The TFTR vacuum vessel will have a system of four 61 cm diameter mercury diffusion pumps to provide a base pressure in the 10/sup -8/ to 10/sup -9/ Torr range as well as a low impurity level within the vessel. The system, called the Torus Vacuum Pumping System (TVPS), will be employed with the aid of an occasional 250/sup 0/C bakeout in situ as well as periodic applications of aggressive discharge cleaning. The TVPS is an ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) system using no elastomers as well as being a closed system with respect to tritium or any tritiated gases. The backing system employing approximately 75 all-metal isolation valves is designed with the features of redundancy and flexibility employed in a variety of ways to meet the fundamental requirements and functions enumerated for the TVPS. Since the design, is one which is a modification of the conceptual design of the TVPS, those features which have changed are discussed. Calculations are presented for the major performance parameters anticipated for the TVPS and include conductances, effective pumping speeds, base pressures, operating parameters, getter pump parameters, and calculations of time constants associated with leak checking. Modifications in the vacuum pumping system for the guard regions on …

A regional transport model of atmospheric sulfates was developed. This quasi-Lagrangian three-dimensional grid numerical model uses a detailed SO/sub 2/ emission inventory of major anthropogenic sources in the eastern U.S. region and observed meteorological data during an episode as inputs. The model accounts for advective transport and turbulent diffusion of the pollutants. The chemical transformation of SO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ and the deposition of the species at the earth's surface are assumed to be linear processes at specified constant rates. The numerical model can predict the daily average concentrations of SO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ at all receptor locations in the grid region during the episode. Because of the spatial resolution of the grid, this model is particularly suited to investigate the effect of tall stacks in reducing the ambient concentration levels of sulfur pollutants. The formulations and assumptions of the regional sulfate transport model are presented. The model inputs and results are discussed. Isopleths of predicted SO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ concentrations are compared with the observed ground level values.

W (the average energy to form an ion pair) for 5.4 MeV /sup 241/Am alpha particles in a Rossi-type tissue equivalent (T.E.) gas, argon and methane was determined to an accuracy better than 0.2% using a new automated data handling system. A vibrating reed electrometer and current digitizer were used to measure the current produced by completely stopping the alpha particles in a large cylindrical ionization chamber. A multichannel analyzer, operating in a slow multiscalar mode, was used to store pulses from the current digitizer. The dwell time, on the order of 60 minutes per channel, was selected with an external timer gate. Current measurements were made at reduced pressures (approximately 200 torr) to reduce ion-recombination. The average current, over many repeated measurements, was compared to the current produced in nitrogen and its previously published W-value of 36.39 +- 0.04 eV/ion pair. The resulting W-values were (in eV/ion pair): 26.29 +- 0.05 for argon, 29.08 +- 0.03 for methane and 30.72 +- 0.04 for T.E. gas, which had an analyzed composition of 64.6% methane, 32.4% CO/sub 2/, and 2.7% nitrogen. Although the methane and argon values agree within 0.1% with previously published values, the value for T.E. is 1.2% lower …

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Mrs. Richard D. Harrison, left, and Mrs. Max Knotts, who are co-chairman of arrangements for the premier party for "Feather Moon" pose with some of the items from the Oklahoma Science and Arts Foundation's American Indian art exhibit."

This assessment of the problems of the electric sector is part of the BNL study on the Energy Future of the Northeast. Topics covered by the issue papers include the potential supply of energy to the Northeast from coal, oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, nuclear power, municipal waste, solar energy, and wind power, and the demand for energy in the Northeast from the industrial, transportation, and residential and commercial sectors. This paper compares energy demand projections derived in other parts of the Northeast Energy Perspectives Study to current utility projections; discusses major technical issues in capacity forecasting, including system load factors, outage rates, scale economies, unit sizes, and generation mix planning; discusses major siting constraints faced by each type of generation in the Northeast; and prepares preliminary forecasts of the number and type of new generation facilities necessary by 1985 and 2000, and an analysis of the implications for regional siting policy. (MCW)

Two short mixed-oxide fuel rods of LMFBR design configuration were irradiated to a burnup of approx. 12.5 atom % in GETR. Profilometry at several intervals during the test indicated that the rod with a 0.010 inch thick cladding exhibited a diametral strain of 0.17% per atom % burnup, while the rod with a 0.015 inch thick cladding exhibited a lower diametral strain rate of 0.12% per atom % burnup. These data present the opportunity for analytical methods to evaluate fuel rod dimensional changes without the complicating effect of metal swelling. Also, the rods incorporated a large plenum space so that pressure from released fission gases was extremely low. These measured strain rates are consistent with the range of fuel diametral strain rates that are associated with solid fission product swelling.

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Everyone loves a parade, as they say, and Adam Brown and Steve Fabian, left, and Barry and Benjie Hampton are on exception as they view a parade of prancing horses in Oklahoma City Tuesday."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Everyone loves a parade, as they say, and Adam Brown and Steve Fabian, left, and Barry and Benjie Hampton are on exception as they view a parade of prancing horses in Oklahoma City Tuesday."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "A young rider prepares for a parade through downtown Oklahoma City today marking the official opening of the 1976 All American Horse World Exposition at the Stare Fairgrounds."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "AWAITING beginning of ouster trail against him Tuesday, Oklahoma County Associate Dist. Judge Gar C. Graham assumes pensive expression in Supreme Court hearing room."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Miniature horses and mules tug tiny wagons down Park Ave. in Oklahoma City Tuesday, as part of a mile-long parade opening the 1976 All American Horse World Exposition which began Tuesday at the State Fairground."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "ANTIQUE WAGON which once carried Army ammunition is pulled by a Ft. Sill half-hitch Tuesday in Oklahoma City during the opening parade for the 1976 All American Horse World Exposition being held at the State Fairgrounds."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Gar C. Graham, Oklahoma County associate district judge, finds the State Supreme Court chambers a lonely place as he awaits his ouster trial before the Court on the Judiciary."

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An analysis of refrigeration system requirements for the superconducting power transmission cables currently under study at the three principal US cable development centers indicates the need for cable system design considering the interrelated performance of the various cable system elements to successfully develop these systems for commercial operation in the 1990's. Hardware alternatives, compatible with the application timeframe, are evaluated to establish reliable refrigerator system design to a composite requirement typical of the range of refrigerator requirements presented by the cables currently under development. In addition, a methodology is presented and utilized to establish an estimate of hardware reliability and to evaluate redundancy requirements to a specific refrigerator system reliability allocation for a cable system used in previous cable development center studies. Reliability and performance of several compressor systems are evaluated. The oil-flooded screw compressor is felt to be the superior positive displacement compressor; however, the efficiency advantage resulting from preliminary design analysis of a multistage compliant toll process gas bearing centrifugal compressor system indicates a potential major operating cost reduction and the elimination of the need for oil lubrication and its subsequent cleanup requirements. Heat exchangers and expansion engines are evaluated. A preliminary design for a compliant foil process …

A detailed parametric study of the major variables that affect the pressure profile in the geothermal well, and hence its performance, was conducted in order to identify and define the pertinent problems that require further experimental and theoretical investigation. The well and, in particular, its two-phase section were modeled on the basis of sound two-phase flow principles. A computer algorithm was developed for pressure profile calculations and simulation of well performance. The algorithm was used to study the effects of total mass flow rate, heat losses to the surrounding formation and void fraction on the pressure profile and the vapor and liquid production rates. In addition, several existing void fraction and frictional pressure drop correlations were evaluated in order to determine their applicability to geothermal systems. (MHR)

Laboratory activities for the period spring, 1975 to spring, 1976 are described. The emphasis of the work can be discerned from the chapter headings: accelerator development; ion source development; instrumentation, detectors, research techniques; computer and computing; atomic physics; nuclear astrophysics; fundamental symmetries in nuclei; nuclear structure; radiative capture measurements and calculations; scattering and reactions; reactions with polarized protons and deuterons; heavy-ion elastic and inelastic scattering; heavy-ion deeply inelastic and fusion reactions; heavy ion transfer and intermediate structure reactions; medium-energy physics; and energy studies. Research by users and visitors is also described; and laboratory personnel, degrees granted, and publications are listed. Those summaries having significant amounts of information are indexed individually. (RWR)

The need to reduce high Z impurities in the plasma of fusion reactors has led to various ideas, including a low-Z liner, for isolating the first structural wall from the plasma. Graphite and other carbon containing materials (most notably SiC) are strong candidate materials for such liners. However, to assess the potential of these materials will require more information on the following properties: (1) Radiation effects under fusion reactor environment, (2) Sputtering, (3) Degassing. This document describes the current state of knowledge on carbons and graphites in each of these areas.

A program plan for conducting a social impact assessment for the Powder River Basin has been developed to provide guidelines for a comprehensive document; one that identifies the impacts as they are perceived by the affected communities and indicates how such information may best be used to manage adverse impacts. We have attempted to give a comprehensive overview of existing studies, resources, and descriptions of the potential methodologies that may be used in carrying out the impact assessment and in developing management strategies. Also, we briefly outlined the steps that should be included in the social impact assessment process. This outline and a flow diagram of the steps involved are a concise description of the suggested program plan.

Progress is reported in a research and development program to design, build, and test an improved geothermal drill bit. The major tasks of the Phase I effort are entitled: failure mechanisms of existing bits; new steels and new bearing design; and new seals and lubricants. It appears that a significant gain in drill-bit life can be attained by the use of higher-temperature steels which retain more hardness at temperatures above 260/sup 0/C (500/sup 0/F). Such steels are available, and two research bits of high-temperature steels were made and will shortly be tested in a laboratory-simulated full-scale geothermal drilling environment. Two control bits of the same design, but made with conventional drill bit steels, were also obtained for identical laboratory test runs, so that the performance of the research bits can be meaningfully assessed. Base-line properties of the steels, such as hardness and fracture toughness as functions of temperature, are being measured to further assess the value of the high-temperature steels selected for the research bits. A geothermal test vessel was designed and fabricated in which the full-scale drill bits will be tested. The vessel is capable of temperature to 427/sup 0/C (800/sup 0/F) and pressures to 35 MPa (5,000 psi). …

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, John L. Hill, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether the railroad commission is required to issues certificates of convenience of necessity of gas utilities.

Bilingual monthly newspaper from Houston, Texas, published for the local Chinese community, that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.

The strontium and cesium fractions separated from high radiation level wastes at Hanford are converted to the solid strontium fluoride and cesium chloride salts, doubly encapsulated, and stored underwater in the Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility (WESF). A capsule contains approximately 70,000 Ci of /sup 137/Cs or 70,000 to 140,000 Ci of /sup 90/Sr. Materials for fabrication of process equipment and capsules must withstand a combination of corrosive chemicals, high radiation dosages and frequently, elevated temperatures. The two metals selected for capsules, Hastelloy C-276 for strontium fluoride and 316-L stainless steel for cesium chloride, are adequate for prolonged containment. Additional materials studies are being done both for licensing strontium fluoride as source material and for second generation process equipment.