As part of the Milliwatt Generator (MWG) Program, a second series of pressure burst capsules welded offsite was tested; the resulting data indicate that the welds are very similar to those in the first series of capsules. Sufficient hardware was fabricated to meet all scheduled commitments. To provide a unit for feasibility testing, a heat source clad with Hastelloy C was reclad with Inconel 600. Forming development tests on Inconel 600 were conducted with favorable results. A QAS-3 survey was conducted and a satisfactory rating was received. Lot 11 qualification began on T-111 materials. The production period ended with an overall process yield of 99.6%, and a dollar percent defective rate of 0.60%.

The most important accomplishments during this period were to demonstrate and to elucidate further the complex effects that occur during the aging of Cu/sub 2/S/CdS thin-film solar cells in flowing wet oxygen. There are two distinct effects. At constant illumination, the short-circuit current of cells aged at room temperature consistently decreases with time. The second effect, related to diode opposing current, is more involved and may result from several competing mechanisms. Over the short term (approx. 4 to 5 hours), the magnitude of diode opposing current decreases. After approx. 20 hours of aging, opposing current generally returns to the level achieved after hydrogen annealing which immediately preceded the aging sequence. Optical measurements of the spectral transmission of the Cu/sub 2/S layers in a cell content have been made using a silicon detector epoxied to the back of a CdS cell after the copper foil substrate was removed. There is no significant change in Cu/sub 2/S transmission behavior for wavelengths ranging from 525 to 1000 nm during wet-oxygen aging for periods of 2 to 36 hours. This suggests that the decrease in J/sub SC/ at constant illumination, for the aging experiments in a flowing wet-oxygen ambient, arises because of changes in …

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) under the sponsorship of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has developed this program plan for research in equipment qualification (EQA). In this report the research program which will be executed in accordance with this plan will be referred to as the Equipment Qualification Research Program (EQRP). Covered are electrical and mechanical equipment under the conditions described in the OBJECTIVE section of this report. The EQRP has two phases; Phase I is primarily to produce early results and to develop information for Phase II. Phase I will last 18 months and consists of six projects. The first project is program management. The second project is responsible for in-depth evaluation and review of EQ issues and EQ processes. The third project is responsible for detailed planning to initiate Phase II. The remaining three projects address specific equipment; i.e., valves, electrical equipment, and a pump.

The trip provided an opportunity for extensive discussions with the staff of the Institut de Genie Atomique (IGA) of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL). The discussions covered both the planning of the first series of experiments to be performed in the Hybrid Experiment (hereafter referred to as LOTUS) and the status of calculational work being performed at the University of Washington in support of the LOTUS project.

Accidents in which large quantities of liquefied natural gas (LNG) or other combustible materials are spilled can potentially lead to disastrous consequences, especially if the dispersing combustible cloud finds a suitable ignition source. So far, very little is known about the detailed behavior of a large burning cloud. Full-scale experiments are economically prohibitive, and therefore one must rely on laboratory and field experiments of smaller size, scaling up the results to make predictions about larger spill accidents. In this paper we describe our laboratory-scale experiments with a combustible propane/air mixture in various partially confined geometries. We summarize the experimental results and compare them with calculated results based on numerical simulations of the experiments. Our observations suggest that the geometry of the partial confinement is of primary importance; turbulence-producing obstacles can cause acceleration in the flame front and, more important, can cause a faster burnout of the combustible vapor.

The Magma Binary Cycle Plant at the East Mesa KGRA is the first geothermal generating plant of its kind in the US. In cooperation with the Magma Electric Company, the Pacific Northwest Laboratory conducted a DOE sponsored program at the plant to document the chemistry and materials performance during the first two years of operation. This paper describes the methods used, the instruments and the results.

We have carefully evaluated several processes that might be suitable for uranium recovery from thorium metal, and have chosen two that hold great promise. Both are simple non-aqueous methods that can readily be performed by remote means, and both require only a few simple process steps.

The evaluation of a gas mixture having an atomic composition similar to that of A-150 TE-plastic has been extended to a high energy neutron therapy beam. A-150 gas, air and methane-based TE gas were each flowed through A-150 plastic-walled ion chambers of different sizes and irradiated with p(66)Be(49) neutrons. A tentative value for anti W(A-150) of 27.3 +- 0.5 J C/sup -1/ was derived for this beam. The anti W value of the A-150 gas mixture is compared to those of methane-based TE gas and of air for the p(66)Be(49) neutron beam as well as to corresponding values found in similar experiments using 14.8 MeV monoenergetic neutrons. 17 references, 3 figures, 3 tables.

Non-aqueous processes are now in routine use for direct conversion of plutonium oxide to metal, molten salt extraction of americium, and purification of impure metals by electrorefining. These processes are carried out at elevated temperatures in either refractory metal crucibles or magnesium-oxide ceramics in batch-mode operation. Direct oxide reduction is performed in units up to 700 gram PuO/sub 2/ batch size with molten calcium metal as the reductant and calcium chloride as the reaction flux. Americium metal is removed from plutonium metal by salt extraction with molten magnesium chloride. Electrorefining is used to isolate impurities from molten plutonium by molten salt ion transport in a controlled potential oxidation-reduction cell. Such cells can purify five or more kilograms of impure metal per 5-day electrorefining cycle. The product metal obtained is typically > 99.9% pure, starting from impure feeds. Metal scrap and crucible skulls are recovered by hydriding of the metallic residues and recovered either as impure metal or oxide feeds.

Materials preparation techniques are listed. Materials preparation capabilities are discussed for making BeF/sub 2/ glasses and other materials. Materials characterization techniques are listed. (DLC)

Currently, studies are underway at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) on thermochemical hydrogen production based on magnetic fusion energy (MFE) and solar central receivers as heat sources. These areas of study were described earlier at the previous IEA Annex I Hydrogen Workshop (Juelich, West Germany, September 23-25, 1981), and a brief update will be given here. Some basic research has also been underway at LLNL on the electrolysis of water from fused phosphate salts, but there are no current results in that area, and the work is being terminated.

A brief history of the discovery of hypernuclei is given and some recent hypernuclei studies are described. Topics include the study of p-shell hypernuclei, /sup 12/C (K/sup -/, ..pi../sup -/) experiment, and hypernuclear gamma rays. 13 references. (WHK)

An extensive compatibility test program was conducted starting with 34 compounds and six 190 C fluids. Both immersion tests and simulation tests were conducted for time periods ranging from 46 hours to over six months. Deficiencies in both types of tests were determined. Immersion tests, while useful for reducing the number of candidate compounds, can easily lead to incorrect conclusions. it is essential that simulation tests be conducted before a final elastomer is selected for use in a critical design.

A consolidated reference of materials for downhole equipment used in geothermal energy exploitation is nearing completion. The reference is a summary of recent developments in the areas of tubular goods materials, highly alloyed metals, high temperature cements, high temperature elastomers, drilling and completion tools, logging tools, and downwell pumps. A brief overview is presented in this paper.

The applicability of cathodic protection to mitigate corrosion of carbon steel in two different environments containing H{sub 2}S has been investigated using impressed current and sacrificial anode techniques. Results of impressed current tests conducted under potential control shows that the weight loss can be reduced significantly by shifting the potential of the metal 60 to 80 mV cathodic to the open circuit potential. The relationship between the applied current and the potential shift shows that the current requirement does not necessarily increase with the voltage shift, thus implying that the cost of cathodic protection may not increase in proportion to the protection achieved. The feasibility of using zinc as a sacrificial anode in the environment of interest has also been studied.

In this report, the authors describe the development of a chemical equilibrium model for hydrothermal waters based on the semiempirical equations of aqueous electrolyte solutions recently introduced by Pitzer and co-workers. Accurate solubility predictions (usually within 5-10% of experimental results) can be made for ionic strengths 0-20m. Comparison with experimental data indicates that a theory parameterized by binary and ternary data can be used to accurately predict solubilities in much more complex mixtures. Mineral solubilities calculated with this model are compared with those calculated from other currently available models. Whereas the predictions are typically within 5%, the ion pairing models are substantially in error at low ionic strengths. Recent results parameterizing the H{sub 2}S and SiO{sub 2} systems will be presented.

A study was conducted to determine the current requirements for cathodic protection of geothermal wells. Oil well technology was applied in this study. Results of laboratory tests and field tests are presented. Attenuation calculations indicate that the cathodic protection current determined from field tests would protect the specific individual geothermal well.

Polymer concrete is a composite material which has strength and durability characteristics greatly superior to those of portland cement concrete and better durability in hot brine than steel. polymer concrete has been successfully tested in brine and steam at temperatures up to 260 C. Exposures were as long as 960 days. Glass filament wound polymer concrete pipe was developed with excellent strength, low weight, and a cost comparable to or less than schedule 40 steel. Connections can be made with slip joints for low pressure applications and flanged joints for high pressure applications.

A technology transfer was made from L'Garde to Precision Rubber Products for the fabrication of L'Garde geothermal seal compound Y267. Precision Rubber reports their experience as fabricators and gives field reports from three of their customers. Most of the experience has been very successful.

High temperature elastomer technology which significantly advances the state-of-the-art was developed by L'Garde under DOE sponsorship. DOE exercised foresight and sponsored direct transferal of this technology to industry. Consequently, the technology can be readily purchased today from three commercial sources in the form of finished elastomeric parts. This paper provides a summary and conclusion of this effort which transcended important technology from a report gathering dust to three ready sources of elastomeric parts providing the benefits of Y267 EPDM technology.

For the last two decades the rubber division of BJ-Hughes, has been in the forefront of rubber technology as applied to products for the oil-well drilling industry. We welcomed the opportunities presented when we were selected to participate in the GEM program and extend our appreciation to L'Garde Inc., Department of Energy and Radian Corporation. Our first efforts, approximately 15 months ago were to duplicate the four compounds recommended by L'Garde and verify our ability to obtain equal physical properties. After some minor problems in obtaining exact duplication of the chemicals. we did succeed in matching the properties obtained by L'Garde. Aflas, a copolymer of teflon and propylene manufactured in Japan by Asahi Glass and represented by Xenox. Inc., is the basis elastomer for GEM formulation 291. Advantages of Aflas are high temperature resistance up to 550 F. (Short term), resistance to H{sub 2}S and amine environment, acids, basis, many solvents and hydrocarbons. It also has excellent resistance to steam and will not hydrolize when exposed to high temperature and high pressure steam. It has excellent physical properties including long term compression-set resistance at high temperature. We have submitted two products manufactured from GEM 297 to customers for evaluation. One …

Experience has shown that corrosion occurring during geothermal energy utilization system downtime--shutdown corrosion--can pose a serious threat to successful operations. Shutdown corrosion in geothermal plants appears more severe than would be expected in their nongeothermal analogs, and its mitigation may pose a severe challenge to corrosion engineering personnel. This paper presents four case histories of geothermal shutdown corrosion problems. General methods of mitigation are explored.

Rockwell International's Energy Systems Group, under contract to Brookhaven National Laboratory, has completed a 2-year program to develop a novel temperature-actuated seal concept for geothermal applications. This seal concept uses the unique properties of a shape memory alloy (Nitinol) to perform the sealing function. The several advantages of the concept are discussed in the paper. Demonstration tests of both face and shaft seals have shown that leaktight seals are feasible. Supporting materials studies have included corrosion tests in geothermal fluids, elevated temperature tensile tests, experimental electroplating and metallographic evaluations of microstructures.

The durability of each of 16 different cements was evaluated by both room temperature compressive strength and water permeability measurements, following various periods of treatment of the cements in flowing geothermal fluid of the Cerro Prieto field of Mexico. Some of these cements were selected through a Department of Energy program to develop improved cements for geothermal well completion while the others were contributed by several other institutions interested in the tests. Two types of specimens of the cements were used in the tests: (a) 50 mm cubes which were precured 1 da in molds under water in an autoclave at 200 C and 20 MPa and (b) cement slurries which were prepared and cast in sandstone cups at the field. Federal de Electricidad a set of both types of specimens was installed in baskets which were placed 700 m downhole a well at 214 C, and an identical set of specimens was installed in special aboveground vessels near the wellhead. Following periods of 1 da. 3 mo, 6 mo. and 12 mo, specimens were withdrawn from the geothermal treatment and divided evenly between the Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas and the National Bureau of Standards for property measurements. This paper …