Projects by Year
FY 2025 CINR II Awards
U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy awarded more than $5.9 million in FY25 awards to 10 universities for 11 projects.
A full list of CINR II recipients is listed below.
| Title | Institution | Estimated Funding* | Project Description | Abstract | Project Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Thermal-Fluids Applications in Nuclear Energy: Toward Industry Adoption | Pennsylvania State University | $1,458,693.00 | Building on a remarkably successful Phase I, Phase II Continuation of the Center for Thermal-Fluids Applications in Nuclear Energy aims to enhance transient modeling for advanced reactors by researching novel scale-bridging methodologies. The team will leverage new high-resolution data, made possible by Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) computing, to develop efficient thermal hydraulics systems analysis methods. The team will also integrate Large Language Models to streamline the multiscale framework and foster industry adoption. | Document | Integrated Research Projects | FY2024 |
| Multi-physics fuel performance modeling of TRISO-bearing fuel in advanced reactor environments | University of Tennessee at Knoxville | $1,250,000.00 | The focus of this project is to develop and validate coupled multi-physics TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel performance models for high temperature gas cooled reactors, including both pebble bed modular high temperature gas cooled reactors and microreactors, as well as prismatic microreactors similar to eVinci. This builds upon the recent NEUP IRP project (20-22094) that was focused on pebble bed fluoride salt cooled high temperature reactors Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (FHR) and historical prismatic Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (mHTGR) designs. | Document | Integrated Research Projects | FY2024 |
| Prediction, scale-up, and optimization of used nuclear fuel processes using hydroxypyridinone-based hold-back reagents for actinide and fission product recovery | University of California, Berkeley | $400,000.00 | The teams studies have shown the applicability of hydroxypyridinone ligand architectures to drive the efficient separation of target elements and operate under the extreme conditions of a multi-component radiation field. This project seeks to optimize and scale-up this new approach, combined with multi-scale modeling for the prediction of radiolytic ligand longevity and degradation product formation over time, so as to augment at-scale engineering models in support of future process implementation. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| Developing constitutive relationships for the properties of unsaturated bentonite buffers under high temperatures | University of California, San Diego | $533,333.00 | Phase II continuation of this project is focused on simulating the effects of high temperatures (up to 200 ¡C) on the coupled heat transfer, water flow, and volume change in unsaturated, compacted granular bentonite using new material properties from Phase I of this project, as well as understanding and simulating the multiphase hydration process of bentonite buffers in deep geological repositories with closely spaced waste packages or Dual Purpose Containers such as that evaluated in the High Temperature Effects on Bentonite Buffers (HotBENT) project. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| Correlating buffer microstructure with failure progression into the SiC layer in TRISO | University of Wisconsin-Madison | $533,333.00 | Combining modeling and experiments, this Phase-II continuation will harness and extend the success of CINR 20-19556 to establish an Irradiation-Microstructure-Property-Performance (IMPP) correlation that links initial buffer microstructure with fracture initiation and progression to the Silicon carbide (SiC) layer in TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) particles. This correlation can be turned into design principles to further improve the irradiation performance of TRISO by controlling initial buffer microstructure. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| Enhancing Multimodal Tomography for Nuclear Applications using Machine Learning | Colorado School of Mines | $533,333.00 | The team will develop methods based on machine learning for upsampling and denoising muon, gamma and neutron tomographic images of spent nuclear fuel casks. The team will develop methods based on machine learning to improve both the resolution and signal-to-noise ratios of passive multimodal tomography images. This work will dramatically enhance the sensitivity of dry cask imaging technologies that are essential for the long-term viability of nuclear power in the United States. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| High-Temperature Guided Wave Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) for Structural Health Monitoring | University of Cincinnati | $519,795.00 | The aim of this project is to develop a guided wave electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for the structural health monitoring of pressure vessels and piping operating at up to 550°C. The project will build on the achievements of the Phase I project where the first EMAT capable of 550°C operation was designed, built and installed at Argonne. The Phase I EMAT is a single point measurement sensor, while the Phase II sensor will be capable of up to 10m range to ensure adequate area coverage. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Low Temperature, Ultrafast Annealing of Nanoscale Defects in Nuclear Graphite | Pennsylvania State University | $450,000.00 | We propose active controlling of nanoscale defects in nuclear graphite at room temperature and in less than a minute. The proposed technique using mechanical stimulus (electron wind force) instead of temperature, which is not effective for a material that graphitizes at 2800 C. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| ATF Solutions to Light Water-Cooled SMRs? | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $500,000.00 | We will explore ATF solutions for BWRX300 and also conceptualize cost effective fuel solutions to replace TRISO fuel for reactor applications that do not require such level of robustness. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Phase II: Microstructure considerations in creep and creep-fatigue interaction of additively-manufactured 316H stainless steel: mechanisms and modeling? | Purdue University | $533,333.00 | We propose to deepen the mechanistic understanding of the creep-fatigue interaction dominated by the characteristic microstructures created by laser direct energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing (AM), and develop the microstructure-based creep model and creep-fatigue (CF) interaction model for life assessment. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Optimizing Hybrid Energy Storage Management for Advanced Reactor-Powered Maritime Vessels via Hierarchical Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning | University of Texas at Dallas | $266,666.00 | The overall objective of this Phase II project is to develop optimal operation and planning strategies for small modular reactor or microreactor based maritime vessels equipped with a hybrid energy storage system by utilizing multi-agent deep reinforcement learning over graph for hierarchical control. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Calcium phosphates as an Effective Add-on to Backfill Materials: Permanent immobilization of iodine and uranium by bentonite/phosphate mineral mixtures | Mississippi State University | $529,608.00 | The aim of this proposal is to advance the functionality of the EBS by providing quantified information on sorption of radionuclides (I and U) by bentonite/phosphate mineral mixtures (a potential backfill). This is the next step (Phase II) in solving radionuclides attenuation problem through the EBS improvement, where we will use the data on I and U uptake by phosphates obtained in the Phase I, to study I and U retention by modified EBS by conducting batch and column experiments | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Development of a Nondestructive Evaluation Technique for Automatic Inspection of Welds in DOE Standard Canisters | University of Texas at Austin | $568,775.47 | The objective of the Phase II portion of the project is to develop a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technology to evaluate final closure welds in DOE Standard Canisters. It is proposed to use a novel low-cost sensing system based on helical guided ultrasonic waves (HGUW) and advanced data processing techniques for detecting flaws after welding. Specifically, the sensing system will enable the monitoring of stress corrosion cracking. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Multiscale Modeling and Experiments for Investigating High Burnup LWR Fuel Rod Behavior Under Normal and Transient Conditions | Texas A&M University-College Station | $523,793.00 | The current project targets a mechanistic understanding of the fuel rod behavior at high burn-up (HBU) under both normal and transient conditions by combining multiscale modeling and quantitative characterization and measurements. In this phase II continuation, we propose to extend this work to qualify Cr-doped fuels as a short term ATF concept. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Estimation of low temperature cladding failures during an RIA transient: Phase II Validation with HERA results | Pennsylvania State University | $533,333.00 | The goal of the Phase I of the initial project is to evaluate the likelihood of low temperature failures during a reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) caused by pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI). we have developed a physically based cladding failure criterion based on the hydride distribution in the cladding. We propose to apply the newly developed physically based failure criterion and analysis methodology to simulate the proposed HERA experiments. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Demonstrating industrial readiness of GARS-based ODS ferritic alloys for stability in extreme environments | Iowa State University | $666,000.00 | This Phase II project seeks to build upon our promising Phase I results to establish a clear pathway to scale up our gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) ODS ferritic stainless steel powder processing to produce bulk shapes of ODS ferritic steel by high capacity thermal-mechanical processing and to enable rapid development/adoption of this material with improved high temperature performance, increased reliability, and reduced lifetime costs by US industry for use in nuclear applications. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Reduction, Mitigation, and Disposal Strategies for the Graphite Waste of High Temperature Reactors | State University of New York, Stony Brook | $850,000.00 | Our current IRP, and proposed continuation, seek to enable advanced reactors through development of economically attractive and environmentally sound i-graphite management strategies. The tools and techniques developed thus far to investigate irradiated block graphite are directly applicable to non-fueled matrix graphite, an important area not presently investigated in detail. This continuation will provide our team the opportunity to extend and incorporate matrix graphite activities. | Document | Integrated Research Projects | FY2025 |
FY 2024 CINR II Awards
Six university-led projects will receive more than $4.7 million for research that complement and enhance ongoing NEUP research.
A full list of CINR II recipients is listed below.
| Title | Institution | Estimated Funding* | Project Description | Abstract | Project Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Thermal-Fluids Applications in Nuclear Energy: Toward Industry Adoption | Pennsylvania State University | $1,458,693.00 | Building on a remarkably successful Phase I, Phase II Continuation of the Center for Thermal-Fluids Applications in Nuclear Energy aims to enhance transient modeling for advanced reactors by researching novel scale-bridging methodologies. The team will leverage new high-resolution data, made possible by Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) computing, to develop efficient thermal hydraulics systems analysis methods. The team will also integrate Large Language Models to streamline the multiscale framework and foster industry adoption. | Document | Integrated Research Projects | FY2024 |
| Multi-physics fuel performance modeling of TRISO-bearing fuel in advanced reactor environments | University of Tennessee at Knoxville | $1,250,000.00 | The focus of this project is to develop and validate coupled multi-physics TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel performance models for high temperature gas cooled reactors, including both pebble bed modular high temperature gas cooled reactors and microreactors, as well as prismatic microreactors similar to eVinci. This builds upon the recent NEUP IRP project (20-22094) that was focused on pebble bed fluoride salt cooled high temperature reactors Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (FHR) and historical prismatic Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (mHTGR) designs. | Document | Integrated Research Projects | FY2024 |
| Prediction, scale-up, and optimization of used nuclear fuel processes using hydroxypyridinone-based hold-back reagents for actinide and fission product recovery | University of California, Berkeley | $400,000.00 | The teams studies have shown the applicability of hydroxypyridinone ligand architectures to drive the efficient separation of target elements and operate under the extreme conditions of a multi-component radiation field. This project seeks to optimize and scale-up this new approach, combined with multi-scale modeling for the prediction of radiolytic ligand longevity and degradation product formation over time, so as to augment at-scale engineering models in support of future process implementation. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| Developing constitutive relationships for the properties of unsaturated bentonite buffers under high temperatures | University of California, San Diego | $533,333.00 | Phase II continuation of this project is focused on simulating the effects of high temperatures (up to 200 ¡C) on the coupled heat transfer, water flow, and volume change in unsaturated, compacted granular bentonite using new material properties from Phase I of this project, as well as understanding and simulating the multiphase hydration process of bentonite buffers in deep geological repositories with closely spaced waste packages or Dual Purpose Containers such as that evaluated in the High Temperature Effects on Bentonite Buffers (HotBENT) project. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| Correlating buffer microstructure with failure progression into the SiC layer in TRISO | University of Wisconsin-Madison | $533,333.00 | Combining modeling and experiments, this Phase-II continuation will harness and extend the success of CINR 20-19556 to establish an Irradiation-Microstructure-Property-Performance (IMPP) correlation that links initial buffer microstructure with fracture initiation and progression to the Silicon carbide (SiC) layer in TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) particles. This correlation can be turned into design principles to further improve the irradiation performance of TRISO by controlling initial buffer microstructure. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| Enhancing Multimodal Tomography for Nuclear Applications using Machine Learning | Colorado School of Mines | $533,333.00 | The team will develop methods based on machine learning for upsampling and denoising muon, gamma and neutron tomographic images of spent nuclear fuel casks. The team will develop methods based on machine learning to improve both the resolution and signal-to-noise ratios of passive multimodal tomography images. This work will dramatically enhance the sensitivity of dry cask imaging technologies that are essential for the long-term viability of nuclear power in the United States. | Document | Research and Development | FY2024 |
| High-Temperature Guided Wave Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) for Structural Health Monitoring | University of Cincinnati | $519,795.00 | The aim of this project is to develop a guided wave electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for the structural health monitoring of pressure vessels and piping operating at up to 550°C. The project will build on the achievements of the Phase I project where the first EMAT capable of 550°C operation was designed, built and installed at Argonne. The Phase I EMAT is a single point measurement sensor, while the Phase II sensor will be capable of up to 10m range to ensure adequate area coverage. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Low Temperature, Ultrafast Annealing of Nanoscale Defects in Nuclear Graphite | Pennsylvania State University | $450,000.00 | We propose active controlling of nanoscale defects in nuclear graphite at room temperature and in less than a minute. The proposed technique using mechanical stimulus (electron wind force) instead of temperature, which is not effective for a material that graphitizes at 2800 C. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| ATF Solutions to Light Water-Cooled SMRs? | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $500,000.00 | We will explore ATF solutions for BWRX300 and also conceptualize cost effective fuel solutions to replace TRISO fuel for reactor applications that do not require such level of robustness. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Phase II: Microstructure considerations in creep and creep-fatigue interaction of additively-manufactured 316H stainless steel: mechanisms and modeling? | Purdue University | $533,333.00 | We propose to deepen the mechanistic understanding of the creep-fatigue interaction dominated by the characteristic microstructures created by laser direct energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing (AM), and develop the microstructure-based creep model and creep-fatigue (CF) interaction model for life assessment. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Optimizing Hybrid Energy Storage Management for Advanced Reactor-Powered Maritime Vessels via Hierarchical Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning | University of Texas at Dallas | $266,666.00 | The overall objective of this Phase II project is to develop optimal operation and planning strategies for small modular reactor or microreactor based maritime vessels equipped with a hybrid energy storage system by utilizing multi-agent deep reinforcement learning over graph for hierarchical control. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Calcium phosphates as an Effective Add-on to Backfill Materials: Permanent immobilization of iodine and uranium by bentonite/phosphate mineral mixtures | Mississippi State University | $529,608.00 | The aim of this proposal is to advance the functionality of the EBS by providing quantified information on sorption of radionuclides (I and U) by bentonite/phosphate mineral mixtures (a potential backfill). This is the next step (Phase II) in solving radionuclides attenuation problem through the EBS improvement, where we will use the data on I and U uptake by phosphates obtained in the Phase I, to study I and U retention by modified EBS by conducting batch and column experiments | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Development of a Nondestructive Evaluation Technique for Automatic Inspection of Welds in DOE Standard Canisters | University of Texas at Austin | $568,775.47 | The objective of the Phase II portion of the project is to develop a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technology to evaluate final closure welds in DOE Standard Canisters. It is proposed to use a novel low-cost sensing system based on helical guided ultrasonic waves (HGUW) and advanced data processing techniques for detecting flaws after welding. Specifically, the sensing system will enable the monitoring of stress corrosion cracking. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Multiscale Modeling and Experiments for Investigating High Burnup LWR Fuel Rod Behavior Under Normal and Transient Conditions | Texas A&M University-College Station | $523,793.00 | The current project targets a mechanistic understanding of the fuel rod behavior at high burn-up (HBU) under both normal and transient conditions by combining multiscale modeling and quantitative characterization and measurements. In this phase II continuation, we propose to extend this work to qualify Cr-doped fuels as a short term ATF concept. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Estimation of low temperature cladding failures during an RIA transient: Phase II Validation with HERA results | Pennsylvania State University | $533,333.00 | The goal of the Phase I of the initial project is to evaluate the likelihood of low temperature failures during a reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) caused by pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI). we have developed a physically based cladding failure criterion based on the hydride distribution in the cladding. We propose to apply the newly developed physically based failure criterion and analysis methodology to simulate the proposed HERA experiments. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Demonstrating industrial readiness of GARS-based ODS ferritic alloys for stability in extreme environments | Iowa State University | $666,000.00 | This Phase II project seeks to build upon our promising Phase I results to establish a clear pathway to scale up our gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) ODS ferritic stainless steel powder processing to produce bulk shapes of ODS ferritic steel by high capacity thermal-mechanical processing and to enable rapid development/adoption of this material with improved high temperature performance, increased reliability, and reduced lifetime costs by US industry for use in nuclear applications. | Document | Research and Development | FY2025 |
| Reduction, Mitigation, and Disposal Strategies for the Graphite Waste of High Temperature Reactors | State University of New York, Stony Brook | $850,000.00 | Our current IRP, and proposed continuation, seek to enable advanced reactors through development of economically attractive and environmentally sound i-graphite management strategies. The tools and techniques developed thus far to investigate irradiated block graphite are directly applicable to non-fueled matrix graphite, an important area not presently investigated in detail. This continuation will provide our team the opportunity to extend and incorporate matrix graphite activities. | Document | Integrated Research Projects | FY2025 |
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