Annual report of the Texas Racing Commission describing goals, activities, and accomplishments during fiscal year 2003

This is a report on the development of anti-islanding control for grid-connected inverters from distributed generation sources. Islanding occurs when a distributed generation source continues to provide electricity to a portion of the utility grid after the utility experiences a disruption in service. Since the utility no longer controls this part of the distribution system, islanding can pose problems for utility personnel safety, power quality, equipment damage, and restoration of service. This report proposes a new family of anti-islanding schemes that meet IEEE 1547 interconnection standards, that can detect all disruptions in service, have minimum power-quality impact, require low-cost implementation, work for multiple distributed generators, and work for any multi-phase inverters. It also provides design guidelines for the schemes, and evaluates and validates the proposed schemes for practical applications.

In this investigation, various aspects of the mechanisms of gettering contaminant impurities away from device active regions in Si have been systematically conducted. Also systematically studied are the modeling of electrical activity of metallic precipitates in Si based on the Schottky effect. With these studies, our knowledge of gettering in Si and on the electrical activity of metallic precipitates in Si has become substantially complete in the sense that interpretations of major experimental results have become self- and mutually consistent. The purpose of conducting the studies supported by this project was to obtain consistent interpretations of existing experimental results, as well as to conduct the needed new experiments, concerning the various phenomena associated with gettering in Si. The investigated gettering method is that by using an Al layer, and the involved works span from studies concerning basic point defect behaviors during gettering to studies of application of the gettering method to improve multicrystalline Si minority-carrier diffusion lengths. A preliminary study of the effect of gettering in affecting the solar cell efficiency has been conducted. Moreover, a study of the electrical behavior of precipitated metallic impurities in Si based on the Schottky property of the precipitates, which is a newly proposed …

These notes were prepared for presentation at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) Hard Target Research and Analysis Center (HTRAC), at the occasion of a short course held on June 14-15, 2004. The material is intended for analysts who must evaluate the geo-mechanical characteristics of sites of interest, in order to provide appropriate input to calculations of ground shock effects on underground facilities in rock masses. These analysts are associated with the Interagency Geotechnical Assessment Team (IGAT). Because geological discontinuities introduce scale effects on the mechanical properties of rock formations, these large-scale properties cannot be estimated on the basis of tests on small cores.

Composites of sludge from Tanks 241-B-203, 241-T-203, 241 T 204, and 241-T-110 at the Hanford Site were prepared at the Hanford 222-S Laboratory from core samples retrieved from these tanks. These tank composites may not be representative of the entire contents of the tank but provide some indication of the properties of the waste within these underground storage tanks. The composite samples were diluted with water at the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to represent the slurries that are expected to be received from tank retrieval operations and processed to produce a final waste stream. The dilutions were vacuum dried at 60 C and 26 in. of mercury ({approx} 100 torr). Semi-quantitative measurements of stickiness and cohesive strength were made on these dilutions as a function of drying time. Mass loss as a function of drying time and total solids concentration of the initial dilution and at the conclusion of drying were also measured. Visual observations of the sludge were recorded throughout the drying process.

This study is the initial stage of further investigation into the dynamics of injury to fish during passage through a turbine runner. As part of the study, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) estimated the probability of blade strike, and associated injury, as a function of fish length and turbine operating geometry at two adjacent turbines in Powerhouse 1 of Bonneville Dam. Units 5 and 6 had identical intakes, stay vanes, wicket gates, and draft tubes, but Unit 6 had a new runner and curved discharge ring to minimize gaps between the runner hub and blades and between the blade tips and discharge ring. We used a mathematical model to predict blade strike associated with two Kaplan turbines and compared results with empirical data from biological tests conducted in 1999 and 2000. Blade-strike models take into consideration the geometry of the turbine blades and discharges as well as fish length, orientation, and distribution along the runner.

Our work consists of hydrogenating silicon (Si) samples by different methods such as low-energy implantation, electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma, and thermal diffusion. The samples will be provided through NREL. The experimental work carried out at Penn State involves the study of hydrogen interaction with defects, trapping, migration, and formation of complexes. The principal vehicle for the latter study will be ion implantation, and the intent is to understand mechanisms of defect passivation and activation by hydrogen. The theoretical studies will consist of the calculation of the structure and parameters related to hydrogen diffusion and interactions of hydrogen with transition metal impurities in silicon. Experimental studies will involve measurements of hydrogen and hydrogen-impurity complexes, and diffusion properties of various species of hydrogen in Si. The experimental work at Penn State includes introduction of hydrogen in a variety of photovoltaic Si by ECR plasma, low-energy ion implantation, and thermal diffusion. The specific tasks will be the evaluation of hydrogen interaction with defects engineered by ion implantation; defect passivation, activation, and migration in hydrogenated Si under thermal anneal; and electrical activity of hydrogen-impurity complexes. Electrical characterization will entail I-V and C-V measurements, spreading resistance, and deep-level transient spectroscopy.

About one-third of the carbon dioxide (2 Pg C/yr of 6 Pg C/yr) we emit into the atmosphere is already being sequestered naturally by the ocean by the process of CO{sub 2} gas transfer across the air-sea interface. Over twenty years ago Brewer (1978) and Chen and Millero (1979) presented the first fundamental estimates of anthropogenic CO{sub 2} in the ocean based the hypothesis of CO{sub 2} penetration along isopycnal surfaces and observations of total inorganic carbon (TCO2) and total alkalinity (TA). At that time the anthropogenic CO{sub 2} signal was not as large as today and given the uncertainty of the approach, the uncertainties of the results were generally regarded as relatively large. However, since then, variations of this approach have been used to estimate anthropogenic CO{sub 2} in many areas of the world ocean. A recent modeling study using the DOCS model, confirms that penetration along isopycnal surfaces is the dominate mode of natural carbon sequestration by the ocean.

This report describes Evergreen Solar, Inc., String Ribbon Si PV technology resulting in an advanced generation of crystalline silicon PV module manufacturing technology applied to a virtually continuous, fully integrated manufacturing line. General objectives for this first year (or Phase I) are listed here, followed by the principal accomplishments for each of these objectives: (1) scale-up of a production-worthy method for doping feedstock; (2) development of a multiple-ribbon growth system (Project Gemini); (3) development of wrap-around contacts for making monolithic modules; (4) accelerated testing of small-size (25 W) monolithic modules; (5) development of an in-line production machine to form solar cell contacts using Evergreen's unique contact printing technology.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) leads the Federal Government's efforts to provide reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy for America, through its 11 research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) programs. EERE invests in high-risk, high-value research and development (R&D) that, conducted in partnership with the private sector and other government agencies, accelerates the development and facilitates the deployment of advanced clean energy technologies and practices. This document summarizes the results of the benefits analysis of EERE's programs, as described in the FY 2005 Budget Request. EERE has adopted a benefits framework developed by the National Research Council (NRC) to represent the various types of benefits resulting from the energy efficiency technology improvements and renewable energy technology development prompted by EERE programs. EERE's benefits analysis focuses on three main categories of energy-linked benefits-economic, environmental, and security. These metrics are not a complete representation of the benefits or market roles of efficiency and renewable technologies, but provide an indication of the range of benefits provided. EERE has taken steps to more fully represent the NRC framework, including two key improvements to the FY 2005 analysis-adding an electricity security metric and extending …

This report was prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Richland Operations Office, Surface Environmental Surveillance Project, to provide demographic data required for ongoing environmental assessments and safety analyses at the DOE Hanford Site near Richland, Washington. This document includes 2000 Census estimates for the resident population within an 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius of the Hanford Site. Population distributions are reported relative to five reference points centered on meteorological stations within major operating areas of the Hanford Site - the 100 F, 100 K, 200, 300, and 400 Areas. These data are presented in both graphical and tabular format, and are provided for total populations residing within 80 km (50 mi) of the reference points, as well as for Native American, Hispanic and Latino, total minority, and low-income populations.

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This report documents an evaluation of the performance of blends of biodiesel and home heating oil in space heating applications.

This document presents the climatological data measured at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford Site for calendar year 2003.

COGEMA Engineering Corporation (COGEMA), under a contract from CH2M Hill Hanford Group (CH2M Hill), has performed an ultrasonic nondestructive examination of selected portions of Double-Shell Tank 241-SY-101. The purpose of this examination was to provide information that could be used to evaluate the integrity of the wall of the primary tank. The requirements for the ultrasonic examination of Tank 241-SY-101 were to detect, characterize (identify, size, and locate), and record measurements made of any wall thinning, pitting, or cracks that might be present in the wall of the primary tank. Any measurements that exceed the requirements set forth in the Engineering Task Plan (ETP), RPP-17750 (Jensen 2003) and summarized on page 1 of this document, are reported to CH2M Hill and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for further evaluation. Under the contract with CH2M Hill, all data is to be recorded on disk and paper copies of all measurements are provided to PNNL for third-party evaluation. PNNL is responsible for preparing a report that describes the results of the COGEMA ultrasonic examinations.

The scientific productivity of the NSLS continues to be outstanding and the research conducted here has high impact. 2003 was no exception and some of the many highlights from this year's research activity are included in this Activity Report. We are especially pleased that one of our users, Professor Roderick MacKinnon (Rockefeller University), was the co-recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work, much of which was done at the NSLS, explaining how proteins known as ion channels help to generate nerve impulses. It is also a particular pleasure to note that NSLS accelerator physicist Li Hua Yu was awarded the 2003 International Free Electron Laser Prize in recognition of his outstanding achievements, especially demonstrating High Gain Harmonic Generation (HGHG) at the DUV-FEL. Our vision for the NSLS in the next five to 10 years is for it to continue to serve as a vital resource for the nation and especially for the strong Northeast research community. To accomplish this, we are working to preserve and enhance its outstanding scientific productivity by providing increased user support and upgrading beamline and endstation instrumentation. For example, this past year we collaborated with scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine …

The evolving plan for most of the KE and KW Basin sludges is disposition to WIPP as remote handled (RH) TRU. Because the hydrogen gas concentration in the sealed transportation cask destined for WIPP is limited by flammability safety, the number of containers and shipments to WIPP likely will be driven by the rate of hydrogen generated by the contained uranium metals reaction with water. Therefore, gas generation testing with uranium metal particles of known surface area and immobilized in candidate (grout) solidification matrices was used to identify the effectiveness of various candidate solidification matrices to inhibit the rate of the uranium metal-water reaction.

This subcontract report describes the University of Oregon's objectives to measure the electronic properties of the copper indium/gallium diselenide alloys using several well-developed capacitance techniques appropriate for probing materials with a continuous distribution of semiconducting gap electronic energy states. We applied a new synthetic method to the production of CIGS alloys, namely, the modulated elemental reactant method. To form CIGS by this method, alternating layers of Cu:In:Se and Cu:Ga:Se composites, each less than 100 thick, were evaporated in sequence and then annealed at low temperature. A second focus was to test and develop junction capacitance methods to better understand the electronic properties in CIGS material and establish a relationship of those properties to specific device performance parameters. The primary methods employed were transient photocapacitance (TPC) spectroscopy and drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP). Finally, we extended our characterization studies to four CuIn1-xAlxSe2 (CIAS) samples, also supplied by IEC. Our photocapacitance and DLCP measurements on these CIAS samples indicated that for a sample with 13 at.% Al (having a bandgap of nearly 1.2 eV), the electronic properties were essentially identical to those in CIGS samples with 26 at.% Ga.

Nucleation-growth kinetic expressions are derived for thermal decomposition of HMX from a variety of types of data, including mass loss for isothermal and constant rate heating in an open pan, and heat flow for isothermal and constant rate heating in open and closed pans. Conditions are identified in which thermal runaway is small to nonexistent, which typically means temperatures less than 255 C and heating rates less than 1 C/min. Activation energies are typically in the 140 to 150 kJ/mol regime for open pan experiments and about 160 kJ/mol for sealed pan experiments. Our activation energies are about 10% lower than those derived from data supplied by the University of Utah, which we consider the best previous work. The reaction clearly displays more than one process, and most likely three processes, which are most clearly evident in open pan experiments. The reaction is accelerated for closed pan experiments, and one global reaction appears to fit the data well.

Three separate tests were conducted in 2003 and 2004 at the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) at the Hanford, Washington site to determine if infrared imaging can be used to detect the presence of radioactive material in various storage containers. The tests were conducted at the two most common infrared wavelength ranges used for nondestructive evaluations, 3-5 microns and 8-12 microns. The results of the tests indicate that infrared imaging can be used to detect the presence of stored radioactive materials. However, the temperature difference between the end plates and the ambient temperature is generally not large, about 1 F. Some of the end plates were much hotter than others, probably due to the amount, type, and location of the material stored in them and any packing material also stored in the containers. Although there was consistency between the three tests, there were also some inconsistencies, probably due to reflections and emissivity differences in the surface of the en d plates. There was excellent consistency between the random temperature measurements made with a contact thermocouple and the infrared image. In addition, testing with the radio-reflectors indicated that the presence of stored radioactive materials in the middle of the canister can be …

A study was performed to examine the possibility of using batteries and Hydrogen systems to add dispatchability to wind power. A second study examined the production of hydrogen by wind power for sale into a fuels market. Calendar year 2002 load information from the California ISO was combined with 2002 generated wind power from the Lake Benton wind farm in Minnesota. Control systems were developed and optimized, and grid operation for 2002 was simulated with batteries, electrolyzers, fuel cells or other elements. This report presents the results of the two studies.

This report describes the results of testing sludge samples from Hanford tanks 241-AY-102 (AY-102) and 241-BX-101 (BX-101). These tests were conducted to characterize the sludge and assess the water leachability of contaminants from the solids. This work is being conducted to support the tank closure risk assessments being performed by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. for the U.S. Department of Energy. This is the first report of testing of BX-101 sludge and the second report of testing of AY-102. Lindberg and Deutsch (2003) described the first phase of testing on AY-102 material.

Subcontractor report details work done by Cummins and Westport Innovations to develop a heavy-duty, low-NOx, high-pressure direct-injection natural gas engine for the Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicle activity.

This report describes the sampling and analysis PNNL will conduct on ALE to characterize concentrations of radionuclides present in soil and demonstrate compliance with DOE-EM approved Authorized Limits.