The purpose of this work is to develop a computer simulation program that will expedite the development and aid in the optimization and scale-up of the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC) low-Btu coal gasifier system. The gasifier system includes the METC low-Btu fixed-bed gasifier and the producer gas clean-up system. The producer Gas Clean-Up System Simulation Program, the subject of this report, develops the mathematical models and computational procedures for the material balance calculation around each of the seven major process units that constitute the METC producer gas clean-up system: gas cyclone, humidifier, electrostatic precipitator, hydrolysis unit, direct cooler, Stretford process, and final wash tower.

This contract is part of a three phase program to design, fabricate, and operate a solar photovoltaic electric power system with concentrating optics. The system will be located beside a Local Operating Headquarters of the Georgia Power Company in Atlanta, Georgia and will provide part of the power for the on-site load. Fresnel lens concentrators will be used in 2-axis tracking arrays to focus solar energy onto silicon solar cells producing a peak power output of 56 kW. The present contract covers Phase I which has as its objective the complete design of the system and necessary subsystems.

Herbaceous productivity studies on the Geokinetics Oil Shale Project Research site in Uintah County, Utah were begun during the summer of 1978. These studies were designed to assess the amount of biomass produced by herbaceous vegetation in each of the vegetation types occurring on the site. Measurements were made in each of the control and treatment plots established for these types. The results given in this report are those obtained from the analysis of data collected during 1978. The chief objective of the herbaceous productivity study is to determine the amount of herbaceous biomass that is potentially available for use by herbivores on the LOFRECO site. As such, these studies are an intergral part of determining the carrying capacity of the site. The data collected from the 1978 study will be used together with other ecological information to provide a functional description of the site. Of particular importance in this synthesis are the data obtained from shrub utilization studies, phytosociological data, and the quantitative descriptions of the physical environment derived from ecoclimatic measurements. Herbaceous productivity will be monitored during the pre and post disturbance phases of the research site development.

This report assesses the possibility of increased oil production from 21 less developed non-OPEC countries (excluding the Middle East and Mexico) by 1985. The forecast is compared with those prepared by the World Bank, the International Energy Agency, and others. The 21 Latin American, African, and Far East (including Asia) countries produce 2.5 million barrels of oil per day (BD) or 4.2% of world production, and they have 21 billion barrels of proved reserves, or 3.2% of the world total. In recent years these countries have consumed 3.1 million BD, some 0.9 million barrels in excess of their production. By 1985, the 21 countries may produce 3.9 million BD, an average annual increase of 5.0%; however, demand is expected to increase at an annual rate of 3.5% to 4.4 million BD. The net effect is that the 1985 aggregated supply-demand balance will be in deficit, by nearly 560 thousand BD, compared to slightly more than 930 thousand BD in 1976.

A theoretical study has been made of adsorption on mixtures of ion exchangers. The effect of variables such as the concentration of the ion being adsorbed, the concentration of the supporting electrolyte, loading, the values of the capacities and equilibrium constants for the various exchange processes, and the fraction of each adsorber in the mixture on the observed distribution coefficient has been investigated. A computer program has been written to facilitate the calculation of distribution coefficients for the adsorption of an ion on a given mixture of ion exchangers under a specified set of conditions.

Results of work performed from October 1, 1978 through December 31, 1978 on the Advanced Gas Cooled Nuclear Reactor Materials Evaluation and Development Program is presented. Objectives are to evaluate candidate alloys for Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Nuclear Process Heat (NPH) and Direct Cycle Helium Turbine (DCHT) applications, in terms of the effect of simulated reactor primary coolant (helium containing small amounts of various other gases), high temperatures, and long time exposures, on the mechanical properties and structural and surface stability of selected candidate alloys, and selection of materials for future test facilities and more extensive qualification programs. The activities associated with the characterization of the materials for the screening test program, and the status of the simulated reactor helium supply system, testing equipment, and gas chemistry analysis instrumentation and equipment are included. The status of the data management system is presented.

This report summarizes a general analytical tool designed to assist nuclear safeguards decision-makers. The approach is based on decision analysis--a quantitative procedure for evaluating complex decision alternatives with uncertain outcomes. The report describes the general analytical approach in the context of safeguards decisions at a hypothetical nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.

Since ammonium nitrate manufacture is dependent on natural gas, a shortage in natural gas could lead to a critical shortage in coal by limiting the availability of ammonium nitrate for blasting. The purpose of this study was to assess the future availability of ammonium nitrate and to evaluate the potential of alternative oxidizers not dependent upon natural gas for use in blasting agents. Increased storage capacities and rapidly increasing levels of relativey cheap imported ammonia appear to ensure the availability of adequate levels of ammonium nitrate in the near future. In the longer time frame, rising energy costs have increased the potential for basing ammonia production on alternative sources of hydrogen as well as obtaining natural gas from relatively unlimited unconventional sources. While still somewhat uncertain, such unconventional sources appear to have sufficient potential to ensure the availability of ammonium nitrate even long term. However, there are several oxidizers that could be considered as possible replacements for ammonium nitrate if needed. After a critical evaluation two possible alternatives are recommended for further study: the use of sodium nitrate as a partial replacement and the development of a new type of blasting agent based upon water as the main oxidizer.

A tightly packed water moderated /sup 233/UO/sub 2/--ThO/sub 2/ critical assembly was analyzed with the Vitamin C library and the 1-D S/s n/ code, ANISN (S/sub 8/,P/sub 3/). The purpose of the study was to provide validation of this calculational model as applied to water-cooled hybrid fusion blankets. The quantities compared were the core eigenvalue and various activation shapes. The calculated eigenvalue was 1.02 +- 0.01. The /sup 233/U fission and /sup 232/Th capture shapes were found to be in good agreement (+-5%) with experiment, except near water--metal boundaries where differences up to 24% were observed. No such error peaking was observed in the /sup 232/Th fast fission shape. We conclude that the model provides good volume averaged reaction rates in water-cooled systems. However, care must be exercised near water boundaries where thermally dependent reaction rates are significantly underestimated.

A seat from the level control valve for the recycle condensate separator at the Ft. Lewis Solvent Refined Coal pilot plant was removed from service when cracks were noticed during routine maintenance. One crack extended completely through the 17-4 PH stainless steel trim set. Metallographic examination and hardness measurements revealed that the aging temperature used in heat-treating the martensitic precipitation-hardenable steel was too low, resulting in a material with an improper balance of tensile and impact properties. Residual stresses due to fabrication probably combined with the corrosive environment to produce stress corrosion cracking. The offensive species could not be positively identified, but hydrogen is thought to be a contributory factor.

A conceptual definition and performance evaluation of a 100 megawatt (MW) hybrid photovoltaic/thermal electric power plant has been carried out. The concept utilizes the ability of gallium arsenide photovoltaic cells to achieve high conversion efficiency at high incident fluxes and elevated temperatures. Solar energy is focused by a field of steerable mirrors (heliostats) onto a tower mounted receiver whose outer surface is covered with gallium arsenide (AlGaAs/GaAs) solar cells and whose inner surface is a water boiler. The solar cells convert a fraction of the incident radiation into electrical energy, and the remaining energy is extracted at approximately 200/sup 0/C and used to power a Rankine cycle turbine generator (bottoming cycle). Water is used as the solar cell array coolant, as the thermodynamic working fluid, and as the thermal energy storage medium. Parametric studies were conducted to select conceptual design parameters and operational characteristics which imply the lowest levelized busbar electric energy costs. Parameters varied were collector area, condenser surface area, fan power, ambient temperature, and electric and thermal energy storage capacities. The report describes the concept, outlines the design analysis method, summarizes the parametric study results, and defines the selected plant configuration. The lowest levelized busbar electric energy generation …

An analytical study of effects of nonlinearities in piping supports on response to seismic excitation is presented. Response calculations for simplified single degree of freedom nonlinear models are used to illustrate sensitivity to stiffness variations, lost motion and impact damping. Seismic responses of typical spans of various sizes of piping supported by both linear and nonlinear constraints are compared to assess the support load magnifications due to impacting. The idealized nonlinear piping support models are integrated with a finite element model of a large piping system. Time domain seismic responses of the nonlinear piping system are compared to loads determined by a standard linearized seismic response spectra technique.

This study was designed to determine the kinds of small mammals living adjacent to 216-U-10 Pond, the radiation exposures these mice received, and the level and type of radionuclides assimilated while living next to this pond and the 216-Z-19 Ditch. Four species of mice were trapped including the Great Basin pocket mouse, deer mouse, house mouse, and the western harvest mouse. Animals were collected throughout the study and composite tissue samples were analyzed by gamma spectrometry. Also, an analysis for /sup 238/Pu, /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu, and /sup 241/Am was performed. The most abundant gamma emitter was /sup 137/Cs with the highest levels occurring at three trapping locations: one near the 216-Z-19 Ditch and two locations adjacent to the pond. House mice captured near the 216-Z-19 Ditch showed the highest levels with one gastrointestinal (GI) tract sample having 1600 pCi /sup 137/Cs/g dry weight. Four tissue types from resident mice were analyzed for Pu and Am concentrations. The tissues analyzed were fur-skin, liver, lung, and muscle-bone. The highest concentration detected was 2.03 pCi /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu/g dry weight in a fur-skin sample from house mice captured on the meadow transect near the pond. Results from radiochemical analyses of mouse …

Experimental high energy research is summarized. A list of publications is included. (JFP)

This report discusses an AP190L array processor (manufactured by Floating Point Systems of Beaverton, Oregon) interfaced to a PDP-10 (Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Mass.). After AP software installation, an analysis of the overhead was performed. The results of these measurements and some conclusions are presented. An AP monitor and software interface were written to minimize the overhead from the PDP-10. A vector extension to the FORTRAN language called FIVE was developed to increase user access to the AP. Some of the problems associated with defining and implementing FIVE are discussed. Its successes and limitations are reviewed. 2 figures, 2 tables.

Flat plate chord tests are one experimental method used to investigate how fluid/structure interaction (FSI) effects modify the impulsive loading in nuclear reactor pressure suppression pools. This analytical study examines the applicability of using a flexible flat plate in an otherwise rigid shell to model dynamic pool wall response in a flexible shell pressure suppression torus. Bubble pressures varying by a factor of seven are used as input to two-dimensional finite-element models. Boundary response to various plate and shell thicknesses are compared on the basis of equivalent natural frequency. Results indicate the qualitative flat plate response compares well with the flexible shell but absolute pressures vary significantly and nonconservatively.

This paper examines two types of information requirements that appear to be basic to DOE solar-energy-policy decisions: (1) how can the future market success of solar energy technologies be estimated, and (2) what factors influence the adoption of solar energy technologies, and what specific programs could promote solar energy adoption most effectively. This paper assesses the ability of a body of research, referred to here as diffusion research, to supply information that could partially satisfy these requirements. This assessment proceeds, first, by defining in greater detail a series of policy issues that face DOE. These are divided into cost reduction and performance improvement issues which include issues confronting the technology development component of the solar energy program, and barriers and incentives issues which are most relevant to problems of solar energy application. Second, these issues are translated into a series of questions that the diffusion approach can help resolve. Third, various elements within diffusion research are assessed in terms of their abilities to answer policy questions. Finally, the strengths and limitations of current knowledge about the diffusion of innovations are summarized, the applicability of both existing knowledge and the diffusion approach to the identified solar-energy-policy issues are discussed, and ways …

Task I efforts examined the available fisheries management techniques and assessed their potential application in a confirmatory monitoring program. The objective of such monitoring programs is to confirm that the prediction of an insignificant impact (usually made in the FES) was correct. Fisheries resource managers have developed several tools for assessing the fish population response to stress (exploitation) and they were thought potentially useful for detecting nuclear power plant impacts. Techniques in three categories were examined; catch removal, population dynamics, and nondestructive censuses, and the report contains their description, examples of application, advantages, and disadvantages. The techniques applied at nuclear power plant sites were examined in detail to provide information on implementation and variability of specific approaches. The most suitable techniques to incorporate into a monitoring program confirming no impact appear to be those based on Catch Per Unity Effort (CPUE) and hydroacoustic data. In some specific cases, age and growth studies and indirect census techniques may be beneficial. Recommendations for task II efforts to incorporate these techniques into monitoring program designs are presented. These include development of guidelines for; (1) designing and implementing a data collection program; (2) interpreting these data and assessing the occurrence of impact, and (3) …

A simple model for estimating the body force acting on a diffuse plasma confined in a three-dimensional, high-beta stellarator geometry is given. The equilibrium is treated by an asymptotic expansion about a straight theta pinch with diffuse, circular cross section. The expansion parameter delta is the strength of the applied helical fields. This expansion leads to an inconsistent set of equations for the equilibrium in second order. Nevertheless, by averaging the equilibrium equations over the volume of the confined plasma, a unique condition for toroidal equilibrium is obtained. When the results are compared with the predictions of previous equilibrium theory, which is based on the sharp-boundary model, a large deviation is found. This correction is especially large for l = 0,1 systems at high beta and must be accounted for in any confinement experiment.

Upsets in the operation of the wastewater strippers in the 400 Area of the Savannah River Plant have released hydrogen sulfide in quantities as large as 1800 kg to the effluent stream. Fish kills in the swamp area of Beaver Dam Creek have occurred following the large releases. A literature survey revealed volatilization and oxidation as the major loss mechanisms of H/sub 2/S. Laboratory investigations supported the literature survey. The computer code for pollutant transport in a stream, LODIPS, has an option to account for sink-source effects in a stream. Volatilization and oxidation rate constants were developed for the sink option from two H/sub 2/S releases (18 kg and 118 kg) and results were predicted with LODIPS. Based on the predicted concentration-time profiles for various hypothetical cases, releases as small as 568 kg if discharged over a 30-minute period or releases as large as 1818 kg if discharged over a 360-minute period or less are lethal to swamp fish.

A Computer Control System includes data acquisition, information display and output control signals. In order to design such a system effectively we must first determine the required operational mode: automatic control (closed loop), computer assisted (open loop), or hybrid control. The choice of operating mode will depend on the nature of the plant, the complexity of the operation, the funds available, and the technical expertise of the operating staff, among many other factors. Once the mode has been selected, consideration must be given to the method (man/machine interface) by which the operator interacts with this system. The human engineering factors are of prime importance to achieving high operating efficiency and very careful attention must be given to this aspect of the work, if full operator acceptance is to be achieved. This paper will discuss these topics and will draw on experience gained in setting up the computer control system in Main Control Center for Stanford University's Accelerator Center (a high energy physics research facility). (In this complex system both open and closed loop computer controls are used, as well as large numbers of manual functions.)

An assessment of the capital and operating costs required to supply low-to-moderate temperature (120/sup 0/ to 250/sup 0/) thermal energy via a long distance pipeline system is presented. Ten basic thermal energy systems are studied in this report; 6 systems subdivided into 54 cases covering single-medium energy outputs, and 4 systems subdivided into 36 cases covering multimedium (2 or more different forms, such as steam and hot water) energy outputs. Preliminary sizing calculations were performed and basic design requirements were developed for each of 9 cases in each of the 10 systems. The 9 cases in each system involved short (8 km), intermediate (24 km), and long (64 km) transport distances as well as low (273 GJ/hr), intermediate (1370 GJ/hr), and high (4100 GJ/hr) levels of heat input. Thermal-energy delivery costs are computed for each case to determine which systems are most economical to construct and operate. Three different types of energy output were selected for study. These outputs are: 1, hot water at 120/sup 0/C; 2, saturated steam at 177/sup 0/C; and saturated steam at 249/sup 0/C. These outputs were selected because hot water at 121/sup 0/C can be used to supply building heat and to heat hot water …

Studies were conducted to assess the technical and economic merits and limitations of advanced solar-geothermal hybrid electric power plant concepts. Geothermal resource characteristics and technologies were reviewed to determine the best possible ways of combining solar and geothermal technologies into a hybrid operation. Potential hybrid system concepts are defined and their performance, resource usage, and economics are assessed relative to the individual solar and geothermal resource development techniques. Key results are presented.

This report identifies and discusses potential problems in the transportation of synthetic fuels (synfuels) which if allowed to persist unresolved will hamper the development of these energy materials between now and the year 2000. The emergence of transportation-related problems in shale oil and coal synfuel development will be highly dependent upon their chemical similitude with analagous fossil fuels. Hence, definitive resolution of the question of whether new transportation problems exist is dependent upon clear characterization of the synfuels chemical composition. Hydrogen and methanol represent unique cases since these materials are already in commercial production. The major transportation problem identified with fuel economics based on these materials is related to bulk use. To date, shipment volumes have been relatively small and, in the case of hydrogen, can be accommodated with costly, more specialized packaging. Scale-up for major energy use may introduce a new set of transportation problems.