This quarterly report includes summaries of the following tasks: (1) OTEC pilot plant conceptual design review; (2) OTEC methanol; (3) management decision requirements for OTEC construction; (4) hybrid geothermal - OTEC (GEOTEC) power plant performance estimates; and (5) supervision of testing of pneumatic wave energy conversion system.

Research progress is reported on developing Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems that will provide synthetic fuels (e.g., methanol), energy-intensive products such as ammonia (for fertilizers and chemicals), and aluminum. The work also includes assessment and design concepts for hybrid plants, such as geothermal-OTEC (GEOTEC) plants. Another effort that began in the spring of 1982 is a technical advisory role to DOE with respect to their management of the conceptual design activity of the two industry teams that are designing offshore OTEC pilot plants that could deliver power to Oahu, Hawaii. In addition, a program is underway in which tests of a different kind of ocean-energy device, a turbine that is air-driven as a result of wave action in a chamber, are being planned. This Quarterly Report summarizes the work on the various tasks as of 31 December 1982.

Polycrystalline silicon films 14-22 ..mu..m thick and with average grain diameters of 20-40 ..mu..m were deposited by vacuum deposition onto both ceramic and sapphire substrates which were previously coated with a thin (1-2 ..mu..m) TiB/sub 2/ conducting layer. The large grains are the result of an interaction in the initial growth stages between silicon and TiB/sub 2/. SIMS studies of B/Ti/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, B/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and Ti/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, interactions are reported as part of a continuing investigation of TiB/sub 2/ formation and silicon interactions on the TiB/sub 2/ surface. The increase in grain size has led to an improvement in the open-circuit voltage V/sub oc/, but not to an increase in the short-circuit current J/sub sc/. Capacitance-voltage measurements give results characteristic of an abrupt junction and a build-in voltage V/sub D/ consistent with the measured doping levels. A simple method for measuring the minority carrier diffusion length in the base region L/sub n/ is described. The measurements indicate that there is little change in L/sub n/ between large (20-40 ..mu..m) and small (approx. 5 ..mu..m) grained samples.

This quarterly report summarizes work of the following tasks as of March 31, 1982: OTEC pilot plant conceptual design review; OTEC methanol; review of electrolyzer development programs and requirements; financial and legal considerations in OTEC implementation; potential Navy sites for GEOTEC systems; hybrid geothermal-OTEC power plants: single-cycle performance estimates; and supervision of testing of pneumatic wave energy conversion system.

The Applied Physics Laboratory/Department of Energy Low Cost Flywheel Demonstration Program was initiated on 1 October 1977 and was successfully concluded on 31 December 19'9. The total cost of this program was $355,190. All primary objectives were successfully achieved as follows: demonstration of a full-size, 1)kWh flywheel having an estimated cost in large-volume production of approximately $50/kWh; developmeNt of a ball-bearing system having losses comparable to the losses in a totally magnetic suspension system; successful and repeated demonstration of the low-cost flywheel in a complete flywheel energy-storage system based on the use of ordinary house voltage and frequency; and application of the experience gained in the hardware program to project the system design into a complete, full-scale, 30-kWh home-type flywheel energy-storage system.

A careful study of a specially formed thin silicon layer on TiB/sub 2/-coated sapphire reveals that the interaction layer of TiSi/sub 2/ is composed of larger grains. Processing steps were developed which lead closer to the goal of fabricating polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic devices completely by vacuum deposition. Both n-type and p-type silicon are now being deposited. New deposition masks were made for depositing the n-regions upon the p-layers. New electrode deposition masks were also made for a direct electroding process to replace the photolithographic process used previously. The TiB/sub 2/ bottom electrode fabrication has been achieved in a single vacuum chamber. Reaction constants and activation energy for TiB/sub 2/ layer formation were determined to be less than those reported by other authors for bulk material. Studies of crystallite growth and interfacial interactions have continued. Major sources of undesirable impurities have been identified and removed from the vacuum chambers. The changes made this quarter have not been incorporated into a completed photovoltaic device.

Polycrystalline p-type films were vacuum deposited onto TiB/sub 2/ coated alumina and sapphire substrates. Epitaxial layers were also formed on single crystal silicon substrates. Junctions in the layers were created by both gaseous diffusion in a tube furnace and by vacuum deposition. The TiB/sub 2/ vacuum deposited bottom electrodes have resistivities between 30 and 40 ..mu.. ..cap omega..-cm. All-vacuum-deposited solar cells were fabricated for the first time. Efficiencies approaching those in the diffused junction devices were achieved. The n-layers were deposited on the previously deposited p-layer/TiB/sub 2//ceramic sandwiches by vacuum deposition of silicon in a phosphine (PH/sub 3/) atmosphere. Photovoltaic data in diffused junction samples, including efficiency and spectral response measurements, indicate that crystallite size may no longer be the limiting factor in achieving high efficiency; rather, performance is now being limited by the presence of impurities in the vacuum deposition silicon base region.

Progress is reported on the development of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems that will provide synthetic fuels (e.g., methanol), energy-intensive products such as ammonia (for fertilizers and chemicals), and aluminum. The work also includes assessment and design concepts for hybrid plants, such as geothermal-OTEC (GEOTEC) plants. Another effort that began in the spring of 1982 is a technical advisory role to DOE with respect to their management of the conceptual and preliminary design activity of industry teams that are designing a shelf-mounted offshore OTEC pilot plant that could deliver power to Oahu, Hawaii. In addition, a program is underway to evaluate and test the Pneumatic Wave-Energy Conversion System (PWECS), an ocean-energy device consisting of a turbine that is air-driven as a result of wave action in a chamber. This Quarterly Report summarizes the work on the various tasks as of 31 March 1983.

Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Mountains of books surround Mrs. Louise Clickner, chief librarian at the Bureau of Census headquarters, Suitland, Md."

Memorandum of meeting with officials at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews AFB, Maryland, that included a briefing and tour of the facilities and provided an overview of the hospital's mission and quality of service.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

A brief narrative outline is presented of a scenario for the development of the Atlantic Coastal Plain hydrothermal resources for geothermal space heating and cooling. Listed below are the basic assumptions made in the construction of this scenario. Since this scenario is to serve as a planning document, the steps involved in geothermal development are listed and time-phased. The most critical steps in this process are indicated. This scenario summarizes geothermal development in the entire Atlantic Coastal Plain. Separate, more detailed scenarios for each specific resource area are planned as precursors to possible implementation planning.

A technical evaluation was made to determine whether geothermal energy obtained from a well could be used to space heat the new school building being constructed as well as the existing elementary wing of the Pittsville School. The first part deals with space heating the new school building only; the second part pertains to space heating the new school building together with the new existing wing. An addendum was added for new well and production pump costs. (MHR)

The methodology that has been developed to analyze the impact of possible government actions on the development of small-scale hydroelectric power in the United States is described. The application of the methodology to a specific region of the United States is also described. Within the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) region, the methodology has been used to evaluate the significance of some of the existing institutional and economic constraints on hydroelectric development at existing dams. The basic process for the analysis and evaluation is estimation of the hydroelectric energy that can be developed for a given price of electricity. Considering the present constraints and a geographical region of interest, one should be able to quantify the potential hydroelectric energy supply versus price. Estimates of how the supply varies with possible changes in governmental policies, regulations, and actions should assist the government in making decisions concerning these governmental functions relative to hydroelectric development. The methodology for estimating the hydroelectric supply at existing dams is included.

A scenario for the development of potential geothermal resources in the Eastern Gulf Coastal Plain states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida is explained and discussed. A description of the resources and the nature of the potential applications and energy market in this region are given. A ranking of the resources as to their energy content, potential market, etc., is described, and the assumptions and strategy used to generate the scenario are discussed. A more complete report on the detailed aspects involved in the preparation of the development scenario will be issued in the near future.

An assessment is provided of selected environmental effects of operating the cooling towers and stacks of Units No. 3 and No. 4 of the Potomac Electric Power Company's generating station at Chalk Point, Maryland. The emphasis is on the magnitude of salt deposition to the area surrounding the cooling tower due to saline water drift. A secondary but important consideration is the magnitude of salt loading due to saline drift from the stack which uses saline river water in scrubbing flue gases. This salt loading together with that of the ambient salt background is assessed for its effects on soils, crops, native vegetation and man-made structures. Other atmospheric effects examined are: enhancement of ground level fogging and icing, enhancement of precipitation, and the flight hazards to aircraft. A numerical model of drift deposition has been developed and validated against the data collected in the Dyed Drift Experiment at Chalk Point. Use of the available data model predictions indicate that with fulltime, full load operation of both 600 MW(e) units significant levels of salt deposition occur only on the plant site within 0.4 km of the source. The predicted maximum salt deposition rates are given. The effects on soils, crops and …

The Applied Physics Laboratory/Department of Energy Low Cost Flywheel Demonstration Program was initiated on 1 October 1977 and was successfully concluded on 31 December 1979. The total cost of this program was $355,190. All primary objectives were successfully achieved as follows: demonstration of a full-size, 1-kWh flywheel having an estimated cost in large-volume production of approximately $50/kWh; development of a ball-bearing system having losses comparable to the losses in a totally magnetic suspension system; successful and repeated demonstration of the low-cost flywheel in a complete flywheel energy-storage system based on the use of ordinary house voltage and frequency; and application of the experience gained in the hardware program to project the system design into a complete, full-scale, 30-kWh home-type flywheel energy-storage system.

Report issued by the Bureau of Mines over the operations of the Nonmetals Division during 1942. The work done by the division is discussed. This report includes tables, illustrations, and photographs.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.