Nearly half of the US utility-owned steam electric generating capacity is cooled by once-through cooling systems. These plants withdraw cooling water primarily from surface water bodies. Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act requires that the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures reflect the best technology available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts. At present, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet promulgated applicable implementing regulations governing intake structures; however, the Agency is required by a Consent Decree to develop such regulations. EPA has presented a draft tiered regulatory framework approach that, depending on site-specific factors, may impose various regulatory burdens on affected utilities. Potential new requirements could range from compiling and submitting existing data to demonstrate that existing conditions at each unit represent BTA to retrofitting plants with closed-cycle cooling systems (primarily cooling towers). If the final regulations require installation of cooling towers or implementation of other costly plant modifications, utilities may elect to close some generating units rather than invest the finds necessary to upgrade them to meet the Section 316(b) requirements. Potentially, some regions of the country may then have a higher proportion of closed units than others, leading to a …

We present three preliminary results from SLD on B decays: an inclusive search for the process b {r_arrow} s gluon, a measurement of the branching ratio for the process B {r_arrow} D{bar D}X, and measurements of the charged and neutral B lifetimes. All three measurements make use of the excellent vertexing efficiency and resolution of the CCD Vertex Detector and the first two make use of the excellent particle identification capability of the Cherenkov Ring Imaging Detector. The b {r_arrow} sg analysis searches for an enhancement of high momentum charged kaons produced in B decays. Within the context of a simple, Jetset-inspired model of b {r_arrow} sg, a limit of B(b {r_arrow} sg) < 7.6% is obtained. The B(B {r_arrow} D{bar D}X) analysis reconstructs two secondary vertices and uses identified charged kaons to determine which of these came from charm decays. The result of the analysis is B(B {r_arrow} D{bar D}X) = (16.2 {+-} 1.9 {+-} 4.2)%. The results of the lifetime analysis are: {tau}{sub B{sup +}} = 1.686 {+-} 0.025 {+-} 0.042 ps, {tau}{sub B{sup 0}} = 1.589 {+-} 0.026 {+-} 0.055 ps and {tau}{sub B{sup +}}/{tau}{sub B{sup 0}} = 1.061 {+-} 0.031/0.029 {+-} 0.027.

This presentation covers the strategy and analysis of an experiment to characterize a gas tungsten arc welding process. The experiment combined four uncontrolled noise factors and four controlled process parameters. A nontraditional response surface design was employed. Multiple responses were modeled. Optimal settings for the process parameters to successfully weld the widest range of the pertinent product features were identified. Thus, the process was made ''robust'' against ''noise'' factors. Comparisons are made between the experimental and analytical approach taken versus the Taguchi style of experimentation and analysis. This comparison is mainly done with respect to the information gained, such as product design criteria, incoming material specifications, and process adjustments for nonconforming material.

In this report, we summarize recent work at LLNL on the compact torus (CT) acceleration project. The CT accelerator is a novel technique for projecting plasmas to high velocities and reaching high energy density states. The accelerator exploits magnetic confinement in the CT to stably transport plasma over large distances and to directed kinetic energies large in comparison with the CT internal and magnetic energy. Applications range from heating and fueling magnetic fusion devices, generation of intense pulses of x-rays or neutrons for weapons effects and high energy-density fusion concepts.

We summarize the status of next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations of the cross sections for the production of squarks, gluinos, neutralinos, charginos, and sleptons as a function of the produced particle masses in proton-antiproton collisions at the hadronic center-of-mass energy 2 TeV.

This project deals with the demonstration of a coking process using proprietary technology of Calderon, with the following objectives geared to facilitate commercialization: (1) making coke of such quality as to be suitable for use in hard-driving, large blast furnaces; (2) providing proof that such process is continuous and environmentally closed to prevent emissions; (3) demonstrating that high-coking-pressure (non-traditional) coal blends which cannot be safely charged into conventional by-product coke ovens can be used in the Calderon process; and (4) demonstrating that coke can be produced economically, at a level competitive with coke imports. The activities of the past quarter were focused on the following: Consolidation of the team of stakeholders; Move the site for the commercial demonstration to LTV Steel, Cleveland, Ohio; Permitting for new site; Site specific engineering; Cost update of the project as it relates to the Cleveland location; FETC update; DCAA audit; and Updated endorsement of Calderon process by Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA, Region 5.

Options for air compliance through pollution prevention (P2) have been identified at 14 facilities of the US Air Force Materiel Command, ranging from depots with significant light industrial activity to laboratories. Previous P2 efforts concentrated on reducing hazardous and solid wastes, with any reduction in air impacts generally being a collateral benefit. This work focused on reducing air emissions and air compliance vulnerabilities. P2 options were identified in three stages. First, potentially applicable P2 options were identified from Internet and published information. Attention was given to identifying the types of sources to which an option could be applied, the option's state of development, and constraints that could limit its application. Traditional P2 options involving technology or equipment changes and material substitution were considered. In addition, newer approaches based on administrative ''controls'' were considered. These included inserting P2 into operating permits in exchange for administrative relief, privatization, derating boilers, and reducing an installation's potential to emit and compliance vulnerability by separating sources not under the Air Force's ''common control.'' Next, criteria and toxic emissions inventories by source category were prepared from inventory data supplied by facilities. The major problems at this stage were differences in the levels of detail provided by …

We present the measurements of the leptonic asymmetries in Z{sup 0} decays measured by the SLD experiment at SLAC. A data sample of approximately 550,000 Z{sup 0} bosons are used for the preliminary measurement of A{sub LR}(A{sub e}) and the leptonic final state measurements of A{sub e}, A{sub {mu}} and A{sub {tau}}, representing the entire set of 1992-1998 SLD runs. When combining all results, a preliminary value for the effective weak mixing angle is obtained: sin{sup 2} {theta}{sub W}{sup eff} = 0.23109 {+-} 0.00029. We also present the direct measurements of A{sub b} from left-right forward-backward asymmetries, using partial data samples from 1993-1998 SLD runs. The preliminary value combines jet charge, cascade kaon and semileptonic decay analyses to obtain A{sub b} = 0.866 {+-} 0.036.

Lead, used throughout the electronics industries, typically contains small amounts of radioactive {sup 210}Pb (a daughter product of the planets ubiquitous {sup 238}U) whose {sup 210}Po daughter emits an {alpha}-particle that is known to cause soft errors in electronic circuits. The {sup 210}Pb is not separable by chemical means. This paper describes the generic Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) process developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) over the last 20 years, with particular emphasis on recent efforts to develop the process physics and component technologies required to remove the offending {sup 210}Pb using lasers. We have constructed a developmental facility that includes a process laser development area and a test bed for the vaporizer and ion and product collectors. We will be testing much of the equipment and demonstrating pilot scale AVLIS on a surrogate material later this year. Detection of the very low alpha emission even from commercially available low-alpha lead is challenging. LLNL`s detection capabilities will be described. The goal of the development of lead purification technology is to demonstrate the capability in FY97, and to deploy a production machine capable of up to several MT/y of isotopically purified material, possible beginning in FY98.

The cold war and the development of nuclear energy have resulted in significant inventories of miscellaneous fissile materials (MFMs). MFMs include (1) plutonium scrap and residue, (2) miscellaneous spent nuclear fuel (SNF), (3) certain hot cell wastes, and (4) many one-of-a-kind materials. Major concerns associated with the long-term management of these materials include: safeguards and nonproliferation issues; health, environment, and safety concerns. waste management requirements; and high storage costs. These issues can be addressed by converting the MFMs to glass for secure, long-term storage or repository disposal; however, conventional glass-making processes require oxide-like feed materials. Converting MFMs to oxide-like materials with subsequent vitrification is a complex and expensive process. A new vitrification process has been invented, the Glass Material Oxidation and Dissolution System (GMODS), which directly converts metals, ceramics, and amorphous solids to glass; oxidizes organics with the residue converted to glass; and converts chlorides to borosilicate glass and a secondary sodium chloride (NaCl) stream. Laboratory work has demonstrated the conversion of cerium (a plutonium surrogate), uranium, Zircaloy, stainless steel, multiple oxides, and other materials to glass. However, significant work is required to develop GMODS further for applications at an industrial scale. If implemented, GMODS will provide a new approach …

The health of FFTF systems was assessed assuming a continued facility standby condition. The review was accomplished in accordance with the guidelines of FFTF-EI-083, Plant Evaluation Program. The attached document includes an executive summary of the significant conclusions and assessment reports for each system evaluated.

This document contains the sampling procedure, analytical results, and source term estimate from sampling work conducted on the main stack for the 340 Facility`s vault ventilation system. Several air filter and carbon cartridges were collected upstream of the KI off-gas control modules in order to determine the challenge source terms associated with various operating modes (e.g., under routine waste storage, during waste mixing, during waste transfer, etc.)

The Hanford Cone Penetrometer Platform (CPP) will be used to insert instrumented and soil sampling probes into the soil adjacent to Tank AX-104 to assist in characterizing the waste plume. The scope, deliverables, roles and responsibilities, safety, and environmental considerations are presented in the task plan.

This document identifies radiological, chemical and physical conditions inside the Fuel Transfer Pit and Fuel Storage Basins. These spaces are located inside the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor structure (309 Building.) The fuel handling and storage feature of the PRTR were primarily located in these spaces. The conditions were assessed as part of overall 309 Building transition.

This plan describes all the permitting actions that have been identified as required to implement the Hanford Tanks Initiative. It reflects changes in the scope to the Hanford Tanks Initiative since the Rev. 0 plan was issued. The cost and schedule for the permitting actions are included.

Calculated excitation functions are provided for all proton-induced reactions listed for the Coordinated Research Program (CRP) on Development of a Reference Charge Particle Cross Section Data Base for Medical Radioisotope Production under the IAEA. The excitation functions are compared with experimental data sets as provided to the CRP. We discuss the merit of calculated results with respect to the experimental data.

A review was conducted of trapped gas estimates in Hanford waste tanks. Tank waste levels were found to correlate with barometric pressure changes giving the possibility to infer amounts of trapped gas. Previous models of the tank waste level were extended to include other phenomena such as evaporation in a more complete description of tank level changes.

This project addressed the sequence selectivities of DNA binding by intercalating agents. Methods analogous to chemical DNA sequencing were developed to quantitatively investigate sequence selectivities of DNA binding of several DNA intercalators including benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxides, ethidium, copper-phenanthroline complexes, and the anticancer drug actinomycin D. Computer programs were developed to extract sequence selectivities from large data sets. A photoaffinity analog approach was validated for determining the sequence selectivities of ethidium and actinomycin D. Several `non-traditional` binding sites were identified for each ligand examined. Actinomycin D was shown to bind single stranded DNA, as well as double stranded DNA, with high affinity and sequence selectivity. All of the compounds studied were intercalators, but they differ significantly in side chain complexity.

Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) of Japan, the Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC) is investigating the seismic behavior of a Reinforced Concrete Containment Vessel (RCCV) through scale-model testing using the high-performance shaking table at the Tadotsu Engineering Laboratory. A series of tests representing design-level seismic ground motions was initially conducted to gather valuable experimental measurements for use in design verification. Additional tests will be conducted with increasing amplifications of the seismic input until a structural failure of the test model occurs. In a cooperative program with NUPEC, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC), through Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), is conducting analytical research on the seismic behavior of RCCV structures. As part of this program, pretest analytical predictions of the model tests are being performed. The dynamic time-history analysis utilizes a highly detailed concrete constitutive model applied to a three-dimensional finite element representation of the test structure. This paper describes the details of the analysis model and provides analysis results.

The on-site version of Balance of Power reached a total audience of 21,331 between November 10, 1994 and January 31, 1996; in addition, the Physics on Wheels van offered exhibits and programs to an additional 30,000 students in the 1995-1996 school year. The program provided a groundbreaking new approach to informal science education, combining a dynamic demonstration with an intensely interactive game show. Between the on-site programming and the Physics on Wheels van programs, 51,331 students were impacted by the activities, exhibits and energy-conservation message of Balance of Power.

Thin films are used in many applications where special properties are needed to insure performance and reliability. Of particular interest are thin tantalum nitride films. They are used extensively in microelectronic applications because of their long term stability and low thermal coefficient of resistance. They are sputter deposited which produces films with a high structural defect content and high compressive residual stresses both of which can alter the physical and mechanical properties of microelectronic thin films. Although these films are strong heat generators, they exhibit no changes in structure or composition of the interface with aluminum oxide substrates that degrade performance or reliability. However, the use of high power density components is driving a move to replace aluminum oxide with aluminum nitride for greater heat transfer. 6 This replacement substrate creates concern as residual stresses and long-term operation could induce detrimental changes along the thin film interface not observed in aluminum oxide devices. As a result, the authors employed nanoindentation and continuous nanoscratch testing to determine the effects of the intrinsic compressive residual stresses on the properties and fracture resistance of the thin tantalum nitride films. These techniques sample small volumes of material while preserving the production configuration of a …

The focus of this study is to develop a sensor fused process modeling and control methodology to model, assess, and then enhance the performance of a hexapod machine for precision product realization. Deterministic modeling technique was used to derive models for machine performance assessment and enhancement. Sensor fusion methodology was adopted to identify the parameters of the derived models. Empirical models and computational algorithms were also derived and implemented to model, assess, and then enhance the machine performance. The developed sensor fusion algorithms can be implemented on a PC-based open architecture controller to receive information from various sensors, assess the status of the process, determine the proper action, and deliver the command to actuators for task execution. This will enhance a hexapod machine`s capability to produce workpieces within the imposed dimensional tolerances.

The chemistry of uranium and plutonium in conjunction with the storage, retrieval and treatment of high-level nuclear waste (HLW) has been the subject of increasing scrutiny due to concerns with nuclear criticality safety. Previous studies focused on determining the solubilities of plutonium and uranium in alkaline salt solutions that encompass the compositions present during storage and evaporation of fresh and aged. Recent studies extend the chemistry to include the effects of coprecipitation on the liquid phase concentrations of plutonium and uranium. Particle size, morphology and identification of crystalline phases in the precipitated solids as well as the plutonium and uranium dissolution characteristics upon dilution of the liquid phases were also determined.

Increasingly, high performance computing constitutes the use of very large heterogeneous clusters of machines. The use and maintenance of such clusters are subject to complexities of communication between the machines in a time efficient and secure manner. Lilith is a general purpose tool that provides a highly scalable, secure, and easy distribution of user code across a heterogeneous computing platform. By handling the details of code distribution and communication, such a framework allows for the rapid development of tools for the use and management of large distributed systems. Lilith is written in Java, taking advantage of Java`s unique features of loading and distributing code dynamically, its platform independence, its thread support, and its provision of graphical components to facilitate easy to use resultant tools. The authors describe the use of Lilith in a tool developed for the maintenance of the large distributed cluster at their institution and present details of the Lilith architecture and user API for the general user development of scalable tools.