Use of various metals as fluxes for releasing nitrogen from boron carbide in the Leco Nitrogen Determinator was investigated. Metals such as iron, chromium, and molybdenum that wet the graphite crucible all promoted nitrogen release. Tin, copper, aluminum, and platinum did not wet the graphite and were of no value as fluxes. A procedure for sample handling and the resulting performance of the method are described. The precision at 0.06 to 0.6 percent nitrogen averaged 4 percent relative standard deviation.

The objectives of this program are to develop probes that can determine the water chemistry of high temperature geothermal fluids. The entire probe system includes a high temperature reference electrode, oxidation potention (redox potential) , conductivity probe, pH, corrosivity, and specific ion probe (sulfide). The objective of this study for FY 1977 was to develop a reference electrode and conductivity probe that would operate in the geothermal environment and provide data. This work also involved a study of sealing materials. A high temperature-pressure, thermodynamic reference electrode was developed which was demonstrated to be operative in a simulated geothermal environment up to 250°C containing the contaminants that would affect its operation. An electrodeless conductivity probe was developed for use in the geothermal environment. This design is particularly resistant to the effects of scale deposition. A large number o f sealing materials were investigated for use in the 250°C geothermal environment. From this study, PNL has developed a spring-loaded seal that may have other applications in the geothermal industry.

Twenty papers were included covering the Edna Delcambre Test Well, legal studies, environmental studies, economic studies, and resource utilization. Separate abstracts were prepared for each paper. (MHR)

Experimental and theoretical research on production of negative ion beams is described. Results from a double charge-exchange experiment include 10 ms pulses of 100 ma of D/sup -/ accelerated to 60 kV. Equilibrium fractions of D/sup -/ in several metal vapors are presented. Mechanisms and measurements of D/sup -/ on surfaces are described, and a scheme is shown for producing high current, high energy beams originating on surfaces.

Information is presented concerning the examination of fast reactor fuels, FBR analytical quality assurance standards, and analytical methods development irradiation tests.

Separate abstracts were prepared for the eleven sections of the report. (HLW)

Available information pertinent to the treatment of geothermal brines was collected by literature search and then evaluated and summarized for use by the electric utility and geothermal industries. The information was screened from the geothermal, oil and gas, wastewater disposal, and boiler water treatment industries. The current state of knowledge and methodology concerning the treatment of geothermal brines to control scaling and corrosion in geothermal electric power production was assessed. Currently, geothermal scale in pipes and wells is removed by physical or chemical methods. There is a growing effort on developing methods to control scale formation for both fresh and spent brines, including pH adjustment and application of an electrical potential for fresh fluids, and coagulation to treat spent fluids. Current methods of corrosion control center around planned replacement of piping and other plant components, with efforts focused primarily on development of materials with improved corrosion resistance. Recommendations for additional work to improve brine treatment include the following: (1) chemical and physical characterization of brine and scale compositions, (2) basic data on the mechanism of scale formation and the effects of inhibitors, (3) development of instrumentation to monitor geothermal brine constituents, (4) correlation of laboratory results with field test data, …

Monthly newsletter of the Texas State Securities Board documenting authorization for the sale of securities in the state, listing the permit date, information about the company, and total offering for each one. It also includes other notices or updates about policy changes and the agency's activities.

Studies on the formation and properties of new materials for high-energy, gas-phase lasers are described. Attention is directed mainly to systems having bound excited states but unbound ground states. An important class of such excimer/exciplex systems has a van der Waals dimer/oligomer as its ground state. This research attempts to probe the relative rates of electron pumping of excited-state manifolds and the preferentially pumped vibronic states within each manifold. Reactive quenching of emission, resonant self-absorption of laser emissions, and collision- and noncollision-induced intersystem crossing are also considered. 11 figures, 2 tables. (RWR)

Information is presented concerning accident energetics; core debris behavior; sodium containment and structural integrity; research for elevated temperature design criteria; fuel motion detection; ACPR fuel motion system; and advanced reactor safety research assessment.

This report is an overview of Executive Branch Reorganization.

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Seventeen papers are included. A separate abstract was prepared for each for Energy Research Abstracts (ERA); eight are included in Energy Abstracts for Policy Analysis (EAPA). (MHR)