Solar standards are listed for each of the standards writing organizations associated with the Steering Committee. A complete list of approved standards, standards under development, and standards under revision is provided. (WHK)

None

The proposed straw separation system developed in the research project harvests the large internode sections of the straw which has the greater potential as a feedstock for lignocellulosic ethanol production while leaving the chaff and nodes in the field. This strategy ensures sustainable agriculture by preventing the depletion of soil minerals, and it restores organic matter to the soil in amounts and particle sizes that accommodate farmers’ needs to keep tillage and fertilizer costs low. A ton of these nutrient-rich plant tissues contains as much as $10.55 worth of fertilizer (economic and energy benefits), in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients provided to the soil when incorporated by tillage instead of being burned. Biomass conversion to fermentable sugars for the purpose of producing fuels, chemicals, and other industrial products is well understood. Most bioenergy strategies rely on low-cost fermentable sugars for sustainability and economic viability in the marketplace. Exploitation of the “whole crop”—specifically, wheat straw or other plant material currently regarded as residue or waste—is a practical approach for obtaining a reliable and low-cost source of sugars. However, industrial-scale production of sugars from wheat straw, while technically feasible, is plagued by obstacles related to capital costs, energy consumption, …

Department of Energy EPSCoR The University of Mississippi Award: DE-FG02-04ER46121 Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy Studies of Complex Transition Metal Oxides The central thrust of this DOE funded research program has been to apply resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS), an elegant and efficient method for determining the elastic stiffness constants of a crystal, to the complex and poorly understood class of materials known as transition metal oxides (TMOs). Perhaps the most interesting and challenging feature of TMOs is their strongly correlated behavior in which spin, lattice, and charge degrees of freedom are strongly coupled. Elastic constants are a measure of the interatomic potentials in a crystal and are thus sensitive probes into the atomic environment. This sensitivity makes RUS an ideal tool to study the coupling of phase transition order parameters to lattice strains. The most significant result of the project has been the construction of a high temperature RUS apparatus capable of making elastic constant measurements at temperatures as high as 1000 degrees Celsius. We have designed and built novel acoustic transducers which can operate as high as 600 degrees Celsius based on lithium niobate piezoelectric elements. For measurement between 600 to 1000 C, a buffer rod system is used in which …

The amount of scientific data generated by simulations orcollected from large scale experiments have reached levels that cannot bestored in the researcher's workstation or even in his/her local computercenter. Such data are vital to large scientific collaborations dispersedover wide-area networks. In the past, the concept of a Gridinfrastructure [1]mainly emphasized the computational aspect ofsupporting large distributed computational tasks, and optimizing the useof the network by using bandwidth reservation techniques. In this paperwe discuss the concept of Storage Resource Managers (SRMs) as componentsthat complement this with the support for the storage management of largedistributed datasets. The access to data is becoming the main bottleneckin such "data intensive" applications because the data cannot bereplicated in all sites. SRMs can be used to dynamically optimize the useof storage resource to help unclog this bottleneck.

The Energy Saver Safety Analysis Report (SAR) found the tunnel oxygen deficiency considerations emphasized helium spills. These reports concluded the helium quickly warms and because of its low denisty, rises to the apex of the tunnel. The oxygen content below the apex and in all but the immediate vicinity of the helium spill is essentially unchanged and guarantees an undisturbed source of oxygen especially important to fallen personnel. In contrast nitrogen spills warm slower than helium due to the ratio of the enthalpy changes per unit volume spilled spread more uniformly across the tunnel cross-section when warmed because of the much smaller density difference with air, and generally provides a greater hazard than helium spills as a result. In particular there was concern that personnel that might fall to the floor for oxygen deficiency or other reasons might find less, and not more, oxygen with dire consequences. The SAR concluded tunnel nitrogen spills were under-investigated and led to this work.

A nondestructive evaluation (NDE) program has been carried out using holographic interferometry, microradiography, and eddy current testing for the inspection of electron beam braze joining of dissimilar metals. Stainless steel tubing was joined to a gold-copper disk using a Cusil (copper/silver) brazing alloy. Holographic interferometry provided an indirect measure of strength by detecting the plastic deformation occurring as a result of applying a stress. Microradiography with the aid of computer graphics displays provided a means of measuring braze penetration into the stainless steel tube. Correlation of results with metallographic examination and microhardness measurements show that holography and microradiography each provide quantitative braze quality rankings. Each method correctly identified variations in braze quality independent of electron beam power (the only processing variable in sample fabrication). Eddy current results were consistent with the other NDE methods but appear to be based on variation in surface topography rather than electrical conductivity. The usefulness of the eddy current method for this problem is questionable due to its sensitivity to the small, complex test piece geometry.

This report addresses one of the possible uses of isotopic tracers, produced by laser-assisted iostope separation, in the investigation of pollution problems. Specifically, the use of laser-produced sulfur isotopes to analyze the acid rain situation is considered as it is a most important application of this technique. The proposed use of isotopically-labelled SO/sub 2/, in particular of /sup 36/SO/sub 2/, as a tracer can help elucidate the chemical and transport facets in a unified experiment. Separation of a sufficient quantity of the rare /sup 36/S isotope to perform several of these tracer studies appears to be practical and economical. This overall process is certainly deserving of further investigation.

A stress analysis was performed on the 4''-IW-179-AB pipe system outside containment penetration S-5B. Deadweight, thermal expansion, and seismic loads were considered. The results indicate that this piping will meet ASME Section III, Class 2 requirements.

Line 2''-LS-120-AB outside containment penetration S-1A was analyzed to ASME Section III, Subsection NC (Class 2) criteria. The line is part of the LOFT Containment Isolation System. The model considered the line from the penetration outward through the second isolation valve. Results of the analysis show that this section of the line meets Class 2 requirements without modification.

Future industry scenarios for energy consumption in the marine transport industry are projected and the energy savings potential of the research and development program identified in Task III (Efficiency Improvements) against these scenarios is evaluated. The introduction is contained in Chapter I. In Chapter II, the operational, regulatory, and vessel size scenarios for the year 2000 are developed. In Chapter III, future cargo flows and expected levels of energy use for the baseline 2000 projection are determined. In Chapter IV, the research and development programs are introduced into the future US flag fleet and the energy savings potential associated with each is determined. (MCW)

The 24'' H and V Duct and related piping outside the LOFT containment and connected to containment penetration S-12A were analyzed to ASME Section III, Subsection NC (Class 2) criteria. The duct is part of the Containment Isolation System. The model considered the duct from the containment O.D. outward through the second isolation valve. Results of this analysis show that this section of the line will meet Class 2 requirements without modification.

This documents the design and description of the in situ viscometer, developed for the hydrogen mitigation project.

Progress is reported by the Mechanical Development group and by the Plant Assistance group. The Mechanical Development group reports on the thimble removal program, special pile measurements and instruments, graphite sampling, and the ruptured slug problem. The Plant Assistance group reports on technical information on the B, D, F, and H piles, special request container slug, exposure of P-10 fuel slugs, slug corrosion studies, front tube corrosion, and flow laboratory experiments.

The acceptance test for the Westronics driver. This driver connects the Westronics Smart Multiplexer with the TMACS monitoring system.

Hanford fuel elements are made by brazing uranium cores in aluminum cans. The interface, or junction, between the AlSi braze and uranium core known as the compound layer, is composed of an intermetallic complex. The properties of this compound layer, brittleness, ductility, toughness, are considered to have a pronounced influence on the performance of fuel elements in the reactors. This report presents the results of initial efforts to identify the compound layers and establish some of the process conditions and variables which influence the properties of the compound layer, in particular, the lead preheat time.

On the 1600--2400 shift, May 12, 1961, the delayed neutron monitor on KER Loop 1 gave a high coolant activity signal indicating a possible fuel element failure in this loop. KE Reactor was shut down immediately thereafter. This report is being written to summarize the events pertinent to the KE Reactor scram and to discuss the results and significance of data from the analyses of coolant samples taken from the KER Loop-1 System.

Reference 1 gave mixer recommendations for aluminum spline tubes at the K reactors. On completion of the study, R. F. Corlett requested a more detailed economic study of mixer useage at KW reactor. R. G. Clough also requested additional information on use of mixer elements in fringe tubes. In order to answer these requests, additional information was needed and requested. A. W. Medcalf replied giving enriched metal requirements in support of mixers. No other information vas received so it was not possible to make the economic study requested by R. F. Corlett. This report presents more detail on tube-life estimates associated with use of the eccentric and concentric-wall tube designs in central- and fringe-zones and the results of five downstream thermcouple probes that operated in concentric-wall tubes at KW reactor. Also, modification of the concentric-wall tube (milling down of the ribs) is discussed.

This annual report details activities of the Fuel Element Development Committee. A summary of Hanford Atomic Products Operation activities is provided along with programs and performance of K, small reactor, and N-Reactor fuels.

The Data Change Request (DCR) log is designed to promote data integrity within the Solid Waste Information and Tracking System (SWITS). It achieves this function by providing a record of all data changes performed on the database. This document contains records of those data changes from March 91 through June 94. The DCR log is also a supplement to an electronic database -- the DCR Tracking System, which provides an electronic record of all data changes preformed on the SWITS database. The records found in this document are Data Change Request forms. These forms are required for SWITS users who wish to request data changes in the database. The procedure formalizing this policy did not go into effect until September 1, 1994; therefore, some records created before that date may be incomplete.

The ion ring project objective is to trap a ring of high energy, axis-encircling ions in a magnetic mirror. The number of ring ions should be such as to produce deltaB/B on the ring axis of order 10%. The second experiment, LONGSHOT, is directed to producing a long pulse ion beam source so that the total number of protons required for an ion ring can be provided a lower diode power and, hence, at much less cost than that of 100 nsec pulsed power generators like the NRL GAMBLE II. A detailed report of the progress on IREX and LONGSHOT is given. (MOW)

This study seeks to provide policymakers and other stakeholders with actionable information towards a road map for reducing energy consumption cost-effectively. We focus on individual end use equipment types (hereafter referred to as appliance groups) that might be the subject of policies - such as labels, energy performance standards, and incentives - to affect market transformation in the short term, and on high-efficiency technology options that are available today. As the study title suggests, the high efficiency or Business Case scenario is constructed around a model of cost-effective efficiency improvement. Our analysis demonstrates that a significant reduction in energy consumption and emissions is achievable at net negative cost, that is, as a profitable investment for consumers. Net savings are calculated assuming no additional costs to energy consumption such as carbon taxes. Savings relative to the base case as calculated in this way is often referred to as 'economic savings potential'. Chinese energy demand has grown dramatically over the last few decades. While heavy industry still plays a dominant role in greenhouse gas emissions, demand from residential and commercial buildings has also seen rapid growth in percentage terms. In the residential sector this growth is driven by internal migration from the …

The purpose of this report is to provide a concise status update for value-added products (VAP) implemented by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility. The report is divided into the following sections: (1) new VAPs for which development has begun, (2) progress on existing VAPs, (3) future VAPs that have been recently approved, (4) other work that leads to a VAP, and (5) top requested VAPs from the archive

Nuclear reaction data play an important role in nuclear reactor, medical, and fundamental science and national security applications. The wealth of information is stored in internally adopted ENDF-6 and EXFOR formats. We present a complete calculation of resonance integrals, Westcott factors, thermal and Maxwellian-averaged cross sections for Z = 1-100 using evaluated nuclear reaction data. The addition of newly-evaluated neutron reaction libraries, and improvements in data processing techniques allows us to calculate nuclear industry and astrophysics parameters, and provide additional insights on all currently available neutron-induced reaction data. Nuclear reaction calculations will be discussed and an overview of the latest reaction data developments will be given.