Title |
Institution |
Estimated
Funding* |
Award Description |
|
Advanced Methods for Manufacturing |
|---|
|
Improving Weld Productivity and Quality by Means of Intelligent Real-Time Close-Looped Adaptive Welding Process Control through Integrated Optical Sensors | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $800,000 | Researchers will develop a novel close-looped adaptive welding quality control system that will enable real-time weld defect detection and adaptive adjustment to the welding process conditions to eliminate or minimize the formation of weld defects. The project will provide high-speed, high quality welds for factory and field fabrication to significantly reduce the cost and schedule of new nuclear plant construction. |
|
Improvement of Design Codes to Account for Accident Thermal Effects on Seismic Performance | Purdue University | $800,000 | Researchers will improve current design codes and standards by taking both accident thermal and seismic loading events. The project will resolve this issue by generating the requisite information, knowledge and guidance to facilitate regulation and actualize the licensing schedule desired for new designs. |
|
Periodic Material-Based Seismic Base Isolators for Small Modular Reactors | University of Houston | $800,000 | Researchers will utilize past research on periodic material foundations and apply it on a larger scale for application in small modular reactors. The project will use large scale shake table test on a structure supported on a periodic-material foundation to verify and refine the analytical model and identify design parameters. |
|
Advanced Sensors & Instrumentation |
|---|
|
Operator Support Technologies for Fault Tolerance and Resilience | Argonne National Laboratory | $995,000 | Researchers will develop control systems technologies for nuclear plants that significantly enhance the response to time-critical component faults, resulting in fewer nuclear safety challenges and higher plant capacity factors. This technology retains an operator’s judicious use of control strategies to minimize the impact to the plant, while greatly improving human performance. |
|
Nanostructured Bulk Thermoelectric Generator for Efficient Power Harvesting for Self-powered Sensor Networks | Boise State University | $980,804 | Researchers will develop high-efficiency and reliable thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for self-powered sensors utilizing thermal energy from nuclear reactors or fuel cycle. The project will identify suitable hot surfaces for TEG implementation, develop a robust TEG prototype with shielded package, and study the radiation effect on TEG properties and performances. |
|
Enhanced Micro-Pocket Fission Detector (MPFD) for High Temperature Reactors | Idaho National Laboratory | $1,000,000 | Researchers will develop, fabricate, and demonstrate the performance of enhanced Micro-Pocket Fission Detectors suitable for use as real-time reactor core neutron flux and temperature monitors in high-temperature advanced reactors. |
|
Embedded Instrumentation and Controls for Extreme Environments | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $1,000,000 | Researchers will close critical technology gaps in instrumentation and controls (I&C) for advanced reactor designs. Crosscutting embedded instrumentation and control (I&C) technologies for extreme environments will be developed for a high temperature (700 °C) canned rotor pump testbed with active magnetic bearings and a switched reluctance motor. |
|
Robust Online Monitoring Technology for Recalibration Assessment of Transmitters and Instrumentation | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $1,000,000 | Researchers will create the next generation of online monitoring technologies for sensor calibration interval extension and signal validation in nuclear systems. The project will develop advanced algorithms for monitoring sensor/system performance and enabling the use of plant data to derive information that currently cannot be measured. |
|
High Spatial Resolution Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensor Networks for Reactors and Fuel Cycle Systems | University of Pittsburgh | $987,676 | Researchers will develop radiation-hard, multi-functional, distributed fiber optical sensor networks to improve the ability for sensors to actively adjust its sensitivity and functionality in time. This research will address the critical technology gaps for monitoring advanced reactors and fuel cycle systems. |
|
Reactor Materials |
|---|
|
Functionally Gradient Transition Joint for Dissimilar Metal Welding Using Plasma Arc Lamps | Mesocoat, Inc. | $1,000,000 | Researchers will use high-density plasma arc lamp processing to build gradient transition joints for dissimilar metal welding. The project includes transition joint design, fabrication and characterization. Results from the study will validate the microstructure and composition of a gradient transition joint and improve stress corrosion cracking resistance of the joint. |
|
Radiation Tolerance of Controlled Fusion Welds in High Temperature Oxidation Resistant FeCrAl Alloys for Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel Cladding Applications | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $1,000,000 | Researchers will investigate the mechanical performance and microstructure of controlled fusion welds completed on high temperature oxidation resistant FeCrAl alloys after neutron irradiation using advance characterization techniques. The project will further the commercialization of FeCrAl alloys. |
|
Extending The In-Service Life Of Welded Assemblies Through Low Energy Solid State Joining | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $1,000,000 | Researchers will develop an optimized friction stir welding process with improvements over baseline fusion welding methods in prototypic fission reactor environments. The project will improve sound welds in residual stress, creep, creep/fatigue, and SCC susceptibility for alloys of interest to LWR, VHTR and SFR designs. |
| |
Total |
$11,363,480 | |
