Report on the environmental impact of Argonne National Laboratory.

This report discusses research activities and operations of the Advanced Computing Research Facility (ACRF) at Argonne National Laboratory from January 1985 through June 1986. During this period, the Mathematics and Computer Science Division (MCS) at Argonne received incremental funding from the Applied Mathematical Sciences program of the DOE Office of Energy Research to operate computers with innovative designs that promise to be useful for advanced scientific research. Over a five-month period, four new commercial multiprocessors (an Encore Multimax, a Sequent Balance 21000, an Aliant FX/8, and an Intel iPSC/d5) were installed in the ACRF, creating a new wave of research projects concerning computer systems with parallel and vector architectures. A list of projects, publications, and users supported by the ACRF is included.

Research activities and operations of the Advanced Computing Research Facility (ACRF) at Argonne National Laboratory are discussed for the period from July 1986 through October 1986. The facility is currently supported by the Department of Energy, and is operated by the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne. Over the past four-month period, a new commercial multiprocessor, the Intel iPSC-VX/d4 hypercube was installed. In addition, four other commercial multiprocessors continue to be available for research - an Encore Multimax, a Sequent Balance 21000, an Alliant FX/8, and an Intel iPSC/d5 - as well as a locally designed multiprocessor, the Lemur. These machines are being actively used by scientists at Argonne and throughout the nation in a wide variety of projects concerning computer systems with parallel and vector architectures.

This paper describes an alternative library of elementary functions prepared for use with the standard Fortran compiler under 4.2 BSD UNIX on a VAX 11/780. The library, written in C and based on the book ''Software Manual for the Elementary Functions'' by Cody and Waite, offers improved accuracy over the standard system library, as well as additional capabilities. Listings and output from the ELEFUNT suite of test programs are included in the appendix.

Heat transfer in evacuated-tube solar collectors with heat-pipe absorbers is compared with that for similar collectors with flow-through absorbers. In systems that produce hot water or other heated fluids, the heat-pipe absorber suffers a heat transfer penalty compared with the flow-through absorber, but in many cases the penalty can be minimized by proper design at the heat-pipe condenser and system manifold. The heat transfer penalty decreases with decreasing collector heat loss coefficient, suggesting that evacuated tubes with optical concentration are more appropriate for use with heat pipes than evacuated or non-evacuated flat-plate collectors. When the solar collector is used to drive an absorption chiller, the heat-pipe absorber has better heat transfer characteristics than the flow-through absorbers.

From abstract: This paper describes a Bessel null technique to measure the frequency response of a frequency-modulated rf carrier and a program to automate frequency response measurements of signal generators with output frequencies from 0.450 to 2000 MHz. The measurements obtained using this technique are more precise than those obtained by a highly trained technician using a manual system.

Abstract: Tables of important data for use in the analytical chemistry laboratory are provided. These tables contain information for use in gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, infrared and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, and wet chemical techniques. Tables relating to safe practice in the analytical laboratory are also included.

Abstract: Contained herein are bibliographies of Sources of experimental and correlated thermodynamic data for seven binary aqueous mixtures of industrial importance, namely mixtures of CO2, H2S, NH3, H2S0, H3P4, CuCl2 and ZnCl2 with water. The categories of equilibrium data included in the bibliographies are activity and osmotic coefficients, equilibria in solution, enthalpies and heat capacity data, vapor-liquid equilibria, and phase equilibrium data.

Highlights of the Chemical Technology (CMT) Division's activities during 1985 are presented. In this period, CMT conducted research and development in areas that include advanced batteries--mainly lithium-alloy/metal sulfide and sodium/sulfur, advanced fuel cells with molten carbonate or solid oxide electrolytes, corrosion-protective coatings for high-strength steel, coal utilization, including the heat and seed recovery technology for coal-fired magnetohydrodynamics plants and the technology for fluidized-bed combustion, methodologies for recovery of energy from municipal waste nuclear technology related to waste management, the recovery processes for discharged fuel and the uranium blanket in a sodium-cooled fast reactor, and proof of breeding in a light water breeder reactor, and physical chemistry of selected materials in environments simulating those of fission and fusion energy systems.

Report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Mines discussing comparisons between company camps and company towns in Alaska's mineral properties. The cost differences between operating towns, camps, and commuting options are presented. This report includes maps, tables, and illustrations.

From page 5: Numerous opportunities exist for scientists and engineers from industrial professional trade and other organizations to collaborate in research at the National Bureau of Standards on projects of mutual interest. To accomplish its objective of supplying the measurement foundation for industry, science, and technology. NBS conducts research in many areas, including advanced ceramics, automated manufacturing, opto-electronics, and biotechnology.

This paper presents an algorithm in PROLOG for compiling recursively computable descriptions of system behavior from computable descriptions of behavior for parts and lists of interconnections. We give a set of conditions that must be satisfied by various data structures in the computation. It seems possible to provide an informal verification (by hand) that these conditions are true also of the output.

Abstract: This report presents the results of work at the National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, Colorado, to carefully evaluate, document, develop (when necessary), and describe the methodology for performing radiated susceptibility/vulnerability measurements using a reverberation chamber. The report describes the reverberation chamber theory of operation, construction, evaluation, functional operation, and use for performing immunity measurements. It includes an estimate of measurement uncertainties derived empirically from test results and from comparisons with anechoic chamber measurements. Finally, it discusses the limitations and advantages of the measurement technique to assist potential users in determining the applicability for this technique to their electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) measurement needs.

A photographic study of a hydrogen chloride gas jet reacting in an aqueous solution of ammonia was conducted. The high-speed motion pictures taken revealed that the behavior of the reacting gas jet was highly dynamic and complex. The gaseous jet penetration (''plume'') was not stationary, but underwent a change in shape and size with time, which appeared to be periodic or cyclic. Certain observations made, including a high-pitched sound, exhibited a striking similarity to the so-called ''singing flame'' phenomenon. Such dynamic plume behavior is attributed to the vaporization of the bath liquid due to reaction heat release. The plume length measurements for large concentrations of ammonia seem to confirm the prediction that when the extent of vaporization is large, the plume length is mainly determined by the distance required for condensation of the vapor.

Proper charging is essential to achieve maximum performance and life of lead-acid batteries. Excessive overcharging gives rise to increased battery temperature, gassing rates, electrolyte maintenance, and component corrosion, whereas repeated undercharging causes a gradual decrease in battery capacity, which often becomes irreversible. To develop an optimal charge procedure, the relation between battery available capacity, applied overcharge, and the depth-of-discharge (DOD) level prior to charging needed to be established.

Performance of improved Ni/Fe electric vehicle batteries was measured at ambient temperatures of 0, 25, and 50 C for a range of overcharge levels, open-circuit stand times, and charge and discharge rates. Tests in which charges and discharges were performed at different battery operating temperatures showed that the discharge capacity of a Ni/Fe battery is directly related to its operating temperature, but its charge acceptance is decreased at 0 and 50 C by approx. 6% from that obtained at 25 C. The decline in battery efficiency at high temperatures is the result of increased self-discharge losses. In the first 0.5 h after charge, the Ah self-discharge loss at 50 C is twice (6%) that at 0 and 25 C (approx. 3%), corresponding to an increase in initial self-discharge rate from approx. 8 to 16 A. The increased self-discharge rate apparently occurs during the latter part of charging and, thereby, causes the 6% decline in charge acceptance. A decrease in battery efficiency also resulted at 50 C (6% coulombic and 4% energy efficiency loss) when the charge current was reduced from the 3-h to the 6-h rate. In comparison, low temperatures impact battery internal resistance and IR-free voltage more than high …

From abstract: The material included in this report is intended for a short course on electromagnetic compatibility/interference (EMC/EMI) metrology to be offered jointly by the staff of the Fields Characterization Group (723.03) and the Interference Characterization Group (723.04) of the Electromagnetic Fields Division (723). The purpose of this short course is to present a review of some of the radiated EMC/EMI measurement methods, to which the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) at Boulder, Colorado, has made significant contributions during the past two decades.

Report that includes summaries of sessions and papers presented at a workshop on "Environment and Resources of Seamounts in the North Pacific," held March 21-23, 1984 at the Orido Community Center near the Far Seas Fisheries Research Laboratory and the Government Port Building in Shimizu, Japan.

Report on technical progress in the various research and assessment activities of Argonne National Laboratory.

Abstract: This report presents a methodology for evaluating heat detection systems installed in buildings. Previous work for use primarily in designing new thermal fire detection systems was used as a starting point. The previous work was enhanced and supplemented to make it more useful for evaluating existing systems. The resulting equations were programmed into a user interactive computer program. This program is available in both BASIC and FORTRAN and will run on mainframes as well as personal computers. In addition, a modified version of the FORTRAN program was used to develop an extensive set of tables listing detector activation times for given building geometries, detector characteristics, and fire growth rates. These tables are useful for quick evaluation of alternative heat detector installations. Finally practical examples are included to illustrate the use of the tables and computer programs.

Abstract: This report presents a methodology for evaluating heat detection systems installed in buildings. Previous work for use primarily in designing new thermal fire detection systems was used as a starting point. The previous work was enhanced and supplemented to make it more useful for evaluating existing systems. The resulting equations were programmed into a user interactive computer program.' This program is available in both BASIC and FORTRAN and will run on mainframe as well as personal computers. In addition, a modified version of the FORTRAN program was used to develop an extensive set of tables listing: detector activation times for given building geometries, detector characteristics, and fire growth rates. These tables are useful for quick evaluation of alternative heat detector installations. Finally, practical examples are included to illustrate the use of the tables and computer programs.

Abstract: This report is the result of an in-depth review of the recent technical literature on expert systems,. The material contained in this report provided a basis for assessing the potential for using expert systems in emergency management operations. In choosing the material for inclusion in this report, special emphasis was placed on those aspects of expert systems which addressed the types of problems encountered in emergency management operations. The report is designed for use as a resource document and as a tutorial on expert systems and emergency management. Each chapter consists of a brief topic essay followed by a set of references which expand on the main themes of the essay.

Entry from a fishery atlas describing characteristics of the Hawaiian octopus (He'e), including Latin names, distinguishing characteristics, life history, and fishing, with an illustration.

Abstract: This directory presents information on 61 U.S. Government certification programs for products and services. Entries describe the scope and nature of each certification program, testing and inspection practices, standards used, methods of identification and enforcement, reciprocal recognition or acceptance of certification, and other relevant details. This directory is part of an ongoing NBS effort to establish and maintain a comprehensive database on standards, regulations, certification programs and related information. This material has bee. compiled to meet the needs of government, industry, and the public for information on U.S. Government certification programs in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Trade Agreements Act of 1979.