Studies are described which were performed for the Near Term Hybrid Vehicle program to determine passenger car usage patterns and to correlate these trip mission characteristics with vehicle design and performance specifications. (LCL)

The findings of the 1977 State Geothermal Resources Task Force are divided into four main categories: well siting, power plant siting; environmental problems; and miscellaneous areas. California's 1978 legislation is described using the same categories. The key difficulties still harassing the state's geothermal industry are described including: control over air quality at the Geysers; powerplant finance; a binary cycle demonstration; federal land use decisions; and miscellaneous concerns. (MHR)

The specifics of the permitting process, land access, power plant siting, water law, and other legal or institutional barriers or conflicts are presented for each of the most highly regarded target electric prospects in the five Pacific Rim states: California, Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, and Wasington. (MHR)

United States defense nuclear wastes are presently in tank storage, largely as sludges comprising Fe, Mn, Ni, U and Na oxides and hydroxides, together with 0.5 to 5 percent of fission products and actinides (exclusive of uranium). The relative proportions of Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, U and Na in the sludges from different tanks vary considerably, except that (Fe + Al + Mn) are by far the major components and Fe is more abundant than Mn. Typical compositions of some calcined sludges from Savannah River are given. This paper briefly describes how the SYNROC process, utilizing straightforward technology, can be readily adapted to the problem of defense waste immobilization, yielding a dense, inert, ceramic waste-form, SYNROC-D. Two classes of processes are discussed - one designed to immobilize sludges containing normal amounts of sodium and the other designed for otherwise similar sludges which are, however, strongly depleted in sodium as a result of more efficient washing procedures.

A study of depository recharge and repressurization has been reviewed. Specific consideration has been given to the validity of two initial assumptions in that study. The first was a decision to ignore lateral flow and end effects into the depository. The second was a decision to ignore thermal effects. The review has been made with particular concern to assessing the sufficiency of the Golder model for estimation of worst-case (minimum) recharge-repressurization time (RRT) in a bedded salt depository. It has been concluded that several errors by Golder may have little net effect on this worst case scenario. Combination of lateral flow and thermal effects may, however, reduce the value of the Golder model for estimation of minimum RRT in a bedded salt facility. Several subjects for further model development are suggested, though the availability of data to support such models is not addressed.

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) is conducting research on the seismic risk of nuclear power plants through the Seismic Safety Margins Research Program (SSMRP). Phase I of the SSMRP will include a study of an existing plant and site. Results are presented of a study of existing and planned nuclear power plants in the United States. Selection criteria were developed and a recommendation for a specific plant for the SSMRP Phase I effort is given. Power plant characteristics including types of nuclear steam supply steam, containment structure, electric power capacity, geographic location, site seismicity, and foundation soil properties were evaluated.

The standard colorimetric procedure for thorium was improved by using lanthanum carrier precipitation of thorium fluoride, conversion to sulfate, and colorimetric measurement with thoron. Four types of anion-exchange resins were evaluated using breakthrough capacity, elution volume, and the neptunium-plutonium ratios in both wash solutions and ion-column eluates as criteria, and 100 to 200 mesh Dowex 1 x 4 resin had the most favorable separation characteristics. Use of commercially available aqueous cleaner followed by water and acetone rinses was found to be superior to other techniques for cleaning uranium samples prior to carbon analysis. The substitution of sodium bisulfate for potassium pyrosulfate in the fusion procedure has lead to a more efficient dissolution process for oxide samples undergoing plutonium assay and the determination of uranium impurities. Sealed-capillary differential thermal analysis experiments were performed to assess the relative reactivities of iron, stainless steel, copper, beryllium, aluminum, and plutonium with trichloroethylene, methyl chloroform, and Freon TF. Results obtained by a method involving reduction of plutonium with titanium (III) chloride followed by titration with standard cerium (IV) sulfate solution are comparable to those obtained by an established amperometric-titration method.

In an attempt to correlate x ray reflectivity with carbon mirror surface quality the relative reflectivity of five mirrors of different smoothness and optical flatness is compared. Measured and theoretical reflectivity values are in agreement for mirror smoothness <30 A and optical flatness <1000 A. Other correlation could not be established. 4 references.

Experiments such as the 2XIIB experiment at Livermore have established the ability of mirror systems to confine high temperature, high density plasmas at central beta values exceeding unity. Given these results the next tasks for the mirror approach are to explore means for increasing the energy gain factor Q and to scale up the plasma volume, both of these requirements deriving from economic constraints. This report discusses means for increasng Q, including recent improvements in the tandem mirror concept and design studies of the field-reversed mirror in the context of upcoming and proposed scaled-up mirror experiments.

Progress is reported in research on the following subjects: gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of thermal degradation products from wood and composite burns; corrosion in the experimental ducting of the fire test cell; on-line x-ray fluorescence analysis of transition metals in waste water: Phase II; fire environmental tests for self-contained breathing apparatus; developments in neutron spectrometry; and, intermediate energy x-ray spectra for general shielding calculations. (JGB)

Coring of Well R-109 (Washington County, Ohio) was accomplished in August 1976. A total of 25 samples were collected. Hydrocarbon gas analyses indicate that higher chain hydrocarbon gases (C/sub 2/-C/sub 5/) make up a significant portion of total hydrocarbons in the shales, but methane is still the dominant single gas. Distinct relationships exist between the carbon and hydrocarbon gas contents, showing increase in hydrocarbon gas contents with increasing carbon. Similar relationships between hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas contents exist, though they are not as pronounced. Gas contents appear not to be related to the bulk densities in any quantitative manner, though organic contents (carbon and hydrogen) seem to be related to bulk density values much more clearly. R-109 shales are virtually impermeable to gases and other fluids, as attempted helium gas permeability measurements indicated extremely small (< 10/sup -12/ Darcy) permeability values.

Progress in all tasks is reviewed briefly. Charts which represent the monthly reports are included. The appendices include: a summary of additional needs, heat pump model description, heat pump model preliminary results, an interim report, and simplified methodologies. (MHR)

The design of an apparatus which will allow direct detection of stable fractional elementary charges if present on matter at the level of 10/sup -24/ per nucleon is described in detail. This method depends upon production of a highly uniform and parallel stream of conductive spheres which are charge analyzed by passage through a static electric deflecting field. 6 references.

An enclosed 10-acre old-field plot treated in June 1969, with chlorine-36 labeled DDT was sampled each year from 1969 through 1974 to monitor the fate of the insecticide in the soil and biota. In order to provide data on compartmentalization of DDT in the vegetation, invertebrates and vertebrates inhabiting the plot, sampling was carried out to estimate both body burdens of DDT and biomass of populations. Another aspect of this study, the determination of rates of accumulation of residues by invertebrates and vertebrates, has been reported previously (Forsyth and Peterle 1973; Forsyth et al. 1975; Peterle 1975). This report describes (a) temporal patterns of DDT residues in soil and biota from 1969 through 1974 and (b) quantities of DDT held in the soil and biotic compartments of the ecosystem. Part II of the report is concerned with translocation and accumulation of/sup 14/C-DDT.

The second phase of a contract between the California Energy Commission and the G.R.I.P.S. Commission (Geothermal Research Information and Planning Services) is reported. The activities include: environmental studies; information exchange; funding proposals; and administration of GRIPS. (MHR)

Progress is summarized in the following areas: fissile build-up in internal blankets, reference cores, and power peaking.

A code used for simulation of classical radial transport in the 2XIIB experiment has been modified to simulate radial transport in TMX. Results have been obtained using classical transport coefficients and also using very simple trial neoclassical resonant transport coefficients. Comparison of the results obtained with solely classical transport and with both classical and neo-classical transport indicate that neoclassical transport depresses the ion density by approximately 5%. The central cell ion temperature is increased by approximately by the neo-classical transport, as is the electron temperature.

This document sets forth recommendations for a verification program to test the ability of operational nuclear power plants to achieve safe shutdown immediately following a safe-shutdown earthquake. The purpose of the study is to develop a program plan to provide assurance by physical demonstration that nuclear power plants are earthquake resistant and to allow nuclear power plant operators to (1) decide whether tests should be conducted on their facilities, (2) specify the tests that should be performed, and (3) estimate the cost of the effort to complete the recommended test program.

It was found that the distribution of liquid striking the sides of a simulated room temperature spray dryer was not significantly altered by the choice of nozles, nor by a variation in nozzle operating conditions. Instead, it was found to be a function of the spray dryer's configuration. A cocurrent flow of air down the drying cylinder, not possible with PNL's closed top, favorably altered the spray distribution by both decreasing the amount of liquid striking the interior of the cylinder from 72 to 26% of the feed supplied, and by shifting the zone of maximum impact from 1.0 to 1.7 feet from the nozzle. These findings led to the redesign of the laboratory scale spray dryer to be tested at the Savannah River Plant. The diameter of the drying chamber was increased from 5 to 8 inches, and a cocurrent flow of air was established with a closed recycle. Finally, this investigation suggested a drying scheme which offers all the advantages of spray drying without many of its limitations.

The objective of this program was to evaluate mullite in contact with molten silicon to be used as a substrate for Honeywell&#x27;s Silicon-On-Ceramic process and as a container for melting solar grade silicon. A further requirement was to fabricate respective substrates and containers. To maintain solar grade silicon purity levels, the mullite must generally introduce less than 10/sup 15/ atoms/cc of impurities. To evaluate the mullite-molten silicon interaction, a series of bodies were made with variations in density, alumina-silica ratio and glass-crystalline ratio. These materials were tested in a sessile drop technique. None of the variations stood up to extended exposure to molten silicon sufficiently to be recommended as a contaner material. However, directional solidification experiments by Jet Propulsion Laboratory suggest that, under proper conditions, contamination of the silicon by mullite containers can be minimized. To improve an already good thermal expansion match between mullite and silicon, compositional variations were studied. Altering of the alumina-silica ratio was determined to give a continuously varying thermal expansion. Thus, a composition can be selected to give the desired thermal expansion match with silicon.

NOAA/DOE has selected three concepts for a baseline design of the cold water pipe (CWP) for OTEC plants: (1) a FRP CWP of sandwich wall construction suspended from the Applied Physical Laboratory/John Hopkins University (APL/JHU) barge at a site 200 miles east of the coast of Brazil using a horizontal deployment scheme; (2) an elastomer CWP suspended from the APL/JHU barge off the southeast coast of Puerto Rico using either a horizontal or vertical deployment scheme; and (3) a polyethylene CWP (single or multiple pipe) suspended from the Gibbs and Cox spar at the Puerto Rico site using a horizontal deployment scheme. TRW has developed a baseline design for each of these configurations. This volume of the report includes the following appendices: (A) fiberglass reinforced plastic cold water pipe (specification and drawingss); (B) specification for polyethylene CWP; (C) elastomer pipe drawings; (D) drawings for OTEC 10/40 hull/CWP transitions; (E) structural design of OTEC 10/40 CWP support and CWP transitions; (F) universal transition joint for CWP; (G) dynamic spherical seal of CWP; (H) at-sea deployment loads - surface towing loads; (I) OTEC 10/40 CWP deployment up-ending loads; (J) cost estimates for OTEC 10/40 hull/CWP transitions; and (K) OTEC 10/40 CWP deployment …

Progress is reported on the development of the high-temperature solid oxide electrolyte fuel cell. Oxygen losses in the indium oxide, air electrode current collector were investigated for different dopant levels and dopants. Work is aimed at improving the interface operating conditions with the interconnection. The effect of magnesium additions on the perovskite crystal structure of lanthanum chromite interconnection material was also investigated. Other experiments were performed to improve the quality of some of the fuel cell components. The nickel cermet fuel electrode was refined, with respect to improved strength and conductivity. Also, the air electrode structure was modified to enhance air permeability to the interconnection interface. In addition, experiments were initiated to improve the quality of the 0.3 m long porous support tubes. Finally, experiments were performed, dealing both with scale-up and refinement of the electrochemical vapor deposition (EVD) process for producing interconnection films of lanthanum chromite on long lengths of support tubing (up to 0.3 m). A seven cell fuel cell stack was fabricated that utilized these component and process improvements. Five cells of this stack delivered 0.64 V/cell at 400 mA/cm/sup 2/, 1000/sup 0/C, H/sub 2//3% H/sub 2/O inlet fuel.

Forged HP 9-4-20 steel exhibits a high yield strength (1240 MPa (180 ksi)), a high fracture toughness (K/sub Ic/) (120 MN/m/sup 3/2/ (110 ksi ..sqrt..in)), in good weldability. The alloy was studied to determine some of its corrosion and stress-corrosion characteristics, especially after welding. Potentiodynamic-polarization studies established that pitting of the steel was most severe when the chloride ion concentration was high and the pH of the solution was low. Higher potentials (approaching 1 V) caused increased corrosion rates also. Pitting of the welded samples was not preferential to any part of the weld and was uniform on both the base metal and weld. Dead-weight stress-corrosion tests demonstrated that welding did not increase susceptibility of the alloy to stress corrosion. The specimens failed in a ductile manner from the increased tensile load as the cross-sectional area was reduced by dissolution of the metal in the corrosive solution.

Major emphasis during the period was centered on improving the material properties of electrodeposited CdTe. Using newly devised means for peeling thin CdTe films off the ITO-coated glass substrates, it was possible to accurately measure material density and electrical resistivity. Density proved to be 40% below the bulk CdTe figure of about 6 gm/cm/sup 3/, while resistivity of supposedly doped CdTe films exceeded 10/sup 5/..cap omega.. - cm. These findings prompted initiation of a beneficial change in plating procedures which increased the thin film polycrystalline CdTe density to the bulk value while, at the same time, good columnar growth was obtained. Films made under the old plating process were made into Schottky diodes showing good uniformity and V/sub oc/ values generally exceeding 0.5V. Short circuit current of the best of these was 9.5mA/cm/sup 2/ despite the fact that light entered through a thick gold film and was strongly attenuated.