A method is described how a quantitative measure for the robustness of a given transport theory code for coarse network calculations can be obtained. A code, that performs this task automatically and at only nominal cost, is described and has been implemented for slab geometry. This code generates also user oriented benchmark problems which exhibit the analytic behavior at interfaces.

Two modeling programs, SCEPTRE and CSMP, are used to solve the point-kinetics equations - - seven coupled nonlinear differential equations - - with a linear-feedback function. The constants used are appropriate for EBR-II; therefore the computational accuracy may be tested against the experimental rod drops. Run-time, versatility, programming ease, and accuracy are criteria used to evaluate the two programs. SCEPTRE is found to be more efficient in run time and CSMP more versatile. The ease of programming is about the same for both programs. The accuracy is nearly equivalent if the optimum integration routines are used.

This report presents an extensive literature survey on bubble dynamics. Growth of a single spherical bubble moving in a uniformly superheated liquid is considered. Equations of motion and energy are presented in the forms that take into consideration the interaction between the motion and the growth. The fourth-order Runge-Kutta method is used to obtain a simultaneous solution of equations of motion and growth rate, and the solution is compared with available experimental results. Results for liquid sodium are presented for a range of pressures and Jakob numbers.

The domain and surface structures of metallic sodium tungsten bronzes, NaxWO₃, 0.4 < x < 1, were studied using optical microscopy, supplemented by chemical methods, photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, etc. The birefringent, multidomain structure of the bronze is exhibited by a sodium-deficient, epitaxial surface film and hence is not, as reported elsewhere, a bulk property. The film can be synthesized by anodic electrolysis in alkaline solution and can exist only epitaxially with the substrate. It is chemically inert, translucent, and often laminated to a multilayered film. The film domain is hypersensitive to lateral stress and to thermal change, and appears to be modulated by minute structural changes of the substrate. This epitaxial modulation of the film is strikingly large at the phase transitions of the substrate induced by slightly different tiltings of the oxygen octahedra. The domain-wall movement is often slow enough to be visible, and that by thermal effect is occasionally accompanied by an audible, high-pitched, snapping sound.

A tritium and hydrogen transport model has been employed to simulate concentration profiles, tritium losses to auxiliary containment systems, and cold trap burdens for EBR-II, CRBR, and FFTF. Experimental data from EBR-II were found to correlate well with calculated tritium and hydrogen profiles. A major change relative to previous transport models, namely, the inhibiting effect of oxide coatings on tritium permeation through reactor structural surfaces, has been incorporated into the current model. Tritium release rates to auxiliary systems where oxide barrier effects were included were predicted to be approximately two orders of magnitude lower than those for the reference case where structural surfaces were assumed to be totally oxide-free. Tritium releases during operation of large LMFBRs are expected to present essentially no hazard to the environment.

Commercial refractories were tested for up to 500 h in both basic and acidic slags. The slag compositions typify those expected in slagging coal gasifiers. The slag temperatures ranged up to 1600 degrees C. Compositions tested have included silicon carbides, chrome-alumina-magnesia spinels, and alumina and magnesia-based refractories with various amounts of chromia and silica. In some tests, the cold faces were water cooled. With water cooling, the silicon carbides showed virtually no attack after 500 h. In the absence of water cooling, the chrome-alumina-magnesia spinels were the most resistant to slag attack but were subject to thermal-shock cracking. Alumina-chrome refractories performed well in acid slags when water cooled, are probably more stable than silicon carbide in coal-gasification atmospheres, and, in the form of ramming mixes, showed excellent thermal-shock resistances. Plans for future testing are described.

Quarterly report discussing fuel cell research and development work at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). This report describes efforts directed toward understanding and improving the components of molten-carbonate-electrolyte fuel cells operated at temperatures near 925 K. The primary focus of this work has been the development of electrolyte structures that have good electrolyte retention and mechanical properties as well as long-term stability, and on developing methods of synthesis amendable to mass production.

PTAC was developed to predict pressure transients in nuclear-power-plant piping systems in which the possibility of cavitation must be considered. The program performs linear or nonlinear fluid-hammer calculations, using a fixed-grid method-of-characteristics solution procedure. In addition to pipe friction and elasticity, the program can treat a variety of flow components, pipe junctions, and boundary conditions, including arbitrary pressure sources and a sodium/water reaction. Essential features of transient cavitation are modeled by a modified column-separation technique. Comparisons of calculated results with available experimental data, for a simple piping arrangement, show good agreement and provide validation of the computational cavitation model. Calculations for a variety of piping networks, containing either liquid sodium or water, demonstrate the versatility of PTAC and clearly show that neglecting cavitation leads to erroneous predictions of pressure-time histories.

Annual report of the Argonne National Laboratory Chemical Engineering Division regarding studies of nuclear waste migration in geologic media. This report discusses research regarding nuclide migration by fluid flow in rock.

A review was conducted during the period of mid-June to mid-August 1979, of the literature on spray combustion. Particular attention has been paid to theoretical and experimental work on droplet and spray combustion applicable to the use of alternate fuels, mainly liquid fuels derived from coal and shale.

Both 2F di-n-amyl-n-amylphosphonate in n-dodecane (DA(AP)-DD) and 0.77F tricaprylmethylammonium nitrate in Aromatic 100 (TCMA.NO/sub 3/-AR100) extract uranium and thorium into relatively concentrated organic solutions. Countercurrent-flow tests with each extractant have demonstrated effective uranium-thorium separations by selective stripping from the organic phase. Both extractants offer advantageous alternatives to tributylphosphate (Thorex) in reprocessing irradiated mixed ThO2-UO2 fuels. Formic acid is used for removing thorium from DA(AP)-DD; dilute HNO3 removes uranium from TCMA.NO3-AR100. Spectra of plutonium in formic acid are shown. The use of concentrated TCMA.NO3-AR100 at 50 to 65/sup 0/C avoids viscosity problems and suppresses third-phase formation. Thorium extracts into concentrated TCMA.NO/sub 3/-AR100 in greater amounts than would be predicted from stoichiometric assumptions.

Ultrasonic inspection of large-grain stainless steel and stainless steel welds is difficult, and the results obtained are not easily interpreted. In the present study, the effects of stainless steel microstructure on ultrasonic test results are described, and several signal-processing techniques for enhancing ultrasonic flaw signals are discussed.

Technology utilization/commercialization is the process of applying technology to satisfy a preexisting need. The present report examines the organizational relationships involved, the controlling factors, and the role of the technology agent. Included is a brief assessment of the technology commercialization activities currently under way as part of specific research and development projects at Argonne National Laboratory. In addition to the usual supporting references, an appendix is devoted to a sampling of the relevant literature.

The large grain size and anisotropic nature of stainless steel weld metal make conventional ultrasonic testing very difficult. This paper evaluates a technique for minimizing the coherent noise in stainless steel weld metal. The method involves digitizing conventional A-scan traces and averaging them with a minicomputer. Results are presented for an ultrasonic scanner which interrogates a small volume of the weld metal while averaging the coherent ultrasonic noise.

Operation of liquid-metal-cooled fast breeder reactors (LMFBRs) will result in production of various quantities of radioactive sodium waste. Two methods have been developed and tested on a small scale for converting this sodium waste to inert compounds suitable for disposal. The first method is direct oxidation of the sodium after dispersal in a silica matrix. The sodium is mixed with silica and oxidized in a rotary drum reactor. The product is suitable for making glass when other stabilizing compounds are added. The second method is reaction of elemental sodium with molten sodium hydroxide at 450 degrees C and subsequent injection of steam into the melt to convert the reaction products (Na2O and NaH) to additional sodium hydroxide. The reactions are smooth and easily controlled with little danger of run-away reactions. The end product is molten sodium hydroxide which can be cast into drums for further treatment or disposal. The advantages of these two methods over more conventional aqueous processes are the elimination of aqueous wastes and the elimination of minimization of gaseous effluents.

Abstract: "The Environmental Working Level Monitor (EWLM) is an instrument used to automatically monitor airborne Rn-daughter concentrations and the Working Level (WL). It is an ac powered, microprocessor-based instrument with an external inverter provided for dc operation if desired. The microprocessor's control processor unit (CPU) controls the actuation of the detector assembly and processes its output signals to yield the measurements in the proper units. The detectors are fully automated and require no manual operations once the instrument is programmed. They detect and separate the alpha emitters of RaA and RaC' as well as detecting the beta emitters of RaB and RaC. The resultant pulses from these detected radioisotopes are transmitted to the CPU. The programmed microprocessor performs the mathematical manipulations necessary to output accurate Rn-daughter concentrations and the WL. A special subroutine within the system program enables the EWLM to run a calibration procedure on command which yields calibration data. This data can then be processed in a separate program on most computers capable of BASIC programming. This calibration program results in the derivation of coefficients and beta efficiencies which provides the calibrated coefficients and beta efficiencies required by the main system program to assure proper calibration of the …

Final report documenting a high-sensitivity airborne radiometric and magnetic survey of the Boise, Hailey, Idaho Falls, and Elk City quadrangles including the survey description, specifications, data processing methods, interpretation methods, and regional geologic review.

This report provides results from a preliminary study to determine rock types and alteration products that are responsible for an observed abundance of radioactive gas at the Trinity Gold Mine in Utah. It includes an overview of the study and the location, description of the methods and general statements, details about the structure, petrography and mineralogy, and a discussion of findings.

From operational program: This final report includes a general geologic description of the area, including descriptions of the various geologic units and correlates the airborne data to the geologic units as provided by the geologic maps. Also included is a frequency distribution study of the data as a function of the geologic units encountered over the NTMS area including the tie line data.

Abstract: This report presents the results of a study to evaluate the state-of-the-art and determine the feasibility of attaining an extreme weather pollution response capability.

Abstract: This report summarizes the criteria for selection of those accidents to be investigated, the investigation procedures, and the accident data obtained for the 28 in depth investigations.

Abstract: This document provides an overview of the Resource Recovery Management Model which has been developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assist regional, state, and local officials in developing plans, reaching decisions, and managing and conducting procurements for resource recovery facilities and services.

From summary: The purpose of this study was to delineate favorable areas for uranium resources in northeastern Washington and northern Idaho by identifying granitic rocks with relatively large amounts of uranium and (or) thorium. Results are based on analyses of 344 rock samples; 230 were collected during this study, and data for the rest were taken from previous publications.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the capabilities of the WES geophysical downhole logging equipment for obtaining in situ bulk densities and water contents in unconsolidated materials, to establish a log analysis procedure applicable from one site to another, and to compare geophysically derived properties with those obtained from laboratory analysis of samples.