We have constructed a quadrupole-mass filter system to measure the equilibrium constants and rates of reaction of the ..beta..-particle-induced exchanges between H/sub 2/, D/sub 2/, and T/sub 2/ at cryogenic temperatures. Even with careful calibration experiments at 25.4/sup 0/C, we could not completely remove the mass discrimination inherent in our method. We estimate the accuracy of our mixture analyses to be +-2.2% in the D/sub 2/-DT-T/sub 2/ system, and +-9% in the H/sub 2/-HT-T/sub 2/ system. Preliminary kinetic experiments showed that the time to reach equilibrium in the exchange H/sub 2/ + T/sub 2/ = 2HT is 7 to 14 h. The equivalent time interval in the exchange D/sub 2/ + T/sub 2/ = 2DT is 3 to 7 h. This measured isotope effect of two can be used to predict the rates of the DT exchange from the HT rates in the literature.

An initial feasibility investigation for PAHRTEF, a Postaccident Heat Removal Test Facility, is presented. The facility would provide an experimental capability for PAHR experiments beyond that available in any currently existing or proposed U.S. safety test facility. The facility design presented in this report is based upon the technology developed for the ROVER nuclear rocket propulsion program. The core is a graphite-moderated, helium-cooled, epithermal core with radial reflector control. The PAHR experiments are located just below the reactor containment vessel, very near the bottom of the core. The experiments (up to 55% enriched) are driven and controlled by neutrons leaking axially from the core such that the PAHRTEF core and the experiment form a coupled reactor system. The experiment can be designed so that it is extremely unlikely that the test fuel by itself could form a critical system. The investigation indicates that adequate fission heating of large PAHR experiments could be provided at low driver core power levels. Both the reactor and the experiment handling and examination equipment can use available technology and, whenever possible, existing equipment and buildings.

A high degree of crystallinity has been achieved in ingots cast. Since most of the growth took place near the solidification temperature, the top portion of the ingot was solidified by freezing from the surface. The thickness of this layer was reduced with the control of thermal flow characteristics in the furnace. The crucibles used in this study have a nonuniform bottom which is not conducive to proper heat transfer during solidification. In an effort to achieve high packing density of solar cells in the module with maximum material utilization, an attempt was made to cast a square cross-section ingot. Even though some minor cracking occurred in the first ingot, it appears feasible to cast square cross-section ingots by the Heat Exchanger Method. Higher feed forces results in higher cutting rates. However, this is accompanied by wire wander and increased surface damage depth. It has been established that the life of an impregnated blade can be prolonged by plating it after impregnation.

The time domain sensitivity measure, peak sensitivity, was employed in studying the dynamics of a Clinch River Breeder Reactor Power Plant (CRBRP) digital simulator. With its use the most ''safety sensitive'' parameters in the plant model were identified for particular anticipated transients. Examples of such parameters include the Doppler feedback coefficient, fraction of power generated in the core, and the two phase flow friction multiplier. A method of putting first order bounds on a particular power plant transient due to parameter estimate error is also presented. This information is valuable since the CRBRP simulator was constructed with the intent of studying the safety of the system.

Existing practices and capabilities for completing producing and injection wells for geothermal application in each of four categories of geothermal environments are discussed. Included are steam wells in hard, fractured rocks (The Geysers, California), hot water wells in sedimentary formations (Imperial Valley, California), hot, dry impermeable rocks with circulating water systems (Valles Caldera, New Mexico), and geopressured, geothermal water wells with associated hydrocarbon production on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Monte Carlo calculations were made to analyze the results of an integral experiment with an aluminum sample to determine the adequacy of ENDF/B-IV neutron scattering and gamma-ray production cross-section data for aluminum. The experimental results analyzed included energy-dependent NE-213 detector neutron and gamma-ray count rates at a scattering angle of 125 deg and pulse-height spectra for scattered neutrons and gamma-rays. The experiments were carried out with the ORELA 1- to 20-MeV pulsed neutron source. The pulse-height data were unfolded to generate secondary neutron and gamma-ray spectra at 125 deg as a function of incident neutron energy. Multigroup Monte Carlo calculations using the MORSE code and ENDF/B-IV cross sections were made to analyze all reported results. Discrepancies between calculated and measured responses were found for secondary neutron scattering data above 10 MeV and for gamma-rays produced at energies between 4 and 7 MeV. A detailed analysis has not yet been performed to determine the reasons for these discrepancies.

This document was prepared for the Department of Energy, Division of Coal Conversion, for use in developing Program Opportunity Notices (PON), Requests for Proposals (RFP), and Environmental Reports (ER). Environmental considerations to be addressed by Offerors and Contractors are divided into three parts that correspond to the separate stages of project development: (1) the Offeror's response to the PON or RFP; (2) the Contractor's performance of baseline data collection and environmental impact assessment that results in an Environmental Report (ER) for use by DOE in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); and (3) the Contractor's continuance of environmental monitoring and assessment during construction and operation. Environmental analysis and environmental protection are an integral part of the Offeror's or Contractor's performance under contract to DOE. Consideration should be given to the health and socioeconomic status of man as well as to the physical and biological environment. The Offeror's or Contractor's consideration of and commitment to avoiding adverse environmental impacts must be demonstrated at every stage of the process from planning through construction and operation.

Water has been observed to be adsorbed, and possibly absorbed, by desiccated Kevlar 49 fiber to 6 percent of the fiber weight in 100 percent relative humidity. The effect of the water on the transverse flexural strength and elastic modulus of an aliphatic amine-cured epoxy, unidirectionally reinforced with saturated Kevlar 49, has been determined. Such composites are weaker than those made with fiber equilibrated to 0 percent relative humidity, and the effect persists after a 75/sup 0/C, 16-h postcure. It is suggested that glycol formation and a consequent excess of curing agent, resulting from a water-resin reaction at the fiber-matrix interface, accounts for the weakening.

The results of model calculations that demonstrate the feasibility of producing the required blister region and a preliminary evaluation of the divertor collection efficiency are presented. (MOW)

This study is concerned with the energy and other resource benefits resulting from the computerized automation of processes in the US pulp and paper industry. The primary objectives were to characterize the state of the art of computer controls in the industry and to pinpoint the problem areas that limit their further use. The study lasted approximately 4 months. An exhaustive survey of all the possible technologies in use, or under development, was not possible. The main conclusions are that the pulping and recovery operations offer the greatest potential for reducing energy use by computer control, and that effective hierarchical control at the plant level requires the integration of these operations into one or more control loops. No control system has been found that provides reliable, fully automated control of recovery boilers for an extended period of time. The total technical potential for fuel savings was estimated at 0.2 quadrillion Btu's a year, or the equivalent of 94,000 barrels of oil per day.

A separate abstract was prepared for each of the two sections of the report. (TFD)

The Federal Government has initiated, expanded, and is accelerating a cost-shaped program with the iron and steel industry to develop innovative, cost-effective programs for new energy-saving technologies. The purpose of this document is to identify opportunities for research and development in the iron and steel industry, giving due consideration to the many barriers that impede the implementation of new technology. These technology sectors also reflect the following three fundamental criteria that DOE has formulated to guide the selection of projects for consideration in this program: the project must have the potential to save energy; the project must be considered cost-effective when fully developed; when fully developed, the project must be considered reliable and have no negative effect on capacity. Concepts considered for commercial development have been selected because of their significant potential for conserving energy and/or critical fuel forms and on the assumption that they would involve: preparation of proposals by or in conjunction with companies associated with the steel industry, to ensure the practicality of the concept in a steelmaking environment; cost sharing with companies associated with the steel industry; and demonstration of technology that would provide an option for the iron and steel industry to be less dependent …

The study was initiated in Oct. 1976. Several tasks are to be undertaken. In combination, they have the end objective of defining the leak rates of plutonium oxide from characterized leaks in shipping containers. Research progress is reported on each of the four tasks. (TFD)

A new symmetric univariate probability distribution is proposed. Several properties are derived, and the applicability of the distribution to Monte Carlo studies is discussed. 2 figures, 1 table.

The customary time-dependent Hartree--Fock problem is shown to be ambiguous up to an arbitrary function of time additive to H/sub HF/, and, consequently, up to an arbitrary time-dependent phase for the solution, PHI(t). The ''constant'' (H)'' phase is proposed as the best resolution of this ambiguity. It leads to the following attractive features: (a) the time-dependent Hartree--Fock (TDHF) Hamiltonian, H/sub HF/, becomes a quantity whose expectation value is equal to the average energy and, hence, constant in time; (b) eigenstates described exactly by determinants, have time-dependent Hartree--Fock solutions identical with the exact time-dependent solutions; (c) among all possible TDHF solutions this choice minimizes the norm of the quantity (H--i dirac constant delta/delta t) operating on the ket PHI, and guarantees optimal time evolution over an infinitesimal period; (d) this choice corresponds both to the stationary value of the absolute difference between (H) and (i dirac constant delta/delta t) and simultaneously to its absolute minimal value with respect to choice of the time-dependent phase. The source of the ambiguity is discussed. It lies in the time-dependent generalization of the freedom to transform unitarily among the single-particle states of a determinant at the (physically irrelevant for stationary states) cost of altering only …

The loading of uranium on weak-acid ion exchange resin is a basic step in the production of fuel particles for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs). In the work reported here, an engineering-scale continuous resin loader (2-in.-ID Higgins contactor) was tested with existing engineering-scale process equipment. The Higgins contactor was first successfully used to convert Na/sup +/-form resin to the H/sup +/-form; then it was evaluated as a uranium loader. Results show that the 2-in.-ID Higgins contactor can easily load 25 kg of uranium per day, indicating that a 4-in.-ID contactor could load 100 kg/day. Process control was achieved by monitoring and controlling the density, pH, and inventory volume of the uranium feed solution. This control scheme is amenable to remote operation.

Eleven /sup 233/U solution critical assemblies spanning an H//sup 233/U ratio range of 40 to 2000 and a bare metal /sup 233/U assembly have been calculated with the ENDF/B-IV and Hansen-Roach cross sections. The results from these calculations are compared with the experimental results and with each other. An increasing disagreement between calculations with ENDF/B and Hansen-Roach data with decreasing H//sup 233/U ratio was observed, indicative of large differences in their intermediate energy cross sections. The Hansen-Roach cross sections appeared to give reasonably good agreement with experiments over the whole range; whereas the ENDF/B calculations yielded high values for k/sub eff/ on assemblies of low moderation. It is concluded that serious problems exist in the ENDF/B-IV representation of the /sup 233/U cross sections in the intermediate energy range and that further evaluation of this nuclide is warranted. In addition, it is recommended that an experimental program be undertaken to obtain /sup 233/U criticality data at low H//sup 233/U ratios for verification of generalized criticality safety guidelines. Part II of this report presents the results of criticality calculations on specific pieces of equipment required for HTGR fuel refabrication. In particular, fuel particle storage hoppers and resin carbonization furnaces are criticality safe …

A Pilot Demonstration is being conducted to determine whether micellar-polymer flooding is an economically feasible technique for enhanced oil recovery from the Muddy Sand Unit ''A'' Reservoir of the Bell Creek Field, Powder River and Carter Counties, Montana. During the first year of this project extensive reservoir studies, site and pattern selection, design and selection of an optimal micellar-polymer system, water flood history matching and preliminary process simulations by numerical models, and development of pilot injection and production wells were completed. The major effort during the first contract year was the design for the Bell Creek pilot of two optimal micellar-polymer processes--one oil-external and one water-external; and the concomitant development of a Selection Methodology by which to decide upon the more suitable process by means of a standard set of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. This effort was completed. The oil-external design was selected for Bell Creek application based upon its superior performance in the standard test series and simulations. The advantages of the Bell Creek oil-external design appear to be better recovery performance, mobility control, and protection against divalent ions. 30 tables, 41 figs.

Lakes and streams in parts of Norway, Sweden, Canada, and the United States are being severely impacted by acidic precipitation. Scientists meeting at Sagamore, New York, agreed that this is the most serious limnological problem today. The factor responsible for determining the sensitivity of surface waters to acidification is alkalinity derived by weathering of soils and bedrock in the watershed. Acidification, defined as a reduction in alkalinity, can be quantified if preacidification alkalinity data exist, but often they do not. Data on pH and Ca from surface waters in areas not affected by acid precipitation were compared to similar data from areas which receive precipitation with a weighted average hydrogen ion concentration of pH < 4.6. A semiquantitative estimation of surface water acidification can be made for lakes and streams, where earlier chemistry data are lacking, based on this analysis of pH and Ca data. Biological responses to acidification range from a reduction in numbers of species of algae and zooplankton to complete elimination of all fish life. Major biological processes such as primary production and decomposition may be altered leading to an accumulation of plant material and organic debris within lakes and streams. Increased concentrations of aluminum from the …

Experimental research in high energy physics and mesic atoms is summarized. A list of publications is included. (JFP)

The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) has been selected to design, build, and operate a facility to demonstrate the operability of the tritium-related subsystems that would be required to successfully develop fusion reactor systems. Basically, these subsystems would consist of the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle and associated environmental control systems. An emergency tritium clean-up subsystem (ETC) for this facility will be designed to remove tritium from the cell atmosphere if an accident causes the primary and secondary tritium containment to be breached. Conceptually, the ETC will process cell air at the rate of 0.65 actual m/sup 3//s (1385 ACFM) and will achieve an overall decontamination factor of 10/sup 6/ for tritium oxide (T/sub 2/O). Following the maximum credible release of 100 g of tritium, the ETC will restore the cell to operational status within 24 h without a significant release of tritium to the environment. The basic process will include compression of the air to 0.35 MPa (3.5 atm) in a reciprocating compressor followed by oxidation of the tritium to T/sub 2/O in a catalytic reactor. The air will be cooled to 275 K (350/sup 0/F) to remove most of the moisture, including T/sub 2/O, as a condensate. The remaining moisture …

Electrical conductivity studies of silicates are useful in determining temperature vs depth in the earth. Realistic laboratory measurements of conduction mechanisms require that exact determinations of oxygen fugacity (fo{sub 2}) be made in the experimental environment. An apparatus is described that monitors system fo{sub 2} with a calcia-doped zirconia-oxygen cell while measuring electrical conductivity of iron-bearing silicates at high temperature (greater than 1000 K). The fo{sub 2} calculated thermodynamically from CO/CO{sub 2} mixing ratios agreed well with measurements made with the zirconia cell at 1473 K, except for fo{sub 2} greater than 10{sup -4} Pa, where, on a log{sub 10} scale, mixing-ratio errors were as large as +- 0.2. These errors are attributed to oxygen contamination in the CO{sub 2} and to mobile carbon deposits that formed in the apparatus.

A technical bibliography covering subjects important to the design of high-intensity beam transport systems and linear accelerators is presented. Space charge and emittance growth are stressed. Subject and author concordances provide cross-reference to detailed citations, which include an abstract and notes on the material. The bibliography resides in a computer database that can be searched for key words and phrases.

The feasibility of a conductivity or ultrasonic type detector meeting the LOFT reactor core inlet and outlet void fraction measurement requirements is explored. The tests that were performed to evaluate the existing LOFT liquid level detector electrode configuration as a conductivity void fraction detector and a prototype ultrasonic detector (fabricated by Panametrics, Inc.) are described. The results of these tests and the recommendations for improving the performance of each detector system are included.