Preliminary neutronic studies have been performed in order to provide guidelines to the design of a liquid-salt cooled Very High Temperature Reactor (LS-VHTR) using Li{sub 2}BeF{sub 4} (FLiBe) as coolant and a solid cylindrical core. The studies were done using the lattice codes (WIMS8 and DRAGON) and the linear reactivity model to estimate the core reactivity balance, fuel composition, discharge burnup, and reactivity coefficients. An evaluation of the lattice codes revealed that they give very similar accuracy as the Monte Carlo MCNP4C code for the prediction of the fuel element multiplication factor (kinf) and the double heterogeneity effect of the coated fuel particles in the graphite matrix. The loss of coolant from the LS-VHTR core following coolant voiding was found to result in a positive reactivity addition, due primarily to the removal of the strong neutron absorber Li-6. To mitigate this positive reactivity addition and its impact on reactor design (positive void reactivity coefficient), the lithium in the coolant must be enriched to greater than 99.995% in its Li-7 content. For the reference LS-VHTR considered in this work, it was found that the magnitude of the coolant void reactivity coefficient (CVRC) is quite small (less than $1 for 100% voiding). …

Hydrologic Source Term (HST) calculations completed in 1998 at the CAMBRIC underground nuclear test site were LLNL's first attempt to simulate a hydrologic source term at the NTS by linking groundwater flow and transport modeling with geochemical modeling (Tompson et al., 1999). Significant effort was applied to develop a framework that modeled in detail the flow regime and captured all appropriate chemical processes that occurred over time. However, portions of the calculations were simplified because of data limitations and a perceived need for generalization of the results. For example: (1) Transient effects arising from a 16 years of pumping at the site for a radionuclide migration study were not incorporated. (2) Radionuclide fluxes across the water table, as derived from infiltration from a ditch to which pumping effluent was discharged, were not addressed. (3) Hydrothermal effects arising from residual heat of the test were not considered. (4) Background data on the ambient groundwater flow direction were uncertain and not represented. (5) Unclassified information on the Radiologic Source Term (RST) inventory, as tabulated recently by Bowen et al. (2001), was unavailable; instead, only a limited set of derived data were available (see Tompson et al., 1999). (6) Only a small number …

This fact sheet describes how a special rule -- a House resolution that regulates consideration of a specific legislative measure named in the resolution -- may set terms for consideration by Representatives. It includes information about the system of privilege, forms of consideration, and how the rules are used to manage the agenda.

This report discusses policy options for Congress regarding gas prices. The high price of gasoline was an important consideration during the debate on major energy legislation, which ended with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, H.R. 6 (P.L. 109-58). However, prices continued to surge, due to a large number of factors, such as the effects of Hurricane Katrina on Gulf Coast refineries, an increased world demand for crude oil, and inadequate U.S. refinery capacity.

This report briefly discusses the preparation which precedes the legislative stage during which a committee chooses the language of a measure it expects to report to the Senate, called "markups." Markups are carefully planned in advance to insure that the requirements of Senate rules have been met, political decisions have been made, and administrative issues have been addressed.

A spinel-based surface protection layer has been developed for alloy SOFC current collectors and bi-polar gas separators. The (Mn,Co)3O4 spinel with a nominal composition of Mn1.5Co1.5O4 demonstrates an excellent electrical conductivity and thermal expansion match to ferritic stainless steel interconnects. A slurry-coating technique provides a viable approach for fabricating protective layers of the spinel onto the steel interconnects. Thermally grown protection layers of Mn1.5Co1.5O4 have been found not only to significantly decrease the contact resistance between a LSF cathode and stainless steel interconnect, but also inhibits the sub-scale growth on the stainless steel. The combination of the inhibited sub-scale growth, good thermal expansion matching between the spinel and the stainless steel, and the closed-pore structure contribute to the excellent structural and thermomechanical stability of these spinel protection layers, which was verified by a long-term thermal-cycling test. The spinel protection layers can also act effectively to prevent outward diffusion of chromium from the interconnect alloy, preventing subsequent chromium migration into the cathode and contact materials. PNNL is currently engaged in studies intended to optimize the composition, microstructure, and fabrication procedure for the spinel protection layers.

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This report is on Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs.

Articles in this month's issue include: (1) Einstein's Legacy Alive at Livermore--Commentary by Michael R. Anastasio; (2) Applying Einstein's Theories of Relativity--In their efforts to understand the cosmos, Livermore physicists must account for the relativistic effects postulated by Albert Einstein; (3) Locked in Rock: Sequestering Carbon Dioxide Underground--Livermore scientists are examining technologies to reduce atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide by burying it deep underground; (4) Modeling the Subsurface Movement of Radionuclides--Using data from past underground nuclear tests, a Livermore team is modeling radionuclide migration at the Nevada Test Site; and (5) Novel Materials from Solgel Chemistry--Livermore chemists are developing a method for fabricating solgels to better control the physical properties of the new materials.

This report explains the origins of the INA, and a range of options for dealing with its ISS-related impacts that were considered by Congress.

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This report briefly summarizes the background information on Belarus and its U.S. policy concerns.

This report indicate possible attempts to curtail the use of filibusters in the Senate, perhaps in the 109th Congress. Some have suggested that proponents of this idea may invoke something called the "nuclear" or "constitutional" option in Senate floor procedure to try to end a filibuster without the need for 60 votes .

This report includes information regarding various United States space programs.

This report is categorized into four categories: (I) Basic Discharge Procedure, (II) Consideration After Discharge, (III) Discharge and Special Rules and (IV) Discharge of Rule for Reported Measure.

This report details the capital income tax revisions and effective tax rates.

This data package is a compilation of existing geologic data from the Integrated Disposal Facility Site for use in the 2005 Performance Assessment. The data were compiled from both surface and subsurface geologic sources. The surface mapping has been published previously. The quality and uncertainty of the data are discussed. The 2004 report was modified to include results of studies of the shearwave velocity of sediments at and near the IDF site, which were performed for the Waste Treatment Plant and groundwater monitoring wells 299-E17-26 and 299-E24-24. The conclusions of the original report have not changed with the new data.

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This report provides an overview of the data brokerage industry and more specific background on LexisNexis and ChoicePoint.

This report provides a Brief Overview of Recent Practices on Continuing Appropriations Acts. Most of the operations of federal departments and agencies are funded each year through the enactment of 11 regular appropriation acts.