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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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Laser Beam Welding Benchmark Experiments Performed in Reduced Gravity and Vacuum

Laser beam welding (LBW) is affected by the extreme temperatures, reduced pressure, and reduced gravity present in space environments. Gravity and pressure especially influence its melt pool and solidification dynamics. A compact, modular vacuum chamber adaptable to flight platforms from parabolic to orbital currently hosts an experiment to investigate the combined influence of reduced gravity and pressure on LBW. A swappable cartridge contains a rotating platen on which customizable workpieces can be welded under vacuum, greatly increasing experimental throughput. Instrumentation includes weld and thermal cameras observing the process, thermocouples placed on workpieces, accelerometers, and vacuum sensors. Experimental data gathered during the welding process will be combined with post-flight nondestructive evaluation, metallography, and mechanical testing to provide validation datasets for computational modeling. Phase I of this effort involves a parabolic flight campaign in low gravity while an anticipated Phase II would proceed to in-space demonstration to access extended duration microgravity.

in-space welding↗
DOE OSTI2017

Advanced capabilities for materials modelling with Quantum ESPRESSO

Quantum ESPRESSO is an integrated suite of open-source computer codes for quantum simulations of materials using state-of-the-art electronic-structure techniques, based on density-functional theory, density-functional perturbation theory, and many-body perturbation theory, within the plane-wave pseudopotential and projector-augmented-wave approaches. Quantum ESPRESSO owes its popularity to the wide variety of properties and processes it allows to simulate, to its performance on an increasingly broad array of hardware architectures, and to a community of researchers that rely on its capabilities as a core open-source development platform to implement their ideas. In this paper we describe recent extensions and improvements, covering new methodologies and property calculators, improved parallelization, code modularization, and extended interoperability both within the distribution and with external software.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

No-scale SU( 5 ) super-GUTs

We reconsider the minimal SU( 5 ) grand unified theory (GUT) in the context of no-scale supergravity inspired by string compactification scenarios, assuming that the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters satisfy universality conditions at some input scale M in above the GUT scale M GUT . When setting up such a no-scale super-GUT model, special attention must be paid to avoiding the Scylla of rapid proton decay and the Charybdis of an excessive density of cold dark matter, while also having an acceptable mass for the Higgs boson. Furthermore, we do not find consistent solutions if none of the matter and Higgs fields are assigned to twisted chiral supermultiplets, even in the presence of Giudice–Masiero terms. But, consistent solutions may be found if at least one fiveplet of GUT Higgs fields is assigned to a twisted chiral supermultiplet, with a suitable choice of modular weights. Spin-independent dark matter scattering may be detectable in some of these consistent solutions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Coupled Calculations of the NuScale FIV Tests – Pre-test Simulations and Sensitivity Analysis

The NEAMS program aims to develop an integrated multi-physics simulation capability “pellet-to-plant” for the design and analysis of future generations of nuclear power plants. In particular, the Reactor Product Line code suite's multi-resolution hierarchy is being designed to ultimately span the full range of length and time scales present in relevant reactor design and safety analyses, as well as scale from desktop to petaflop computing platforms. Flow-induced vibration (FIV) is widespread problem in energy systems because they rely on fluid movement for energy conversion. Vibrating structures may be damaged as fatigue or wear occurs. Given the importance of reliable components in the nuclear industry, flow-induced vibration has long been a major concern in safety and operation of nuclear reactors. In particular, nuclear fuel rods and steam generators have been known to suffer from flow-induced vibration and related failures. Advanced reactors, such as integral Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) considered for Small Modular Reactors (SMR), often rely on innovative component designs to meet cost and safety targets. One component that is the subject of advanced designs is the steam generator, some designs of which forego the usual shell-and-tube architecture in order to fit within the primary vessel. A significant amount of data exists on flow-induced vibration in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, and heuristic methods are available to predict FIV based on a set of given assumptions. In contrast, advanced designs have far less data available. Advanced modeling and simulation based on coupled structural and fluid simulations have the potential to predict flow-induced vibration in a variety of designs, reducing the need for expensive experimental programs, especially at the conceptual design stage. Over the past several years, the Reactor Product Line has developed a FIV capability in SHARP. SHARP contains high-fidelity single-physics codes Diablo for structural mechanics and Nek5000 for fluid mechanics calculations. Both codes are state-of-the-art, highly scalable tools that have been extensively validated. In previous reports we have discussed the implementation and validation of an FIV capability for helical steam generators and fuel assemblies. In this report we discuss one-way coupled calculations performed with Nek5000 and Diablo for the NuScale FIV tests. In the turbulent fretting regime one-way coupling is judged to be sufficient because the pressure loads do not cause substantial displacements. It is also the most common source of vibration in helical steam generators per the low flows expected in integral PWRs. The simulations precede the tests, as experimental data was not available at the delivery of this report. Several assumptions had to be made on the support-tube interaction and multiple tests and sensitivity analysis have been performed. Additional work remains to be done and it is discussed in the future work section.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Abstract for CRADA between the National Energy Technology Laboratory and West Virginia University Research Corporation (AGMT-0891)

Microwave-assisted technologies for coal conversion processes could provide an avenue for new processing windows to be achieved via a modular reactor design. The benefits primarily come from the rapid and selective heating associated with microwave power, which can overcome significant lag times in heating the medium over conventional, thermal heating. Beyond selective heating, a non-thermal microwave effect has been proposed as a possible explanation for enhanced conversion and selectivity in reaction processes, which can produce yield beyond equilibrium values. However, the detailed mechanisms of microwave-assisted processes are not completely known. NETL and West Virginia University Research Corporation will investigate the microwave conversion process using a computational modeling approach coupled with experimental validation would provide insight into the microwave mechanism that is essential for designing efficient microwave-based coal conversion technologies.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2018

Synthesis of Operable Process Intensification Systems—Steady-State Design with Safety and Operability Considerations

In this work, we present an integrated approach to synthesize process intensification systems with guaranteed flexibility and safety performances. The synthesis of intensified equipment/flowsheets is addressed through the Generalized Modular Representation Framework (GMF), which utilizes an aggregation of multifunctional mass/heat exchange modules to represent chemical processes. Thus, the optimal design options are investigated as mass- and heat-transfer opportunities using superstructure-based optimization techniques without a prepostulation of plausible configurations. To ensure that the designs can be operated under a specified range of uncertain parameters, a multiperiod GMF representation is developed based on the critical operating conditions identified by flexibility test. Risk assessment, accounting for equipment failure frequency and consequence severity, is incorporated as a constraint into this synthesis model to derive inherently safer designs. The resulting safely operable intensified systems, which are represented via phenomenological modules, are then identified as corresponding equipment-based flowsheets and validated with steady-state simulation. We demonstrate the proposed approach through a case study for the production of methyl tert-butyl ether. Here, the results indicate that safety and operability considerations can result in significant changes in the structural and operating parameters of the optimal intensified design configuration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

PowerGridworld: A Framework for Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning in Power Systems [SWR-22-07]

NREL's PowerGridworld provides a modular simulation environment for training heterogenous, grid-aware, multi-agent reinforcement learning (RL) policies at scale. The package enables the user to create component gym environments that can be composed into more complex agents. For example, a grid interactive building environment can be created by composing together component environments each encapsulating the building, PV, and battery physics. These multi-component environments can then be combined into multi-agent simulation where each agent's power consumption/injection becomes an input for solving the optimal power flow on a distribution feeder modeled in OpenDSS. Information from OpenDSS, such as bus voltages and line flows, can be included in the agents' observation spaces to enable grid-aware rewards. The default API for the PowerGridworld simulator conforms to RLLib's MultiAgent API and thus enables distributed training using HPC and cloud resources.

Biagioni, David↗
DOE OSTI2025

Thermal Systems Modeling for Integration of Industrial Processes with Advanced Nuclear

Applying combined heat and power concepts to advanced nuclear reactors can enable increased nuclear utilization in the future clean economy, as well as provide safe and reliable clean energy to industrial systems. Analyses have been performed to evaluate the integration of nuclear energy with industrial processes for both clean electricity production and providing process heat for direct use to reduce emissions in the production of chemical commodities. The key research question that needs to be answered is: "What are the prospective approaches for integrating nuclear-generated heat energy into non-electric applications that can facilitate combined heat and power operations by advanced nuclear reactor systems?" This presentation will highlight several case studies showing conceptual designs for thermal delivery systems to integrate small modular reactor (SMR) process steam and electricity with industrial processes including oil refining, hydrogen production, and methanol production.

hydrogen↗
DOE OSTI2021

Molten Salt Reactor Signatures and Modeling Study

Molten salt reactor (MSR) technologies, either liquid fueled and cooled or only liquid cooled, pose specific, unique challenges for safeguards of the special nuclear material during the operation, fueling, and maintenance of the reactor. MSRs are one type of Generation IV technologies being invested in and considered for U.S. domestic fabrication primarily for electricity and process heat production. These designs have generated growing commercial interest for several reasons, including high (≈40%) thermal efficiency, ease of fueling, improved use of uranium fuel, potential utilization of thorium fuel, and proposed inherent safety features. U.S. companies have several planned designs that differ in fuel, cooling, and neutron energy spectrum. Driven by commercial interest and the intent of licensing MSRs, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has developed a vision and strategy to accommodate non-light water reactors (LWR), which include MSRs (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2019). In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) Office of Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART), …sponsors research, development and deployment (RD&D) activities through its Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), Advanced Reactor Concepts (ARC), and Advanced Small Modular Reactor (aSMR) programs to promote safety, technical, economical, and environmental advancements of innovative Generation IV nuclear energy technologies. Reactor types considering the use of salts, liquid metals, or gases for coolant fall under both ARC and aSMR. Therefore, Research Design & Development is being pursued by DOE-NE through national laboratories, universities, and international and industrial collaborations. Additionally, the U.S. is a member of the Gen IV International Forum (GIF). The GIF is a cooperative, multinational organization to guide and carry out research and development needed for the GEN IV reactor systems (Forum 2018). GIF evaluated numerous reactor concepts and down-selected to the six most feasible advanced reactor technologies: gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), MSR, supercritical watercooled reactor (SCWR), sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), and very high temperature reactor (VHTR). In support of the growing interest domestically and internationally, the Materials Protection, Accounting, and Control Technologies (MPACT) campaign, under the DOE-NE Fuel Cycle Technologies (FCT) program, engages in R&D activities by developing advanced instrumentation and analysis for safeguards and security of modern, advanced nuclear fuel cycle (non-LWR) facilities. Because of the historic experience in the operation of the Aircraft Reactor Experiment (ARE) and the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) (Robertson, MSRE Design and Operations Report Part I 1965), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is heavily engaged in the various R&D activities through the DOE complex related to MSRs including national technical leadership of the DOE-NE MSR campaign. This report discusses and presents the outcomes of the FY19 MPACT MSR Safeguards task. The challenges presented by MSRs for nuclear material accountancy and control (NMAC) and associated safeguards will be investigated. The objective of this research is to explore and compile the safeguards requirements and identify measurement signatures through an initial high-level MSR design and develop complementary advanced simulation and modeling capabilities. A high-level ORNL-developed MSR design called the Molten Salt Demonstration Reactor (MSDR) (Bettis, Alexander and Watts 1972) was used as the target reactor design for this research. The MSDR model incorporates technology from the MSRE and the Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (Robertson, Conceptual Design of a Single-Fluid Molten-Salt Breeder Reactor 1971). But the MSDR is a 750 MWth graphite moderated liquid fueled (low-enriched uranium) MSR compared to the MSRE’s of 7.5 MWth. The focus of this report is to discuss the evaluation of novel signatures, correlations, and indicators to understand the applicability of current safeguards instrumentation to MSRs using the modeling results from the MSDR.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS2014

Utilizing ARC EMCS Seedling Cassettes as Highly Versatile Miniature Growth Chambers for Model Organism Experiments

The aim of our ground testing was to demonstrate the capability of safely putting specific model organisms into dehydrated stasis, and to later rehydrate and successfully grow them inside flight proven ARC EMCS seedling cassettes. The ARC EMCS seedling cassettes were originally developed to support seedling growth during space flight. The seeds are attached to a solid substrate, launched dry, and then rehydrated in a small volume of media on orbit to initiate the experiment. We hypothesized that the same seedling cassettes should be capable of acting as culture chambers for a wide range of organisms with minimal or no modification. The ability to safely preserve live organisms in a dehydrated state allows for on orbit experiments to be conducted at the best time for crew operations and more importantly provides a tightly controlled physiologically relevant growth experiment with specific environmental parameters. Thus, we performed a series of ground tests that involved growing the organisms, preparing them for dehydration on gridded Polyether Sulfone (PES) membranes, dry storage at ambient temperatures for varying periods of time, followed by rehydration. Inside the culture cassettes, the PES membranes were mounted above blotters containing dehydrated growth media. These were mounted on stainless steel bases and sealed with plastic covers that have permeable membrane covered ports for gas exchange. The results showed we were able to demonstrate acceptable normal growth of C.elegans (nematodes), E.coli (bacteria), S.cerevisiae (yeast), Polytrichum (moss) spores and protonemata, C.thalictroides (fern), D.discoideum (amoeba), and H.dujardini (tardigrades). All organisms showed acceptable growth and rehydration in both petri dishes and culture cassettes initially, and after various time lengths of dehydration. At the end of on orbit ISS European Modular Cultivation System experiments the cassettes could be frozen at ultra-low temperatures, refrigerated, or chemically preserved before being returned to Earth for analyses. Our results suggest that with protocol modifications and future verification testing we can utilize the versatile EMCS to conduct tightly controlled experiments inside our culture cassettes for a wide variety of organisms. These physiological experiments would be designed to answer questions at the molecular level about the specific stress responses of space flight.

Model Organism Experiments↗
DOE OSTI2015

Critical Heat Flux Phenomena at High Pressure & Low Mass Fluxes: NEUP Final Report Part I: Experiments

This report is a preliminary document presenting an overview of the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) phenomenon, the High Pressure Critical Heat Flux facility (HPCHF), preliminary CHF data acquired, and the future direction of the research. The HPCHF facility has been designed and built to study CHF at high pressure and low mass flux ranges in a rod bundle prototypical of conceptual Small Modular Reactor (SMR) designs. The rod bundle is comprised of four electrically heated rods in a 2x2 square rod bundle with a prototypic chopped-cosine axial power profile and equipped with thermocouples at various axial and circumferential positions embedded in each rod for CHF detection. Experimental test parameters for CHF detection range from pressures of ~80 – 160 bar, mass fluxes of ~400 – 1500 kg/m 2 s, and inlet water subcooling from ~30 – 70°C. The preliminary data base established will be further extended in the future along with comparisons to existing CHF correlations, models, etc. whose application ranges may be applicable to the conditions of SMRs.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Developing multi-gene CRISPRa/i programs to accelerate DBTL cycles in ABF hosts engineered for chemical production

This project developed and implemented a modular CRISPR activation and interference (CRISPRa/i) platform to accelerate strain optimization and pathway development for industrially relevant microbial hosts. By integrating multiplexed transcriptional perturbation tools with data-driven Design–Build–Test–Learn (DBTL) workflows, the team achieved reductions in cycle time and enhanced production of industrial aromatics, particularly 4-aminocinnamic acid (4-ACA), in Pseudomonas putida. Key accomplishments included: ● Development of a robust, tunable CRISPRa/i system in P. putida that enabled efficient multi-target gene regulation via guide RNA (gRNA) programs ● Completion of two full DBTL cycles, guided by machine learning (ML) models trained on transcriptomic and performance data, reducing engineering time by over 30% ● Optimization of multi-gene regulatory programs to balance expression of host and pathway modules, improve 4-ACA titers, and resolve metabolic bottlenecks ● Demonstration of system portability through a limited proof-of-concept extension in Acinetobacter baylyi, underscoring the generalizability of the approach ● Evaluation of strain performance on lignocellulosic biomass-derived substrates, demonstrating the feasibility of converting renewable carbon into aromatic building blocks These results illustrate the feasibility of applying ML-guided CRISPRa/i perturbation strategies to accelerate strain development in complex microbial systems. The resulting tools and datasets contribute to DOE objectives by improving platform predictability, reducing development costs, and enabling broader access to sustainable, economically viable bioproduction technologies.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS2008

Simulating Operation of a Large Turbofan Engine

The Commercial Modular Aero- Propulsion System Simulation (C-MAPSS) is a computer program for simulating transient operation of a commercial turbofan engine that can generate as much as 90,000 lb (.0.4 MN) of thrust. It includes a power-management system that enables simulation of open- or closed-loop engine operation over a wide range of thrust levels throughout the full range of flight conditions. C-MAPSS provides the user with a set of tools for performing open- and closed-loop transient simulations and comparison of linear and non-linear models throughout its operating envelope, in an easy-to-use graphical environment.

Litt, Jonathan S.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Comet Gas and Dust Dynamics Modeling

This software models the gas and dust dynamics of comet coma (the head region of a comet) in order to support the Microwave Instrument for Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO) project. MIRO will study the evolution of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's coma system. The instrument will measure surface temperature, gas-production rates and relative abundances, and velocity and excitation temperatures of each species along with their spatial temporal variability. This software will use these measurements to improve the understanding of coma dynamics. The modeling tool solves the equation of motion of a dust particle, the energy balance equation of the dust particle, the continuity equation for the dust and gas flow, and the dust and gas mixture energy equation. By solving these equations numerically, the software calculates the temperature and velocity of gas and dust as a function of time for a given initial gas and dust production rate, and a dust characteristic parameter that measures the ability of a dust particle to adjust its velocity to the local gas velocity. The software is written in a modular manner, thereby allowing the addition of more dynamics equations as needed. All of the numerical algorithms are added in-house and no third-party libraries are used.

Von Allmen, Paul A.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Design of Multifunctional Hierarchical Space Structures

We describe a system for the design of space structures with tunable structural properties based on the discrete assembly of modular lattice elements. These lattice elements can be constructed into larger beam-like elements, which can then be assembled into large scale truss structures. These discrete lattice elements are reversibly assembled with mechanical fasteners, which allows them to be arbitrarily reconfigured into various application-specific designs. In order to assess the validity of this approach, we design two space structures with similar geometry but widely different structural requirements: an aerobrake, driven by strength requirements, and a precision segmented reflector, driven by stiffness and accuracy requirements. We will show agreement between simplified numerical models based on hierarchical assembly and analytical solutions. We will also present an assessment of the error budget resulting from the assembly of discrete structures. Lastly, we will address launch vehicle packing efficiency issues for transporting these structures to lower earth orbit.

Aeronautics↗
DOE OSTI2013

Dynamic Event Tree Analysis Through RAVEN

Conventional Event-Tree (ET) based methodologies are extensively used as tools to perform reliability and safety assessment of complex and critical engineering systems. One of the disadvantages of these methods is that timing/sequencing of events and system dynamics is not explicitly accounted for in the analysis. In order to overcome these limitations several techniques, also know as Dynamic Probabilistic Risk Assessment (D-PRA), have been developed. Monte-Carlo (MC) and Dynamic Event Tree (DET) are two of the most widely used D-PRA methodologies to perform safety assessment of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). In the past two years, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed its own tool to perform Dynamic PRA: RAVEN (Reactor Analysis and Virtual control ENvironment). RAVEN has been designed in a high modular and pluggable way in order to enable easy integration of different programming languages (i.e., C++, Python) and coupling with other application including the ones based on the MOOSE framework, developed by INL as well. RAVEN performs two main tasks: 1) control logic driver for the new Thermo-Hydraulic code RELAP-7 and 2) post-processing tool. In the first task, RAVEN acts as a deterministic controller in which the set of control logic laws (user defined) monitors the RELAP-7 simulation and controls the activation of specific systems. Moreover, RAVEN also models stochastic events, such as components failures, and performs uncertainty quantification. Such stochastic modeling is employed by using both MC and DET algorithms. In the second task, RAVEN processes the large amount of data generated by RELAP-7 using data-mining based algorithms. This paper focuses on the first task and shows how it is possible to perform the analysis of dynamic stochastic systems using the newly developed RAVEN DET capability. As an example, the Dynamic PRA analysis, using Dynamic Event Tree, of a simplified pressurized water reactor for a Station Black-Out scenario is presented.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cybersecurity Workforce Training for SMR Integration into Distribution Grids: A Competency Framework and Containerized Hands-On Lab for the SMR/DER/Microgrid Boundary

Small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors are entering the U.S. distribution grid as synchronous generation on feeders designed for loads and inverter-based distributed energy resources (DERs). No existing cybersecurity training program addresses this intersection of nuclear operations, DER management, and operational technology security. As subcontractor to Iowa State University on the CyDERMS Center, Argonne analyzed the relevant standards and training landscape, translated the resulting gaps into a twelve-objective competency framework across distribution-operator and graduate-analyst role tracks, and built a containerized training lab using a ∼400-bus composite grid model behind a realistically simulated Modbus TCP SCADA stack. The analysis isolates the balance-of-plant / energy-management-system (BOP/EMS) boundary as the critical jurisdictional seam where, as of March 2026, neither NRC nor NERC CIP cleanly claims cybersecurity responsibility for distribution-connected SMRs. The framework maps each objective across NIST CSF 2.0, ISA/IEC 62443, NIST NICE Task–Knowledge–Skill statements, and NRC RG 5.71 awareness-and-training controls. The training lab implements operator-recognition assessment scenarios spanning grid-side disturbances and telemetry-layer anomalies.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS2024

Plasma Wakes from the Baffle Scanning Mechanism on a LEO Mass Spectrometer

The Modular Spectrometer for Atmosphere and Ionosphere Characterization (MoSAIC) is a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) which will fly on NASA's Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission in low Earth orbit (LEO), providing measurements of neutral and ionized gas density, temperature, composition, and wind/drift. MoSAIC includes a Baffle Scanning Mechanism (BSM) which periodically sweeps in front of the QMS aperture, enabling determination of the ion temperature and cross-track velocity. Accurate knowledge of the plasma wake formed by the BSM is critical for accurate determination of these quantities. We conduct particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations modeling the interactions between the baffle and plasma across the full range of ion densities, temperatures, and flow speeds GDC is expected to encounter. We discuss the wake physics and present an empirical model which can be implemented in the MoSAIC data analysis process to determine the relevant ion quantities.

mass spectrometer↗