Coal (or other carbonaceous matter, such as biomass) is converted into a product gas that is substantially free from hydrocarbons. The coal is fed into a solar reactor, and solar energy is directed into the reactor onto coal char, creating a gasification front and a pyrolysis front. A gasification zone is produced well above the coal level within the reactor. A pyrolysis zone is produced immediately above the coal level. Steam, injected into the reactor adjacent to the gasification zone, reacts with char to generate product gases. Solar energy supplies the energy for the endothermic steam-char reaction. The hot product gases flow from the gasification zone to the pyrolysis zone to generate hot char. Gases are withdrawn from the pyrolysis zone and reinjected into the region of the reactor adjacent the gasification zone. This eliminates hydrocarbons in the gas by steam reformation on the hot char. The product gas is withdrawn from a region of the reactor between the gasification zone and the pyrolysis zone. The product gas will be free of tar and other hydrocarbons, and thus be suitable for use in many processes.

Research into deuterium-from-protium isotope separation via both metal hydride chromatography and CO/sub 2/ laser multiple-photon dissociation (MPD) of trifluoromethane (CDF/sub 3//CHF/sub 3/) is discussed. Several new classes of alloy compositions, including Mg-rare earth, NiTi/sub x/, and (Ca+Ce,Zr,Ti)./sub 8//sup -/Ni/sub 4/Cu compounds, were evaluated for chromatograhic isotope separation; no tested alloy exhibited properties suitable for commercial deuterium separation. For deuterium separation by MPD of CDF/sub 3/, construction of a CO/sub 2/ laser system was completed that is capable of delivering either 2 nsec short pulses at a single wavelength or 200 nsec long pulses simulatneously at two different laser frequencies. The wavelength dependence of single-line multiple-photon dissociation probability of CDF/sub 3/ was measured, and is reported here. Deuterium separation by CO/sub 2/ laser photolysis of CDF/sub 3//CHF/sub 3/ near 10.3 ..mu.. using approx. 2 nsec pulses still appears to be a commercially viable process for heavy water production.

This document discusses a support provided for use in a thermionic converter to support an end of an emitter to keep it out of contact with a surrounding collector while allowing the emitter end to move axially as its temperature changes. The emitter end is supported by a spring structure that includes a pair of Belleville springs, and the spring structure is supported by a support structure fixed to the housing that includes the collector. The support structure is in the form of a sandwich with a small metal spring-engaging element at the front end, a larger metal main support at the rear end that is attached to the housing, and with a ceramic layer between them that is bonded by hot isostatic pressing to the metal element and metal main support. The spring structure can include a loose wafer captured between the Belleville springs. 7 figs.

Experimental and theoretical studies of field reversal in a mirror machine are reported. Plasma-gun experiments demonstrate that reversed-field plasma layers are formed. Low energy plasma flowing behind the initially produced plasma front prevents tearing of the layer from the gun muzzle. MHD simulation shows that tearing can be obtained by impeding the slow plasma flow with a plasma divider. It is demonstrated theoretically that a field-reversed mirror imbedded in a multipole field can be sustained in steady state with neutral-beam injection even in the absence of impurities. MHD stability analysis shows that growth rates of elongated reversed-field theta-pinch configurations decrease with axial extension, which indicates the importance of including finite Larmor radius in the analysis. Tilting-mode criteria are improved by proper shaping, and a problimak shape is proposed. Tearing mode stability of reversed-field theta-pinches is greatly enhanced by flux exclusion. Self-consistent, 1-1/2-dimensional transport codes have been developed, and initial results are presented.

Designing a drift chamber cell geometry which optimizes resolution and two track separation is not a straightforward task. This paper describes a software package which helps visualize the behavior of drifting electrons within the cell under the influence of electric and magnetic fields. Histograms of chamber pulse shapes and arrival times may be generated. In addition, a calculation of the gas gain is performed. The package presently uses drift velocity, drift angle, gain, and dE/dx parameterizations for 50:50 argon/endash/ethane but modifications may be easily made for other gas mixtures. The model is straightforward and relies on an analytical form for the electric potential of an infinite series of wires. The electric field is calculated numerically in a small region surrounding any point of interest. In the absence of a magnetic field, the drift direction of an ionization electron is the unit vector along the E field direction. When a perpendicular magnetic field is present, the drift direction is rotated by the Lorentz angle, a. 3 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

A Decision Tree Computer Model was adapted for the purposes of a Pilot Salt Site Selection Project conducted by the Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation (ONWI). A deterministic computer model was developed to structure the site selection problem with submodels reflecting the five major outcome categories (Cost, Safety, Delay, Environment, Community Impact) to be evaluated in the decision process. Time-saving modifications were made in the tree code as part of the effort. In addition, format changes allowed retention of information items which are valuable in directing future research and in isolation of key variabilities in the Site Selection Decision Model. The deterministic code was linked to the modified tree code and the entire program was transferred to the ONWI-VAX computer for future use by the ONWI project.

Diagrams and slide reproductions of the system are presented; and performance, maintenance, and cost information is outlined. (WHK)

Hydrodynamic models have been derived by Mark and Yu and by others to describe energetic self-pinched beams, such as those used in ion-beam fusion. The closure of the Mark-Yu model is obtained with adiabatic assumptions mathematically analogous to those of Chew, Goldberger, and Low for MHD. The other models treated here use an ideal gas closure and a closure by Newcomb based on an expansion in V/sub th//V/sub z/. Features of these hydrodynamic beam models are compared with a kinetic treatment.

The 10 kA ETA and ATA linear induction accelerators are described. Beam instability is the major concern in these high current machines, and the current status of theoretical understanding, and experimental investigations with the 8 cavity ETA, are reviewed. Modifications to the induction cavities are described that have essentially eliminated the transverse resonant modes seen in the ETA.

A method of vitrifying soil at or below a soil surface location. Two or more conductive electrodes are inserted into the soil for heating of the soil mass between them to a temperature above its melting temperature. Materials in the soil, such as buried waste, can thereby be effectively immobilized.

The appropriate centering force terms are added to the ion-focused regime hose equations and their effect on hose development is calculated. It is found that while hose at very high frequencies is stabilized, the overall suppression is only moderate and other stabilization processes need to be explored.

Extensive tidal studies in island wells and the lagoon at Enewetak Atoll have shown that island ground water dynamics are controlled by a layered aquifer system. The surface aquifer of unconsolidated Holocene material extends to a depth of approximately 15 m, and has a hydraulic conductivity K = 60 m/day. From 15 to 60 m (approximate lagoon depth) the reef structure consists of successive layers of altered Pleistocene materials, with bulk permeability substantially higher than that of the surface aquifer. Because of wave set-up over the windward reef and the limited pass area for outflow at the south end of the atoll, lagoon tides rise in phase with the ocean tides but fall later than the ocean water level. This results in a net lagoon-to-ocean head which can act as the driving force for outflow through the permeable Pleistocene aquifer. This model suggests that fresh water, nutrients or radioactive contaminants found in island ground water or reef interstitial water may be discharged primarily into the ocean rather than the lagoon. Atoll island fresh water resources are controlled by recharge, seawater dilution due to vertical tidal mixing between the surface and deeper aquifers, and by loss due to entrainment by the …

As the Subgroup Chairman for the Process Automation Control Technology Subgroup of IMOG, I was requested to attend the annual Steering Committee Meeting held this year at the Allied-Signal Kansas City Plant and summarize the past year's activities of the Subgroup. The next IMOG Steering Committee Meeting will be held November 14 and 15, 1990 in Los Alamos. The next Process Automation Control Technology Subgroup Meeting will be held in June, 1990 in Rocky Flats.

Recent Supreme Court decisions, which interpret the 200-year-old Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution, are used to provide a brief overview of some search and seizure subjects important to management and officers responsible for physical protection of nuclear facilities. The overview is framed in practical terms in order to make the comments applicable to the everyday activity of nuclear-protective-force persons. The Supreme Court has described several exceptions where searches and seizures (arrests) are permitted without a warrant, despite the Fourth Amendment which states that warrants are always required. The seven exceptions briefly discussed are search incidents to a lawful arrest, the automobile-search exception, the suitcase or container exception, the hot-pursuit or emergency exception, the stop-and-frisk exception, the plain-view exception, and consent to be searched.

The dynamic response of a thin steel disk to a transient thermal pulse induced by a pulsed neodymium-glass laser was studied experimentally and compared with numerical results from a finite element code. The experiment was designed to provide data for use in code development work for erosion/corrosion studies.

This report addresses the breeder reactor fuel fabrication development overview.

Many-electron QED correction is one of the unsolved problems in relativistic atomic structure calculations for many-electron systems. The accuracy of the effective-charged screening approach frequently used in the MCDF model to estimate the many-electron QED corrections is examined. The effects of relativity and configuration interaction are simultaneously important in the treatment of highly-charged ions. These effects can sometimes change the transition rates by orders of magnitude; numerous irregularities present in Auger rates and oscillator strengths along the isoelectronic sequence due to the level crossings. The spin-orbit mixing and Breit interaction are responsible for the decay of most of the high-spin metastable autoionizing states. 29 refs., 8 figs.

We present a solid state accelerator concept utilizing particle acceleration along crystal channels by longitudinal electron plasma waves in a metal. Acceleration gradients of order 100 GV/cm are theoretically possible, but channeling radiation limits the maximum attainable energy to 10/sup 5/ TeV for protons. Beam dechanneling due to multiple scattering is substantially reduced by the high acceleration gradient. Plasma wave dissipation and generation in metals are also discussed.

Prediction of the dynamic response of APS magnet/support systems requires knowledge of the free vibrational characteristics, including natural frequencies, modes, and modal damping ratios. A preliminary dynamic analysis of the magnet/support system of a typical section of the APS storage ring, as presented in the APS Conceptual Design Report, was performed to gain insight. The preliminary analysis is based on the assumption that the support girder could be considered rigid relative to the stiffness of the pedestal supports when considering the lower modes and frequencies. Further, only the vertical (in-plane) translational and rocking modes were studied. The subject analysis was performed to include the flexibility of the support girder and to investigate the horizontal (out-of-plane) modes as well. Also, the most up-to-date design of the five magnet sections are studied. Here, it should be noted that in the latest design the positioning of the support pedestals (jack-screws) is different from that in the conceptual design.

Prediction of the dynamic response of APS magnet/support systems requires knowledge of the free vibrational characteristics, including natural frequencies, modes, and modal damping ratios. A preliminary dynamic analysis of the magnet/support system of a typical section of the APS storage ring, as presented in the APS Conceptual Design Report, was performed to gain insight. The preliminary analysis is based on the assumption that the support girder could be considered rigid relative to the stiffness of the pedestal supports when considering the lower modes and frequencies. Further, only the vertical (in-plane) translational and rocking modes were studied. The subject analysis was performed to include the flexibility of the support girder and to investigate the horizontal (out-of-plane) modes as well. Also, the most up-to-date design of the five magnet sections are studied. Here, it should be noted that in the latest design the positioning of the support pedestals (jack-screws) is different from that in the conceptual design.

The traveler attended the IX International Conference on Gas Discharges and Their Applications held in Venice, Italy, September 19--23, 1988. He was a member of the International Organizing Committee of the conference, chaired a scientific session, presented a paper, and participated in scientific discussions and the planning of the next conference. Also, he exchanged research information and ideas on electron, ion, and laser interactions in fluid media with many participants.

None

We are using a transponding geostationary satellite to collect surface environmental data to describe the fate of soil-borne radionuclides. The remote, former atomic testing grounds at the Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls present a difficult environment in which to collect continuous field data. Our land-based, solar-powered microprocessor and environmental data systems remotely acquire measurements of net and total solar radiation, rain, humidity, temperature, and soil-water potentials. For the past year, our water flux model predicts wet season plant transpiration rates nearly equal to the 6 to 7 mm/d evaporation pan rate, which decreases to 2 to 3 mm/d for the dry season. Radioisotopic analysis confirms the microclimate-estimated 1:3 to 1:20 soil to plant /sup 137/Cs dry matter concentration ratio. This ratio exacerbates the dose to man from intake of food plants. Nephelometer measurements of airborne particulates presently indicate a minimum respiratory radiological dose.

"This report analyzes the provisions of the [War Powers] Resolution and a decade of experience with it" (p. ii).