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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 OSTI2023

Applications of Alternate Actinide Calibration on Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) Analysis of H-Canyon Highly Enriched Uranium Legacy Material at the Savannah River Site (SRS)

The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) uses Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) to support numerous programs at the Savannah River Site (SRS). As part of an objective to prepare high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU), the SRS H-Canyon needed analysis of legacy uranyl nitrate that is stored at its Outside Facilities (HOF). With the application of a standard practice for alternate actinide calibration on ICP-MS, SRNL has successfully demonstrated its capability to characterize the uranium/actinide composition of the HOF tanks that are intended for consolidation prior to preparation of the HALEU. A comparison of the uranium analytical results between recently upgraded SRNL ICP-MS and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) instrumentation shows the alternate actinide calibration is a valid complementary method when used in conjunction with other analytical techniques (Davies-Gray Potentiometric Titration). The methods, instrumentation, and ongoing developments on ICP-MS at SRNL will be discussed.

Jones, Mark A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis in Support of Disposition of Tank 48 Legacy Material

This report contains the characterization of six 200-mL Tank 48H samples: HTF-48-21-74, HTF-48-21-75, HTF-48-21-76, HTF-48-21-81, HTF-48-21-82, and HTF-48-21-83. The effort supports a Systems Engineering Evaluation (SEE) recommendation involving a Tank 48H decantation strategy that would remove liquid volume and grout the solids. The first three Tank 48H samples were surface samples taken after a quiescent period in the tank. The quiescent period allowed settling of the solids, these being mostly potassium tetraphenylborate. These three surface samples had no measurable solids, though a settling haze could be seen. The latter three samples were taken at 48, 25, and 10 inches from the bottom of Tank 48H immediately after tank mixing pumps had been run. Those samples contained measurable insoluble solids that were readily visible. All six samples were analyzed to provide chemical and radionuclide concentrations as defined as the "Limit" and "Target" in the Saltstone Production Facility (SPF) Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) and per the compliance strategy in the Tank Farm Waste Compliance Plan (WCP). Samples were analyzed by many methods to determine pH, density/specific gravity, radioactive isotopes, soluble and insoluble elements, total solids, total insoluble solids, organic and inorganic mercury, volatile and semi-volatile chemicals, and anions. Photographs of the settling of small samples were taken over time and are displayed in this report. The extent of settling was very significant, showing that surface sample liquids are similar to filtrates. However, Cs-137 measurements exceeded WAC limits in all surface samples (1.1E+07 vs. 1.3E+06). The solids were found to contain very high cesium activity, measured as high as 1.1E+10 dpm/gram. Sodium was in the range of 4.24 to 4.74 M for all samples, so the solids would tend to settle with time and would not be at risk of floating without air entrainment. No organic mercury was detected in this work.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis in Support of Disposition of Tank 48 Legacy Material

This report contains the characterization of six 200-mL Tank 48H samples: HTF-48-21-74, HTF-48-21-75, HTF-48-21-76, HTF-48-21-81, HTF-48-21-82, and HTF-48-21-83. The effort supports a Systems Engineering Evaluation (SEE) recommendation involving a Tank 48H decantation strategy that would remove liquid volume and grout the solids. The first three Tank 48H samples were surface samples taken after a quiescent period in the tank. The quiescent period allowed settling of the solids, these being mostly potassium tetraphenylborate. These three surface samples had no measurable solids, though a settling haze could be seen. The latter three samples were taken at 48, 25, and 10 inches from the bottom of Tank 48H immediately after tank mixing pumps had been run. Those samples contained measurable insoluble solids that were readily visible. All six samples were analyzed to provide chemical and radionuclide concentrations as defined as the "Limit" and "Target" in the Saltstone Production Facility (SPF) Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) and per the compliance strategy in the Tank Farm Waste Compliance Plan (WCP). Samples were analyzed by many methods to determine pH, density/specific gravity, radioactive isotopes, soluble and insoluble elements, total solids, total insoluble solids, organic and inorganic mercury, volatile and semi-volatile chemicals, and anions. Photographs of the settling of small samples were taken over time and are displayed in this report. The extent of settling was very significant, showing that surface sample liquids are similar to filtrates. However, Cs-137 measurements exceeded WAC limits in all surface samples (1.1E+07 vs. 1.3E+06). The solids were found to contain very high cesium activity, measured as high as 1.1E+10 dpm/gram. Sodium was in the range of 4.24 to 4.74 M for all samples, so the solids would tend to settle with time and would not be at risk of floating without air entrainment. No organic mercury was detected in this work.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

Applications of Alternate Actinide Calibration on Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Analysis of H-Canyon Highly Enriched Uranium Legacy Material at the Savannah River Site

Alternate Actinide Calibration is beneficial for calibration using lower activity standards • ICP-MS and ICP-OES are valid complementary methods for U analysis • Recently procured Agilent 8900 ICP-QQQ-MS in radiological buffer area –installation in progress • Helium (kinetic energy discrimination) can be used for reducing polyatomic interferences • Installing hydrogen and oxygen (reaction gases) on 8900 ICP-MS systems to improve LODs of several challenging analytes

Jones, Mark A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Structural complexity and primary production resistance are coupled in a temperate forest

The capacity of forests to resist structural change and retain material legacies–the biotic and abiotic resources that persist through disturbance–is crucial to sustaining ecosystem function after disturbance. However, the role of forest structure as both a material legacy and feature supporting carbon (C) cycling stability following disturbance has not been widely investigated. We used a large-scale disturbance manipulation to ask whether legacies of lidar-derived canopy structures drive 3-year primary production responses to disturbance. As part of the Forest Resilience Threshold Experiment (FoRTE) in northern Michigan, USA we simulated phloem-disrupting disturbances producing a range of severities and affecting canopy trees of different sizes. We quantified the legacies of forest structure using two approaches: one measuring the change in structure and primary production from pre-to post-disturbance and the second estimating resistance as log transformed ratios of control and treatment values. We found that total aboveground wood net primary production (ANPP w ) was similar across disturbance severities as legacy trees rapidly increased rates of primary production. Experiment-wide, the disturbance had limited effects on change in mean structural complexity values; however, high variance underscored large differences in the magnitude and direction of complexity's response at the plot-scale. Plot-scale structural complexity, but not vegetation area index (VAI), resistance strongly predicted ANPP w resistance while temporal VAI and structural complexity changes did not. We conclude that the presence of material legacies in the form of forest structure may affect primary production stability following disturbance and that how legacies are quantified may affect the interpretation of disturbance response.

lidar—remote sensing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tank 48H Phase 1 Initial Testing Using Sodium Permanganate to Decompose Tetraphenylborate: Simulant Studies with Shaker Oven and 2-L Vessel

Tank 48H currently holds legacy material including organic tetraphenylborate (TPB) compounds from the operation of the In-Tank Precipitation process. The large quantity of TPB is not compatible with the waste treatment facilities at SRS and must be removed or undergo treatment to oxidize the organic compounds before the tank can be returned to routine Tank Farm service. Tank 48H currently holds approximately 270,000 gallons of legacy material comprised of decontaminated salt solution, approximately 20,000 kilograms of TPB solids, 3,400 kilograms of sludge solids, and 1,800 kilograms of monosodium titanate (MST).

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

SRNL Nuclear Material Management Strategy

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a multidisciplinary laboratory located on the Savannah River Site (SRS) that specializes in applying state-of-the-art science to provide practical solutions to complex technical problems. In 2021 SRNL went through a contract transition to become an independent Federally Funded Research and Development center which kicked off a period of rapid growth in research and an increased demand for the limited nuclear material capacity. A systematic process was developed for analyzing nuclear material holdings to optimize retention and streamline efforts to disposition legacy material without jeopardizing program execution. This process focused on utilizing the expertise of researchers to identify materials for disposition and retention while creating the visibility of tracking metrics for management to monitor material utilization. This resulted in a ~20% reduction in the powder Material At Risk (MAR) and identified additional candidates that could reduce transuranic holdings by an additional ~30% without endangering future program growth.

Ramsey, Catherine M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization Techniques Investigated for Characterization of Anomalous Materials in Plutonium Oxide – 25666

The DOE has adopted a Dilute and Dispose approach for processing surplus plutonium which consists of blending plutonium oxide with adulterants and packaging it in a form which is acceptable for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. The feed material for the downblend process is intended to be pure plutonium oxide powder, however other objects are occasionally encountered within the oxide, particularly with legacy material. Potential technologies which could assist in the resolution of incidents where such anomalies are encountered have been investigated. Resolution of these incidents requires characterization of the anomalous object so that plutonium oxide processing can resume and so that a disposition pathway can be determined for the anomalous material. Technologies including gamma ray spectroscopy, alpha-gamma coincidence, LiDAR volumetric measurements, and surface conductivity measurements were investigated for this purpose, with a focus on systems which can be easily introduced into the processing environment when an anomaly is encountered, then removed from the environment after resolution to avoid impeding normal processing activities. This places an emphasis on small and portable measurement systems and systems that can operate in a high-background, oxide-processing environment. Gamma ray systems investigated include the GR1™a CZT detector and the MicroGe™a germanium detector, with a focus on detecting characteristic gamma rays from Pu-239 and other actinides. A gamma ray and alpha particle coincidence method was investigated with the goal of identifying actinides in the presence of a gamma ray background produced by adjacent plutonium oxide material. Leica™b BLK360 G1 and Keyence™c LJ-X8300 LiDAR systems were investigated for use in conjunction with mass measurements to gain accurate material density values, and a Foerster Sigmatest™d 2.070 was tested to determine surface conductivity. The combination of these properties would allow improved identification and characterization of a wide variety of potential anomalous material.

Munson, Justin M.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developments on Reusable TPS Materials Based Upon Shuttle Tile

The insulating tiles used on the Space Shuttler Orbiter, principally AETB (Alumina Enhanced Thermal Barrier), have been seen by new vehicle developers in the aerospace industry as a fast-track approach for fielding a reusable thermal protection system (TPS) given the extensive use by both the Orbiter program and the current Orion vehicle. NASA has, and is, supporting the industry through technology transfer and commercial crew and payloads programs. However, the reusable TPS community is rapidly encountering challenges rooted in Orbiter’s and Orion’s dependence on legacy material and processes. With the aim of alleviating these issues, improving availability of reusable TPS, and strengthening the nation’s space economy, ongoing efforts at NASA Ames have focused on understanding process-property relationships in AETB as well as novel materials and technologies for reusable TPS. The first portion of this talk will address the effects of raw materials and processing conditions on the properties of AETB-8, including the raw materials used, mixing and casting parameters, and thermal history. Understanding these relationships, and how they extend to aerothermal performance, is instrumental in alleviating supply chain constraints and improving manufacturability. The implications of these finding on development of novel TPS materials and systems will be discussed. AETB will likely continue to fill a niche of relatively high performance with associated costs. There exists, therefore, a gap in developed reusable TPS for a lower cost, moderate performing material system. The later portion of this talk will touch on current development efforts at Ames focusing on reduced cost and ease of integration, which are being pursued in addition to AETB and higher performing systems. In addition to summarizing these efforts, an outlook for these projects and collaborations will be given.

Peter Edward Marshall↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developments on Reusable TPS Materials Based Upon Shuttle Tile

The insulating tiles used on the Space Shuttler Orbiter, principally AETB (Alumina Enhanced Thermal Barrier), have been seen by new vehicle developers in the aerospace industry as a fast-track approach for fielding a reusable thermal protection system (TPS) given the extensive use by both the Orbiter program and the current Orion vehicle. NASA has, and is, supporting the industry through technology transfer and commercial crew and payloads programs. However, the reusable TPS community is rapidly encountering challenges rooted in Orbiter’s and Orion’s dependence on legacy material and processes. With the aim of alleviating these issues, improving availability of reusable TPS, and strengthening the nation’s space economy, ongoing efforts at NASA Ames have focused on understanding process-property relationships in AETB as well as novel materials and technologies for reusable TPS. The first portion of this talk will address the effects of raw materials and processing conditions on the properties of AETB-8, including the raw materials used, mixing and casting parameters, and thermal history. Understanding these relationships, and how they extend to aerothermal performance, is instrumental in alleviating supply chain constraints and improving manufacturability. The implications of these finding on development of novel TPS materials and systems will be discussed. AETB will likely continue to fill a niche of relatively high performance with associated costs. There exists, therefore, a gap in developed reusable TPS for a lower cost, moderate performing material system. The later portion of this talk will touch on current development efforts at Ames focusing on reduced cost and ease of integration, which are being pursued in addition to AETB and higher performing systems. In addition to summarizing these efforts, an outlook for these projects and collaborations will be given.

Thermal Protection Systems↗
DOE OSTI2022

Take an unclassified peek inside the Lab’s classified library

Just think of these sample relics: A step-by-step manual on how to assemble a Fat Man atomic bomb. A patent application for the world’s first nuclear weapons. Laboratory notebooks of Nobel laureates. And much more. The collections at the National Security Research Center (NSRC) contain millions of historical materials and traces its origin to the Technical Library started by J. Robert Oppenheimer in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project, which was the U.S. government’s top-secret effort to create the first atomic bombs. Since then, these collections have grown and are relied upon by today’s scientists, engineers, and researchers who support our national security mission. The NSRC is the Lab’s classified library that also houses unclassified legacy materials. In recognition of National Library Week (April 3 - 9), staff from the NSRC picked some of their favorite pieces of preserved Laboratory history.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2025

AWSD reactive flow model for PBX 9404

An Arrhenius–Wescott–Stewart–Davis (AWSD) reactive flow model for high explosive PBX 9404 is developed. We specifically calibrate an AWSD model for PBX 9404 by fitting equations of state for reactants and detonation products to the results of thermochemical calculations and to experimental data from multiple sources. The calibrated equations of state are then coupled with an Arrhenius rate law based on shock temperature that describes the reaction progress during PBX 9404 detonation. The parameter values in the rate law are calibrated to experimental gas-gun data and diameter effect results. The results of the calibrated AWSD model are in strong agreement with available experimental data for PBX 9404. A similar level of agreement between predicted and experimental results is observed when the calibrated model is validated on data that were not used in the model parameterization procedure. Our results illustrate that the AWSD model is capable of accurately describing the many important properties and observables in the reactive burn of PBX 9404. Because of the historical significance of PBX 9404 in high explosives research and its current use in aging studies, this work provides an important model of a legacy material, which can be used to make comparisons to new high explosive formulations.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2021

Mother's Day tribute: Remembering mom of baby 'Trinity'

For Elizabeth “Diz” Graves, the summer months of 1945 were a symbolic intersection of her personal and professional lives. As a physicist with the then-secret lab in Los Alamos, Elizabeth participated in the Trinity test - the successful detonation of the world’s first nuclear weapon, which took place in the remote New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945. Her role was to observe the explosion that advanced science into the Atomic Age, according to records in the National Security Research Center (NSRC). This is the Lab’s classified library, which also houses unclassified legacy materials. And, Elizabeth was seven months pregnant.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2021

Tank 48H Tetraphenylborate Mitigation: Simulant Studies using Sodium Permanganate

Tank 48H currently holds legacy material containing organic tetraphenylborate (TPB) compounds from the operation of the In-Tank Precipitation (ITP) process. TPB was added during the ITP process to precipitate the otherwise soluble cesium as insoluble cesium TPB (CsTPB), but excessive benzene generation from TPB degradation curtailed this treatment method. The contents of Tank 48H, which include approximately 26.000 kg of potassium TPB (KTPB) and trace CsTPB, are not compatible with the waste treatment facilities at the Savannah River Site (SRS) since the organic content and the associated flammability issues pose a challenge to the salt processing and sludge processing facilities within the liquid waste system. An in-tank process to remove (or decompose) TPB safely would be of great value. Previous testing at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) demonstrated the destruction of glycolate via chemical oxidation using sodium permanganate with simulated and radioactive waste. Scoping tests were performed to study the destruction of TPB to determine if the contents of Tank 48H would be amenable to the same type of destruction. Partial destruction of TPB was observed in Tank 48H simulants under mild conditions (e g., pH 11, room temperature) with no definitive indication of benzene generation. To build upon the success of the scoping tests, an additional study was requested to provide a better understanding of the underlying chemistry for Tank 48H content destruction using sodium permanganate. Three experiments were performed with Tank 48H simulants at 40 °C to determine the efficacy of using sodium permanganate for TPB destruction. Three starting pH values were selected: 1) pH 11 for comparison with the previous work at room temperature, 2) pH 10 as the minimum pH recommended by the Corrosion Control Program (CCP) for in-tank processing, and 3) pH 8 to determine the effectiveness of TPB destruction at near neutral pH. While below the allowable pH for the CCP, the experiment at pH 8 was performed to study the TPB-Permanganate reaction under more extreme conditions and further verify the potential for out-of-tank processing.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2021

WWII Lab opened a daycare to have ‘womanpower’ on staff

To address the need for child care and perhaps further incentivize women, Groves approved a partially government-funded nursery. “[T]he obvious and sufficient justification is the release of womanpower, which the [nursery] school makes possible,” according to a 1943 financial report. The documents and others, as well as photos, are part of the collections in the Lab’s National Security Research Center, which also curates legacy materials.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2023

The 65 Elevated Risk Container Status Relative Humidity Measurements RFID RH/T Sensors in Containers [Slides]

In March of 2023, a memo was issued, drafted by the Container Management, Safety, and Engineering Team, identifying 65 elevated risk legacy containers for priority disposition at TA-55. These 65 were identified separately from the “typical” prioritization decision-making method used at TA-55 to disposition legacy items. This new technique gave important feedback and revealed improvement opportunities for the selection process of legacy containers for disposition. The DOE complex and TA-55 have a long history of nuclear operations and therefore the disposition of these legacy materials is vital.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗