President Carter established a goal that would require installation of at least one million solar water heaters by 1985 and 20 million water-heating systems by the year 2000. The goals established require that the solar industry be sufficiently mature to provide cost-effective, reliable designs in the immediate future. The objective of this study was to provide the Department of Energy with quantified data that can be used to assess and redirect, if necessary, the program plans to assure compliance with the President's goals. Results deal with the product, the industry, the market, and the consumer. All issues are examined in the framework of the conventional-hot-water industry. Based on the results of this solar hot water assessment study, there is documented proof that the solar industry is blessed with over 20 good solar hot water systems. A total of eight generic types are currently being produced, but a majority of the systems being sold are included in only five generic types. The good systems are well-packaged for quality, performance and installation ease. These leading systems are sized and designed to fit the requirements of the consumer in every respect. This delivery end also suffers from a lack of understanding of the …

The results of a one year program to characterize corrosion of solar collector alloys in aqueous heat-transfer media are summarized. The program involved a literature review and a laboratory investigation of corrosion in uninhibited solutions. It consisted of three separate tasks, as follows: review of the state-of-the-art of solar collector corrosion processes; study of corrosion in multimetallic systems; and determination of interaction between different waters and chemical antifreeze additives. Task 1 involved a comprehensive review of published literature concerning corrosion under solar collector operating conditions. The reivew also incorporated data from related technologies, specifically, from research performed on automotive cooling systems, cooling towers, and heat exchangers. Task 2 consisted of determining the corrosion behavior of candidate alloys of construction for solar collectors in different types of aqueous coolants containing various concentrations of corrosive ionic species. Task 3 involved measuring the degradation rates of glycol-based heat-transfer media, and also evaluating the effects of degradation on the corrosion behavior of metallic collector materials.

The relative efficiency up to 9.7 MeV was calibrated for two coaxial detectors, one Ge(Li) and one high purity Ge. The efficiency curves were determined by using a combination of standard radioactive sources and (n,..gamma..) reactions. Based on the result of this work, the general slope of the two detector efficiency curves appears to be similar and in agreement with earlier work reported by McCallum and Coote. When plotted as a semilogarithmic function of energy the efficiency is linear from 2 to 9.7 MeV.

Chemical degradation of aqueous glycol solutions was monitored during stagnant exposure at temperatures of 100 C and 180 C. Changes in corrosivity of the solutions toward alloys of construction in solar collectors were also determined. The solutions consisted of equivolume mixtures of reagent grade ethylene glycol and water, and propylene glycol and water. The water was either distilled/deionized, or a mildy corrosive solution containing 100 ppM each of chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate ions. The solutions were exposed with and without contact with metals, these metals being unalloyed copper (CA 122), 1018 steel, and aluminum alloys 1100, 3003, and 6061. Either air or nitrogen was purged through the solutions at 100 C, whereas for solutions at 180 C the autoclave head space was filled with air or nitrogen prior to sealing the autoclave. Degradation was measured by noting changes in solution pH and accumulation of organic acids during prolonged elevated temperature exposures. Changes in corrosivity were measured in terms of weight loss, polarization resistance, and pit depth on metal coupons suspended in the solutions during exposure.

Numerical modeling of the transient cooling of a magmatic intrusion is described in a geothermal reservoir that results from conduction and convection, considering the effects of overlying cap rock and differing horizontal and vertical permeabilities of the reservoir. These results are compared with data from Salton Sea Geothermal Field (SSGF). Multiple layers of convection cells are observed when horizontal permeability is much larger than vertical permeability. The sharp drop-off of surface heat flow experimentally observed at SSGF is consistent with the numerical results. The age of the intrusive body at SSGF is estimated to be between 6000 and 20,000 years.

Ferritic steels are currently being considered as fusion first wall candidates because of the relatively low thermal stresses induced during temperature cycles. However, fracture toughness is of concern in this alloy class. Limitations on irradiation space dictate that special techniques by developed for post-irradiation fracture toughness measurements. This study investigates the feasibility of electropotential techniques using single specimens to evalute fracture toughness. The electropotential technique was applied to obtain continuous crack extension measurements on miniaturized specimens and to trace out J versus ..delta..a curves. The J-integral results obtained from A286 small specimens compare favorably with those obtained from large specimens. Also, the experimental work shows that electropotential and multiple specimen methods produce consistent data in HT-9 in the transition region where crack extension occurs by mixed cleavage and dimpled rupture.

A geotoxicity hazard index was developed for radioactive wastes buried in geologic media. Parameters are: toxicity, persistance, availability, and correction for progeny buildup. (DLC)

Computer simulations are presented of the reflection and heating due to stimulated Raman backscatter of intense laser light in large regions of underdense plasma. The heated electron distribution is found to be approximately a Maxwellian of temperature (m/sub e//2)v/sub p//sup 2/, where v/sub p/ is the phase velocity of the electron plasma wave. A simple model of the reflection is presented. Raman may cause a pre-heat problem with large laser fusion reactor targets.

The Interprocess Communications System (IPCS) was written to provide a virtual machine upon which the Supervisory Control and Diagnostic System (SCDS) for the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF) could be built. The hardware upon which the IPCS runs consists of nine minicomputers sharing some common memory.

The pyrochemical processing of nuclear fuels requires crucibles, stirrers, and transfer tubing that will withstand the temperature and the chemical attack from molten salts and metals used in the process. This report summarizes the literature that pertains to fabrication (joining, chemical vapor deposition, plasma spraying, forming, and spinning) is the main theme. This report also summarizes a sampling of literature on molbdenum and the work previously performed at Argonne National Laboratory on other container materials used for pyrochemical processing of spent nuclear fuels.

Two improved mirror systems, the tandem mirror (TM) and the field-reversed mirror (FRM) are being intensively studied. The twin practical aims of these studies: to improve the economic prospects for mirror fusion power plants and to reduce the size and/or complexity of such plants relative to earlier approaches to magnetic fusion. While at the present time the program emphasis is still strongly oriented toward answering scientific questions, the emphasis is shifting as the data accumulates and as larger facilities - ones with a heavy technological and engineering orientation - are being prepared. The experimental and theoretical progress that led to the new look in mirror fusion research is briefly reviewed, the new TM and the FRM ideas are outlined, and the projected future course of mirror fusion research is discussed.

A mechanical model was constructed to probe into the mechanism of ductility loss. Fracture criterion based on critical localized deformation was undertaken. Two microstructure variables were considered in the model. Namely, the strength ratio of grain boundary affected area to the matrix, ..cap omega.., and the linear fraction, x, of grain boundary affected area. A parametrical study was carried out. The study shows that the ductility is very sensitive to those microstructure parameters. The functional dependence of ductility to temperature as well as strain-rate, suggested by the model, is demonstrated to be consistent with the observation.

A task was undertaken to develop a method for analyzing industrial user responses to alternative rate designs. The method described considers the fuel switching and conservation responses of industrial users and the impact to a hypothetical utility regarding revenue stability, annual gas demand, and seasonal fluctuations. Twenty-seven hypothetical industrial plant types have been specified. For each combustor in the plant, the fuel consumption by season, initial fuel type, fuel switching costs, conservation costs, and amount of fuel conservable is provided. The decision making takes place at the plant level and is aggregated to determine the impact to the utility. Section 2 discusses the factors affecting an industrial user's response to alternative rate designs. Section 3 describes the methodology, includes an overview of the model and an example industrial user's response to a set of fuel prices. The data describing the 27 hypothetical firms is in an appendix.

This report documents the design effort for a Thomson scattering diagnostic system for MFTF. The principal problem is obtaining enough photons, in the presence of a poorly known background, to make satisfactory measurements. No currently available laser will yield enough photons to do this. Design concepts for imaging and detection are discussed. The ability of components to survive in the high-radiation environment of MFTF is identified as an important problem. The transition to MFTF-B makes many of the problems identified here more serious.

Information is presented concerning benchmark calculations for reactivity coefficients; and neutronic characteristics for heterogeneous assemblies and breed-burn cores.

A computer-controlled three-oven gas chromatograph having a multi-position stream-switching valve has been used first to divide a wide-boiling mixture of n-alkanes into three cuts and then to fractionate each cut using a packed column at a different temperature. After initial injection of the sample into the highest temperature column, the low boilers were switched to a low temperature oven. Then, the mid-boilers were switched to a column at an intermediate temperature. For routine repetitive analyses, the multi-oven approach offers an attractive alternative.

The design and performance of the Novette laser system, which is a two-beam, two-wavelength (1.05 ..mu.. and 0.53 ..mu..) target irradiation facility using phosphate glass laser chains, are discussed with information on the glass properties, controlling factors in the design selection, and projected performance with varying operating conditions. (LCL)

A set of first-order differential state equations is developed from taking finite differences of the partial differential equation that describes groundwater flow during a pump-drawdown test. The number of states in the model is a direct function of the number of discrete spatial segments used in the approximate model. This number of states is studied to determine a reasonably low-order model that preserves the accuracy of resulting simulations when compared with an available analytical solution. The resulting reduced-order model is then used in an extended Kalman filter for combined state and parameter estimation. This report summarizes work done in a recent pilot study to demonstrate the feasibility of these techniques in groundwater research and points the way toward other approaches to this problem area now under study.

The objective of this program is to understand fundamental aspects of grain boundary influences on photocurrent collection and opposing current transport in polycrystalline silicon cells. Results of the program are expected to aid in optimizing thin film polycrystalline silicon solar cells. Three major tasks are addressed in this program, which includes a subcontract to the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). These are: modeling, measurement technique development, and characterization and control of grain boundaries in polycrystalline silicon. Progress is reported. (WHK)

The state-of-the-art of solar collector corrosion processes is reviewed, and Task 1 of a current research program on use of aqueous heat transfer fluids for solar heating and cooling is summarized. The review of available published literature has indicated that lack of quantitative information exists relative to collector corrosion at the present time, particularly for the higher temperature applications of solar heating and cooling compared to domestic water heating. Solar collector systems are reviewed from the corrosion/service life viewpoint, with emphasis on various applications, collector design, heat transfer fluids, and freeze protection methods. Available information (mostly qualitative) on collector corrosion technology is reviewed to indicate potential corrosion problem areas and corrosion prevention practices. Sources of limited quantitative data that are reviewed are current solar applications, research programs on collector corrosion, and pertinent experience in related applications of automotive cooling and non-solar heating and cooling. A data bank was developed to catalog corrosion information. Appendix A of this report is a bibliography of the data bank, with abstracts reproduced from presently available literature accessions (about 220). This report is presented as a descriptive summary of information that is contained in the data bank.

Corrosion measurements were made on candidate alloys of construction for non-concentrating solar collectors under simulated conditions of collector operation. Materials evaluated were aluminum alloys 1100, 3003, and 6061, copper alloy 122, Type 444 stainless steel, and 1018 plain carbon steel. The solutions used were equivolume mixtures of ethylene glycol and water, and propylene glycol and water. They were used without corrosion inhibitors but with addition of chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate ions. The influences of dissolved oxygen, solution flow velocity, and heat transfer were evaluated. Corrosion morphologies investigated were general attack, pitting, crevice corrosion, and galvanic corrosion. Experimental results indicated that aluminum alloys can experience severe pitting and crevice corrosion at chloride concentrations approaching 50 ppM. The corrosion rate of copper exceeded about 100 ..mu..m/yr in ethylene glycol solutions and about 80 ..mu..m/yr in propylene glycol solutions. Crevice corrosion was not observed for copper, but severe galvanic corrosion occurred when it was coupled to T444 stainless steel. T444 steel corroded at rates of less than 1 ..mu..m/yr under all exposure conditions. During circulation at 100 C in the presence of air, ethylene glycol solutions acidified because of degradation of the glycol. The initial pH of propylene glycol solutions was already low, …

Ion acoustic turbulence is examined as one mechanism which could contribute to the inhibition of electron thermal transport which has been inferred from many laser-plasma experiments. The behavior of the ion acoustic instability is discussed from the viewpoint of the literature of 2-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Simulation techniques, limitations, and reported saturation mechanisms and levels are discussed. A scaling law for the effective collision frequency ..nu..* can be fit to several workers' results to within an order-of-magnitude. The inferred ..nu..* is shown to be 1-2 orders-of-magnitude too small to account for the transport inhibition seen in Nd-laser-produced plasmas. Several differences between the simulation conditions and laser-produced plasma conditions are noted.

Research performed under the grant period has been undertaken as part of the principal investigator's long-term efforts to develop new, more efficient estimators for application to a wide variety of practical problems. Two rather different approaches have characterized the work: (1) the use of a multistage analysis (1) to optimize the efficiencies (variances) of families of estimating random variables in a traditional statistical Monte Carlo framework, and (2) the development of parallel quasi-random sampling techniques and corresponding deterministic error bounds.

A target factory diagram has been constructed for an analysis of the shell coating process system in relation to target production. The number of deposition units needed to achieve the coating requirements will be a major target production operating cost.