This report presents the results of work performed from October 1, 1980 through December 31, 1980 on the Advanced Gas- Cooled Nuclear Reactor Materials Evaluation and Development Program.

This document is an interim report under ACDA BOA AC9NX707, Task Order 80-03, which covers the evaluation of certain potential improvements in pressurized water reactor designs intended to enhance uranium fuel utilization. The objective of these evaluations is to seek advanced, non-retrofittable improvements that could possibly be commercialized by the end of the century, and, on the basis of a preliminary evaluation, to select compatible improvements for incorporation into a composite advanced pressurized water reactor concept. The principal areas of investigation include reduced parasitic absorption of neutrons (Task 1), reduced neutron leakage (Task 2), and alternative fuel design concepts (Task 3). To the extent possible, the advanced concept developed in an earlier study (Retrofittable Modifications to Pressurized Water Reactors for Improved Resource Utilization, SSA-128, October 1980) is used as a basis in developing the advanced composite concept. The reference design considered typical of present PWR commercial practice is the system described in RESAR-414, Reference Safety Analysis Report, Westinghouse Nuclear Energy Systems, October 1976.

This report evaluates the enhanced resource utilization in an advanced pressurized water reactor (PWR) concept using a composite of selected improvements identified in a companion study. The selected improvements were in the areas of reduced loss of neutrons to control poisons, reduced loss of neutrons in leakage from the core, and improved blanket/reflector concepts. These improvements were incorporated into a single composite advanced PWR. A preliminary assessment of resource requirements and costs and impact on safety are presented.

Abstract: The circumstances leading to the second phase of the Air-Launched Balloon System Development Program are described, along with the governing design constraints. Individual component development efforts and system design modifications are described in turn: the procurement and testing of the new dewar, the qualification of the updated cryogenic unit recovery system. The complicated command, control, and telemetry subsystem is also described in detail. The results of component tests and a system dress rehearsal system tests are summarized. Preparations for two full-scale system tests conducted in 1981 are covered in considerable detail. The results of those tests are presented and the test data are analyzed. It is concluded that the system's air-launch and mid-air inflation techniques are acceptable. The balloon requires structural reinforcements, however, before the system can be said to be fully developed.

Two sets of parameters have been developed to study stochastic accumulation. The question arises of the size of the transverse emittance required to achieve an antiproton yield of 1.2 x 10{sup 8} {bar p}'s/MR cyc1e for 4.5 GeV and 8 GeV {bar p} kinetic energies, given a full momentum acceptance of 4%. The results quoted in the paper are obtained with a Monte Carlo program which uses a fit to the {bar p} production invariant cross section that has been presented previously. An article describing the program is in preparation.

A study of basic combustion and pollutant formation processes for pulverized solid fossil fuels has been initiated. The solid fossil fuels under consideration for this research include such solid fuels as non-bituminous coal types, solvent refined coal, combustion char, petroleum coke, oil shale and tar sand. The potential industrial application of pulverized fuels other than coal provides some promise for relief from present and future conventional fuel shortages. Utilization problems with these fuels such as flame stability, fuel handling, pollutant emission and ash and slag formation in large-scale furnaces may be fundamentally addressed in laboratory reactors using properly scaled operating variables. An extensive literature search was begun to assess current knowledge relative to utilization of these fuels. This review will provide a basis for selection of three solid fuels for testing. Pertinent information from industrial contacts will also be used in the fuel selection. The criteria to be used in the selection of these fuels include availability for economic industrial use, adaptability, grindability, flame stability, entrainability, uniformity, applicability to direct firing with air, solidity with heating, availability to the BYU Combustion Laboratory, cost, other physical characteristics affecting their use, industrial input and recommendations, and DOE approval. The existing laboratory coal …

This contract study of basic combustion and pollutant formation processes for pulverized solid fossil fuels includes coal-water mixtures and chars derived from coal pyrolysis, liquefaction or gasification processes. The factors that affect the physical properties of coal-water mixtures (CWM) have been identified and characterization tests initiated to determine how these variables (e.g., solids loading, particle size, particle size distribution, additives) affect the coal slurries. A bench-scale apparatus consisting of a pressure vessel and an atomizing nozzle was designed and is being fabricated. This apparatus will assist in the development of handling and atomization techniques for the combustion tests. It will also aid in comparing viscosities of slurries of different solids loadings and coal types. Chars were obtained for characterization tests. A series of potential tests to characterize the chars was identified. Grading and sizing of the chars was begun as well as elemental analysis. Samples of the chars were sent to Phillips for CO/sub 2/ reactivity tests to be performed. Coding for incorporation of swirling flows into the two-dimensional coal combustion model (PCGC-2) was completed. Debugging was initiated and sample computations are performed for a gaseous, isothermal system for low swirl numbers. Convergence problems were encountered when attempts were made …

The objective of the BNL Neutral Beam Program is to develop a 250 keV neutral beam system suitable for heating and other experiments in toroidal or mirror plasma devices. The system is based on acceleration and neutralization of negative hydrogen ions produced in and directly extracted from a source. The objective of source studies is to develop a module delivering 10 A of negative ion currents, with pulse lengths ranging from several seconds duration up to a steady-state operation. The extracted current density should be several hundred mA/cm/sup 2/, and the source should operate with power and gas efficiencies acceptable from the beam line point of view. The objective of beam extraction and transport studies is to design a system matching the 10 A source module to the acceleration stage. The 250 keV acceleration studies cover several options, including a d.c. close-coupled system, a large aperture d.c. system matched to the source by a bending magnet, a multiaperture d.c. system following a multiaperture strong focusing transport line, and a MEQALAC structure.

This report is on California water resource development.

Run ZBF was conducted to determine the amount of sulfur and nitrogen removal from SRC-I/process solvent mixture in the absence of a hydrotreating catalyst. Negligible nitrogen and sulfur removal resulted from this experiment. The hydrogen content of the coal liquid increased slightly over that of the feedstock. In similar studies using other coal liquids some sulfur removal (10 to 40%) was noted under non-catalyzed conditions. Several commercial NiMo supported catalysts were analyzed for silica contents using atomic absorption. These results revealed that catalysts with large micropore size structures also contain high silica content (up to 22.5 weight percent). Several short duration runs (12 to 110 hours) were conducted in the CLTU to gather data on catalyst coking mechanisms. Using the SRC material mixed with a process solvent or creosote oil (30 weight percent SRC), solid materials were observed to form and precipitate in the latter portions of the reactor bed. The reactor system was modified to prevent the accumulation of these incompatible solids which would result in premature termination of the experimental runs. In the catalyst regeneration study (HDN-30, NiMo), a spent catalyst was regenerated and then used to hydrotreat a coal liquid consisting of 10% Synthoil II liquid mixed …

Several pinhole collimator geometries for use in neutron imaging experiments have been modeled and compared. Point spread functions are shown for a cylinder, hyperbola, intersecting cones, and a five-zone approximation to the intersecting cones. Of the geometries studied, the intersecting cones appear the most promising with respect to neutron efficiency, field of view, and isoplanatism.

Research on this contract can be divided into two general topics: (1) D/sup -/ formation collision processes, and (2) the determination of scattering cross sections used to diagnose properties of magnetically-confined plasmas. For topic (1) during last year, we completed theoretical calculations on the differential (angular) scattering of H/sup 0/ and D/sup 0/ on Cs, and determined the mechanisms and trends in the electron detachment cross sections for collisions of H/sup -/ and D/sup -/ on He, Ne, and the alkali and heavy alkaline earth atom systems. On topic (2) a major accomplishment was the determination of the electron capture and ionization cross sections for the C/sup 5 +/, N/sup 5 +/, and O/sup 6 +/ + H systems in the energy range from 13 eV/amu to 2.1 MeV/amu.

A general expression has been derived to enable calculation of the calibration error resulting from simulator-solar AMX spectral mismatch and from reference cell-test cell spectral mismatch. The information required includes the relative spectral response of the reference cell, the relative spectral response of the cell under test, and the relative spectral irradiance of the simulator (over the spectral range defined by cell response). The spectral irradiance of the solar AMX is assumed to be known.

This report describes the basic parameters which directly influence the behavior of a coal slurry pipeline transportation system and determine the limitations of the system performance. The purpose of this technology assessment is to provide an identification and understanding of the critical factors which must be given consideration in the design and evaluation of such a slurry haulage system intended for use in an underground coal mine. The slurry haulage system will be utilized to satisfy the transportation requirements of conveying, in a pipeline, the coal mined by a continuous mining machine to a storage location near the mine entrance or to a coal preparation plant located on the surface. Coal-water slurries, particularly those consisting of homogeneous suspensions of small particles, frequently behave as non-Newtonian, Bingham-plastic fluids. For successful operation, slurry transport systems should be designed to operate in the turbulent flow regime and at a flow rate at least 30% greater than the deposition velocity. The deposition velocity is defined as the slurry flow rate at which the solid particles tend to settle in the pipe. Due to the importance of accurately determining the deposition velocity and the uncertainties of current methods for predicting the deposition velocity of coarse …

Preparations are being made to ready the equipment for the test program. The main effort described in this report pertains to the redesign of the main shaft bearing and seal system.

This report covers the work carried out during the January-March 1981 quarter of the program. Preparations are being made to ready the equipment for the moisture tolerance test program. The main effort described pertains to the redesign and procurement of the main shaft bearing and seal system. To enhance the chances of achieving the program objectives, the recommendation was made by Lockheed to use a conventional roller bearing for the present program instead of the advanced water-lubricated bearing. Nevertheless, the need exists for better long-term solutions to the bearing and seal problem, especially in view of the eventual requirement to scale the equipment to larger sizes. It is recommended that the program proceed as planned.

This report is a compilation of abstracts of papers, reports, and talks presented during 1980 at national and international meetings by members of the Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The arrangement is alphabetical (by author). For a given report, a bibliographic reference appears under the name of each coauthor, but the abstract itself is given only under the name of the first author (indicated in capital letters) or the first Earth Sciences Division author.

Charge efficiencies were determined for ESB EV-106 lead-acid batteries by measurements made under widely differing conditions of temperature, charge procedure, and battery age. The measurements were used to optimize charge procedures and to evaluate the concept of a modified, coulometric state-of-charge indicator. Charge efficiency determinations were made by measuring gassing rates and oxygen fractions. A novel, positive displacement gas flow meter which proved to be both simple and highly accurate is described and illustrated.

Systems that reduce energy usage and are economically viable in the citrus fruit processing industry are identified. The preliminary results of Phase I are presented. Alternative systems to be considered are classified and denoted as central, modular, integrated, and combined. Progress is reported on the central and modular systems. (MCW)

This project, Energy Recovery Through Termites, was based on the proposed development of an energy recovery system to produce low cost animal protein for use in animal feeds. The result of my study shows that to date we are unable to establish viable colonies of termites. This is based on several key factors as follows: (a) inability to capture reproductives to establish new colonies in a confined area needed to offer recovery or harvest of protein; (b) confinement of colonies (even without queen or reproductives) has proven to be far too complex to establish in low cost and modest facilities; (c) the proposal is not cost effective. The resources of skill and materials could not be repaid from the protein recovered.

Enthalpy measurements were initiated on the model compound quinoline. Preliminary results are presented for the temperature region 186 to 732/sup 0/F along isobars of 75, 100, and 200 psia.

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Samples of calcareous ooze collected from the tropical and equatorial Atlantic Ocean were subjected to hydrothermal alteration in order to simulate the diagenesis of chalk. Changes in mineralogy and morphology of enclosed microfossils were measured. (ACR)

The method is based on counting the 186-keV gamma rays emitted by /sup 235/U using a Pb-collimated Ge(Li) detector. Measurements of fifty UF/sub 6/ product and feed cylinders reveal the following precisions and counting times: Product - 2S, 0.98% (600 s); Feed - 2S, 0.48% (2500 s); Product - 1S, 0.62% (1000 s); Feed - 1S, 0.73% (3000 s). A 1% precision is desired for variables - attributes verification measurements of /sup 235/U assay in UF/sub 6/ sample cylinders for safeguards inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Statistically, these measurements stand between fine, high-precision (or variables) measurements and gross, low-precision (or attributes) ones. Because of their intermediate precisions, the variables-attributes measurements may not require analysis of all samples, and this could result in significant savings of IAEA inspector time. Although the precision of the above results is satisfactory, the average relative differences between gamma-ray and mass-spectrometric determinations for the last two sets of measurements (1S cylinders) have positive biases.