A 15-month performance evaluation was conducted on a solar system designed and constructed to augment the industrial drying of soybeans at the Gold Kist, Inc., extraction plant in Decatur, Alabama. The plant employs three oil-fired, continuous-flow dryers of 3,000 bu/hr each. The solar system consists of 672 Solaron air collectors that temper the airflow into the existing dryers. Since the requirement for energy exceeds the peak solar system capacity, no storage is provided. The interface with the existing facility is simply accomplished by three ducts that release the solar heated air directly adjacent to the dryer air intakes, and no mechanical coupling is needed. The solar system was operated for 1,752 hr on 290 days during the 15-month period without a single failure sufficient to cause shutdown. No interference with normal plant operations was experienced. Maintenance of the solar system, consisting of service to the air handling unit, cleaning of collector glazing, and minor duct repair, totaled $1,564. System utilization was only 46.3%. This was primarily due to daytime routine maintenance performed on the conventional drying and processing equipment. The solar fraction was not large enough to justify maintenance shift changes. An average collector efficiency of 26.2% was experienced. Contamination …

The objectives of the subject program are: to evaluate experimentally, on a laboratory scale, energy and cost savings in electrowinning of zinc by substituting, for the conventional lead anode, a Prototech proprietary hydrogen anode operating on pure and impure feeds; to similarly evaluate experimentally, again on a laboratory scale, voltage, and thus energy savings in chlor-alkali membrane cells by substituting, for the conventional steel cathode, a Prototech proprietary air cathode; to consult with Lockheed and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) on the subject of suitable air electrodes for metal/water/air batteries; and prepare cost estimates of all processes investigated based on laboratory results.

The work conducted under this research project has developed information which supports in all respects the U.S. position evolved under the NASAP/INFCE programs with respect to the near and intermediate term potential for ore conservation in LWRs on the once-through fuel cycle. Moreover, in the even longer term, it has been confirmed that contention by Edlund and others that tight-pitch Pu/UO/sub 2/ PWR cores can achieve conversion ratios which may allow these reactors to provide a competitive energy source far into the ore-scarce post-2000 era.

Results of a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the Beeville Quadrangle, Texas are reported. Field and laboratory data are presented for 373 groundwater and 364 stream sediment samples. Statistical and areal distributions of uranium and possible uranium-related variables are displayed. A generalized geologic map of the survey area is provided, and pertinent geologic factors which may be of significance in evaluating the potential for uranium mineralization are briefly discussed. The groundwater data indicate that the northwestern corner of the quadrangle is the most favorable for potential uranium mineralization. Favorability is indicated by high uranium concentrations; high arsenic, molybdenum, and vanadium concentrations; and proximity and similar geologic setting to the mines of the Karnes County mining district. Other areas that appear favorable are an area in Bee and Refugio Counties and the northeastern part of the quadrangle. Both areas have water chemistry similar to the Karnes County area, but the northeastern area does not have high concentrations of pathfinder elements. The stream sediment data indicate that the northeastern corner of the quadrangle is the most favorable for potential mineralization, but agricultural practices and mineralogy of the outcropping Beaumont Formation may indicate a false anomaly. The northwestern corner of the quadrangle is considered …

Program RECENT reconstructs energy-dependent neutron total, elastic, capture, and fission cross sections from a combination of resonance parameters and tabulated background cross sections in the ENDF/B format. Entire evaluations, not just cross sections, are written to the result file, which is in ENDF/B format. The output includes the original resonance parameters in a form that can be used in Doppler broadening and self-shielding calculations. A listing of the source deck is available on request. 5 figures, 5 tables.

Program SIGMA1 Doppler-broadens evaluated cross sections in the ENDF/B format. The program requires that input cross sections be tabulated as linearly interpolable functions of energy in ENDF/B File 3; broadened cross sections, in this same form, replace the original values in the output tape. This report describes the methods used in the code and serves as a user's guide. A listing of the source deck is available on request.

This is the final report to the US Department of Energy and its predecessors on Contract EY-76-S-02-1156 with Colorado State University. During the first five years of the program, investigations were focused on the accumulation of fallout radionuclides in a well-studied mule deer population in north-central Colorado. In 1967, the scope of the program was enlarged to include studies on radionuclide behavior in mountain lake ecosystems, radiation effects on a shortgrass plains ecosystem, and the combined effects of radiation and intraspecific competition on the pika (Ochotona princeps). In 1971, studies on the geochemistry of lead in an alpine lake and the foraging impact of grasshoppers were added to the diverse program. The summer of 1972 marked the beginning of the research program which was to dominate the effort for the duration of the contract, namely the behavior of plutonium in the terrestrial environs of the Rocky Flats plutonium facility near Denver, Colorado. This report is a general, qualitative summary of activities and major findings over the entire tenure of the program.

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The objective of this research program is to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of producing solar-cell-quality sheet silicon by coating one surface of carbonized ceramic substrates with a thin layer of large-grain polycrystalline silicon from the melt. The effort is divided into several areas of investigation in order to most efficiently meet the goals of the program. These areas include: (1) dip-coating; (2) continuous coating; (3) material characterization; (4) cell fabrication; and (5) theoretical analysis. Progress in all areas of the program is reported in detail. (WHK)

Research on simulation using TRNSYS and FCHART methods is described including systems analysis, user services, design procedures, and model validation. (MHR)

The development of special conducting plastics to meet the special needs of radiation dosimetry is reported. The most critical application of the special plastics is in the construction of ionization chambers which provide the best means of accurately measuring absorbed dose and exposure, low-noise signal cables, and electrometers for the ionization chambers are described. (FS)

The study approach explored the hypothesis that regional banks can play an important role in disseminating energy conservation information to their commercial/industrial customers. The four phases of the study are described in detail. (MCW)

Materials recovery and energy recovery from municipal solid waste, offering at least a partial solution to a city's solid waste management and disposal problem, are discussed. The most important barriers and issues which relate to energy and materials recovery from waste in urban areas are discussed. Energy recovery practices and processes, environmental issues, and municipal market economics are considered. (MCW)

The spectral radiant emittance W/sub E/ from a blackbody at a temperature kT for photons at energies E above the spectral peak (2.82144 kT) varies as (kT)/sup E/kT/. This power-law temperature dependence, an approximation of Planck's radiation law, may have applications for measuring the emissivity of sources emitting in the soft x-ray region.

TATB (1,3,5 - triamino 2,4,6 - Trinitrobenzene) is a very stable explosive that is remarkably insensitive to severe impact and thermal environment. Experiments on its initiation and detonation characteristics have found it difficult to initiate under the energy transfer of thin flyer plates accelerated by electrically exploded metal foils. Figure 1 shows the propagation of a detonation front in such an experiment. Generally, the detonation waves are confined in the region directly in front of the flyer impact surface, leaving a substantial portion of the HE undetonated. It has been suggested by Lawrence Livermore personnel that a preheated TATB charge may improve its sensitivity and thus reduce or eliminate this deficiency. The above experiments were performed at the sample temperatures ranging from -54{degrees} to +74{degrees}C. As the temperature was lowered while the flyer impact velocity remained the same, a pronounced increase in the curvature of the detonation front was observed. This results in a significant decrease in the divergence of the detonation wave. Although an accurate relationship between the wave front divergence and the sample temperature is not available, it is generally believed that, due to an accelerated rate of chemical reaction, the detonation will significantly improve at higher temperatures. …

Measurements of neutron capture and total cross sections for /sup 186/Os, /sup 187/Os, and /sup 188/Os, neutron inelastic scattering cross sections for /sup 187/Os and /sup 238/U, and total cross sections for /sup 32/S + n are reported. This report is administrative in nature, with few data. 7 figures. (RWR)

The objective of this project was to evaluate and characterize the effects of various forging parameters on the metallographic structure and mechanical properties of 304L stainless steel forgings. Upset and die forgings were produced by hammer and Dynapak forging with forging temperatures ranging from 760 to 1145/sup 0/C, upset reductions ranging from 20 to 60%, and annealing times ranging from 0 to 25 minutes at 843/sup 0/C. The carbide precipitation behavior observed was found to be a function of forging temperature and annealing time. Higher forging temperatures were beneficial in avoiding continuous carbide precipitation and annealing at 843/sup 0/C promoted increased carbide precipitation. The yield strength of the unannealed forgings decreased with increasing forging temperature and, with the exception of the 1145/sup 0/C upset forgings, was significantly lowered by annealing.

This progress report presents papers dealing with the distribution of dissolved and particulate carbon in the oceans as it relates to the global carbon cycle. Also presented are papers concerning global climate and its relationship with carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Items within the scope of EDB are entered individually. (ACR)

Research is reported on materials for magnetic fusion energy, laser fusion energy, Al-air batteries, geothermal energy, oil shale, nuclear waste management, thermochemical cycles for hydrogen production, chemistry, and basic energy science. (FS)

Weekly report of the Texas Crop and Livestock Reporting Service on turkey poult numbers in Texas and compared with other states. It includes compiled statistics across six consecutive weeks, from the week ending September 22 to the week ending October 20, during 1978 and 1979 for turkey eggs set and poults hatched.

Progress has been made in the synthesis and characterization of new resins for sequestering inorganic and organic compounds. The capabilities of the poly(dithiocarbamate) resin have been extended, a new poly(acrylamidoxime) resin prepared and characterized, and a series of resins for organic compounds prepared and tested. Limited actual sample analyses have been performed with these resins. A new inductively coupled plasma source, spectrometer, and computer system have been received and they are undergoing tests and installation. With this system in place, the multielement analysis of metals during the forthcoming period will insure the application of sequestering resins to practical analysis of energy-related materials. An automated sample handling and data system has been designed, some components purchased, and construction is scheduled for 1980.

Tests have been performed to determine the corrosive nature of sea water on delta plutonium at 25/sup 0/C. Corrosion rates were determined by measuring the time dependence of mass loss at constant pressure and the time dependence of hydrogen evolution in a sealed vessel. Test coupons were completely immersed in a standard solution of synthetic sea water for periods ranging from 1 hour to 144 hours. Weight loss measurements show that delta plutonium corrodes at an average rate of 5.01 mg/(cm/sup 2/ hr) while hydrogen is formed at an average rate of 1.6 x 10/sup -5/ mol/(cm/sup 2/ hr). The corrosion process is a hydrolysis reaction that produces hydrated plutonium(IV) oxide and hydrogen. The reaction apparently occurs along the grain boundaries of the metal.

Production of biomass by corn-like plantations has been demonstrated by a number of researchers. These forest analogs of agronomic cropping systems have the potential to yield substantially more biomass per unit area than traditional forests. Care is needed in choosing the appropriate sites, species, spacing, and harvesting strategies. Opportunities for increased yields have been suggested for fertilization and irrigation. Utilization of the biomass from these dense plantations for energy was the focus of this study. Although the amount of energy potential of the biomass is important, the energy output must be greater than the energy input for biomass to have a positive benefit to society. Further, in order to completely evaluate the net energy of the system it is necessary to examine the energy out-to-in ratios on the basis of usable energy (for example, usable heat, process steam and electricity), as well as all of the energies expended in producing, harvesting, transporting and processing the biomass. The objective of this study is to establish and analyze the energy inputs for selected management strategies in order to evaluate the sensitivity and variability of the energy inputs in the net energy analysis, and based on the net energy analysis to recommend a …

A versatile fallout model was developed to assess complex civil defense and military effect issues. Large technical and scenario uncertainties require a fast, adaptable, time-dependent model to obtain technically defensible fallout results in complex demographic scenarios. The KDFOC2 capability, coupled with other data bases, provides the essential tools to consider tradeoffs between various plans and features in different nuclear scenarios and estimate the technical uncertainties in the predictions. All available data were used to validate the model. In many ways, the capability is unmatched in its ability to predict fallout hazards to a society.