Specific compositions of high purity silicon aluminum oxynitride (Sialon) and silicon beryllium oxynitride (Sibeon) solid solutions are shown to be promising refractory materials for handling and manipulating solar grade silicon into silicon ribbon. Well controlled processing schedules were developed for fabricating high purity Sialon and Sibeon materials. Essentially the impurity content of the hot pressed ceramics was due only to impurities from the original starting powders. A ceramic shaping die was successfully formed by diamond machining of a hot pressed blank. Projected manufacturing cost estimate for 10/sup 5/ dies per year is $5.4 per die. Evaluation of the interaction of these materials in contact with molten silicon indicates that solid solutions based upon ..beta..-Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ are more stable than those based on Si/sub 2/N/sub 2/O. Sibeon is more resistant to molten silicon attack than Sialon, and both materials should preferably be used in an inert atmosphere rather than under vacuum conditions. This is because removal of oxygen from the silicon melt as SiO enhances the dissolution of aluminum and beryllium. The wetting angles of these materials are low enough (37/sup 0/ for x = 0.75 ..beta..' Sialon and 49/sup 0/ for x = 0.35 Sibeon) for these materials to …

A workshop was convened to assist DOE's Technology Assessment Division in evaluating the need to prepare additional environmental- and social-impact assessments of different energy-conservation measures. Attendees participated in a decision-making exercise designed to rank 19 different energy-conservation measures according to their overall potential for achieving important national goals and their ease of implementation. The participants felt that the most-important ranking criteria dealt with questions concerning feasibility (economic, political/institutional, social, and technical) and economic efficiency. Other criteria, such as environmental quality and occupational health and safety received lower weights; possibly because of the widespread belief that most of the conservation measures presented would be environmentally beneficial. In the participants' view, the most-promising and feasible conservation measures include new-building-performance standards, retrofit of existing housing stock, new-appliance-performance standards and increased use of smaller cars. In contrast, conservation options which ranked rather low, such as diesel engines, coal-fired aluminum remelt furnaces, and cupola furnace modifications were expected to have some harmful environmental and health impacts. Most of these impacts are expected to be highly localized and of lesser national concern. Disagreement exists as to the efficacy of funding those projects deemed highly desirable and feasible versus those which are expected to have the greater …

Three methods are described to fabricate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) molybdenum films which rival conventional mirror materials in their infrared reflectance. With an absolute reflectance of 97.4% at 10 ..mu..m, these Super Molybdenum films reflect better than any other molybdenum film previously reported. When deposited in the presence of oxygen, films of a reduced reflectance over the solar emission range result. If passivated and antireflected by a Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ layer, such Black Molybdenum films are characterized by a solar absorptance value in excess of 90% and a thermal emittance value of 11% at 500/sup 0/C. No deterioration of these values has yet been observed in ongoing tests after 1000 hours exposure to 500/sup 0/C in a 1 Torr vacuum. Stacks containing Super Molybdenum as the reflector and amorphous silicon as the absorber have thus far survived 1000 hours in open air at 500/sup 0/C.

This experimental research has probed the nature of resonant absorption (RA) of laser light by laser-produced plasmas. The plasmas were created by optical breakdown of a shockfront produced in an electrothermal shock tube. This procedure allows the density structure of the plasma, and in particular, the orientation of the plasma critical-density surface, to be reproducibly formed from one shot to the next. Thus, for the first time, RA has been controllably and reproducibly studied in isolation from other plasma physics. The angular distribution of fast electrons emitted by RA and wavebreaking has been studied, and it is observed that the emission is directed in a narrow cone centered on the shockfront density-gradient vector, in agreement with the theory of wavebreaking.

A study conducted to compare the technological status and the resultant potential vehicle characteristics for hydrogen- and battery-powered automobiles that could be produced from 1985 to 2000 is documented in 3 volumes. The primary objectives of the study were: the assessments of applicable energy storage and propulsion technology for the two basic vehicle types (applied to four-passenger cars); a rigorous comparison of vehicle weight, size, and usefulness versus design range; and an investigation of the relative efficiencies of expending energy from various primary sources to power the subject vehicle. Another important objective, unique to hydrogen powered vehicles, was the assessment of the technology, logistics, and cost implications of a hydrogen production and delivery capability. This volume, Volume III, contains three major sections: the assessment of battery electric vehicle technology for energy storage and the drivetrain system; the technical and economic comparison of hydrogen- and battery-powered vehicles derived primarily from data in the previous vehicle technology assessments, with consideration of alternative energy sources; and a series of appendices that support the vehicle definitions and comparisons.

The solar steam system for the Lone Star Brewery is described in detail. It consists of a roof-mounted parabolic trough collector field heating Monsanto's Therminol T-55 heat transfer fluid, a solar-fired boiler, a heat transfer fluid circulation pump, and all the associated piping. The comparison of various collectors and heat transfer fluids surveyed is reviewed. Also included are discussions of the system performance analysis, economic analysis, safety analysis, data collection, and environmental impact assessment. Numerous drawings illustrate the system, particularly the parallel trough collectors. (LEW)

This operator's manual for the DART II Data Acquisition, Reduction, and Transmission system is divided into the following sections: system capabilities and configuration; ways in which the microprocessor-based central processing unit communicates with the memory and peripheral devices; theory of operation for the system components; and a section of reference data including schematic diagrams, cable lists, device specification sheets and other detailed information. (GHT)

Forty-nine papers were presented at the meeting. A separate abstract was prepared for each paper. (LCL)

The Cove Fort-Sulphurdale Known Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA) is located on the northwestern margin of the Marysvale volcanic field in southwestern Utah. The geology of the KGRA is dominated by lava flows and ash-flow tuffs of late Oligocene to mid-Miocene age that were deposited on faulted sedimentary rocks of Paleozoic to Mesozoic age. The geothermal system of the Cove Fort-Sulphurdale KGRA is structurally controlled by normal faults. High-angle faults control fluid flow within the geothermal reservoir, while the gravitational glide blocks provide an impermeable cap for the geothermal system in the central part of the field. Surficial activity occurring to the north and south of the glide blocks is characterized by the evolution of hydrogen sulfide and deposition of native sulphur. Intense acid alteration of the aluvium, resulting from downward migration of sulphuric acid, has left porous siliceous residues that retain many of the original sedimentary structures. Detailed logs of Union Oil Company drill holes Forminco No. 1, Utah State 42-7, and Utah State 31-33 are included.

Policy options that the Illinois Commerce Commission might adopt in order to promote improved power plant productivity for existing units in Illinois are identified and analyzed. These policy options would generally involve either removing existing disincentives and/or adding direct incentives through the regulatory process. The following activities are reported: in-depth review of existing theoretical and empirical literature in the areas of power plant reliability, regulatory utility efficiency and performance incentives, and impacts of various regulatory mechanisms such as the Fuel Adjustment Clauses on productivity; contacts with other state public utility commissions known to be investigating or implementing productivity improvement incentive mechanisms; documentation and analysis of incentive mechanisms adopted or under consideration in other states; analysis of current regulatory practice in Illinois as it relates to power plant productivity incentives and disincentives; identification of candidate incentive mechanisms for consideration by the Illinois Commerce Commission; and analysis and evaluation of these candidates. 72 references, 8 figures.

These appendices to the mission analysis report for the Near Term Hybrid Vehicle program contain data on passenger vehicle usage by purpose, trip length, travel speed, vehicle age, vehicle ownership and fuel economy, and US demographics. (LCL)

The study, Rock Bed Storage with Heat Pump, established the feasibility of mating a heat pump to a rock bed storage to effect optimal performance at the lowest cost in single family residences. The operating characteristics of off-the-shelf components of heat pump/rock bed storage systems were studied, and the results were used to formulate configurations of representative systems. These systems were modeled and subsequently analyzed using the TRNSYS computer program and a life cycle cost analysis program called LCCA. A detailed load model of a baseline house was formulated as part of the TRNSYS analysis. Results of the analysis involved the development of a technique to confine the range of heat pump/rock bed storage systems to those systems which are economical for a specific location and set of economic conditions. Additionally, the results included a comparison of the detailed load model with simple UA models such as the ASHRAE bin method. Several modifications and additions were made to the TRNSYS and LCCA computer programs during the course of the study.

An analytic solution is presented to the problem of transient flow to a partially penetrating well that is open in either layer of finite thickness in a two-layered system. Crossflow is permitted at the interface between the two layers. Closed form solutions have been obtained which can easily be evaluated numerically. Simplified forms of the solutions for small and large values of time have been developed from the main solution. It has also been shown that the solution reduces to the case of single layer partial penetration once we allow the permeability of the nonperforated layer to vanish. The approach here is to start with the problem when the pumping well is open only in the top layer. A second solution is also developed when the well is partially penetrating only in the lower layer.

This preliminary document provides information in a matrix format which lists technical and programmatic data concerning the various project sites selected for the National Solar Energy Demonstration Program. It incorporates into one handbook the commercial, residential and other demonstration projects which are now a part of the national program. It can be used as a reference source for technical and research purposes on a state-by-state basis.

Since the beginning of widespread research and development for solar energy, a major concern has been the effect of optical and surface quality of collector materials on collector performance and the changes in these properties due to environmental conditions. In many instances, this type of data has not been compiled. When data is available on surface quality, mirror or lens optical characteristics, surface deformations due to stress and other errors, it is difficult to quantify the effect these have on a particular concentrator design performance. To further investigate these errors, Honeywell is performing a study of concentrator designs and mirror and lens surfaces. There are two taks within this program. The first task involves investigation and evaluation of concentrator performance. Within this task, Honeywell has conducted a survey of the literature, solar manufacturers and government information to obtain data on existing concentrator designs (i.e., V-troughs, parabolic mirror concentrators) and lens and mirror materials. Ten collector configurations have been selected to be mathematically modeled. These models will be incorporated into existing ray trace software and will be used to evaluate concentrator performance. Optical quality properties, structural deformations due to loading and stress, tracking errors and material property changes due to the …

A modification of the planar electrode technology yielded prototype glass pH electrodes that can withstand the minimum test conditions of 250/sup 0/C and 5000 psi in an aqueous synthetic geothermal brine. Electrodes of this design can be made in volume at reasonable cost. In addition, an electrode holder has been designed and prototypes fabricated to permit laboratory testing in simulated geothermal brines of downhole conditions.

Atmospheric tracer techniques are reviewed, with emphasis on the Hanford inert gas krypton-85 field technique. This technique is considerably more sophisticated than the visible and particulate tracer techniques. The krypton technique develops histories of concentration at up to 128 field locations; the particulate techniques generate only bulk time integrated samples. The krypton dispersal technique permits release of either a plume or a true puff; the particulate techniques permit continuous releases, but only approximations of puffs through short continuous releases. The Hanford krypton-85 inert gas system offers the advantages of an inert gas tracer, permits release of either puffs or plumes, and presents histories of concentration as opposed to only time-integrated concentrations. However, the approach used has the disadvantages of being usable at only short distances, is a relatively expensive system to deploy and maintain, and is restricted as to locations where it may be used due to the radioactive nature of the tracer.

Information on the resource includes the following: historical background, geological reconnaissance, resistivity, seismic refraction, magnetic profiling, microseismic background, temperature measurement, and chemical analysis. A planned geothermal exploration and an agricultural demonstration program are described. (MHR)

Work conducted on a basic technology development effort with the Westinghouse Sodium Ionization Detector (SID) sensor is reported. Included are results obtained for three task areas: (1) On-line operational response testing - in-situ calibration techniques; (2) Performance-reliability characteristics of aged filaments; and (3) Evaluation of chemical interference effects. The results showed that a calibrator filament coated with a sodium compound, when activated, does supply the necessary sodium atoms to provide a valid operational in-situ test. The life time of new Cr/sub 2/0/sub 3/-protected SID sensor filaments can be extended by operating at a reduced temperature. However, there also is a reduction in the sensitivity. Non-sodium species, such as products from a smoldering fire and organic aerosols, produce an interference response from the sensor comparable to a typical sodium response.

This preliminary document provides information in a matrix format which lists technical and programmatic data concerning the various project sites selected for the National Solar Energy Demonstration Program. It incorporates into one handbook the commercial, residential, and other demonstration projects which are now a part of the national program. It can be used as a reference source for technical and research purposes on a state-by-state basis.

The objective of this program is to develop a thin film GaAs solar cell technology with the potential of yielding cells with 12 to 15% efficiency and to develop thin film growth techniques which are compatible with the low cost production goal of $500/kW-peak. Progress is reported on a study of junction formation in large grain polycrystal GaAs; characterization of the electronic properties of polycrystal GaAs grown by MBE on low cost foreign substrates; optimizing the structure of AlGaAs-GaAs heterojunction Schottky barrier solar cells; and a variety of grain boundary measurements, including Scanning Light Microscopy (SLM), Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS), SIMS, and temperature dependent resistivity.

The EIA MID-MID scenario generally reinforces existing environmental concerns in the mid-Atlantic region. This results in part from the emphasis on existing rather than new energy technologies. The widespread public opposition to nuclear power in the region is likely to impede realization of the nuclear goals of the scenario. About 50% improvement in sulfur oxides air quality is projected for the region (all states), based on emissions reductions both within the region and in neighboring regions. Even though strip mine production is projected to decrease by 1990, coal production levels hypothesized by the scenario may be significantly constrained by the impact of new Federal regulations on reclamation (Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). In the event that offshore oil and gas exploration becomes successful, development may be constrained by continuing opposition on environmental grounds in Maryland and Delaware, relating to protection of coastal environmental resources. Given the abandonment of several recent dam projects in the Delaware, water availability constraints may be important for inland sites where low flow augmentation is required. The health and safety impacts of the scenario are dominated by the coal fuel cycle. By 1990, mining related injuries and deaths are projected to increase by about 25% over …

The successful design of full-scale open-cycle, coal-fired MHD generators for baseload electrical production requires a detailed understanding of the plasma chemical and plasma dynamic characteristics of anticipated combustor and channel fluids. This report documents progress in efforts to model negative ion formation and slag condensation effects on core flow conductivity, to improve the ability to sample and characterize laboratory produced coal combustion plasmas, and to measure mechanisms and rates of slag oxide condensation. A set of parametric calculations showing the influence of various input parameters on a nominal full-scale, supersonic generator system is also presented.

In this task the historical performance of powerplants in Illinois was examined and the opportunities for improved powerplant productivity in Illinois was determined. The four utilities considered were the major investor-owned electric generating utilities in Illinois, i.e., Central Illinois Light Co., (CILCO), Central Illinois Public Service (CIPS), Commonwealth Edison (CECO), and Illinois Power (IP). The major findings are: (1) for evaluation purposes, the equivalent availability was judged to be the most-appropriate measure; (2) in terms of powerplant productivity, IP is among the best in the nation and, in terms of productivity from large coal units, it ranks in the top five nationally; (3) in general, the performance of coal-fired units of CILCO and CECO have been below national averages and in some cases, significantly below; (4) a review of the trends in production of all Illinois units reveals that Illinois units as a group have been generally below national averages for the respective unit classes; (5) as noted in this and other studies, productivities of the nuclear plants in Illinois have been below the national average for all comparable nuclear plants; and (6) this analysis should be updated when national 1977 and 1978 Edison Electric Institute data become publicly available.