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At least 1,711 records · Page 95

Retiring environmental risks of marine renewable energy devices: The “habitat change” case

The installation, presence, operation, and decommissioning of marine renewable energy (MRE) devices inevitably alters the surrounding ocean habitats. These changes may include direct effects on the benthos from the installation or removal of foundations and anchors, changes in community composition on and near devices, artificial reef effects, and indirect effects such as alteration of the food web or facilitation of non-native, invasive species dispersal. Although there is no expectation that MRE devices affect marine environments differently than other anthropogenic ocean uses, regulators and stakeholders continue to have questions about potential negative impacts to species and habitats from development. Research studies and survey reports that inform our understanding of habitat changes related to MRE devices and associated equipment were compiled into an evidence base, sorted into categories of effects, and evaluated by a group of international experts to assess potential risk to habitats and biota from small numbers of MRE devices, as well as to identify knowledge gaps. These gaps were organized by category and divided up by relevance to consenting, research, or project development and monitoring responsibilities. Identifying these “known unknowns” allows for study design and collaboration from various perspectives to fill the knowledge gaps. Distribution of the evidence base and remaining uncertainties and knowledge gaps to the MRE community, coupled with new research, will help advance the MRE industry while resolving concerns about the potential risks of habitat change for small numbers of devices.

Hemery, Lenaig G.↗

A Taxonomic Classification Approach for Global Spatio-temporal Data

The World Bank, World Health Organization, and other major vendors collectively provide thousands of global time series datasets that focus on issues of the environment, public health, economics, violence, education, and national security. Sorting these data into meaningful information requires the use of data mining techniques to cluster trends into an orderly and manageable number of cases. The World SpatioTemporal Analytics and Mapping (WSTAMP) project database (wstamp.ornl.gov) was developed to spatiotemporally harmonize global vendor data (23,300+ attributes, 200+ locations, 50+ years). Within the WSTAMP analytical environment, Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) has been a highly effective data-driven approach for clustering and mapping these time series into national spatiotemporal behavior maps. Two significant properties have surfaced from this work. First, several recognizable cluster patterns have emerged and persist across a range of locations, attributes, and time frames (e.g., increasing, decreasing, rebounding, peak, oscillating). Secondly, practitioners engaging WSTAMP have noted the explanatory and anticipatory value of these patterns and articulated particular interest in detecting them within the spatiotemporal cube. This need was addressed by shifting DTW-based clustering from an open ended, data-driven implementation to a taxonomic pattern matching approach. This paper presents the method including implementation strategies for visualization and human computer interaction and applies the approach to a sample data set and concludes with next steps.

Stewart, Robert↗

Developing an Interactive Landscape for Mobility Resources: Preprint

As the world continues to be increasingly driven by data, the ways researchers and professionals sort and collect this data is critical. In the world of mobility data, new levels of data from public transportation systems, location services, and other means are being lost due to how little organization exists. Much of the data is proprietary, and there are few if any de jure or even de facto standards connecting data. There is also little knowledge about the gaps that exist in the data. In this project, we created an interactive landscape where mobility resources are categorized and organized in an easy to use, living document. We made this landscape with open-source code from the CNCF Cloud Native Landscape and repurposed it to the mobility data's needs. Additionally, unlike previous sources that organize mobility data, this document can be updated through GitHub by those in the field to keep its sources relevant. Following the creation of a beta version of the landscape, we conducted several interviews with industry researchers and professionals to ensure the landscape would be useful. The result is an online hub where mobility researchers and resource creators can easily access research and collaborate.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Scalable augmented enumeration and metadata operations for large filesystems

Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for performing scalable operations in a file system. Metadata entries in a namespace or directory tree are sharded across multiple file metadata servers. An augmented enumeration operation, such as listing a directory, is parallelized across the multiple file metadata servers, transparently to clients. Exemplary augmentation features can include filtering and sorting. Augmentation features can be executed concurrently with enumeration, prior to enumeration, after enumeration, or as a combination of these, and can utilize pre-built index structures or holding structures for intermediate results. Augmented enumeration operations can also include no-output operations such as changing file attributes or deleting a file, and cumulative operations such as counting total disk space usage. The parallelization is compatible with tree-level parallelization and storage-level parallelization. Disclosed technologies can be applied to other fields requiring scalable enumeration, such as database and network applications.

Grider, Gary A.↗

Future Advances in Photon-Based Neutrino Detectors: A SNOWMASS White Paper

We discuss here new, enabling technologies for future photon-based neutrino detectors. These technologies touch nearly every aspect of such detectors: new scintillating materials, new methods of loading isotopes, new photon sensors and collectors, new approaches to simulation and analysis, and new front-end electronics and DAQ ideas. Of particular interest are technologies that enable broad physics programs in hybrid Cherenkov/scintillation detectors, such as slow fluors, water-based liquid scintillator, and spectral sorting of photons. Several new large-scale detector ideas are also discussed, including hybrid detectors like Theia, ArTEMIS, and generic slow-fluor detectors, as well as the very different SLIPs and LiquidO approaches to instrumenting photon-based detectors. A program of demonstrators for future detectors, including ANNIE, Eos, and NuDOT are also discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A High-Granularity Approach to Modeling Energy Consumption and Savings Potential in the U.S. Residential Building Stock: Preprint

Building simulations are increasingly used in various applications related to energy efficient buildings. For individual buildings, applications include: design of new buildings, prediction of retrofit savings, ratings, performance path code compliance and qualification for incentives. Beyond individual building applications, larger scale applications (across the stock of buildings at various scales: national, regional and state) include: codes and standards development, utility program design, regional/state planning, and technology assessments. For these sorts of applications, a set of representative buildings are typically simulated to predict performance of the entire population of buildings. Focusing on the U.S. single-family residential building stock, this paper will describe how multiple data sources for building characteristics are combined into a highly-granular database that preserves the important interdependencies of the characteristics. We will present the sampling technique used to generate a representative set of thousands (up to hundreds of thousands) of building models. We will also present results of detailed calibrations against building stock consumption data.

building stock↗

Hard disk drive dismantlement for critical material recovery

A system and method for recycling rare earth materials from dissimilar hard disk drives are provided. The system and method generally include scanning each hard disk drive, sorting and aligning each hard disk drive, rapid fastener removal or diversion to a metrology station, and the collection of separated value streams, optionally for formation into new magnetic stock. For each scanned hard disk drive having a match in an inventory database, the method includes the separation of an internal magnet from residual components. For each scanned hard disk drive lacking a match in the inventory database, the method includes generating a metrology data collection record containing the location of each fastener on multiple surfaces of the corresponding hard disk drive. The system and method are commercially scalable with the potential to generate between 600 and 700 metric tons of rare earth elements from a single processing facility annually, including neodymium for example.

McIntyre, Timothy J.↗

Automated recovery of rare earth permanent magnets from electric machines

A method for the automated recovery of rare earth permanent magnets from electric machines are provided. The method includes identifying electric machines in a mixed product stream for performing a unique robotic disassembly routine. Electric machines that are not identified are diverted to a robot training station, during which time the system and the method include implementing a suitable disassembly routine. A conveyor delivers the remaining electric machines to a rotary platform having multiple stations for the simultaneous disassembly of multiple electric machines. Permanent magnets are removed from the electric machines and are then sorted for recycling operations.

McIntyre, Timothy J.↗

PV Validation Hub

The Validation Hub will be a clearinghouse for the transfer of novel algorithms and software from the PV research community to industry. Potential algorithms tested in the Hub could include the estimation of various PV loss factors and the detection of various operational issues. The primary function of the Hub will be for developers to submit executable code which will run on hosted data sets. Developers will receive private reports on the accuracy and performance (e.g., run-time) of the submitted algorithms, and public high level summaries will be hosted. These summaries will indicate the organization who submitted the algorithm (e.g., links to GitHub pages, documentation websites, etc.), high-level accuracy metrics, and standardized performance metrics. These results will be stored in a publicly available database, accessible through the Hub, with the ability for users to sort and filter the results. In short, the Hub will be presented to public users as a collection of interactive leaderboards, organized around specific analysis tasks pertinent to the PV data science community. These tasks include things such as the estimation of various PV loss factors and the detection of various operational issues. We will present progress on the development of this hub, including preliminary results of comparative validation of PV data science algorithms and progress towards building the platform itself.

algorithm↗

Remote Decommissioning of the Plutonium Experimental Extraction Facility, Sellafield - 17031

A redundant suite of gloveboxes formerly used for an experimental plutonium extraction process required decommissioning to avoid further degradation and a risk to other users of the Analytical Services building on Sellafield site. Following a full option selection process, remote techniques were chosen as the most appropriate (i.e. ALARP) decommissioning method. A nearby ventilation system from a previous project was re-engineered to ventilate the laboratory. Gloveboxes in neighbouring labs were cleared to create space to install a personnel access facility. The containment was reinforced where necessary to provide adequate protection from the remote machinery. Following a campaign of manual waste removal, including approximately 21 tonnes of lead chevron bricks released as exempt waste, a Brokk{sup R} 90 remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) was deployed to perform remote size reduction of the glovebox suite. The resulting plutonium-contaminated material (PCM) was delivered to a Kraft Raptor manipulator for sorting and consignment to an on-site store in 200-litre drums. Despite indications from pre-decommissioning surveys of the presence of ILW in the shielded section, none was found. Following the successful removal of the glovebox suite, and the emergence during the project of additional redundant gloveboxes within the Analytical Services building, the Remediation team has taken the opportunity to retain the decommissioning infrastructure as a remote glovebox breakdown facility. (authors)

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Feedback of the Dutch Historical Waste Management Program - 17085

This paper provides a feedback on the Dutch historical waste management program. Over the past decades, the High Flux Reactor located in Petten in the province of North Holland has tested numerous types of materials and fuels irradiation, for both medical and nuclear energy applications. A number of waste containers was accumulated on site, where the storage facility was initially built. Following Dutch political decisions in the 1980's, the contents of the waste storage facility in Petten must be transferred to another location. The consequences of this decision included the transportation of waste containers from Petten to the new location, which is located in the South-West of the Netherlands. This project was initiated and is now running. It includes a complex structure and can be described as follows: each historical-waste container will be opened, its contents segregated in three categories depending on the dose rate emission, characterized and repacked in new containers suitable for transportation and storage at the new site. The approach chosen is based on the final dose rate emitted by the repacked containers, which are sub-divided into 3 categories.. The lowest dose-emitting containers are transported directly to the new storage facility. The 2 other categories are first transported to a third party to be super compacted and subsequently transported to the new storage facility. So far, the segregation method is based on Co-60 gamma emission and nuclide vectors associated to the different materials. A pre-sorting has been established to fit as much as possible IAEA recommendations. Historical waste has then to be classified in families sharing common history. Thus, a set of canisters containing the pieces of the old reactor vessel, which was replaced in 1984 was the first challenge, followed by a set of canisters containing residues of instruments only and pieces coming from the top of the control rods of the reactor which were not directly irradiated in the reactor. So far, the two first sets of canisters are being treated and characterized as well as possible. Reporting and official documents have been filled up to comply to Dutch transport regulations and to define waste acceptance criteria for the storage facility. The first transports of containers with Low Level Waste occurred in October 2015, and another transport took place at the end of 2016. (authors)

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Materials Identification System for 200 liter/55 gallon Waste Drums using Computer Tomographic Techniques - 17162

In 2014 a thermal runaway event within a drum in-situ at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) facility near Carlsbad, NM, resulted in the drum being breached and activity released. This emphasized the need for a better determination of drum contents and identification of material combinations and in-drum conditions. Enhanced characterization is required to identify and quantify the presence of absorbent materials, determine whether they are organic or inorganic, locate their position in the drum with respect to other materials, and quantify how much liquid is being held in the absorbent material. As part of the waste characterization process to ensure compliance with the WIPP waste acceptance criteria, drums are currently inspected by Real Time Radioscopic (RTR) x-ray to identify prohibited items such as free liquids and un-punctured aerosol cans, but that technique cannot satisfy these newly identified requirements, and a new approach to non-destructive examination was required. This approach complements the current RTR inspection with Cone-Beam Area Detector Computed Tomography (CT) scanning of the whole drum, followed by more-quantitative CT scanning of specific areas of concern, using a highly collimated Linear Detector Array. The density of representative waste drums required x-ray energies of up to 9 MeV, which meant that sorting of materials by their photo-electric absorption is not viable as this occurs in the 80 - 180 keV range. However, a notable characteristic of higher energy imaging in this context is the general correspondence between material density and total attenuation in the 1.5-4.0 MeV range due to Compton Scatter. Development of the imaging chain, comprising the x-ray source and the detectors was critical to achieving the required system performance. Theoretical analysis of the energy spectra of the 9 MeV beam, and filtration of the beam to remove the lower energies which cause beam hardening artifacts in the image was required. Theoretical evaluation of the required efficiency and image acquisition performance of area detectors and linear array detectors, was carried out to complete the selection of equipment. A system of density calibration rods was designed and, together with the selected equipment, was configured and used to acquire cone-beam CT data and line-scan CT data by scanning a 55 gallon drum containing surrogate waste. From the acquired data, CT reconstruction was performed and the basis of algorithms to identify materials were developed. Following this, a series of blind tests were done using a range of surrogate materials the contents of which were unknown to the system operators. (authors)

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The Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project: Optimizing use of This National Asset to Treat Challenging Radioactive Waste From Other Department of Energy Sites - 16064

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) is a world-class radioactive waste treatment facility with a highly experienced and innovative workforce located at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The AMWTP's state-of-the-art capabilities include a 62-ton super-compactor, remote cutting and sorting, macro-encapsulation systems, assay units, drum repackaging, waste characterization, and payload assembly and loading. Since operations began in 2003, the facility has been the largest shipper for contact-handled (CH) transuranic (TRU) waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). It has successfully processed over 56,000 cubic meters (m{sup 3}) of CH TRU waste and mixed low-level waste (MLLW) from the Idaho Site and approximately 700 m{sup 3} of CH TRU waste from 15 other DOE sites. While the AMWTP is nearing successful completion of its Idaho mission, other DOE environmental cleanup sites will require safe and proven capabilities to treat, package, characterize, and certify legacy radioactive waste inventories well into the next decade. In addition, DOE's national security, nuclear energy, and science programs need sustainable treatment capabilities to support ongoing and new missions. The AMWTP could continue to serve a vital role beyond its current Idaho mission to help address these larger DOE needs. To this end and in recognition that AMWTP's current priority is to complete the processing and removal of Idaho waste, DOE's Office of Environmental Management has initiated strategic planning to assess the feasibility of continued AMWTP operations to treat challenging radioactive waste from other generator sites consistent with existing regulatory agreements. This paper describes AMWTP's unique capabilities and identifies potential benefits, opportunities, and possible solutions to packaging and transportation challenges to fully use AMWTP as a national asset. A panel discussion of subject matter experts with audience participation would help to inform DOE's strategic planning on how best to use this national asset into the future. (authors)

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D and D of the Callisto PWR Loop as part of the Refurbishment of the BR2 Research Reactor - 16168

Research reactor BR2 is undergoing a thorough maintenance and modernisation operation until mid-2016. In order to be able to use the reactor safely and efficiently in the coming period of 10 years, a preventive replacement of the beryllium matrix was required as a major step in the refurbishment. At the same time, a number of preventive maintenance and modernisation activities have been defined, including the dismantling of the CALLISTO (Capability for Light Water Irradiation in Steady State and Transient Operation) PWR experimental facility for in-pile studies installed into BR2 for more than 20 years. The CALLISTO end of life decommissioning strategy aims for waste, cost and dose uptake minimisation and includes: - the unloading and removal of the in-pile sections; - a closed-loop full system decontamination for dose reduction; - the complete dismantling of the loop; - the further sorting and segmentation in a dedicated workshop; - a hard chemical batch-wise decontamination for unconditional clearance. The operation is planned in the period of mid-2015 until mid-2016. The paper will describe in detail these subsequent steps, with a focus on decontamination and dismantling. Lessons learned and potential benefits towards the D and D of commercial PWR will be highlighted. (authors)

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Treatment of LLW Components for Waste Minimization and Recycling - 16258

The Studsvik Melting Facility has been in operation for almost 30 years. Many turbines, heat exchangers and other retired components, pipes, structures have been treated in the facility during those years. The ambition of all projects is to minimize the waste volumes for final disposal and to maximize the amount of material that can be recycled. Another objective, respecting ALARA, is to keep dose exposition to the personnel at very low levels. The overall concept comprises the whole sequence of preparations from road and sea transports, the management of the metallic LLW by segmentation, decontamination and sorting using specially devised tools and shielded treatment cell, to the decision criteria for recycling of the metals, radiological analyses and conditioning of the residual waste into a final form suitable for customer-related disposal. The records show that the amount of material possible for conditional clearance to open market after treatment is between 95 - 97 % on weight for falling metallic scrap. For large components there is a larger span and especially for heat exchangers. This paper describes the Studsvik technical concept and experience related to treatment of metals from the program for modernization and power upgrade of the Swedish nuclear power plants. (authors)

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Developing Waste-Driven Design Requirements for Filtration and Ion-Exchange at the Hanford LAWPS Facility - 16394

The United States Department of Energy is building the Low Activity Waste Pretreatment System (LAWPS) at the Hanford site near Richland, Washington to treat liquid tank waste. The primary unit operations are filtration for solids removal and ion-exchange for cesium-137 removal. The properties of the stored waste are diverse, therefore the design requirements need to allow for a variety of feeds from the Hanford tank farms. However, it is not cost effective to allow a few rare feeds to define the requirements when there are other options for treating the rare wastes. The waste-derived design requirements were based on trends from this data. The primary feed requirements that will drive filtration and ion-exchange performance are solids content of the feed, cesium to sodium ratio, and potassium concentration. Additionally, aluminum and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations are considered for flammable gas generation. For the cesium and potassium concentrations, the available experimental data was collected, sorted, and compared against the historic requirements. The design basis for cesium and potassium feed parameters developed here enveloped all but a couple outlier tanks. A review of available grab sample data indicates that occasionally the samples would have up to 0.8 wt% solids concentration. One single sample had 3.3 wt% solids concentration. These solids concentrations were assigned as the nominal and upper bounding solids concentrations. Flammable gas generation does not directly impact the ion exchange process throughput but does impact the design safety requirements, thus TOC and aluminum concentrations (which are inputs to the flammable gas calculations) were examined in a similar way, but were paired together through a simplified correlation to reach an upper bounding value of 0.6 wt% TOC*Al{sup 0.4}. (authors)

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Decommissioning Experience at Rokkasho; Standing Type Manipulator: A1000S for Dismantling Tasks - 16434

Decommissioning is a technical process which includes various steps and processes from the clean-up of radioactive materials to the progressive demolition of the plant. One of these steps is the cutting of subassemblies, like tanks, pipes or walls in small pieces suitable for the sorting and disposal. Different solutions are offered for this cutting work and can be grouped as following: - Chip forming - sawing, drilling, milling, turning etc. - Shearing - punching, stamping, scissoring. - Abrading - Grinding, lapping, polishing; water-jet. - Heat - flame cutting, plasma cutting, laser cutting. - Electro-Chemical - Etching, Electrical discharge machining (EDM). Each method has its limitations in accuracy, cost, and effect on the material. In 2013, Waelischmiller Engineering won a contract for two remote handling systems dedicated to the dismantling cell at Rokkasho Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Facility in Japan. For this project, Inconel and other metals needed to be cut. One of the main cutting methods was decided to use of an angle grinder handled by a robotic arm. Because the use of the overhead systems (bridges and cranes) was difficult for this installation, it was determined, that the best alternative was a power manipulator A1000 installed on the floor with a pre-positioning system. The project proceeded to go forward with the adaptation of the standard A1000 with integration of a control system in a Cartesian coordinate frame; resulting in a heavy duty arm; A1000S with 6 degrees of freedom. The heavy duty power arm A1000S was developed and designed for mechanical cutting with an angle grinder, especially for thick and hard material for example stainless steel and Inconel. Cutting a thick material with an angle grinder requires repeatable precise linear motion, in order not to damage the disc. The angle grinder should be handled with a manipulator which can cut in all directions in a linear motion, since the objects which should be cut are usually very large and fixed in any direction For these requirements, the Cartesian control function was added to our standard power manipulator type A1000. In some cases, the decommissioning work includes repeated access routes or fixed access points that the manipulator arm has to pass repeatedly. For example a fixed point where the waste materials are collected, or repeated transport route that the arm has to go along for each step. For this requirement, the A1000S has been equipped with the 'Go To-Mode'. It is a 'teach and playback mode' which has been developed especially for remote operating manipulators. Quick direct teach, quick play function and an intuitive touch-panel layout are some of the features. With the Go To-Mode high working efficiency was achieved. After rigorous testing at Waelischmiller premises; the manipulator was delivered to JNFL in Rokkasho. It was found that the obtained functionality and precision can be applicable not only for the cutting with a disc grinder, but also the laser cutting method, which requires precise trajectory control. This paper will provide: - A project description, - Presentation of solution process, - Technical description of the A1000S, - Future Applications of the robotic Arm A1000S. (authors)

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Future German R and D on HLW Disposal - 16519

In 2009, after the General elections, the new German Government showed a relatively positive attitude towards a prolonged use of nuclear power. Power plant shutdown was planned for the year 2032. Nuclear power was considered as a sort of transition energy technology until the energy supply would take place by the use of renewable energy sources. This was in line with the legal framework and the political strategy of the energy turnaround. Then, 17 nuclear power plants (NPP) were operational. The Fukushima incident heralded the sound of drastic changes in the German energy policy: Besides an intermediate stop of operation of reactors until a so-called stress test was accomplished, the general political decision was to phase-out nuclear earlier than planned and to implement faster the decisions regarding the energy transition policy. The shut-down of the last German nuclear power plant will occur in 2022. Accordingly, all the necessary legal changes were made. A consensus about the appropriate waste management strategy for heat generating waste (spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and vitrified waste (HLW)) was still pending at this time. Public and political discussions on this subject continued as in the years before. In July 2013, after intensive discussions, most of the parties represented in the German parliament agreed to eventually tackle the challenge of finding a repository by a consensual, transparent and science-based approach. This was to be codified in a law. In July 2013, the Site Selection Act passed the parliament. This law should pave the way for a new holistic process that addresses social, political, and scientific aspects of siting and the site selection process. The basics for this process should be provided by the 'Commission Storage of Radioactive Waste Materials' which was established according this law. Against this background discussions showed that scientific-technical R and D activities should be mirrored accordingly and R and D has to deal both with the future challenges of radioactive waste HLW disposal and related aspects. Considering this the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), which is responsible for non-site specific R and D, created the new Research Concept 'Research for the management of radioactive waste', being fundamental and the frame for non-site specific R and D projects funded by BMWi. Key changes - mirroring the new requirements and different aspects - touch the issues: host rock research, i.e. all potential host rocks available in Germany are equally addressed and there is no prioritization, consideration of consequences of prolonged storage at NPP sites, alternative waste management strategies compared to direct disposal in a mined repository, and involvement of socio-technical aspects.This paper intends to highlight the key changes, its consequences, and will give a brief overview on first initiated R and D activities. (authors)

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