The objective of this project is to demonstrate and evaluate commercially available Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalysts from US, Japanese and European catalyst suppliers on a high-sulfur US coal-fired boiler. SCR is a post-combustion nitrogen oxide (NOx) control technology that involves injecting ammonia into the flue gas generated from coal combustion in an electric utility boiler. The flue gas containing ammonia is then passed through a reactor that contains a specialized catalyst. In the presence of the catalyst, the ammonia reacts with NOx to convert it to nitrogen and water vapor, Although SCR is widely practiced in Japan and Europe, there are numerous technical uncertainties associated with applying SCR to US coals. These uncertainties include: (1) potential catalyst deactivation due to poisoning by trace metal species present in US coals that are not present in other fuel performance of the technology and effects on the balance-of-plant equipment in the presence of high amounts of SO{sub 2} and SO{sub 3}. (3) performance of a wide variety of SCR catalyst compositions, geometries and methods of manufacture under typical high-sulfur coal-fired utility operating conditions. These uncertainties will be explored by constructing a series of small-scale SCR reactors and simultaneously exposing different SCR catalysts …

An improved understanding of the factors influencing the movement of a separate organic liquid phase in groundwater aquifers is important to the US Department of Energy's efforts to alleviate groundwater contamination by many common solvents. The overall objective of this project is to investigate how changes in interfacial chemical properties affect two-phase flow relationships. Specifically, the objective is to develop a quantitative theory that will enable the prediction of changes in the capillary pressure-saturation relationship, a fundamental constitutive relationship in multiphase flow modeling, from changes in interfacial properties through a knowledge of their effect on wettability. The work over the past eight months of the project summarized here shows the interrelationship between the surface chemical properties of sorption, electrophoretic mobility, contact angle, surface tension and capillary pressure, and how the effects on capillary pressure might be predicted on the basis of surface tension and contact angle. The model system we have been examining consists of o-xylene, water, silica sand, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), in which all three interfacial tensions of the system change.

This study was conducted to determine if Savannah River Plant effluents cause death (acute toxicity) or reduction in the reproduction of the test organisms (chronic toxicity) during a seven day exposure period. A series of dilutions of the effluent were used to determine how much the effluent must be diluted before toxic effects are no longer noted.

This dissertation will outline a direct methods of temperature, density, composition, and velocity measurement which should be widely applicable to railgun systems. The measurements demonstrated here should prove usefull basis for further studies of plasma/target interaction.

The data presented in this report are the result of Brine Sampling and Evaluation Program (BSEP) activities at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) during 1990. When excavations began in 1982, small brine seepages (weeps) were observed on the walls. These brine occurrences were initially described as part of the Site Validation Program. Brine studies were formalized in 1985. The BSEP activities document and investigate the origins, hydraulic characteristics, extent, and composition of brine occurrences in the Permian Salado Formation and seepage of that brine into the excavations at the WIPP. The brine chemistry is important because it assists in understanding the origin of the brine and because it may affect possible chemical reactions in the buried waste after sealing the repository. The volume of brine and the hydrologic system that drives the brine seepage also need to be understood to assess the long-term performance of the repository. After more than eight years of observations (1982--1990), no credible evidence exists to indicate that enough naturally occurring brine will seep into the WIPP excavations to be of practical concern. The detailed observations and analyses summarized herein and in previous BSEP reports confirm the evidence apparent during casual visits to the underground …

An improved understanding of the factors influencing the movement of a separate organic liquid phase in groundwater aquifers is important to the US Department of Energy`s efforts to alleviate groundwater contamination by many common solvents. The overall objective of this project is to investigate how changes in interfacial chemical properties affect two-phase flow relationships. Specifically, the objective is to develop a quantitative theory that will enable the prediction of changes in the capillary pressure-saturation relationship, a fundamental constitutive relationship in multiphase flow modeling, from changes in interfacial properties through a knowledge of their effect on wettability. The work over the past eight months of the project summarized here shows the interrelationship between the surface chemical properties of sorption, electrophoretic mobility, contact angle, surface tension and capillary pressure, and how the effects on capillary pressure might be predicted on the basis of surface tension and contact angle. The model system we have been examining consists of o-xylene, water, silica sand, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), in which all three interfacial tensions of the system change.

This report provides a description of a study performed to evaluate the impact of recently obtained soils parameters on the 105-K Reactor using Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) analysis. This study includes: the frequency check of the reactor building based on the fixed base analysis; the modification of the computer model to reflect actual building properties and building frequencies; The live load impact on seismic analysis; The comparison of soil spectrum at elev. {minus}50 ft with 60% of RG1.60 curve; comparison of spectral results to the previous FREDA and SASSI results; and implications to the stack building analysis.

This report describes a new concept for integrated pollutant control: a cross-flow filter comprised of layered, gas permeable membranes that act a particulate filter, an SO{sub 2} sorbent, and a NO{sub x} reduction catalyst.

The Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center of the US Department of Energy has contracted with Combustion Engineering, Inc. (CE) to perform a five-year project on ``Combustion Characterization of Beneficiated Coal-Based Fuels.`` The beneficiated coals are produced by other contractors under the DOE Coal Preparation Program. Several contractor-developed advanced coal cleaning processes are run at pilot-scale cleaning facilities to produce 20-ton batches of fuels for shipment to CE`s laboratory in Windsor, Connecticut. CE then processes the products into either a coal-water fuel (CWF) or a dry microfine pulverized coa1 (DMPC) form for combustion testing. The objectives of this project include: (1) the development of an engineering data base which will provide detailed information on the properties of BCFs influencing combustion, ash deposition, ash erosion, particulate collection, and emissions; and (2) the application of this technical data base to predict the performance and economic impacts of firing the BCFs in various commercial boiler designs. During the second quarter of 1991, the following technical progress was made: completed drop tube furnace devolatilization tests of the spherical oil agglomeration beneficiated products; continued analyses of samples to determine devolatilization kinetics; continued analyses of the data and samples from the CE pilot-scale tests of nine fuels; completed …

The objective of this project is to demonstrate and evaluate commercially available Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalysts from US, Japanese and European catalyst suppliers on a high-sulfur US coal-fired boiler. SCR is a post-combustion nitrogen oxide (NOx) control technology that involves injecting ammonia into the flue gas generated from coal combustion in an electric utility boiler. The flue gas containing ammonia is then passed through a reactor that contains a specialized catalyst. In the presence of the catalyst, the ammonia reacts with NOx to convert it to nitrogen and water vapor, Although SCR is widely practiced in Japan and Europe, there are numerous technical uncertainties associated with applying SCR to US coals. These uncertainties include: (1) potential catalyst deactivation due to poisoning by trace metal species present in US coals that are not present in other fuel performance of the technology and effects on the balance-of-plant equipment in the presence of high amounts of SO{sub 2} and SO{sub 3}. (3) performance of a wide variety of SCR catalyst compositions, geometries and methods of manufacture under typical high-sulfur coal-fired utility operating conditions. These uncertainties will be explored by constructing a series of small-scale SCR reactors and simultaneously exposing different SCR catalysts …

This document identifies the work performed and documentation generated to satisfy action items for the Reactor Physics computer code AXLIB4. Each action item is discussed with the justification for its completion. Specific details of the work performed are not included in this document but are found in references. The validation and verification effort for the AXLIB4 code is completed.

Using rotating analyzer ellipsometry, we have measured all three components of the dielectric tensor of YBa{sub 2}CU{sub 3}O{sub 7} from near-infrared to vacuum-ultraviolet (0.7 -- 24 eV). In the low energy region the spectra for a -- b polarization can be well modelled by a Drude free-carrier response with a frequency independent scattering rate. Below 10 eV we observe strongly anisotropic interband transitions involving the partially filled valence band and the conduction band. At higher energies the anisotropy becomes smaller. In that region we see two prominent double structures around 16 eV and 20 eV that we assign to transitions from lower lying bands with O s and Ba p character to states dose to the Fermi level.

Work during the reported period was centered primarily in preparation for receiving the LEU fuel and the shipping of the HEU fuel. This included development of procedures and tools for the disassembly process. During the period we held many practice sessions applying these tools and practices to a dummy fuel assembly. The LEU fuel was received on April 10, 1991 and the reactor was shut down on May 3, 1991 for refueling. The twelve HEU fuel assemblies in the UTR-10 reactor core were removed and disassembled during the week of May 6--9, 1991. The disassembly process went smoothly with only a few minor problems. Also during this reporting period several experimental measurements and preventative maintenance tasks were accomplished. Finally procedures and practices have been developed for the new LEU fuel loading and critical experiments which are to be completed during the late summer of 1991.

The corrosion rate of an Fe{sub 3}Al alloy (FA117) and an FeAl (FA362) alloy in distilled water and 0.5 M NaCl was determined and compared to two low carbon steels. The results demonstrate that the corrosion rate of these two intermetallic compounds were more than an order of magnitude less than that of the two steels in both of the environments. The corrosion rates of the two iron aluminides were not significantly different.

The electrochemical behavior of ductile doped nickel aluminide has been examined in neutral solutions. Features observed in a certain potential range were characterized, and the potentiodynamic sweep parameters affecting them identified. Nickel aluminide behaves essentially as pure nickel; however, small differences were observed.

The appliance use of RCDP-2 homes was analyzed to determine whether significant differences existed in houses that had efficient appliances (domestic hot water (DHW) and refrigerators) compared to those with appliances not considered efficient. Specific analyses addressed: (1) DHW and refrigerator appliance end uses; (2) whole house and space heat energy use; and, (3) interaction effects between appliance use and space heating energy use.

The analytic solutions of Boulton (1954) and Neuman (1972) for transient flow to a well in an unconfined aquifer are based on the assumption that the role of the unsaturated zone can be adequately accounted for by restricting attention to the release of water from the zone through which the water table moves. Both researchers mathematically treat this released water as a time-dependent source term. The differences between the models of Boulton and Neuman are that the former neglects vertical components of flow in the aquifer, but allows for an exponential process for the release of water as a function of time, whereas the latter assumes instantaneous release from storage, but accounts for vertical components of flow. Given this set of assumptions, we examine the applicability of these two methods using a general purpose numerical model through a process of verification extension and comparison. The issues addressed include: the role of well-bore storage in masking intermediate-time behavior, combined effects of exponential release as well as vertical flow, logic for vertical averaging of drawdowns, and the sensitivity of system response to the magnitude of specific yield. The issue of how good the assumptions of Boulton and Neuman are in the context …

Application of fly ash-amended composts as manure enhances the crop yield of certain plants like corn, sorghum, collard and mustard greens. Organic compost made out of grass and leaves (home-made) is better than the commercial composts for amendment with fly ash. A 20--40% fly ash in the amended compost and a soil to ash-amended compost ratio of 3:1 are recommended for making bed for plantation. Organic compost mixed with fly ash, due to reduced porosity, will help the bed to retain water and conserve water supply to plants. Organic compost will release to the manure additional quantities of N, P, and S that are not substantially available in fly ash. It appears that chemical reaction and/or mineralization occurs during composting of fly ash with organic manure to release more N, P, K and S to the system. Potassium is more elevated in all plants grown in potted soil treated with fly ash-amended compost than in those grown in soil or soil treated with organic manure. Contrary to expectation Ca in fly ash is not effectively used by plants as the latter treated with ash- amended compost is not rich in Ca. This suggests that Ca may be tied up as …

This report describes the environmental restoration and waste management (ER/WM) planning process, communicates ER/WM`s philosophy and overall strategy for achieving its compliance and cleanup goals, summarizes multi-year program plans and assesses progress made during the previous year. The FYP goal is to ensure that risks to human health and safety and to the environment posed by the Department`s past, present, and future operations are either eliminated to reduced to safer levels by the year 2019. The SSP applies the overall strategic goals and commitments of the FYP, incorporating site-specific and local public considerations. It will address accomplishments since the FY 1990 plan, document planned activities focused on the upcoming fiscal year (FY 1992) and discuss milestones and objectives based on restricted and nonrestricted budget conditions for FY 1993--1997. The SSP is the primary means of demonstrating the relationship of local cleanup and compliance activities to broad environmental goals set forth in the FYP. The SSP provides an important channel for conveying information to regulators, the public, special interest groups, and other DOE organizations. This summary will briefly review the site`s facilities and missions, current and future program objectives, major accomplishments, funding levels, and major milestones for the five-year period.

This toxicity test was conducted to determine if the effluent from the F/H area at Savannah River Plant affects the survival or reproduction of the test organisms during a seven day period. The test involved exposing the test organisms to a series of dilutions of the effluent. At each dilution the survival and reproduction of ten test organisms was recorded. Each effluent dilution was compared to a control set of test organisms. Survival data were analyzed by Fisher`s Exact Test and the Trimmed Spearman-Karber test to determine the effluent concentration necessary to cause statistically significant (p = 0.05) mortality. Reproduction data was analyzed for normality, homogeneity of variance and equality of replicates among dilutions to determine the appropriate statistical test for analysis of statistical differences in reproduction among dilutions. Results are summarized.

We have concentrated on three specific areas of our research plan. Our greatest emphasis is on the role of single strand nicks in influencing template strand selection in mismatch repair. We have found, that the ability of a nick in one strand to influence which strand is repaired is not a simple function of distance from the mismatched site but rather that an hot spot where a nick is more likely to have an influence can exist. The second line was production of single-genotype heteroduplexes in order to examine independently the repair of T/G and A/C mispairs within the same sequence context as in our mixed mispair preparations. We have shown preparations of supercoiled heteroduplex can be prepared that were exclusively T/G or exclusively A/C at the mispair site. The third effort has been to understand the difference in repair bias of different cell lines or different transfection conditions as it may relate to different repair systems in the cell. We have identified some of the sources of variation, including cell cycle position. We hope to continue this work to more precisely identify the phase of the cell cycle.

Phase I Stone & Webster presented three potential design configurations for a ceramic-tubed steam-methane reformer. These were the Tube-Within-a-Tube (TWIT) design, the Once-Through design, and the Monolith design. Although the TWIT design configuration appeared to be the most viable, the inclusion of a more detailed examination of design alternatives for the HiPHES reformer was deemed appropriate for the Phase II program. Of particular concern was the length of the ceramic tubes required for the TWIT design. To assist in this evaluation, Stone & Webster established a Development Team consisting of specialists in the areas of heat transfer, ceramic materials, exchanger design, vessel design, and potential users. Stone & Webster reviewed the critical areas of concern for a ceramic convective reformer, evaluated competing design configurations, and presented the results to the Development Team. This report presents Stone & Webster`s evaluations and the comments and recommendations of the Development Team. This effort comprised the majority of Task 1 of Phase II of Stone & Webster`s HiPHES project. The design review was executed in parallel with the material coupon screening tests at BP America. The goal of both tasks was to confirm the materials selection and reformer design configuration so that the conditions …

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The purpose of this analysis was to determine generic and plant-specific firewater inadvertent actuation frequencies for wetpipe and preaction firewater systems at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). Firewater systems of both kinds are installed throughout the ATR facility. When installed for the protection of reactor equipment, firewater systems may also adversely affect the equipment they are meant to protect. This occurs when inadvertent actuation of a firewater system causes wetting and subsequent damage to equipment.