Environmental Management R&D and Validation Testing on High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters

 

EM research and development and validation testing (R&DT) provides necessary investments in mid- to long-range activities to address the technological gaps in defense environmental cleanup, including: (1) radioactive liquid and solid waste treatment, storage and disposal; (2) soil and groundwater remediation; (3) nuclear materials and spent fuel management and disposition; (4) facility deactivation and decommissioning; and (5) public, worker, facility/asset, and environmental safety and security. EM R&DT investments seek high-payoff, game-changing technologies and innovations to positively impact EM?s program lifecycle baseline by: (1) reducing costs; (2) accelerating schedules; (3) mitigating mission uncertainties, vulnerabilities, and risks; and (4) minimizing the mortgage associated with long-term, post-closure and post-completion stewardship. EM R&DT also provides the opportunity to perform work and operate facilities more effectively and in a manner that assures public, worker and environmental safely. New and novel technologies as well as innovative solutions are needed to address the significant challenges associated with the remaining nuclear cleanup work that will span the next five decades. The program encompasses the entire maturation lifecycle of technology which includes transfer of technologies from other nuclear and non-nuclear industry sectors. EM?s technology portfolio will leverage and harness the expertise, resources, and capabilities of US universities and colleges. Academia will support EM in four distinct roles: (1) as an expert-based resource for conducting early-stage and applied scientific research and for providing engineering solutions; (2) as a pool of recognized subject matter experts to support technical peer reviews and independent technical assessments; (3) as incubators and pipelines for EM?s future workforce; and (4) as a source of independent testing, verification, and confirmatory evaluation. EM will work to improve the technical training of its workforce through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, experiential learning, and apprenticeships. EM R&DT supports the safety and quality of permanent containment and confinement ventilation systems as well as modular worksite and breathing-zone ventilation systems used to support nuclear, radiological, chemical, and other high-consequence facility and environmental operations. Future funds will be executed to: (1) conduct basic and early-stage applied research, particularly in areas that lead to the basis of the development, transfer and industrial utilization (commercialization) of new clean air technologies; (2) perform design-specification and quality control inspection, testing and evaluation of existing, newly available, and emerging designs of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and other air filtration technologies; (3) perform testing and evaluation of HEPA filter performance in design-basis and off-normal operating conditions as well as in scenarios of major plant or system failures; (4) perform computer modeling and computational (numerical) simulation of airflow dynamics, including multiphase flow, particle tracking, evaporation, combustion, convection, conduction, and radiation heat transfer; (5) perform in-depth engineering analysis of complex fluid flows, including detailed flow characteristics such as velocity, pressure, turbulence, temperature, and species concentration for internal or external flows; (6) support the research and development of new and plant-specific designs of air filtration technologies, including in-line sensors and measurement devices; and (7) complementary and alternative technologies, such as robotics and remote systems, to support the inspection and maintenance of ventilation systems as critical infrastructure. As air filtration systems perform critical safety functions in many high-consequence facilities, continued focus on the quality of commercial, off-the-self technologies as well as on the advancing state-of-the-art must be maintained to assure safety and quality in environmental management operations. Specific to HEPA filters, R&DT under various normal and upset test conditions will help determine valuable operational information (i.e., develop suggested controls and operational methods, and identify failure modes) that can be applied at various commercial and Government/military facilities that treat, store, or process nuclear material or waste streams (e.g. commercial nuclear power facilities), or filter out hazardous particulates or dust for commercial microelectronic clean rooms or hospital operations. This R&DT may increase the protective nature of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) AG-1 Code (Code on Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment), enhance the ability of professionals to design filters and air filtration systems, and reduce uncertainty in the development of standard operating procedures for facilities involved in nuclear containment ventilation activities. Improving the durability of HEPA filters used in nuclear containment is a key component in protecting the worker and general population in the event of a fire at a nuclear facility, particularly segments of the population near nuclear facilities.

Deleted 03/27/2024 (Archived.) 81.139 Department of Energy B - Project Grants; Z - Salaries and Expenses Fiscal Year 2016 Continue FY15 HEPA filter R&DT objectives and begin filter type separator vs. separatorless R&DT. Collected data will assist in planned aged filter testing. Attained NQA-1 qualification - a significant feature that assists in future research activities. Conducted some tests for HEPA filter R&DT objectives and initiated comparison testing of filter type separator vs. separatorless R&DT. Also continued to collect data to understand the use of aged filter in process buildings.
Fiscal Year 2017 Performed HEPA filter R&DT, including separator and separatorless designs. Collected data to understand the use of aged filter in process buildings. Worked on qualification, testing and research to advance the sate of the art of containment ventilation systems.
Fiscal Year 2019 Continued to perform R&DT activities to advance the state-of-the-art of containment ventilation systems. Established a technical working group (TWG) comprised of nuclear facility fire protection and containment ventilation professionals to develop a detailed test plan directing the research effort. Completed T&E of axial flow separator and separatorless AG-1 section FC HEPA filters. Other test planning activities are underway. Completed the design and fabrication activities for a small-scale fire and smoke test stand, and preliminary characterization activities for HEPA filter testing under fire scenarios. Initiated full-scale testing of aged HEPA filters addresses the issue of correlating media degradation due to age with testing of new and aged HEPA filters under a generic design basis event set of conditions. The activity conducted under this award is authorized pursuant to: The Department of Energy Act, Public Law 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7256, in conjunction with 42 U.S.C. 7112 A publicly-owned agency or organization established to perform specialized functions or services for the benefit of all or part of the general public either without charge or at cost, making no profits and having no shareholders to receive dividends. Includes institutions of higher education and hospitals. Determinations are made by DOE EM Headquarters or EM Field Offices, or both. The following organizations will significantly benefit from improved, more reliable, and safer advanced HEPA filters: Federal/ State radioactive treatment and/or storage facilities, commercial nuclear power industry, workers in a radioactive environment, industrial, military or medical processes that require very stringent filtering and the general public, particularly landowners or homeowners in proximity to radioactive facilities. Indirect benefits include more accurate known and understood HEPA filter failure mechanisms and limits, margins, and operational constraints, especially in emergency situations such as fire or a seismic event. Indirect benefits include deceased operating costs, and potentially improvements to the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) AG-1 code, the US national consensus standard for nuclear air handling and treatment systems. Cost will also be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education or as otherwise defined in the financial assistance instrument. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. A formal proposal by the organization interested doing the work must be submitted through an appropriate official of the corporate entity, organization, or institution. Financial assistance requests will be reviewed pursuant to the Department of Energy Financial Assistance Regulations at 10 CFR 600 and the DOE Merit Review Guide, as amended. Award decision will be made by DOE Headquarters. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines The approximate approval/disapproval time is from two months to one year. Not applicable. From 120 to 180 days. From 120 to 180 days. Proposal for renewal are subject to review and acceptance by DOE Headquarters, the field, or both. Research must be beneficial to the overall accomplishment of the program objectives and consistent with the criteria of the EM Merit Review System (i.e., technically meritorious, qualified principal investigators, adequate facilities for conduct of the work, past experience and performance history). Financial assistance is provided in support of the program objectives. Applicants must meet the guidelines established by DOE. Performance Reports: Performance monitoring will be required. The type and frequency will be determined at time of award. Audits will be conducted annually or as defined by the size of and the specific award provisions. Retention of records will be required in accordance with 10 CFR 600. A grantee is expected to maintain auditable records to substantiate the total costs under the Cooperative Agreement. The grantee is also expected to keep and maintain applicable American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Nuclear Quality Assurance-1 (NQA-1) and other quality assurance testing and results records as needed. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Length and time phasing of assistance will vary with the program phase and activity. Method of awards/ releasing assistance: awards will be incrementally funded. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released. Awards will be incrementally funded. None/Not specified. Rodrigo V. Rimando, Jr.
1000 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20585 US
rodrigo.rimando@em.doe.gov
Phone: 202-287-1348 http://www.energy.gov 89-0251-0-1-250 (Salaries and Expenses) FY 18$5,000,000.00; FY 19 est $5,000,000.00; FY 20 est $5,000,000.00; FY 17$3,533,767.00; FY 16$219,500.00; - Subject to funds availability. No Data Available. Not applicable. Not applicable.