There has been a great deal of progress in recent years on the development of solid state and KrF lasers, light ion diodes, and heavy ion accelerators for use as drivers in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) facilities. Two relatively new entries in the ICF driver derby are the free electron laser (FEL) and the compact torus (CT). The status and remaining technological challenges of each potential driver are described. The author discusses driver performance criteria for various reactor applications and then gives his informed opinion in a qualitative rating of the six drivers for each application.

Combining direct and thermal power conversion results in a 52% gross plant efficiency with DT fuel and 68% with advanced DD fuel. We maximize the fraction of fusion-yield energy converted to kinetic energy in a liquid-lithium blanket, and use this energy directly with turbine generators to produce electricity. We use the remainder of the energy to produce electricity in a standard Rankine thermal power conversion cycle.

We have carried out further investigations of technical issues associated with using a compact torus (CT) accelerator as a driver for inertial confinement fusion (ICF). In a CT accelerator, a magnetically-confined torus-shaped plasma is compressed, accelerated and focused by two concentric electrodes. Here, we evaluate an accelerator point design with a capacitor bank energy of 9.2 MJ. Modeled by a O-D code, the system produces a xenon plasma ring with a radius of 0.73 cm, a velocity of 4 x 10/sup 7/ m/s, and a mass of 4.4 ..mu..g. The plasma ring energy available for fusion is 3.8 MJ, a 40% driver efficiency. Ablation and magnetic pressures of the point design, a due to CT acceleration, are analyzed. Pulsed-power switching limitations and driver cost analysis are also presented. Our studies confirm the feasibility of producing a ring to induce fusion with acceptable gain. However, some uncertainties must be resolved to establish viability.

The switched-power linac (SPL) concepts are reviewed briefly, and recent work on computer-modelling of the photoemission process at the photocathode and the experimental study of the process are discussed. Work on rf-modelling of the properties of the radial transmission line is outlined. (LEW)

The use of perchloroethylene (perc) as an ingredient in coolants for machining enriched uranium at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant has been discontinued because of environmental concerns. A new coolant was substituted in December 1985, which consists of an aqueous solution of propylene glycol with borax (sodium tetraborate) added as a nuclear poison and with a nitrite added as a corrosion inhibitor. Uranium surfaces machined using the two coolants were compared with respects to residual contamination, corrosion or corrosion potential, and with the aqueous propylene glycol-borax coolant was found to be better than that of enriched uranium machined with the perc-mineral oil coolant. The boron residues on the final-finished parts machined with the borax-containing coolant were not sufficient to cause problems in further processing. All evidence indicated that the enriched uranium surfaces machined with the borax-containing coolant will be as satisfactory as those machined with the perc coolant.

The Department of Energy is currently supporting a program that will aid in the development of cross flow filtration technology as applied to combined cycle power generation with coal gasification. The stated overall goal is to gain information on both the operational and economic feasibility of the implementation of cross flow filtration in various gasifier options. Westinghouse has prepared a comprehensive program that will lead directly to these program goals in an efficient manner.

The goal of this program is to develop polymer membranes useful in the preparation of hydrogen from coal-derived synthesis gas. During this quarter the first experiment were aimed at developing high performance composite membranes for the separation of hydrogen from nitrogen and carbon monoxide. Three polymers have been selected as materials for these membranes: polyetherimide cellulose acetate and ethylcellulose. This quarter the investigators worked on polyetherimide and cellulose acetate membranes. The overall structure of these membranes is shown schematically in Figure 1. As shown, a microporous support membrane is first coated with a high flux intermediate layer then with an ultrathin permselective layer and finally, if necessary, a thin protective high flux layer. 1 fig., 4 tabs.

Although there are many publications pertaining to gas hydrates, their formation and stability in various geological conditions are poorly known. Therefore, for the same reasons and because of the very broad scope of our research, limited amount and extremely dispersed information, the study regions are very large. Moreover, almost without exception the geological environments controlling gas hydrates formation and stability of the studied regions are very complex. The regions studied (completed and partially completed - total 17 locations) during the reporting period, particularly the Gulf of Mexico and the Middle America Trench, are the most important in this entire research project. In the past, both of these regions have been extensively studied, the presence of gas hydrates confirmed and samples recovered. In our investigation it was necessary not only to review all previous data and interpretations, but to do a thorough analysis of the basins, and a critical evaluation of an previously reported and publicly available but not published information.

This report summarizes the development of polymer membranes useful in the separation of hydrogen from coal-derived synthesis gas during period 1 October 1985--30 September 1986. During the last year several high performance membranes were developed for the separation of hydrogen from nitrogen and carbon monoxide. The heat resistant resins poly(methyl pentene) (TPX), Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, New York, NY and poly(etherimide) (ULTEM, General Electric, Pittsfield, MA) have been selected as polymers with outstanding properties for membrane preparation. The properties of membranes prepared from these polymers are presented. TPX is an example of a moderately selective and highly permeable membrane; the poly(etherimide) membranes are more selective but have lower fluxes. These membranes will cover the range of properties required in our hydrogen separation program and the bulk of our future work will be on these membranes. A few experiments with palladium/silver membranes are also planned, as described in the Test Plan.

The objective of this study is to determine the optimum electrolyte composition for molten carbonate fuel cells. To accomplish this, the contractor will provide: (1) Comprehensive reports of on-going efforts to optimize carbonate composition. (2) A list of characteristics affected by electrolyte composition variations (e.g. ionic conductivity, vapor pressure, melting range, gas solubility, exchange current densities on NiO, corrosion and cathode dissolution effects). (3) Assessment of the overall effects that these characteristics have on state-of-the-art cell voltage and lifetime.

This project deals with the seasonal snow on Alaska`s Arctic Slope. It is concentrated on snow of the R{sub 4}D project area. However, an important aspect of this study is to relate the snow cover of this area with the rest of the Arctic Slope. The goals include determination of the amount of precipitation which comes as snow, the wind transport of this snow and its depositional pattern as influenced by drifting, the physical properties of the snow, the physical processes which operate in it, the proportions of it which go into evaporation, infiltration and runoff, and the biological role of the snow cover.

The objective of this program is to develop a synthesis gas conversion catalyst with higher selectivity to liquid fuels, while maintaining catalytic activity and stability at least equivalent relative to state-of-the-art precipitated iron catalysts. During this quarter, the emphasis in the program has been the investigation of the hydrocarbon cutoff hypothesis with supported ruthenium catalysts. An alumina-supported catalyst with smaller than 20{Angstrom} ruthenium particles was tested under conditions of maximal water gas shift activity. During this test more than 90% of the water made in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction was converted to H{sub 2}. However, the extent of ruthenium metal agglomeration was not reduced. Accordingly, it was not possible to conclude whether hydrocarbon cutoff occurs with smaller than 20{Angstrom} ruthenium particles on {gamma}-alumina. A ruthenium catalyst prepared on Y-type zeolite had 20{Angstrom} or smaller ruthenium particles according to STEM examination and a 15{Angstrom} average ruthenium metal particle size according to EXAFS examination. The ruthenium metal particle size was stable during the test with this catalyst. The hydrocarbon product distribution was Anderson-Schulz-Flory with no cutoff up to a carbon number of 160. A well-dispersed titania-supported ruthenium catalyst is going to be evaluated during the next quarter in order to determine whether …

The objective of this program is to develop a synthesis gas conversion catalyst selective to gasoline or diesel range fuel via application of a micelle technique for preparing specific site supported ruthenium particles. The current emphasis is to investigate hydrocarbon cutoff principle and to apply it for developing selective catalysts. During this quarter, micelle technique was further improved and 1 ruthenium particle:l reverse micelle limit was approached by careful control of catalyst synthesis conditions. Accordingly, it became possible to synthesize supported particles that closely meet the size and composition targets originally set. This improved technique was applied to synthesis of chemically modified ruthenium catalysts. Some of the chemically modified ruthenium catalysts will be evaluated later in the program. We previously reported that 40--60 {Angstrom} ruthenium particles prepared on {gamma}-alumina do not result in hydrocarbon cutoff. We could not determine then whether smaller ruthenium particles result in hydrocarbon cutoff because these particles agglomerated via ruthenium carbonyl formation during the course of a 6--10 day test. We have recently evaluated a catalyst with 20--40 {Angstrom} ruthenium particles prepared on {gamma}-alumina by carefully analyzing products initially made during the test prior to substantial ruthenium agglomeration. We concluded that cutoff is not effected by …

In this report the author presents a detailed discussion of a computer model of the electron beam pumped XeF laser which was developed for Los Alamos National Laboratory during FY86. In its present form, it should provide useful modeling and scaling of XeF laser experiments currently of interest. Additional modifications will be required for long pulse (t{sub P}>5{mu}sec) simulations. The model includes all of the important energy transport processes which contribute to the formation and quenching of XeF in the B-state (upper laser level), X-state (lower laser level), C-state (which mixes with the B-state as a loss mechanism), and the unbound (repulsive) A-state to which the C-state decays. The gain of the B to X transition is resolved for the three most important laser (vibrational) lines: (0-3) at 353 nm, (0-2) and (1-4) at 351 nm. This report describes the kinetics model and computer code for electron beam pumped XeF lasers which use gas mixtures composed of argon (the buffer), xenon, and fluorine. The temperatures, energy flow, and chemistry (plasma and neutral) are calculated in a self-consistent manner; balances of energy, matter, and charge are tracked by the code and output with each print cycle. The model includes the time …

During the last quarter several high performance membranes for the separation of hydrogen from nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. The heat-resistant resin poly(etherimide) has been selected as the polymer with the most outstanding properties for the separation of hydrogen from nitrogen and carbon monoxide. Flat sheet and hollow fiber poly(etherimide) membranes have been prepared and evaluated with pure gases and gas mixtures at elevated pressures and temperatures. Multilayer composite poly(ether-ester-amide) membranes were also developed. These membranes are useful for the separation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide hydrogen. They have very high selectivities and extremely high normalized carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide fluxes. Separation of carbon dioxide/hydrogen streams is a key problem in hydrogen production from coal. The development of the two membranes now gives us two approaches to separate these gas streams, depending on the stream`s composition. If the stream contains small quantities of hydrogen, the hydrogen- permeable poly(etherimide) membrane would be used to produce a hydrogen-enriched permeate. If the stream contains small quantities of carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide, the poly(ether-ester-amide) membrane would be used to produce a carbon dioxide/hydrogen sulfide-free, hydrogen-enriched residue stream. 6 fig., 4 tabs.

Experiments in nozzles are extremely important because they provide higher rates of cooling, higher supersaturations and higher nucleation rates than any of the other techniques. Their operating conditions are more typical of the important industrial conditions such as aerodynamic and turbomechanical flows where homogeneous nucleation can have serious consequences. Because the fluid mechanics of nozzles are well defined and understood, nucleation experiments in the nozzle are amenable to sophisticated modeling efforts and much useful insight can be gained regarding the nucleation and droplet growth processes under these severe cooling conditions. This paper summarizes recent experimental work using a gently diverging supersonic Laval nozzle to investigate all three binary pairs in the water-propanol-ethanol ternary system. Of these three binary systems, ethanol-water and propanol-water are both non-ideal and strongly influenced by surface enrichment, while ethanol-propanol should be almost ideal. The authors briefly describe the experimental apparatus and their method for preparing the binary gas mixtures. They present their experimental results and compare them to relevant experimental data and nucleation rate calculations available in the literature.

This progress report presents a detailed description of the background, technology and application, and Statement of Work for the development of a coal-fired pulse combustor for residential space heating.

To minimize the costs and delivery time delays associated with purchasing type 304L stainless steel materials for service in nitric-acid-containing media, an alternative to the current Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant requirement of testing in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A 262, Practice C (the boiling nitric acid test), is being sought. A possible candidate is the electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) test being developed for the nuclear industry and under consideration for acceptance as an ASTM standard. Based on a review of the literature and some limited screening tests, this test, as currently proposed, is not a suitable substitute for the nitric acid test. However, with additional development the EPR test is a likely candidate for providing a quantitative substitute for the current qualitative oxalic acid etching (ASTM A 282, Practice A) often used to accept, but not reject, materials for use in a nitric acid medium.

The cooperative program between NRC/ANL and EPRI on the validation of soil-structure interaction analysis methods with actual seismic response data is described. A large scale-model of a containment building has been built by EPRI/Taipower in a highly seismic region of Taiwan. Vibration tests were performed, first on the basemat before the superstructure was built and then on the completed structure. Since its completion, the structure has experienced many earthquakes. The site and structural response to these earthquakes have been recorded with field (surface and downhole) and structural instrumentation. The validation program involves blind predictions of site and structural response during vibration tests and a selected seismic event, and subsequent comparison between the predictions and measurements. The predictive calculations are in progress. The results of the correlation are expected to lead to the evaluation of the methods as to their conservatisms and sensitivities.

A continuation of the physical oceanography program to investigate circulation and exchange processes on the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) Continental Shelf is proposed. The transport and dispersal of materials entering the inner shelf zone with river discharge is not well understood at present. Climatological data, satellite imagery, and numerical modeling results indicate two removal routes for these nearshore waters: northeast transport and offshore exchange between Cape Fear and Savannah during the spring and summer when maximum run-off and northward winds prevail; and southward transport and offshore exchange near Cape Canaveral during the fall when southward winds prevail. We have conducted interdisciplinary experiments to investigate the transport processes in the inner to outer shelf between Savannah, Georgia and Cape Fear, North Carolina. In addition we propose to continue synthesis and interpretation of current measurements. The analyses will focus on determining the coupling mechanisms of inner shelf and outer shelf waters with special emphasis placed on resolving the modes and rates of shelf water removal.

At the present time all experimental towers (chimneys) are completed and operating. This consists of both a solar updraft and a natural-evaporative downdraft tower retrofitted to an existing residence structure and a greenhouse. The residential, experimental, natural-draft cooling system was completed in May, 1985, and five months of summer data on a Hewlet Packard 85 data acquisition computer with a digital voltmeter were acquired. The cooling tower and solar chimney on the experimental greenhouse became operational in September of 1985. A conceptual drawing of both the greenhouse and the residence natural-draft towers is included in the appendix along with the September 85 progress report.

In the annual hydrologic cycle, snowmelt is the most significant event at Imnavait Creek located near Toolik Lake, Alaska. Precipitation that has accumulated for more than 6 months on the surface melts in a relatively short period of 7 to 10 days once sustained melting occurs. During the ablation period, runoff dominates the hydrologic cycle. Some meltwater goes to rewetting the organic soils in the active layer. The remainder is lost primarily because of evaporation, since transpiration is not a very active process at this time. Following the snowmelt period, evapotranspiration becomes the dominate process, with base flow contributing the other watershed losses. It is important to note that the water initally lost by evapotranspiration entered the organic layer during melt. This water from the snowpack ensures that each year the various plant communities will have sufficient water to start a new summer of growth.

Status of the shock tube data system is reported. A corrected analysis of data on reactions of NF{sub 2} radical with olefins was carried out using the RRKM program. Kinetic experiments on reactions of phenyl radical (C{sub 6}H{sub 5}) with O{sub 2} and NO{sub 2} gave preliminary results. Data are being analyzed for shock tubes studies of the reaction of benzene with O atoms. Studies of CH{sub 3}O reactions are underway.

The objective of this program is to develop a synthesis gas conversion catalyst with higher selectivity to liquid fuels, while maintaining catalytic activity and stability at least equivalent relative to state-of-the-art precipitated iron catalysts. Hydrocarbon cutoff hypothesis and developmental needs for a ruthenium catalyst with low light ends selectivity were investigated during this quarter. Hydrocarbon product distribution was Anderson-Schulz-Flory up to a carbon number of 250 and cutoff did not occur with a titania-supported catalyst containing ruthenium particles smaller than 20{Angstrom}. It was found that an alumina-supported catalyst with 1% (by weight) ruthenium in the form of 50{Angstrom} to 100{Angstrom} metal particles was initially about half as active (by catalyst volume) and made one quarter of the amount of C{sub 1}{minus}C{sub 4} light end products relative to the Sasol precipitated iron catalyst.