To minimize the radiological risk from the operation of a waste management system for the safe disposal of high-level waste, performance characteristics of the solidified waste form must be specified. The minimum waste form characteristics that must be specified are the radionuclide volatilization fraction, airborne particulate dispersion fraction, and the aqueous dissolution characteristics. The results indicate that the pre-emplacement environs are more limiting in establishing the waste form performance criteria than the post-emplacement environs. The actual values of expected risk are sensitive to modeling assumptions and data base uncertainties. The transportation step appears to be the most limiting in determining the required performance characteristics.

California law contains several vehicles for the implementation of geothermal planning. These mechanisms and their impact are examined. First, at the State level upon the California Energy Commission and the Division of Oil and Gas in the Department of Conservation. After some background on county planning in California, the unique situation in the counties of greatest geothermal potential is presented: Imperial County and the four Geysers counties as well as their joint powers agency. Conclusions and recommendations are included. (MHR)

Progress in developing a microwave-vacuum system (MIVAC) for drying grain at a commercial grain handling and storage facility is reported. During this period the dryer was redesigned from 48 kW size to 12 kW, components were fabricated and assembled, and performance testing with corn drying was begun. (LCL)

The federal leasing and permitting programs were analyzed as well as those of the five states in the Pacific Region. The relevant statutoring and regulatory frameworks of the land management agencies involved were also analyzed, as well as the options prepared by the DOE Streamlining Task Force and the California State-Federal-Local Task Group. The present stationary responsibilities and management structure of the Forest Service, BLM, and the Pacific Region States, as well as the roles of DOE and DOD. (MHR)

This report summarizes the third quarter FY-1978 results of concept design studies at General Atomic Company (GA) for an 842-MW(t) VHTR utilizing an intermediate helium heat transfer loop to provide thermal energy for the production of reducing gas (H/sub 2/ + CO) by steam-reforming a light hydrocarbon. Basic carbon sources may be coal, residual, or oil shale. The report summarizes the various plant configurations selected for the study and presents the conceptual plant layout drawings. Results of design studies on the intermediate heat exchanger are also presented. The status of the performance/optimization code development is discussed, and completion of the core auxiliary cooling system study is summarized.

This progress report reviews issues and local area practice relative to the disposal of small quantity laboratory solid and chemical wastes from the PETC site. Research efforts to date have been in two major directions, a) solid and hazardous waste problems relative to PETC, and b) solid and hazardous waste problems relative to coal gasification and liquefaction conversion processes. It is intended that bench scale coal conversion processes located at PETC be considered as small but typical models for residuals sample generation. A literature search activity has begun in order to develop a data bank of coal conversion residual characterizations, and identify other centers of hazardous waste handling research expertise.

Copies of the viewgraphs and a condensation of the comments by John V. Goldsmith and Donald B. Bickler of the LSA Project at its 10th Project Integration Meeting, August 16 and 17, 1978, at Caltech University, Pasadena, California, are presented. Their presentations focus on the state of the technology aimed at achieving the $500/kW goal by 1986.

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 24 months in four geothermal environments. Good durability is indicated. Work at five of these sites is continuing and plans to initiate other tests are being implemented.

Phillips' objectives related to financing a geothermal development are: (1) to make a reasonable profit, (2) to keep risks in line with potential benefits, and (3) to operate in a free and open market. Each of these objectives is discussed briefly. (MHR)

The objectives of this study are to determine the economic and technical feasibility of using the low to moderate temperature geothermal resource in the Susanville anomaly in a district heating/cooling system for public or private users and in a Park of Commerce developed in conjunction with the resources development. The Susanville resource temperature is known to be a minimum of 150/sup 0/F and is projected to be a maximum of 239/sup 0/F. Because these factors all contribute to major capital outlays, design approaches have been studied which will permit economical utilization of the resource regardless of the outcome of the drilling. The system selected will depend on the result of the drilling program. This study presents a data base on systems for the temperature range from 150 to 239/sup 0/F. The results of the engineering and economic study currently indicate the region and conditions for economic feasibility. Based on a predicted fuel inflation rate of 7% and a municipal bond interest rate of 10%, the development of the Susanville Geo-Heating District is economically feasible over the entire range of anticipated reservoir conditions. Under conditions of high well costs ($130 to $175 thousand dollars per well) and low resources temperature (150 …

The experiment described in this report makes observations to determine the direct insolation every 16 sec at corners of a quadrilateral approximately 600 meters in size located near Barstow, California. This size approximates the collector field of the solar power plant to be built near Barstow. Data from the first three months of operation of this experiment indicate cloudy conditions, capable of affecting the operation of a solar power plant, occurred during 15% of the daylight hours of some months. Patterns of insolation variation over the experiment area indicate shadows often exist with dimensions less than the projected size of the collection field for the 10 MW/sub e/ solar thermal power plant. Detailed statistical summaries of four partly cloudy events are included. Rates of insolation change on an individual sensor greater than or equal to 30 Wm/sup -2/ sec/sup -1/ have been observed, but these rate measurements have probably been limited by the response time of the experimental system. Spatial averaging of the measured insolation over the sensor field lowers the rate of insolation change.

The stress analysis performed on the 4''-WH-237-E piping system inside containment penetration S-17B is presented. Deadweight, thermal expansion, and seismic loads were considered. Results of this analysis show that the subject piping system will meet ASME Code, Section III, Class 2 requirements.

Westinghouse has completed the conceptual design of the Power System for the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Demonstration Plant project. This study included the development of a conceptual design for the following three items: first, a full-size power system module for the 100 MWe Demonstration Plant; second, a scaled proof of concept power system; and third, a heat exchanger test article. The study was limited to a closed cycle ammonia power system module, using a water temperature difference of 40/sup 0/F., and a surface platform/ship reference hull. Two power module of 50 MWe each are recommended for the demonstration plant. The 50 MWe module was selected since it has the lowest cost, and since it is of a size which convincingly demonstrates that future economically viable commercial plants, having reliable operation with credible anticipated costs, are possible. A modular, tube bundle approach to heat exchanger design makes large heat exchangers practical and economical. Other power module elements are considered to be within state-of-practice. Technological assessments of all subsystems indicate requirements for verification only, rather than continued research. A complete test program, which will verify the mechanical reliability as well as thermal performance, is recommended.

Progress is reported for a program whose goals are to demonstrate an experimental upgraded gas turbine-powered automobile which meets the 1978 Federal Emissions Standards, has significantly improved fuel economy, and is competitive in performance, reliability, and potential manufacturing cost with the conventional piston engine-powered, compact-size American automobile. Activity during this twenty-second program quarter has continued to emphasize development towards correcting a power deficiency in the Upgraded Engine. Efforts are also being directed towards reducing fuel usage through improved heat recovery and towards improving the mechanical reliability and control of the engine.

This report presents results obtained from the commercial LMFBR Steam Generator Design Comparison Study from 1 October 1977 through 30 September 1978 relative to selecting the preferred steam generator design for a commercial-size plant using a Benson, Sulzer, or saturated steam cycle. The primary emphasis was placed on identifying potential problem areas in each design for each steam cycle. The study indicates the hockey stick design as the preferred concept for each steam cycle.

The following program plan elements are described: barriers to commercialization, cost/benefit analysis for exploration assessment technology (hydrothermal systems), goals, objectives, technical plan, management plan, budget, and procurement plan. (MHR)

NUTSPEC, an interactive program available on the LLL CDC 7600 Octopus Network computers, unfolds neutron spectral data obtained with NE213 and stilbene scintillation detectors, as well as CH/sub 4/, H/sub 2/, and /sup 3/He gas proportional counters. This document explains how to obtain and execute the program, and describes the input and output data formats used by NUTSPEC. Examples of input files and output plots, along with the user/program interactions, are shown. NUTSPEC also has various graphical display capabilities (TMDS, RJET, FR80).

Progress of government-sponsored projects directed toward increasing gas production from the low-permeability gas sands of the western United States is summarized. A Technology Implementation Plan (TIP) meeting was held at the CER office in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 16--19 to initiate the implementation phase of the Enhanced Gas Recovery (EGR) working group activities. A WGSP Logging Program meeting was conducted on October 24, 1978, at CER offices to define the problems associated with logs in tight gas sands. CER personnel and the project manager attended a two-day course on the fundamentals of core and reservoir analysis in Denver, Colorado, and met with USGS personnel to discuss USGS work on the WGSP. A meeting was held to discuss a contract for coring a Twin Arrow well on the Douglas Creek Arch, Colorado. CER Corporation personnel attended the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting held in Toronto, Canada, October 23--27 and a Gas Stimulation Workshop at Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 11 and 12 to discuss recent mineback experiments conducted at the Nevada Test Site. Fiscal year 1979 projects initiated by USGS and the Energy Technology Centers and National Laboratories are progressing as scheduled. Mobil Research and Development Corporation fractured …

The objective of the study is to develop an improved understanding of the nuclear energy center (NEC) concept and to identify research and development needed to evaluate the concept fully. A specific context was selected for the study--the Hanford site. Thus, the study primarily addresses the HNEC concept, but the findings are extrapolated to generic NECs where possible. The major emphasis in the HNEC study was to explore potential technical and environmental problems in a specific context and in sufficient detail to evaluate potential problems and propose practical solutions. The areas of concern are typical of those considered in preparing environmental and safety analysis reports, including: topics dealing with engineering choices (e.g., site selection, heat sink management, electrical transmission, and reliability of generation); environmental matters (e.g., terrestrial and radiological effects); socioeconomic factors (e.g., community impacts); and licensing considerations.

Second-moment probabilistic techniques are used to formulate structural resistances and loads and to derive reliability-based safety, load, and strength factors for design. Existing concepts of the second-moment reliability theory have been extended to the practical case of multiple load combinations. This development consistently includes the stochastic character of loads and the unpredictable nature of their combinations. For this purpose, a new technique for the evaluation of load combinations is presented, whereby the moments of the extreme of combined loads is obtained in terms of the moments of individual loads and parameters describing their random fluctuations in time. Reliability-based safety, load, and strength factors are derived in terms of the acceptable level of risk, the coefficients of variation of the loads and resistance, uncertainties associated with errors in modeling and estimation, and a set of parameters describing the stochastic nature of loads and their combinations.

Progress from January 1 to March 31, 1978, is reported in design of the 50 MT/year experimental facility for the preparation of high-purity silicon by the zinc vapor reduction of silicon tetrachloride in a fluidized bed of seed particles to form a free-flowing granular product. The design of the experimental facility has been concluded and sent to JPL for evaluation. It is also being critiqued by an independent pilot plant design group at BCL. Detailed analyses of equipment and construction costs have led to an estimate of $1.5 million for construction of the facility in an available building at BCL. Although the design was frozen for purposes of cost estimation, some improvements have been made since, and others are contemplatd before it is necessary to freeze the design for construction. Representative flow sheets and related equipment drawings are shown.

The review is presented in sections on x-ray spectrograph development, sampling of gases in a post shot cavity, oil shale retort heat losses, development of an automated thermocouple, seismic engineering, testing fuel rod casks, and nuclear materials control. A separate abstract was prepared for each section. (JRD)

Progress is reported on biomedical studies using cyclotron-produced /sup 18/F, /sup 15/O, /sup 11/C, /sup 13/N, /sup 52/Fe, /sup 38/K, /sup 206/Bi, /sup 73/Se, /sup 53/Co, and /sup 43/K. The following research projects are described: tumor detection and diagnosis; neurological studies; radiopharmaceutical development; /sup 38/K as an indicator of blood flow to the myocardium; dosimetry for internally deposited isotopes in animals and man; cyclotron development; positron tomographic imaging with the TOKIM System; and review of positron emission transaxial tomograph instruments. (HLW)

A ground-water hydrology computer code, programmed by R.L. Taylor (in Proc. American Society of Civil Engineers, Journal of Hydraulics Division, 93(HY2), pp. 25-33 (1967)), has been adapted to the Octopus computer system at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Using an example problem, this manual details the input, output, and execution options of the code.