PNL's 1986 activities can be divided into three basic areas: code assessment, correlation assessment and experimental activities. The ultimate goal of all these activities is developing computer codes and verifying their use to perform the thermal-hydraulic analysis and design of the reactor core and plenum of the various proposed concepts. To perform this task as assessment is made of existing computer codes, models, correlations, and microgravity experimental data.

Analysis of oxygen on beryllium can be routinely performed using helium-ion backscattering (RBS). However, determination of the bulk oxygen concentration by this technique is limited to about 350 atomic parts per million (appM). We have performed simultaneous RBS and particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) measurements to improve the detection limit for bulk oxygen. The RBS measurements allowed determination of the surface oxygen before and after in-situ sputter cleaning by argon ions in an ultra-high-vacuum system. PIXE measurements of specimens with surfaces maintained clean by sputtering permitted assessment of the concentration of oxygen in the bulk. For our geometry and detector sensitivities, 90% of the oxygen x-ray signal originated in the first 2.1 ..mu..m of the beryllium and a detection limit of 10 appM was found. 12 refs., 3 figs.

A temperature-feedback system has been developed for controlling electrical power to liquid-fed ceramic melters (LFCM). Software, written for a microcomputer-based data acquisition and process monitoring system, compares glass temperatures with a temperature setpoint and adjusts the electrical power accordingly. Included in the control algorithm are steps to reject failed thermocouples, spatially average the glass temperatures, smooth the averaged temperatures over time using a digital filter, and detect foaming in the glass. The temperature control system has proved effective during all phases of melter operation including startup, steady operation, loss of feed, and shutdown. This system replaces current, power, and resistance feedback control systems used previously in controlling the LFCM process.

A first pass at the design of a conventional magnet storage ring for x-ray lithogrphy is presented. Electron beam size and power specifications are given, followed by a first pass at a lattice - a 4-fold symmetric, gradient FODO cell lattice using B = 1.6 Tesla C-magnets. (LEW)

A detailed model for the dynamic resistivity of an exploding conductor presents many difficulties. An electrically-exploded conductor undergoes significant hydrodynamic expansion as it is heated. Resistivity is a function of both the temperature and density of a conductor and realistic models for resistivity over the range of parameter space experienced by an exploding conductor are quite complex. See for example, the model of Lee and More (1984). Calculation of the hydrodynamic expansion of the conductor during and subsequent to the explosion is likewise dependent on detailed knowledge of the equation of state for the conductor in a range where few experimental data exist. A further complication is the strong magnetic field which couples the hydrodynamic expansion to the currents flowing in the expanding material. In spite of the difficulties, progress is being made on detailed modeling of fuses and exploding conductors (Lidemuth and co-workers, 1985). A simpler approach has proved to be quite useful for modeling the electrical behavior of exploding bridgewire and slapper detonators and for modeling the explosionss of large conductors exploded with large capacitor banks. In the work described here, a simple, empirical model was developed which can be expressed as a closed-form algebraic expression involving four …

There are two categories of waste considered in this report. The first is the spent fuel disassembly (SFD) hardware. This consists of the hardware remaining after the fuel pins have been removed from the fuel assembly. This includes end fittings, spacer grids, water rods (BWR) or guide tubes (PWR) as appropriate, and assorted springs, fasteners, etc. The second category is other non-fuel-bearing (NFB) components the DOE has agreed to accept for disposal, such as control rods, fuel channels, etc., under Appendix E of the standard utiltiy contract (10 CFR 961). It is estimated that there will be approximately 150 kg of SFD and NFB waste per average metric ton of uranium (MTU) of spent uranium. PWR fuel accounts for approximately two-thirds of the average spent-fuel mass but only 50 kg of the SFD and NFB waste, with most of that being spent fuel disassembly hardware. BWR fuel accounts for one-third of the average spent-fuel mass and the remaining 100 kg of the waste. The relatively large contribution of waste hardware in BWR fuel, will be non-fuel-bearing components, primarily consisting of the fuel channels. Chapters are devoted to a description of spent fuel disassembly hardware and non-fuel assembly components, characterization of …

The objectives of this study are to identify data sources that provide information on current and future levels of commercial buildings retrofit activity in the US, and to evaluate the coverage these data sources provide the commercial retrofit industry. Data sources evaluated include reports, magazines, computerized data bases, and surveys. Relevant data sources were identified through a literature review and by telephone and mail contacts with building industry experts and trade associations. A brief summary of each of the data sources is provided and recommendations are made for gathering additional data to supplement the existing data source.

Activities are reported in these areas: Bevatron operations (including a list of major experimental runs), user support at the Bevalac, modifications to the local injector, accelerator improvements at the Super HILAC, and general Bevalac upgrading. Modifications are reported for six individual beam lines. (LEW)

There are various beam line components between the interaction point (IP) of the SLC and the beam dumps which will intercept enough beam to warrant calculating the radiation levels inside the final focus alcoves. The three types of devices which are of concern are the main dump, tune-up dumps, and adjustable collimators. Fluences of and doses from neutrons and photons in the alcoves are calculated. It is concluded that if the beam losses do occur as expected, many of the electronic components in the alcoves will begin to fail after a very short running period. The final focus is seen to be a hostile environment for sensitive electronics, and some combination of local shielding around the beam intercepting devices and shielding of the alcoves themselves is recommended if electronics are to remain in the tunnels. Annual doses in the alcoves are tabulated, followed by types, locations of devices and beam losses. (LEW)

/sup 3/He placed in an annular cell around a tokamak fusion generator can convert moderated fusion neutrons to energetic ions by the /sup 3/He(n,p)T reaction, and thereby excite gaseous lasants mixed with the /sup 3/He while simultaneously breeding tritium. The total /sup 3/He inventory is about 4 kg for large tokamak devices. Special configurations of toroidal-field magnets, neutron moderators and beryllium reflectors are required to permit nearly uniform neutron current into the laser cell with minimal attenuation. The annular laser radiation can be combined into a single output beam at the top of the tokamak.

Immunoassay is a very specific, sensitive, and widely applicable analytical technique. Recent advances in genetic engineering have led to the development of monoclonal antibodies which further improves the specificity of immunoassays. Originally, radioisotopes were used to label the antigens and antibodies used in immunoassays. However, in the last decade, numerous types of immunoassays have been developed which utilize enzymes and fluorescent dyes as labels. Given the technical, safety, health, and disposal problems associated with using radioisotopes, immunoassays that utilize the enzyme and fluorescent labels are rapidly replacing those using radioisotope labels. These newer techniques are as sensitive, are easily automated, have stable reagents, and do not have a disposal problem. 6 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

Following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor power station in the USSR on April 26, 1986, the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML) initiated a number of research projects as follows: (1) selected sites in both the Deposition and Surface Air networks were alerted and their sampling protocols adjusted to accommodate the anticipated arrival times and activity concentrations of the Chernobyl debris; (2) a number of cooperative programs involving field work, sampling, analysis and data interpretation were set up with institutions and scientists in other countries; (3) EML's Regional Baseline Station at Chester, NJ, as well as the roof of the Laboratory in New York City, provided bases for sampling and measurements to study the radionuclide concentrations, radiation levels, physical characteristics and potential biological implications of the Chernobyl fallout on the northeastern United States; and (4) the resulting fallout from the Chernobyl accident provided an 'experiment of opportunity' in that it enabled us to study fresh fission product deposition using collection systems resurrected from the 1950's and 1960's for comparison with current state-of-the-art methodology. The 13 reports of this volume have been entered separately into the data base.

Process monitoring is a term typically associated with a detailed look at plant operating data to determine plant status. Process monitoring has been generally associated with operational control of plant processes. Recently, process monitoring has been given new attention for a possible role in international safeguards. International Safeguards Project Office (ISPO) Task C.59 has the goal to identify specific roles for process monitoring in international safeguards. As the preliminary effort associated with this task, a review of previous efforts in process monitoring for safeguards was conducted. Previous efforts mentioned concepts and a few specific applications. None were comprehensive in addressing all aspects of a process monitoring application for safeguards. This report summarizes the basic elements that must be developed in a comprehensive process monitoring application for safeguards. It then summarizes the significant efforts that have been documented in the literature with respect to the basic elements that were addressed.

This report provides information on operations and development programs for the management of radioactive wastes from operation of the Savannah River Plant and offplant participants. The studies on environmental and safety assessments, other support, in situ storage or disposal, waste form development and characterization, process and equipment development, and the Defense Waste Processing Facility are a part of the Long-Term Waste Management Technology Program. The following studies are reported for the SR Interim Waste Operations: tank farm operation, inspection program, burial ground operations, and waste transfer/tank replacement.

Washington state regulations required that solid waste landfill facilities have ground-water monitoring programs in place by May 27, 1987. This document describes the well locations, installation, characterization studies and sampling and analysis plan to be followed in implementing the ground-water monitoring program at the Hanford Site Solid Waste Landfill (SWL). It is based on Washington Administrative Code WAC 173-304-490. 11 refs., 19 figs., 4 tabs.

We describe a positron tomograph using a single ring of 600 close-packed 3 mm wide bismuth germanate (BGO) crystals coupled to 14 mm phototubes. The phototube preamplifier circuit derives a timing pulse from the first photoelectron, and sends it to address and coincidence circuits only if the integrated pulse height is within a pre-set window. The timing delays and pulse height windows for all 600 detectors and the coincidence timing windows are computer adjustable. An orbiting positron source is used for transmission measurements and a look-up table is used to reject scattered and random coincidences that do not pass through the source. Data can be acquired using a stationary mode for 1.57 mm lateral sampling or the two-position clam sampling mode for 0.79 mm lateral sampling. High maximum data rates are provided by 45 parallel coincidence circuits and 4 parallel histogram memory units. With two-position sampling and 1.57 mm bins, the reconstructed point spread function (PSF) of a 0.35 mm diam /sup 22/Na wire source at the center of the tomograph is circular with 2.9 mm full-width at half-maximum (fwhm) and the PSF at a distance of 8 cm from the center is elliptical with a radial fwhm of 4.0 …

A method is developed for predicting cutter forces, temperatures, and wear on PDC bits as well as integrated bit performance parameters such as weight-on-bit (WOB), drilling torque, and bit imbalance. A computer code called PDCWEAR has been developed to make this method available as a tool for general bit design. The method uses single-cutter data to provide a measure of rock drillability and employs theoretical considerations to account for interaction among closely spaced cutters on the bit. Experimental data are presented to establish the effects of cutter size and wearflat area on the forces that develop during rock cutting. Waterjet assistance is shown to significantly reduce cutting forces, thereby extending bit life and reducing WOB and torque requirements in hard rock. The effects of bit profile, cutter placement density, bit rotary speed, and wear mode on bit life and drilling performance are investigated. 21 refs., 34 figs., 4 tabs.

Several NMOS custom VLSI ( Microplex'') circuits have been irradiated with a 500 rad/hr {sup 60}Co source. With power off three of four chips tested have survived doses exceeding 1 Mrad. With power on at a 25% duty cycle, all chips tested failed at doses ranging from 10 to 130 krad. Annealing at 200{degree}C was only partially successful in restoring the chips to useful operating conditions. 10 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

The control of void content and quality of dispersion type fuel plates fabricated for research and test reactors are issues of concern to plate fabricators. These two variables were studied by examining the data for various geometries of fuel plates fabricated at ANL. It was found that the porosity of a fuel plate can be increased by: (1) decreasing the fuel particle size, (2) increasing the fuel particle surface roughness, (3) increasing the matrix strength, (4) decreasing the rolling temperature, (5) decreasing the final fuel zone thickness, and (6) increasing the volume percentage of the fuel. Porosity formation is controlled by bulk movement and deformation and/or fracture of particles. The most important factor is the flow stress of the matrix material. Lowering the flow stress will decrease the plate porosity. The percentage of plates with fuel-out-of-zone is a function of the fuel material and the loading. The highest percentage of plates with fuel-out-of-zone were those with U3Si2 which is at this time the most commonly used silicide fuel.

The objectives of this paper are: to determine the cause of accelerated metal loss from the loading edges (as relates to brine flow) of carbon steel coupons in the low temperature portion of the Heber brine loop; and to clarify the reason for the distinctly different morphology of attack on the A53B pipe steel compared to the sheet 1018 steel. 6 figs.

As part of a long-term study of water quality patterns, scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences have collected aquatic insects from artificial substrates placed at several stations in Savannah River. This report presents the first detailed compilation and analysis of this substantial data base, and examines patterns of variations of insect distribution and abundance (both spatial and temporal) during the last quarter century. Data on the number of individuals of various taxa found in the insect traps were obtained from tables in the Academy's cursory reports. Computer data files created from these records were subjected to extensive statistical analyses in order to examine variation among stations, seasons and years in the abundances of major taxa and various aggregate properties of the insect assemblage. Although a total of 83 taxa were collected over the 27-year study, 10 taxa accounted for nearly 80% of the individuals collected from the traps, hence there 10 taxa were analyzed more intensively.

This report describes recent progress and plans for calendar year 1987 in the Johns Hopkins University program to develop and improve spectroscopic diagnostics for the high temperature plasmas used in magnetic fusion research. An EUV spectrograph which provides time resolved spectra along fifteen chords of a plasma device has been completed and evaluation on DIII-D will began in late 1986. Other instrumentation work includes the evaluation of a sensitive detector for ion temperature/velocity distribution determinations and a feasibility study of Zeeman polarimetry for determining magnetic fields. A comprehensive data set taken on the TEXT tokamak is undergoing analysis as a means of improving the ionic parameters used in diagnostic studies and to expand the capabilities of existing instruments. Potential new advanced in spectroscopic technology are being monitored to determine if they provide advantages for fusion research.

Assurance of energy efficient design lifetimes of high temperature structural ceramics requires the ability to specify acceptance criteria and to test to those criteria. These criteria will be established through nondestructive testing, to determine which defects are detectable, together with fracture mechanics, to calculate effects of indetectable flaws. The first phase of this program is to examine heat exchanger material with four test methods which have shown promise for use in ceramics; ultrasonic scanning, microfocus x-ray, Scanning Laser Acoustic Microscope, and Acoustic Holography. The capabilities, limits, and potential for improvement of these are presented in this report. Destructive testing, material sectioning, and fractography are included. 24 refs., 68 figs., 6 tabs.

The technical feasibility of the biological conversion of coal synthesis gas to methane has been demonstrated in the University of Arkansas laboratories. Cultures of microorganisms have been developed which achieve total conversion in the water gas shift and methanation reactions in either mixed or pure cultures. These cultures carry out these conversions at ordinary temperatures and pressures, without sulfur toxicity. Several microorganisms have been identified as having commercial potential for producing methane. These include a mixed culture of unidentified bacteria; P. productus which produces acetate, a methane precursor; and Methanothrix sp., which produces methane from acetate. These cultures have been used in mixed reactors and immobilized cell reactors to achieve total CO and H/sub 2/ conversion in a retention time of less than two hours, quite good for a biological reactor. Preliminary economic projections indicate that a biological methanation plant with a size of 5 x 10/sup 10/ Btu/day can be economically attractive. 42 refs., 26 figs., 86 tabs.