The repeating pneumatic hydrogen pellet injector, which was developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been installed and operated on the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR). The injector combines high-speed extruder and pneumatic acceleration technologies to propel frozen hydrogen isotope pellets repetitively at high speeds. The pellets are transported to the plasma in an injection line that also serves to minimize the gas loading on the torus; the injection line incorporates a fast shutter valve and two stages of guide tubes with intermediate vacuum pumping stations. A remote, stand-alone control and data acquisition system is used for injector and vacuum system operation. In early pellet fueling experiments on TFTR, the injector has been used to deliver deuterium pellets at speeds ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 km/s into plasma discharges. First, single large (nominal 4-mm-dia) pellets provided high densities in TFTR (1.8 x 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/ on axis); after conversion to smaller (nominal 2.7-mm-dia) pellets, up to five pellets were injected at 0.25-s intervals into a plasma discharge, giving a line-averaged density of 1 x 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/. Operating characteristics and performance of the injector in initial tests on TFTR are presented.

The fact that Tritium Systems Test Assembly (TSTA) is an experimental facility makes it impossible and undesirable to try to forecast the exact software requirements. Thus the software had to be written in a manner that would allow modifications without compromising the safety requirements imposed by the handling of tritium. This suggested a multi-level approach to the software. In this approach (much like the ISO network model) each level is isolated from the level below and above by cleanly defined interfaces. For example, the subsystem support level interfaces with the subsystem hardware through the software support level. Routines in the software support level provide operations like ''OPEN VALVE'' and CLOSE VALVE'' to the subsystem level. This isolates the subsystem level from the actual hardware. This is advantageous because changes can occur in any level without the need for propagating the change to any other level. The TSTA control system consists of the hardware level, the data conversion level, the operator interface level, and the subsystem process level. These levels are described.

The Department of Energy created the Human Interference Task Force (HITF) in 1980 to investigate the problems connected with the postclosure, final marking of a filled nuclear waste repository. The task of the HITF is to devise a method of warning future generations not to mine or drill at that site unless they are aware of the consequences of their actions. Since the likelihood of human interference should be minimized for 10,000 years, an effective and long-lasting warning system must be designed. This report is a semiotic analysis of the problem, examining it in terms of the science or theory of messages and symbols. Because of the long period of time involved, the report recommends that a relay system of recoding messages be initiated; that the messages contain a mixture of iconic, indexical, and symbolic elements; and that a high degree of redundancy of messages be employed.

In March of 1988 full operation of the 4-column isotope separation system (ISS) was realized in runs that approximated the design load of tritium. Previous operations had been fraught with operating difficulties principally due to external systems. This report will examine the recent highly successful 6-day period of operation. During this time the system was cooled from room temperature, loaded with hydrogen isotopes including 109 grams of tritium, integrated with the transfer pumping, impurity injection, and impurity removal systems, as well as the remote computer control system. At the end of the operation 12 grams of tritium having a measured purity of 99.987% (remainder deuterium) were offloaded from the system. Observed profiles in the columns in general agree with computer models. A Height Equivalent to a Theoretical Plate (HETP) of 5.0 cm is confirmed. 3 refs., 5 figs.

Three pellet injector designs developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are planned for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) to reach the goal of a tritium pellet injector by 1988. These are the Repeating Pneumatic Injector (RPI), the Deuterium Pellet Injector (DPI) and the Tritium Pellet Injector (TPI). Each of the pellet injector designs have similar performance characteristics in that they deliver up to 4-mm-dia pellets at velocities up to 1500 m/s with a dsign goal to 2000 m/s. Similar techniques are utilized to freeze and extrude the pellet material. The injector systems incorporate three gun concepts which differ in the number of gun barrels and the method of forming and chambering the pellets. The RPI, a single barrel repeating design, has been operational on TFTR since April 1985. Fabrication and assembly are essentially complete for DPI, and TPI is presently on hold after completing about 80% of the design. The TFTR pellet injector program is described, and each of the injector systems is described briefly. Design details are discussed in other papers at this symposium.

We have developed image analysis software to facilitate the analysis of optical transition radiation (OTR) patterns generated by the electron beam from the Los Alamos free-electron laser facility. The software can be used for beam alignment, beam profile and angular divergence measurements, and the programs run on an IBM AT microcomputer. The programs and their use are described and some results shown. 2 refs., 17 figs.

To establish an effective biotechnology of biomass processing for the production of fuels and chemicals, an integration of research in biochemical engineering, microbial genetics, and biochemistry is required. Reduction of the costs of producing chemicals and fuels from renewable resources will hinge on extensive research in biochemical engineering.

Operation of the AGS Complex, comprising a 200 MeV Linac, the 1.5 GeV Booster (400 MeV/amu heavy ions) which is under construction, and the AGS, requires service of multiple uses with different beam requirements. Local Linac users, Booster commissioning with protons and heavy ions, and the AGS physics program and accelerator studies must run concurrently in various combinations. A new timing system is being built which will distribute serially encoded events derived from real-time and magnetic field clocks to each accelerator. The master timing of the supercycle will be managed centrally with encoded reset events determining the assigned user for each pulse. Operational aspects of the design of this system will be described, along with the principal control system modifications necessary to implement this mode of operation. 4 refs., 3 figs.

To produce energies of over 50 GeV for SLC, all klystron stations on the accelerator are being upgraded to produce 250 MeV energy contribution per station. This involves installing new, higher power, longer pulse klystrons, upgrading klystron modulators to provide these higher voltage, longer klystron beam pulses, and a new interlock and protection system. A new VAX based diagnostic system including automated microwave measurements, klystron beam monitors, and modulator performance checks is being implemented. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the klystron-modulator system. To date, over half of the new klystrons have been installed and tested, the modulator upgrade program has converted 22 sectors (8 stations each) of modulators out of 30, and a four sector sampling of klystrons has been run at full SLC specs, namely 350 kV beam voltage, 3.5 microsecond pulse duration, peak output power in excess of 60 MW, and PRF of 120 pps. This paper discusses the klystron design, modulator design, interlock and diagnostic systems, and the results of the initial operation.

The increased overall complexity and cost of modern experiments involving underground nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) demands that we use modern computer control systems rather than ''well-established'' traditional technology. Historically, instrumentation and control have employed large numbers of expensive, heavy hardwire cables extending from surface ground zero, to a diagnostics area underground in a vertical shaft. The cables are then terminated and in most cases perform singular functions. By adapting industrial instrumentation and control techniques (namely programmable computer control and distributed input/output) we can be connected to a large number of data and power distribution channels with a single pair of fiber optic or coaxial cables. However, to gain system confidence and to modify transferred technology to our unique needs, we integrate such technology incrementally. This paper will discuss examples of our incremental approach by describing some weapon event tests. This paper will also discuss goals for future automation at the NTS.

By means of a computational approach based on classical molecular dynamics, we can begin to form a realistic picture of shock-induced processes occurring at the shock front and resulting from the detailed, violent motion associated with shock motion on an atomic scale. Prototype studies of phase transitions will be discussed. We will also examine the interaction of the shock front with defects, surfaces, voids, and inclusions, and across grain boundaries. We will focus on the critical question of how mechanical energy imparted to a condensed material by shock loading is converted to the activation energy required to overcome some initial energy barrier in an initiation process.

The performance of a pre-prototype of the SLD Warm Iron Calorimeter (WIC) build with proportional tube cathode pad readout has been studied. The calorimeter was found to have an average resolution of 36.7 +- 0.2% for muons at 2.0, 5.0 and 10.5 GeV and 81 +- 2%/..sqrt..E for pion showers at 5.0 and 10.5 GeV. The mean energy found for the pion showers was consistent with a linear dependence on energy within these standard deviations. 4 refs., 6 figs., 3 tabs.

The endochronic plasticity theory was proposed in its general form by K.C. Valanis. An intrinsic time measure, which is a property of the material, is used in the theory. the explicit forms of the constitutive equation resemble closely those of the classical theory of linear viscoelasticity. Excellent agreement between the predicted and experimental results is obtained for some metallic and non-metallic materials for one dimensional cases. No reference on the use of endochronic plasticity consistent with the general theory proposed by Valanis is available in the open literature. In this report, the explicit constitutive equations are derived that are consistent with the general theory for one-dimensional (simple tension or compression), two-dimensional plane strain or stress and three-dimensional axisymmetric problems.

We have evaluated (p,n) and (d,2n) cross sections on /sup 79/Br and /sup 127/I, and made these cross sections available for test diagnostics. We believe that these interim cross sections are of reasonable accuracy and should be used for diagnostic interpretations until more precise measurements can be made. Our evaluation consisted of a literature search and an examination of the available experimental data. These data were supplemented by statistical model calculations using both the STAPRE and ALICE codes. We found reasonably good measured data (from threshold to the peak of the excitation function) for the (p,n) reaction on both /sup 79/Br and /sup 127/I. The literature data for the (d,2n) reaction on /sup 127/I are questionable and no data were found for the (d,2n) reaction on /sup 79/Br. We have, therefore, relied completely on calculations for the (d,2n) cross sections for both /sup 79/Br and /sup 127/I. 4 figs., 5 tabs.

Management options for three generic categories of radioactive mixed waste in commercial low-level wastes have been identified and evaluated. These wastes were characterized as part of a BNL study in which a large number of generators were surveyed for information on potentially hazardous low-level wastes. The general management targets adopted for mixed wastes are immobilization, destruction, and reclamation. It is possible that these targets may not be practical for some wastes, and for these, goals of stabilization or reduction of hazard are addressed. Solidification, absorption, incineration, acid digestion, segregation, and substitution have been considered for organic liquid wastes. Containment, segregation, and decontamination and re-use have been considered for lead metal wastes which have themselves been contaminated and are not used for purposes of waste disposal shielding, packaging, or containment. For chromium-containing wastes, solidification, incineration, containment, substitution, chemical reduction, and biological removal have been considered. For each of these wastes, the management option evaluation has necessarily included assessment/estimation of the effect of the treatment on both the radiological and potential chemical hazards present. 10 refs.

This paper describes the QA and QC efforts and results used in fabricating the superconducting magnets of competing designs being developed by American Manufacturers for testing in the ORNL Large Coil Test Facility. Control of the design, materials and processes to assure proper functioning of the magnets in the test facility as well as the content of archival data being compiled is discussed.

This paper describes methodology and computer-controlled instrumentation developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory that accurately performs nondestructive assays of large containers bearing transuranic wastes and nonradioactive matrix materials. These assay systems can measure fissile isotopes with 1-mg sensitivity and spontaneous neutron-emitting isotopes at a 10-mg sensitivity. The assays are performed by neutron interrogation, detection, and counting in a custom assay chamber. An International Business Machines Personal Computer (IBM-PC) is used to control the CAMAC-based instrumentation system that acquires the assay data. 6 refs., 7 figs.

Epidemiological studies support an association between elevated levels of sulfates and acute respiratory disease. To determine if these pollutants produce airway hyperreactivity, 16 normal and 17 asthmatic subjects inhaled a control NaCl aerosol and the following sulfates: ammonium sulfate, sodium bisulfate, ammonium bisulfate, and sulfuric acid. A Lovelace generator produced particles with an average MMAD of approx. 1.0 ..mu..m (sigma/sub g/ approx. = 2.0) and concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg/m/sup 3/. By double-blind randomization, all subjects breathed these aerosols for a 16-minute period. To determine if sulfate inhalation caused increased reactivity to a known bronchoconstrictor, all subjects inhaled carbachol following each 16-minute exposure. Before, during, and after exposure, pulmonary function studies were performed. When compared to NaCl, sulfate (1 mg/m/sup 3/) produced significant reductions in airway conductance and flow rates in asthmatics. The two most sensitive asthmatics demonstrated changes even at 0.1 mg/m/sup 3/ sulfate. To a far more significant degree, the bronchoconstrictor action of carbachol was potentiated by sulfates more or less in relation to their acidity in normals and asthmatics.

We describe a convenient interface between UNIX-based work-stations or minicomputers, and supercomputers such as the CRAY series machines. Using this interface, the user can issue commands entirely on the UNIX system, with remote compilation, loading and execution performed on the supercomputer. The interface is not a remote login interface. Rather the domain of various UNIX utilities such as compilers, archivers and loaders are extended to include the CRAY. The user need know essentially nothing about the CRAY operating system, commands or filename restrictions. Standard UNIX utilities will perform CRAY operations transparently. UNIX command names and arguments are mapped to corresponding CRAY equivalents, suitable options are selected as needed, UNIX directory tree filenames are coerced to allowable CRAY names and all source and output files are automatically transferred between the machines. The primary purpose of the software is to allow the programmer to benefit from the interactive features of UNIX systems including screen editors, software maintenance utilities such as make and SCCS and in general to avail of the large set of UNIX text manipulation features. The interface was designed particularly to support development of very large multi-file programs, possibly consisting of hundreds of files and hundreds of thousands of lines …

The DP West Plutonium Facility operated by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, was decontaminated between April 1978 and April 1981. The facility was constructed in 1944 to 1945 to produce plutonium metal and fabricate parts for nuclear weapons. It was continually used as a plutonium processing and research facility until mid-1978. Decontamination operations included dismantling and removing gloveboxes and conveyor tunnels; removing process systems, utilities, and exhaust ducts; and decontaminating all remaining surfaces. This report describes glovebox and conveyor tunnel separations, decontamination techniques, health and safety considerations, waste management procedures, and costs of the operation.

This paper describes an application of software quality assurance to a specific scientific code development program. The software quality assurance program consists of three major components: administrative control, configuration management, and user documentation. The program attempts to be consistent with existing local traditions of scientific code development while at the same time providing a controlled process of development.

Two microcomputers, a SUN 3 workstation and an IBM/PC-AT with a 32 bit OPUS Clipper board, were used to run a three-dimensional atmospheric code which simulated well the nocturnal drainage winds observed in Rush Valley, approximately 60 km southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. The performance of the microcomputers was evaluated against the results obtained with a CRAY X-MP. Either microcomputer tested here is powerful enough to conduct extensive research in atmospheric boundary layer modeling.

The United States Department of Energy contracts the Los Alamos National Laboratory to carry out a Nuclear Weapons Test Program in support of the national defense. The program is one of ongoing research to design, build, and test prototype nuclear devices. The goal is to determine what should ultimately be incorporated into the nation's nuclear defense stockpile. All nuclear tests are conducted underground at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). This paper describes the instrumentation and control techniques used by Los Alamos to carry out the tests. Specifically, the contrast between historical methods and new, computer-based technology are discussed. Previous techniques required large numbers of expensive, heavy hardwire cables extending from the surface to the diagnostics rack at the bottom of the vertical shaft. These cables, which provided singular control/monitor functions, have been replaced by a few optical fibers and power cables. This significant savings has been enabled through the adaptation of industrial process control technology using programmable computer control and distributed input/output. Finally, an ongoing process of developing and applying the most suitable instrumentation and control technology to the unique requirements of the Test Program is discussed. 2 refs.

We used a three-dimensional time-dependent model, together with the technique of four-dimensional data assimilation, to obtain the diurnal variations of wind, temperature, water vapor, and turbulence in a mountainous region from the west coast to east of the Rockies, and from northern Mexico to Wyoming. Tracer particles were then released in the model to study the transport and diffusion of pollutants through a Lagrangian random-particle statistical method.