Argonne National Laboratory

Nuclear Engineering

Argonne maintains a wide-ranging science and technology portfolio that seeks to address complex challenges in interdisciplinary and innovative ways. Below is a list of all articles, highlights, profiles, projects, and organizations related specifically to nuclear engineering.

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  • 2D layer property images, automated processing.
    Intellectual Property Available to License

    US Patent 7,538,938; US Patent 9,816,952 B2; US Patent 8,465,200; US Patent 7,365,330
    • Thermal Multi-layer Coating Analysis (IN-05-125), (IN-14-032)
    Illustration of pulsed thermal imaging of a 4-layer material system (L = Layer).

    The Invention 

    Pulsed thermal imaging is widely used for nondestructive evaluation of advanced materials and components. Thermal imaging methods to analyze single-layer materials are well developed. However, a general method for analyzing multi-layer materials and coatings/films has not been developed due to the complexity of material systems and lack of an analytical solution. This technology provides a general method, test system including a filter, and numerical algorithm for automated analysis of thermal imaging data for multi-layer coating materials. 

    Argonne’s pulsed thermal imaging-multilayer analysis method can accurately measure coating thermal conductivity and heat capacity (and/or thickness) distributions over an entire component’s surface. The method analyzes a temporal series of measured thermal imaging data to determine the properties for all coating layers based on a multilayer model. Argonne’s invention is currently the only method that can analyze coatings of more than one layer, is fully automated to produce 2D layer property images, and has validated high accuracy.

    Argonne’s approach includes an infrared filter for flash lamps to eliminate the flash’s infrared radiation, ensuring accurate detection of surface temperature during pulsed thermal imaging tests. 

    Key to Argonne’s thermal multi-layer analysis method is the numerical algorithm used for automated analysis of thermal imaging data for multi-layer materials, implemented in dedicated, Argonne-created software that allows for complete data-processing automation without the need of user intervention.

    Photograph (left) and thickness image (right) of a thermal barrier coating specimen with four sections of thicknesses.

    Benefits 

    • Allows fast 2D imaging of multi-layer material properties of an object from one surface 
    • All-in-one solution that includes method, optical filter, and analytical software for thermal multi-layer material analysis 
    • Imaging is nondestructive and fast 
    • Eliminates infrared radiation to assure data accuracy 
    • Automated analysis of imaging data 

    Applications and Industries 

    • Multi-layer coating materials development 
    • Manufacturing quality control 
    • Coating degradation monitoring 
    • Medical applications 

    Developmental Stage 

    Proof of Concept: the technology has been tested and proven to work for coated engine parts. 

    Argonne Inventions 

    • IN-05-125, Optical Filter for Flash Lamps in Pulsed Thermal Imaging View the patent.
    • IN-14-032, Method and Apparatus for Material Thermal Property Measurement by Flash Thermal Imaging View the patent.
    • IN-06-017, Method for Thermal Tomography of Thermal Effusivity from Pulsed Thermal Imaging View the patent
  • Bringing flexibility and assurance to containment systems
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 9,757,866
    • Containment Unidirectional Resource Loading System (ANL-IN-12-052)

    The Invention 

    Gloveboxes are used in research, product development, process development, scale-up, testing and production labs across the world. They allow safe handling of materials such as nano powders, noxious chemicals, flammable vapors, radioactive materials, DNA/RNA snippets, battery materials and more. Gloveboxes are used to guarantee worker safety, experimental integrity and assure that testing batches are not contaminated. However, most gloveboxes today are task-specific and can only be used for one kind of scientific protocol; in addition, often material must be transported in or out of the glovebox without loss of containment. To meet these challenges, Argonne invented CURLS for gloveboxes, with the flexibility to apply to any containment system. 

    CURLS prototype tunnel port and cartridge

    CURLS is a ​“tunnel” that installs in an existing glove port along with various co-designed resource cartridges that allow easy and rapid change-over of resources without losing containment. With CURLS, when a different resource is required, the user merely inserts the specific resource cartridge into the CURLS tunnel until it engages, causing the used resource cartridge to drop into the glovebox — all while maintaining complete containment. 

    The novel CURLS continuous sleeve ring revolutionizes material transfer in and out of gloveboxes. All CURLS resource cartridges are designed to break into several pieces so that used cartridges can be easily removed from the glovebox via ​“bag-out” so that used cartridges do not clutter the work space.

    Benefits 

    • No breach of containment or batch contamination 
    • Quick change-over of resources 
    • Allows gloveboxes to be ​“multi-tasking” and reconfigured ​“on the fly” 
    • Fewer lost experiments and production batches 
    • Simplifies containment procedures 

    Applications and Industries 

    • Nuclear industry 
    • Material science, chemistry and physics laboratories 
    • Pharmaceutical industry 
    • Biotech industry 
    • Semiconductor and battery industries 
    • Any industry where containment systems are used
    Schematic of CURLS ​“bag in” (taken from patent application)

    Developmental Stage 

    Prototyping – demonstration unit already used to process 38 drums of plutonium powder-laced materials 

  • Nuclear Science and Engineering

    The Nuclear Science and Engineering Division advances the design and operation of nuclear energy systems and applies nuclear energy-related expertise to current and emerging programs of national and international significance.

  • Mark A. Williamson

    Mark A. Williamson is responsible for the nuclear chemical engineering programs in Argonne’s Chemical & Fuel Cycle Technologies Division.

  • Yung Y. Liu

    Yung Liu is a Senior Nuclear Engineer who leads the Packaging Certification & Life Cycle Management activities in Argonne’s Decision and Infrastructure Sciences Division.

  • Chang-ho Lee

    Changho Lee is a principal nuclear engineer and manages the Methods Development Group within the Nuclear Systems and Analysis Department.