The overall objective of this contract is to assist in the development of fuel-flexible combustion systems for gas turbines as well as Rankine and Stirling cycle engines. The primary emphasis of the program is on liquid hydrocarbons produced from non-petroleum resources. Fuel-flexible combustion systems will provide for more rapid transition of these alternative fuels into important future energy utilization centers (especially utility power generation with the combined cycle gas turbine). The specific technical objectives of the program are: (a) develop an improved understanding of relationships between alternative fuel properties and continuous combustion system effects, and (b) provide analytical modeling/correlation capabilities to be used as design aids for development of fuel-tolerant combustion systems. This is the second major report of the program. Key experimental findings during this reporting period concern stirred combustor soot production during operation at controlled temperature conditions, soot production as a function of combustor residence time, an improved measurement technique for total hydrocarbons and initial stirred combustor results of fuel nitrogen conversion. While the results to be presented concern a stirred combustor which utilizes premixed fuel vapor/oxidant mixtures, a new combustor which combusts liquid fuel injected into the reactor as a spray has been developed and will be …

A research program has been initiated to increase the knowledge of past biospheric carbon reservoir changes that have resulted in increases, or reductions, of atmospheric CO/sub 2/ levels. The research program was approved in July 1979. This progress report covers 7 months of work. The research has been mainly developmental; initial steps taken in measurements of /sup 13/C//sup 12/C ratios in tree rings are summarized briefly.

The objective of the research is to use the temporal and spatial distribution of the transient, bomb-produced /sup 14/C in the equatorial Pacific Ocean to determine mixing rates in the upper 1000 m of the ocean. To accomplish this goal approximately 400 /sup 14/C samples were collected during two legs of the NORPAX shuttle. There is extensive relative depletion in /sup 14/C of the equatorial surface waters. This feature of the surface water /sup 14/C distribution, coupled with the depth distribution of /sup 14/C and the physical and chemical (nutrient) oceanographic data collected during the NORPAX program should allow us to estimate the rate of upwelling in the equatorial Pacific.

This report is intended to provide responsible DOE authorities with the professional observations and recommendations resulting from this firm's technical assistance in evaluating an accidental release of solvent refined coal (SRC) processed liquids at the SRC Pilot Plant, Ft. Lewis, Washington. The spill occurred during the night of December 19-20, 1979 at the facility operated for DOE by the Pittsburgh and Midway Coal Mining Company. The site visit on January 29, 1980 was made by DOE's staff member, Mr. John Abrahams, and this firm's representative, Mr. ALvin F. Meyer, Jr., P.E., President. In brief, the spill of approximately 2300 gallons of SRC processed liquids was caused by human failure. Compounding the circumstances was the presence of a bleeder valve which was inexplicably left open. Additional factors contributing to the episode were the fact that the operation was conducted at night, and the presence of steam and noise which obscured, at least partially, the possibility of detecting the spill occurrence. After operating personnel discovered the spill, the plant management of Pittsburg and Midway Coal Mining Company were informed. It was decided that environmental surveys and measurements would be undertaken to detect any possible contamination. Subsequent to the site visit, additional information …