The factual findings of DOE's Office of Fuels Regulation regarding No. 2 heating oil price data for the 1977-1978 heating season are presented. OFR's analysis was based on data gathered by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in connection with the current program to monitor the prices of home heating oil. Results show that the average price paid by residential customers increased 5.2%; the average increase in the prices wholesalers charged other wholesalers and retailers was 1.6%; the average increase in prices that wholesalers paid refiners was 1.4%; and the refiner index was marginally exceeded twice during the heating season and, on average, refiner prices to wholesalers were below the guideline. Information is included on retail, wholesale, and refiners gross margins and on analytic constraints. (JRD)

During the period May 28, 1978 to June 30, 1978, an intermediate depth heat flow borehole (1-78-Ul) was completed on the Socorro Prospect, New Mexico. Rock types encountered in the hole ranged from unconsolidated Quaternary alluvium to clays and dense volcanic rocks. Depth of the hole was 1360 feet with the major drilling problems being sticky clays and hard rock. The geothermal gradient measured in this borehole was 2.46 F/100 ft with an average thermal conductivity of 5.9 mcal/cm-sec- C. The calculated heat flow value is 2.7 HFU (1 HFU = 1 {micro}cal/cm{sup 2}-sec). The linearity of the gradient for this hole suggests that heat transport in the shallow subsurface penetrated by the borehole is predominantly by conduction. Based on published data as well as the results of the present survey, a value of about 2.5 HFU is probably representative of the background heat flow in the area of the Socorro Prospect. A surface heat flow of 2.5 HFU implies partial melting in the lower crust and upper mantle beneath the Prospect but does not necessitate the presence of an economic geothermal deposit.

Results are presented of a project to obtain quantitative data to assist in the evaluation of basalts as a nuclear repository host rock, in particular those basalts underlying the Hanford reservation. The two basalts studied are the U.S. Geological Survey's standard Basalt Columbia River-1 (BCR-1) and a section of core from Hanford Drill Hole DDH-3 (A2120/3320). It was found that the principal minerals of Basalts BCR-1 and DDH-3 are still present after hydrothermal treatment up to 400/sup 0/C. No new phases have been observed, with the exception of one in the longest run, 300/sup 0/C for 56 days. There is not enough of this phase present to give positive identification in the bulk powder diffractogram. The spinel magnetite-ulvoespinel was observed to change oxidation state under some conditions. Because uranium and plutonium are both far more soluble in the +6 state than in the +4 state, the oxidation state of the system basalt + waste + water is important. The basalt is in enormous excess and contains both ferrous and ferric iron in its spinels and in augite. Together they should be the principal influence on the oxidation state of the system. Several further X-ray measurements would be useful: first, examination …

The solutions were analyzed for acidity and total Pu concentration at ambient temperature while the density was determined at 25, 35, 45, and 60/sup 0/C. From least squares fitting, it was found that the density could be computed to within 1% of the experimental value using the equation D = 1 + 0.0477(H/sup +/) - 4.25 x 10/sup -3/ (H/sup +/)/sup 2/ + 1.477 x 10/sup -3/ (Pu) - (T - 25)/1000. (DLC)

The review is presented in sections on x-ray spectrograph development, sampling of gases in a post shot cavity, oil shale retort heat losses, development of an automated thermocouple, seismic engineering, testing fuel rod casks, and nuclear materials control. A separate abstract was prepared for each section. (JRD)

Major effort was expended in the final assembly of the gain experiment apparatus; this phase had been delayed by some magnet and discharge tube problems which have now been solved. The addition of the discharge circuitry, now underway, is the last step before gain and discharge tests. The metal testing oven is complete and preliminary tests are underway which show encouraging results concerning the compatibility of mercury vapor and Inconel and 316 SS. Some initial modeling was done with the Boltzmann/kinetics code which demonstrates CdHg production efficiency as a function of E/N.

Progress in developing a microwave-vacuum system (MIVAC) for drying grain at a commercial grain handling and storage facility is reported. During this period the dryer was redesigned from 48 kW size to 12 kW, components were fabricated and assembled, and performance testing with corn drying was begun. (LCL)

During the study of bond strengths of ceramic-to-metal seals under various brazing conditions, it was observed that the strength was affected by the length of time that the braze material was in the liquid state. Brazing times as short as 10 min sometimes adversely affected the strength of the seal. Photomicrographs of a typical weak bond clearly show silver braze penetration deep in the metallizing layer after 10 min at 20/sup 0/C above the melting point of the braze. A reaction layer was also observed in the photomicrographs. Considerable iron has migrated from the Kovar pin through the silver braze and formed an interface between the silver braze and the molybdenum metallizing material. Significant concentrations of cobalt and nickel were also found in the reaction zone, indicating a diffusion reaction of Kovar through the silver. Further investigations showed that while braze durations as short as 1 min at 20/sup 0/C above the liquid temperature gave much stronger bonds than 10 min did, significant migration of material was evident. In view of the significant migration of both the pin alloy and the braze material, it was concluded that brazing time and temperature should be minimized to achieve maximum bond strength.

The objectives of this study are to determine the economic and technical feasibility of using the low to moderate temperature geothermal resource in the Susanville anomaly in a district heating/cooling system for public or private users and in a Park of Commerce developed in conjunction with the resources development. The Susanville resource temperature is known to be a minimum of 150/sup 0/F and is projected to be a maximum of 239/sup 0/F. Because these factors all contribute to major capital outlays, design approaches have been studied which will permit economical utilization of the resource regardless of the outcome of the drilling. The system selected will depend on the result of the drilling program. This study presents a data base on systems for the temperature range from 150 to 239/sup 0/F. The results of the engineering and economic study currently indicate the region and conditions for economic feasibility. Based on a predicted fuel inflation rate of 7% and a municipal bond interest rate of 10%, the development of the Susanville Geo-Heating District is economically feasible over the entire range of anticipated reservoir conditions. Under conditions of high well costs ($130 to $175 thousand dollars per well) and low resources temperature (150 …

This report summarizes the third quarter FY-1978 results of concept design studies at General Atomic Company (GA) for an 842-MW(t) VHTR utilizing an intermediate helium heat transfer loop to provide thermal energy for the production of reducing gas (H/sub 2/ + CO) by steam-reforming a light hydrocarbon. Basic carbon sources may be coal, residual, or oil shale. The report summarizes the various plant configurations selected for the study and presents the conceptual plant layout drawings. Results of design studies on the intermediate heat exchanger are also presented. The status of the performance/optimization code development is discussed, and completion of the core auxiliary cooling system study is summarized.

This quality assurance plan describes the quality assurance program at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL), for shipping packages of radioactive material. The purpose of this report is to describe how PNL will comply with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 71, Appendix E. In compliance with the instructions from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the 18 criteria from Appendix E are covered.

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Second-moment probabilistic techniques are used to formulate structural resistances and loads and to derive reliability-based safety, load, and strength factors for design. Existing concepts of the second-moment reliability theory have been extended to the practical case of multiple load combinations. This development consistently includes the stochastic character of loads and the unpredictable nature of their combinations. For this purpose, a new technique for the evaluation of load combinations is presented, whereby the moments of the extreme of combined loads is obtained in terms of the moments of individual loads and parameters describing their random fluctuations in time. Reliability-based safety, load, and strength factors are derived in terms of the acceptable level of risk, the coefficients of variation of the loads and resistance, uncertainties associated with errors in modeling and estimation, and a set of parameters describing the stochastic nature of loads and their combinations.

A method for correcting the vertical dispersion is proposed in which the vertical closed orbit is primarily displaced at locations where the sextupole chromaticity correctors are placed in order to generate the skew quadrupole fields needed to correct the vertical dispersion. The results of a computer simulation study indicate that this method is feasible for ISABELLE, where a maximum displacement of the vertical closed orbit of about 2.0 mm is required.

A summary is presented of the progress of government sponsored projects undertaken to increase gas production from low permeability gas sands of the western United States during May, 1978. Background information is given in the September 1977 Status Report, NVO/0655-100. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Nevada Operations Office (NVO), is finalizing a Request for Proposal (RFP) covering Technical and Administrative Support for the Project Manager for FY79. C. H. Atkinson, the Western Gas Sands Project (WGSP) Manager, was an observer of the third MHF treatment of Mobil Research and Development Corporation's well No. F-31-136. The fracture was performed on May 10, 1978. R. L. Mann of CER Corporation, met with Dr. Steve Holditch of Texas A and M University to discuss the utilization of the PDP 11/10 computer to be installed in the Mobile Well Test Facility. The USGS is continuing geological and geophysical studies in the four primary study areas. Two flights were made in preparation for low-level olique photography. The Bartlesville Energy Research Center (BERC) and participating National Laboratories, funded by DOE, are continuing their work in the area of research and development. The emphasis is on the development of new tools and instrumentation systems, rock mechanics, mathematical …

Proposals to amend Appendix A of Part 440 of Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons are described. The proposals establish new specifications for the materials purchased for utilization in the weatherization of dwellings which qualify for assistance under Part 440. These proposed regulations prescribe the minimum requirements which must be met or exceeded by each type of material and the Federal standards to which they must conform. In addition, these regulations include installation requirements for each class of material installed at the request of the enduser. (MCW)

The KIPS Ground Demonstration System (GDS) was designed to simulate, as closely as possible, a Flight System Conceptual Design (FSCD). No radiator was incorporated and electric heat sources were used in place of isotope heat sources. To minimize air in-leakage and to simulate heat losses associated with space operation, the system was operated in a vacuum chamber. Initial testing was performed on the development system which did not incorporate a high performance turbine or non-condensing configuration of the cold liquid passages in certain regenerator vapor regions. After testing of the development system and retrofit to the GDS configuration, which included improvements in the above two items, the GDS was installed in the test chamber. Testing to date showed the GDS configuration has demonstrated a system efficiency of greater than 15%. Satisfactory heat balances have been calculated on most system components, permitting evaluation of component performance. Certain performance deficiencies currently exist which prevented the 18% efficiency goal being attained. These can be corrected with further development.

We have made preliminary designs of tandem mirror fusion reactors burning D-T fuel and of fusion-fission (hybrid) tandem mirrors producing both fissile fuel and electricity. For the hybrid reactor, we find that by using stream-stabilized, 2XIIB-like plugs and by injecting 200-keV deuterium beams into a tritium-plasma target confined electrostatically in the solenoid (two-component operation), we obtain a useful Q (fusion power/injection power) near unity. The D-T tandem reactor parameters are optimized to obtain the minimum capital cost per kW(e) net. For $200/kW(e) of 1200-keV neutral beam injection power in the plugs and a solenoid cost of about $3 million per metre length, the optimum Q is near 5. To allow for more expensive injector costs, a higher D-T reactor Q of 10 is obtainable with either increased power output or decreased neutron wall loading. Fokker--Planck calculations show steady-state Q approximately 5 for D-D tandem reactors burning only deuterium fuel and its reaction products, with most of the charged-particle fusion power recovered in a direct converter.

Siltec Corporation's contract with JPL is directed towards the design and development of equipment and processes, to demonstrate continuous growth of crystals by the Czochralski method, suitable for producing single silicon crystals for use in solar cells. Continuous growth is defined as the growth of 100 Kg of single silicon crystal, 10 cm in diameter, from one container. Siltec's approach to meeting this goal is to develop a furnace with continuous liquid replenishment of the growth crucible, accomplished by a meltdown system and a liquid transfer mechanism, with associated automatic feedback controls. The design of the furnace elements has been completed, and all parts are now in the fabrication stage. The electronic control console regulating the growth system and meltdown system, and the liquid transfer mechanism, has been assembled. An experiment was performed with a standard production furnace, to demonstrate controlled flow of molten silicon through a small I.D. tube by pressure differential. Sections of the transfer tube system were evaluated, power requirements to balance heat losses determined, axial temperature profile in the tube, and radial temperature gradients in the heat pack were measured. A mathematical model was made for the electromagnetic throttle valve to control flow of molten silicon …

Figure-of-merit equations for material selection and detailed design equations have been developed to aid in the design of a linear electrooptic deflector element for use in a 10-ps streak camera. The figure of merit indicates that BaTiO/sub 3/, KTN, and ammonium oxalate (AMO) are suitable materials. Possible deflector designs, including that of a current AMO prototype development program, are discussed. Quadratic (Kerr-effect) operation and materials are discussed along with the possibility for 10.6-..mu..m-wavelength use.

The report covers the PC-2, C-beam chordal average density measurement made on the loss-of-fluid test (LOFT) primary coolant system hot leg during the L1-4 nonnuclear loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) test conducted May 3, 1977. The P-2, C-beam, or LOFT advanced densitometer, used was of the pulse height analysis/energy discrimination, or nuclear hardened type to be used for LOFT nuclear tests. The L1-4 test verified the applicability of pulse height analysis/energy discrimination techniques of the nuclear hardened gamma densitometer. Test results show that the reactor coolant fluid chordal average density can be calculated from gamma radiation source signal measured count rate data.

Imaging techniques that can be used to translate seismic and electromagnetic wave signals into visual representation are briefly discussed. The application of these techniques is illustrated on the example of determining the subsurface structure of a proposed power plant. Imaging makes the wave signals intelligible to the non-geologists. R and D work needed in this area are tabulated. (JSR)

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The goal of TVA's Availability Improvement Program for its fossil-fueled power plants is to increase plant availability from 79 to 83%, to reduce the forced outage rate from 10 to 7%, and to reduce the equivalent outage rate related to forced deratings from 6 to 2%. As background for this program historical data on plant availabilities, trends toward improved availability, factors which contribute to current reliability, and ongoing programs to improve fossil-fueled plant reliability are discussed. (LCL)