This report summarizes the fiscal year (FY) 1992 progress of the subcontracted photovoltaic (PV) research and development (R D) performed under the Photovoltaic Advanced Research and Development Project at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)-formerly the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI). The mission of the national PV program is to develop PV technology for large-scale generation of economically competitive electric power in the United States. The technical sections of the report cover the main areas of the subcontract program: the Crystalline Materials and Advanced Concepts project, the Polycrystalline Thin Films project, Amorphous Silicon Research project, the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) project, PV Module and System Performance and Engineering project, and the PV Analysis and Applications Development project. Technical summaries of each of the subcontracted programs provide a discussion of approaches, major accomplishments in FY 1992, and future research directions.

This report describes work performed for the development of a fiber-optic shock position sensor used to measure the location of a shock front in the neighborhood of a nuclear explosion. Such a measurement would provide a hydrodynamic determination of nuclear yield. The original proposal was prompted by the Defense Nuclear Agency's interest in replacing as many electrical sensors as possible with their optical counterparts for the verification of a treaty limiting the yield of a nuclear device used in underground testing. Immunity to electromagnetic pulse is the reason for the agency's interest; unlike electrical sensors and their associated cabling, fiber-optic systems do not transmit to the outside world noise pulses from the device containing secret information.

Two separation techniques were investigated for the clean-up of typical radioactive mixed waste samples requiring elemental analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) or Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). These measurements frequently involve regulatory or compliance criteria which include the determination of elements on the EPA Target Analyte List (TAL). These samples usually consist of both an aqueous phase and a solid phase which is mostly an inorganic sludge. Frequently, samples taken from the waste tanks contain high levels of uranium and thorium which can cause spectral interferences in ICP-AES or ICP-MS analysis. The removal of these interferences is necessary to determine the presence of the EPA TAL elements in the sample. Two clean-up methods were studied on simulated aqueous waste samples containing the EPA TAL elements. The first method studied was a classical procedure based upon liquid-liquid extraction using tri-n- octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) dissolved in cyclohexane. The second method investigated was based on more recently developed techniques using extraction chromatography; specifically the use of a commercially available Eichrom TRU[center dot]Spec[trademark] column. Literature on these two methods indicates the efficient removal of uranium and thorium from properly prepared samples and provides considerable qualitative information on the extraction behavior of …

During this second project quarter, screening of South Texas fields within the Frio Fluvial-Deltaic Sandstone/Vicksburg Fault Zone oil play was completed. Fields were to identify reservoirs that have a large remaining oil resource, are in danger of premature abandonment, and have geological and production data in sufficient quantity and of suitable quality to facilitate advanced reservoir characterization studies (subtask 1). Two fields have been selected for inclusion in this study: Tijerina-Canales-Blucher (T.C.B.) Field, located in the northern portion of the trend in Jim Wells County, and Rincon Field, located to the south in Starr County. Current plans are to incorporate data from both fields in our reservoir characterization and targeted resource addition studies. Project members met with operators of both fields to review available geologic and production field data and discuss our research plans. The collection of detailed geologic and production data required for the initial reservoir characterization studies (subtask 2) is currently underway. Details outlining specifics of project accomplishments for this quarter are provided.

The complete CombiNO[sub x], process has now been demonstrated at a level that is believed to be representative of a full-scale boiler in terms of mixing capabilities. A summary of the results is displayedin Figure 5-1. While firing Illinois Coal on the Reburn Tower, Advanced Reburning was capable of reducing NO[sub x], by 83 percent. The injection of methanol oxidized 50--58 percent of the existing NO to N0[sub 2]. Assuming that 85 percent of the newly formed N0[sub 2] can be scrubbed in a liquor modified wet-limestone scrubber, the CombiNO[sub x], process has been shown capable of reducing NO[sub 2], by 90--91 percent in a large pilot-scale coal-fired furnace. There is still uncertainty regarding the fate of the N0[sub 2] formed with methanol injection. Tests should be conducted to determine whether the reconversion is thermodynamic or catalytic, and what steps can be taken (such as quench rate) to prevent it from happening.

On December 31, 1990, the US Department of Energy entered into a contract with General Atomics (GA) to be the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Target Component Fabrication and Technology Development Support contractor. This report documents the technical activities of the period January 1, 1991 through September 30, 1992. During this period, GA was assigned 15 tasks in support of the Inertial Confinement Fusion program and its laboratories. These tasks included Facilities Activation, Staff Development, and Capabilities Validation to establish facilities and equipment, and demonstrate capability to perform ICF target fabrication research, development and production activities. The capabilities developed and demonstrated are those needed for fabrication and precise characterization of polymer shells and polymer coatings. We made progress toward production capability for glass shells, barrier layer coatings, and gas idling of shells. We fabricated over 1000 beam diagnostic foil targets for Sandia National Laboratory Albuquerque and provided full-time on-site engineering support for target fabrication and characterization. We initiated development of methods to fabricate polymer shells by a controlled mass microencapsulation technique, and performed chemical syntheses of several chlorine- and silicon-doped polymer materials for the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (UR/LLE). We performed the conceptual design of a cryogenic target …

Fully dense alloys based on Fe[sub 3]Al were produced by reaction synthesis from low cost elemental powders using hot pressing, hot isostatic pressing or Ceracon process. The reaction proceeds by outward spreading of a transient liquid phase from the initial aluminum particle site and precipitation of the compound phase from the liquid. Combustion synthesized material has a very fine grain size that is resistant to coarsening at high temperature because of a high density of fine oxides from the prior particle boundaries. The fine grain size results in approximately twice the yield strength in the reaction synthesized material compared to hot extruded pre-alloyed powder. Combustion synthesis has also been successfully applied to joining Fe[sub 3]Al and to forming coatings on carbon steel substrates. Combustion synthesis has been shown to be viable for fabricating trialuminides from elemental powder compacts. Al[sub 3]Ti, Al[sub 73]Ti[sub 24]Cr[sub 3] and Al[sub 67]Ti[sub 25]Cr[sub 8] were examined. Fully dense, homogeneous materials exhibiting an equiaxed grain structure were produced by conducting reaction and homogenization under pressure, or in a furnace at ambient pressure and subsequently densifying the porous preform by hot consolidation. The tetragonal DO[sub 22] structure was the primary reaction product for all compositions. Most of …

The principal objective of this research is to determine the role host petroleum-derived oils (1000[degrees]F+), as well as that of catalytically treated host oils, play when used as liquefaction solvents in coprocessing with coal. The host oils will be extensively characterized and then pretreated in a number of ways which involve catalytic reactions such as hydrogenation, hydrocracking, isomerization, and dehydrogenation. The pretreated oils win then be characterized. The effects of the host oil on coprocessing with coal win be compared to those obtained using catalytically modified heavy oils. When appropriate, model compounds will be used to study specific reactions brought about by the pretreatments. Highly dispersed iron catalysts modified by the addition of small amounts of other metals wig be used to modify the chemical composition of the host oils. Work continued on Task H during this quarter. In the first phase of this task, the test oil, an Amoco resid, is being treated with hydrogenation catalysts such as Mo(CO)[sub 6] and Fe[sub 2]O[sub 3]/SO[sub 4] to determine the conditions necessary to increase the hydrogen content from about 10.2 wt % to about 11.5 wt %. In the second phase, more severe hydrogenation/hydrorefining is being carried out to determine the …

This summarizes trainee evaluations for the Safety Training Section course, Supervisors' Orientation to Occupational Safety in DOE'', (S-101) which was conducted November 17--20, 1992 at the Pantex Plant, in Amarillo, Texas. Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of this report summarize the quantitative course evaluations that trainees provided upon completion of the course. Section 1.3 provides written comments provided by the attendee, and Section 1.4 provides the examination results. Appendix A provides a transcript of the trainees' written comments and Appendix B provides the evaluation form.

A new technique for modelling the boundary plasma of magnetic fusion devices is described. The technique represents a natural extension of existing Monte Carlo codes, which are presently constrained to have the plasma background specified by either measurements or predictions from plasma fluid codes. The new approach, the Iterative Monte Carlo (IMC) technique, self-consistently determines the ambipolar electric field in the plasma by feeding back into the simulation the evolving plasma density using the Boltzmann relation. The IMC technique is applied, for demonstrative purposes, to the problem of collisionless one-dimensional plasma flow to a surface. Such a problem has previously been solved exactly using kinetic approaches in the published literature using two different particle source functions. Good agreement between the IMC results and the exact solutions is obtained.

On August 14, 1992, the United States Department of Energy issued a Request for Comments Concerning State Policies Affecting Natural Gas Consumption. This Notice of (NOI) noted the increasing significance of the role played by states and sought to gain better understanding of how state policies impact the gas industry. The general trend toward a. more competitive marketplace for natural gas, as well as recent regulatory and legislative changes at the Federal level, are driving State regulatory agencies to reevaluate how they regulate natural gas. State action is having a significant impact on the use of natural gas for generating electricity, as well as affecting the cost-effective trade-off between conservation expenditures and gas use. Additionally, fuel choice has an impact upon the environment and national energy security. In light of these dimensions, the Department of Energy initiated this study of State regulation. The goals of this NOI are: (1) help DOE better understand the impact of State policies on the efficient use of gas; (2) increase the awareness of the natural gas industry and Federal and State officials to the important role of State policies and regulations; (3) create an improved forum for dialogue on State and Federal natural gas …

Knowledge of the thermodynamic and morphological properties of coal associated with rapid heating decomposition pathways is essential to progress in coal utilization technology. Specifically, knowledge of the heat of devolatilization, surface area and density of coal as a function of rank characteristics, temperature and extent of devolatilization in the context of rapid heating conditions is required both, for the fundamental determination of kinetic parameters of coal devolatilization, and to refine existing devolatilization sub-models used in comprehensive coal combustion codes. The objective of this research is to obtain data on the thermodynamic properties and morphology of coal under conditions of rapid heating. Specifically, the total heat of devolatilization, external surface area, BET surface area and true density will be measured for representative coal samples. In addition, for one coal, the contribution of each of the following components to the overall heat of devolatilization will be measured: the specific heat of coal/char during devolatilization, the heat of thermal decomposition of the coal, the specific heat capacity of tars, and the heat of vaporization of tars. Calibration of the heated grid calorimeter (Task 2) was completed this reporting period. Several refinements to the heated grid apparatus have been implemented which allow quantitative determination …

This report summarizes the Spring 1991 2-m Box experiments that were performed at the Army Pulse Radiation Facility (APRF) at Aberdeen Proving Ground. These studies were sponsored by the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) under the Radiation Environments Program to obtain measured data for benchmarking the Adjoint Monte Carlo Code System, MASH, Version 1.0. The MASH code system was developed for the Department of Defense and NATO for calculating neutron and gamma-ray radiation fields and shielding protection factors for armored vehicles and military structures against nuclear weapon radiation. In the 2-m Box experiments, neutron and gamma-ray dose rates and reduction factors were measured in the free-field and as a function of position on an anthropomorphic phantom that was placed outside and inside a borated polyethylene lined steel-walled 2-m box. The data were acquired at a distance of 400-m from the APRF reactor. The purpose of these experiments was to measure the neutron and gamma-ray dose rates as a function of detector location on the phantom for cases when the phantom was in the free-field and inside of the box. Neutron measurements were made using a BD-100R bubble detector and gamma-ray measurements were made using thermoluminescent detectors (TLD). Calculated and measured data …

The Federal Methanol Fleet Project concluded with the termination of data collection from the three fleet sites in February 1991. The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) completed five years of operation, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) completed its fourth year in the project, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) completed its third. Twenty of the thirty-nine vehicles in the fleet were powered by fuel methanol (typically M85, 85 % methanol, 15 % unleaded gasoline, although the LBL fleet used M88), and the remaining control vehicles were comparable gasoline vehicles. Over 2.2 million km (1.4 million miles) were accumulated on the fleet vehicles in routine government service. Data collected over the years have included vehicle mileage and fuel economy, engine oil analysis, emissions, vehicle maintenance, and driver acceptance. Fuel economies (on an energy basis) of the methanol and gasoline vehicles of the same type were comparable throughout the fleet testing. Engine oil analysis has revealed higher accumulation rates of iron and other metals in the oil of the methanol vehicles, although no significant engine damage has been attributed to the higher metal content. Vehicles of both fuel types have experienced degradation in their emission control systems, however, the methanol vehicles seem to have …

Surface fluorination can affect significantly the performance of an ultrafiltration membrane used to concentrate a food-related stream. Membranes fluorinated and tested as flat sheets exhibit higher initial fluxes, and do not foul as rapidly as untreated membranes. This improvement is linked to increased surface hydrophilicity, as shown in decreased contact angle with water. This increased hydrophilicity, in turn, is linked to the addition of fluorine and oxygen to the surface. The pilot plant study did-not show the difference in membrane flux and fouling observed in the flat sheet study. Instead, fluorinated and unfluorinated modules behaved similarly. Fouling by potato waste feed was severe and resulted in formation of an extensive gel layer within the module on the membrane surface. XPS, SEM and FTIR indicate that buildup of organic material occurred on both fluorinated and unfluorinated membranes, but SEM indicates that a fibrous mat of material was observed only on the nonfluorinated membrane. We conclude that in the pilot study, membrane fouling and gel formation were so extensive that the surface interaction effect was overwhelmed.

The Measurements and Characterization Branch actively supports the advancement of DOE/NREL goals for the development and implementation of the solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. The primary focus of the laboratories is to provide state-of-the-art analytical capabilities for materials and device characterization and fabrication. The branch houses a comprehensive facility that Is capable of providing information on the full range of PV components. A major objective of the branch is to aggressively pursue collaborative research with other government laboratories, universities, and industrial firms for the advancement of Pv technologies. Members of the branch disseminate research findings to the technical community in publications and presentations. The Measurements and Characterization Branch encompasses seven coordinated research groups, providing integrated research and development that covers all aspects of photovoltaic materials/devices characterization.

Insertion device performance is limited by the minimum magnet gap allowed by storage ring beam dynamics. In this note, we analyze the impedance of the vacuum chamber for the prototype small-gap undulator being built for the NSLS X-Ray ring, and discuss the consequent beam instability thresholds.

Objectives are studies of equilibrium/nonequilibrium properties of asymmetric fluid mixtures through computer simulation (CS), development of predictive theories of mixture equilibrium properties, development and application of selection algorithm methodology for mixture equations of state, and use of theory to develop new engineering design models for fluid mixtures. Kirwood charging method CS of Lennard-Jones mixtures with large size ratios verified the Kirkwood-Buff/Baxter method of calculating chemical potentials. CS of n-butane showed that the rheology is not a function of system size. A modified stepwise regression algorithm was developed and applied to HFC R134a. An analytical expression was developed for conformal solution size correction for mixtures. The extended corresponding states theory (ECST) can be applied to systems having large polarity differences; an accurate representation was developed of bulk phase properties of water-hydrocarbon systems. It was found how to force ECST to reach the correct virial limit.

Two important environmental problems at the USDOE Fernald Environmental Management Project (FEMP) facility in Fernald, Ohio were studied in this human health risk assessment. The problems studied were radon emissions from the K-65 waste silos, and offsite contamination of ground water with uranium. Waste from the processing of pitchblende ore is stored in the K-65 silos at the FEMP. Radium-226 in the waste decays to radon gas which escapes to the outside atmosphere. The concern is for an increase in lung cancer risk for nearby residents associated with radon exposure. Monitoring data and a gaussian plume transport model were used to develop a source term and predict exposure and risk to fenceline residents, residents within 1 and 5 miles of the silos, and residents of Hamilton and Cincinnati, Ohio. Two release scenarios were studied: the routine release of radon from the silos and an accidental loss of one silo dome integrity. Exposure parameters and risk factors were described as distributions. Risks associated with natural background radon concentrations were also estimated.

Progress on 6 projects is reported: excited state absorption spectrum of Ru(bpy)[sub 3][sup 2+], solvent cage model for electron transfer quenching, reductive quenching of [sup *]Cr(III) complexes, solution medium effects in oxidative quenching of [sup *]Ru(II) complexes, photosensitized oxidation of phenol in aqueous solution, and quenching of Ru(II) complexes by oxygen.

This project, begun in March 1991, was originally structured as two separate research efforts: An investigation of the recharge phenomenon and surface water-ground water interactions at the INEL; and a study of water and contaminant movement through the unsaturated zone, including a review of computer models used to described this process. During the initial months of work, it became obvious to those involved in these studies that the two topic areas were intimately related, and work since that time has proceeded with no firm boundaries between the two efforts. Much of the Phase I work (March 1991--March 1992) consisted of a detailed review of available literature pertinent to the two research topics and to the INEL site. This Annual Report summarizes the other project activities during Phase III, and is organized into three sections: Section I -- an overview of the ongoing efforts related to computer model algorithms and data requirements for modeling the transport process in the unsaturated zone (Dr. Jim Liou). Section H -- a review of ongoing work to predict the growth and decay of the ground water mound beneath the INEL spreading basins, using the computer model UNSAT-2 (Dr. John Finnie). Section M -- a final …

In aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) installations, ground water is circulated between an aquifer and heat exchangers via a well field. It is often necessary to soften the water to prevent carbonate scaling in pipes, heat exchangers, and well screens. Most ATES projects requiring water softening will be best served by using synthetic ion-exchange resins. The size of the resin beds, the resin regeneration cycle, and the amount of NaCl brine used in each regeneration depend on several factors. These are (1) the chemistry of the native ground water, (2) allowable residual hardness after softening, (3) the maximum flow rate of water through the ATES plant, and (4) exchange characteristics of the resin. Example calculations are given for a three-bed water softening system.

A detailed vibrational spectroscopic study of furan, pyrrole, and thiophene has been completed. These compounds form part of the base of five-membered ring systems on which the rest of the research program will be built Several methyl-substituted derivatives were also studied. The results will be used to confirm the model for alkyl- substitution in the ring systems. Gas-phase spectra and fundamental- frequency assignments were completed for 2,3- and 2,5-dihydrofuran. Those compounds initiate work on ring-puckering within the research program. A paper describing the need for third virial estimation, when using the virial equation of state to derive thermodynamic properties at pressures greater than 1 bar was completed.

The sequential addition of enzyme and H[sub 2]O[sub 2] during the reverse micelle incubation was found to enhance sulfoxidation, but levels of EPSn remained low. The triplicate addition of enzyme and H[sub 2]0[sub 2] during the reverse micelle incubation of EPS was found to enhance sulfoxidation to EPSn and unidentified material. Low conversion to EPSn was not due to the inability of the enzyme to oxidize EPSX in reverse micelles, since the latter was demonstrated with both commercially available and enzymatically synthesized EPSx as starting material. Chloroperoxidase in an AOT-isooctane reverse micelle solution also mediated production of a metabolite from DBT with characteristics consistent with DBTSx. The magnitude of conversion was enhanced to 10% of the starting material by triplicate addition of enyme and H[sub 2]0[sub 2]. The identity of this metabolite as DBTSx was verified by GC/MS. Chloroperoxidase in reverse micelles appears therefore to be a versatile catalyst for sulfoxidation of aliphatic and aromatic sulfur-containing model coal compounds.