NSUF Article

U.S. Department of Energy Announces FY17 University Infrastructure Awards

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - Calls and Awards

These awards strengthen U.S. competitiveness in nuclear R&D and ensure that American universities have the best equipment and tools available to educate the next generation of industry leaders.

<h2 style="font-family: "Open+Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding approximately $6 million to 19 colleges and universities to support research reactor infrastructure and general scientific infrastructure improvements. These awards strengthen U.S. competitiveness in nuclear R&D and ensure that American universities have the best equipment and tools available to educate the next generation of industry leaders. The FY 2017 university infrastructure awards will upgrade the existing fleet of research reactors and support equipment and infrastructure improvements, making these reactors and capabilities more efficient and in line with industry advances. <o:p></o:p>A full list of infrastructure recipients is listed below. Actual project funding will be established during contract negotiation phase.<o:p></o:p>The Nuclear Science User Facilities administers the FY 2017 awards on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.<o:p></o:p></h2><h2 style="font-family: "Open+Sans", sans-serif; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">General Scientific Infrastructure</h2><table class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="870" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); width: 652.25pt; border: none;"><tbody><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border: 1pt solid windowtext;">University<o:p></o:p></td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none;">Funding<o:p></o:p></td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none;">Project Description<o:p></o:p></td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Alfred University</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $379,925</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">A CeraFab 8500 printer will enable additive manufacturing work on ceramic materials by developing techniques and training faculty and graduate students through work on fuel surrogates. </td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Boise State University</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $295,392</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Synthesis and characterization equipment (advanced manufacturing) to support advanced manufacturing for nuclear sensors.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Clemson University</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $250,000</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Raman microscope with high-temperature atmosphere-controlled capability for the characterization of ceramic materials relevant to diverse aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Illinois Institute of Technology</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $160,000</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">The proposed equipment (autoclave with two sapphire windows) will allow in-situ micro-scale characterization of oxide microstructure of nuclear materials under corrosion in various environments as well as the in-situ investigation of primary water radiolysis effect on corrosion.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $218,825</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">New cameras (VIS and IR cameras) will expand experimental capabilities in two phase flow and boiling heat transfer, leveraging high-speed infrared and video imaging techniques, spatial resolution of 100 µm and a temporal resolution of 0.4 ms.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">North Carolina State University</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $288,467</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">1. A full system for stress-corrosion cracking testing in light water reactor environments, 2. Two individual “basic” high pressure autoclaves essentially for teaching purposes, 3. Electrochemical corrosion testing equipment."</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Texas A&M University</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $235,985</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">State-of-the-art X-ray tomography combined to high-frequency optical sensors to our advanced flow visualization systems to perform high resolution measurements of single- and multi-phase flows.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">The Ohio State University</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $249,945</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">The capabilities will support research in advanced sensor development and material property characterization. Instruments include photoluminescence and UV-Vis spectrometers, GHz oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, pulsed laser, fiber optic sensor characterization equipment, inert environment glovebox, equipment for ultrasonics testing, and mechanical translation stages.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Florida</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $246,379</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">1. Fill the nationally wide need gap for IASCC test facility in order to support the materials degradation and advanced nuclear materials development for the LWR Sustainability (LWRS) program.  2. Support the on-going, under-review and near future nuclear materials research at the University of Florida.  3. Train the next generation of work force for nuclear engineering R&D sector with radioactive materials hands-on experience.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Idaho</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $247,471</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">1. Dynamic materials testing loop: An existing static autoclave testing system will be modified with a high pressure re-circulation flow loop, loading train, and required instrumentation for fatigue crack growth and stress corrosion cracking of structural materials used in nuclear reactors.  2.  Thermal analysis system: adsorption isotherms for various systems including non-radioactive isotopes of fission products on graphite and graphitic materials.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $280,670</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">The proposed capability consists of an Autoclave Recirculating Loop to Enable LWR Immersion, Slow Strain Rate (SSRT), and Constant Extension Rate Testing (CERT) to perform experiments related to stress corrosion cracking, cyclical fatigue, and creep of LWR advanced alloy structural components.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Michigan</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $300,000</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Advanced high-speed X-ray imaging, high resolution distributed temperature sensors, and high resolution profile velocimetry sensing for application in liquid metals and other fluids + development, design, and testing of new fast neutron imaging technologies.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Wisconsin, Madison</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $304,721</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">The proposed capability consists of a Glow Discharge - Optical Emission Spectrometer & chemistry controlled recirculatory loop for the Environmental Degradation of Nuclear Materials Laboratory.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Utah State University</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $300,000</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">The proposed capability consists of a Focused Ion Beam for Advanced Specimen Preparation, 3D Microstructural Characterization, and Simulated Irradiation.</td></tr><tr><td width="108" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Virginia Tech (VPI)</td><td width="79" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59.55pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $216,249</td><td width="683" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 511.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Equipment to characterize single and two phase flows in three dimensions to support V&V of simulation codes and to study dynamic corrosion in turbulent environments:  1.) 3D anemometer and wall shear stress probes and related instruments in the existing high turbulence corrosion loop to quantify how highly turbulent coolant flow affects the flow-assisted corrosion/erosion of reactor core materials; 2.) A Raytrix PIV/fluid-motion 3D light-field camera system in existing thermal-hydraulics and multiphase flow loops and in the corrosion loop to enable us to measure the three-dimensional three-components (3D3C) velocity field in single- and two-phase flows</td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="font-family: "Open+Sans", sans-serif; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"> </h2><h2 style="font-family: "Open+Sans", sans-serif; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">Research Reactor Infrastructure</h2><table class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border: none;"><tbody><tr><td width="144" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.75pt; border: 1pt solid windowtext;">University<o:p></o:p></td><td width="84" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none;">Funding<o:p></o:p></td><td width="630" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 472.5pt; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none;">Project Description<o:p></o:p></td></tr><tr><td width="144" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">The Ohio State University</td><td width="84" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $184,328</td><td width="630" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 472.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Acquire radiation shielding material and instrumentation to recommission two neutron beam ports at the research reactor.</td></tr><tr><td width="144" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Pennsylvania State University</td><td width="84" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $1,084,000</td><td width="630" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 472.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Replace the existing control console with a system based on nuclear-grade hardware, including eventually a digital safety system. </td></tr><tr><td width="144" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Maryland</td><td width="84" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $315,120</td><td width="630" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 472.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Purchase a spare control rod drive mechanism, end fittings for the new fuel elements and upgrade the software for the facility’s gamma spectrometry equipment.</td></tr><tr><td width="144" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Missouri, Columbia</td><td width="84" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $302,460</td><td width="630" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 472.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Replace paper strip-chart recorders with digital models and data acquisition & storage hardware, and replace a 30-year old off-gas (stack) effluent monitoring system</td></tr><tr><td width="144" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">University of Wisconsin, Madison</td><td width="84" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $61,460</td><td width="630" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 472.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Replace health physics (HP) radiation monitoring equipment to support  reactor operation and research.</td></tr><tr><td width="144" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.75pt; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none;">Washington State University</td><td width="84" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;"> $11,163</td><td width="630" valign="top" style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 472.5pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext;">Replace the existing 1970s-vintage Exhaust Gas Monitoring (EGM) system with a modern system.  The original system will be retained as a backup.</td></tr></tbody></table><o:p></o:p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open+Sans", sans-serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; font-size: 30px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">For more information regarding the FY2017 University Infrastructure awards and funding opportunity announcement, please visit <a href="https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/infrastructurefoa" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(188, 137, 0) !important; text-decoration: none; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 13.5533px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">https://nsuf.inl.gov/Page/infrastructurefoa</a>. </h2>

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