Two applications of microfabrication technology to thermionic converters have been investigated theoretically. The first is a novel method of maintaining micron or submicron spacings over large areas (>1 cm/sup 2/), using metals of different expansion coefficients to eliminate the shear stresses on the insulating pillars separating the electrodes. The second uses low-voltage field-emission sources to create ions in a large (approx. 1 mm) interelectrode gap for space charge neutralization. The theoretical results for both these approaches are highly encouraging.

This paper describes a computer controlled closed loop alignment subsystem for Shiva, which represents the first use of video sensors for large laser alignment at LLNL. The techniques used on this now operational subsystem are serving as the basis for all closed loop alignment on Nova, the 200 terawatt successor to Shiva.

A three-dimensional thermal analysis has been performed using finite difference techniques to determine the near-field response of a baseline spent fuel repository in a deep geologic salt medium. A baseline design incorporates previous thermal modeling experience and OWI recommendations for areal thermal loading in specifying the waste form properties, package details, and emplacement configuration. The base case in this thermal analysis considers one 10-year old PWR spent fuel assembly emplaced to yield a 36 kw/acre (8.9 w/m/sup 2/) loading. A unit cell model in an infinite array is used to simplify the problem and provide upper-bound temperatures. Boundary conditions are imposed which allow simulations to 1000 years. Variations studied include a comparison of ventilated and unventilated storage room conditions, emplacement packages with and without air gaps surrounding the canister, and room cool-down scenarios with ventilation following an unventilated state for retrieval purposes. At this low power level ventilating the emplacement room has an immediate cooling influence on the canister and effectively maintains the emplacement room floor near the temperature of the ventilating air. The annular gap separating the canister and sleeve causes the peak temperature of the canister surface to rise by 10/sup 0/F (5.6/sup 0/C) over that from a …

The purpose of this memorandum is to report our realistic assessment of the feasibility, cost, and time frame for bringing a rationing program to 90-day readiness. The basic aspects of the nature of the rationing plan are discussed. The plan has been changed in several respects in response to comments from the Congress, the general public and the ECC, since the previous version was rejected by the Congress in May 1979. Three changes in particular impact the preimplementation process: The range of entities accorded status as priority firms has increased to cover such groups as telecommunications firms and for-hire delivery firms; All firms (not just priority users) are alloted rights for a percentage of their historical gasoline usage; States have more influence on the division of the total state supply between state reserves and vehicle allotments. The rationing plan, is described on a chart depicting the interaction of the principal components is included. The rationing process starts when checks for coupons are sent to owners of registered vehicles. The biggest single problem area appears to be delivering these checks into the hands of the vehicle registrants who are entitled to them. (DMC)

Optical holographic interfereometry and acoustic emission monitoring were simultaneously used to evaluate two small, high pressure vessels during pressurization. The techniques provide pressure vessel designers with both quantitative information such as displacement/strain measurements and qualitative information such as flaw detection. The data from the holographic interferograms were analyzed for strain profiles. The acoustic emission signals were monitored for crack growth and vessel quality.

This paper describes the results of digital image analysis and techniques applied to acoustic sounder data and topographic relief in the Geyser's region. The two dimensional fast Fourier transform (2DFFT) represents the spacial variability of a photographic image. The spacial variability of topography in complex terrain can be represented in this way and insight into degree of complexity and dominating spacial wavelengths can be gained. This was performed for a 16 km square digitized topographic map of the Geyser's region with 63.5 m resolution. It was also of interest to compare facsimile recordings of acoustic sounder data to optical turbulence measurements.

A brief review is given of some recent developments in the fields of optical model potentials; level densities; and statistical model, precompound, and direct reaction codes and calculations. Significant developments have occurred in all of these fields since the 1977 Conference on Neutron Cross Sections, which will greatly enhance the ability to calculate high-energy neutron-induced reaction cross sections in the next few years. 11 figures, 3 tables.

The objectives of testing low-temperature hydrothermal wells are to characterize well response to production (injection), determine resource characteristics and project reservoir longevity. Testing procedures and analysis techniques differ in some respects from proven procedures in the oil and gas and ground water fields. Some basic definitions and standard techniques necessary for the evaluation of a fluid resource in an intergranular permeable reservoir are presented. Problems particular to a non-ideal thermal resource are outlined and some analytical techniques are discussed.

The main results are in the following three areas: (1) examination of a diffusion model for PdH system, (2) connection between the diffusion model and other physical models, (3) related problems. Advances made during the third year of this project, particularly in understanding the physical model for hydrogen diffusion, make it possible to begin to meet some of the long-range objectives described in the initial proposals of 1977-1978.

The Cool Pool is a variation of the evaporating roof pond idea. The pool is isolated from the living space and the cooled pond water thermosiphons into the water columns located within the building. A computer model of the Cool Pool and the various heat and mass transfer mechanisms involved in the system are discussed. Theory will be compared to experimental data collected from a Cool Pool test building.

The remote fiber fluorimetric portion of the program is slightly ahead of schedule and proceeding well technically. Proof of principle has been demonstrated over a 0.2 km path length using an organic tracer material. Performance and design calculations have been made for the fiber optic components of the system. Optimized fibers have been ordered and special jigs and optical couplings are presently being fabricated. Progress on the high-sensitivity analyzer using coprecipitation techniques has proceeded well ahead of schedule with technical results far above expectations. Preliminary measurements in the UO/sub 2//sup 2 +//CaF/sub 2/ detection system has proved sensitivities well beyond the natural background limit. While further improvement of sensitivity (to 10/sup -15/ g) already is planned, emphasis will now be placed on locating and dealing with possible interferences and on determining how to improve and optimize quantitative accuracy. In addition, simplication of the sample preparation procedure and downscaling to use very small (< 1 ml) groundwater samples is planned. In the longer time frame, work on maximum chemical speciation and the possibility of isotopic speciation will be undertaken. Once the coprecipitation procedures, instrumentation, and spectroscopy have been fully refined for uranium, then the process will be repeated for plutonium and …

Goal is to develop a Hall cell cathode, which will reduce the specific energy consumption of existing commercial cells by 20 to 25%. Basis of the improvement is the utilization of titanium diboride (TiB/sub 2/), a material that is wetted by molten aluminum, as the cell cathode. This provides a stable cathode surface, thereby allowing the cell to be operated at a smaller anode-cathode distance (ACD). Energy savings arise as a result of reduced resistive losses through the cryolite electrolyte. This phase of the program is comprised of three integrated parts: (1) materials characterization, (2) pilot cell testing, and (3) a full-sized cell demonstration. During this quarter emphasis continued on rebuilding the 15KA pilot cell to accommodate a highly sloped electrode system. TiB/sub 2/ cathode materials were received, and construction of cell components and peripheral equipment was completed.

A General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) has been designed for the purpose of supplying power to a radioisotope thermal generator intended for interplanetary missions. The baseline configuration, nominally 2 in. x 4 in. x 4 in. with sharp edges and corners, is required to survive accidental earth reentry as well as terminal impact velocities. Several problems have been identified relative to survival criteria during reentry. This paper is concerned with the flow field and reentry heating for a broad face-on or side-on reentry orientation. Moreover, the analysis considers convective heat transfer in the absence of roughness or ablation effects during the supersonic/hypersonic regime of reentry. The anaytical results are compared with wind tunnel data. From these studies it was concluded that heat transfer distributions for non-circular shapes ca be obtained for reentry conditions using wind tunnel data for the surface distributions and a stagnation value based on a reference sphere condition. The distributions obtained at a fixed Mach number (M > 1) appear valid over an extended range of Mach numbers. The above required definition of a proper velocity gradient, and definition of an area aspect ratio. Flowfield predictions (inviscid) using the CM2DT program provide a proper definition of pressure …

The program to study the effect of accidentally released carbon fibers on electrical power equipment consisted of determining the vulnerability of system outage rates to carbon fiber contamination, and performing tests to quantitize the contamination required to cause flashover of external insulation. Part One of this final report describes an assessment of the vulnerability of power systems to accidentally released fibers from a composite burn. The assessment describes the effect of carbon fibers on individual component failure rates and discusses the effect the change in component failure rates has on the power system reliability. Part Two describes in detail testing performed to determine the vulnerability of external insulation to carbon fiber contamination. Testing consisted of airborne contamination tests on distribution insulators, limited tests on suspension insulators which are commonly used for transmission class voltages, and various tests to quantify the influence of fiber length, voltage stress, etc. on flashover characteristics. The data obtained and analysis performed during this project show that the change of system reliability due to an accidental release from burned carbon fiber composite is negligible.

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As superconducting magnet systems grow larger and become the central component of major systems involving fusion, magnetohydrodynamics, and high-energy physics, their reliability must be commensurate with the enormous capital investment in the projects. Although the magnet may represent only 15% of the cost of a large system such as the Mirror Fusion Test Facility, its failure would be catastrophic to the entire investment. Effective quality control during construction is one method of ensuring success. However, if the design is unforgiving, even an inordinate amount of effort expended on quality control may be inadequate. Creative design is the most effective way of ensuring magnet reliability and providing a reasonable limit on the amount of quality control needed. For example, by subjecting the last drawing operation is superconductor manufacture to a stress larger than the magnet design stress, a 100% proof test is achieved; cabled conductors offer mechanical redundancy, as do some methods of conductor joining; ground-plane insulation should be multilayered to prevent arcs, and interturn and interlayer insulation spaced to be compatible with the self-extinguishing of arcs during quench voltages; electrical leads should be thermally protected; and guard vacuum spaces can be incorporated to control helium leaks. Many reliable design options …

Annular air spaces surrounding an emplaced nuclear waste canister in deep geologic storage will have significant effects on the long-term performance of the waste form. Addressed specifically in this analysis is the influence of a gap on the thermal response of the waste package. Three dimensional numerical modeling predicts temperature effects for a series of parameter variations, including the influence of gap size, surface emissivities, initial thermal power generation of the canister, and the presence/absence of a sleeve. Particular emphasis is placed on determining the effects these variables have on the canister surface temperature. We have identified critical gap sizes at which the peak transient temperature occurs when gap widths are varied for a range of power levels. It is also shown that high emissivities for the heat exchanging surfaces are desirable, while that of the canister surface has the greatest influence. Gap effects are more pronounced, and therefore more effort should be devoted to optimal design, in situations where the absolute temperature of the near field medium is high. This occurs for higher power level emplacements and in geomedia with low thermal conductivities. Finally, loosely inserting a sleeve in the borehole effectively creates two gaps and drastically raises the …