_{2}$)], and the covariance of v$^{2}_{n}$ and [p T ][cov(v$^{2}_{2}$,[p T ])], consistent with the attenuation effects of the specific shear viscosity η/s. Here in contrast, ρ(v$^{2}_{2}$,[p T ]) is predicted to be insensitive to the beam energy but sensitive to the initial-state geometry of the collisions. These observations suggest that a precise set of measurements for Var([p T ]), Var(v$^{2}_{2}$), cov(v$^{2}_{2}$,[p T ]) and ρ(v$^{2}_{2}$,[p T ]) as a function of beam energy and event shape, could serve to constrain better the eccentricities and their fluctuations over the entire span of beam energies, and consequently aid precision extraction of the temperature and baryon chemical-potential dependence of η/s from the wealth of Au+Au data obtained in the RHIC beam energy scan.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Observational constraints on K-inflation models

We extend the ModeCode software of Mortonson, Peiris and Easther [1] to enable numerical computation of perturbations in K-inflation models, where the scalar field no longer has a canonical kinetic term. Focussing on models where the kinetic and potential terms can be separated into a sum, we compute slow-roll predictions for various models and use these to verify the numerical code. A Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis is then used to impose constraints from WMAP7 data on the addition of a term quadratic in the kinetic energy to the Lagrangian of simple chaotic inflation models. For a quadratic potential, the data do not discriminate against addition of such a term, while for a quartic (λφ{sup 4}) potential inclusion of such a term is actually favoured. Overall, constraints on such a term from present data are found to be extremely weak.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

A Novel Sensor Platform Matching the Improved Version of IPMVP Option C for Measuring Energy Savings

It is easy to measure energy consumption with a power meter. However, energy savings cannot be directly computed by the powers measured using existing power meter technologies, since the power consumption only reflects parts of the real energy flows. The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) was proposed by the Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO) to quantify energy savings using four different methodologies of A, B, C and D. Although energy savings can be estimated following the IPMVP, there are limitations on its practical implementation. Moreover, the data processing methods of the four IPMVP alternatives use multiple sensors (thermometer, hygrometer, Occupant information) and power meter readings to simulate all facilities, in order to determine an energy usage benchmark and the energy savings. This study proposes a simple sensor platform to measure energy savings. Using usually the Electronic Product Code (EPC) global standard, an architecture framework for an information system is constructed that integrates sensors data, power meter readings and occupancy conditions. The proposed sensor platform is used to monitor a building with a newly built vertical garden system (VGS). A VGS shields solar radiation and saves on energy that would be expended on air-conditioning. With this platform, the amount of energy saved in the whole facility is measured and reported in real-time. The data are compared with those obtained from detailed measurement and verification (M&V) processes. The discrepancy is less than 1.565%. Using measurements from the proposed sensor platform, the energy savings for the entire facility are quantified, with a resolution of ±1.2%. The VGS gives an 8.483% daily electricity saving for the building. Thus, the results show that the simple sensor platform proposed by this study is more widely applicable than the four complicated IPMVP alternatives and the VGS is an effective tool in reducing the carbon footprint of a building.

vertical garden system (VGS)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nonlinear light-output calibration of the oxygenated xylene scintillators used in OMEGA neutron time-of-flight spectrometers

Neutron time-of-flight (nTOF) spectrometers are essential instruments for measuring and evaluating the performance of inertial confinement fusion implosions. The neutron spectrometers utilized for the OMEGA laser include two liquid-based scintillators, each consisting of a large volume filled with xylene that is coupled to four photomultiplier tubes. Analysis of the signal from these detectors requires detailed knowledge of the scintillator’s light output, which is needed to fit the nTOF spectrum, from which the neutron energy spectrum is informed. The light output is nonlinearly proportional to the neutron energy, which, in turn, affects the interpretation of the neutron energy spectrum from a TOF signal. A recent campaign on OMEGA was performed to calibrate the xylene detectors and infer the shape of the light-output curve. The campaign utilized materials with increasing Z placed in the OMEGA target chamber to initiate scattering events with the 14 MeV fusion neutrons. This process leads to the production of backscatter neutrons of varying energies that appear as peaks in the nTOF data. Simulations using a neutron transport code were combined with the measured deuterium–tritium neutron yields to calculate the expected backscattered neutron yields from the well-known scattering cross sections of each material. Furthermore, the neutron-energy dependent light output of the scintillator inferred from the experiment is compared to the light-output curve simulated with a neutron transport code for the following neutron energies: 1.5, 2.5, 6, and 14 MeV.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Transient Physical Modelling for the Coupling of a High Temperature Gas Reactor with Thermal Energy Storage

Improving the flexibility of nuclear reactors to meet fluctuating demand on grids with high renewable energy generation penetration is key to improving reactor economics. Economic optimization using the code HERON gives maximum profit of coupling high temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) to thermal energy storage (TES) systems in the configuration shown in Figure 1 when following the demand in Figure 3. We look to model the physics of operation for a HTGR-TES using the HYBRID library in the code Modelica.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ER@CEBAF: Modeling code developments

A proposal for a multiple-pass, high-energy, energy-recovery experiment using CEBAF is under preparation in the frame of a JLab-BNL collaboration. In view of beam dynamics investigations regarding this project, in addition to the existing model in use in Elegant a version of CEBAF is developed in the stepwise ray-tracing code Zgoubi, Beyond the ER experiment, it is also planned to use the latter for the study of polarization transport in the presence of synchrotron radiation, down to Hall D line where a 12 GeV polarized beam can be delivered. This Note briefly reports on the preliminary steps, and preliminary outcomes, based on an Elegant to Zgoubi translation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Impact cratering calculations

In the course of carrying out finite difference calculations, it was discovered that for large craters, a previously unrecognized type of crater (diameter) growth occurred which was called lip wave propagation. This type of growth is illustrated for an impact of a 1000 km (2a) silicate bolide at 12 km/sec (U) onto a silicate half-space at earth gravity (1 g). The von Misses crustal strength is 2.4 kbar. The motion at the crater lip associated with this wave type phenomena is up, outward, and then down, similar to the particle motion of a surface wave. It is shown that the crater diameter has grown d/a of approximately 25 to d/a of approximately 4 via lip propagation from Ut/a = 5.56 to 17.0 during the time when rebound occurs. A new code is being used to study partitioning of energy and momentum and cratering efficiency with self gravity for finite-sized objects rather than the previously discussed planetary half-space problems. These are important and fundamental subjects which can be addressed with smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH) codes. The SPH method was used to model various problems in astrophysics and planetary physics. The initial work demonstrates that the energy budget for normal and oblique impacts are distinctly different than earlier calculations for silicate projectile impact on a silicate half space. Motivated by the first striking radar images of Venus obtained by Magellan, the effect of the atmosphere on impact cratering was studied. In order the further quantify the processes of meteor break-up and trajectory scattering upon break-up, the reentry physics of meteors striking Venus' atmosphere versus that of the Earth were studied.

Ahrens, Thomas J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pressure-driven tearing and thermal transport in finite-beta reversed field pinch computations

In this work, nonlinear resistive-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) computation with heating and anisotropic transport is applied to examine the interaction between thermal energy and magnetic fluctuations in inductively driven reversed-field pinches (RFPs). The magnetic fluctuations underlie magnetic field reversal through dynamo-like correlations, and they enhance thermal energy transport through fluctuations of parallel heat flux density. With the unfavorable magnetic curvature that exists across the RFP profile, thermal energy also affects the magnetic fluctuations. Computations with the NIMROD code [Sovinec et al., J. Comput. Phys. 195, 355–386 (2004)] integrate nonlinear MHD dynamics with energy transport and reproduce an RFP state with experimentally relevant values of plasma-β. Equilibria constructed from results of the 3D computations are analyzed to assess the sources of free energy in the saturated nonlinear state. Linear computations for these profiles show unstable modes of tearing parity. Their eigenfunctions are used to evaluate and compare stabilizing and destabilizing contributions to the kinetic energy integral. An assessment of the drives in the integral reveals that the pressure gradient drive is of comparable magnitude to the parallel current drive, and only the sum of the two surpasses the stabilizing contributions. Correlation of magnetic and parallel heat flux density fluctuations in the nonlinear computations shows that fluctuation-induced thermal conduction is the dominant mode of energy loss, as expected from experimental evidence. Decomposition of the fluctuating heat flux density shows that second-order correlations, alone, do not explain the total energy transport. Higher-order correlations are also important.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗