inl associate laboratory director for nuclear science
TRANSCRIPT
P R E S E N T E D B Y
A C O L L A B O R A T I O N B E T W E E N
April 19, 2021
INL Associate Laboratory Director
for Nuclear Science & Technology
Faculty Roundtable
Agenda
• Remarks by Jess Gehin, INL Nuclear Science & Technology Associate Director(30 minutes)
• Faculty Lightning Talks (50 minutes): 3 minutes presentation1 minute questions
• Conclusion (10 minutes, or less if the lightning talks run over)
Presenter Order and Contact Information
Boise State University
1. Jim Browning
2. Brian Jaques
3. Lan (Samantha) Li
4. Hui (Claire) Xiong
Idaho State University
5. Amir Ali
6. Chad Pope
7. Mustafa Mashal
University of Idaho
8. Jason Barnes
9. Indrajit Charit
10. John Crepeau
11. Matthew Swenson
12. Vivek Utgikar
Jim Browning, Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Boise State UniversityVacuum Electronics and Sensors for Harsh
Environments
| Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Vacuum Electronics and Sensors for Harsh Environments
• Team– Browning and Bhattacharya (BSU) and Akinwande (MIT)
• Use semiconductor fabrication processes to build Nano-Vacuum Transistors (NVTs)
• Electrons extracted through field emission (Fowler-Nordheim Tunneling)
• Structure: sharp emitter tip, close gate, distant collector
• Many materials: silicon, diamond, GaN, Ti
• Must be packaged in vacuum (demonstrated for displays in 1990s)
Vertical Device Lateral Device
Example field emitters
| Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
NVT Possibilities• Devices from MIT have been demonstrated
>400C at BSU• Gamma and X-rays do not damage (operational
tests needed under irradiation)• Neutrons may eventually damage tips (what
dose?)• Circuits in Reactors/NIF:
– Digital and analog with (10 um x 10 um) transistors– Amplifiers for sensors– Oscillators for communications– Integrated Sensors (temperature, vibration,
pressure)
• Current research: AFOSR MURI with MIT, BSU, SMU, and Colorado
RF Oscillator Circuit
Temperature, pressure, vibration sensors cause oscillation frequency to change
NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH IN THE ADVANCED MATERIALS LABORATORY AT
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
Brian J. Jaques, Ph.D., P.E.
208.426.5376
Assistant Professor, Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering
CAES Affiliate, Nuclear Energy Focus Area Lead at BSU
INL, Joint Appointment
“Materials for Extreme Environments”
• Sensor design, development, and testing
• In pile sensor development
• Radiation sensors development
• SNF storage facility prognostic health monitoring
• Nuclear Fuels
• Accident tolerant fuels, nitrides, silicides, carbides, metals, oxides, composites,
TRISO
• Synthesis, fabrication, and environmental and mechanical testing
• Nuclear Fuel Cladding and structural materials
• Zircaloys, ODS, steels, etc
• Development, fabrication, and joining methods (ODS and steels)
• High temperature mechanical and transient behaviors
• Miniature and micro specimen development for mechanical testing
• Small sample testing on irradiated structural materials
• High temperature environmental testing
• Irradiation effects
• Miniature and micro specimen development for mechanical testing
• Radiation induced segregation
• Materials for energy conversion (Thermoelectrics)
• Synthesis, fabrication, and irradiation testing
• Additive manufacturing
• Rare earth materials research (Alloying and reaction kinetics)
• Novel joining materials and methods for ceramic to metal transitions
MATERIALS PROCESSING AND CHARACTERIZATION CAPABILITIES
Available On Campus:• LA-ICP-MS (ThermoElectron X-Series II)• Flash elemental analyzer (N,C)• X-Ray tomography• Raman Spectroscopy• XPS• VSM• 900 ft2 of class 1000 cleanroomAM tools• Materials Inkjet printer (Fuji Dimatix)• Aerosol jet printer (Optomec 200)• Nscript Micro Dispenser• Plasma Jet• Voltera• Rapid thermal annealer• Photonic sintering
BSCMC at BSU:• TEM (JEOL 2100 with 1000 °C stage, LN2
stage, ASTAR and tomography, magnetic imaging)
• FESEM (FEI Teneo, EDS, EBSD)• EPMA (Cameca, FESEM)• SEM (Hitachi 3400, EDS, EBSD, WDS)• Optical microscope (Leica, auto mosaics and
z-stacking)• High resolution XRD (Bruker, 6 axes, parallel
beam or BB, LN2-1600 °C stage, atmosphere controlled, area or point detector)
• Powder XRD (Rigaku)• XRF (Bruker, handheld)
AML:• Gloveboxes (X3)• High T, atm controlled furnaces (≤2500 °C)• Induction furnace• Arc melter• Autoclave (420 °C, 6000 psi)• Thermal analysis tools
• (≤ 2400 °C) – TGA, DSC, DTA, Dil, LFA, LSR• High temperature mechanical testing
including fatigue crack growth• O and N analyzer (LECO ON836)• Powder synthesis (Planetary mill,
Vibratory mill, Mixer mill)• Powder characterization
• Particle size analyzer• Pore size analyzer• Surface area analyzer• Multipycnometer
• Optical microscope• Precision balances• In situ planetary milling conditions• Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Lan Li, Micron School of Materials Science
and Engineering, Boise State UniversityComputational Modeling of Nuclear-Related
Materials and Devices
In-Pile Instrumentation Program
Work Package: [Advanced Manufacturing]Dr. Lan Li’s Materials Theory and Modeling Group
High Temperature Irradiation Resistant Thermocouples (HTIR-TCs)• Collaborate with Dr. Richard Skifton (High
Temperature Test Lab, INL) and Dr. Larry Aagesen (Fuels Modeling and Simulation Department, INL)
• Couple computational and experimental methods to develop HTIR-TCs
• Predict Mo-Nb TC performance in a reactor and compare with experiments
• Simulate grain growth and fracture simulations for Nb sheath after heat treatment
Computational Modeling Capabilities:• Multiscale modeling: DFT+MD+Phase
Field Modeling
• Combine with Machine Learning techniques
Project-Related Publications:• Biaggne et al., “Adsorption and Surface
Diffusion of Metals on α-Al2O3 for Advanced Manufacturing Applications,” TMS JOM, ISSN 1047-4838, 2021
• Sikorski et al., “Combined Experiment and First-Principles Study of In-Pile Temperature Sensor Materials,” Journal of Nuclear Materials, under review, 2021
• Sikorski et al., “First-Principles Comparative Study of UN and Zr Corrosion,” Journal of Nuclear Materials, 523, 402-412, 2019
UN Corrosion Mechanism• Collaborate with Dr. Brian Jaques (BSU)• Comprehensively study corrosion mechanism
on UN surfaces• Design methods of stopping & preventing UN
corrosion
Advanced Manufacturing (AM)• Optimize AM process parameters for in-pile
sensor applications
Funding Resources: DOE ASI (Contract #DE-AC07-05ID14517), INL LDRD (Contract #154754), INL Graduate Summer Internships
Carbon Interfaces, Structures & Impacts on Reactivity• Collaborate with Dr. Claire Xiong (BSU) and Dr.
Eric Dufek (Energy Storage & Advanced Transportation Department, INL)
• Impacts of microstructure, defects, and interfacial chemistry on carbon reactivity
Other AreasDNA-Controlled Dye Aggregation
Computationally screen various dyes using a combination of first-principles, classical molecular dynamics and machine learning methods for quantum computing applications.
Project-Related Publications:
• Biaggne et al., “Ground and Excited State Properties of Cyanine Dimers on DNA Scaffolds,” Molecules, 26, 524 (16pp), 2021
• Barcenas et al., “First-Principles Studies of Substituent Effect on SquaraineDyes,” RSC Advances, under review, 2021
• Fothergill et al., “Ab-Initio Studies of Exciton Interactions of Cyanogen Dye Aggregates,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 122, 8989-8997, 2018.
Machine Learning Role in Materials Science Research
Machine learning is the most popular and promising application of AI in the materials science research.
Hui (Claire) Xiong, Micron School of Materials Science
and Engineering, Boise State UniversityUnderstanding the Responses to Radiation in
Structural Materials for Extreme Environments
14
Hui (Claire) Xiong, Boise State ([email protected])
Defects in Materials
Novel Electrodes
Advanced Characterization
Designed Interface
J Mater Sci, 2019 54, 13221–13235
PCCP, 2018, 20, 22537-22546
J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2018, 101, 4357–4366
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 11815-11824
ACS Appl. Mater. & Inter., 2020, 12 (46), 51397-51408;
JMCA, 2020, 8 (21), 11011-11018; ACS Nano, 2019,
13, 671-680; Chem. Mater., 2018, 30, 8145-8154
Nanocomposite Oxide Electrodes
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 3333 – 3343;
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 2836 – 2842;
Chem. Comm., 2018, 54, 11348-11351;
ACS AMI, 2018, 10, 36969-36975
Controlled-Environment eAFM
System (SECM, KPFM modules)
0.28V
0.01V
0.09V
0.19 V
0.01V
SEI evolution on ordered and disordered carbon electrodes
HOPG Defective Carbon
Understanding the Responses to Radiation in Structural Materials for Extreme Environments
• Microstructural and electrochemical characterization of structual materials under radiation
• Introduces a unique method to utilize ion irradiation to tailor structural defects in energy materials for
improved electrochemical performance
• Applications subject to radiation, e.g., nuclear power plant backup power systems, deep space
exploration; extreme temperatures; or fast charging.
Amir Ali, Assistant professor, Nuclear Engineering ISU and Laboratory Lead, CAESInnovative Heat Exchanger (HX) Technology
for Nuclear Applications
heat exchanger
Nuclear reactors
Innovative Heat Exchanger Technology for Advanced Reactors
$29 Billions
7.2% CAGR
2026
Global
Market
>$2 Billions
2025
USA
Market
The heat exchangers market demands (at minimum cost):1- Passiveenhancement, 2- High heat transfer performance ,3- Compact size
Helical tube HX [1,2,3]
Oval twisted-helical tube HX [1,2,3]
Shell and tube HX [1,2]
0
10
20
30
40
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Helical - Oval TwistedHelical - CircularStraight - Oval Twisted
Straight - Circular
ReN
u
Passive technology Better performance
Compact (14% volume less) Reduced cost (>500 $/m2)
Thermal stress (Mpa)
Innovative Heat Exchanger Technology for Advanced Reactors
Oval twisted-helical tube HX
Thermal expansion (hot spots)
Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1)
Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1)
Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1)
Re = 500 Re = 1000 Re = 2000
Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1)
Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1)
Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1) Vorticity (s-1)
Re = 500 Re = 1000 Re = 2000
Induced vibration
Hot fluid
in
Hot fluid
out
Cold
fluid in
Cold fluid
out
Ri
Ro
Pi
dh
b
a
AR =a
b
Displacement (mm)
In-Plane Spiral Oval twisted-
helical tube HX (progressing
research)
Mustafa Mashal, Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Idaho State UniversityPotential Applications of New Technologies
from Civil Engineering in the Nuclear Industry
Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)
• Five times higher strength than regular concrete
• Exceptional durability, stiffness, shear resistance, corrosion
performance, higher ductility, very low permeability, and
applications in civil infrastructure
• Prefabricated components (modular construction) for sitting of
micro-reactors, fission batteries, other type of reactors
• Applications for shielding (e.g. thinner walls) and casks in
seismic regions
• Unknown thermal/radiation performance
• Opportunity for optimizing the mix for shielding/irradiation,
computational research etc.
Collaborators = Chandu Bolisetti*, Som Dhulipala*, Ben Spencer,
Elmar Eidelpes, Kunal Mondal, Drew Johnson (INL); Mustafa
Mashal, Dan LabRier, Arya Ebrahimpour (ISU)
UHPCRegular Concrete
* Mustafa Mashal & Dan LabRier will be participating in the 2021 CAES Summer Visiting Faculty Program on UHPC with INL researchers
Mustafa Mashal, Ph.D., P.E., SECB, CPEng, IntPE(NZ), M.ASCE
Associate Professor/CAES Fellow
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) & Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)
AR/VR and SHM for:
• Disaster Response* (e.g. CBRN simulation,
training of emergency responders)
• Instrumentation of a collapsed structure (e.g.
wireless technologies)
• Transportation, assembly, remote operation,
and maintenance of micro and other reactors
• Applications in qualification tests, natural/man-
made disaster, mobile reactors
Collaborators = Rajiv Khadka, John Koudelka,
Xingyue Yang, Michael Shurtliff, Som Duhlipala;
Bryon Marsh (INL); Mustafa Mashal, Andrew
Chrysler, Irene van Woerden (ISU)
* ISU has been funded $1.1M for three years for the Disaster Response Complex which is in collaboration with INL’s N&HS and CAES
Chad L. Pope, Nuclear Engineering, Idaho State University
Nuclear Power Flooding Risk and Generation Risk Analysis
Flooding Risk Analysis
With support from the Light Water Reactor Sustainability program and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, we are developing deeper comprehension of nuclear power plant flooding risks through three pathways.
• Execution of component flooding experiments.
• Comprehensive data analysis and component fragility curve development.
• Integration of component fragility into smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulation.
Chad Pope, ISU Nuclear Engineering
Generation Risk Analysis
With support form the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program, we are developing the Versatile Economic Risk Tool (VERT).
• VERT couples SAPHIE and RAVEN allowing users to perform Generation Risk Assessment (GRA).
• The focus is on sequences leading to loss of electricity generation or reductions of plant output.
• Users can identify components that merit replacement or revised maintenance strategies.
• Open-Source Availability through INL GITHUB
Chad Pope, ISU Nuclear Engineering
Jason W. Barnes, Department of Physics, University of IdahoDragonfly: NASA's Nuclear-Powered Titan
Rotorcraft Lander
Jason W. Barnes
Deputy PI, Dragonfly
Professor of Physics
University of Idaho
INL NS&T Director Faculty Roundtable
2021 April 19
Virtual; Moscow, Idaho
Dragonfly: NASA’s Nuclear-Powered
Titan Rotorcraft Lander
Dragonfly’s Power SourceMMRTG
MultiMission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
• Powered by Plutonium-238
• NOT weapons material!
• Half-life: 88 years
•Fueled at Idaho National Lab!
PuO2 “brick”
Indrajit Charit, Department of Nuclear Engineering and
Industrial Management, University of IdahoNuclear Materials Research at UI-NEIM
• Newly constituted department based in Idaho Falls: Department of Nuclear
Engineering and Industrial Management (from Fall’20) – joined as the Chair
from Jan. 10, 2021.
• Four programs under NEIM: Nuclear Engineering (NE), Engineering
Management (EM), Technology Management (TM) and Industrial Technology
(INDT) – all programs see students from INL.
• Five core NE faculty and several affiliated faculty engage in nuclear related
research activities ranging from thermal hydraulics, nuclear safeguards, risk
assessment, modeling of thermal/chemical processes, fuel cyclea, advanced
reactors, nuclear materials and processing etc.
Professor and Chair
Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
and Industrial Management
Ph.D., Metallurgical
Engineering, Missouri S&T
Postdoctoral, Nuclear
Engineering, North Carolina
State University
E-mail: [email protected]
Nuclear Materials Research at UI-NEIM
Courses:
Radiation Effects on Materials
Fundamentals of Nuclear Materials
High Temperature Deformation & Failure Mechanisms
Advanced Manufacturing
Spark Plasma Sintering
(INL-LDRD)
Additive Manufacturing
(Premier Technology, BSU, INL)
Funding: IDC, IGEM)
Friction Stir Welding
of Dry Storage Canister
(w/ PNNL, DOE-NEUP)
FCCI-Resistant Fuel Alloy Design
(w/ INL, Funding Source: DOE-
NEUP)
Charit Group – Current/Potential Research
Advanced Materials Lab
Creep Behavior of Nuclear Structural
Materials
(w/ INL, DOE-NEUP)
Pressure Resistance Welding
(AFCI, NASA, MDA, CAES collaboration
proposal)Peening Techniques for
Fuel Storage Canisters
(UNR, DOE-NEUP)
Research Interests: Nuclear Materials, Radiation Effects, High Temperature Mechanical Behavior, Advanced
Manufacturing (Additive Manufacturing, Solid State Welding Methods, Spark Plasma Sintering)
John Crepeau, College of Engineering, University of Idaho
Solid-liquid phase change with internal heat generation
SOLID-LIQUID PHASE CHANGE WITH INTERNAL HEAT GENERATIONJOHN CREPEAU, DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
2
2
1
1
0
1 1
1 0
2
1
11 1
4 ln
n
n
n n n
n
n
n n n n
n n
dA e J
St d
YB e Y J
J
Q
WE HAVE DEVELOPED CLOSED-FORM SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN PLANE WALL,
CYLINDRICAL AND SPHERICAL COORDINATES WITH CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND
CONSTANT HEAT FLUX CONDITIONS
PHASE CHANGE EXPERIMENTS
Matthew Swenson, Ph.D., P.E.,Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of IdahoLaser welding and irradiation effects on
nanocluster and microstructure evolution in advanced alloys
MATTHEW SWENSON, PH.D., P.E.
Assistant Professor, Mechanical EngineeringDirector, Interdisciplinary Capstone Design ProgramCo-op Advisor, Mechanical Engineering
BACKGROUND & EXPERTISE:
1) Emulation of neutron irradiation with ion irradiation:a. Defect clusters (loops, voids)b. Solute clusters (phase separation and stability)c. Temperature shift requirements for ion irradiations
2) Characterization of irradiation effects on microstructure:a. Atom Probe Tomography (APT) nanoclustersb. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) microstructures
3) Modeling to simulate irradiation-induced nanocluster evolution:a. Cluster Dynamicsb. Simple NHM model (my own)
4) Correlation of microstructure to mechanical properties:a. Nanohardness testingb. Dispersed Barrier Hardening + Hall-Petch + Solid Solution
1. S.B. Adisa, J. Hu, M.J. Swenson. APT characterization and modeling of irradiation-induced Nb-rich nanoclustering in Zr-1.0%Nb alloys, Materialia 16 (2021) 101040. 2. S.B. Adisa, R. Blair, M.J. Swenson. Comparison of microstructure evolution in Fe2+ or neutron irradiated T91 at 500 °C, Materialia 12 (2020) 100770.
OBJECTIVE:
Evaluate and model the combined effects of laser welding and irradiation on nanocluster and microstructure evolution and the bulk mechanical properties in advanced nuclear reactor candidate alloys.
RATIONALE:
1) Laser Welding – via partnership in Spokane, WA:a. Materials (SS, ODS, F/M alloys, Alloy 709,…)b. Parameter optimization for 2 mm penetration
2) Irradiation experiments:a. Neutron irradiation – ATR (via NSUF)b. Heavy ions and protons – Michigan Ion Beam Lab. (via NSUF)
3) Characterization of irradiation effects on microstructure:a. SEM and XRD grain size evolutionb. APT nanoclusters, and TEM microstructures
4) Mechanical properties correlation and modeling5) Comparison with traditional welding (MIG, TIG, and Friction Stir)
APPROACH:
Nanostructured alloys are leading candidates for structure and cladding applications, but there is a large knowledge gap in reliable and repeatable processes for fabrication and joining of components
Vivek Utgikar, PhD PE, Department of Chemical and Biological
Engineering, University of IdahoIntegrated Energy Systems and Fuel cycle Research at University of Idaho, Moscow
Integrated Energy Systems and Fuel cycle Research at
University of Idaho, Moscow
• Principal Investigator: Vivek P. Utgikar
• Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Former Associate Dean of Research, College of Engineering
• Former Interim Director, Nuclear Engineering Program
• Overview of Current and Past Nuclear Research
• Energy systems and process applications of advanced reactors; Compact heat exchangers and
transient behavior/control of heat transfer system; Treatment of off-gas emissions from used
nuclear fuel recycling operations; Modeling of liquid-liquid extraction devices
• Facilities and Resources
• Wet chemistry laboratory equipped with fume hood and controlled atmosphere glovebox; Analytical
instrumentation for compositional and structural characterization; services of a research engineer
Development of Nuclear Hybrid Energy Systems: Temperature Amplification through Chemical Heat Pumps for Industrial Applications
Sponsor: Department of Energy – Nuclear Energy University Program (DOE-NEUP)
Novel Processes for Capture of Radioactive Iodine Species from Vessel Off-Gas Streams
Sponsor: Department of Energy – Nuclear Energy University Program (DOE-NEUP)
Selected Prior Projects
• DOE-NEUP: Off-Gas Treatment: Evaluation of Nano-structured Sorbents for Selective
Removal of Contaminants.
• DOE-NEUP: Advanced Reactor-Intermediate Heat Exchanger (IHX) Coupling: Theoretical
Modeling and Experimental Validation
• DOE-NEUP: Elucidation of electrochemical behavior of technetium, tellurium and iodine in
molten salt solutions
• DOE-NEUP, Infrastructure Grant: General Scientific Infrastructure Support for Innovative
Nuclear Research at the University of Idaho
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: University of Idaho Nuclear Engineering Faculty
Development Program
Accomplishments
• Feasibility of temperature amplification via chemical heat pump demonstrated
• Effectiveness of pretreatment in decomposing organic iodides confirmed, leading to enhanced
sorption capture of radioactive iodine
• Dynamic response of nuclear reactor-intermediate heat exchanger-secondary heat exchanger
to process disturbances modeled and simulated. Effectiveness of control system
demonstrated
• Novel nanocarbon sorbents for capture of radioactive contaminants developed and
performance determined in a continuous system
• ~70 refereed publications, 2 books, ~100 presentations at national meetings
• 5 PhD, 20 Masters graduates, 2 Post-Doctoral Assistants
Modeling and
Analysis
Sorbent Performance
Characterization
Integrated System
Performance
Pretreatment:
Photodecomposition
Electric Discharge
Research Projects Overview
Integrated System
Tests:
Performance
Characterization,
Model Validation
and Analysis
Modeling: Component Models, Steady
State System Model, System Dynamics
Experimental Studies: Reversibility of
Hydration-Dehydration Reaction
Experimental Studies:
Absorption-Desorption Loop
Thank you for your kind attention!
Questions? Comments?