A program to determine if non-metallic materials such as polymers, concrete polymer composites, and refractory cements can be utilized as materials of construction in geothermal processes is in progress. To date, several high temperature polymer concrete systems have been formulated, laboratory and field tests performed in brine, flashing brine, and steam at temperatures up to 260/sup 0/C (500{sup 0}F), and economic studies started. Laboratory data for exposure times > 2 years are available. Results are also available from field exposures of up to 24 months in four geothermal environments. Good durability is indicated. Work at five of these sites is continuing and plans to initiate other tests are being implemented.

Fabrication of experimental breeder reactor fuel pellets by the common cold-press-and-sinter technique for irradiation testing in EBR-II is discussed. Fuel types include mixed thoria-plutonia, UO/sub 2/ enriched with 22 weight percent /sup 233/U in U, UO/sub 2/ enriched with thirty-four weight percent /sup 235/U in U, and mixed urania-plutonia.

The Amchitka Radiobiological Program began in 1970 and is a continuing program to collect biological and environmental samples for radiometric analyses. An account of the program from July 1970, to December 1976, has been given in seven previous progress reports from the Laboratory of Radiation Ecology to the Nevada Operations Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. This report is an account of the program for calendar year 1977. Results of analyses for samples collected in September 1977 have been added to the tables in Nelson and Seymour (1977) that summarize the results of analyses of samples collected from 1970 to 1977, and include analyses for: gamma-emitting radionuclides in air filters, freshwater, birds, lichens, marine algae, marine invertebrates, fish, aufwuchs, and freshwater moss and plants; strontium-90 (/sup 90/Sr) in rats, birds, and soil; /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu in sand, soil, marine algae, and fish; and tritium (/sup 3/H) in seawater, freshwater, and biological organisms. Monitoring of background radiation with survey instruments was added to the Laboratory's program in 1974, and the results of the four annual surveys since that date are included in this report. Conclusions from the results of the recent analyses are a reiteration of the results stated …

The continuing progress of the Ames Collaborative Study of Cosmic Ray Neutrons is described. Data obtained aboard flights from Hawaii at altitudes of 41,000 and 45,000 feet, and in the range of geomagnetic latitude 17/sup 0/N less than or equal to lambda less than or equal to 21/sup 0/N are reported. Preliminary estimates of neutron spectra were made.

An amplitude analysis of the K/sup -/K/sup +/ system produced in the reactions ..pi../sup -/p ..-->.. K/sup -/K/sup +/n and ..pi../sup +/n ..-->.. K/sup -/K/sup +/p was carried out using data from a high statistics experiment carried out with the Argonne Effective Mass Spectrometer. Combining the results from the two reactions allows the separation of the KantiK production amplitudes into their isospin-zero and one components. An enhancement is deserved in the S-wave amplitude near 1300 MeV which we call the S'. Using various physical arguments, including the t dependence of the amplitudes, six out of eight mathematically-allowed solutions can be eliminated for the magnitudes and phases of the amplitudes and shown that this new S-wave state has isospin zero. Requiring a reasonable behavior for the isospin-one P wave shows that the S' amplitude has a slow phase variation through the peak region.

For the first time in one detector measurements were made of the complete decay angular distribution on Y* ..-->.. ..lambda pi.., ..lambda.. ..-->.. p..pi../sup -/ in the two line-reversed reactions: ..pi../sup +/p ..-->.. K/sup +/Y*(1385) and K/sup -/p ..-->.. ..pi../sup -/Y*(1385). The experiment was conducted in the SLAC 1 m rapid cycling bubble chamber (15 Hertz) triggered by electronic detectors and an online algorithm. The extended maximum likelihood method was used to obtain the transversity amplitudes of the Y *(1385). Results are in good agreement with both the quark model and Stodolsky-Sakurai model predictions. Finite helicity nonflip contributions at the Y*vertex observed in these data can be associated with double quark scattering in the forward direction. 15 references.

The results of studies designed to evaluate the potential of rapidly improving the technology of anaerobic fermentation of agricultural residues and methods of implementing it in existing agricultural operations are reported. The main objectives of this study were to: identify simple and low cost anaerobic fermentor design criteria that would be appropriate in small agricultural operations, develop high rate fermentor concepts that would enable multiple product recovery from the reactor, expand the information base particularly in the area of temperature influence on the process, and to review sociological and economic issues relating to implementation of fermentation technology. This study has identified several major anaerobic fermentation concepts which illustrate that the technology may be rapidly improved. A simple reactor design utilizing an unmixed plug flow concept was shown to be comparable to the more complex completely mixed reactor when using dairy cow residue. A high rate thermophilic reactor designed to encourage flotation of particulate solids illustrated that liquid, solid, and gaseous products can be generated within the anaerobic fermentor thus eliminating an additional dewatering unit process. A third reactor concept involved extension of the anaerobic attached microbial film expanded bed to the treatment of cow manure slurries. A high rate of …

This is the seventh progress report of an on-going three year research effort to contribute to the development of a new and/or improved technology that will result in wide spread use of an anaerobic fermentation in agriculture to generate a renewable clean energy source. Activities are now concentrating on full-scale and pilot-scale demonstration of simplified fermentors for manures. Activities for the seventh quarter year, extending from December 16, 1977 to March 15, 1978, have included the following: completion of construction of the full scale conventional control fermenter; completion of construction, testing and startup of the random mix fermenter; installation of feed and effluent lines, electrical wiring, boilers, gas lines and controls; successful testing of the ram pump; conclusion of the 35/sup 0/C studies with the pilot scale plug flow fermenter and the initiation of the low temperature (25/sup 0/C) studies; and preparation of a detailed outline to the design manual. As of March 15, 1978, the overall progress achieved with the major components of the project was estimated to be about 2.5 months behind the work plan schedule. As detailed in the last progress report, much of this delay has been due to the winter weather (i.e., cold temperatures, snow, …

An analog subsystem is described which monitors certain functions in the Plutonium Protection System. Rotary and linear potentiometer output signals are digitized, as are the outputs from thermistors and container ''bulge'' sensors. This work was sponsored by the Department of Energy/Office of Safeguards and Security (DOE/OSS) as part of the overall Sandia Fixed Facility Physical Protection Program.

A procedure for designing four different NMR probe circuits is described. Equations are derived which allow accurate estimates for tuning components. Graphs of theoretical frequency responses are presented. An accurate method for measuring effective quality factors, Q/sub eff/, is described. Four probe circuits are constructed and evaluated with respect to power efficiency, ringdown time and signal/noise. Finally, a FORTRAN computer program which will implement the design procedures described is presented.

A description of and operating manual for the FACE Automatic Apparatus has been written along with a documentation of the FACE machine operating program, to provide a user manual for the FACE Automatic Apparatus. In addition, FACE machine performance was investigated to improve transuranium throughput. Analysis of the causes of transuranium isotope loss was undertaken both chemical and radioactive. To lower radioactive loss, the dynamics of the most time consuming step of the FACE machine, the chromatographic column output droplet drying and flaming, in preparation of sample for alpha spectroscopy and counting, was investigated. A series of droplets were dried in an experimental apparatus demonstrating that droplets could be dried significantly faster through more intensie heating, enabling the FACE machine cycle to be shortened by 30-60 seconds. Proposals incorporating these ideas were provided for FACE machine development. The 66% chemical loss of product was analyzed and changes were proposed to reduce the radioisotopes product loss. An analysis of the chromatographic column was also provided. All operating steps in the FACE machine are described and analyzed to provide a complete guide, along with the proposals for machine improvement.

The significant economic data for the current production multiblade wafering and inner diameter slicing processes were tabulated and compared to data on the experimental and projected Varian multiblade slurry, STC ID diamond coated blade, Yasunaga multiwire slurry and Crystal Systems fixed abrasive multiwire slicing methods. Cost calculations were performed for current production processes and for 1982 and 1986 projected wafering techniques.

Several experimental and projected Czochralski crystal growing process methods were studied and compared to available operations and cost-data of recent production Cz-pulling, in order to elucidate the role of the dominant cost contributing factors. From this analysis, it becomes apparent that substantial cost reductions can be realized from technical advancements which fall into four categories: an increase in furnace productivity; the reduction of crucible costs through use of the crucible for the equivalent of multiple state-of-the-art crystals; the combined effect of several smaller technical improvements; and a carry-over effect of the expected availability of semiconductor grade polysilicon at greatly reduced prices. Consequently, the specific add-on costs of the Cz-process can be expected to be reduced by about a factor of three by 1982, and about a factor of five by 1986. A format to guide in the accumulation of the data needed for thorough techno-economic analysis of solar cell production processes has been developed, called the University of Pennsylvania Process Characterization (UPPC) format, and has first been applied, as well as refined, in the Cz crystal pulling analysis. The accumulated Cz process data are presented in this format in the Appendix. The application of this UPPC format with the SAMICS …

A high-performance collector based on the use of all-glass, evacuated tubular collector elements is described and analyzed, and supporting experimental data presented. The collector operates with excellent efficiency at temperatures high enough to drive existing air conditioning units, and shows good performance under diffuse light and low insolation conditions. collector efficiency is insensitive to operating temperature, ambient temperature, and wind speed. In addition, air as well as liquid can be used as the heat transfer fluid, with no significant performance penalty. While the equations governing the useful energy produced can be cast in a form similar to that for flat plate collectors, several important parameters are unique in a number of respects.

A 500-kW dc commutator machine, C, is analyzed for use in an LC circuit with a ringing period of approximately 4 s with a superconducting coil, L. Electrical measurements and the important design equations and characteristics are listed. Attention is paid to the calculation of the commutating voltage, which is an important design feature because it sets a limit to the current allowable in the LC circuit, amounting to 6 times rated machine current. The equations for the energy loss components of the generator are given and fitted to experimental coast-down data. With a fitting accuracy of 1.2%, the loss coefficients for the bearing loss, brush loss, windage loss, and tooth eddy current loss in the remanent stator field are thus determined.

Monte Carlo calculations were made to analyze the results of an integral experiment with a sample of SiO/sub 2/ to determine the adequacy of ENDF/B-IV neutron scattering and gamma-ray production cross-section data for silicon and oxygen. The experimental results analyzed included energy-dependent NE-213 detector neutron and gamma-ray count rates at a scattering angle of 90 deg and pulse-height spectra for scattered neutrons and gamma rays. The experiments were carried out with the ORELA 1- to 20-MeV pulsed neutron source. The pulse-height data were unfolded to generate secondary neutron and gamma-ray spectra at 90 deg as a function of incident neutron energy. Multigroup Monte Carlo calculations using the MORSE code and ENDF/B-IV cross sections were made to analyze all reported results. No outstanding discrepancies between calculated and measured responses were found on the neutron data below 12 MeV. Possible discrepancies in the inelastic scattering data above 12 MeV are indicated. This is consistent with a previous analysis of an oxygen experiment. A more detailed analysis will have to be performed before any definite conclusions can be drawn from these comparisons.

Monte Carlo calculations were made to analyze the results of an integral experiment with an aluminum sample to determine the adequacy of ENDF/B-IV neutron scattering and gamma-ray production cross-section data for aluminum. The experimental results analyzed included energy-dependent NE-213 detector neutron and gamma-ray count rates at a scattering angle of 125 deg and pulse-height spectra for scattered neutrons and gamma-rays. The experiments were carried out with the ORELA 1- to 20-MeV pulsed neutron source. The pulse-height data were unfolded to generate secondary neutron and gamma-ray spectra at 125 deg as a function of incident neutron energy. Multigroup Monte Carlo calculations using the MORSE code and ENDF/B-IV cross sections were made to analyze all reported results. Discrepancies between calculated and measured responses were found for secondary neutron scattering data above 10 MeV and for gamma-rays produced at energies between 4 and 7 MeV. A detailed analysis has not yet been performed to determine the reasons for these discrepancies.

The radial-outflow reaction turbine, a pure-reaction turbine designed to improve the conversion efficiency of geothermal energy into electrical power is described. It also has potential as a total-flow turbine for low-temperature water. The principle of incomplete expansion can be used to obtain a reduction in turbine size when the turbine exhausts into a low-pressure condenser. And, by adding this turbine to single- and two-stage flashed-steam systems, the conversion efficiency of systems utilizing low- and high-energy wellhead sources, respectively can be improved. The Appendix outlines the analysis of the radial-outflow reaction turbine and leads to an expression for engine efficiency.

The objective of this research study is the development of radically new fluid systems, specifically tailored to the needs and requirements of solar-absorption cooling for single-family-size residences. Progress is reported.

The objectives of the research reported is to develop and analyze new concepts for absorption cycles to improve the performance or reduce the cost of a 3-ton absorption chiller that can be used with solar collected heat. New refrigerant-absorbent pairs are investigated, as are additives to currently used refrigerant-absorbent pairs. Results are given of a literature search on those topics. An initial screening is reported to check the values of the heats of mixing of candidate refrigerants and adsorbents, and also to screen several candidate absorbents against water as a refrigerant. A modified apparatus and procedures for measurement of refrigerant-absorbent solubilities are described. Pressure-temperature-composition data for the R-22/E-181 pair were measured. Based on theory and the information found in the literature, a set of criteria and guidelines was developed that gives the desirable properties of the refrigerants, absorbents, and pairs. (LEW)

The objective of the research program is to develop and analyze new concepts for absorption cycles to improve the performance or reduce the cost (or both) of a 3-ton absorption chiller that can be used with solar-collected heat. New refrigerant-absorbent pairs, additives to currently used refrigerant-absorbent pairs, and modifications to the cycle are being investigated. For the initial analyses the use of a fluid at 160 to 230/sup 0/F from a solar collector as a heating source is assumed. In the initial analyses the chiller is to provide chilled water at 45/sup 0/F at full load; alternatively, if a new refrigerant-absorbent pair appears to be amenable for direct cooling of the occupied space, the temperature of the evaporator is to be 45/sup 0/F. Both water cooling and air cooling of the absorber and the condenser are being studied. The use of ambient air at 95/sup 0/F dry bulb and 75/sup 0/F wet bulb temperatures is assumed. With the water-cooled cycles, the initial and operating costs of a properly sized cooling tower will be included. The research consists of five principal tasks: (a) acquisition of information for analysis, (b) definition of criteria for selection of promising refrigerant-absorbent pairs, additives for currently …

Testing and evaluation of the code MAZAS/DELPHI led to the following conclusions: its precision is better than the Window method for the analysis of uranium, comparable for the analysis of potassium, and worse for the analysis of thorium. Its accuracy of MAZAS is consistently better than the Window method when used on simulated data. The accuracy of the average values of the individual gamma-ray intensities obtained with MAZAS is good over the entire energy spectrum for the uranium and thorium spectra. The precision of the intensities of the low energy lines is poor unless 15 to 20 s integration times are used. Results of the analysis of actual flight data for potassium and thorium are very similar for MAZAS and the Window method. Results for uranium using MAZAS and the Window method appear to be different. MAZAS, which measures an average of several discrete gamma-ray components, seems to indicate considerably more airborne radon than the Window method. It is suspected that the Window method is measuring a combination of discrete and continuum components and that this is resulting in analyses that are inconsistent with MAZAS. The DELPHI time filter appears to work exceedingly well on simulated data. The accuracy of …

The computer code DELPHI is an interactive English language command system for the analysis of airborne radiometric data. The code includes modules for data reduction, data simulation, time filtering, data adjustment and graphical presentation of the results. DELPHI is implemented in FORTRAN on a DEC-10 computer. This volume gives a brief set of operations instructions, samples of the output obtained from hard copies of the display on a Tektronix terminal and finally a listing of the code.

This volume consists of four topical reports: a general discussion of the philosophy of unfolding spectra with continuum and discrete components, a mathematical treatment of the effects of various physical parameters on the uncollided gamma-ray spectrum at aircraft elevations, a discussion of the application of the unfolding code MAZNAI to airborne data, and a discussion of the effects of the nonlinear relationship between energy deposited and pulse height in NaI(T1) detectors.