The paper discusses geothermal resources, what it is, where it is, and how to extract energy from it. The materials research activities at Brookhaven National Laboratory related to geothermal energy extraction are discussed. These include high-temperature, light-weight polymer cements, elastomers, biochemical waste processing techniques, and non-metallic heat exchanger tubing. The economics of geothermal energy is also discussed. (ACR)

A straightforward derivation is presented for the covariance matrix of evaluated cross sections based on the covariance matrix of the experimental data and propagation through nuclear model parameters. 10 refs.

This report is an assessment of technology related to hybrid reactors, especially the Fission-suppressed hybrid. A description of a typical fission-suppressed reactor is given. The economic advantages of the use of a hybrid reactor as part of a fuel cycle center are discussed at length. The inherent safety advantages of the hybrid reactor are analyzed. The report concludes with a proposed timetable for research and development. (JDH)

One of the objectives of the Multi-Megawatt (MMW) space reactor program is to determine, within the next five years, what types of power electronic devices would be suitable for MMW space power applications. Suitable devices must be able to withstand high temperatures and high radiation fields. After investigating the literature on solid state device and miniature vacuum tube technologies, we have concluded that the miniature vacuum tube technology is, currently, the most promising. The main reason for choosing this technology, is because miniature vacuum tubes can operate at very high temperatures (775 K or potentially higher) and are tolerant to very high neutron fluence and gamma dose. Although there are still problems to be solved before miniature vacuum tubes can be used, the time required for their development will be much shorter than the five year period required by the MMW space reactor program. 13 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

A personnel neutron dosimetry system has been developed based on the electrochemical etching of CR-39 plastic at elevated temperatures. The doses obtained using this dosimeter system are more accurate than those obtained using other dosimetry systems, especially when varied neutron spectra are encountered. This Cr-39 dosimetry system does not have the severe energy dependence that exists with albedo neutron dosimeters or the fading and reading problems encountered with NTA film. The dosimetry system employs an electrochemical etch procedure that be used to process large numbers of Cr-39 dosimeters. The etch procedure is suitable for operations where the number of personnel requires that many CR-39 dosimeters be processed. Experience shows that one full-time technician can etch and evaluate 2000 foils per month. The energy response to neutrons is fairly flat from about 80 keV to 3.5 MeV, but drops by about a factor of three in the 13 to 16 MeV range. The sensitivity of the dosimetry system is about 7 tracks/cm/sup 2//mrem, with a background equivalent to about 8 mrem for new CR-39 foils. The limit of sensitivity is approximately 10 mrem. The dosimeter has a significant variation in directional dependence, dropping to about 20% at 90/sup 0/. This dosimeter …

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Laser photodetachment of the excess electron to neutralize relativistic ions offers many advantages over the more conventional collisional methods using gases or thin foils as the neutralization agents. Probably the two most important advantages of laser photodetachment are the generation of a compact and low divergence beam, and the production of intense neutral beams at very high efficiency (approximately 90%). The high intensities or high current densities of the neutral beam result from the fixed maximum divergence that can be added to the beam by photodetachment of the charge using laser intensity of fixed wavelength and incident angle. The high neutralization efficiency is possible because there is no theoretical maximum to the neutralization efficiency, although higher efficiencies require higher laser powers and, therefore, costs. Additional advantages include focusability of the laser light onto the ion beam to maximize its efficacy. There certainly is no residual gas left in the particle beam path as is typical with gas neutralizers. The photodetachment process leaves the neutral atoms in the ground state so there is no excited state fluorescence to interfere with the subsequent beam sensing. Finally, since the beams to be neutralized are very high powered, for a large range of neutralization …

In order to satisfy the need of experimental data for the designing of gas neutralizers we have started a project aimed at measuring all relevant cross sections for the charge exchange of H/sup -/, H/sup 0/ and H/sup +/ projectiles, as well as the cross sections for the production of ions in the target. The expected results of these latter measurements are shown schematically.

This device is a combined pressure relief valve and check valve providing overpressure protection and preventing back flow into an inert atmosphere enclosure. The pressure relief is embodied by a submerged vent line in a mercury reservior, the releif pressure being a function of the submerged depth. The pressure relief can be vented into an exhaust system and the relieving pressure is only slightly influenced by the varying pressure in the exhaust system. The check valve is embodied by a ball which floats on the mercury column and contacts a seat whenever vacuum exists within the glovebox enclosure. Alternatively, the check valve is embodied by a vertical column of mercury, the maximum back pressure being a function of the height of the column of mercury.

An OZI suppressed channel with variable mass, namely the reaction ..pi../sup -/p ..-->.. phi phi n, has been used as a filter which allows resonating gluons or glueballs to pass, while strongly rejecting conventional quark-built hadronic states. The breakdown of the OZI suppression signals a glueball. Glueball mass and particle width estimates are discussed. Reasons why g/sub T/'s have not been seen in other channels, particularly the decay of J/psi, are considered. 34 refs., 9 figs. (LEW)

Detailed spectral and temporal measurements of the output radiation from Xe flashlamps are reported together with their use in predicting the pumping efficiency of Nd-doped laser glass. We have made absolute spectral-intensity measurements for 0.5, 1.5, and 4.2-cm-bore flashlamps for input powers ranging from 5 to 90 kW/cm/sup 2/ and pulselengths of 600 ..mu..s. Under quasi-stationary conditions these flashlamps emit essentially identical spectra when excited at equal input power per unit-area of the bore. This behavior is characteristic of an optically-thick radiator although it is not completely clear why flashlamps should behave this way. A simple model is also described which accounts for the transient response of flashlamps by characterizing the output spectra and radiation efficiencies in terms of the radiant output power rather than the electrical input power. 23 refs., 16 figs.

The basic purpose of the transition program in the operations area was to obtain a detailed understanding of the FMPC operations with emphasis on equipment and organization, Also considered in this evaluation were several extant conditions at FMPC which may have significant impact on initiatives adopted in the operations area. These conditions are as follows: capital expenditures over the last several years averaged less than 20% of what might be considered minimum to sustain such a facility in a good operating condition; the production load is ramping up placing greater demands on an old facility; the workforce is relatively inexperienced (68% with less than five (5) years) at FMPC; plans are in place to institute major upgrading of FMPC facilities; the RFP described the need for a major effort in the Environment, Safety and Health Area. Considering the above concerns, the transition program was focused in the following areas: Procedures - An inexperienced workforce operating in an atmosphere requiring rigid compliance with more rigorous environmental criteria necessitates clear, concise up-to-date procedures to enhance performance; Training - New equipment, new people and rigorous environmental constraints demand an aggressive, focused training program. Equipment - Site conditions are not conducive to reliable equipment …

This document addresses concerns related to public relations and community involvement and confidence in the operation of the FMPC facilities. The plan to address these issues is directed at four groups, neighbors, employees, environmental groups, and key community leaders. The plan addresses the following tasks: introduction to the community via press conferences; develop WMCO community involvement policy; meet with local support agencies to begin or continue cooperative agreements; meet key community leaders and discuss issues and their needs; establish a program for issuance of news releases on WMCO activities and determine proper channels and clearance procedures; establish interfaces between WMCO and Westinghouse corporate communications; review personnel assignment and interfaces with DOE; audit community relations practices to determine if cost efficiencies can be effected; review NLO community relations policies and programs with particular emphasis on coordination of response with DOE; create new position of manager of community involvement; review community involvement budget and projected budget needs; prepare community involvement program and submit to DOE.

This study of the financial operations at the FMPC indicates that the accounting system functions, however many improvements in accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency, can be accomplished by automation. A new financial projects section will be established to accomplish the required improvements.

The NLO Legal Department consisted of the Counsel, two Attorneys and one Staff level Legal Secretary. The Department responsibilities included all legal support of the FMPC and the subcontract coordination. In the planned reorganization of the NLO Procurement function, subcontract coordination will become the responsibility of Procurement and the legal support in that area will be decreased to consulting. The position of Counsel will be assumed by a Westinghouse Attorney as the incumbent is retiring. A Westinghouse Attorney has been assigned to WMCO on a temporary basis pending final identification of the Counsel. Final resolution of the NLO/WMCO litigation responsibility is pending further discussion. This document describes the tasks which fell into the legal area as part of the transition plan for management responsibility of the FMPC.

This transition task focused on a review of the engineering and construction activities at FMPC with the objectives of: (1) Understanding the current organization, its work load, its strengths and weaknesses, and its effectiveness in accomplishing its work. (2) Recommending improvements in organization, training, personnel and interfacing with the DOE. (3) Developing the procedures to be utilized in managing construction work to be carried out under the new Westinghouse/Rust contract that is to take effect upon take over by Westinghouse. This study included Line item Projects, General Plant Projects (GPP), Capital Projects, and Action Requests received by Project Engineering from Maintenance - both for design services and for procuring and following work by outside contractors on certain maintenance jobs. Other engineering services, provided primarily by the Production Technology Department, include direct support of production operations, customer liaison, resolution of product quality problems, and product development. These activities were not reviewed in detail during the transition due to the higher priority on improving Project Engineering performance. Waste Management Projects are reviewed separately in Section 11 of this report.

Well planned work is the key to success in managing a project or facility. Many large or small projects have management systems that are excellent in collecting history, such as monthly costs or shipments, while other systems produce spectacular plans for estimated costs and schedules. However, one of the tools for making management decisions is a control system that describes authorized work, schedules near term small increments of the work and identifies all resources that are needed to accomplish the work. That is the planning phase. Then, as the work is in process, the system periodically reports the status of the schedule and the cost. Then a comparison of plan to actual is analyzed and any significant variances are identified for management action, should it be required. The WMCO/DOE contract has included the requirement to implement a management control system known as Cost and Schedule Control System Criteria (C/SCSC), which is a system defined by DOE Orders. Thus, the intent of Task 9 of the WMCO Transition Plan was to study the management control system in place at FMPC and to prepare a plan that would enhance the system. The objective of the revised management control system would be to …

Studies were conducted of the existing practices of quality assurance at the FMPC. Interviews with NLO personnel within the QA/QC Department and other interfacing organizations were held. Documents generated by the NLO QA/QC Department and operating manuals of various other NLO departments were examined to understand the current QA Program at the FMPC and to develop guidelines for a WMCO QA Program. In addition, Rust QA plans and current quality assurance practices between NLO and Rust Engineering were reviewed. The Kellogg Rust QA Program originates in the Oak Ridge K-R office with a manual of procedures that address the intent of the NQA-1 elements applicable to the activities of a construction organization. This Program will be submitted to WMCO for review as part of the WMCO/Kellogg Rust contract. The results of the NLO studies revealed that NLO organizations, including the QA/QC Department, have not been exposed to the NQA-1 quality concept; and consequently, the NLO organization is not staffed or structured to support the implementation and maintenance of an NQA-1 program. The principal functions of the NLO QA Department are to: (1) audit the NLO operating procedures and QA Plans, (2) collect and report chemical results of the FMPC products, …

This volume of the Transition Final Report provides the findings, recommendations and corrective actions for the Waste Management areas developed during the phase-in actions by Westinghouse Materials Company (WMCO). The objective is to provide a summary of the studies and investigations performed by the WMCO Company during the transition period. The Waste Management effort at FMPC was expanded in 1984 when a separate group was formed within the NLO organization. This is considered to be an area where significant increase in priority and effort must be applied to resolve waste management problems and to bring the site in conformity to regulations and the Environmental Health/Safety Standards. During the transition, there was a comprehensive investigation in all areas of air, liquid and solid waste management for nuclear, chemical and conventional wastes. Not all of these investigations are documented in this report, but the information gathered was used in the development of the budgets (cost accounts), programs, and organizational planning.

This transition task focused on a review of the Productivity & Radiological Improvements Line Item Program (Package 1) and the Productivity Retention Programs (Packages 2, 3 & 4). Specific objectives include: (1) Understanding the status of the programs. (2) Identifying critical path projects. (3) Identifying current and potential problems. (4) Reviewing the process and procedures employed by NLO for Line Item projects, covering the planning, estimating, justifying, approving, and acquisition and construction of facilities. (5) Preparing recommendations. Primary effort in this study was focused on Packages 1 and 2, since this is where current NLO activity is concentrated. This allowed the authors to proceed with a minimum of interruptions to on-going work effort. This report will cover findings and recommendations for all four subtasks which were defined to address the completion of the four packages.

This document summarizes tasks related to concerns about how the FMPC relates to its customers and to DOE. This included identifying the key groups and personnel involved in such relationships, establishing policies and procedures regarding work done with DOE and regulatory agencies, review of the needs of users, including product delivery scheduling and quality control, defining critical administrative and technical areas which need to be addressed, and obtaining concurrance on the priorities to be attached to the efforts needed to address the above concerns.

The purpose of the nine month program plan is to document all the activities that are scheduled for January-September, 1986 at FMPC. The intent of preparing the nine month program plan was to prepare a description of authorized work, budget the work on a month-to-month basis and schedule the completion of work. The milestones in the WMCO Transition Plan that included the gathering of FY86 work scope and budget information in addition to issuing the 9-month Program Plan assumed the existence of an existing budget program that priced and budgeted work monthly. In the absence of a budget computer program, an IBM P.C, with extended memory was leased to handle the volume of budget data. The planning concept in the nine month program was based on defining manageable work, scheduling small increments of work, and estimating the resources in labor, material and services required to accomplish the work. Then, as the work plan is implemented, the accomplishments and actual costs are reported against the plan and significant variances are identified for management action, if required. The two work tasks which were scheduled in the Transition Plan for preparing the Nine Month Program Plan were: (1) collect FY86-88 financial data, production …

Disk amplifier design for inertial fusion lasers has evolved with changing fusion-driver requirements from a primary emphasis on gain to a primary emphasis on efficiency. In this paper we compare Shiva and Nova amplifiers to a developmental amplifier (SSA) and show greater than a two-fold improvement in efficiency over past designs under all operating conditions. Experiments to optimize the efficiency of the SSA show that preionization of the flashlamps produces significant benefits and that the packing fraction of lamps is more important than the flashlamp reflector shape. They also show that the optimized flashlamp pulselength and reflector geometry depend on the desired stored energy in the laser medium. We have demonstrated a 7% storage efficiency at a stored fluence per disk of 0.5 J/cm/sup 2/ (stored energy density of 0.06 J/cm/sup 3/) and 4% at 2.0 J/cm/sup 2/ (0.25 J/cm/sup 3/). Comparison of SSA measurements with storage-efficiency calculations show that our flashlamp model accurately predicts the single-pass pumping of disk amplifiers. 24 refs., 22 figs.

A test facility is described which detects small opaque inclusions in large transparent components by using a commercial laser which delivers high energy pulses to the test sample at moderate frequency in a small diameter beam. The sample is automatically scanned such that each point in the volume is irradiated with ten pulses at twice the inclusion damage threshold - an amount sufficient to cause visible damage at inclusion sites. This approach permits detection of opaque inclusions in the parts per trillion and lower concentration range. The specifics of the device design and its performance are discussed in the context of automatic inclusion inspection and mapping in large laser optics.