The authors describe experiments with liquid-xenon-filled wire chambers operating in the proportional mode and the difficulty of achieving useful gain when the anode wires have a spacing < 1 mm. As a result, they have largely turned our attention to chambers with closely spaced wires operated in the ionization mode. They have previously demonstrated a spatial resolution of 15 {micro} rms in this mode, using a 5-wire chamber and a collimated alpha source. They describe the construction of two small high-resolution test chambers to be filled with liquid argon, krypton, or xenon. The chambers consist of two flat cathodes 1 to 2.5 mm apart with a wire plane between them. The wire plane is an array of 24 wires, 5 {micro} in diameter, spaced on 20-{micro} centers, and a charge amplifier is attached to each wire. The space resolution (expected rms < 20 {micro}), time resolution (expected rms < 50 ns), and efficiency will be measured in an accelerator beam. Chambers of this type with only a few hundred wires have sufficient area to cover nearly every beam at NAL.

Pressure transducers and accelerometers that make use of semiconductors strain gages or have strain gages diffused on a silicon diaphragm cannot be used with a bridge balance network if one wants to achieve thermal zero compensation. Thermal zero compensation is compensating for the change in output due to temperature only, and is typically +-1.5 percent of the full scale output for a temperature change of 100/sup 0/F. The reason for not using a balance network is the way in which the transducer is thermally compensated. There are two ways to obtain thermal zero compensation with a semiconductor transducer: either match each individual gage to each other, or trim one-half of the bridge to match the other half of the bridge. It is the latter that is easiest to do and the method the manufacturers use. The method is described.

An investigation was performed to define particulate deposition in exhaust air sampling tubes for plutonium areas. Twelve sampling tubes were washed with nitric acid. Residues from wash solutions were counted for total alpha activity. Results indicate negligible sample loss due to particulate deposition in sample delivery tubes.

Substantial quantities of krypton having a krypton-85 concentration of less than 10% will become available if nuclear fuel-processing plants are required to collect the gaseous fission products rather than releasing them into the atmosphere. A modular thermal diffusion unit was designed for the enrichment of the krypton-85 to useful concentrations of greater than 45%. The design emphasizes reliability and integrity by incorporating no moving parts within the unit. The modular design also offers flexibility in the size of the enrichment facility that need be constructed at any time.

Progress is reported for a program to demonstrate by 1976 an experimental gas turbine powered automobile which meets the 1976 Federal Emissions standards and which is competitive in fuel economy, performance, reliability, and potential manufacturing cost with the conventional piston engine powered, standard size American automobile. Procurement delays have caused engine deliveries to slip one to two months. Assembly of Engine 3 with special instrumentation for NASA and Engine 4 to be used in the first vehicle has commenced. Resolution of some intake design details will complete the vehicle installation design. Other vehicle component and modification efforts are on schedule. Support activity has included: (1) studies and proposals for improving engine fuel economy; (2) ceramic recuperator calculations; (3) cooperation with NASA's program by giving a design review, providing engine drawings, planning and fabricating instrumentation for their engine, and advising them on matters relating to their engine test facilities; (4) refinement of a combustor test procedure; and (5) two ''sixth generation'' vehicle demonstrations. Engine endurance activity has started with the evaluation of a proprietary molded insulation. Limited progress was made in the experimental determination of variable geometry combustor control parameters. Ceramic regenerator specifications were prepared. A sub-contractor for an integrated control …

This report provides a preliminary evaluation of the effect of reservoir temperatures on the cost of geothermal hot water wells and flash-steam gathering systems to support a 50,000 kW power plant. Comparisons are made of the capital investments required for each case and the corresponding payout period based on steam costs of 6 mill/kWh of power generated. In order to show how the reservoir temperatures and steam cost affect the cost of electric power delivered to the high tension bus at the power plant, capital costs estimates were prepared and economic analyses made to determine the cost of electric power for each corresponding case.

The Aerial Radiological Measuring System (ARMS) was used to survey the area surrounding the Robert Emmett Ginna Nuclear Power Plant during September 1970. The survey measured terrestrial gamma radiation. A high-sensitivity detection system collected gamma ray spectral and gross count data. The data were then computer processed into a map of a 325 square mile area showing isoexposure contours three feet above the ground. Exposure rates and isotopes identified are consistent with normal background radiation. (auth)

Boron carbide pellets were irradiated in a spectrum-hardened ETR flux at temperatures of 1220 to 1620 deg F up to maximum specimen-averaged exposures of 38 x 10/sup 20/ captures/cm/sup 3/. Material variables included pellet density (75 to 99% T. D.) and stoichiometry (B: C = 3.8 to 4.1). Gas release and irradiation temperature were continuously monitored during the irradiation. Results are reported for boron carbide structural degradation, helium release, and interaction with Type 316 stainless steel. (auth)

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Manganin, an alloy of copper, manganese, and nickel, was used as a dynamic piezoresistive transducer for shock wave profile measurement in the range from 22 to 410 kbar. Thirty-six gun-accelerated flyer plate impact experiments were performed to calibrate dynamically wires of 1 mil diameter that were electrically insulated with thin dielectric sheets and cemented between target plates. A static calibration gave a linear, reversible, pressure derivative of 2.5 {+-} 0.1 {Omega}/{Omega}/Mbar to 90 kbar. The dynamic calibration is linear within {+-}5% to 200 kbar with a pressure derivative of 2.7 {+-} 0.1 {Omega}/{Omega}/Mbar. At stresses higher than 200 kbar, the dynamic response becomes slightly nonlinear and the data were fit with the polynomial expression {sigma} = 0.3896({Delta}R/R) - 0.2348({Delta}R/R){sup 2} + 0.5825({Delta}R/R){sup 3} - 0.3360({Delta}R/R){sup 4} with a standard deviation of {+-}4.4 kbar, where the stress, {sigma} is in megabar. A linear hysteresis was observed with a pressure derivative of 2.6 {+-} 0.1 {Omega}/{Omega}/Mbar during unloading from a peak stress in the range from zero to 247 kbar. 6 figures, 2 tables.

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