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Gas holdup tests performed in a small-scale mechanically-agitated mixing system at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) were reported in 2006. The tests were for a simulant of waste from the Hanford Tank 241-AZ-101 and featured additions of DOW Corning Q2-3183A Antifoam agent. Results indicated that this antifoam agent (AFA) increased gas holdup in the waste simulant by about a factor of four and, counter intuitively, that the holdup increased as the simulant shear strength decreased (apparent viscosity decreased). These results raised questions about how the AFA might affect gas holdup in Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) vessels mixed by air sparging and pulse-jet mixers (PJMs). And whether the WTP air supply system being designed would have the capacity to handle a demand for increased airflow to operate the sparger-PJM mixing systems should the AFA increase retention of the radiochemically generated flammable gases in the waste by making the gas bubbles smaller and less mobile, or decrease the size of sparger bubbles making them mix less effectively for a given airflow rate. A new testing program was developed to assess the potential effects of adding the DOW Corning Q2-3183A AFA to WTP waste streams by first confirming the …

During 1984 and 1985 the SLC alignment group established and measured a system of elevation benchmarks (BM's) over the whole of the SLAC site, ranging from the injector area to the NGS horizontal control point (surface monument) AA on the hill to the east of the collider hall outside the radiation fence. Precise elevations are needed in general for survey, alignment, placement, and monitoring of SLC tunnels and components. In particular, precise elevations of the survey instruments, mounted over penetrations to the tunnels and over the horizontal control points, are needed for the reductions of measured distances on the surface. Precise elevations were also needed at several other locations, like sector 1, 10, 19, and 30 along the LINAC (for the Global Positioning System measurements), outside of the IR 8 access to PEP (to connect the run from the SLC Master Benchmark R306 close to LINAC station 100 + 00 through the PEP SIT tunnel), and at the south-west adit to the SLC tunnel (to connect the BSY run). Permanent benchmarks were, therefore, installed close to these locations. To minimize errors and simplify re-leveling, turning points were also permanently installed. Figure 1 shows the locations of the elevation benchmark east …

We describe a typical 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) calculation of rundown of plasma in a coaxial, magnetized gun and injection of the plasma and reconnection of the embedded magnetic fields to form a compact toroidal plasma.

Passive solar collection/storage/distribution systems were surveyed, designed, fabricated, and mechanically and thermally tested. The types studied were clear and opaque fiberglass tubes, metal tubes with plastic liners, and thermosyphoning tubes. (MHR)

Steel companies in many areas of the country have found it increasingly difficult to attract talented recent graduates of college and university engineering and applied science programs to the Electric Arc Furnace iron & steel industry. College student involvement in co-operative programs at steel companies can attract needed talent to the industry. Additionally, certain R & D needs identified in the Steel Industry Technology Roadmap are addressed as co-operative program activities. The Steel Manufacturers Association (''SMA'') therefore established a co-operative education program for selected college students who have completed the first or second year of a four or five-year college program, to be recognized as SMA Co-Operative Fellows, in regard to their summer and fall semester projects with SMA's member companies.

The power of sufficiently-energetic proton beams to penetrate high atomic number (Z) metals, together with the potential for high-dynamic-range measurements, enabled by the roughly linear energy loss mechanism in the material, makes ion beam imaging complementary to x-ray techniques and, in many cases, it is superior. Specifically, x-ray imaging is poor in an object that contains both low- and high-Z materials. This is because the energetic x-rays required to penetrate high-Z material(s) interact weakly with the low-Z materials and therefore provide poor image contrast. Protons, on the other hand, are less sensitive to Z; thus they penetrate the high-Z material, yet are sufficiently influenced by the low-Z material as to provide useful contrast and information. Each proton ''measures'' the total electronic density of material that it traverses by its gradual and continuous energy loss as it passes through the object. Measuring the energy loss of a proton beam that has traveled through the target provides information about the line integral of the areal electron density in the material in a single measurement. Repeating this measurement across the target thus provides an electron-density map of the target; reconstructing multiple maps can lead to full 3-D tomographic renderings. The use of proton …

The purpose of the Free Flow Power (FFP) Water-to-Wire Project (Project) was to evaluate and optimize the performance, environmental compatibility, and cost factors of FFP hydrokinetic turbines through design analyses and deployments in test flumes and riverine locations.

The most adverse power distribution was revised based on a comparison of PDQ calculations and measurements made during the SM-2 flexible experiments. A review of the basic nuclear data and calculational models employed in the SM-2 nuclear analysis was rnade. A comparison between initial reactivily, hot-to-cold reactivity change, and xenon reactivity with experiment was rnade. Based on a revised power distribution, the core flow requirement was reestimated to be 7800 gpm. Tentative designs of the core support and fuel element structure were prepared and evaluated for pressure drop and flow distribu-tion. The ETR and MTR irradiation programs are suramarized. The TIG process for welding elements is discussed. Specimens of Eu/sub 2/O/sub 3/ dispersions in stainless steel were autoclave tested. Static deflection messurements indicated that a fuel element with cold rolled plates will have a deflection aproximately 18% lower than annealed plates. measurement of plate collapse on two elements indicated possible collapse in the range 140 to 164% of rated flow. Flow distribution and pressure drop tests were made for several core support structure configurations. Mockup experiments on the SM-2 initial cold, clean and SM-2 mid-life cores were completed. Limited power distribution and flux distributions were performed in the clean mockup. …

The Common Component Architecture (CCA) effort is the embodiment of a long-range program of research and development into the formulation, roles, and use of component technologies in high-performance scientific computing. CCA components can interoperate with other components in a variety of frameworks, including SCIRun2 from the University of Utah. The SCIRun2 framework is also developing the ability to connect components from a variety of different models through a mechanism called meta-components. The meta component model operates by providing a plugin architecture for component models. Abstract components are manipulated and managed by the SCIRun2 framework, while concrete component models perform the actual work and communicate with each other directly. We will leverage the SCIRun2 framework and the Kepler system to orchestrate components in the Fusion Simulation Project (FSP) and to provide a CCA-based interface with Kepler. The groundwork for this functionality is being performed with the Scientific Data Management center. The SDM center is developing CCA-compliant interfaces for expressing and executing workflows and create workflow components based on SCIRun and Ptolemy (Kepler) execution engines, including development of uniform interfaces for selecting, starting, and monitoring scientific workflows. Accomplishments include Introduction to CCA and Simulation Software Systems, Introduction into SCIRun2 and Bridging within …

In this study a novel optical trace gas sensor based on a perforated hollow waveguide (PHW) was proposed. The sensor has been given the acronym ESHOW for Environmental Sensor using Hollow Optical Waveguides. Realizations of the sensor have demonstrated rapid response time (<2s), low minimum detection limits (typically around 3 x 10-5 absorbance). Operation of the PHW technology has been demonstrated in the near-infrared (NIR) and mid0infrared (MIR) regions of the spectrum. Simulation of sensor performance provided in depth understanding of the signals and signal processing required to provide high sensitivity yet retain rapid response to gas changes. A dedicated sensor electronics and software foundation were developed during the course of the Phase II effort. Commercial applications of the sensor are ambient air and continuous emissions monitoring, industrial process control and hazardous waste site monitoring. There are numerous other applications for such a sensor including medical diagnosis and treatment, breath analysis for legal purposes, water quality assessment, combustion diagnostics, and chemical process control. The successful completion of Phase II resulted in additional funding of instrument development by the Nations Institute of Heath through a Phase I SBIR grant and a strategic teaming relationship with a commercial manufacture of medical instrumentation. …

In 1960, Hansen analyzed the problem of assembling fissionable material in the presence of a weak neutron source. Using point kinetics, he derived the weak source condition and analyzed the consequences of delayed initiation during ramp reactivity additions. Although not clearly stated in Hansen`s work, the neutron source strength that appears in the weak source condition actually corresponds to the equivalent, fundamental-mode source. In this work, they describe the concept of an equivalent, fundamental-mode source and they derive a deterministic expression for a factor, g*, that converts any arbitrary source distribution to an equivalent, fundamental-mode source. They also demonstrate a simplified method for calculating g* in subcritical systems. And finally, they present a new experimental method that can be employed to measure the equivalent, fundamental-mode source strength in a multiplying assembly. They demonstrate the method on the zero-power, XIX-1 assembly at the Fast Critical Assembly (FCA) Facility, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI).

This document details the research and development (R and D) activities that will be conducted in Fiscal Year 1998 (FY98) by the Thermally Induced Gallium Removal System (TIGRS) team for the Department of Energy Office of Fissile Materials Disposition. This work is a continuation and extension of experimental activities that have been conducted in support of using weapons-derived plutonium in the fabrication of mixed-oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel for reactor-based plutonium disposition. The ultimate purpose of this work is to demonstrate adequate Thermally Induced Gallium Removal with a prototypic system. This Test Plan presents more than the FY98 R and D efforts in order to frame the Task in its entirety. To achieve the TIGRS Program objectives, R and D activities during the next two years will be focused on (1) process development leading to a prototypic TIGRS design, and (2) prototypic TIGRS design and testing leading to and including a prototypic demonstration of TIGRS operation. Both the process development and system testing efforts will consist of a series of surrogate-based cold tests and plutonium-based hot tests. Some of this testing has already occurred and will continue into FY99.

The technical progress achieved during the period 30 October through 26 November, 1995 is described herein. This report is organized by program task structure: (1) spacecraft integration and liaison; (2) engineering support; (3) safety; (4) qualified unicouple production; (5) ETG fabrication, assembly, and test; (6) ground support equipment (GSE); (7) RTG shipping and launch support; (8) designs, reviews, and mission applications; (9) project management, quality assurance, reliability, contract changes, CAGO acquisition (operating funds), and GACO maintenance and repair; and CAGO acquisition (capital funds).

The integrated-gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) process is an emerging technology that utilizes coal for power generation and production of chemical feedstocks. However, the process generates large amounts of solid waste, consisting of vitrified ash (slag) and some unconverted carbon. In previous projects, Praxis investigated the utilization of ''as-generated'' slags for a wide variety of applications in road construction, cement and concrete production, agricultural applications, and as a landfill material. From these studies, we found that it would be extremely difficult for ''as-generated'' slag to find large-scale acceptance in the marketplace even at no cost because the materials it could replace were abundantly available at very low cost. It was further determined that the unconverted carbon, or char, in the slag is detrimental to its utilization as sand or fine aggregate. It became apparent that a more promising approach would be to develop a variety of value-added products from slag that meet specific industry requirements. This approach was made feasible by the discovery that slag undergoes expansion and forms a lightweight material when subjected to controlled heating in a kiln at temperatures between 1400 and 1700 F. These results confirmed the potential for using expanded slag as a substitute for conventional lightweight …

In this quarterly report, results of efforts on Tasks 2 and 3 are presented and discussed. Construction of a laboratory-type wetland (green house) has been begun and this undertaking is described in this report. The literature search has shown that clay amendments to wetlands are beginning to be used in Europe for P removal in agricultural drainage systems. The authors have undertaken similar studies on the use of inexpensive amendments to wetlands such as modified-clays and algae to enhance the performance of a constructed wetland for the treatment of oil and gas well wastewaters. The results from these studies are presented and analyzed in this report. Further, the literature search (nominally completed under Task 1) unearthed more recent studies (some unpublished) and a summary is included in this quarterly report.

A resolution study, employing a 3D nonlinear optimization technique, has been undertaken to study the viability of magnetotelluric (MT) measurements to detect and characterize buried facilities that make weapons of mass destruction. A significant advantage of the MT method is that no active source is required because the method employs passive field emissions. Thus measurements can be carried out covertly. Findings indicate it is possible to image WMD facilities, including depth of burial and lateral extent if a sufficient number of measurements are taken on the perimeter of the facility. Moreover if a station measurement can be made directly over the facility then the resolution is improved accordingly. In all cases it was not possible to image the base of the facility with any confidence as well as provide any precise inferences on the facility electrical conductivity. This later finding, however, is really not that critical since knowledge of facility geometry is far more important than knowledge of its conductivity. For the WMD problem it is recommended that MT measurements be made solely with the magnetic field ratios. In this context it would then be possible to deploy with far greater ease small coils about a suspected facility and would …