FutureME Conference Agenda
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Develop Potential Design Improvements to Pellet Sheets
10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Serena Posada, Melissa Ixta Vaca, Kolby Tucker, Elysia Howlett, Marvin Mendoza, Dean Macduff
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Che-Hao Yang
Sponsor: Framatome Inc.
Framatome uses pellet sheets to transport fuel pellets during nuclear fuel assembly manufacturing, but the current design leads to issues such as pellet tipping, column upsets, sheet damage, and weld failures. This project aimed to redesign the pellet sheet to minimize these problems while maintaining fixed dimensions required for compatibility with existing processes.
Research identified surface finish and trough geometry as key areas for improvement. The final design features a 304 stainless steel sheet with trapezoidal troughs, a glass bead-blasted surface, and TIG welded supports. The trapezoidal troughs allow pellets to sit lower, reducing tipping and column instability while increasing available weld surface. The beadblasted finish creates a more uniform surface, and TIG welding improves structural reliability by preventing weld breaks. Additionally, the rear edge was redesigned to improve contact with mechanical fingers, enabling pellets to be pushed closer to their centerline.
Testing evaluated forces required to move pellets across different designs. While the trapezoidal trough increased the required force compared to the original design, the increase was minimal and acceptable given the stability improvements. Overall, the redesigned sheet reduces key causes of tipping and upsets without compromising process compatibility.
Future work includes further real-world validation and continued investigation into additional factors affecting pellet stability during transport.
Advanced SONAR Survey for Precision Mapping of Tank Bottom Waste Topography Sensors
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Carlos Campos, Nathan Bonus, Jackie Figueroa, Chase Lien, Trystan Hatch, Omar Zepeda
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Messiha Saad
Sponsor: Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C)
This project explores a proof of concept for remotely scanning and visualizing solid waste layers inside Hanford underground storage tanks. The proposed approach evaluates whether a SONAR device can be deployed through tank risers into the liquid layer and operated with sufficient control and range of motion to perform comprehensive scans. The system is intended to collect multiple two-dimensional scans and reconstruct them into a three-dimensional model using point cloud generation.
Design requirements included operation under challenging tank conditions such as high temperatures, chemically complex environments, and dense supernate. Radiation exposure was acknowledged but not explicitly addressed in this phase. The team developed a testing apparatus to evaluate SONAR performance limits, including scanning capability and mechanical deployment feasibility. In parallel, software was created to process and combine 2D scan data into a 3D point cloud representation.
Results showed that SONAR is not well-suited for this application due to limitations in accuracy and reliability under the given conditions. Based on these findings, alternative technologies were investigated. Bathymetric LiDAR emerged as a promising solution, as it can map submerged solid surfaces from above the liquid, eliminating the need to submerge sensitive equipment.
Overall, the project demonstrates the feasibility of remote tank characterization while identifying SONAR limitations and recommending a more effective path forward using LiDAR-based methods.
Fission Surface Power Heat Rejection System
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Kaamel Ahmed Sidiqi, Stephanie Rios, Sam Arthur, Minh Vu, Jon-Luc Ritchie, Payton Viera
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Changki Mo
Sponsor: Framatome-IB
This project supports Framatome’s development of advanced reactor technologies for space applications, focusing on Fission Surface Power (FSP) systems for the Moon and Mars. A key engineering challenge is heat rejection in vacuum environments, where convection is unavailable, requiring efficient removal of waste heat to maintain stable reactor operation.
Initial efforts evaluated multiple heat-rejection technologies through system decomposition, literature review, and structured design comparison. Three concepts were analyzed: the Westinghouse eVinci™ microreactor, NASA’s thermosyphon radiator, and a reheat recompress supercritical CO₂ Brayton cycle. A grading matrix and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessment guided concept selection.
The project then advanced into detailed design, including thermal analysis, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), and a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to assess safety and reliability. Early investigation of conductive heat rejection through lunar regolith proved impractical due to its low thermal conductivity, which would require excessive surface area. Additionally, regolith temperature would rise over time, reducing the thermal gradient and limiting long-term effectiveness.
The final design emphasizes a fully radiative heat-rejection system that enables passive operation, modular deployment, and compatibility with lunar environmental conditions. This work establishes a technically justified approach to heat rejection and provides a foundation for further validation, refinement, and integration into future space-based reactor systems.
Streamlining Accelerometer Calibration with Modern Automation
10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Luke Prevo, Trevor McBride, Kellen Hobson, Hayden Harshfield, Aaron Newton, Ruth Kapitula
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Joseph Iannelli
Sponsor: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
The Sensor Fish, developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is used to evaluate fish survivability in hydropower systems by recording pressure, acceleration, and rotational velocity during turbine passage. To ensure accurate data collection, each unit requires accelerometer calibration before deployment.
The existing calibration process uses a crossbow-style mechanism to generate approximately 95g of impact force on a carriage holding both the Sensor Fish and a reference accelerometer. Calibration requires three sequential tests along the X, Y, and Z axes. This process involves manually pulling back and releasing the carriage, as well as repositioning the device for each axis. The recorded data is compared to the reference accelerometer, and offset values are applied to meet a required accuracy of within 5%. However, this manual approach is time-intensive and creates a production bottleneck.
This project modernizes the calibration system through mechanical automation and software improvements. A linear actuation system with a distance sensor was implemented to ensure consistent pull-back distances and repeatable impacts. Additionally, updated modular software improves system flexibility and usability. A redesigned mounting system enables faster transitions between axis orientations, reducing setup time.
The automated system significantly decreases calibration time per unit, enhances repeatability, and increases daily throughput. Overall, this modernization transforms calibration from a labor-intensive process into an efficient, reliable operation, supporting PNNL’s mission to reduce environmental impacts associated with hydropower systems.
Robotic Arm Design for Removal of Glovebox HEPA Filter
11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Samantha Rodriguez, Ryan Loper, José Vargas, Abigail Draper-Gilliam, Logan Sullivan, and Stacy Luu
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yuxin Zhang
Sponsor: Enercon
This project aims to reduce worker radiation exposure during glovebox operations by replacing manual handling of HEPA filters with a remote-controlled robotic arm. Although HEPA filters effectively capture radioactive particles, manual removal introduces the risk of particles becoming airborne, creating potential exposure hazards. A robotic system offers a safer alternative by minimizing direct human interaction.
To demonstrate feasibility, a prototype robotic arm and glovebox were designed and fabricated. The glovebox included two openings: an eight-inch roof opening to simulate filter removal from a housing unit, and a twelve-inch side opening representing a bag-out port for disposal. Designs were developed and analyzed using SolidWorks, enabling iterative modeling, simulation, and prototyping.
Static analysis verified that the robotic arm could safely support its own weight and the expected filter payload while remaining within acceptable displacement limits. Preliminary results also showed that 3D-printed PETG and ABS materials can withstand anticipated mechanical and thermal stresses during operation.
Future work will focus on improving manufacturability, enhancing control systems for a more intuitive user interface, and implementing end-effector-based movement and additional safety features. Overall, this project demonstrates a practical, cost-effective approach to improving safety in high-risk environments through semi-automated solutions.
Shielded Sampler Transportation: Tape Tension Resolution
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Nicholas Johnson, Colin Jansen, Andrey Sloboda, Josue Cruz, Lucas Ramos
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yuxin Zhang
Sponsor: Atkins-Réalis (Nicholas Doyle, P.E.)
This project focuses on redesigning the Atkins-Réalis gearbox housing used in a sampling system at the Hanford Site, where radioactive waste is collected from storage tanks for immobilization. The current system lifts a sample bucket using tapes wound through a transport mechanism geared at a 1:1 ratio. However, this configuration lacks direct tension control, causing the tapes to wind at inconsistent rates. As a result, the bucket valve can unintentionally open during retrieval, releasing the collected waste back into the tank.
A key issue identified in the previous design was uneven tape unwinding. The linked gears created slack in the valve tape, leading to premature opening of the bucket and loss of the sample before reaching the required one-liter volume.
To address this, a redesigned transport system was developed with unlinked gears, allowing independent control of the bucket and valve tapes. The new design incorporates two separate spools—one for each tape—eliminating synchronization issues that previously caused slack. Additionally, a constant force retractor was integrated into the valve spool to maintain consistent tension during extension and retraction across varying depths.
This approach ensures that tension differences between the tapes keep the bucket valve securely closed until the sample is successfully collected. The redesigned system improves reliability, prevents sample loss, and enhances overall performance of the sampling process in high-risk nuclear waste environments.
Low-Cost Quick-Change End Effectors for Pick and Place Robotics
11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
John Lindquist
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Changki Mo
This project develops a modular robotic end effector system that integrates mechanical, electrical, and software components to create a flexible and adaptable gripper. The primary objective is to design a robust, easily interchangeable end effector that can be mounted on a variety of robotic arms using a standardized mechanical interface and simplified electrical connections.
The mechanical design features a servo-actuated gripper capable of handling small objects with precision. The electrical system includes a custom printed circuit board (PCB) that manages power distribution, signal routing, and integration of I2C-based and general-purpose sensors. Key design considerations include reliable communication, efficient voltage regulation, and the ability to accommodate evolving end effector requirements.
On the software side, a command-based control interface is implemented over USB or Ethernet, allowing precise positioning of the gripper and real-time sensor data acquisition across varying distances.
Overall, the system demonstrates a scalable and adaptable approach to robotic manipulation, enabling quick interchangeability and streamlined integration across multiple platforms.
Keynote Speaker
11:45 a.m. – Noon
“Engineering Your Future: Building a Growth Mindset in a Rapidly Changing World”
Karthik Subramanian, Chief Operating Officer, H2C
Guest Speakers
Noon – 12:10 p.m.
ASME and Your Future
Janice Parker, ASME – Student Section Operations and Gary L. Hickman Chair, ASME Columbia Basin Section
Closing Remarks
12:10 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Dr. Changki Mo
Lunch
12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Sponsored by the ASME Columbia Basin Section, ANS-EWS, and WSU Tri-Cities Student Section.