The purpose of this report is to update and reorganize our recent review on homogeneous catalysis of the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) based on recent literature publications and patents. This updated version will serve as a means of selecting 10 candidate catalyst systems for use in developing effective, sulfur-tolerant, low temperature WGSR catalysts. This report discusses the variations possible in the basic chemistry associated with WGSR catalytic cycles, including basic, acidic, and neutral conditions. Then individual mechanism for specific WGSR catalyst systems are discussed. Finally, on the basis of the literature reports, a list is presented of candidate catalysts and basic systems we have chosen for study in Task 3.

Two low-power solid-state prototype readout units were developed, an LED display and a LCD display. This display output was in a bar-graph format, covering four-decades of information, with 10-segments per decade. The displays accept a frequency input, which is standardly available from several portable radiation-survey instruments. Both readout units will operate on two D-cell batteries (3.0 Volt), with a typical current drain requirement of 0.3 MA for the LED display and 30..mu..A for the LCD display. A wide-range electrometer circuit was also developed. The circuit covers an input current range from 10/sup -13/ A to 10/sup -8/ A. The output signal is a pulse whose frequency is directly proportional to input current. The circuit requires no high-megohm resistors, and is autoranging. Several candidate input amplifiers were analyzed and evaluated for use with the electrometer circuit.

The fusion breeder is a fusion reactor designed with special blankets to maximize the transmutation by 14 MeV neutrons of uranium-238 to plutonium or thorium to uranium-233 for use as a fuel for fission reactors. Breeding fissile fuels has not been a goal of the US fusion energy program. This paper suggests it is time for a policy change to make the fusion breeder a goal of the US fusion program and the US nuclear energy program. The purpose of this paper is to suggest this policy change be made and tell why it should be made, and to outline specific research and development goals so that the fusion breeder will be developed in time to meet fissile fuel needs.

This paper describes the results of a program conducted at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for the US Department of Energy to provide an experimental data base for more accurately assessing the radiological consequences from a hypothetical sabotage attack on a spent fuel shipping cask. The primary objectives of the program were limited to: (1) evaluating the effectiveness of selected high explosive devices (HED) in breaching full-size spent fuel casks, (2) quantifying and characterizing relevant aerosol properties of the released fuel, and (3) using the resulting experimental data to evaluate the radiological health consequences resulting from a hypothetical sabotage attack on a spent fuel shipping cask in a densely populated area. Subscale and full-scale experiments in conjunction with an analytical modeling study were performed to meet the programmatic objectives. The data from this program indicate that the Urban Studies greatly overestimated the impact of malevolent acts directed at spent fuel casks in urban environs. From that standpoint this work could be the basis of additional regulatory revisions of the NRC physical protection requirements. In a larger sense this work can also be the basis of more credible worst case analyses since it defines the actual result of an event which is …

The fast neutron fluxes in selected positions of the MTR were measured for Cycle 146. The measurements were made at the beginning, throughout, and at the end of the cycle (564 Mwd). Vertical traverses for each position monitors are shown. (auth)

This paper discusses the following topics on cooling water design on the superconducting super collider; low conductivity water; industrial cooling water; chilled water systems; and radioactive water systems. (LSP)

Conversion of the ORR from 20 to 30 Mw operating level was achieved during July 1960 after a scheduled shutdown for completion of a new cooling system. Operating time reached a high of 82% during the last quarter of 1960. The first quarter of 1961 showed an operating time of 80% despite 2 shutdowns and some additional down time to repair mechanisms associated with the shim rods. Changes were made in the south engineering test facility for GCR test loops. Detailed data taken from quarterly operational reports are included. (J.R.D.)

The findings of the 1977 State Geothermal Resources Task Force are divided into four main categories: well siting, power plant siting; environmental problems; and miscellaneous areas. California's 1978 legislation is described using the same categories. The key difficulties still harassing the state's geothermal industry are described including: control over air quality at the Geysers; powerplant finance; a binary cycle demonstration; federal land use decisions; and miscellaneous concerns. (MHR)

In laser driven inertial confinement fusion research, at Livermore, we are diagnosing many phenomena that occur in a time frame that exceeds the capabilities of even the most advanced, present day oscillographic recording instruments. Many of the by-products of the interaction between the laser beam and fuel pellet are monitored to determine the specifics of the fusion process. By the use of appropriate detectors, we convert the information contained in the radiated by-products to electrical signals which are recorded on high bandwidth oscillographic recorders. Our present range of recording capabilities for one x-ray diagnostic measurement in use at Livermore is shown. A commonly used configuration consists of an XRD-31 x-ray detector connected to a direct access Tektronix R7912 transient digitizer using 1/2 in. diameter air dielectric coaxial cable. This configuration gives a system fwhm of approximately 335 ps. Our premier configuration, on the other hand, consists of an improved response detector and a French Thomson-CSF TSN-660 oscilloscope with a shorter length of coaxial cable (typically 20 feet). The system fwhm in this case is less than 120 ps which is our fastest oscillographic recording system at the present time.

Studies are described of UO/sub 2/ powders to determine the relation between properties of the powders and sinterability. The main effort during the period was devoted to correlation of the powder particle size distribution with the sintered density of pellets. The pressure applied during the green forming step of pellet production is shown to have a varied and considerable effect on ceramic particle size distribution in the pellets. (J.R.D.)

The types of tests performed in SPERT-I, and the tests proposed for SPERT-II and -III, are described. These reactors are described, and factors influencing their dynamic behavior are discussed. The tests are classed as static, step, ramp, and oscillatory. The correlation between the test results and the reactor dynamic safety characteristics (stability, self-shutdown under excursion conditions, etc.) is investigated. (T.F.H.)

Several general approaches to remote servicing are briefly described for the LLL Field Reversed Mirror and Tandem Mirror Fusion reactors. Remote servicing system design considerations for the blanket module are briefly discussed. (RME)

The overall goal of this program is to provide the basis for designing a practical electrochemical solar cell based on the II-VI compound semiconductors. Emphasis is on developing new electrolyte redox systems and electrode surface modifications which will stabilize the II-VI compounds against photodissolution without seriously degrading the long-term solar response. The bulk electrode material properties are also being optimized to provide the maximum solar conversion efficiency and greatest inherent electrode stability. Factors limiting the short circuit current of the n-CdSe/methanol/ferro-ferricyanide system to 17.5 mA/cm/sup 2/ have been identified. The principal limiting factor is apparently specific adsorption of hexacyanoferrate species on the electrode surface which occurs at higher redox couple concentrations and slows the overall charge transfer process. Ion pairing also occurs, resulting in a low mass transport rate (smaller diffusion coefficients and increased solution viscosity), and probably enhances the degree of specific adsorption. Improvements in the performance of this system will require mitigation of the interactions between the redox species and the electrode surface, e.g., via electrolytes with reduced ion-pairing tendencies or the use of electrode surface films. Photoelectrochemically generated polypyrrole films have been shown to protect CdX photoanodes from dissolution while permitting electron exchange with the electrolyte. Current …

This statement presented to the Subcommittee on Natural Resources of the US House of Representatives gives a definition of acid rain, presents new data on the regional and temporal nature of the problem, and discusses research needs. (ACR)

The specifics of the permitting process, land access, power plant siting, water law, and other legal or institutional barriers or conflicts are presented for each of the most highly regarded target electric prospects in the five Pacific Rim states: California, Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, and Wasington. (MHR)

The objectives of this program were: (1) to investigate the pertinent properties of a variety of possible sealants for solar collectors and identify the most promising candidates, and (2) to study the effect of breathing in flat-plate, thermal solar collector units. The study involved two types of sealants, Class PS which includes preformed seals or gaskets and Class SC which includes sealing compounds or caulks. It was the intent of the study to obtain data regarding initial properties of candidate elastomers from manufacturers and from the technical literature and to use those sources to provide data pertaining to endurance of these materials under environmental service conditions. Where necessary, these data were augmented by experimental measurements. Environmental stresses evaluated by these measurements included elevated temperatures, moisture, ultraviolet light, ozone and oxygen, and fungus. The second major area of the work involved a study of the effects of materials used and design on the durability of solar collectors. Factors such as design, fabrication, materials of construction, seals and sealing techniques and absorber plate coatings were observed on actual field units removed from service. Such phenomena as leakage, corrosion and formation of deposits on glazing and absorber plate were noted. An evaluation of …

The diagnostic data from the MTX experiment is acquired and processed by an expandable, distributed, multivendor computer network. The system blends a variety of software into a coordinated, unified, and highly flexible design. Using modular software design techniques, we created a system stressing distributed processing, portability, and transparent data access. In our approach to modularity, we standardized communication interfaces between modules and separated generic tasks from machine and application-specific implementations. For flexible distributed processing, we used modular, portable software and LLNL facility that provides an interprocess communication system (IPCS) in the multivendor network. With transparent data access, any program can access data stored anywhere in the network without knowing the specific location. The computer hardware includes a DEC VAX cluster, HP workstations and HP desktop computers. We are using commercial software in addition to packages from MIT, ORNL, and LLNL. 4 refs., 4 figs.

The water rights of the five Pacific states - California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii - and their possible impacts on geothermal development are discussed. (MHR)

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has three generalpurpose research reactors which accommodate testing loops, target irradiations, and beam-type experiments. Since the experiments must share common or similar facilities and utilities, be designed and fabricated by the same groups, and meet the safe safety criteria, certain standards for these have been developed. These standards deal only with those properties from which safety and economy of time and money can be maximized and do not relate to the intent of the experiment or quality of the data obtained. The necessity for, and the limitations of, the standards are discussed; and a compilation of general standards is included. (auth)

Research progress is reported on the development of passive components, resistors, capacitors, metallization, and passivation, that will withstand well logging temperatures to 500/sup 0/C and have extremely low temperature coefficients. The lower the temperature coefficients, the more exacting the instrumentation designs can be without elaborate compensation techniques. The method of fabricating the thin film components is that of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) which is a major deviation from the standard approach. The films are grown in a CVD reactor by passing various reactant gases over a heated substrate. The reactor was modified in order to accommodate the gases needed in the deposition of metals. The reactor can be operated over a temperature range of 400/sup 0/C to greater than 1200/sup 0/C, and at any pressure between atmospheric and 1 x 10/sup -3/ torr. Tungsten, tungsten-silicon, and silicon nitride were successfully deposited on oxidized silicon wafers. The tungsten is used for interconnects and capacitor plates, tungsten-silicon is used as a high resistivity material for resistors, and silicon nitride is used as a dielectric for the capacitors and as a passivation layer. The materials are currently being studied in terms of their deposition parameters and electrical characteristics.

A convenient method for determining the elastic constants of materials has been devised using the energy from a Q-switched neodymium-glass laser. Stress waves are induced in materials having circular rod or rectangular bar geometries by the absorption of energy from the laser. The wave transit times through the material are recorded with a piezoelectric transducer. Both dilatation and shear wave velocities are determined in a single test using an ultrasonic technique and these velocities are used to calculate the elastic constants of the material. A comparison of the constants determined for ten common engineering materials using this method is made with constants derived using the conventional ultrasonic pulse technique and agreement is shown to be about one percent in most cases. Effects of material geometry are discussed and surface damage to the material caused by laser energy absorption is shown.

An experimental evaluation of the shield design for the ML-1 mobile reactor was made at the Lid Tank Shielding Facility. Thermal-neutron fluxes, fast-neutron dose rates, and gamma-ray dose rates were measured behind slab mockups of the basic shield design and a number of possible variations. The designs embodied various combinations of lead, Hevimet, stainless steel, boral, water, and aqueous solutions of ammonium pentaborate at two concentrations. The after-shutdown decay characteristics of the basic design were determined, and data were obtained from a fairly accurate mockup of the stainless steel plenum and gas duct typical of the top and bottom regions of the ML-1 shield. Analysis of results and application to the final shield design are not reported. (auth)

This document was prepared to outline the scope and objectives of the Hazardous Waste Assessment Project (HWAP) at Site 300. This project was initiated in October, 1981, to investigate the existing solid waste landfills in an effort to satisfy regulatory guidelines and assess the potential for ground-water contamination. This involves a site-specific investigation (utilizing geology, hydrology, geophysics and geochemistry) with the goal of developing an effective ground-water quality monitoring network. Initial site reconnaissance work has begun and we report the results, to date, of our geologic hydrogeologic studies. All known solid waste disposal locations are underlain by rocks of either the Late Miocene Neroly Formation or the Cierbo Formation, both of which are dominantly sandstones interbedded with shale and claystone. The existence of a regional confined (artesian) aquifer, as well as a regional water-table aquifer is postulated for Site 300. Preliminary analysis has led to an understanding of directions and depths of regional ground-water flow.

A device is described for indicating and preventing damage to voltage cells such as galvanic cells and fuel cells connected in series by detecting sequential voltages and comparing these voltages to adjacent voltage cells. The device is implemented by using operational amplifiers and switching circuitry is provided by transistors. The device can be utilized in battery powered electric vehicles to prevent galvanic cell damage and also in series connected fuel cells to prevent fuel cell damage.