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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic responses of submerged components in advanced reactors: experimental and numerical studies

The seismic design of an advanced nuclear reactor must consider the interaction of vessel internal components with the surrounding coolant: fluid–structure interaction (FSI). Available analytical solutions for FSI of submerged components do not accommodate multiple-component, intense seismic inputs and complex reactor and internal geometries. Physical testing of reactor vessels and internals to inform seismic design is impractical and cost-prohibitive, leaving the use of verified and validated, robust numerical models as the only plausible option for analysis and design. Physical data that could be used for validating such numerical models for multi-component shaking are not available. This article describes an experimental program performed on a 6-degree-of-freedom earthquake simulator to generate data that could support validation of seismic FSI numerical models for submerged components in commercial finite element codes. A scaled model of a base-supported reactor vessel with simplified representations of submerged internals was tested to generate submerged-component response histories for a range of seismic inputs. The generated data were used to validate numerical models in the finite element code LS-DYNA. Numerical models were validated for calculation of hydrodynamic pressure responses on internals, in-water frequencies of internals, and acceleration responses of internals. The generated data and the analysis recommendations could aid engineering analysts designing submerged components and systems for seismic effects.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2021

SURFACE FINISHING AND ELECTROLESS NICKEL PLATING OF ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED (AM) METAL COMPONENTS

This study investigates the application of electroless nickel deposition on additively manufactured stainless steel samples. Current additive manufacturing (AM) technologies produce metal components with a rough surface. Rough surfaces generally exhibit fatigue characteristics, increasing the probability of initiating a crack or fracture to the printed part. For this reason, the direct use of as-produced parts in a finished product cannot be actualized, which presents a challenge. Post-processing of the AM parts is therefore required to smoothen the surface. This study analyzes chempolish (CP) and electropolish (EP) surface finishing techniques for post-processing AM stainless steel components CP has a great advantage in creating uniform, smooth surfaces regardless of size or part geometry EP creates an extremely smooth surface, which reduces the surface roughness to the sub-micrometer level. In this study, we also investigate nickel deposition on EP, CP, and as-built AM components using electroless nickel solutions. Electroless nickel plating is a method of alloy treatment designed to increase manufactured component's hardness and surface resistance to the unrelenting environment. The electroless nickel plating process is more straightforward than its counterpart electroplating.. We use low-phosphorus (2-5% P), medium-phosphorus (6-9% P), and high-phosphorus (10-13% P). These Ni deposition experiments were optimized using the L9 Taguchi design of experiments (TDOE), which compromises the prosperous content in the solution, surface finish, plane of the geometry, and bath temperature. The pre-and post-processed surface of the AM parts was characterized by KEYENCE Digital MicroscopeVHX-7000 and Phenom XL Desktop SEM. The experimental results show that electroless nickel deposition produces uniform Ni coating on the additively manufactured components up to 20 μm per hour. Mechanical properties of as-built and Ni coated AM samples were analyzed by applying a standard 10 N scratch test. Nickel coated AM samples were up to two times scratch resistant compared to the as-built samples. This study suggests electroless nickel plating is a robust viable option for surface hardening and finishing AM components for various applications and operating conditions.

Keywords: additive manufacturing, fatigue, chempol↗
DOE OSTI2020

Methods of making a component with variable magnetization and related components

A method of forming a component having a variation in saturation magnetization is presented. The method includes selectively diffusing nitrogen into a metallic component of a masked metallic component by exposing the masked metallic component to a nitrogen-rich atmosphere. The masked metallic component includes a patterned oxide layer formed on a surface of the metallic component, and the patterned oxide layer includes an oxide of a metal present in the metallic component. A related component is also presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Turbine component and methods of making and cooling a turbine component

A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. A plurality of axial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of making a turbine component includes forming an airfoil having a trailing edge portion with axial cooling channels. The axial cooling channels are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Turbine component and methods of making and cooling a turbine component

A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. A plurality of axial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of making a turbine component includes forming an airfoil having a trailing edge portion with axial cooling channels. The axial cooling channels are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.

Dutta, Sandip↗
DOE OSTI2021

Solvation Dynamics of Wet Ethaline: Water is the Magic Component

The past two decades witnessed the development of a new type of solvent system, named deep eutectic solvents, which have become increasingly investigated because they offer new and potentially favorable properties, such as wide tunability in electrochemical, mechanical, and transport properties. Deep eutectic solvent (DES) systems are composed of at least one main solvent and an additional component that is meant to interrupt the original solvent/solvent interactions, thereby introducing lower melting points relative to each individual component. Ethaline (a 1:2 mole% mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol) is one of the most promising DES systems. However, it is also known to be very hygroscopic, which is a constant concern because water absorption during the use of ethaline alters its properties. Within this work, we demonstrate that modest amounts of water addition (1-10%) to ethaline are of little concern for practical use and can even lead to performance improvements, such as accelerated relaxation and solvation. In contrast, very small amounts of <1% of water lead to additional slowing of the solvent response. Thus, we suggest that the attempt to dry ethaline below 1% moisture is rather counter-productive if one attempts to achieve effective solvation and charge transport properties from DESs. This study investigates the effect of water content on the diffusional relaxation dynamics of ethaline. A set of independent spectroscopic experiments and computational simulations are aimed to provide insight into the solvent response of the DES system using femtosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy (fs-TA), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusometry and broadband relaxometry, and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) on ethaline with 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 28.5wt% added water. For dry ethaline, we identify choline chloride as the rate-limiting solvation component in ethaline. However, the role of the solvent components changes gradually as water is added. Further, we provide quantitative solvent relaxation rates using the different presented time-resolved spectroscopic techniques and find remarkable agreement between them. Based on the solvent relaxation rates and combined with MDS, we develop a molecular understanding of the individual solvent components and their interactions in dry and wet ethaline with varying amounts of water content.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Composite components and methods of manufacturing composite components using magnetic forces at fiber preform seams

A method of manufacturing a composite component according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes disposing a fiber preform in a mold. The fiber preform includes a first portion having a first edge and a second portion having a second edge. The first edge and the second edge cooperate to at least partially define a gap. One of the first portion or the second portion includes a first ferromagnetic material and the other of the first portion or the second portion includes a first magnetic or magnetizable component. The method further includes closing the gap by generating a magnetic field from the first magnetic or magnetizable component. The method further includes injecting a polymer precursor into the mold. The method further includes forming the composite component by solidifying the polymer precursor to form a polymer. The composite component includes the fiber preform and the polymer.

Aitharaju, Venkateshwar R.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Stardust Network Measurement Components (esnet-stardust-components) v1

This software contains a set of components that allow us to measure and analyze the use and performance of computer networks using existing off the shelf Open Source components organized into a scalable and extensible system. The components were developed for and used within ESnet's Stardust Measurement Environment. The components are used to collect, process and display network measurement data in an architecture that employs a combination of Elasticsearch, Logstash and Grafana. The advantage of this approach is we can tailor system behavior to our analytical needs and expand its capability with new types of network measurement without waiting for a commercial vendor to support our fairly niche use cases. Additionally we have existing collaborations within our community that came about from prior research efforts that will benefit from the release of this software so that others can also contribute features.

Balas, Edward↗
DOE OSTI2022

Turbine component and methods of making and cooling a turbine component

A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. Radial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil permit radial flow of a cooling fluid through the trailing edge portion. Each radial cooling channel has a first end at a lower surface at a root edge of the trailing edge portion or at an upper surface at a tip edge of the trailing edge portion and a second end opposite the first end at the lower surface or the upper surface. A method of making a turbine component and a method of cooling a turbine component are also disclosed.

Dutta, Sandip↗
DOE OSTI2024

Relating Measured Component Damage to Assessed Component Reliability in Reliability Integrity Management (RIM)

There is currently no widely agreed detailed general method for licensing a novel plant incorporating novel materials (or materials being deployed in novel environments); in many such situations, there are no directly applicable engineering code cases for decision-makers (including regulators) to rely on. It may be possible to develop an approach to licensing such a plant that is based on the Reliability and Integrity Management (RIM) approach delineated in ASME BPVC Section XI Division 2. NRC Regulatory Guide 1.246, Rev.0, endorses, with conditions, the subject portion of the ASME Code. But that portion of the ASME code is written at a very high level, and there are fundamental technical challenges associated with applying it literally to licensing a real plant. In the RIM approach, applicants need to do the following (among other things): • Allocate target reliabilities to structures, systems, and components (SSCs) that collectively support the top-level plant safety and availability objectives; • Understand failure modes of those SSCs, and the degradation mechanisms that could lead to those failure modes; • Develop and propose a program of surveillances that will identify degradation prior to failure of SSCs; • Provide a means of reporting results, taking actions for anomalous or undesirable conditions, and give the regulator assurance of continued safe operations. Applying RIM in a specific case will call for advances in the state of practice of relating physical observables to functional reliability of certain component types. Except where a given level of damage corresponds to a failed (or nearly failed) state, it is not practical to establish a precise quantitative relationship between physical observables and reliability. This paper focuses on managing risk of passive component failures based on observable damage parameters. A simple approach to cumulative damage modeling will be illustrated with a view to possible use in RIM applications.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Path towards Plasma Facing Components: A Review of State-of-the-art in W-Based Refractory High-Entropy Alloys

Developing advanced materials for plasma-facing components (PFCs) in fusion reactors is a crucial aspect for achieving sustained energy production. Tungsten (W) - based refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their superior radiation tolerance and high-temperature strength. This review paper will focus on recent advancements in W-based RHEA research, particularly emphasizing the key role of modelling using machine learning (ML) in the stage of discovery by predicting properties for each composition and expediting the identification of optimal RHEA compositions with desired properties. Additionally, the application of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques for fabricating W-based RHEAs is explored, highlighting their advantages for rapid prototyping and multi-compositional sample production in a high throughput manner. The review critically evaluates the current understanding of mechanical properties relevant to PFC applications, including high-temperature strength and ductility. Furthermore, the radiation tolerance of W-based RHEAs under irradiated conditions is discussed. Finally, the validity of current AM-manufactured W-based RHEAs as PFC materials is assessed, and key challenges and opportunities for future research are identified. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of W-based RHEAs for fusion applications and their potential to guide the development and validation of advanced refractory high entropy alloys.

Hatler, Caleb [University of Wisconsin-Madison]↗
DOE OSTI2021

Efficient Four-Component Dirac–Coulomb–Gaunt Hartree–Fock in the Pauli Spinor Representation

Four-component Dirac Hartree--Fock is an accurate mean-field method for treating molecular systems where relativistic effects are important. However, the computational cost and complexity of the two-electron interaction makes this method less common, even though we can consider the Dirac Hartree--Fock Hamiltonian the ``ground truth" of electronic structure, barring explicit quantum-electrodynamical effects. Being able to calculate these effects is then vital to the design of lower scaling methods for accurate predictions in computational spectroscopy and properties of heavy element complexes that must include relativistic effects for even qualitative accuracy. In this work, we present a Pauli quaternion formalism of maximal component- and spin-separation for computing the Dirac-Coulomb-Gaunt Hartree-Fock ground state, with a minimal floating-point-operation count algorithm. Furthermore, this approach also allows one to explicitly separate different spin physics from the two-body interactions, such as spin-free, spin-orbit, and the spin-spin contributions. Additionally, we use this formalism to examine relativistic trends in the periodic table, and analyze the basis set dependence of atomic gold and gold dimer systems.

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

Surprising Relationship between Silicon Anode Calendar Aging and Electrolyte Components in a Localized High-Concentration Electrolyte System

Although localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) have been shown to improve the calendar lifetime of silicon anodes, the roles of the electrolyte constituents in calendar aging are not well understood. Here, in this work, we utilize a voltage hold protocol and an LHCE with varying molar ratios of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), tetramethylene sulfone (TMS), and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE) to probe the component roles during aging. Interestingly, the estimated calendar lifetime and irreversible lithium losses from the V-hold experiments are independent of the electrolyte formulations. Contrarily, the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition depends on the electrolyte formulation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that TMS-coordinated species decompose to form insoluble alkanes and lithium hydroxide (LiOH), while lithium fluoride (LiF) originates from the anion-coordination complex. The SEI composition does not appear to play a significant role in the silicon anode passivity, as measured by parasitic current, suggesting that the SEI-electrolyte interactions dictate the calendar aging mechanisms.

Si anode↗
DOE OSTI2020

Plasma Facing Component Characterization and Correlation With Plasma Conditions in Lithium Tokamak Experiment-β

Lithium coatings in the Lithium Tokamak eXperiment (LTX) led to flat temperature profiles. The flat temperature profiles were observed along with a hot, low density edge, implying a broad, collisionless scrape-off layer (SOL). Additionally, in vacuo X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements established that lithium coatings evaporatively deposited onto high-Z plasma facing components (PFCs) became oxidized while retaining the ability to achieve good plasma performance long after lithium was applied to the PFCs. Longstanding theory predicted flat temperature profiles with low recycling walls, which was presumed to be due to hydrogen binding with elemental lithium to form lithium hydride. The presence of oxidized lithium, however, raised questions regarding the exact mechanism of hydrogen retention in LTX. To investigate these questions, the upgraded facility LTX- β includes a new sample exposure probe (SEP) for more detailed in vacuo analysis of PFC samples. The SEP is equipped with a vacuum suitcase capable of transporting samples representative of the LTX- β outer midplane PFCs to a stand-alone XPS system while maintaining pressures lower than the LTX- β base vacuum to limit the contamination between sample exposure and analysis. The low-energy resolution XPS system used in past experiments could only enable the determination of elemental percentages on the PFC sample surfaces. Because the new XPS system has higher energy resolution, it is more direct to assign chemical compounds to the measured binding energies. This capability has been confirmed by comparing XPS data from PFC test samples with measurements using a commercial high-resolution XPS system. Quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) were used to quantify the thickness of the deposited lithium on the LTX- β PFCs. This article describes the application of the SEP to characterize the PFC surfaces using XPS and their relationship to plasma conditions.

Maan, Anurag↗