Because characteristics of rock layers and problems in drilling must be studied before radioactive waste can be safely contained, an evaluation was made of methods for correlating alluvial deposits at Yucca Flat of the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Although correlation of Tertiary volcanic tuff beds at the NTS has been successfully achieved, correlation of stratigraphic zones in the overlying alluvium has posed technical difficulties. We have evaluated several methods for correlating alluvial deposits from drillholes, including electric resistivity logs (E logs), visual examination of sidewall samples and comparison of their carbonate (CO/sub 2/) content, downhole stereo photography for identifying debris flow deposits, caliche age-dating, and specific yield and permeability measurements of deposits. For predicting the thickness of zones having similar physical properties in the alluvium, E log measurements were found to be the most useful of these methods.

Various schemes for obtaining anti pp interactions are outlined, and the luminosities obtainable for each case calculated. In the simplest realistic case, a luminosity of 1.3 x 10/sup 29/ is obtained with a 13 hour filling time. The addition of special rf systems in both the AGS and ISABELLE give a scheme with luminosity 8 x 10/sup 29/ in 6 hours. The use of stochastic cooling to stack raises the luminosity to as high as 10/sup 31/ but the filling time is then 68 hours. Finally a scheme is considered that uses a special 30 GeV capture ring. With this, a luminosity of 10/sup 31/ could be achieved after 20 hours, or higher if a larger filling time were acceptable. Further gains could be made if a smaller proton spot on the target is used but a simple calculation suggests that even the spot size assumed may explode the target too fast.

Separate abstracts were prepared for 3 of the included sections. (MOW)

A comparison matrix decision model is applied to candidates for a D-T ignition tokamak (TNS), including assessment of semi-quantifiable or judgemental factors as well as quantitative ones. The results show that TNS is mission-sensitive with a choice implied between near-term achievability and reactor technology.

The combination or integration of appliances for the economical recovery of energy which is normally wasted during the operation of heating systems, air conditioners, water heaters, stoves, clothes washers and driers, and refrigerators in homes and commercial buildings was studied. The potential energy savings achievable by using waste heat from one appliance as heat input to another, e.g., water heaters, was estimated, and the economic benefit to the consumer calculated. Six integrated appliance systems, all involving waste heat utilization to augment water heating were identified as economically feasible with a maximum cost payback period of 3.5 y in residential buildings and 5.0 y for commercial buildings. These included heat recovery from furnaces, air conditioners, commercial ranges, heat in water drains in homes, and heat in water drains in commercial buildings. The first three are the most promising. A program to demonstrate the performance of these three integrated appliance systems and to further their commercialization is recommended. (LCL)

This report presents the results of a review of the available codes, for application to the National Waste Terminal Storage (NWTS) Program. Consideration was given to the types of radionuclides which may be of concern, the possible modes of release of these radionuclides and the various pathways by which members of the general public in the vicinity of a terminal storage facility may be exposed to the releases. Results reveal that the types and quantities of radioactive material requiring disposal will depend on the type of back and fuel cycle adopted. It can be assumed that under normal operating conditions there will be virtually no liquid effluent and inconsequentially small quantities of radioactive gaseous effluent. Under accident conditions during operation, both liquid and gaseous releases could occur resulting in exposures to the general public. Failure of the facility subsequent to decommissioning could also result in exposures but primarily via the aquatic pathways. A review of three atmospheric dispersion models and 32 environmental dosimetry codes presently used by the nuclear industry was performed. A discussion is presented on standard NRC methodologies for determining the dispersion coefficients used as input to the various models and the inherent limitations of many of the …

Experiments conducted during this past quarter demonstrated the decided difference both in amount and composition of the gas produced from the fermentation of ozonated versus unozonated yeast-plant SSL. Gas from ozonated SSL averaged over 80% methane content while unozonated effluent was mostly carbon dioxide. Gas production rates and retention time studies indicated that the fermentation was substrate-limited. Preliminary tests using supplemental carbon sources have verified this. The success of the ozonation process in producing fermentable substrates was clearly shown by the appreciable yeast growth in the ozonated SSL. Of particular significance was the maximum yield obtained at the short ozonation time of 10 minutes as compared to the 2-hour treatment. It is possible that shortening the ozonation time could also increase the amount of substrate available for methane production. This would be very important in transferring this process to a commercial basis and reducing the operating costs.

Linear accelerator breeders (LAB) could be used to produce fissile fuel in two modes, either with fuel reprocessing or without fuel reprocessing. With fuel reprocessing, the fissile material would be separated from the target and refabricated into a fuel element for use in a burner power reactor. Without reprocessing, the fissile material would be produced in-situ, either in a fresh fuel element or in a depleted or burned element after use in a power reactor. In the latter mode the fissile material would be increased in concentration for reuse in a power reactor. This system is called a Linear Accelerator Regenerative Reactor (LARR). The LAB can also be conceived of operating in a power production mode in which the spallation neutrons would be used to drive a subcritical assembly to produce power. This is called a Linear Accelerator Driven Reactor (LADR). A discussion is given of the principles and some of the technical problems of both types of accelerator breeders.

A program to determine if non-metallic materials such as polymers, concrete polymer composites, and refractory cements can be utilized as materials of construction in geothermal processes is in progress. To date, several high temperature polymer concrete systems have been formulated, laboratory and field tests performed in brine, flashing brine, and steam at temperatures up to 260/sup 0/C (500/sup 0/F), and economic studies started. Laboratory data for exposure times > 2 years are available. Results are also available from field exposures of up to 18 months in four geothermal environments. Good durability is indicated. Work at four of these sites is continuing.

The LITE research program is addressing two aspects of mirror confinement physics. ECRH heating of the confined LITE plasma is being investigated as a means for producing a local electrostatic well to trap cold ions within the plasma and provide DCLC stabilization without the energy drain effects obtained with a cold stabilizing stream. Concurrently, the heavy ion beam probe diagnostic being developed in LITE to experimentally measure the space potential within a minimum-B mirror plasma. During the period, 10-A beam injection focused on the target location has been achieved with the neutral beam source; investigations of hot ion building have been carried out with both a laser produced and a washer gun target; calculations modeling the ECRH stabilization have been performed, the experimental program defined, and preparations for the ECRH stabilization investigation undertaken; and the high current cesium source and high resolution electrostatic analyzer have been developed for the heavy ion beam probe. The physics of the ECRH stabilization model is studied, and conditions necessary to produce a local potential well for trapping cold ions are examined. An analysis of the stabilizing effect of this potential dip on the DCLC mode is presented. The heavy ion probe, under development for …

This study is an application of the modeling and demand projection capability existing at Brookhaven National Laboratory to specific options in energy conservation. Baseline energy demands are modified by introducing successively three sets of conservation options. The implementation of improved building standards and the use of co-generation in industry are analyzed in detail and constitute the body of this report. Two further sets of energy demands are presented that complete the view of a low energy use, ''conservation'' scenario. An introduction to the report covers the complexities in evaluating ''conservation'' in view of the ways it is inextricably linked to technology, prices, policy, and the mix of output in the economy. The term as used in this report is narrowly defined, and methodologies are suggested by which these other aspects listed can be studied in the future.

A diagram is given of the basic Shiva alignment system. The alignment requirements, as originally specified and as preseently estimated, together with the performance obtained to date from the prototype equipment are described. It is expected that this performance will be satisfactory for even the most alignment-sensitive targets and significantly better than is needed for experiments not requiring highly uniform illumination. The hardware arrangement planned for a typical Shiva chain is shown.

Recommendations of a committee for a new standard to meet needs of new high-energy physics experiments are summarized in a nontechnical manner. Existing standards, including CAMAC, were examined; it was felt that none would meet the future needs of high-energy physics. The original committee gave its recommendations and disbanded. The design committee has begun its work; it anticipates finishing in about two years, in time for application of its recommendations to ISABELLE. (RWR)

The 570-square mile Hanford Project contains facilities with varying degrees of radioactive contamination as a result of plutonium production operations. With the evolution of production requirements and technology, many of these have been retired and will be decommissioned and decontaminated (D and D). Planning for D and D at Hanford requires identification and characterization of contaminated facilities, prioritization of facilities for decommissioning, selection of D and D modes, estimating costs and other characteristics of D and D activities, definition of future scenarios at Hanford, and preparation and assessment of plans to achieve defined scenarios. A multiattributed decision model using four criteria was used to prioritize facilities for decommissioning. A computer-based interactive planning system was developed to facilitate preparation and assessment of D and D plans.

Techniques for preventing damage to components of the LASL Shiva high power laser system were briefly presented. Optical element damage in the disk amplifier from the combined fluence of the primary laser beam and the Xenon flash lamps that pump the cavity was discussed. Assembly and cleaning techniques were described which have improved optical element life by minimizing particulate and optically absorbing film contamination on assembled amplifier structures. A Class-100 vertical flaw clean room used for assembly and inspection of laser components was also described. The life of a disk amplifier was extended from less than 50 shots to 500 shots through application of these assembly and cleaning techniques. (RME)

Irrigation in the Pacific Northwest is an energy-intensive process which represents a major part of the total energy used in farm level food production. Since 1950, several major developments have precipitated pronounced increases in irrigation energy requirements. For example, the invention of efficient high-lift pumps, labor-saving equipment, new uses for irrigation sprinklers, and profitable cropping patterns have substantially escalated irrigation energy consumption in the Pacific Northwest in the past 25 years. Until recently, energy prices have remained relatively low and constant. The next 25 years will continue to experience advanced irrigation technologies. In addition to technological development, however, the cost of energy and water will certainly rise while their availabilities become increasingly constrained. The depletion of ground water in several parts of the United States could also potentially increase the irrigation burden of the Pacific Northwest. Lastly, parts of the Pacific Northwest water supply are directly convertible to energy via hydroelectric generation. This study proposes to make realistic projections relative to present and future interactions of the above components.

This report contains a summary of the effects of liquid waste discharges from steam electric generating facilities on the environment. Also included is a simplified model for use in approximately determining the effects of these discharges. Four basic fuels are used in steam electric power plants: three fossil fuels--coal, natural gas, and oil; and uranium--presently the basic fuel of nuclear power. Coal and uranium are expected to be the major fuels in future years. The following power plant effluents are considered: heat, chlorine, copper, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, pH, oil and grease, iron, zinc, chrome, phosphorus, and trace radionuclides.

The first targets for the 20 TW SHIVA laser system were designed. They are simple glass micro-balloons, approximately 300 ..mu..m in diameter and 2 ..mu..m thick, filled with D-T gas. Using LASNEX, whose model physics was utilized successfully for ARGUS targets, we optimize for both gain and yield. The target behaves as an exploding pusher. Different simple analytic models for the physics of this mode are presented, and are tested by comparing their scaling predictions, at constant absorbed power, with those demonstrated by LASNEX. Emphasis is placed on successful prediction of the basic quantities of peak ion temperature and compression, rather than neutron yield or n tau.

An evaluated nuclear data file for thorium is described. The file extends over the energy range 0.049 (i.e., the inelastic-scattering threshold) to 20.0 MeV and is formulated within the framework of the ENDF system. The input data base, the evaluation procedures and judgments, and ancillary experiments carried out in conjunction with the evaluation are outlined. The file includes: neutron total cross sections, neutron scattering processes, neutron radiative capture cross sections, fission cross sections, (n;2n) and (n;3n) processes, fission properties (e.g., nu-bar and delayed neutron emission) and photon production processes. Regions of uncertainty are pointed out particularly where new measured results would be of value. The file is extended to thermal energies using previously reported resonance evaluations thereby providing a complete file for neutronic calculations. Integral data tests indicated that the file was suitable for neutronic calculations in the MeV range.

It is concluded that it is appropriate for the Energy Research and Development Administration (or its successor) to sponsor a program of fiscal, technical and management support directed at providing a commercial advanced concept wet/dry (or dry) cooling technology for electric utility use within ten years. This federal role is thought to be appropriate for several reasons, including: the need for such technology, although expected to grow only slowly at first, will eventually be quite widespread; wet/dry and dry cooling tower technology is currently available, but successful development of an advanced concept should produce significant cost savings for this component of power plant costs; established cooling tower vendors do not appear to have sufficient research dollars available to support a program of the magnitude planned by ERDA, although at least one non-vendor advanced concept development project is underway; the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the State of California and potentially other entities have expressed a willingness to support the ERDA program with significant funds, but state that they cannot assume complete funding at this time; and even without the shared funding mentioned above, the ERDA program is expected to produce discounted public and/or private industry benefits in excess of its …

Studies completed during the past year were: pressure and temperature effects on retention behavior of ion pairs, fractionation studies of sulfur isotopes in carbon disulfide, anomolous peak shapes obtained in gas chromatography using liquid crystal stationary phases in an electrostatic field, and the application of a new steric-exclusion packing for molecular-weight fractionation of petroleum crudes. Studies are continuing on the effects of the dead volume of a detector on the peak shape as a function of flow rate and molecular weight of the solute and on basic studies relating to the optimization of chromatographic parameters in supercritical fluid chromatography of large molecules, especially polymers. New studies that have been initiated include: the fractionation and identification of vanadium species in crude oils, the study of recycling chromatography at elevated pressures for difficult separations such as those involving isotopes, and the application of gradient techniques in liquid chromatography for the fractionation of polymers. Finally, equipment has been ordered for making solubility studies relating to the precipitation of compounds from geothermal brines, but experiments have not yet begun.

Freshly formed and aged sodium aerosols generated by burning metallic sodium in air were decontaminated in wet cell washers of experimental design. Two wetted cells in series packed with curly glass fibers 35 ..mu..m in diameter gave removal efficiencies in excess of 90%. More efficient cell packings and a larger number of cells in series can be used to raise collection efficiency above 99%.

The primary purpose of this study is to provide a technical and economic comparison between the commercial Fischer-Tropsch technology and the new Mobil methanol-to-gasoline technology for the production of motor gasoline. Several technical sensitivity cases are also part of the study and will be included in the final report. Two conceptual plant complexes - Base Case I: Mobil Technology and Base Case II: Fischer-Tropsch Technology--have been developed. They are self-supporting, grass roots facilities assumed to be located in a Wyoming coal field. Plant size is equivalent to the proposed large commercial SNG plants. Except for the Mobil methanol conversion technology, all processes used are commercial. Co-production of all products has been assumed. Products have been upgraded to meet U.S. market specifications. A summary comparison of the two base cases shows that the Mobil technology is somewhat more efficient and more effective in producing gasoline. Moreover, the number of processing steps required is considerably fewer. All products meet the target specifications.

Results are reported from studies conducted to determine reliable dispersion coefficients for use with the Gaussian plume model, that will represent a broader range of topographic conditions than was intended for the standard Pasquill-Gifford values. Total-vertical-dispersion coefficients for deep-valley terrain were developed from direct measurements of vertical dispersion made by the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (NDRE) between 1965 and 1968, in three deep valleys, and one fjord located in northern Norway. The values developed here represent mean values within stability classes and apply to continuously-emitting sources located at ground-level. The implication is that the vertical dispersion rate in a deep valley is similar to the vertical dispersion rate found at non-valley locations having similar surface topography. While this may be true for vertical dispersion, it would not be expected to hold in the case of horizontal dispersion within a deep valley. This is because the walls of a valley act, to some degree, as physical barriers to horizontal dispersion. It is recommended, threfore, that subsequent dispersion studies in deep-valley terrain be directed towards better quantification of the effects of the valley walls on the horizontal dispersion rate.