21st Century Locomotive Technology: Technical Status Report 30 (open access)

21st Century Locomotive Technology: Technical Status Report 30

Analysis of specific missions shows that combining Trip Optimization techniques with Hybrid Energy Storage increases energy savings.
Date: October 29, 2010
Creator: Salasoo, Lembit
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
AdS/QCD, LIight-Front Holography, and the Non-perturbative Running Coupling (open access)

AdS/QCD, LIight-Front Holography, and the Non-perturbative Running Coupling

The combination of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) methods with light-front (LF) holography provides a remarkably accurate first approximation for the spectra and wavefunctions of meson and baryon light-quark bound states. The resulting bound-state Hamiltonian equation of motion in QCD leads to relativistic light-front wave equations in terms of an invariant impact variable {zeta} which measures the separation of the quark and gluonic constituents within the hadron at equal light-front time. These equations of motion in physical space-time are equivalent to the equations of motion which describe the propagation of spin-J modes in anti-de Sitter (AdS) space. The eigenvalues give the hadronic spectrum, and the eigenmodes represent the probability distributions of the hadronic constituents at a given scale. A positive-sign confining dilaton background modifying AdS space gives a very good account of meson and baryon spectroscopy and form factors. The light-front holographic mapping of this model also leads to a non-perturbative effective coupling {alpha}{sub s}{sup Ads} (Q{sup 2}) which agrees with the effective charge defined by the Bjorken sum rule and lattice simulations. It displays a transition from perturbative to nonperturbative conformal regimes at a momentum scale {approx} 1 GeV. The resulting {beta}-function appears to capture the essential characteristics of the …
Date: April 29, 2010
Creator: Brodsky, Stanley J.; de Teramond, Guy & Deur, Alexandre
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
ADVANCED CERAMIC MATERIALS FOR NEXT-GENERATION NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS (open access)

ADVANCED CERAMIC MATERIALS FOR NEXT-GENERATION NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS

Rising global energy demands coupled with increased environmental concerns point to one solution; they must reduce their dependence on fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases. As the global community faces the challenge of maintaining sovereign nation security, reducing greenhouse gases, and addressing climate change nuclear power will play a significant and likely growing role. In the US, nuclear energy already provides approximately one-fifth of the electricity used to power factories, offices, homes, and schools with 104 operating nuclear power plants, located at 65 sites in 31 states. Additionally, 19 utilities have applied to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for construction and operating licenses for 26 new reactors at 17 sites. This planned growth of nuclear power is occurring worldwide and has been termed the 'nuclear renaissance.' As major industrial nations craft their energy future, there are several important factors that must be considered about nuclear energy: (1) it has been proven over the last 40 years to be safe, reliable and affordable (good for Economic Security); (2) its technology and fuel can be domestically produced or obtained from allied nations (good for Energy Security); and (3) it is nearly free of greenhouse gas emissions (good for Environmental Security). Already …
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: Marra, J.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Algebraic Multigrid for Linear Systems Obtained by Explicit Element Reduction (open access)

Algebraic Multigrid for Linear Systems Obtained by Explicit Element Reduction

None
Date: June 29, 2010
Creator: Brunner, T. A. & Kolev, T. V.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
ALTERNATIVE AND ENHANCED CHEMICAL CLEANING: CORROSION STUDIES RESULTS: FY2010 (open access)

ALTERNATIVE AND ENHANCED CHEMICAL CLEANING: CORROSION STUDIES RESULTS: FY2010

Due to the need to close High Level Waste storage tanks, chemical cleaning methods are needed for the removal of sludge heel materials remaining at the completion of mechanical tank cleaning efforts. Oxalic acid is considered the preferred cleaning reagent for heel dissolution of iron-based sludge. However, the large quantity of chemical reagents added to the tank farm from oxalic acid based cleaning has significant downstream impacts. Optimization of the oxalic acid cleaning process can potentially reduce the downstream impacts from chemical cleaning. To optimize oxalic acid usage, a detailed understanding of the chemistry of oxalic acid based sludge dissolution is required. Additionally, other acidic systems may be required for specific waste components that have low solubility in oxalic acid, and as a means to reduce oxalic acid usage in general. Electrochemical corrosion studies were conducted with 1 wt. % oxalic acid at mineral acid concentrations above and below the optimal conditions for this oxalic acid concentration. Testing environments included pure reagents, pure iron and aluminum phases, and sludge simulants. Mineral acid concentrations greater than 0.2 M and temperatures greater than 50 C result in unacceptably high corrosion rates. Results showed that manageable corrosion rates of carbon steel can be …
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: Wiersma, B.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Analysis Efforts Supporting NSTX Upgrades (open access)

Analysis Efforts Supporting NSTX Upgrades

The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) is a low aspect ratio, spherical torus (ST) configuration device which is located at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) This device is presently being updated to enhance its physics by doubling the TF field to 1 Tesla and increasing the plasma current to 2 Mega-amperes. The upgrades include a replacement of the centerstack and addition of a second neutral beam. The upgrade analyses have two missions. The first is to support design of new components, principally the centerstack, the second is to qualify existing NSTX components for higher loads, which will increase by a factor of four. Cost efficiency was a design goal for new equipment qualification, and reanalysis of the existing components. Showing that older components can sustain the increased loads has been a challenging effort in which designs had to be developed that would limit loading on weaker components, and would minimize the extent of modifications needed. Two areas representing this effort have been chosen to describe in more details: analysis of the current distribution in the new TF inner legs, and, second, analysis of the out-of-plane support of the existing TF outer legs.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: H.Zhang, P. Titus, P. Rogoff, A.Zolfaghari, D. Mangra, M. Smith
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Application of solution techniques to rapid growth of organic crystals (open access)

Application of solution techniques to rapid growth of organic crystals

None
Date: June 29, 2010
Creator: Zaitseva, N.; Carman, L.; Glenn, A.; Newby, J.; Faust, M.; Hamel, S. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMATERIALS: NANOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOFILMS (open access)

APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMATERIALS: NANOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOFILMS

Biotechnology is the application of biological techniques to develop new tools and products for medicine and industry. Due to various properties including chemical stability, biocompatibility, and specific activity, e.g. antimicrobial properties, many new and novel materials are being investigated for use in biosensing, drug delivery, hemodialysis, and other medical applications. Many of these materials are less than 100 nanometers in size. Nanotechnology is the engineering discipline encompassing designing, producing, testing, and using structures and devices less than 100 nanometers. One of the challenges associated with biomaterials is microbial contamination that can lead to infections. In recent work we have examined the functionalization of nanoporous biomaterials and antimicrobial activities of nanocrystalline diamond materials. In vitro testing has revealed little antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria and associated biofilm formation that enhances recalcitrance to antimicrobial agents including disinfectants and antibiotics. Laser scanning confocal microscopy studies further demonstrated properties and characteristics of the material with regard to biofilm formation.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Brigmon, R.; Berry, T. & Narayan, R.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Background and Derivation of ANS-5.4 Standard Fission Product Release Model (open access)

Background and Derivation of ANS-5.4 Standard Fission Product Release Model

This background report describes the technical basis for the newly proposed American Nuclear Society (ANS) 5.4 standard, Methods for Calculating the Fractional Release of Volatile Fission Products from Oxide Fuels. The proposed ANS 5.4 standard provides a methodology for determining the radioactive fission product releases from the fuel for use in assessing radiological consequences of postulated accidents that do not involve abrupt power transients. When coupled with isotopic yields, this method establishes the 'gap activity,' which is the inventory of volatile fission products that are released from the fuel rod if the cladding are breached.
Date: January 29, 2010
Creator: Beyer, Carl E. & Turnbull, Andrew J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Certification of Superconducting Solenoid-Based Focusing Lenses (open access)

Certification of Superconducting Solenoid-Based Focusing Lenses

The first production focusing lens for the HINS beam line at Fermilab has been assembled into a cryostat and tested. A total of 5 devices will be tested before they are installed in the low energy section of the HINS beam line, which uses copper Crossbar-H (CH) style RF cavities. One of the tested CH-section lens assemblies includes a pair of weak orthogonal steering dipoles nested within a strong focusing solenoid, and has six vapor cooled power leads. The other device has only the strong focusing solenoid, and utilizes a single pair of HTS power leads. The production test program is designed to measure the thermal performance of the cryostat, minimum cooling requirements for the HTS leads, quench performance of all superconducting components, and precise determination of the magnetic axis and field angles. Results and future plans for the first production device tests are presented.
Date: July 29, 2010
Creator: DiMarco, E.Joseph; Hemmati, Ali M.; Orris, Darryl F.; Page, Thomas M.; Rabehl, Roger H.; Tartaglia, Michael A. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cold Test Measurements on the GTF Prototype RF Gun (open access)

Cold Test Measurements on the GTF Prototype RF Gun

This report describes Cold Test Measurements on the GTF Prototype RF Gun.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Gierman, S.M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
A comparative study of the complexation of Np(V) with N,N-dimethyl-3-oxa-glutaramic acid and related ligands: thermodynamics, optical properties and structural aspects (open access)

A comparative study of the complexation of Np(V) with N,N-dimethyl-3-oxa-glutaramic acid and related ligands: thermodynamics, optical properties and structural aspects

Complexation of Np(V) with N,N-dimethyl-3-oxa-glutaramic acid (DMOGA) was studied in comparison with its diamide analog, N,N,N{prime},N{prime}-tetramethyl-3-oxa-glutaramide (TMOGA), and dicarboxylate analog, oxydiacetic acid (ODA). Thermodynamic parameters, including the stability constant and the enthalpy of complexation, were determined by spectrophotometry and calorimetry. Single-crystal structure of NpO{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O)(DMOGA){center_dot}H{sub 2}O(c) was identified by X-ray diffractometry using synchrotron radiation. Like ODA and TMOGA, DMOGA forms a tridentate Np(V) complex, with three oxygen atoms coordinating to the linear NpO{sub 2}{sup +} moiety via the equatorial plane. The stability constants, enthalpy and entropy of complexation generally decrease in the order ODA > DMOGA > TMOGA, suggesting that the complexation is entropy driven and the substitution of a carboxylate group with an amide group reduces the strength of complexation with Np(V) due to the decrease in the entropy of complexation.
Date: March 29, 2010
Creator: Rao, Linfeng; Tian, Guoxin & Teat, Simon J.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Computational and Experimental Development of Novel High Temperature Alloys (open access)

Computational and Experimental Development of Novel High Temperature Alloys

The work done in this paper is based on our earlier work on developing an extended Miedema model and then using it to downselect potential alloy systems. Our approach is to closely couple the semi-empirical methodologies to more accurate ab initio methods to dentify the best candidates for ternary alloying additions. The architectural framework for our material's design is a refractory base metal with a high temperature intermetallic which provides both high temperature creep strength and a source of oxidatively stable elements. Potential refractory base metals are groups IIIA, IVA and VA. For Fossil applications, Ni-Al appears to be the best choice to provide the source of oxidatively stable elements but this system requires a 'boost' in melting temperatures to be a viable candidate in the ultra-high temperature regime (> 1200C). Some late transition metals and noble elements are known to increase the melting temperature of Ni-Al phases. Such an approach suggested that a Mo-Ni-Al system would be a good base alloy system that could be further improved upon by dding Platinum group metals (PGMs). In this paper, we demonstrate the variety of microstructures that can be synthesized for the base alloy system, its oxidation behavior as well as the …
Date: June 29, 2010
Creator: Kramer, M. J.; Ray, P. K. & Akinc, M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Coordination of Energy Efficiency and Demand Response (open access)

Coordination of Energy Efficiency and Demand Response

This paper reviews the relationship between energy efficiency and demand response and discusses approaches and barriers to coordinating energy efficiency and demand response. The paper is intended to support the 10 implementation goals of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency's Vision to achieve all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025. Improving energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, schools, governments, and industries - which consume more than 70 percent of the nation's natural gas and electricity - is one of the most constructive, cost-effective ways to address the challenges of high energy prices, energy security and independence, air pollution, and global climate change. While energy efficiency is an increasingly prominent component of efforts to supply affordable, reliable, secure, and clean electric power, demand response is becoming a valuable tool in utility and regional resource plans. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) estimated the contribution from existing U.S. demand response resources at about 41,000 megawatts (MW), about 5.8 percent of 2008 summer peak demand (FERC, 2008). Moreover, FERC recently estimated nationwide achievable demand response potential at 138,000 MW (14 percent of peak demand) by 2019 (FERC, 2009).2 A recent Electric Power Research Institute study estimates that 'the combination of demand response and …
Date: January 29, 2010
Creator: Goldman, Charles; Reid, Michael; Levy, Roger & Silverstein, Alison
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Decontamination of Zircaloy Cladding Hulls From Spent Nuclear Fuel (open access)

Decontamination of Zircaloy Cladding Hulls From Spent Nuclear Fuel

The feasibility of decontaminating spent fuel cladding hulls using hydrofluoric acid (HF) was investigated as part of the Global Energy Nuclear Partnership (GNEP) Separations Campaign. The concentrations of the fission product and transuranic (TRU) isotopes in the decontaminated hulls were compared to the limits for determining the low level waste (LLW) classification in the United States (US). The {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs concentrations met the disposal criteria for a Class C LLW; although, in a number of experiments the criteria for disposal as a Class B LLW were met. The TRU concentration in the hulls generally exceeded the Class C LLW limit by at least an order of magnitude. The concentration decreased sharply as the initial 30-40 {micro}m of the cladding hull surface were removed. At depths beyond this point, the TRU activity remained relatively constant, well above the Class C limit. Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel generates a cladding waste which would likely require disposal as a Greater than Class C LLW in the US. If the cladding hulls could be treated to remove a majority of the actinide and fission product contamination, the hulls could potentially meet acceptance criteria for disposal as a LLW or allow recycle …
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: Rudisill, T.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Demonstration Assessment of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Parking Lot Lighting at T.J.Maxx in Manchester, NH Phase I (open access)

Demonstration Assessment of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Parking Lot Lighting at T.J.Maxx in Manchester, NH Phase I

A report describing the process and results of replacing existing parking lot lighting, looking at a LED option with occupancy sensors, and conventional alternates. Criteria include payback, light levels, occupant satisfaction. This report is Phase I of II. Phase I deals with initial installation.
Date: June 29, 2010
Creator: Myer, Michael & Goettel, Russell T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Designing small catalysts for CO2 capture (open access)

Designing small catalysts for CO2 capture

None
Date: August 29, 2010
Creator: Wong, S. E.; Lau, E. Y.; Satcher, J. H.; Aines, R. D. & Lightstone, F. C.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Detecting and Blocking Network Attacks at Ultra High Speeds (open access)

Detecting and Blocking Network Attacks at Ultra High Speeds

Stateful, in-depth, in-line traffic analysis for intrusion detection and prevention has grown increasingly more difficult as the data rates of modern networks rise. One point in the design space for high-performance network analysis - pursued by a number of commercial products - is the use of sophisticated custom hardware. For very high-speed processing, such systems often cast the entire analysis process in ASICs. This project pursued a different architectural approach, which we term Shunting. Shunting marries a conceptually quite simple hardware device with an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) running on commodity PC hardware. The overall design goal is was to keep the hardware both cheap and readily scalable to future higher speeds, yet also retain the unparalleled flexibility that running the main IPS analysis in a full general-computing environment provides. The Shunting architecture we developed uses a simple in-line hardware element that maintains several large state tables indexed by packet header fields, including IP/TCP flags, source and destination IP addresses, and connection tuples. The tables yield decision values the element makes on a packet-by-packet basis: forward the packet, drop it, or divert ('shunt') it through the IPS (the default). By manipulating table entries, the IPS can, on a fine-grained basis: …
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Paxson, Vern
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
DETERMINING THE EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON AGING CONCRETE STRUCTURES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS (open access)

DETERMINING THE EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON AGING CONCRETE STRUCTURES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) is responsible for the Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) of nuclear facilities throughout the DOE Complex. Some of these facilities will be completely dismantled, while others will be partially dismantled and the remaining structure will be stabilized with cementitious fill materials. The latter is a process known as In-Situ Decommissioning (ISD). The ISD decision process requires a detailed understanding of the existing facility conditions, and operational history. System information and material properties are need for aged nuclear facilities. This literature review investigated the properties of aged concrete structures affected by radiation. In particular, this review addresses the Savannah River Site (SRS) isotope production nuclear reactors. The concrete in the reactors at SRS was not seriously damaged by the levels of radiation exposure. Loss of composite compressive strength was the most common effect of radiation induced damage documented at nuclear power plants.
Date: January 29, 2010
Creator: Serrato, M.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Deterministic and Monte Carlo Modeling and Analyses of YALINA-THERMAL Subcritical Assembly. (open access)

Deterministic and Monte Carlo Modeling and Analyses of YALINA-THERMAL Subcritical Assembly.

None
Date: July 29, 2010
Creator: Talamo, A.; Gohar, Y. & Division, Nuclear Engineering
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development and Quantification of UV-Visible and Laser Spectroscopic Techniques for Materials Accountability and Process Control (open access)

Development and Quantification of UV-Visible and Laser Spectroscopic Techniques for Materials Accountability and Process Control

Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Visible) and Time Resolved Laser Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLFS) optical techniques can permit on-line, real-time analysis of the actinide elements in a solvent extraction process. UV-Visible and TRLFS techniques have been used for measuring the speciation and concentration of the actinides under laboratory conditions. These methods are easily adaptable to multiple sampling geometries, such as dip probes, fiber-optic sample cells, and flow-through cell geometries. To fully exploit these techniques for GNEP applications, the fundamental speciation of the target actinides and the resulting influence on 3 spectroscopic properties must be determined. Through this effort detection limits, process conditions, and speciation of key actinide components can be establish and utilized in a range of areas of interest to GNEP, especially in areas related to materials accountability and process control.
Date: December 29, 2010
Creator: Czerwinski, Ken; Weck, Phil & Poineau, Frederic
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development of a Future Representative Concentration Pathway for Use in the IPCC 5th Assessment Earth System Model Simulations (open access)

Development of a Future Representative Concentration Pathway for Use in the IPCC 5th Assessment Earth System Model Simulations

The representative concentration pathway to be delivered is a scenario of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and other radiatively important atmospheric species, along with land-use changes, derived from the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM). The particular representative concentration pathway (RCP) that the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI) has been responsible for is a not-to-exceed pathway that stabilizes at a radiative forcing of 4.5Wm-2 in the year 2100.
Date: December 29, 2010
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development of a Turnkey Hydrogen Fueling Station Final Report (open access)

Development of a Turnkey Hydrogen Fueling Station Final Report

The transition to hydrogen as a fuel source presents several challenges. One of the major hurdles is the cost-effective production of hydrogen in small quantities (less than 1MMscf/month). In the early demonstration phase, hydrogen can be provided by bulk distribution of liquid or compressed gas from central production plants; however, the next phase to fostering the hydrogen economy will likely include onsite generation and extensive pipeline networks to help effect a pervasive infrastructure. Providing inexpensive hydrogen at a fleet operator’s garage or local fueling station is a key enabling technology for direct hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs). The objective of this project was to develop a comprehensive, turnkey, stand-alone, commercial hydrogen fueling station for FCVs with state-of-the-art technology that is cost-competitive with current hydrocarbon fuels. Such a station would promote the advent of the hydrogen fuel economy for buses, fleet vehicles, and ultimately personal vehicles. Air Products, partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), The Pennsylvania State University, Harvest Energy Technology, and QuestAir, developed a turnkey hydrogen fueling station on the Penn State campus. Air Products aimed at designing a station that would have 65% overall station efficiency, 82% PSA (pressure swing adsorption) efficiency, and the capability of producing …
Date: July 29, 2010
Creator: Guro, David E.; Kiczek, Edward; Gill, Kendral & Brown, Othniel
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Discrete deexcitations in 235U from Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence (open access)

Discrete deexcitations in 235U from Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence

None
Date: June 29, 2010
Creator: Kwan, E.; Howell, C. R.; Raut, R.; Rusev, G.; Tonchev, A. P.; Tornow, W. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library