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 …

Ocean current and/or plant motion crossflows induce time dependent hydrodynamic loads on the OTEC cold water pipe due to vortex shedding. Design criteria were established for mean and fluctuating loads based on a review of the literature, analysis of test data acquired by SAI under a previous experimental program and an analytical extension of test results to higher Reynolds number. Baseline loads were specified for rigid cylinders in uniform flows. Modifications to the loads by current shear, stratification and cylinder motion, were investigated and final design criteria established. Limited structural response calculations were performed to demonstrate the use of the design criteria and to investigate briefly the possible structural response mode. Comparisons were made with alternate hydrodynamic loads, and recommendations were made for experimental verification.

For particulate removal systems four alternate methods were considered: wet venturi scrubbers, combination of multicyclonic mechanical dust collectors (MDC) and wet venturi scrubbers; electrostatic precipitators (ESP), and baghouses. For sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/) removal eleven alternate systems were considered: magnesia slurry scrubbing, sodium sulfite scrubbing (Wellman-Lord), ammonia (clear liquor), citrate, phosphate (Aqua-Claus), steam stripping, aqueous carbonate, ammonia (semi-dry), carbon sorption, copper oxide, and catalytic oxidation. On the basis of this investigation it is recommended that a 99.65 percent efficiency ESP/Wellman-Lord System be utilized for this project. The technical and economic bases for this recommendation are given. (LTN)

Fossil fuels have composed the largest segment of the nation's energy resources. This report discusses conventional methods of converting fossil fuels to usable forms of energy, associated with environmental penalties. The conventional combustion of fossil fuels has multimedia impacts which affect the air, land and water. 7 refs., 11 figs., 6 tabs.

The primary constraints and incentives affecting the viability of increased anthracite production for use as a utility boiler fuel are related to: (1) inherent advantages and disadvantages of anthracite versus bituminous coal, (2) geographical considerations, and (3) the existing and future state and federal regulatory framework. Anthracite is inherently low in sulfur content (a nominal 0.7% versus 2.0% for bituminous coal) and thus is capable of providing energy in a more environmentally beneficial manner than alternative coal resources. In addition, anthracite is characterized by a higher energy output (5% higher per pound) than bituminous coal. On the other hand, anthracite is difficult to mine because of its hardness and the geological environment where it occurs, and thus incurs an initial cost disadvantage relative to alternative fuels. Anthracite has a higher ignition and burning temperature than bituminous coal and thus requires more costly boilers. Additionally, anthracite requires more costly particulate-removal systems than does bituminous and is somewhat more costly to tranport by rail. A potential major negative factor is the variability of sulfur content within anthracite deposits. The geographic location of the anthracite region creates a number of economic and environmental advantages that influence the viability of increased anthracite production. Anthracite …

Operation of the existing Hanford nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities will increase the release of nitrogen oxides (NO/sub x/) to the atmosphere over present emission rates. Stack emissions from two reprocessing facilities, one waste storage facility and two coal burning power plants will contain increased concentrations of NO/sub x/. The opacity of the reprocessing facilities' emissions is predicted to periodically exceed the State and local opacity limit of twenty percent. Past measurements failed to detect differences in the ambient air NO/sub x/ concentration with and without reprocessing plant operations. Since the facilities are not presently operating, increases in the non-occupational ambient air NO/sub x/ concentration were predicted from theoretical diffusion models. Based on the calculations, the annual average ambient air NO/sub x/ concentration will increase from the present level of less than 0.004 ppM to less than 0.006 ppM at the Hanford site boundaries. The national standard for the annual mean ambient air NO/sub 2/ concentration is 0.05 ppM. Therefore, the non-occupational ambient air NO/sub x/ concentration will not be increased to significant levels by reprocessing operations in the Hanford 200 Areas.

An overview of the first five years of the Hawaiian Geothermal Project and a brief report of the management and coordination activity are presented. The first three phases are: exploratory surveys, experimental drilling, and well testing and analysis. A list of publications and a chronology of events are included. (MHR)

The present study was basically aimed at determining the type of noise found around a geothermal reservoir. Six element arrays were used to determine the structure of the noise field and the types of waves present. Arrays were used at both the Roosevelt Hot Springs and Cove Fort areas. The arrays consisted of six seismometers, one in the center and the others evenly spaced on a circle. The interelement array spacing varied from 50 m to 300 m depending on the experiment. The instrumentation and the arrays are discussed in some detail. The theory required to gain an understanding of the results is briefly discussed. (MHR)

The nonlinear equations of motion of a general wind turbine rotor blade are derived from first principles. The twisted, tapered blade may be preconed out of the plane of rotation, and its root may be offset from the axis of rotation by a small amount. The aerodynamic center, center of mass, shear center, and area centroid are distinct in this derivation. The equations are applicable to studies of forced response or of aeroelastic flutter, however, neither gravity forcing, nor wind shear and gust forcing are included. The equations derived are applied to study the aeroelastic stability of the NASA-ERDA 100 kW wind turbine, and solved using the Galerkin method. The numerical results are used in conjunction with a mathematical comparison to prove the validity of an equivalent hinge model developed by the Wind Energy Conversion Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The underlying theory is presented for determining blade and rotor/tower vibration and dynamic stability characteristics as well as the basic dynamic (as opposed to aerodynamic) operating loads. Starting with a simple concept of equivalent hinged rotors, the equations of motion for the blade including pitch, flap and lag motions are developed. The nonlinear equations are derived first and linearized about a finite displacement of the blade out of the plane of rotation. This is important since wind turbines tend to operate at relatively high coning angles. The effect of distributed flexibility, as opposed to the equivalent hinge concept, is then discussed.

None

The Hawaii Geothermal Project well HGP-A has undergone a two-year testing program which included cold water pumpdown tests, flashing flows with measurements of temperature and pressure profiles, and noise surveys. These tests and the data obtained are discussed in detail.

Information is presented concerning the Rocky Flats wind turbine test site; the philosophy of testing at Rocky Flats; test procedure development; atmospheric SWECS testing; SWECS component testing; data collection, handling, and analysis; reporting procedures; and future plans.

Equipment is being developed to economically remove contaminated concrete surfaces in nuclear facilities. To be effective this equipment should minimize personnel radiation exposure, minimize the volume of material removed, and perform the operation quickly with the least amount of energy. Several methods for removing concrete surfaces are evaluated for use in decontaminating such facilities. Two unique methods especially suited for decontamination are described: one, the water cannon, is a device that fires a high-velocity jet of fluid causing spallation of the concrete surface; the other, a concrete spaller, is a tool that exerts radial pressure agains the sides of a pre-dilled shallow cylindrical hole causing spallation to occur. Each method includes a means for containing airborne contamination. Results of tests show that these techniques can rapidly and economically remove surfaces, and leave minimal rubble for controlled disposal.

An attempt was made to estimate the chemical composition of fly ash using the known chemical composition of coals from numerous regions of the country and the known behavior of elements in a limited number of coal and fly-ash samples. This technique assumes that each element in every piece of coal in the United States partitions itself into fly ash to the same extent and leaches from fly ash at the same rate. Using these limited data, enrichment factors were then calculated by dividing the composition in the fly ash by the composition in the corresponding coal samples. These enrichment factors were then applied to all of the coal samples for which chemical compositions were available to estimate the chemical composition of the fly ash.

This report evaluates the performance of the vital MG sets during a worst case load transfer. Evaluation of test data showed: (1) The Vital MG Set withstood the extreme loading; (2) The load can be sustained well in excess of the required time limit; and (3) The transfer perturbation caused the frequency to exceed the limits set by the SDD. The follow up evaluations of the equipment powered by the MG sets demonstrated that the equipment function will not be degraded.

The system uses the attic of the house with a large south facing window as the solar collector. An air-to-water heat pump uses the attic air as a heat source to heat a volume of storage water during the heating season. During the cooling season the attic is ventilated and the heat pump uses the attic air as a heat sink while cooling the storage water. The computer program was developed to include a heat exchanger in the attic which could by-pass the heat pump condenser cooling water, thus permitting direct heat exchange between the attic air and the storage water whenever a favorable temperature existed. The program also accounts for the effect of the incidence angle of insolation and the effect of the number of glass plates on the transmittance and absorptance of the collector and windows. Other refinements include: the use of a sophisticated nighttime setback thermostat, account of internal heat generation and infiltration loss. Among all of the parameter variations, the use of an attic heat exchanger resulted in the maximum savings in the heating/cooling energy consumption of the house. The use of double-glazed windows too, resulted in substantial energy savings. The total energy consumption was found …

The development of the safety assessment methodology currently consists of four major tasks: release scenario analysis, waste release studies, release consequence analysis, and radionuclide sorption studies. Each of these tasks and plans for each are discussed. International cooperation on these tasks is urged. (DLC)

New seismological methods were developed for determining the structure of a geothermal energy source region by the use of data from both active and passive experiments. Technical papers were published on four topics, namely: a field experiment at Kilauea Iki, source models of volcanic tremors, microearthquake source spectra, and a numerical study of elastic wave diffraction by fluid-filled cracks. In addition, papers were submitted for publication on a statistical synthesis of source mechanism of seismic events in Kilauea Iki and the observation of a temporal variation in the attenuation of earthquake coda in central California. The following subjects were worked on: (1) interpretation of seismic data from the LASL Hot Dry Rock system; (2) analyisis of volcanic tremor data from the U.S.G.S. Hawaiian seismic network; (3) frequency dependence and three-dimensional distribution of seismic attenuation in central Japan; (4) experimental study of seismic scattering by a penny-shaped crack; (5) development of a microprocessor system for the treatment of the data from digital event recorders.

Nuclear fuel cycles were evaluated for the Pebble Bed Gas Cooled Reactor under development in the Federal Republic of Germany. The basic fuel cycle specified for the HTR-K and PNP is well qualified and will meet the requirements of these reactors. Twenty alternate fuel cycles are described, including high-conversion cycles, net-breeding cycles, and proliferation-resistant cycles. High-conversion cycles, which have a high probability of being successfully developed, promise a significant improvement in resource utilization. Proliferation-resistant cycles, also with a high probability of successful development, compare very favorably with those for other types of reactors. Most of the advanced cycles could be adapted to first-generation pebble bed reactors with no significant modifications.

Separate abstracts were prepared for the 18 papers presented in this volume. (WHK)

Separate abstracts were prepared for the 33 papers presented. (WHK)

To investigate the characteristics of the vadose zone with respect to radioactive waste disposal, the mechanics of unsaturated flow in arid regions and the geohydrology of four areas with a deep water table were studied. The studies indicated that (1) arid sites with a water table deeper than 200 m can be found in at least three distinct geologic settings in the western United States, (2) the physics of unsaturated flow in soils and rock with interstitial porosity at low water contents, particularly under thermal gradients, is not yet completely understood, and (3) under certain conditions unsaturated flow can be so slow that analytic modeling of an unflawed repository is unnecessary to prove effective containment.

The conceputal design is briefly described of a 300 MWe molten salt-based central receiver power plant with sufficient heliostats and storage capacity to provide full load operation 24 hours per day at summer solstice. The collector, tower, electric power generation, cavity receiver, molten salt handling equipment, heat exchangers, thermal storage, and master control subsystems are described, and parametric analyses of the subsystems are discussed. An assessment of the recommended system is discussed which includes detailed cost analysis, an economic analysis to compute the bus bar electricity cost, potential for future improvements, definition of possible limitations to the application of the system, and the value of thermal storage. Results of a comprehensive test program are summarized that includes long-term high-temperature stability, basic molten salt chemistry, materials compatibility, and fluid loop testing. A development plan is described, including the conceptual design and cost estimate of a pilot plant, research experiments, development schedule, and a description of an alternative 100-MW plant for comparison. Also an analysis of an alternative system using an exposed receiver rather than a cavity receiver is summarized. (LEW)