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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Supporting Bioproducts Industry Growth with a System Dynamics Decision-Support Tool

A bio-based economy requires chemical products as well as fuels to be produced from biomass. Although a variety of universities, government agencies, start-ups and established firms have engaged in bioproduct development, many projects have failed to reach the point of commercialization and commercialized bioproducts struggle to capture and maintain market share. To date, there has been no general research into the factors that contribute to bioproduct failure or success. This work presents the Bioproduct Transition Dynamics (BTD) system dynamics model, a decision-support tool that simulates the bioproduct development process from pre-piloting research through construction of the first commercial-scale plant, as well as the processes of obtaining funding from investors and government agencies. The core of the BTD is a feedback loop between bioproduct developers and funders, which relates development progress measured with indicators such as net present value to funders’ decisions to continue investing. External factors such as feedstock prices, market size and growth, and the existence of bioproduct consumers also influence a development project’s chances of receiving follow-on funding. Virtually any bioproduct can be represented with the BTD: direct replacements, performance-advantaged products, niche and commodity markets can all be modeled. The goal of the BTD project is to inform decisions made by developers in both established firms and start-ups, investors, government agencies, and other stakeholders interested in growing the nascent U.S. bioproducts industry. This talk will cover the general structure and functionality of the BTD, and present results from an analysis performed with the BTD to demonstrate its use as a decision-support tool and the insights it can provide. The goal of the analysis is to identify the most critical factors that lead to direct replacement and performance-advantaged bioproduct projects emerging successfully from the “Valley of Death”, and to determine if these factors differ between the two bioproduct types.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Calorimetric metal vapor adsorption energies for characterizing industrial catalyst support materials

Many important catalysts and electro-catalysts for energy and environmental technologies involve late transition metal atoms and nanoparticles dispersed across the surface of high-surface-area support materials, for example, oxide nanoparticles. The surface reactivity and long-term stability against deactivation of these materials depends strongly on the strength of bonding of the metal atom and nanoparticles to the support surface. Here, we introduce a novel calorimetry method that implements a LiTaO 3 crystal for heat detection and extends metal adsorption calorimetry to surfaces of nanomaterials that are deposited from liquid solutions, as is typical when preparing industrial catalyst supports. This allows one to measure the strength of metal atom bonding and the adhesion energy of metal nanoparticles to clean surfaces of technologically relevant catalyst supports. We demonstrate that here by measuring the heat of Ag vapor adsorption onto the clean surfaces of high-surface-area TiO 2 anatase powdered support materials (i.e., 5-nm-diameter nanoparticles). These heats of adsorption show a pulse-to-pulse standard deviation of only 9.3 kJ/mol (3.3%) for pulses containing only 1% of a monolayer of Ag vapor, with potential for a 5-fold reduction in noise if used with another metal evaporator. The calorimeter was also proven to work well measuring heats of Ag adsorption on calcium niobate(001) nanosheets deposited as thin films from liquid solution. Here, this calorimeter opens up the possibility of using metal adsorption calorimetry to screen catalyst support materials for the strengths with which they bind metal atoms and metal nanoparticles, offering new opportunities to discover better support materials or for basic scientific study of structure / function relationships with respect to metal / support bond energies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nek5000 developments in support of industry and the NRC

This year, the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling Simulation program (NEAMS) thermal-hydraulics verification and validation (V&V) work has focused in three areas of Nek5000 V&V-driven development. First, in a close collaborative effort with the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, we have continued V&V efforts for the HYMERES-2 project using the OECD/NEA sponsored testing in the PSI PANDA facility. This year’s focus of ANL-NRC collaboration involves Nek5000 setups and validation for a range of problems relevant to and including the HYMERES-2 benchmark from PSI. The primary outcome of this year efforts is a more efficient geometry and inlet modeling simplification after a careful sensitivity study of the inlet profiles and pipe geometries. The resulting modeling choice of a short recycling/fully-developed turbulent inlet is within the experimental uncertainty estimate. This finding simplifies the next step of the cross-V&V HYMERES-2 project. In addition, the ANL team continue to provide assistance to the NRC staff in the form of Nek5000 application support in general and on the use of the HPC platforms of ALCF and INL in particular. This supports the NRC’s assessment of Nek5000 for use with the NRC Blue CRAB code suite. Second, we have implemented and tested more robust model of URANS, namely the k – τ model, a variant of the k-ω model, along with other improvements to RANS Nek5000 modeling in general. Because of its demonstrated robustness and stability, the k – τ model is the only RANS model that has been implemented in the new GPU version of the Nek5000 code, nekRS. Lastly, we report the initial implementation of Jacobian-free Newton Krylov approach to the direct Newton method for steady fluid solvers aimed at acceleration of RANS modeling and at IC improvement for LES campaigns. Also leveraging the Exascale Computing Project (ECP) ANL/CEED & SMR team’s software development effort to support NEAMS problems at large scale of the advanced computing architectures, NekRS, a GPU variant of Nek5000, built on top of kernels from libParanumal using OCCA for portability, has been successfully run on the full system of Summit (4608 nodes, 27648 GPUs).

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

1.4.2.403 - Water Power STEM Workforce Development (Hydro)

As interest in renewable energy grows, water power technologies will continue to play a robust and growing role. However, the industry needs new talent to spur innovation and to support industry needs. With one-quarter of the domestic hydropower workforce retiring in the coming decade, the need to fill the workforce pipeline has never been more critical. The lack of new hydropower development has limited the number of educational programs focused on this sector at all levels of education. NREL has a long track record of working to address educational needs across the renewable energy spectrum. Leveraging this track record, this project brought the Hydropower STEM Portal to water power stakeholders fueled by information from a multitude of sectors, our partnership with the Hydropower Foundation, NEED, and others. The team has also sought to integrate activities with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, to increase dissemination opportunities and interfaces. The purpose of the portal is to be a one-stop shop to information geared at inspiring the next-generation water power professional. NREL also leverages experience in engaging with stakeholders to understand barriers to technology adoption to identify issues and drivers, provide feedback to the R&D community, work to clarify misperceptions, and inform decisions to facilitate market adoption. The outcome of this work is a more successful and diverse water power industry based on a motivated and better-trained workforce.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY,HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

BISON Fuel Fragmentation Relocation and Dispersal (FFRD) Assessment Database for Eventual Use in Bayesian Calibration

Existing light-water reactor (LWR) fuel vendors have been interested in seeking increased discharge burnups of nuclear fuel rods for improved economics for quite a few years. With increased burnups come additional challenges that must be addressed. It has been experimentally observed that average burnups higher than the current regulatory limit of 62 MWd/kgU may undergo fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal (FFRD) during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). Industry must demonstrate approaches to mitigate FFRD. In an effort to support industry, the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has for several years invested in developing multiscale models and creating a validation/assessment database for these models to study the mechanisms driving FFRD. This report provides an update on changes made to the assessment database and new models added to BISON to support the study of fuel rod behavior during FFRD. An effort has been initiated this year to begin adding dedicated inputs to the publicly available Virtual Test Bed (VTB) repository for industry use. A section of this report details the efforts made in this area. NEAMS has recently developed new capabilities in the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) framework’s stochastic tools module for calibration using Bayesian inference. The goal in the future is to use these capabilities to calibrate and identify weaknesses in the existing BISON models for FFRD. The report concludes with a discussion on the models most likely to benefit the most from such calibration.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Hazards and Probabilistic Risk Assessments of Advanced Nuclear Reactors Coupled with Industrial Facilities

This report provides a roadmap and tool kit for site specific risk assessments across a broad range of industrial customers co-located with advanced nuclear power plants (ANPP) that are not currently built and operating in the U.S. This report builds upon the body of work sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) Integrated Energy Systems Pathway that has produced industrial requirements studies and techno-economic assessments on the topics of feasibility of ANPP supported industrial processes. This report also leverages the DOE Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program that has presented hazards assessment and generic probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) for the addition of a heat extraction system (HES) to light-water reactors (LWRs) co-located with hydrogen production facilities. Many of the hazard assessments and risk assessments performed for the LWRS report are agnostic to whether the nuclear reactor is an ANPP or were adapted to the ANPP focus. The report performs hazards assessments to include industrial facilities: an oil refinery, a methanol plant, a synthetic fuel (synfuel) plant, the production of synthetic gas (syngas) as part of the methanol and synfuel plants, wood pulp and paper mills, and hydrogen production. Hydrogen production facilities are assessed in depth through prior reports in the LWRS program and the results are leveraged in this report. All these facilities are specified through industrial process and requirements research performed by national laboratories, universities, and interaction with industry. Many of the processes used in this report are pre-conceptual designs to use for decarbonization of the current technology facilities. A process of failure modes and effects analysis (what can go wrong) and accidentology (what has historically gone wrong) was used to determine the hazards presented to the nuclear power plant by the addition of the HES and the industrial customer. Chemical properties of feedstocks and products are summarized as part of the hazards assessment. Example analysis procedures are provided for each of the hazard types identified. These deterministic analyses can be used to assess adherence to licensing criteria. They can also be used to meet other safety goals like protection of the public, workers, or industrial facility equipment. A modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) PRA only existing on paper was modeled and verified in modern PRA software. This will provide a tool for representative ANPP probabilistic analyses for future research.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Westinghouse Accident Tolerant Fuel Phase 2B with Higher Enriched and Higher Burnup Add-On Project Final Technical Report Deliverable Volume 1

The Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Westinghouse) accident tolerant fuel (ATF) program funded by Westinghouse and the US Department of Energy (DOE) utilized chromium (Cr) coated zirconium alloy cladding with doped UO 2 (ADOPT(TM)) and uranium silicide (U 3 Si 2 ) high density/high thermal conductivity fuel for its lead test rod (LTR) program with irradiation beginning in 2019. ADOPT is a Cr 2 O 3 +Al 2 O 3 doped UO 2 pellet with increased oxidation resistance and density, and increased resistance to fission gas release. Due to the issues with U 3 Si 2 fuel reaction in pressurized water reactor (PWR) environments, uranium nitride (U 15 N) has been substituted for U 3 Si 2 as a long-term fuel option. Cr coated cladding with ADOPT fuel is the near-term Westinghouse EnCore fuel product. The long-term EnCore ® fuel product is SiGA ® SiC/SiC composite cladding with high density/high thermal conductivity UN fuel. In 2020, the higher burnup and higher enriched and (HBHE) program was integrated into the ATF program. The objective of this expanded program is to extend ATF burnups to at least 75 MWd/kgU to economically facilitate 24-month cycles in PWRs. The ATF program now includes ADOPT fuel with enrichments >5% 235 U. Over the past several years, Westinghouse has tested the Cr coated zirconium (Zr) and silicon carbide (SiC) claddings in Westinghouse Churchill autoclaves and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reactor. Additionally, the Cr coated cladding has been tested in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and in LTR programs at the Doel 4 and Bryon 2 commercial reactors. High temperature tests at the state-of-the-art Westinghouse facilities in Churchill, PA and at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have been carried out to determine the time and temperature limits for the Cr coated zirconium claddings. These tests indicate that Cr coated Zr cladding can take temperatures up to about 1500°C for short periods of time without becoming totally oxidized. The main issue is the formation of the Cr-Zr eutectic at 1333°C resulting in the migration of this eutectic inward with the formation of ZrCr 2 which rapidly oxidizes to ZrO 2 on the outside of the tube. The Cr coated Zr cladding also delays the bursting of the tube, reduces the burst area, and reduces hydriding and embrittlement of the Zr which is a major benefit for reducing fuel fragmentation, redistribution, and dispersal (FFRD), the major licensing issue faced by HBHE. The manufacturing parameters for the SiC have been found to have a significant effect on the corrosion rate of the SiC in light water reactor (LWR) conditions and significant improvements have been made in the yield, quality, and oxidation resistance of the SiC cladding by identifying and tightening manufacturing process parameters. Current autoclave results for SiC composite claddings indicate that a corrosion rate of fewer than 2 micrometers per year can be achieved which meets corrosion requirements under normal operating conditions. High temperature steam oxidation tests at the state-of-the-art Westinghouse facilities in Churchill, PA and at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have been carried and determined that SiC cladding can withstand temperatures up to about 1800°C to 1900°C before excessive corrosion reactions begin, and that the SiC will not balloon and burst. ADOPT fuel pellets were incorporated into the Westinghouse ATF program because of their increased density and oxidation resistance. A topical report supporting the use of ADOPT pellets has been submitted to the NRC and will be approved shortly. ADOPT pellets have been a product in Europe for over 15 years. The additives work to make larger grain sizes which appear to reduce fission gas release during transients as well as increase the density of the pellet. Fuel rod and assembly design in preparation for the lead test rod (LTR) and lead test assembly (LTA) programs is underway as well as licensing efforts with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Finally, accident analyses coupled with economic evaluations for both operating savings as well as fuel savings have been initiated. Modular Accident Analysis Program 5 (MAAP5) calculations indicate that both Cr coated cladding and SiC composite cladding can increase the time to fuel rod loss of geometry for up to two hours longer than current Zr based cladding in a station blackout scenario. This additional time is due to the much higher oxidation resistance of the SiC and Cr coated cladding. These two hours can be used to implement additional response options instituted through the Diverse and Flexible Mitigation Capability (FLEX) program by reactor operators. Both ATF cladding options also reduce hydrogen production which dramatically reduces primary system and containment pressure and the risk of fission product release beyond containment in the unlikely event of an accident. The lower pressure in the system allows more time to feed cooling water to the core, resulting in the avoidance of fuel melting. The coping time is extended indefinitely if the modest water flow provided by FLEX continues. Experimental work on methods to rapidly fabricate SiC composite structures with high density and reduce the fabrication price of SiC fibers while maintaining a high level of performance is needed. Methods for mitigating or stopping the Cr-Zr eutectic are also needed to further improve the oxidation resistance of Cr coated Zr. Minimal (<1%) swelling of U 3 Si 2 and subsequent fission gas release has been demonstrated up to 20 MWd/kgU. Irradiation experiments with U 3 Si 2 fuel in ATR to determine these properties at 40 MWd/kgU were completed but post irradiation examinations were not done since U 3 Si 2 has been replaced by UN. UN has three issues that are being addressed. The first is increasing the oxidation resistance so that there is not excessive reaction up to ~1500°C. While UN increases the pellet density and additives to the UN postponed the temperature at which rapid oxidation occurred by ~100°C to 200°C, this is not enough, and pellet coating options are now being pursued. The second is developing a method to manufacture that does not require the multi-step process of UF 6 to UO 2 to UC to UN. Efforts are underway looking at UF 6 to UN 2 to UN and UF 6 to UF 4 to UN 2 to UN reactions. Finally, an economically acceptable process for potentially enriching the 15 N content of the nitrogen used to make UN to >95% 15N was identified though not experimentally validated. In addition to the work supported by the DOE, research and testing activities are being carried on in a world-wide effort funded by many countries such as Sweden, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Japan, and France. This work is being facilitated through the Westinghouse led Collaboration for Advanced Research on Accident Tolerant Fuel (CARAT) program. Annual meetings were organized in 2018 and 2019 by Westinghouse as a venue for presentation of this work and to provide for the cross-fertilization of ideas among the many outstanding researchers in the ATF area. No meetings were held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 related restrictions on traveling and gatherings. Since SiC, coated cladding, and high-density fuel options are not currently used in the nuclear industry; support from the government and industry members is needed to further the significant effort of setting new standards. The same is true for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) which must review and approve the commercial use of these new fuels since all current regulations are oriented toward Zr/UO 2 fuel. Several meetings have been held with the NRC to generate a fast-track approach to licensing ATF using a combination of atomic modeling, in-rod sensors, and in-reactor testing. This approach was memorialized in an “Accelerated Fuel Qualification White Paper” prepared by the Accelerated Fuel Qualification Working Group lead by General Atomics.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Westinghouse Accident Tolerant Fuel Phase 2B with Higher Enriched and Higher Burnup Add-On Project Final Technical Report Deliverable Volume 2

The Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Westinghouse) accident tolerant fuel (ATF) program funded by Westinghouse and the US Department of Energy (DOE) utilized chromium (Cr) coated zirconium alloy cladding with doped UO 2 (ADOPT(TM)) and uranium silicide (U 3 Si 2 ) high density/high thermal conductivity fuel for its lead test rod (LTR) program with irradiation beginning in 2019. ADOPT is a Cr 2 O 3 +Al 2 O 3 doped UO 2 pellet with increased oxidation resistance and density, and increased resistance to fission gas release. Due to the issues with U 3 Si 2 fuel reaction in pressurized water reactor (PWR) environments, uranium nitride (U 15 N) has been substituted for U 3 Si 2 as a long-term fuel option. Cr coated cladding with ADOPT fuel is the near-term Westinghouse EnCore ® fuel product. The long-term EnCore fuel product is SiGA ® SiC/SiC composite cladding with high density/high thermal conductivity UN fuel. In 2020, the higher burnup and higher enriched and (HBHE) program was integrated into the ATF program. The objective of this expanded program is to extend ATF burnups to at least 75 MWd/kgU to economically facilitate 24-month cycles in PWRs. The ATF program now includes ADOPT fuel with enrichments >5% 235 U. Over the past several years, Westinghouse has tested the Cr coated zirconium (Zr) and silicon carbide (SiC) claddings in Westinghouse Churchill autoclaves and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reactor. Additionally, the Cr coated cladding has been tested in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and in LTR programs at the Doel 4 and Bryon 2 commercial reactors. High temperature tests at the state-of-the-art Westinghouse facilities in Churchill, PA and at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have been carried out to determine the time and temperature limits for the Cr coated zirconium claddings. These tests indicate that Cr coated Zr cladding can take temperatures up to about 1500°C for short periods of time without becoming totally oxidized. The main issue is the formation of the Cr-Zr eutectic at 1333°C resulting in the migration of this eutectic inward with the formation of ZrCr 2 which rapidly oxidizes to ZrO 2 on the outside of the tube. The Cr coated Zr cladding also delays the bursting of the tube, reduces the burst area, and reduces hydriding and embrittlement of the Zr which is a major benefit for reducing fuel fragmentation, redistribution, and dispersal (FFRD), the major licensing issue faced by HBHE. The manufacturing parameters for the SiC have been found to have a significant effect on the corrosion rate of the SiC in light water reactor (LWR) conditions and significant improvements have been made in the yield, quality, and oxidation resistance of the SiC cladding by identifying and tightening manufacturing process parameters. Current autoclave results for SiC composite claddings indicate that a corrosion rate of fewer than 2 micrometers per year can be achieved which meets corrosion requirements under normal operating conditions. High temperature steam oxidation tests at the state-of-the-art Westinghouse facilities in Churchill, PA and at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have been carried and determined that SiC cladding can withstand temperatures up to about 1800°C to 1900°C before excessive corrosion reactions begin, and that the SiC will not balloon and burst. ADOPT fuel pellets were incorporated into the Westinghouse ATF program because of their increased density and oxidation resistance. A topical report supporting the use of ADOPT pellets has been submitted to the NRC and will be approved shortly. ADOPT pellets have been a product in Europe for over 15 years. The additives work to make larger grain sizes which appear to reduce fission gas release during transients as well as increase the density of the pellet. Fuel rod and assembly design in preparation for the lead test rod (LTR) and lead test assembly (LTA) programs is underway as well as licensing efforts with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Finally, accident analyses coupled with economic evaluations for both operating savings as well as fuel savings have been initiated. Modular Accident Analysis Program 5 (MAAP5) calculations indicate that both Cr coated cladding and SiC composite cladding can increase the time to fuel rod loss of geometry for up to two hours longer than current Zr based cladding in a station blackout scenario. This additional time is due to the much higher oxidation resistance of the SiC and Cr coated cladding. These two hours can be used to implement additional response options instituted through the Diverse and Flexible Mitigation Capability (FLEX) program by reactor operators. Both ATF cladding options also reduce hydrogen production which dramatically reduces primary system and containment pressure and the risk of fission product release beyond containment in the unlikely event of an accident. The lower pressure in the system allows more time to feed cooling water to the core, resulting in the avoidance of fuel melting. The coping time is extended indefinitely if the modest water flow provided by FLEX continues. Experimental work on methods to rapidly fabricate SiC composite structures with high density and reduce the fabrication price of SiC fibers while maintaining a high level of performance is needed. Methods for mitigating or stopping the Cr-Zr eutectic are also needed to further improve the oxidation resistance of Cr coated Zr. Minimal (<1%) swelling of U 3 Si 2 and subsequent fission gas release has been demonstrated up to 20 MWd/kgU. Irradiation experiments with U 3 Si 2 fuel in ATR to determine these properties at 40 MWd/kgU were completed but post irradiation examinations were not done since U 3 Si 2 has been replaced by UN. UN has three issues that are being addressed. The first is increasing the oxidation resistance so that there is not excessive reaction up to ~1500°C. While UN increases the pellet density and additives to the UN postponed the temperature at which rapid oxidation occurred by ~100°C to 200°C, this is not enough, and pellet coating options are now being pursued. The second is developing a method to manufacture that does not require the multi-step process of UF 6 to UO 2 to UC to UN. Efforts are underway looking at UF 6 to UN 2 to UN and UF 6 to UF 4 to UN 2 to UN reactions. Finally, an economically acceptable process for potentially enriching the 15 N content of the nitrogen used to make UN to >95% 15 N was identified though not experimentally validated. In addition to the work supported by the DOE, research and testing activities are being carried on in a world-wide effort funded by many countries such as Sweden, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Japan, and France. This work is being facilitated through the Westinghouse led Collaboration for Advanced Research on Accident Tolerant Fuel (CARAT) program. Annual meetings were organized in 2018 and 2019 by Westinghouse as a venue for presentation of this work and to provide for the cross-fertilization of ideas among the many outstanding researchers in the ATF area. No meetings were held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 related restrictions on traveling and gatherings. Since SiC, coated cladding, and high-density fuel options are not currently used in the nuclear industry; support from the government and industry members is needed to further the significant effort of setting new standards. The same is true for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) which must review and approve the commercial use of these new fuels since all current regulations are oriented toward Zr/UO 2 fuel. Several meetings have been held with the NRC to generate a fast-track approach to licensing ATF using a combination of atomic modeling, in-rod sensors, and in-reactor testing. This approach was memorialized in an “Accelerated Fuel Qualification White Paper” prepared by the Accelerated Fuel Qualification Working Group lead by General Atomics.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Method for Assessment of Security-Relevant Settings in Anomaly-Based Intrusion Detection for Industrial Control Systems

Ensuring the integrity of Ethernet-based networks is a challenging and constantly evolving domain. This problem is exacerbated for those operational technology (OT) networks supporting industrial control systems (ICS) since much of that equipment was originally designed to be on a network that was isolated and generally considered free of malefactors. Increasing pressure to bridge these systems with traditional information technology (IT) networks has introduced a bevy of new threats. In response, both academia and industry have responded with security solutions tailored to ICS environments. Deploying these protection systems often involves several configuration choices. While some of these choices are clear (e.g., block/enable protocol X) others are far more subjective (e.g. alert threshold == 3.43). Further complicating the situation, while often similar to IT networks, OT networks have unique challenges and characteristics that make the task of protecting them simultaneously more difficult and straight forward.Extant solutions for quantifying the relative security of intrusion detection systems fail to effectively support the operators of said systems with understanding the impact of various configuration changes. Further, they assume that the attacks are static and not subject to manipulation or alteration in the face of defenses. In this paper, we present a threat-based method for quantifying the relative impact of various security settings for intrusion detection systems (IDSs) within ICS environments. This method provides operational staff with a clear understanding of the relative impact of their settings and assumes that the attacks levied against them are dynamic. The model is described in detail, we apply the model to a synthetic data set, and discuss the inferences that can be made and what types of decisions they could be used to support.

Gillen, Rob↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-Performance Integrated Window and Façade Solutions for California

The researchers developed a new generation of high-performance façade systems and supporting design and management tools to support industry in meeting California’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, reduce energy consumption, and enable an adaptable response to minimize real-time demands on the electricity grid. The project resulted in five outcomes: (1) The research team developed an R-5, 1-inch thick, triplepane, insulating glass unit with a novel low-conductance aluminum frame. This technology can help significantly reduce residential cooling and heating loads, particularly during the evening. (2) The team developed a prototype of a windowintegrated local ventilation and energy recovery device that provides clean, dry fresh air through the façade with minimal energy requirements. (3) A daylight-redirecting louver system was prototyped to redirect sunlight 15–40 feet from the window. Simulations estimated that lighting energy use could be reduced by 35–54 percent without glare. (4) A control system incorporating physics-based equations and a mathematical solver was prototyped and field tested to demonstrate feasibility. Simulations estimated that total electricity costs could be reduced by 9-28 percent on sunny summer days through adaptive control of operable shading and daylighting components and the thermostat compared to state-of-the-art automatic façade controls in commercial building perimeter zones. (5) Supporting models and tools needed by industry for technology R&D and market transformation activities were validated. Attaining California’s clean energy goals require making a fundamental shift from today’s ad-hoc assemblages of static components to turnkey, intelligent, responsive, integrated building façade systems. These systems offered significant reductions in energy use, peak demand, and operating cost in California.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Emerging Threats and Technology Investigation: Industrial Internet of Things - Risk and Mitigation for Nuclear Infrastructure

Industries supporting the global nuclear infrastructure striving for cost savings, expansions in efficiency, and convenience are likely to adopt components (e.g., hardware, software) that comprise the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). These devices offer potential improvements along with security challenges. Modern conveniences achieved through application of technology have propagated through society in the form of interconnected devices, from doorbells to microwave ovens, commonly referred to as IoT. IoT devices are often Internet-connected devices that are designed to send data back to a cloud-based server, where a smart phone application then presents device status and control options. Home-based IoT applications carry a different set of risks when compared to a business or security environment, where there is also a history of convenience and interconnection. Industrial settings have long relied on specifically designed Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for process control where IIoT devices are intended to inform business decisions and augment traditional processes. A recent National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report provides a distinction between process control and IIoT in that traditional process control is not replaced by IIoT, but rather IIoT devices are intended to enhance industrial processes through additional monitoring of various sensors and application of data analytics models using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) (Fagan, Marron, et al. 2021) (Ross, et al. 2021).

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2026

Fluorinated ionic liquids as gas chromatographic stationary phases for the separation of volatile per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Background Here, the production of fluorinated organic compounds in the manufacturing, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical industries has increased exponentially over the past decade. This rapid growth has created an urgent need for efficient chromatographic platforms capable of selectively separating these compounds from complex mixtures, not only to support industrial quality control and waste management practices, but also to enable reliable environmental monitoring of volatile fluorinated contaminants. Conventional GC stationary phases lack the fluorophilic interactions needed for highly fluorinated analytes. Consequently, there is a clear demand for specialized stationary phases designed to improve chromatographic retention and selectivity for these compounds. Results Three stationary phases composed of fluorinated ionic liquids (ILs) with varied extent of fluorination were prepared to study fluorophilic interactions with fluorinated/non-fluorinated probe molecules by gas chromatography (GC). IL stationary phases featuring linear and branched perfluoroalkyl moieties, as well as a branched alkyl moiety, were systematically investigated. Chromatographic performance was examined using fluorinated compounds and their hydrocarbon analogs, including CF 3 -substituted aromatics, aliphatic alcohols, fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), and perfluoroalkenes. Measurements on 5 m and 20 m columns revealed that the IL possessing branched alkyl provided stronger dispersive and hydrogen bonding interactions toward non-fluorinated aromatic and long-chain alcohols, whereas the fluorinated ILs enhanced retention of highly fluorinated FTOHs and perfluorodecene. Comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC × GC), using a nonpolar primary column coupled with secondary columns featuring cross-bonded poly(trifluoropropylmethyl siloxane) (Rtx-200 ms), the branched fluorinated IL, or the branched non-fluorinated IL, highlighted complementary selectivity with the branched fluorinated IL providing the strongest interactions with fluorinated analytes. Significance These results demonstrate that fluorinated IL stationary phases are promising alternatives to conventional polysiloxane stationary phases for improving the separation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and related fluorinated compounds. By correlating IL structure with fluorophilic interactions, this work establishes design principles for GC stationary phases that enable enhanced selectivity for highly fluorinated analytes while maintaining complementary interactions with non-fluorinated compounds.

Comprehensive two-dimensional GC↗
DOE OSTI2026

Multiscale geographically and temporally weighted regression (MGTWR): exploring the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of EV market adoption

As an innovative vehicle technology, electric vehicles are experiencing growing sales and have made significant inroads into the traditional automotive market in the United States and around the world. However, EV adoption rates vary significantly across space and over time, influenced by a complex interplay of socio-economic and infrastructural factors alongside federal and state policies. Here, this paper presents a comprehensive spatial–temporal investigation of EV market adoption within one city in the US, that of Chicago, utilizing Multiscale Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (MGTWR) alongside Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR). The aim is to unravel the spatial and temporal dynamics affecting EV adoption and to explore how the influence of various determinants of EV adoption, such as demographic factors and economic conditions, vary spatially. Moreover, by utilizing MGTWR, we provide insights into the evolution of these relationships over time, offering a predictive outlook on future EV market growth. Our findings, with an 86.6% prediction accuracy for EV market adoption, tailored policy measures to support accelerated EV adoption. Methodologically, this work advances MGWR frameworks by integrating temporal dynamics to examine nonstationary processes in spatially disaggregated contexts. These findings offer evidence–based guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders in the automotive industry, supporting the transition toward a more sustainable and efficient transportation system.

EV Market Adoption↗
DOE OSTI2023

NEAMS Model Contributions in 2023 to the National Reactor Innovation Center Virtual Test Bed for Use by Industry and Other Stakeholders

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy’s Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) Program develops models of advanced reactor phenomena to demonstrate code applicability to challenging physics problems, drive code development through user assessment, and perform code verification and validation. Meanwhile, the U.S. DOE’s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) hosts an open-source website and associated GitHub repository called the Virtual Test Bed (VTB) on which computational models for advanced reactors are documented and shared with the reactor community. This work documents NEAMS efforts to support industry adoption of advanced modeling tools through contribution of 10 NEAMS models to the NRIC Virtual Test Bed including models for the High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF), TRISO fuel failure in a microreactor, and multiphysics models of a molten chloride fast reactor, among others. The open sharing of these models benefits the reactor community by providing “best practice” examples using NEAMS tools for advanced reactor physics problems. In particular, the HTTF model is being used for code validation and benchmarking activities. The microreactor and molten chloride fast reactor models are representative of analysis that may be useful for current candidates of DOME and LOTUS, NRIC’s physical testbeds. This report summarizes and provides links to these new models, among others.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluating the industrial potential of emerging biomass pretreatment technologies in bioethanol production and lipid recovery from transgenic sugarcane

The selection of pretreatment methods is critical to achieving high product yields during bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass. Hydrothermal, soaking-in-aqueous ammonia, and ionic liquid pretreatment methods are viable candidates for minimizing sugar decomposition, permitting the effective hydrolysis of structural carbohydrates, and producing a fermentable substrate suitable for achieving industrial ethanol titers and yields. In this study, the effect of these three pretreatment methods on non-modified sugarcane cultivar CP88-1762 and two transgenic lipid-accumulating sugarcane lines, oilcane 1565 and oilcane 1566, were investigated and compared in terms of lipid recovery, sugar yield, and ethanol yields within the lignocellulosic biomass conversion pipeline. Fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis at high solid loading yielded hydrolysates capable of supporting industrial bioethanol titers across all conditions. The highest sugar yields were obtained on ammonia-pretreated biomass hydrolysate (253.73 g L −1 ), followed by hydrothermally pretreated hydrolysate (213.10 g L −1 ) and ionic liquid-pretreated hydrolysate (154.20 g L −1 ). Commercially viable ethanol titers of 100.62 g L −1 , 64.47 g L −1 , and 52.95 g L −1 were achieved from ammonia, hydrothermal, and ionic liquid pretreated hydrolysate with the corresponding ethanol productivities of 2.08 g L −1 h −1 , 0.53 g L −1 h −1 , and 0.36 g L −1 h −1 . The lower acetic acid concentration in ammonia-pretreated hydrolysate may have enhanced its fermentability relative to the hydrothermal pretreatment condition, as indicated by the differences in ethanol titer and productivity. Lower sugar yields and ethanol productivities under the ionic liquid conditions likely resulted from the inhibitory effect of cholinium lysinate. Oilcane 1565 and oilcane 1566 bagasse accumulated over 16- and 3 times higher lipids than the non-modified sugarcane CP88-1762. The total fatty acid content in the oilcane samples was reduced in ammonia and ionic liquid-pretreated bagasse relative to the hydrothermal pretreatment condition. While all pretreatment techniques tested are industrially viable, the observed differences in titer, productivity, and lipid content indicate that careful selection and validation of upstream processing methods can contribute to improved economic and environmental outcomes.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data for "Evaluating the industrial potential of emerging biomass pretreatment technologies in bioethanol production and lipid recovery from transgenic sugarcane"

The selection of pretreatment methods is critical to achieving high product yields during bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass. Hydrothermal, soaking-in-aqueous ammonia, and ionic liquid pretreatment methods are viable candidates for minimizing sugar decomposition, permitting the effective hydrolysis of structural carbohydrates, and producing a fermentable substrate suitable for achieving industrial ethanol titers and yields. In this study, the effect of these three pretreatment methods on non-modified sugarcane cultivar CP88-1762 and two transgenic lipid-accumulating sugarcane lines, oilcane 1565 and oilcane 1566, were investigated and compared in terms of lipid recovery, sugar yield, and ethanol yields within the lignocellulosic biomass conversion pipeline. Fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis at high solid loading yielded hydrolysates capable of supporting industrial bioethanol titers across all conditions. The highest sugar yields were obtained on ammonia-pretreated biomass hydrolysate (253.73 g L−1), followed by hydrothermally pretreated hydrolysate (213.10 g L−1) and ionic liquid-pretreated hydrolysate (154.20 g L−1). Commercially viable ethanol titers of 100.62 g L−1, 64.47 g L−1, and 52.95 g L−1 were achieved from ammonia, hydrothermal, and ionic liquid pretreated hydrolysate with the corresponding ethanol productivities of 2.08 g L−1 h−1, 0.53 g L−1 h−1, and 0.36 g L−1 h−1. The lower acetic acid concentration in ammonia-pretreated hydrolysate may have enhanced its fermentability relative to the hydrothermal pretreatment condition, as indicated by the differences in ethanol titer and productivity. Lower sugar yields and ethanol productivities under the ionic liquid conditions likely resulted from the inhibitory effect of cholinium lysinate. Oilcane 1565 and oilcane 1566 bagasse accumulated over 16- and 3 times higher lipids than the non-modified sugarcane CP88-1762. The total fatty acid content in the oilcane samples was reduced in ammonia and ionic liquid-pretreated bagasse relative to the hydrothermal pretreatment condition. While all pretreatment techniques tested are industrially viable, the observed differences in titer, productivity, and lipid content indicate that careful selection and validation of upstream processing methods can contribute to improved economic and environmental outcomes.

biomass analytics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nuclear Thermal Energy Storage Configurations for Industrial Combined Heat and Power Supply: Conceptual Study and Engineering Designs

The industries examined in this report primarily rely on moderate-temperature heat provided by gas- or coal-fired boilers and combined heat and power (CHP) plants, delivered through standard process steam systems. High-temperature energy demands are often industry-specific and typically exceed the capabilities of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs). While it is technically feasible to replace process steam from fossil-based heat sources with nuclear energy, certain industries, such as methanol production and pulp and paper, face technoeconomic challenges in integrating nuclear energy without major changes or a technological shift. This is mainly due to the limited external energy demand remaining after the use of internal byproducts, waste heat recovery, and simple efficiency improvements. Achieving full decarbonization of these processes with nuclear energy would require significant technological advancements, involving experimental technology and substantial investments, making widespread adoption in existing industrial plants unlikely in the near term. This study reviews TES options in the context of enabling a flexible CHP supply while maintaining a steady nuclear heat input. Heat storage systems that interface between the reactor primary fluid and the CHP system offer superior performance and flexibility. Specifically, steam extraction downstream of the reheater with a two-tank molten-salt TES appears as the best solution regarding thermodynamic system benefits and system drawbacks. Using selected system configurations, a conceptual design of an industrial energy park was developed for industries with varying energy demands, such as steel production plants utilizing electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and chemical plants, as well as for those with constant energy demands, like petroleum refineries. This design highlights the capabilities of TES and explores its potential business cases. The study also conceptually develops the potential for integrating additional energy sources with nuclear systems through the implementation of TES. The potential of the HTGR-TES-CHP system was also evaluated considering key uncertainties such as industrial demand profiles, external grid access availability, and eligible tax credit levels, using the Holistic Energy Resource Optimization Network. Sensitivity of net present value to these uncertainties was analyzed to determine the optimal number of nuclear reactors (and CHP systems) and the suitable TES capacity. The results were interpreted from a decision-maker’s perspective, focusing on three key areas: deployment strategy (oversized units vs. undersized units with TES support), industrial process characteristics (thermal-intensive single profiles vs. electricity-intensive combined profiles), and operational goals (maximizing profits vs. minimizing natural gas (NG) consumption or external grid dependence). The optimization results indicate that the HTGR-TES-CHP system significantly reduces reliance on NG boilers for individual industrial processes by 9-60% (in NG capacity factor), with an average reduction of 38%, compared to standalone NG boiler operation case (Business As Usual [BAU]). For combined industrial processes, the reduction ranges from 37-77%, with an average of 60%. Additionally, the system greatly reduces dependence on external grids. In meeting industrial electrical demands, a 33-100% self-sufficient internal electricity supply is achieved for single industrial process, with an average of 74%, compared to the BAU scenario, where 100% of electricity is imported. For combined processes, 35-100% of internal electricity demands are met by the reactor, with an average of 73%. At last, the relative NG price levels at which the proposed HTGR-TES-CHP system can cost-effectively enter the market currently dominated by existing NG boilers were estimated. For a moderate HTGR CAPEX level ($\$$2500/kWth, $\$$6329/kWe), the analysis suggests that NG prices must be 2.5 to 7 times higher than HTGR variable operating and maintenance costs for single industrial process, and 5.5 to 9.5 times higher for a combined process scenario. Tax credit modeling shows that the Investment Tax Credit significantly reduces the price threshold needed to break even, making the system competitive with NG boilers in certain cases.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Scaled-up fabrication of durable and porous adsorbent-coated minichannels on aluminum for CO 2 separation

A method was developed to fabricate zeolite 13X adsorbent-coated minichannels on aluminum for CO₂ adsorption applications in this study. It emphasizes the innovative use of aluminum as a substrate, which offers airtight assembly, paving the way for highly efficient adsorption systems. An optimized coating process was developed using a slurry of Zeolite 13X, yeast, sugar, and xanthan gum, resulting in durable and highly porous layers that enhance CO₂ capture performance. A PETG peeler was designed to remove the top layer of the yeast-engineered adsorbent coatings, revealing a super porous and foamy structure. The teeth of the peeler were designed and fabricated for high repeatability and rapid prototyping. Breakthrough experiments were conducted on the scaled-up adsorbent bed using gas mixtures of 80% CO₂, 20% N₂, and 20% CO₂, 80% N₂ to represent different industrial scenarios. The performance of the bed was evaluated at flow rates of 160 and 190 cm³ min -1 using a Raman Laser Gas Analyzer (RLGA), demonstrating stable adsorption without degradation across multiple cycles. Computational modeling of integral transport phenomena under the chosen experimental conditions was pursued using gPROMS ProcessBuilder™, and the modeling results were compared with those from the tests for adsorption time, which resulted in an error margin of 2% to 9% for the breakthrough time, confirming the easy reproducibility of the design through modeling. This research advances CO₂ capture technologies by providing an effective and scalable solution for producing aluminum-based adsorbent coated beds, supporting industrial carbon capture efforts.

CO2 capture↗