In continuing studies to characterize and identify fission product activities formed in the piles and appearing in plant dissolver solutions work was done to determine whether or not long-lived isotopes of certain elements were present. Two of the elements in this category were iodine and arsenic. The iodine isotope of particular interest was I{sup 129}. Its tellurium parent has been identified but no daughter activity attributable to iodine has been observed. The arsenic activities of interest were the long-lived isotopes (16 days and 90 days) which have been produced artificially by several different nuclear reactions.

Recent plant-scale scavenging and cribbing tests have confirmed laboratory data which indicated that the cesium and strontium in TBP wastes could be reduced by nickel ferrocyanide scavenging to concentrations which permit discharge of the scavenged supernatant to cribs. In this document a chemical flowsheet is presented for use as a design basis for facilities which will permit scavenging of unconcentrated neutralized waste for the TBP Plant.

Seven enriched seven-rod cluster elements, three with thirty mil Zircaloy-2 jackets and four with twenty mil Zircaloy-2 jackets, will be irradiated at high temperature to an exposure of 4500 MWD/T. Coolant temperatures in the internal and external flow channels will be measured during irradiation.

Subsurface contour maps were prepared from a seismic reflection survey. (JSR)

Programs undertaken by N-Fuels Engineering should be designed to achieve the following general objectives; (1) maintain and/or improve fuel element quality level necessary to assure satisfactory reactor performance; (2) develop the fuel fabrication technology required to support the development and testing of new fuel designs; (3) reduce fuel manufacturing costs to achieve projected operated cost targets; (4) reduce the uranium metal costs charged to N-Reactor. Further, these programs must be integrated to provide maximum support to identifiable Section and Department goals. The specific goals for CY-65 are: (1) development technology necessary to support conversion to co-product operation early in CY-66; (2) conduct a program of uranium fabrication development to improve fuel element quality and reduce uranium costs; (3) improve fuel element quality, manufacturing yields, and conversion costs for the current production fuel design; (4) develop fuels capable of extended exposure and/or higher power level operation in support of alternate reactor operating plans; (5) develop new fuel fabrication techniques to extend the capabilities for fuel fabrication within the N-Reactor Department; (6) initiate equipment design and procurement actions as necessary to provide capability to meet production schedules.

This report was prepared by Battelle-Northwest under Contract No. AT(45-1)-1830 for the Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Reactor Development and Technology, to summarize technical progress made in the Fast Flux Test Facility Program during December 1969.

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This report presents the theoretical and experimental results of an LLL Electronics Engineering research program aimed at optimizing the design and electronic-material parameters of beta- and photovoltaic p-n junction conversion devices. To meet this objective, a comprehensive computer code has been developed that can handle a broad range of practical conditions. The physical model upon which the code is based is described first. Then, an example is given of a set of optimization calculations along with the resulting optimized efficiencies for silicon (Si) and gallium-arsenide (GaAs) devices. The model we have developed, however, is not limited to these materials. It can handle any appropriate material--single or polycrystalline-- provided energy absorption and electron-transport data are available. To check code validity, the performance of experimental silicon p-n junction devices (produced in-house) were measured under various light intensities and spectra as well as under tritium beta irradiation. The results of these tests were then compared with predicted results based on the known or best estimated device parameters. The comparison showed very good agreement between the calculated and the measured results.

The objective of this program is to evaluate, in the light of the latest available information and modern technology, the prospect for low cost solar silicon production by two processes which have yielded semiconductor-grade silicon commercially in the past, but whose development was curtailed by unfavorable market conditions in the early semiconductor industry. These processes are (1) zinc reduction of silicon tetrachloride and (2) thermal dissociation (or hydrogen reduction) of silicon tetraiodide. This report includes analyses of available thermodynamic data on both processes and predictions of equilibrium product yields over accessible ranges of process conditions. A parallel program of experimental work has been carried out to test the thermodynamic predictions and to evaluate process operability at several critical points. Preliminary results indicate that acceptable process yields and product structure can be obtained by zinc reduction of silicon tetrachloride in a fluidized-bed of seed particles when the zinc is fed to the bed as a vapor. Preliminary experimental results on the iodination of silicon dioxide/carbon mixtures confirm the thermodynamic predictions that temperatures in excess of 1400 C will produce potentially acceptable yields of silicon tetraiodide. (auth)

The construction of the first high-pressure liquid-phase flow microreactor has been completed, and kinetic studies of reaction of dibenzothiophene have been started. Understanding of catalytic hydrodesulfurization and catalyst decay has been advanced by examination of the reaction rate of thiophene, tetrahydrothiophene, and butanethiol on Harshaw 0402T catalyst. Two batch autoclave reactors have been completely assembled behind appropriate safety barricades; satisfactory operation has been demonstrated; and quinoline hydrodenitrogenation studies are underway to demonstrate operating procedures providing quantitative, reproducible data. Quinoline rapidly hydrogenates to tetrahydroquinoline; the two compounds appear to be in thermodynamic equilibrium. The tetrahydroquinoline apparently undergoes slow hydrogenolysis of the nitrogen-containing ring giving n-propylaniline as an identified long-lived product. The reaction engineering of the pulsed microreactor system has been developed and compared to some laboratory data. The moments of the inlet and exit pulses show substantial effects from product adsorption.

A theoretical expression showing the radial dependence of permeability in geologic media as a function of the distance from the point of detonation has been derived. This relationship shows that created permeability decreases as a function of radius (1/r/sup 5/ around a spherical blast and 1/r/sup 4/ around a cylindrical shot). Excellent correlation was found when this prediction was compared with permeability measurements made around the site of the Hardhat nuclear event fired in granodiorite and a chemical explosive detonated in coal. (auth)

This report is intended as an aid in project management and contains only that technical information required for project direction. A scope description is included for each task. Each task has a status statement, identification of key results, problems, recommended solutions, and future activities. A conceptual description of the utility system and a posture of the Project are included. (MHR)

This report is a qualitative summary of research conducted at MIT from 1967 to 1977 in the area of reactor kinetics methods. The objectives of the research were to find methods of integration of various mathematical models of nuclear reactor transients. From the beginning the work was aimed at numerical integration methods. Specific areas of research, discussed in more detail following, included: integration of multigroup diffusion theory models by finite difference and finite element methods; response matrix and nodal methods; coarse-mesh homogenization; and special treatment of boundary conditions.

IFCAM is an energy-demand model developed in response to the need to evaluate fuel-choice decisions in the industrial sector over a 10- to 15-year forecasting horizon. The model generates complete model outputs for 1985, 1990, and 1995. These outputs, providing fuel-mix results in either absolute amounts or as distribution percentages, are available under several formats. The fuel-use figures can be presented by new or existing combustors, functional uses (boilers vs process heaters), nine industry sectors, and 10 regions. Boiler results can be broken down by size and capacity utilization. The model can provide outputs related to the cost, tax, and environmental impacts associated with an energy scenario. The basic outputs from the model are oil, gas, and coal demand after all the incentives and fuel-type constraints have been evaluated.

Descriptions, documentation, and other information are included in these appendices dealing with industrial fuel choices: Energy Consumption Data Base; Major Fuel Burning Installation Survey; American Boiler Manufacturers Association Data File; Midrange Energy Forecasting System; Projection Method; Capacity Utilization Rates; Nonboiler Characteristics; Boiler Capital and O and M Cost Data; Nonboiler Capital and O and M Cost Data; Approach to Estimating Energy Impacts of the Coal Conversion Regulatory Program; Index or Acronyms.

Factors affecting the precipitation of solids and deposition of scale from the hypersaline brines of the Salton Sea geothermal field - two potential problems in the proposed utilization of these brines for electric power generation - were investigated. The average physical and chemical composition of the fluid from Magmamax No. 1 well was noted and the effects of changes in well flowrate on the chemistry of the brine and the formation of solids were determined. The effects of pH on the process stream chemistry and on the composition and rates of formation of solids and scale that precipitated from this brine were studied. Reduction of the pH from 6 to 4-5 decreased the scaling rates and increased the proportions of bariun sulfate and calcium fluoride in the scales and precipitated solids. These studies were conducted using a small-scale four-stage brine flash system constructed at the site.

Measurement of absorbance along the z-axis of a lithium tantalate crystal was completed using a Cary spectrophotometer. Transmission through two polished but uncoated faces was about 62% which compares well with 73% calculated from Fresnel reflectivity equations. (FS)

Previous work in this laboratory on cuprous oxide Schottky barrier photovoltaic cells showed that some potential improvements were limited by chemical degradations at the junction (1), e.g., in Al/Cu/sub 2/O cells, the aluminum reduced the surface of the Cu/sub 2/O to metallic Cu. The present project is being devoted to a study of methods to avoid this problem and also to the development of other methods of improving the efficiency of Cu/sub 2/O cells. The first quarterly report was devoted to a study of thin oxide interlayers between the metal and the Cu/sub 2/O which gives MIS structures. The most stable interlayers were obtained with SiO/sub 2/. The second quarterly report covered some initial work on heterojunctions with other oxides on Cu/sub 2/O. The most stable heterojunctions were obtained with CdO on Cu/sub 2/O. The present report presents some results on Auger studies of the oxide heterojunctions, the preparation of doped Cu/sub 2/O by introduction of impurities in the starting copper, the exploration of several method for the study of diffusion length, and some initial attempts on the laser annealing of Cu/sub 2/O.

The sensitivity of radiation detectors which utilizes photomultipliers was determined after exposing the multiplier phototubes to high intensity light pulses. Test results found that generally less than a 5% change was found. (FS)

Thiocyanates have been found in most coal conversion and coke plant effluents. The objectives of this study were to develop data for the biological degradation fate kinetics of thiocyanate removal, and to develop material balance information for the fate of sulfur and nitrogen resulting from such bio-decomposition of aqueous thiocyanates. A literature review of thiocyanate bio-degradation indicates that while much biochemistry information is available, little information in the biological processing arena is known. Based on both batch and continuous culture experiments utilizing an activated sludge type of system with strictly thiocyanate degradating organisms, the specific utilization rate for SCN degradation was found to follow a substrate inhibition biokinetic relationship as: d(SCN)/dt-X = 2.24/(1 + (5/SCN) + (SCN/1340)/sup 6/) where; d(SCN)/dt-X = lb SCN used/lb biomass-day, SCN = mg/L SCN in effluent. The observed biomass sludge production rate was quantified as a function of sludge age in the bio-reactor. The major metabolic by-products of SCN aerobic biodegradation are ammonia and sulfate, with such formation being stochiometric with SCN. High levels of SCN in coal conversion and Stretford system effluents may lead to biological nitrification process requirements to be added to the wastetreatment scheme for compliance with BAT effluent ammonia discharge restrictions.

Formulas are derived for the mass, momentum, and energy densities, the xx component of the pressure tensor P/sup xx/, and the x component of the heat flux Q/sup x/. The formulas relate these local properties to the masses, positions, and velocities of the constituent particles making up the system and are in a usable form for molecular-dynamics simulations without approximation. The formulas for P/sup xx/ and Q/sup x/ avoid the infinite series found in the formulas of Irving and Kirkwood.

Tar-sand petroleum-extraction procedures undergoing field testing for possible commercial application in the US include both surface (above-ground) and in situ (underground) procedures. The surface tar-sand systems currently being field tested in the US are thermal decomposition processes (retorting), and suspension methods (solvent extraction). Underground bitumen extraction procedures that are also being field tested domestically are in situ combustion and steam-injection. Environmental, health, safety, and socioeconomic concerns associated with construction and operation of 20,000-bbl/d commercial tar-sand surface and in situ facilities have been estimated and are summarized in this report. The principal regulations that commercial tar-sand facilities will need to address are also discussed, and environmental control technologies are summarized and wherever possible, projected costs of emission controls are stated. Finally, the likelihood-of-occurrence of potential environmental, health, and safety problems that have been determined are reviewed, and from this information inference is made as to the environmental acceptability of technologically feasible 20,000-bbl/d commercial tar-sand oil-extraction procedures.

Experimental spectroscopy data of fission products have been obtained using highly automated and rapid chemical separations followed by automated spectroscopy studies of isolated fission products. These data have established the presence of only a single level with spin-parity of 1/sup +/ below 1500 keV of excitation in Z = 51 /sup 132/Sb/sub 81/. This is in contrast to the results of our studies of /sup 130/Sb and /sup 134/I. For /sup 134/I, the N = 81 isotone with Z = 53, we can characterize three 1/sup +/ levels below 1200 keV. For /sup 130/Sb/sub 79/ that has a neutron pair less than /sup 132/Sb, we can identify two 1/sup +/ levels below 1100 keV. We can account for the additional levels using the LLNL shell-model code which is based on the Lanczos tridiagonalization algorithm using an uncoupled m-scheme basis and vector manipulations. The 1g/sub 7/2/, 2d/sub 5/2/, 2d/sub 3/2/, 1h/sub 11/2/, and 3s/sub 1/2/ orbitals are available to the valence protons and the 2d/sub 5/2/, 2d/sub 3/2/, 1h/sub 11/2/, and 3s/sub 1/2/ orbitals are available to the valence neutron holes. Analysis of the wavefunctions show the dominant role of three nucleon cluster configurations in producing the increased number of states …