We propose to investigate new methods of particle acceleration using a short-pulse CO{sub 2} laser as the power source and grating-like structures as accelerator cavities''. Phase I of this program is intended to demonstrate the principle of the method. We will focus the laser light to a 3 mm line on the surface of the microstructure. The structure is used to transform the electric field pattern of the incoming transversely polarized laser beam to a mode which has a component along the electron beam direction in the vicinity of the surface. With 6 mJ of laser energy and a 6 ps pulse length, the electric field in the spot will be around 1 GV/m. The electron beam from the Brookhaven Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) will be focused transversely within the few micron transverse dimension of the microstructure. The maximum expected acceleration for a 1 GV/m field and a 3 mm acceleration length is 3 MeV. 17 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.

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Studies of the sulfation rate behavior show an initial fast rate followed by a rate decrease. This behavior has generally been interpreted as product layer diffusion limitations taking over after an initial kinetic rate regime. Many investigators tried to model this observed rate change. As pore diffusion was a limiting phenomenon in most of the experiments, authors have used several pore models to described this complication, more or less successfully. Product layer diffusivity has been assumed to be constant as conversion increased; however, there is no general agreement as to its value. In this work we are investigating the mechanism of this process with emphasis on measurement of product layer diffusivity and the surface reaction rate. Some additional experimental work was done to investigate the order and activation energy of the sulfation under different conditions. The effect of additives was studied again, by sprinkling some KCl or NaCl salt on top of partially reacted synthetic lime, in an effort to change the surface reaction rate rather than the diffusion rate.

The paper describes the thermal, thermoelectric and electrical analysis of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) for powering the MARS Rover vehicle, which is a critical element of the unmanned Mars Rover and Sample Return mission (MRSR). The work described was part of an RTG design study conducted by Fairchild Space Company for the U.S. Department of Energy, in support of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's MRSR Project.; A companion paper presented at this conference described a reference mission scenario, al illustrative Rover design and activity pattern on Mars, its power system requirements and environmental constraints, a design approach enabling RTG operation in the Martian atmosphere, and the design and the structural and mass analysis of a conservative baseline RTG employing safety-qualified heat source modules and reliability-proven thermoelectric converter elements.; The present paper presents a detailed description of the baseline RTG's thermal, thermoelectric, and electrical analysis. It examines the effect of different operating conditions (beginning versus end of mission, water-cooled versus radiation-cooled, summer day versus winter night) on the RTG's performance. Finally, the paper describes and analyzes a number of alternative RTG designs, to determine the effect of different power levels (250W versus 125W), different thermoelectric element designs (standard versus short unicouples versus …

Studies of the sulfation rate behavior show an initial fast rate followed by a rate decrease. This behavior has generally been interpreted as product layer diffusion limitations taking over after an initial kinetic rate regime. Many investigators tried to model this observed rate change. As pore diffusion was a limiting phenomenon in most of the experiments, authors have used several pore models to described this complication, more or less successfully. Product layer diffusivity has been assumed to be constant as conversion increased; however, there is no general agreement as to its value. In this work we are investigating the mechanism of this process with emphasis on measurement of product layer diffusivity and the surface reaction rate. Some additional experimental work was done to investigate the order and activation energy of the sulfation under different conditions. The effect of additives was studied again, by sprinkling some KCl or NaCl salt on top of partially reacted synthetic lime, in an effort to change the surface reaction rate rather than the diffusion rate.

The purpose of the Environmental Compliance Assessment Program is to assess the compliance of Formerly Utilized Site Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) sites with applicable environmental regulations and Department of Energy (DOE) Orders. The mission is to identify, assess, and decontaminate sites utilized during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s to process and store uranium and thorium ores in support of the Manhattan Engineer District and the Atomic Energy Commission. To conduct the FUSRAP environmental compliance assessment, checklists were developed that outline audit procedures to determine the compliance status of the site. The checklists are divided in four groups to correspond to these regulatory areas: Hazardous Waste Management, PCB Management, Air Emissions, and Water Discharges.

The paper describes the design and the structural and mass analysis of a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) for powering the MARS Rover vehicle, which is a critical element of the unmanned Mars Rover and Sample Return mission (MRSR). The RTG design study was conducted by Fairchild Space Company for the U.S. Department of Energy, in support of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's MRSR project.; The paper briefly describes a reference mission scenario, an illustrative Rover design and activity pattern on Mars, and its power system requirements and environmental constraints, including the RTG cooling requirements during transit to Mars. It identifies the key RTG design problem, i.e. venting the helium generated by the fuel's alpha decay without intrusion of the Martian atmosphere into the RTG, and proposes a design approach for solving that problem.; Using that approach, it describes a very conservative baseline RTG design. The design is based on the proven and safety-qualified General Purpose Heat Source module, and employs standard thermoelectric unicouples whose reliability and performance stability has been extensively demonstrated on previous space missions. The heat source of the 250-watt RTG consists of a stack of 18 separate modules that is supported at its ends but not along its …

This is the final report on this project. Applied Computing Systems, Inc., started work on the computer codes for visualization of X-3 scientific data on the Silicon Graphics 4D70/GT workstation on May 18, 1989. There were two separate codes, a 2-D and a 3-D version, that had been developed by X-3 over approximately the previous six months. Work was performed under three successive tasking orders, and the specific accomplishments are summarized as excerpts from the monthly reports that had been submitted while the work was being performed. Installing the video equipment was listed as a subtask in each of the three task orders. However, the video equipment did not arrive until the start of task 3, so that work was delayed until the very end.

This document describes the structural criteria for the design of the replaceable graphite elements of the Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR) core.

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is currently evaluating hazardous waste treatment and environmental remediation technologies in existence and under development to determine applicability to remediation needs of the DOE facilities under the Albuquerque Operations Office and to determine areas of research need. To assist LANL is this effort, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) conducted an assessment of technologies and monitoring methods that have been demonstrated or are under development. The focus of this assessment is to: (1) identify existing technologies for hazardous waste treatment and environmental remediation of old waste sites; (2) identify technologies under development and the status of the technology; (3) assess new technologies that need development to provide adequate hazardous waste treatment and remedial action technologies for DOD and DOE sites; and (4) identify hazardous waste and remediation problems for environmental research and development. There are currently numerous research and development activities underway nationwide relating to environmental contaminants and the remediation of waste sites. To perform this effort, SAIC evaluated current technologies and monitoring methods development programs in EPA, DOD, and DOE, as these are the primary agencies through which developmental methods are being demonstrated. This report presents this evaluation and provides recommendations as to pertinent research …

The feasibility of the Hg Intrusion QC method for measuring SiC coating defects for the MHTGR was conducted as a potential improvement for the Burn/Leach (B/L) QC method currently used. The purpose for evaluating the Hg Intrusion QC method as an alternative method was to determine if B/L QC method underestimated SiC coating defects. Some evidence in work conducted earlier, indicated that TRISO-coated fuel particles with low SiC coating defects measured by the B/L QC method showed higher releases of metallic fission products. These data indicated that the SiC coating defect fractions were higher than the B/L measured data indicated. Sample sizes used in the current study were too small to conclusively demonstrate that the B/L QC method under estimate SiC coating defects. However, observations made during this study indicated a need for an additional QC method to the B/L QC method to measure SiC coating defects for the higher quality MHTGR fuels. The B/L QC method is the best method for measuring SiC coating defects with missing SiC layers or broken SiC coatings (gross SiC defects). However, SiC coating defects with microcracks and other SiC defects not detected by the B/L method may contribute to the release of metallic …

Although there are many differences between the High-Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR) concepts being developed in the US and the High Temperature Reactor (HTR) concepts in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the coated fuel particles are very similar. Significant benefits are achievable through cooperative research and exchange of information and data on the fuel performance and radionuclide retention in the coated fuel particles. This draft report describes cooperative work on HTGR safety research as agreed to in the "USA/FRG Umbrella Agreement for Cooperation in GCR Development: Safety Research Subprogram Plan," specifically, this work was conducted under Project Work Statement (PWS) S-6 titled "Fission Product Retention in Fuel," 9 refs., 12 figs., 4 tabs.

As part of the radionuclide methods verification program at GA, a fuel performance analysis of the Fort St. Vrain (FSV) core was performed using the reference fuel performance and fission gas release models. The purpose of the analysis was to predict the fuel and graphite temperature distributions, fuel particle failure, and fission gas release as a function of time, and to compare the predicted fission gas release with data taken as part of the FSV radiochemistry surveillance program. The analysis covered the entire operating time of the FSV plant except for the last 18 days prior to the final shutdown because the operating parameters and data for this period were not available when the analysis was performed. 3 refs., 29 figs., 5 tabs.

During this quarter, the initial round of iron-oxide based sorbent tests were completed, with iron-oxide based sorbents showing a small advantage over the calcia-based sorbents that had been evaluated previously. Also, the evaluation of coal-water mixture (CWM), was initiated, and a bench-scale series of experiments conducted. These latter experiments concerned spent sorbent stability in molten slag.

The objective of this task was to assess the need for core non-nuclear instrumentation. The focus of this study was the evaluation of core investment risk events. Three categories of events were considered: (1) unanticipated primary loop flow leakages and core bypass flows, (2) core coolant channel flow blockages and (3) off-design core power distributions. The measurements that were considered include column average coolant exit temperatures, core average coolant exit temperature, core pressure drop and core flow rate. The findings are summarized. 3 refs., 7 figs.