Reaction kinetic measurements on the hydrochlorination of SiCl/sub 4/ and m.g. silicon metal were last reported as a function of reaction temperature, reactor pressure, H/sub 2//SiCl/sub 4/ ratio and silicon metal particle size distribution, 3 SiCl/sub 4/ + 2 H/sub 2/ + Si reversible 4 SiHCl/sub 3/. The effect of impurities in the m.g. silicon metal on the rate of this reaction has been investigated in this quarter. The m.g. silicon was replaced with high purity, electronic grade silicon metal in the hydrochlorination reaction. With electronic grade Si, the reaction rate was found to be about one order of magnitude slower than those obtained with m.g. silicon metal. These metallic impurities in the m.g. silicon appear to have a catalytic effect. Addition of 5 wt% cuprous chloride to the electronic grade Si mass bed increased the reaction rate to the same level as those obtained with m.g. silicon with 5% CuCl added. The effect of prolonged reaction time on the hydrochlorination reaction was studied. The plan is to run the reaction for long periods of time with the objective of studying the life of the Si mass bed. No significant change in the reaction rate was observed after about 80 …

Some scoping experiments were performed to evaluate fuel performance in a lithium heat pipe reactor operating at a nominal 1500K heat pipe temperature. Fuel-coolant and fuel-coolant-clad relationships showed that once a failed heat pipe occurs temperatures can rise high enough so that large concentrations of uranium can be transported by the vapor phase. Upon condensation this uranium would be capable of penetrating heat pipes adjacent to the failed pipe. The potential for propagation of failure exists with UO/sub 2/ and a lithium heat pipe. Changing the composition of the metal of the heat pipe would have only a second order effect on the kinetics of the failure mechanism. Uranium carbide and nitride were considered as potential fuels which are nonreactive in a lithium environment. At high temperatures the nitride would be favored because of its better compatibility with potential cladding materials. Compositions of UN with small additions of YN appear to offer very attractive properties for a compact high temperature high power density reactor.

A plutonium gamma-ray analysis system that operates on MS-DOS-based computers has been developed for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to perform in-field analysis of plutonium gamma-ray spectra for plutonium isotopics. The user interacts with the system by means of menus and screens that allow the user to select various applications and to enter information pertinent to a measurement. This information, along with the plutonium weight-percent-abundance results from the data analysis, is stored in dBASE III files. The spectral-data-analysis program, IAEAPU, determines the relative plutonium isotopic abundances from gamma-ray peaks in the 110- to 390-keV region of the spectral data. The program is compact so that it may be used on a portable, battery-operated, laptop, personal computer (PC) that uses a 3-1/2-in. floppy diskette. This is intended to be the final report on this work. We describe in detail the data-analysis methodology, the software, and the operation of the plutonium gamma-ray analysis system. 10 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

LLNL made ultrahigh-frequency (450-MHz) electromagnetic borehole-to-borehole transmissions in the Stripa Mine near Guldsmedshyttan, Sweden, in April 1979. Transmission loss measurements were made between four sets of 76-mm boreholes 30 m long, located at the end of a drift. Distances between the boreholes varied from 2 to 22 m. More than 25,000 data points were taken. A geotomograph was constructed to show the variation of attenuation between boreholes. The observed spatial variation of electromagnetic attenuation may be related to the expected stress relief created by the mine. Transmission loss measurements were also made between two converging boreholes drilled from the surface to points near the mine. Data taken at 21 MHz show a nearly uniform attenuation within this sampled region. These experiments demonstrate that geotomographic data collection/interpretation provides high-resolution images of the underground environment and can provide useful input to those charged with providing the detailed site characterizations needed for both short- and long-term monitoring of underground nuclear waste repositories.

This paper discusses the following topics: electron correlation in atoms; atomic innershell excitation and decay mechanisms; timing experiments; x-ray scattering; properties of ionized species; electronic properties of actinide atoms; total photon-interaction cross sections; and molecular physics. 66 refs. (LSP)

The specific thermal load parameter, chi, for xenon flashlamp-pumped Nd:glass gain media is written as a function of neodymium concentration, pump pulse duration, and energy extraction efficiency. The currently available data on radiative and nonradiative decay probabilities of several commercial Nd:glasses are used to calculate and graph specific thermal load parameter values. By factoring these results into performance scaling relationships for zig-zag and disk lasers, specific Nd:glasses can be selected for optimized laser performance.

The Argonne Advanced Acceleration Test Facility is designed as a powerful tool to test ideas for very high gradient acceleration schemes based on direct beam excitation of plasmas, metal structures, dielectrics, etc. The characteristic size in these systems is )approximately) 1 cm, corresponding to frequencies )approximately) 10 GHz. The question addressed here is whether the special features of this facility have application as well to the development of components for the more conventional, lower frequency, accelerators now operating or under development. It is suggested that the usefulness of the facility for the development of conventional systems could be enhanced by a provision for longer time delay between driver and witness beam pulses. 9 refs., 2 figs.

To assist the Department of Energy, Office of Fuels Conversion (OFC), in implementing the synthetic fuel exemption under the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act (FUA) of 1978, Resource Consulting Group, Inc. (RCG), has developed a procedure for matching prospective users and producers of synthetic fuel. The matching procedure, which involves a hierarchical screening process, is designed to assist OFC in: locating a supplier for a firm that wishes to obtain a synthetic fuel exemption; determining whether the fuel supplier proposed by a petitioner is technically and economically capable of meeting the petitioner's needs; and assisting the Synthetic Fuels Corporation or a synthetic fuel supplier in evaluating potential markets for synthetic fuel production. A data base is provided in this appendix on proposed and ongoing synthetic fuel production projects to be used in applying the screening procedure. The data base encompasses a total of 212 projects in the seven production technologies.

The initial research and development of a system that uses high pressure helium gas to pressurize vessels over a wide range of pressurization rates, vessel volumes, and maximum test pressures are described. A method of controlling the mass flow rate in a test vessel was developed by using the pressure difference across a capillary tube. The mass flow rate is related to the pressurization rate through a real gas equation of state. The resulting mass flow equation is then used in a control algorithm. Plots of two typical pressurization tests run on a manually operated system are included.

Wyoming subbituminous coal was liquefied using three different two-stage process configurations in bench-scale tests. These process configurations differed in the type of fractionated deashing resid being recycled to the individual stages. The objective of these runs was to determine whether, by recycle of specific resid streams to the thermal stage, the second stage catalyst life could be improved without detrimentally affecting distillate yield or hydrogen consumption. The results indicate that the two-stage process configuration consisting of hydrotreating the Light Deashed Resid and direct recycle of heavy Deashed Resid to the thermal stage produced the best results. This process configuration resulted in a distillate yield of 54 wt % (MAF coal basis) and overall coal conversion in the 93 to 95% range, as measured by pyridine-soluble analytical test while operating in a total distillate mode. These results are very encouraging from the lower rank Wyoming subbituminous coal. Among the three two-stage process configurations tested, the particular process configuration of hydrotreating Light Deashed Resid resulted in the least amount of catalyst deactivation. As a part of this research effort, a test procedure for quick evaluation of various resids and catalysts in terms of coke precursors was also developed. This procedure utilizing as-produced …

Several system studies have concluded that the small size and steady state nature of magnetic mirror systems provide attractive features for nuclear-testing applications. The principle shortcoming of mirror systems is their small data base relative to that of tokamaks. This paper summarizes the present data base and describes experiments that could be carried out with small modifications of existing facilities to explore plasma physics issues associated with the production of high neutron fluxes in magnetic mirror configurations. The experiments would demonstrate physics principles important to such future applications of fusion power neutrons as blanket testing, tritium production, fissile fuel production, or decontamination of high-level radioactive nuclear-reactor wastes.

The effect of beam-generated positive ions on the beam-breakup instability in linear electron accelerators is calculated using simple models. The strongly nonlinear dependence of the ion focusing force on radius makes a complete suppression of the mode growth possible, in contrast to solenoidal focusing. The predicted gas pressures for significant stabilization of the mode growth in a machine configuration like ATA is relatively low (10/sup -5/ to 10/sup -4/ torr), even for high-Q modes.

A plutonium gamma-ray analysis system that operates on MS-DOS-based computers has been developed for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to perform in-field analysis of plutonium gamma-ray spectra for plutonium isotopics. The program titled IAEAPU consists of three separate applications: a data-transfer application for transferring spectral data from a CICERO multichannel analyzer to a binary data file, a data-analysis application to analyze plutonium gamma-ray spectra, for plutonium isotopic ratios and weight percents of total plutonium, and a data-quality assurance application to check spectral data for proper data-acquisition setup and performance. Volume 3 contains the software listings for these applications.

This project is Phase I of a multi-phased program for the design and development of Stirling engines for stationary power generation applications in the 500 to 3000 horsepower range. Phase I comprises the conceptual design and associated cost estimates of a stationary Stirling engine capable of being fueled by a variety of heat sources, with emphasis on coal firing, followed by the preparation of a plan for implementing the design, fabrication and testing of a demonstration engine by 1985. The main effort in Phase I is the generation of state-of-the-art conceptual designs having greatest potential for prototype testing in 1985. The conceptual designs include a heat transport system for integrating the engine heater head with such energy sources as conventional oil/gas combustors, fluidized bed and other coal combustors, and combustors using coal-derived liquid fuels, and low/medium BTU gases. The heat transport systems being investigated include forced convection with gases or liquids, heat pipes, and direct firing. Currently, the leading choice for the solid fuel combustion system is the atmospheric fluidized bed, with low BTU gasification still a viable alternative. Both systems will continue to be evaluated further, but with greater emphasis on FBC. To date, there appears no clear choice …

Long-life replacement lamps for the incandescent lamp have been evaluated with regard to their cost effectiveness. The replacements include the use of energy buttons that extend lamp life as well as an adaptive fluorescent circline lamp that will fit into existing incandescent lamp sockets. The initial, operating, and replacement costs for one million lumen hours are determined for each lamp system. It is found that the most important component lighting cost is the operating cost. Using lamps that are less efficient or devices that cause lamps to operate less efficiently are not cost-effective. The adaptive fluorescent circline lamp, even at an initial unit cost of $20.00, is the most cost-effective source of illumination compared to the incandescent lamp and lamp systems examined.

The method under development for the production of semiconductor grade silicon is based on the zinc vapor reduction of silicon tetrachloride in a fluidized bed of seed particles. Construction of the PDU was completed during the report period, the fluidized-bed reactor was coated internally with silicon/SiC, and the operation of several systems was checked out. However, problems with the zinc feed system, unrelated to its basic operability, delayed introduction of zinc vapor to the PDU. At the end of the report period, the zinc feed system stood ready for tests of the control of zinc vapor feed rate by regulation of r.f. induction heating directly coupled to the liquid zinc. A study of the zinc distribution in miniplant silicon products containing zinc at the 300 and 3000 ppM levels suggests that the occlusion of zinc is caused by zinc mist entrained from the vaporizer, and it should be possible to drive the level to below 300 ppM by proper equipment design and process control.

A plutonium gamma-ray analysis system that operates on MS-DOS-based computers has been developed for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to perform in-field analysis of plutonium gamma-ray spectra for plutonium isotopics. The program titled IAEAPU consists of three separate applications: (1) a data-transfer application for transferring spectral data from a CICERO multichannel analyzer to a binary data file, (2) a data-analysis application to analyze plutonium gamma-ray spectra for plutonium isotopic ratios and weight percents of total plutonium, (3) and a data-quality assurance application to check spectral data for proper data-acquisition setup and performance. Volume 2 describes the operations of these applications and the installation and maintenance of the software.

The design is analyzed for a parabolic trough solar process heat system for a cardboard corrugation fabrication facility in Texas. The program is briefly reviewed, including an analysis of the plant and process. The performance modeling for the system is discussed, and the solar system structural design, collector subsystem, heat transport and distribution subsystem are analyzed. The selection of the heat transfer fluid, and ullage and fluid maintenance are discussed, and the master control system and data acquisition system are described. Testing of environmental degradation of materials is briefly discussed. A brief preliminary cost analysis is included. (LEW)

This project is a detailed analysis of the lithology, stratigraphy, and structure of the New Albany Group in Illinois to determine those characteristics of lithology, thickness, regional distribution, vertical and lateral variability, and deformation that are most relevant to the occurrence of hydrocarbons. Research is reported for this quarter in the following areas: coordination of stratigraphic maps, mineralogic and petrographic characterization, physical properties of Devonian black shale, quantitative determination of major, minor, and trace elements in shales, inorganic/organic associations of trace elements in black shales, mode of occurrence and relative distribution of hydrocarbon phases in shale, and adsorption/desorption studies of gases through shales. 6 figures, 7 tables. (RWR)

The existing D0 overpass induces a vertical dispersion wave around the Main ring with dispersion amplitudes of around 1.6 to 1.8 m. There are two major reasons to eliminate or reduce vertical dispersion induced by the D0 overpass: to lower the beam momentum dependence on vertical positions which had not existed before the overpass; and to raise the Tevatron luminosity by eliminating the dispersion mismatch between the main Ring and Tevatron. 20 figs., 1 tab.

The study reported here was initiated to determine if, with the Cable Downhole System (CDS) currently under development, there is an advantage to using continuous wire rope to lower the emplacement package to the bottom of the hole. A baseline design using two wire ropes as well as several alternatives are discussed in this report. It was concluded that the advantages of the wire-rope emplacement system do not justify the cost of converting to such a system, especially for LLNL's maximum emplacement package weights.

The development of stable, efficient, electrochemical photovoltaic cells based on silicon and gallium arsenide in non-aqueous electrolyte systems is being investigated. The effect of surface condition of silicon electrodes on electrochemical and physical characteristics has been studied. An electrode-supporting electrolyte interaction in acetonitrile has been identified which leads to etching of the surface. Improved performance can result, which has practical significance. Gallium arsenide electrodes have been electrochemically characterized in cells containing propylene carbonate with a ferrocene/ferricenium redox additive. Degradation of the ferricenium salt under illumination has been investigated. Other redox couples studied to date have not given promising results. Long-term stability experiments have been deferred while a better understanding of electrode behavior is being obtained.

The initial design of a microwave calorimeter for the Microwave Tokamak Experiment is presented. The design is optimized to measure the refraction and absorption of millimeter rf microwaves as they traverse the toroidal plasma of the Alcator C tokamak. Techniques utilized can be adapted for use in measuring high intensity pulsed output from a microwave device in an environment of ultra high vacuum, intense fields of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and intense magnetic fields. 16 refs.

The evolution of the SLC Final Focus System (FFS) has been discussed in the SLC Red Books and various collider notes. Bulos and Brown and Murray were able to achieve small ..beta..'s with large l/sub 1/'s (the distance between the IP and the effective field boundary of the first quad). However, all current solutions which are compatible with the known constraints of the total path length, aperture and spot size require high gradient, superconducting quads. Such quads cannot be expected to provide very good inherent field quality (i.e., without correction windings) but can be expected to be comparatively expensive to build and operate simply. The purpose of this note is to present a more general solution for the FFS telescope which is compatible with the known constraints of detectors, magnet types, available space and the ingoing and outgoing phase space expectations. While a number of different solutions were found, the ones presented provide comparable performance, simpler operation and lower costs. The gradients are sufficiently low to allow the use of conventional electromagnets, intrinsic or cryostable superconducting or rare earth permanent (REP) magnets or any arbitary combination of all of these magnet types. 8 references, 9 figures, 1 table.