The major objective of ERDA Manual Chapter 0511 is responsible technical management of its radioactive wastes. To ensure long term technical management, this DOE responsibility initially begins with the generation of radioactive wastes in all DOE operations and includes all other attributes and parameters (waste processing, packaging, shipping and storage) over the lifetime of the radionuclides. Close examination of the entire waste management cycle clearly indicates that one of the most important constituents which minimizes the risk to man and his environment is an effective and totally acceptable waste package containment system. The retrievable storage site for defense transuranic waste at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory has been accepting waste since November, 1970. Current DWPR planning calls for continuing use of the retrievable storage pad through FY-1987 with the WIPP facility attaining full operational status in FY-1988. In the FY-1976, 76A period over 107,000 ft of transuranic wastes were stored retrievably at INEL. This volume represents approximately 4000 drums of the 7.3 ft{sup 3} (55 gal.) size and 700 4 x 4 x 8` FRP coated plywood boxes on an annualized basis. At this waste generation rate, a rate which is probably conservative based upon known decontamination and decommissioning projects …

This report documents the results of a research and development effort to further develop and improve the design of a regenerated desiccant drying and dehumidification system which has more than twice the energy efficiency of conventional warm air dryers.

This report addresses an automated approach to quantitative error analysis in neutron transport calculations.

Progress is reported for a program whose goals are to demonstrate an experimental Upgraded gas turbine powered automobile which meets the 1978 Federal Emissions Standards, has significantly improved fuel economy, and is competitive in performance, reliability, and potential manufacturing cost with the conventional piston engine powered, compact-size American automobile

Progress is reported for a program whose goals are to demonstrate an experimental upgraded gas turbine powered automobile which meets the 1978 Federal Emissions Standards, has significantly improved fuel economy, and is competitive in performance, reliability, and potential manufacturing cost with the conventional piston engine powered, compact-size American automobile. Initial running of the upgraded engine took place on July 13, 1976. The engine has proved to be mechanically sound, but has also been seriously deficient in power. Principal program effort has therefore been in the area of diagnostic testing and corrective development. To date, three upgraded engines have been assembled and run in the test cell. Engine 2 was installed in an upgraded vehicle and became operational on January 25, 1977. Special diagnostic instrumentation was installed on Engine 3 to evaluate the compressor, turbine, and hot engine leakage. It was determined that the power deficiency was principally due to problems in the compressor and first stage turbine areas and during this quarter several corrective changes have been initiated. Parts for a fourth engine being built for NASA Lewis have been shipped to NASA for installation of special instrumentation.

Progress is reported for a program whose goals are to demonstrate an experimental Upgraded gas turbine powered automobile which meets the 1978 Federal Emissions Standards, has significantly improved fuel economy, and is competitive in performance, reliability, and potential manufacturing cost with the conventional piston engine powered, compact-size American automobile. Activity during this twentieth program quarter has continued to emphasize development towards correcting power deficiency in the Upgraded Engine. Though no absolute improvements have been realized in this quarter, ssignificant progress has been made in identifying causes, appropriately adjusting original design constraints, and proceeding with corrective designs. Specifically, to reduce endwall and secondary flow losses, a new low velocity compressor turbine inlet duct, and blading both with an increased height and lighter loading is being designed. A large increase in the power turbine annulus is being used to significantly lower blade Mach number and leaving loss. Progress is also being made in uniforming regenerator flow for better heat recovery, and in the development of control system components. A Public Interest Car has been built and has proved effective in communicating overall program benefits and goals. In the area of advanced engine development, work is now underway towards processing sintered alpha silicon …

This paper describes an experiment to estimate random and systematic errors in determining the effective specific power of plutonium. Precisons and accuracies comparable to coulometric assay were demonstrated for a wide range of plutonium isotopic compositions. Thus, calorimetric assay can provide an effective method for plutonium assay of materials in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Activities are summarized for a program to determine the relationships between shale characteristics, hydrocarbon gas content, and well location to provide a sound basis for defining the productive capacity of the Eastern Devonian shale deposits and for guiding research, development, and demonstration projects to enhance the recovery of natural gas from the shale deposits. The program includes a number of elemental tasks as a part of the Resource Inventory and Shale Characterization subprojects of ERDA's Eastern Shale Project and is designed to provide large quantities of support data for that project. Approximately 1000 core samples of gas bearing Eastern Devonian shale will be examined in the program. After the characterization data for individual wells have been compiled, a regression-type analysis for pattern recognition will be performed to establish the interrelationship between the shale characteristics, the hydrocarbon gas content, and well locations from which the samples were obtained. A milestone chart depicting the planned progress on the various tasks is given, and the status of the sampling and characterization tasks are summarized. The program is approximately on schedule and the requirements set by the milestone chart will likely be met by the next quarterly report. Some unforeseen difficulties in certain characterization …

The objectives of this research project are three-fold: To obtain data on the behavior of potentially toxic substances introduced into surface waters from nuclear power plants; To determine the impact magnitude of these substances on representative and economically important aquatic species; and To develop models with which to predict the partitioning of these substances among the abiotic aquatic compartments. Results are reported from investigations of copper partitioning in seawater, evaluating the toxicity of copper in representative marine organisms, and development of a mathematical model to predict copper partitioning.

The development of equipment and processes to produce single crystal solar silicon by a continuous Czochralski method was studied. ''Continuous'' is defined as the ability to produce 100 kilograms of crystal from only one melt container. The equipment to be used is a Hamco CG2000 Production Crystal Grower. Certain modifications will be made to the grower to enable periodic replenishment of silicon into the crucible and removal of grown crystals. The crystal grower was constructed and installed in a separate room designated and prepared for the project. It was adapted with a modified throat, a vacuum-tight isolation valve, an enlarged pull chamber to hold a supply of poly material, and a modified automatic diameter control (ADC) optical system. It was fully tested and made ready for trial runs. Designs are under way for other modifications to the equipment, including a recharge system, a polysilicon attachment device, and a modified bead-chain pull mechanism capable of pulling and simultaneously weighing a 30 to 40 Kg growing crystal. An economic model was developed for batch CZ as a base-line reference, and for two methods of continuous CZ. Preliminary analysis indicates a cost (value added by crystal growth) of approximately $13 to $17 per …

Research was expanded to the drilling of crystalline rock. Advance rates of 40 inches per minute have been achieved at 16,000 psi, 10 gpm flow rate in a 30,000 psi compressive strength rock using the water alone as the drilling mechanism. The quality of the hole achieved as the jet drilled a variety of rock was found to vary and a hydromechanical drilling bit, combining high pressure water jets with roller cones, has been developed. A field drilling unit has been tested and modified to allow the drilling of holes to 3/sup 1///sub 2/ inch diameter using the hydromechanical drill. Preliminary work on the development of a cavitation test for rock is also included.

Ceramic substrates can be coated with a thin layer of large-grain polycrystalline silicon by a dip-coating process. The silicon-on-ceramic (SOC) material appears to be quite promising as a low-cost cell material but requires somewhat special fabrication procedure since the contacts to both the n- and p-layers are now made on the front surface. Solar cells have been made on SOC material and on single-crystal control samples. Photodiodes 0.01 to 0.1 cm/sup 2/ made on substrates coated with vitreous carbon prior to dip coating with silicon showed the best efficiency of SOC material to date, namely over 6 percent uncorrected and about 12 percent inherent efficiency. Etching procedures have indicated that the dislocation density varies from almost 10/sup 7/ cm/sup -2/ to almost dislocation-free material, assuming that all etch pits are due to dislocations. EBIC measurements procedures were also improved, and it was found that diodes appear to be fairly uniform in EBIC response. A new SOC coating facility is being designed which will coat larger substrates in a continuous manner. The purpose is to minimize the contamination problem by reducing the contact area of the substrate with molten silicon. By having much larger throughput, it will also demonstrate the scale-up …

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The DT fusion neutron irradiation of six LLL 316 stainless steel samples and 24 SLL pure silica samples is described. The sample position, beam-on time, and neutron dose record are given. The maximum neutron fluence on any sample was 1.52 x 10/sup 17/ neutrons/cm/sup 2/.

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The biophotolysis of water by photosynthetic cells resulting in the formation of hydrogen gas is of prime concern. That algal cells require both photosystems to complete this process is established. That a reduced carbon source can be photoxidized to release hydrogen and carbon dioxide has been proven. On the other hand, whether water is split to hydrogen and oxygen by the intact cell adapted to a hydrogen metabolism is an open question. A reconstituted preparation of higher plants can split water into its two components. A reconstituted algal preparation will be evaluated with respect to a similar reaction. If hydrogen and oxygen are produced in vitro, what then regulates the cell into controlling this reaction during the onset of a hydrogen metabolism. The substrate for photorespiration is glycolic acid. The synthesis of this simple acid remain controversial. A new preparation of the spinach chloroplast has been developed which allows many compounds hitherto uncapable of crossing the organelle envelope to affect directly the carbon metabolism. We plan to use this preparation to evaluate the many proposed mechanisms of glycolate formation. Thus ribulose-1,5-diphosphate, hydroxypyruvate, hydroxypyruvate phosphate, oxaloacetate, and fructose-6-phosphate will be incubated under varying conditions and glycolate yields will be monitored. Conditions …

Estimates are developed of the energy consumption and energy intensity (EI) of five categories of U.S. pipeline industries: natural gas, crude oil, petroleum products, coal slurry, and water. For comparability with other transportation modes, it is desirable to calculate EI in Btu/Ton-Mile, and this is done, although the necessary unit conversions introduce additional uncertainties. Since water and sewer lines operate by lift and gravity, a comparable EI is not definable.

Estimates are developed of the energy consumption and energy intensity (EI) of five categories of US pipeline industries: natural gas, crude oil, petroleum products, coal slurry, and water. For comparability with other transportation modes, it is desirable to calculate EI in Btu/Ton-Mile, and this is done, although the necessary unit conversions introduce additional uncertainties. Since water and sewer lines operate by lift and gravity, a comparable EI is not definable.

The basic objectives of the overall study were to (1) characterize the pipeline industry and understand its energy consumption in each of the five major pipeline-industry segments: gas, oil, slurry, fresh water, and waste water; (2) identify opportunities for energy conservation in the pipeline industry, and to recommend the necessary R, D, and D programs to exploit those opportunities; (3) characterize and understand the influence of the Federal government on introduction of energy conservative innovations into the pipeline industry; and (4) assess the future potential of the pipeline industry for growth and for contribution to the national goal of energy conservation. This project final report is an executive summary presenting the results from the seven task reports.

The basic objectives of the study were to: characterize the pipeline industry and understand its energy consumption, i.e., the patterns of consumption and the quantities and intensities of that consumption in each of the five major pipeline industry segments: gas, oil, slurry, fresh water, and waste water; characterize and understand the influence of the Federal Government on the introduction of energy-conservative innovations into the pipeline industry; identify opportunities for energy conservation in the pipeline industry, and to recommend the necessary programs of research, development, and demonstration to exploit those opportunities; and assess the future potential of the pipeline industry for growth and for contribution to the national goal of energy conservation, including consideration of freight pipelines. Pipelines for crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products, water, coal slurries, and for the pneumatic transport of solids are considered. Information is included on: energy consumption for pipeline transport; energy efficient pumping equipment; methods for reducing drag in pipelines; government regulations related to pipelines; environmental aspects of pipeline transport; and the economic outlook and growth of the pipeline industry. (LCL)

Progress is reported on the following studies: chemical structure of biomolecules and mechanisms of their sensitized photo-oxidation; relationships between the structure and photosensitizing efficiencies of porphyrins; effects of photodynamic treatment on mammalian tendons; and sensitized photo-oxidation of substituted uracils, methionine, other amino acids, and horse-radish peroxidase. (HLW)

Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah Inc. has performed an engineering assessment of the problems resulting from the existence of radioactive uranium mill tailings at the Monument Valley millsite in Arizona. The Phase II, Title I services include the preparation of topographic maps, the performance of core drillings and radiometric measurements sufficient to determine areas and volumes of tailings and other radium-contaminated materials, the evaluation of resulting radiation exposures of individuals residing nearby, the investigation of site hydrology and meteorology and the evaluation and costing of alternative corrective actions. Radon gas release from the tailings on the site constitutes the most significant environmental impact, although windblown tailings and external gamma radiation are also factors. The sparse population and relatively low radiation levels yield minimal immediate environmental impact; hence, the two alternative actions presented are directed towards restricting access to the site (Options I and II), and returning the windblown tailings to the pile and stabilizing the pile with 2 ft of cover material (Option II). Both options include remedial action costs for offsite locations where tailings have been placed. Cost estimates for the two options are $585,000 and $1,165,000. Reprocessing the tailings for uranium is not economically feasible.

Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah Inc. has performed an engineering assessment of the problems resulting from the existence of radioactive uranium mill tailings at Shiprock, New Mexico. The Phase II, Title I services include the preparation of topographic maps, the performance of core drillings and radiometric measurements sufficient to determine areas and volumes of tailings and other radium-contaminated materials, the evaluation of resulting radiation exposures of individuals and nearby populations, the investigation of site hydrology and meteorology and the evaluation and costing of alternative corrective actions. Radon gas release from the 1.7 million tons of tailings at the Shiprock site constitutes the most significant environmental impact, although windblown tailings and external gamma radiation are also factors. The 11 alternative actions presented range from completion of the present ongoing EPA site decontamination plan (Option I), to stabilizing in-place with varying depths of cover material (Options II-IV), to removal to an isolated long-term disposal site (Options V-XI). All options include remedial action costs for off-site locations where tailings have been placed. Costs estimates for the 11 options range from $540,000 to $12,500,000. Reprocessing the tailings for uranium is not economically feasible.

A conceptual model of a neutral-beam injector was used to examine the effect of beam-line components on reactor performance. Criteria were established to optimize a reactor's reliability and minimize its cost.