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.

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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)

Calcium aluminosilicate glasses were found to react with phosphoric acid in three ways depending upon silica content. Above 55% SiO/sub 2/ they are insoluble while below 50% they dissolve readily. The transition compositions release calcium and aluminum ions and a silica gel phase replaces the glass. Activation energies in the order of 10 kcal/mole are associated with the dissolution. Equilibrium studies in the systems CaO-P/sub 2/O/sub 5/-H/sub 2/O, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-P/sub 2/O/sub 5/-H/sub 2/O, and CaO-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-P/sub 2/O/sub 5/-H/sub 2/O were made to determine the phases which are stable at 200/sup 0/C in excess water. The CaO system shows hydroxylapatite, monetite and monocalcium orthophosphate are the stable phases. The Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ system contains augelite, berlinite, and a high phosphate aluminum hydrate. The quaternary system shows the above phase plus a lime alumina hydrogarnet and crandallite. Cement made from a glass frit of the composition 45% SiO/sub 2/: 24% CaO: 24% Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ has a compressive strength of 500 psi after several days in steam at 200/sup 0/C and 800 psi after months in steam. Bonding of cements to mild steel are discussed.

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 …

Measurement of /sup 129/I at low levels is required for effluent control, environmental assessment and tracer studies in the natural environment. Low level /sup 129/I analysis has also been used for measurement of natural-fission-produced /sup 129/I in minerals and ores as well as meteorites. The most sensitive method for /sup 129/I measurements is neutron activation analysis of iodine separated from a suitable sample. Minimum sample processing prior to neutron activation is desirable in order to reduce chances of sample contamination with uranium or /sup 129/I. A potential interference in the activation analysis method is the production of /sup 129/I (/sup 130/I) from Te impurities in the irradiated ampoule. Procedures have been developed and applied to measurement of the magnitude of the potential Te interference. One-tenth of a microgram of Te in the irradiated ampoule is sufficient to produce interference in the analysis. This is detectable by either radiochemical Te measurements or by /sup 131/I detection in the iodine fraction from the irradiated ampoule. This paper discusses the procedures and results of Te interference studies in /sup 129/I activation analysis. The interference was found to be insignificant for most analyses. 5 tables.

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.

Research support for the cyclohexane/benzene heat pipe development program at Sandia Laboratories is reported. The apparent kinetics of the gas-phase catalytic dehydrogenation of cyclohexane to benzene in an internally recirculated (gradientless) reactor over the temperature range from 500 to 800/sup 0/F at 1 atm at various space velocities was studied. A kinetic model was developed based on a reversible mass-action rate expression and a catalyst effectiveness factor which is able to correlate both the conversion and reaction rate data very well over the temperature range 500 to 750/sup 0/F. The data taken at 800/sup 0/F appear to be qualitatively and quantitatively different than the data taken at the lower temperatures. It is not as yet clear, whether this can be attributed to a change in kinetic mechanism or some reversible alteration of the catalyst surface at the higher temperature. The formation of side products in this system over the same temperature range was also studied. Both the number and amount of side product(s) formed increases with increasing temperature and residence time. Over the temperature range from 500 to 600/sup 0/F the side products produced appear to be strongly related to the presence of low molecular weight unsaturated hydrocarbon impurities in …

Heat engine/electric hybrid vehicles offer the potential of greatly reduced petroleum consumption, compared to conventional vehicles, without the disadvantages of limited performance and operating range associated with pure electric vehicles. This report documents a hybrid vehicle design approach which is aimed at the development of the technology required to achieve this potential, in such a way that it is transferable to the auto industry in the near term. The development of this design approach constituted Phase I of the Near-Term Hybrid Vehicle Program. The major tasks in this program were: mission analysis and performance specification studies; design tradeoff studies; and preliminary design. Detailed reports covering each of these tasks are included as appendices to this report. A fourth task, sensitivity studies, is also included in the report on the design tradeoff studies. Because of the detail with which these appendices cover methodology and results, the body of this report has been prepared as a brief executive summary of the program activities and results, with appropriate references to the detailed material in the appendices.

It is proposed that the E x B drift arising from an externally applied electric field could be used in a tokamak or other toroidal magnetic plasma confinement device to remove plasma and impurities from the region near the wall and reduce the amount of plasma striking the wall. This could either augment or replace a conventional magnetic field divertor. Among the possible advantages of this scheme are easy external control over the rate of removal of plasma, more rapid removal than the naturally occurring rate in a magnetic divertor, and simplification of construction if the magnetic divertor is eliminated. Results of several related experiments performed in the Wisconsin Levitated Octupole are presented.

A theoretical analysis was carried out to estimate the quasi-steady-state external mass transport by lattice, surface and gaseous diffusion in terms of the stereologically measurable microstructural parameters of a mixed powder compact. It was shown that the gaseous transport can be described by a single dimensionless quantity termed sublimation transport modulus. Using these equations, the relative importance of the alternate external transport modes can be evaluated. Experimental work determined the reaction isotherms for the formation of lead zirconate from yellow PbO and monoclinic zirconia between 710/sup 0/C to 810/sup 0/C for two zirconia size distributions. The larger zirconia showed diffusion controlled shrinking core kinetics up to about 90 percent reaction while the smaller zirconia indicated a diffusion controlled spherical growth of up to 85 percent reaction after an instantaneous nucleation at a limited number of sites. The difference was attributed to the differences in the mixing time and not to the particulate sizes. It was observed that for the same size range, a longer mixing operation gave a better dispersion of reactants which resulted in a higher nucleation site density required for a shrinking core type of product morphology and faster kinetics. A microprobe profile analysis of partially reacted particles …

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.

For our purposes in this review, we note the following points: (1) for charged particle detection, these counters can be filled with any noble gas-quenching gas mixture that produces satisfactory electrical signals; (2) neutron counters, in which the neutrons are detected by their interaction with the specific filling of the chamber to yield an ionizing particle, require special gas mixtures containing /sup 3/He or BF/sub 3/, an alternative approach is to coat the inner surface of the cathode with a boron or lithium compound; (3) proportional counters are used if there is any need to discriminate between different types of radiation incident on the chamber by the magnitude of the ionizing energy retained within the sensitive volume of the counter; (4) proportional counters can operate at higher speeds than Geiger counters, typically up to 10/sup 7/ cts/sec versus less than 10/sup 5//sec for the Geiger counters; and (5) Geiger counters produce very large uniform pulses which can be scaled by very simple electronics, hence, they are often used in survey meters and other portable monitoring instruments.

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.

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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)

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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.