The atomic and molecular processes that play a principal role in negative ion formation in a hydrogen negative ion discharge are discussed. The collisions of energetic electrons with gas molecules within the discharge lead to vibrationally excited molecules. Thermal electrons in turn attach to these excited molecules and generate negative ions via the dissociative attachment process. A system geometry chosen to optimize these collision processes is discussed that consists of a high-power discharge in tandem with a low electron temperature bath, the two regions separated by a magnetic filter. The current density extracted from such a system is found to scale inversely with the system scale length provided the gas density and electron density are also increased inversely with scale length. If a system is scaled downward in size to provide a new beamlet but one with increased current density, and these beamlets are packed to fill the original dimension, the new total extracted current will exceed the original total current by the scale factor. The emittance, epsilon, of the new system remains unchanged. The brightness, J/epsilon/sup 2/, of the new system will also be increased in proportion to the scale factor. 4 refs., 2 figs.

This paper addresses specific and unique chemical engineering aspects of the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) at the Savannah River Plant. This paper also addresses the glass melter and those processes that are directly coupled to it. A somewhat disproportionate emphasis is given to sludge pretreatment, for the sake of completeness in this session. We have attempted to focus on those features of the DWPF that may be of general interest or even useful to the practicing chemical engineer.

This presentation provides an appreciation for the tremendous chemical processing challenges met in the development of the Defense Waste Process Facility (DWPF) process. The DWPF is presently under construction and is due for completion in 1989. Before radioactive waste is introduced to the DWPF in late 1989, the remote operation of all equipment and all process steps must be demonstrated.