2002 status report: Savings estimates for the ENERGY STAR(R) voluntary labeling program (open access)

2002 status report: Savings estimates for the ENERGY STAR(R) voluntary labeling program

ENERGY STAR [registered trademark] is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products, buildings and practices. Operated jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR labels exist for more than thirty products, spanning office equipment, residential heating and cooling equipment, commercial and residential lighting, home electronics, and major appliances. This report presents savings estimates for a subset of ENERGY STAR program activities, focused primarily on labeled products. We present estimates of the energy, dollar and carbon savings achieved by the program in the year 2001, what we expect in 2002, and provide savings forecasts for two market penetration scenarios for the period 2002 to 2020. The target market penetration forecast represents our best estimate of future ENERGY STAR savings. It is based on realistic market penetration goals for each of the products. We also provide a forecast under the assumption of 100 percent market penetration; that is, we assume that all purchasers buy ENERGY STAR-compliant products instead of standard efficiency products throughout the analysis period.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Webber, Carrie A.; Brown, Richard E.; McWhinney, Marla & Koomey, Jonathan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The 237U(n,f) Cross Section (open access)

The 237U(n,f) Cross Section

The purpose of this note is to combine existing information on the {sup 237}U(n,f) cross section to determine if some consistency can be obtained for the neutron induced fission excitation of {sup 237}U. The neutron induced fission cross section of the 6.8 day {sup 237}U was measured directly by McNally et al. in 1968 using the Pommard nuclear device test. At the same time critical assembly measurements were done at Los Alamos using the Flattop assembly. A previous measurement was also made at LASL in 1954 with two different neutron sources, each peaked near 200 keV. The results were 0.66 {+-} 0.10 b and 0.70 {+-} 0.07 b for the (n,f) cross section. More recently Younes and Britt have reanalyzed direct reaction charged particle data of Cramer and Britt that had determined the fission probability of the {sup 238}U compound nucleus as a function of nuclear excitation energy. They have combined fission probabilities with calculated neutron absorption cross sections, including corrections for the differences in angular momentum between the direct and neutron induced reactions. From this analysis they have extracted equivalent {sup 237}U(n,f) cross sections. The technique for extracting surrogate (n,f) cross sections from (t,pf) data has been demonstrated in …
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Younes, W.; Britt, H. C. & Wilhelmy, J. B.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Astrophysics Simulation Collaboratory portal: A framework foreffective distributed research (open access)

The Astrophysics Simulation Collaboratory portal: A framework foreffective distributed research

We describe the motivation, architecture, and implementation of the Astrophysics Simulation Collaboratory (ASC) portal. The ASC project provides a web-based problem solving framework for the astrophysics community that harnesses the capabilities of emerging computational grids.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Bondarescu, Ruxandra; Allen, Gabrielle; Daues, Gregory; Kelly, Ian; Russell, Michael; Seidel, Edward et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Atmospheric Transport of Radionuclides (open access)

Atmospheric Transport of Radionuclides

The purpose of atmospheric transport and diffusion calculations is to provide estimates of concentration and surface deposition from routine and accidental releases of pollutants to the atmosphere. This paper discusses this topic.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Crawford, T. V.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chemical-Kinetic Characterization of Autoignition and Combustion of Surrogate Diesel (open access)

Chemical-Kinetic Characterization of Autoignition and Combustion of Surrogate Diesel

A study was performed to elucidate the chemical-kinetic mechanism of combustion of toluene. The research was performed in collaboration Dr. Charles Westbrook and Dr. William Pitz at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). A detailed chemical-kinetic mechanism for toluene developed at LLNL was employed. Numerical calculations were performed using this mechanism and the results were compared with experimental data obtained from premixed and nonpremixed systems. Under premixed conditions, predicted ignition delay times were compared with new experimental data obtained by I. Da Costa, R. Fournet, F. Billaud, F. Battin-Leclerc at Departement de Chime Physique des Reactions, CNRS-ENSIC, BP. 451, 1, rue Grandville, 51001 Nancy, France. Also, calculated species concentration histories were compared to experimental flow reactor data from the literature. Under nonpremixed conditions, critical conditions of extinction and autoignition were measured in strained laminar flows in the counterflow configuration. Numerical calculations were performed using the chemical-kinetic mechanism at conditions corresponding to those in the experiments. Critical conditions of extinction and autoignition are predicted and compared with the experimental data. Comparisons between the model predictions and experimental results of ignition delay times in shock tube, and extinction and autoignition in nonpremixed systems show that the chemical-kinetic mechanism predicts that toluene/air is overall …
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Seshadri, K
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Compendium of Regulatory Requirements Governing Underground Injection of Drilling Wastes (open access)

Compendium of Regulatory Requirements Governing Underground Injection of Drilling Wastes

This report provides a comprehensive compendium of the regulatory requirements governing the injection processes used for disposing of drilling wastes; in particular, for a process referred to in this report as slurry injection. The report consists of a narrative discussion of the regulatory requirements and practices for each of the oil- and gas-producing states, a table summarizing the types of injection processes authorized in each state, and an appendix that contains the text of many of the relevant state regulations and policies.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Puder, Markus G.; Bryson, Bill & Veil, John A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The extended tidal tails of Palomar 5: Tracers of the galactic potential (open access)

The extended tidal tails of Palomar 5: Tracers of the galactic potential

We detected extended, curved stellar tidal tails emanating from the sparse, disrupting halo globular cluster Pal 5, which cover 10{sup o} on the sky. These streams allow us to infer the orbit of Pal 5 and to ultimately constrain the Galactic potential at its location.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: al., Michael Odenkirchen et
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
The impact of nanoscience on heterogeneous catalysis (open access)

The impact of nanoscience on heterogeneous catalysis

Most catalysts consist of nanometer-sized particles dispersed on a high-surface area support. Advances in characterization methods have led to a molecular level understanding of the relationships between nanoparticle properties and catalytic performance. Together with novel approaches to nanoparticle synthesis, this knowledge is contributing to the design and development of new catalysts.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Bell, Alexis T.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Isotopic Tracing of Fuel Carbon in the Emissions of a Compression-Ignition Engine Fueled with Biodiesel Blends (open access)

Isotopic Tracing of Fuel Carbon in the Emissions of a Compression-Ignition Engine Fueled with Biodiesel Blends

Experimental tests were conducted on a Cummins 85.9 direct-injected diesel engine fueled with biodiesel blends. 20% and 50% blend levels were tested, as was 100% (neat) biodiesel. Emissions of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}), hydrocarbons (HC) and CO were measured under steady-state operating conditions. The effect of biodiesel on PM emissions was mixed; however, the contribution of the volatile organic fraction to total PM was greater for the higher biodiesel blend levels. When only non-volatile PM mass was considered, reductions were observed for the biodiesel blends as well as for neat biodiesel. The biodiesel test fuels increased NO{sub x}, while HC and CO emissions were reduced. PM collected on quartz filters during the experimental runs were analyzed for carbon-14 content using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMs). These measurements revealed that carbon from the biodiesel portion of the blended fuel was marginally less likely to contribute to PM, compared to the carbon from the diesel portion of the fuel. The results are different than those obtained in previous tests with the oxygenate ethanol, which was observed to be far less likely contribute to PM than the diesel component of the blended fuel. The data suggests that chemical structure of the …
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Buchholz, B. A.; Cheng, A. S. & Dibble, R. W.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
MCNPX Model/Table Comparison (open access)

MCNPX Model/Table Comparison

MCNPX is a Monte Carlo N-Particle radiation transport code extending the capabilities of MCNP4C. As with MCNP, MCNPX uses nuclear data tables to transport neutrons, photons, and electrons. Unlike MCNP, MCNPX also uses (1) nuclear data tables to transport protons; (2) physics models to transport 30 additional particle types (deuterons, tritons, alphas, pions, muons, etc.); and (3) physics models to transport neutrons and protons when no tabular data are available or when the data are above the energy range (20 to 150 MeV) where the data tables end. MCNPX can mix and match data tables and physics models throughout a problem. For example, MCNPX can model neutron transport in a bismuth germinate (BGO) particle detector by using data tables for bismuth and oxygen and using physics models for germanium. Also, MCNPX can model neutron transport in UO{sub 2}, making the best use of physics models and data tables: below 20 MeV, data tables are used; above 150 MeV, physics models are used; between 20 and 150 MeV, data tables are used for oxygen and models are used for uranium. The mix-and-match capability became available with MCNPX2.5.b (November 2002). For the first time, we present here comparisons that calculate radiation transport …
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Hendricks, J.S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Passive Seismic Monitoring for Rockfall at Yucca Mountain: Concept Tests (open access)

Passive Seismic Monitoring for Rockfall at Yucca Mountain: Concept Tests

For the purpose of proof-testing a system intended to remotely monitor rockfall inside a potential radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, a system of seismic sub-arrays will be deployed and tested on the surface of the mountain. The goal is to identify and locate rockfall events remotely using automated data collecting and processing techniques. We install seismometers on the ground surface, generate seismic energy to simulate rockfall in underground space beneath the array, and interpret the surface response to discriminate and locate the event. Data will be analyzed using matched-field processing, a generalized beam forming method for localizing discrete signals. Software is being developed to facilitate the processing. To date, a three-component sub-array has been installed and successfully tested.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Cheng, J.; Twilley, K.; Murvosh, H.; Tu, Y.; Luke, B.; Yfantis, A. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Probabilistic Assessment of the Design and Safety of HSLA-100 Steel Confinement Vessels (open access)

Probabilistic Assessment of the Design and Safety of HSLA-100 Steel Confinement Vessels

This probabilistic approach for assessing the design and safety of the HSLA-100 steel confinement vessel used for a DynEx test involved the probability of failure for several scenarios, in which a fragment may penetrate the vessel. The samples involve vessel thicknesses of 1 inch, 2 inches, and 5.25 inches--the combined thicknesses of the 2 inch containment vessel and the 3.25 inch safety vessel. Two simulation approaches were used for each scenario to assess the probability of failure. The Likelihood of Occurrence method simultaneously models all likely fragment events of a test, for which the net probability of failure is the sum of all the fragment events. The Stochastic Sampling method determines the probability of a fragment perforation on the basis of a logical model and takes the overall probability that an experiment results in failure as the maximum probability for any fragment event. With margin and safety assessments taken into account, it was concluded that the one and two inch thicknesses by themselves are inadequate for containing a DynEx test. The 5.25 inch thickness was determined to be safe by the Likelihood of Occurrence method and nearly adequate by the Stochastic Sampling simulation.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Dolin, R. M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Regulatory Issues Affecting Management of Produced Water from Coal Bed Methane Wells (open access)

Regulatory Issues Affecting Management of Produced Water from Coal Bed Methane Wells

This paper describes the existing national discharge regulations, the ways in which CBM produced water is currently being managed, the current CBM discharge permitting practices, and how these options might change as the volume of produced water increases because of the many new wells being developed.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Veil, John A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Surface Water Data at Los Alamos National Laboratory: 2002 Water Year (open access)

Surface Water Data at Los Alamos National Laboratory: 2002 Water Year

The principal investigators collected and computed surface water discharge data from 34 stream-gaging stations that cover most of Los Alamos National Laboratory and one at Bandelier National Monument. Also included are discharge data from three springs--two that flow into Canon de Valle and one that flows into Water Canyon--and peak flow data from 16 stations.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Shaull, D. A.; Ortiz, D.; Alexander, M. R. & Romero, R. P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transmission electron microscopy of oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) molybdenum: effects of irradiation on material microstructure (open access)

Transmission electron microscopy of oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) molybdenum: effects of irradiation on material microstructure

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) molybdenum has been characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the effects of irradiation on material microstructure. This work describes the results-to-date from TEM characterization of unirradiated and irradiated ODS molybdenum. The general microstructure of the unirradiated material consists of fine molybdenum grains (< 5 {micro}m average grain size) with numerous low angle boundaries and isolated dislocation networks. 'Ribbon'-like lanthanum oxides are aligned along the working direction of the product form and are frequently associated with grain boundaries, serving to inhibit grain boundary and dislocation movement. In addition to the 'ribbons', discrete lanthanum oxide particles have also been detected. After irradiation, the material is characterized by the presence of nonuniformly distributed large ({approx} 20 to 100 nm in diameter), multi-faceted voids, while the molybdenum grain size and oxide morphology appear to be unaffected by irradiation.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Baranwal, R. and Burke, M.G.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Using government purchasing power to reduce equipment standby power (open access)

Using government purchasing power to reduce equipment standby power

Although the government sector represents only 10 to 15 percent of the economy in most countries, carefully targeted public procurement can play a significant role in market transformation through its influence on both buyers and suppliers. Government leadership in energy-efficient purchasing can set an example for other buyers, while creating opportunities for leading manufacturers and distributors to increase their sales and market share by offering energy-efficient products at competitive prices. Under proper circumstances, a highly visible government purchasing policy can have a disproportionately large influence on the market for efficient products. In the United States, President Bush signed an Executive Order in 2001 directing all federal agencies to buy products with low standby power (1 watt or less where possible). This represents a deliberate choice to use government purchasing - rather than regulations or incentives - as a market-based strategy to encourage energy savings. It also builds upon existing efforts to encourage Federal purchase of energy-efficient products (Energy Star products and others in the top 25th percentile of efficiency). This paper summarizes the Federal Energy Management Program s first 18 months of experience in implementing this Executive Order, including analysis of data on standby power, interactions with manufacturers and industry …
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Harris, Jeffrey; Meier, Alan; Bartholomew, Emily; Thomas, Alison; Glickman, Joan & Michelle, Ware
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
X-ray study of aligned magnetic stripe domains in perpendicular multilayers (open access)

X-ray study of aligned magnetic stripe domains in perpendicular multilayers

We have investigated the stripe domain structure and the magnetic reversal of perpendicular Co/Pt based multilayers at room temperature using magnetometry, magnetic imaging and magnetic x-ray scattering. In-plane field cycling aligns the stripe domains along the field direction. In magnetic x-ray scattering the parallel stripe domains act as a magnetic grating resulting in observed Bragg reflections up to 5th order. We model the scattering profile to extract and quantify the domain as well as domain wall widths. Applying fields up to {approx}1.2 kOe perpendicular to the film reversibly changes the relative width of up versus down domains while maintaining the overall stripe periodicity. Fields above 1.2 kOe introduce irreversible changes into the domain structure by contracting and finally annihilating individual stripe domains. We compare the current results with modeling and previous measurements of films with perpendicular anisotropy.
Date: March 3, 2003
Creator: Hellwig, O.; Denbeaux, G. P.; Kortright, J. B. & Fullerton, Eric E.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library