Studies of the oxidation and gasification of oil shale char were extended to an investigation of the effects of mineral catalysis. Six shales with differing mineral compositions were studied, including samples from the saline zone in the Western Colorado and from the Antrim shales of Michigan. Oxidation kinetics data, corrected for mass transfer effects, were compared for all six samples. A high assay shale from Utah and a sample from the saline zone were found to have the highest oxidation rates. By examining the data for shales which were water leached and thermally pretreated, it was concluded that both NaO and CaO act as oxidation catalysts. However, as a result of mineral decomposition experiments conducted with a sample from the C-a lease tract, it appears as though the ankeritic dolomite fraction will not decompose as long as there is a minimal CO/sub 2/ over pressure. Rather, low temperature silication reactions appear to take place once the temperature exceeds 925/sup 0/K. An extensive evaluation was also completed for the gasification of an Antrim shale from Michigan. Both the rates of CO/sub 2/ and steam gasification of the char were found to be markedly lower than that observed for a shale sample …

The Westinghouse Electric Corporation has undertaken to investigate, develop, and characterize laser-assisted processing techniques utilized to produce the fine line, thin metal grid structures that are required to fabricate high-efficiency solar cells. Two basic techniques for metal deposition will be investigated, as follows: (1) photochemical decomposition of liquid or gas phase organometallic compounds utilizing either a focused, CW ultraviolet laser (System 1) or a mask and ultraviolet flood illumination, such as that provided by a repetitively pulsed, defocused excimer laser (System 2), for pattern definition, and (2) thermal deposition of metals from organometallic solutions or vapors utilizing a focused, CW laser beam as a local heat source to draw the metallization pattern. The purpose of this contract is to investigate the various existing laser-assisted film deposition techniques in order to develop a new, cost-effective technology for solar cell metallization. The tasks that will be performed in the conduct of these investigations are detailed. In the first three months of this contract, a comprehensive literature search has been carried out on the various state-of-the-art laser-assisted techniques for metal deposition, including laser chemical vapor deposition and laser photolysis of organometallics, as well as laser-enhanced electroplating. A compact system for the experiments involving …

No new field-ionization data was obtained this quarter. For preasphaltenes, elemental analysis data was obtained on Kentucky and Wyodak preasphaltene samples. In conjunction with the preasphaltene work, solubility and thin-layer chromatography experiments were performed. The results indicated that basic alumina would not be useful as a general stationary phase for the separation of preasphaltenes. Several experiments were carried out with Chromasorb T, and the results showed it would be an adequate substitute for Fluoropak. The hydrocarbons in a sample from Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center were separated by the number of double bonds. The optimum mobile phases for the separation of monohydroxyl aromatics and dihydroxyl aromatics by reversed-phase liquid chromatography were obtained. In addition, a means of predicting retention in normal-phase chromatography was considered, and a NO/sub 2/ high-performance chromatographic column showed promise for the separation of compound classes. 6 references, 4 figures, 7 tables.

Isomer ratio calculations were made for the reactions: /sup 175/Lu(n,..gamma..)/sup 176m,g/Lu, /sup 175/Lu(n,2n)/sup 174m,g/Lu, /sup 237/Np(n,2n)/sup 236m,g/Np, /sup 241/Am(n,..gamma..)/sup 242m,g/Am, and /sup 243/Am(n,..gamma..)/sup 244m,g/Am using modeled level structures in the deformed, odd-odd product nuclei. The hundreds of discrete levels and their gamma-ray branching ratios provided by the modeling are necessary to achieve agreement with experiment. Many rotational bands must be included in order to obtain a sufficiently representative selection of K quantum numbers. The levels of each band must be extended to appropriately high values of angular momentum.

Power from inertial confinement fusion holds much promise for society. This paper points out many of the benefits relative to combustion of hydrocarbon fuels and fission power. Potential problems are also identified and put in perspective. The progress toward achieving inertial fusion power is described and results of recent work at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are presented. Key phenomenological uncertainties are described and experimental goals for the Nova laser system are given. Several ICF reactor designs are discussed.

We have derived absolute dipole strength-function information for /sup 176/Lu from an average resonance capture study of /sup 175/Lu with 2-keV neutrons and from neutron capture cross-section measurements with neutrons from 30 keV to about 1 MeV. We found that we needed to increase our previous estimate of the relative M1/E1 strengths near 5 MeV by a factor of 3 and to revise downward the absolute magnitude of our E1 strength function. We accomplished the latter, while still maintaining continuity with the photonuclear data, by adjusting the one free parameter in our line shape. The present E1 and M1 strengths now seem correct both near the neutron separation energy and also around 1 MeV.

The coherent interaction between an optical wave and an electron beam in a free electron laser (FEL) is shown to be capable of optically guiding the light. The effect is analyzed using a two-dimensional approximation for the FEL equations, and using the properties of optical fibers. Results of two-dimensional (cylindrically symmetric) numerical simulations are presented, and found to agree reasonably well with the analytically derived criterion for guiding. Under proper conditions, the effect can be large and has important applications to short wavelength FEL's and to directing intense light.

The Rotating Target Neutron Source-II (RTNS-II) facility is the most intense continuous source of 14-MeV neutrons in the world. It is used to study the effects of fast neutrons on materials, to determine their suitability for use in fusion reactors. In RTNS-II, a water-cooled rotating target coated with titanium tritide is bombarded with deuterons. A small fraction of the incident deuterons fuse with the tritons in the target, producing 14.3-MeV neutrons. At present the neutron flux is substantially less than what a fusion test reactor would generate. This report examines the possibilities for upgrading RTNS targets to produce reactor-level neutron fluxes (or more). It is shown that the existing targets are operating near their thermal limit. However, modifications in target design and operating conditions are possible which could reasonably support up to a 30-fold increase in peak neutron flux (approx. 3 x 10/sup 14/ neutrons/cm/sup 2/-sec, or 6 MW/m/sup 2/). The irradiated volume could also be increased, if desired. It seems likely that with some research and experimentation with palladium underlayers, target cladding/overcoating, and/or in-situ retritiding, an acceptable target lifetime can still be achieved at this greatly upgraded neutron flux. The proposed target modifications consist of a number of significant …

Unanticipated functional failures occurred in valves undergoing containment integrity testing for liquid sodium service. The failures resulted from diffusion bonding of the Stellite 6B valve plug to the Type 316 stainless steel (SS) seat. As a result of these failures, a valve development program was undertaken. A modified valve incorporating a Tribaloy 800 plug showed significant improvement in resistance to diffusion bonding but still failed after long term exposure in a closed position. A second modified valve using Tribaloy 800 in both the valve plug and seat successfully resisted diffusion bonding failure. This paper reports the details of the testing and posttest valve examinations. The results of scanning electron microscopy, dispersive x-ray spectrometry, and metallography provide the characteristics of the valve failures. Limitations of the various valve designs are also discussed.

A specific problem developed during the design of an on-line sampling system for the Sodium Loop Safety Facility fast breeder reactor experiments. Rapid fluctuations in the sodium temperature, caused by reactor operation and shutdown, exposed the system components to conditions that could result in fatigue failure. A component test loop was designed and built at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory to allow experimental qualification of component integrity. This paper outlines test system requirements, describes the design and special features, presents test procedures ad relates significant operating experience.

The cw laser RIMS approach has been demonstrated to accurately measure large Lu isotope ratios and detect small levels of minor isotopes even in the presence of isobaric interferences. The same approach can also be used to obtain high resolution optical spectra of rare isotopes. For elements with higher ionization potentials (e.g., Tc), multicolor ionization schemes are necessary for cw RIMS measurements. Two-color RIMS spectra of Tc using pulsed lasers illustrate the feasibility of this approach. For any element, the sensitivity and selectivity of RIMS can be limited by the efficiency of ground state atom production in the sample volatilization step.

This paper describes the initial development phase of a finite element computer program, GEODYN, capable of simulating the three-dimensional transient, dynamic response of a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit interacting with a non-uniform formation. The ability of GEODYN to simulate response variations attributable to hole size, hole bottom surface shapes, and formation material non-uniformities is demonstrated. Planned developmental phases will address the detailed response of a bottom-hole assembly (BHA), a drill ahead (rock penetration and removal) simulation, and ultimately, the response of the entire string.

The BNL Neutral Beam Development Group has been active in the program for the development of high energy, high power neutral beam systems since 1973. These injectors are based on the production, acceleration and neutralization of negative hydrogen or deuterium ions and are supposed to be used for plasma heating and current drive in the next generation of fusion devices. Over the span of 10 years the group has studied plasma-surface type of negative hydrogen ion sources, transport and acceleration of negative ion beams and neutralization of negative ions in gases and plasmas. As the required source parameters (current, pulse length, efficiency) were changing over this period of time, the group developed several types of sources, resulting finally in the design of a steady state device operating with an excellent gas efficiency and having the possibility of scaling-up to the size necessary for a high power neutral beam system. The funding of this program was, however, terminated in FY 83 before the neutral beam performance of the source could be shown. This report will present a summary of the BNL effort over the past ten years, with most emphasis on achievements in FY 83, including the description of the 2 …

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It was demonstrated that the nature of the initial solvent used to extract the silver neodecanoate during synthesis or to render it into solution for ink formulation has a profound influence on fired film properties. The lower the boiling point of the initial solvent, the more of it was removed during rotary vacuum evaporation, and the less effect it had on fired film properties. Benzene and tetrahydrofuran were superior to xylene and toluene, and inks which used them in their preparation produced fired films with excellent appearance and adhesion if the proper firing sequence was used. The best films also had electrical resistivities very close to that of pure silver, which indicates that near theoretical density was achieved. Platinum and palladium metallo-organic compounds were investigated so that fired films with good solder leach resistance could be produced. Six metallo-organic compounds were synthesized, four of them were used to make inks, and the properties of films made from these inks were evaluated. The most promising compound evaluated was Pt 2,4 pentane dionate, but additional studies are required.