Conducting R&D in the 21st Century, the Advanced Test ReactorNational Scientific User Facility Model

Conducting R&D in the 21st Century, the Advanced Test ReactorNational Scientific User Facility Model

Todd AllenDeputy Laboratory Director for Science and TechnologyMarch 2014

Possible Structure to Support Innovation in National Energy Programs

EnduringPrograms

Success

Direct input

Reject

Filter

Competed Programs

Twentieth Century Research & Development

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Technology

Facility Idea

Skill1

As seen in creation of National Laboratories

Twenty-First Century Research & Development

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User Facilities Idea

Technology

Skill1

Skill2

As seen today in the energy innovation hubs, Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), and National User Facilities.

Distributed Capability

Information Technology

How to Catch a Fish

March 2014

Todd AllenDeputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology

Catching a Fish in The Early Days:

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• Inefficient Process• Requires trying many different fish• Expert base process

Edisonian Approach

Catching A Fish in The 21st Century: Science-base Approach

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• Use modern computational tools to limit the number of experiments

• Model is a complex engineering problem and includes fish property definition, fish culinary desires, fluid flow, angler arm action, actions of other fishermen, etc.

• Models need validation

http://www-phys.llnl.gov/Research/Metals_Alloys/Methods/

Multiscale Modeling

Multiscale Modeling

http://www-phys.llnl.gov/Research/Metals_Alloys/Methods/

Bottoms Up Approach

• Start by building a fish model from the atomic level• Once the fish is understood, then model the river• Move up to understanding the system of fish,

stream, man, and beer• Eventually would have perfect understanding but

very time consuming to finish the exercise and the fishing funding agency might lose interest

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Top Down Approach

• Start with a system level model• Focus on most important variables (e.g., man

and beer) and drive to limit uncertainty using modeling and measurement tools as necessary

• Continuous improvement in system model improves the fishing

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Top Down Approach-Advantages

• Allows for eliminating things that aren’t relevant

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Local Conditions

Fish Availability

Stupid people between you and

some immobile fish

Disposition of the fishermen

Organizing The Advanced Fishing Modeling Team

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FDU

Example: Conducting R&D

Simulation

Domain Expertise

Collaboration

Internal Facility

External Facility

Characterization

Testing

Fabrication

Databases & Documentation

Smart Search Engines

Data Reduction Software

Access by DOE Laboratories, Universities,

Industry, NRC

VA

LID

AT

ION

OF

M&

S T

OO

LS

NationalKnowledge Center

International Data Centers

Measurement

What are User Facilities?

There are currently 48 DOE user facilities in the U.S. – Advanced scientific computing research – High flux synchrotron and neutron sources – Electron beam characterization – Nano-scale science – Biological and environmental research – High energy and nuclear physics – Fusion energy science

……But before 2007 there were no user facilities to address the unique challenges of nuclear energy!

Advanced Photon Source (ANL)

Spallation Neutron Source (ORNL)

Regional, national or international facilities with unique experimental capabilities. Access is typically cost free through a competitive proposal process. The goal is to connect good ideas with the capability regardless of geographical separation

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Meeting Nuclear Research NeedsTo perform the research required to

support nuclear energy development requires specialized (expensive) and

increasingly rare capabilities– High flux reactors– Hot cells– Support infrastructure (shipping

casks, test fabrication, etc.)But also intellectual capital

– Universities– Nuclear industry– Innovative small businesses– National laboratories

The ATR National Scientific User Facility merges the national nuclear research infrastructure with intellectual capital to pair the best ideas with needed capability

Initial Vision for ATR NSUF

Advanced Test Reactor INL Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) Facilities Materials & Fuels Complex (MFC)

Allow the research community access to test reactor space and existing post irradiation examination facilities

Expanding the User Facility Scope

Because test reactor space and capability for examining radioactive

materials are limited at INL, a network of capability across the U.S. has been added to the ATR

NSUF that includes both national laboratory and university capability

ATR National Scientific User Facility

Test reactors and critical facilities (ATR, ATRC, HFIR, MITR, PULSTAR)

Examination facilities (INL MFC, NCSU, ORNL, PNNL, UC Berkeley, Michigan, Purdue, UNLV, IIT, Wisconsin)

Other National User Facilities (APS, SHaRE, NIST, LANSCE)

An active and engaged user community

Provides the nuclear energy research community access to the capability required to conduct cutting edge research and

development

ATR National Scientific User FacilityPrototyping the Laboratory of the Future

Discovery through Collaboration

Support through Infrastructure Development through Learning

Capability through Partnerships

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MOOSE: M&S Capability

LWR ATR

MaterialScience

ChemistryUsed Fuel

Geomechanics

BES SciDAC

NuclearFuel

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Example: A Hub for Nuclear Fuel R&D

Simulation

Domain Expertise

Collaboration

ATR National Scientific User

Facility

Other Scientific User Facility

Characterization

Out-of-Pile Testing

Irradiation Testing

Post-Irradiation Examination (PIE)

Fuel Fabrication

Databases & Documentation

Smart Search Engines

Data Reduction Software

Access by DOE Laboratories, Universities,

Industry, NRC

VA

LID

AT

ION

OF

M&

S T

OO

LS

NationalKnowledge Center

International Data Centers

Measurement

Happy Fishing Researchers

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The National Nuclear LaboratoryThe National Nuclear Laboratory