The purpose of this contract effort is to understand how nonfuel components of coal will affect the electron and alkali seed chemistry in a high temperature coal combustion system like that envisioned for direct fired MHD generators. Three specific problems are being considered during this contract period. The first problem area is to characterize the formation of negative ions due to electron attachment processes in the combustion flow. While some stable negative ions may be formed from hydrocarbon combustion species (OH/sup -/), the bulk of the stable negative ions are expected to be formed from oxidized inorganic coal slag constituents (BO/sup -//sub 2/, PO/sup -//sub 2/, AlO/sup -//sub 2/, etc). Negative ion formation can reduce the conductivity of the MHD plasma, particularly at the low temperature end of the MHD channel, thus decreasing the efficiency of power generation. The second problem area involves the role slag condensation may play in determining the electron density through recombination, also adversely affecting conductivity in the core flow. The competitive balance between thermionic emission from slag droplets and electron/ion recombination on the droplet surfaces may be severely tipped in favor of electron loss processes, depending on the slag properties. The third problem area is …

Conceptual designs and capital cost estimates were completed for the six different Heber power plants in this study. The six plants involve two types of operating modes, constant geothermal fluid flow rate and constant power output, each for net capacities of 50, 100, and 200 MWe. Conceptual designs were completed for the six plants by modifying and scaling-up the base case design. The capital costs for all six plants were estimated in fourth-quarter 1976 dollars.

Compressive creep tests were performed on molybenum samples exposed to four different pre-test conditions: (1) annealed; (2) annealed and neutron irradiated at 480/sup 0/C to a fluence of 5 x 10/sup 19/ n cm/sup -2/ (E > 1 MeV); (3) stress-relieved; and (4) stress-relieved and neutron irradiated at reactor ambient temperature to a fluence of 1 x 10/sup 19/ n cm/sup -2/ (E > 1 MeV). The tests were performed in the temperature range of 600 to 900/sup 0/C with an initial applied stress of 176.5 MPa. Both pre- and post-test specimens were examined using electron microscopy and the relationship between substructure and mechanical properties is discussed. Possible controlling mechanisms of deformation are proposed and activation energies for creep are determined.

Highlights of technical progress during March 1977 are presented for thirteen separate program activities which comprise the ORNL research program for the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research's Division of Reactor Safety Research.

This report describes the conceptual design and performance of a subsea nuclear power system for application in offshore oil and gas production. The system can be designed and built with minimum additional development, based on space nuclear power technology, components, and systems completed during the past 20 years. The concept is particularly well suited to meet the requirements of the offshore oil application for adequate safety, high reliability, and acceptable costs. The system is designed to provide 3000 kWe power to oil pumps, at 4160 V, and 60 Hz, for a period of 4 years, in an automatic, unattended mode. At the end of this period, the system is returned to a refurbishment center, where the reactor core is replaced and other parts of the systems are inspected, refurbished, or replaced, as required. With this periodic refueling and maintenance, the total system design life is 20 years. The nuclear power system is largely contained within two separate pressure vessels, connected by an enclosed pipe chase. One vessel contains the reactor and liquid metal primary coolant system, while the other contains the organic Rankine power conversion systems. These modules are mounted on a barge which provides both a means to transport …

This report is about the proposed consumer protection agency, in specific legislative history and arguments pro and con.

Eight large geopressured aquifers have been located and mapped. In addition 55 prospective areas have been identified from the sand count and pressure maps which warrant further study. Work on the following is reviewed: data acquisition; data storage, retrieval, and analysis; computer map presentation of data; and detailed geologic mapping. (MHR)