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Full-Text Articles in Nuclear Engineering

Developing Professional Skills In Stem Students: Data Information Literacy, Lisa Zilinski, Megan R. Sapp Nelson, Amy S. Van Epps Dec 2014

Developing Professional Skills In Stem Students: Data Information Literacy, Lisa Zilinski, Megan R. Sapp Nelson, Amy S. Van Epps

Lisa Zilinski

Undergraduate STEM students are increasingly expected to have some data use skills upon graduation, whether they pursue post-graduate education or move into industry. This project was an initial foray into the application of data information literacy competencies to training undergraduate students to identify markers of data and information quality. The data consumer training appeared within two courses to help students evaluate data objects, including databases and datasets available on the Internet. The application of the Data Credibility Checklist provides a foundation for developing data reuse competencies. Based upon the initial presentation of the content, it became obvious that students need …


Synthesis And Thermodynamic Analysis Of Volatile Beta-Diketone Complexes Of Select Lanthanides Via Gas-Phase Separations, Daniel Hanson Dec 2014

Synthesis And Thermodynamic Analysis Of Volatile Beta-Diketone Complexes Of Select Lanthanides Via Gas-Phase Separations, Daniel Hanson

Doctoral Dissertations

Rapid separation techniques for fission and activation products have long been desired to supplant the slow solution-based methodologies currently used. In this work, rare earth elements were derivatized with β [beta]-diketones to synthesize rare earth complexes with high volatility suitable for gas-phase separations. Rare earth elements samarium and dysprosium were combined with hfac (1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentadione) and fod (6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione) and analyzed using a gas-phase separation technique. Rare earth elements praseodymium and europium were combined with dpm (2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-3,5-heptanedione) and similarly analyzed. Employing the data from the separations, the entropy (Δ [delta] S) and enthalpy (Δ [delta] H) of adsorption were evaluated mathematically based …


Fast Fission Neutron Detection Using The Cherenkov Effect, Matthew Millard Dec 2014

Fast Fission Neutron Detection Using The Cherenkov Effect, Matthew Millard

All Theses

The Cherenkov effect in optically clear media of varying indices of refraction and composition was investigated for quantification of fast neutrons. The ultimate application of the proposed detection system is criticality monitoring. The optically clear medium, composed of select target nuclei, was coupled to a photomultiplier tube. Neutron reaction products of the target nuclei contained within the optical medium emit beta particles and gamma rays that produce Cherenkov photons within the medium which can be detected. Assessed media include quartz (SiO2), sapphire (Al2O3), spinel (MgAl2O4), and zinc sulfide (ZnS), which were irradiated with un-moderated 252Cf. Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code …


Transformation Of Uranium In A Geological Environment, Derrell Hood Dec 2014

Transformation Of Uranium In A Geological Environment, Derrell Hood

All Theses

Incorporation of uranium into iron oxide minerals is a promising mechanism for the environmental immobilization of U(VI). In this study, synthesized hematite was doped with uranium and analyzed with SEM-EDS, TEM, XRD, and ICP-MS. The results of this analysis strongly indicate uranium incorporation into the mineral, as well as the possible presence of a co-precipitated uranium mineral clarkeite. Preliminary results also shows an increase in the amount of uranium associated with the hematite particles as a function of mineral aging. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) was used to induce and characterize electrochemical changes of uranium in the doped hematite system; these changes …


Hydrogen Loading System Development And Evaluation Of Tritiated Substrates To Optimize Performance In Tritium Based Betavoltaics, Thomas E. Adams Oct 2014

Hydrogen Loading System Development And Evaluation Of Tritiated Substrates To Optimize Performance In Tritium Based Betavoltaics, Thomas E. Adams

Open Access Dissertations

State-of-the-art hydrogen loading system onto thin metallic films based on differential pressure in calibrated chambers has been developed for conditions pressures and temperatures up to 69 bar and 500°C, respectively. Experiments on hydrogen loading on to palladium films of thickness 50 and 250 nm were conducted at pressure ranging from 0.2 bar to 10 bar at temperature 310°C. For first time film hydrogen loading was carried out at 1 bar and at room temperature which temperature. Beta flux exiting surface of metal tritide films has been modeled with MC-SET (Monte Carlo Simulation of Electron Trajectories in solids). Surface beta flux …


Developing Professional Skills In Stem Students: Data Information Literacy, Lisa Zilinski, Megan R. Sapp Nelson, Amy S. Van Epps Sep 2014

Developing Professional Skills In Stem Students: Data Information Literacy, Lisa Zilinski, Megan R. Sapp Nelson, Amy S. Van Epps

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Undergraduate STEM students are increasingly expected to have some data use skills upon graduation, whether they pursue post-graduate education or move into industry. This project was an initial foray into the application of data information literacy competencies to training undergraduate students to identify markers of data and information quality. The data consumer training appeared within two courses to help students evaluate data objects, including databases and datasets available on the Internet. The application of the Data Credibility Checklist provides a foundation for developing data reuse competencies. Based upon the initial presentation of the content, it became obvious that students need …


Double-Pulse Nd:Yag-Co2 Libs Excitation For Bulk And Trace Analytes, Jason R. Becker, Patrick Skrodzki, Prasoon Diwakar, Sivanandan Harilal, Ahmed Hassanein Aug 2014

Double-Pulse Nd:Yag-Co2 Libs Excitation For Bulk And Trace Analytes, Jason R. Becker, Patrick Skrodzki, Prasoon Diwakar, Sivanandan Harilal, Ahmed Hassanein

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy [LIBS] is a commonly used technique for multi-element analyses for various applications such as space exploration, nuclear forensics, environmental analysis, process monitoring. The advantages of the LIBS technique include robustness, ease of use, field portability, and real-time, non-invasive multi-element analyses. However, in comparison to other lab based analytical techniques, it suffers from low precision and low sensitivity. In order to overcome these drawbacks, various approaches have been used, including double-pulse LIBS [DPLIBS]. Typically, various wavelength combinations of two Nd: yttrium aluminum garnet [YAG] lasers have been used for DPLIBS. However, the use of long wavelength (CO2 …


Doube-Pulse Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Of Multi-Element Sample Containing Low- And High-Z Analytes, Patrick J. Skrodzki, Jason R. Becker, Prasoon K. Diwakar Ph. D., Sivanandan S. Harilal Ph. D., Ahmed Hassanein Ph. D. Aug 2014

Doube-Pulse Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Of Multi-Element Sample Containing Low- And High-Z Analytes, Patrick J. Skrodzki, Jason R. Becker, Prasoon K. Diwakar Ph. D., Sivanandan S. Harilal Ph. D., Ahmed Hassanein Ph. D.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a portable, remote, non-invasive analytical technique which effectively distinguishes neutral and ionic species for a range of low- to high-Z elements in a multi-element target. Subsequently, LIBS holds potential in special nuclear material (SNM) sensing and nuclear forensics requiring minimal sample preparation and detecting isotopic shifts which allows for differentiation in SNM (namely U) enrichment levels. Feasible applications include not only nonproliferation and homeland security but also nuclear fuel prospecting and industrial safeguard endorsement. Elements of higher mass with complex atomic structures, such as U, however, result in crowded emission spectra with LIBS, and characteristic …


Thick Target Yield Of Th-229 Via Low Energy Proton Bombardment Of Th-232, Justin Reed Griswold Aug 2014

Thick Target Yield Of Th-229 Via Low Energy Proton Bombardment Of Th-232, Justin Reed Griswold

Masters Theses

Actinium-225 is one of the more effective radioisotopes used in alpha radioimmunotherapy. Due to its ten-day half-life, it is more efficient to create its precursor, 229Th [Thorium-229] (t1/2[half-life] = 7932 ± 55 years). In this work, 229Th was produced via 40 MeV [Mega electron Volts] proton bombardment of a thick 232Th [Thorium-232] target. The irradiation took place at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). The target, consisting of 23 stacked natural thorium foils (137 mg/cm2 [milligrams per square centimeter] each), was irradiated with 50 nA [nanoamps] of …


Time Correlated Measurements Using Plastic Scintillators With Neutron-Photon Pulse Shape Discrimination, Norman Edison Richardson May 2014

Time Correlated Measurements Using Plastic Scintillators With Neutron-Photon Pulse Shape Discrimination, Norman Edison Richardson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the beginning of the nuclear age, there has been a strong demand for the development of efficient technologies for the detection of ionizing radiation. According to the United States' Department of Energy, the accurate assessment of fissile materials is essential in achieving the nonproliferation goals of enhancing safety and security of nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear energy facilities [1]. Nuclear materials can be characterized by the measurement of prompt and delayed neutrons and gamma rays emitted in spontaneous or induced fission reactions [2] and neutrons emitted in fission reactions are the distinctive signatures of nuclear materials. Today, the most …


Drift-Flux Correlation Development For Two-Phase Flow In Rod Bundles, Collin M. Clark Apr 2014

Drift-Flux Correlation Development For Two-Phase Flow In Rod Bundles, Collin M. Clark

Open Access Theses

A rod bundle drift-flux correlation is developed with intended application across a wide range of two-phase flow conditions. Special consideration is made for fluid flow mechanisms at low liquid velocity and low pressure conditions. In these instances, gravitational forces from the density difference of the associated fluid phases are more significant. Secondary flow patterns may develop as a result and a drift-flux correlation would need to make appropriate adjustments. Earlier correlations may have increased error at these conditions if they have been formulated with respect to relatively higher pressures or flow rates. In the present work, area-average void fraction data …


Termodynamika Procesowa I Techniczna Lab., Wojciech M. Budzianowski Jan 2014

Termodynamika Procesowa I Techniczna Lab., Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.


Tematyka Prac Dyplomowych Dla Studentów Wydziału Mechaniczno-Energetycznego Pwr., Wojciech M. Budzianowski Jan 2014

Tematyka Prac Dyplomowych Dla Studentów Wydziału Mechaniczno-Energetycznego Pwr., Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.


Tematyka Prac Dyplomowych Dla Studentów Wydziału Chemicznego Pwr., Wojciech M. Budzianowski Jan 2014

Tematyka Prac Dyplomowych Dla Studentów Wydziału Chemicznego Pwr., Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.


Mechanika Płynów Lab., Wojciech M. Budzianowski Jan 2014

Mechanika Płynów Lab., Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.