The design is analyzed for a parabolic trough solar process heat system for a cardboard corrugation fabrication facility in Texas. The program is briefly reviewed, including an analysis of the plant and process. The performance modeling for the system is discussed, and the solar system structural design, collector subsystem, heat transport and distribution subsystem are analyzed. The selection of the heat transfer fluid, and ullage and fluid maintenance are discussed, and the master control system and data acquisition system are described. Testing of environmental degradation of materials is briefly discussed. A brief preliminary cost analysis is included. (LEW)

This project is Phase I of a multi-phased program for the design and development of Stirling engines for stationary power generation applications in the 500 to 3000 horsepower range. Phase I comprises the conceptual design and associated cost estimates of a stationary Stirling engine capable of being fueled by a variety of heat sources, with emphasis on coal firing, followed by the preparation of a plan for implementing the design, fabrication and testing of a demonstration engine by 1985. The main effort in Phase I is the generation of state-of-the-art conceptual designs having greatest potential for prototype testing in 1985. The conceptual designs include a heat transport system for integrating the engine heater head with such energy sources as conventional oil/gas combustors, fluidized bed and other coal combustors, and combustors using coal-derived liquid fuels, and low/medium BTU gases. The heat transport systems being investigated include forced convection with gases or liquids, heat pipes, and direct firing. Currently, the leading choice for the solid fuel combustion system is the atmospheric fluidized bed, with low BTU gasification still a viable alternative. Both systems will continue to be evaluated further, but with greater emphasis on FBC. To date, there appears no clear choice …

This project is a detailed analysis of the lithology, stratigraphy, and structure of the New Albany Group in Illinois to determine those characteristics of lithology, thickness, regional distribution, vertical and lateral variability, and deformation that are most relevant to the occurrence of hydrocarbons. Research is reported for this quarter in the following areas: coordination of stratigraphic maps, mineralogic and petrographic characterization, physical properties of Devonian black shale, quantitative determination of major, minor, and trace elements in shales, inorganic/organic associations of trace elements in black shales, mode of occurrence and relative distribution of hydrocarbon phases in shale, and adsorption/desorption studies of gases through shales. 6 figures, 7 tables. (RWR)

The flowing plasma outflow from a field-reversed plasma gun is modeled by a one-dimensional calculation which is based on the well-known problem of fluid flow through a nozzle. The results suggest that a low plasma mass flow rate is necessary for reconnection to be important. Comparison with 2D MHD calculations and with preliminary data from the BETA-II experiment are consistent with the model at this time.

This report describes studies of accidents involving high-level radioactive waste before sealing the waste into a repository. The report summarizes work done in this area during Fiscal Year 1978 and supplements previous work. Models of accident probability, severity, and consequences are refined and extended.

Ten papers are included. One was abstracted previuosly. Separate abstracts were prepared for nine. (MHR)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Mark White, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Authority of county officials to act in an emergency, and related questions.

Weekly report of the Texas Crop and Livestock Reporting Service on turkey poult numbers in Texas and compared with other states. It includes compiled statistics across six consecutive weeks during two years for turkey eggs set and poults hatched.

The results of work performed from July 1, 1979 through September 30, 1979 on the Advanced Gas-Cooled Nuclear Reactor Materials Evaluation and Development Program are presented. The objectives of this program are to evaluate candidate alloys for Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Nuclear Process Heat (NPH) and Direct Cycle Helium Turbine (DCHT) applications, in terms of the effect of simulated reactor primary coolant (helium containing small amounts of various other gases), high temperatures, and long time exposures, on the mechanical properties and structural and surface stability of selected candidate alloys. A second objective is to select and recommend materials for future test facilities and more extensive qualification programs. Work covered in this report includes the activities associated with the status of the simulated reactor helium supply system, testing equipment, and gas chemistry analysis instrumentation and equipment. The status of the data management system is presented. In addition, the progress in the screening test program is described.

The development of stable, efficient, electrochemical photovoltaic cells based on silicon and gallium arsenide in non-aqueous electrolyte systems is being investigated. The effect of surface condition of silicon electrodes on electrochemical and physical characteristics has been studied. An electrode-supporting electrolyte interaction in acetonitrile has been identified which leads to etching of the surface. Improved performance can result, which has practical significance. Gallium arsenide electrodes have been electrochemically characterized in cells containing propylene carbonate with a ferrocene/ferricenium redox additive. Degradation of the ferricenium salt under illumination has been investigated. Other redox couples studied to date have not given promising results. Long-term stability experiments have been deferred while a better understanding of electrode behavior is being obtained.

The method under development for the production of semiconductor grade silicon is based on the zinc vapor reduction of silicon tetrachloride in a fluidized bed of seed particles. Construction of the PDU was completed during the report period, the fluidized-bed reactor was coated internally with silicon/SiC, and the operation of several systems was checked out. However, problems with the zinc feed system, unrelated to its basic operability, delayed introduction of zinc vapor to the PDU. At the end of the report period, the zinc feed system stood ready for tests of the control of zinc vapor feed rate by regulation of r.f. induction heating directly coupled to the liquid zinc. A study of the zinc distribution in miniplant silicon products containing zinc at the 300 and 3000 ppM levels suggests that the occlusion of zinc is caused by zinc mist entrained from the vaporizer, and it should be possible to drive the level to below 300 ppM by proper equipment design and process control.

The purpose of this contract is to provide the Coal and Electric Power Analysis Division, EIA, with a revised and fully documented Resource Allocation and Mine Costing (RAMC) model to be used in developing coal supply curves for use in the Mid-range Energy Forecasting System and the National Coal Model. The project is structured in three phases, as follows: establish conceptual underpinnings of revised supply curve methodology; revise mine costing methodology; and revise resource allocation methodology. The first three tasks in Phase I were to review and critique the current RAMC approach, review and critique the NUS deep mine and the Fluor Utah surface mine costing methodologies, and to propose revisions to the current approach. This Interim Report documents our findings under these three tasks. Our review of the current RAMC concludes that the resource allocation methodology is reasonable; however, the mine costing methodology has a number of deficiencies. Hence, Section 5 presents a number of alternative approaches for implementing an improved costing methodology in the RAMC model. Although the resource allocation approach is reasonable, the data used to drive the model need to be improved. The Appendices discuss a number of these data issues, affecting both mine costing and …

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Long-life replacement lamps for the incandescent lamp have been evaluated with regard to their cost effectiveness. The replacements include the use of energy buttons that extend lamp life as well as an adaptive fluorescent circline lamp that will fit into existing incandescent lamp sockets. The initial, operating, and replacement costs for one million lumen hours are determined for each lamp system. It is found that the most important component lighting cost is the operating cost. Using lamps that are less efficient or devices that cause lamps to operate less efficiently are not cost-effective. The adaptive fluorescent circline lamp, even at an initial unit cost of $20.00, is the most cost-effective source of illumination compared to the incandescent lamp and lamp systems examined.

The tandem mirror device (TMX) exhibits gross stability to both MHD and microinstability modes. The end-cell plasmas provide the tandem with average minimum-B stability, while the efflux of plasma from the central cell maintains the end cells (plugs) at marginal stability to loss cone modes. For some operating conditions, a residual level of plug ion cyclotron fluctuations is detected. These oscillations dominate the fluctuation frequency spectra in both the plugs and the central cell. The presence of plug ion cyclotron fluctuations in the central cell leads to resonance heating of some of the central cell ions. This heating degrades the confinement of the central cell ions; thereby increasing the amount of warm plasma stream flowing through the plugs.

LLNL made ultrahigh-frequency (450-MHz) electromagnetic borehole-to-borehole transmissions in the Stripa Mine near Guldsmedshyttan, Sweden, in April 1979. Transmission loss measurements were made between four sets of 76-mm boreholes 30 m long, located at the end of a drift. Distances between the boreholes varied from 2 to 22 m. More than 25,000 data points were taken. A geotomograph was constructed to show the variation of attenuation between boreholes. The observed spatial variation of electromagnetic attenuation may be related to the expected stress relief created by the mine. Transmission loss measurements were also made between two converging boreholes drilled from the surface to points near the mine. Data taken at 21 MHz show a nearly uniform attenuation within this sampled region. These experiments demonstrate that geotomographic data collection/interpretation provides high-resolution images of the underground environment and can provide useful input to those charged with providing the detailed site characterizations needed for both short- and long-term monitoring of underground nuclear waste repositories.

This report details the criteria that are employed in making reasonable charge determinations.

Currently two simple theories are heavily used in laser-fusion research: the Thomas-Fermi-Dirac statistical model, and an atomic ionization model based on screened hydrogen like energy levels. Recent improvements in these theories are summarized. We show representation calculations of thermodynamic properties, ionization, x-ray emission rates and fast-ion stopping powers, and give a brief sketch of the major unresolved scientific questions.

Interpretation of ultrasonic inspection data from stainless steel welds is difficult because the signal-to-noise ratio is very low. The three main reasons for this are the granular structure of the weld, the high attenuation of stainless steel, and electronic noise. Averaging in time at the same position in space reduces electronic noise, but does not reduce ultrasonic noise from grain boundary scattering. Averaging wave-forms from different spatial positions helps reduce grain noise, but desired signals can destructively interfere if they shift in time. If the defect geometry is known, the ultrasonic waveforms can be shifted before averaging, ensuring signal reinforcement. The simplest geometry results in a linear time shift. An averaging algorithm has been developed which finds the optimum shift. This algorithm computes the averaged, or composite waveform as a function of the time shift. The optimum occurs when signals from a reflector become aligned in time, producing a large amplitude composite waveform. This algorithm works very well, but requires significant computer time and storage. This paper discusses this linear shift averaging algorithm, and considers an implementation using frequency domain techniques. Also, data from several weld defects are presented and analyzed.

The effect of beam-generated positive ions on the beam-breakup instability in linear electron accelerators is calculated using simple models. The strongly nonlinear dependence of the ion focusing force on radius makes a complete suppression of the mode growth possible, in contrast to solenoidal focusing. The predicted gas pressures for significant stabilization of the mode growth in a machine configuration like ATA is relatively low (10/sup -5/ to 10/sup -4/ torr), even for high-Q modes.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Mark White, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether government employees may carry a handgun while hunting and trapping predatory animals and rodent pests.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Mark White, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether or not a county clerk may assess the fees prescribed in article 1604, Code of Criminal Procedure, in a case in which the proceedings have been deferred and ultimately dismissed pursuant to article 6701d, section 143A.

Preliminary characterization of the plume or cloud produced by the release of UF/sub 6/ into humid air and the particulates comprising this cloud has been accomplished. The explosive release was conducted in a vessel in which the air at atmospheric pressure was static and the particulate material was collected on microscope grids by gravitational settling. Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy (TEM and SEM) have been used to determine the size or range of sizes of the particles produced by the release and the nature of the agglomerates produced from these particles. The particulate material was also analyzed by x-ray diffraction. The plume produced dispersed rapidly, completely filling the 30,000 cm/sup 3/ release vessel in less than 10 sec. Settling of the particulte material required several hours for completion. Particles produced by the release were generally >1000A spheroids but some as small as 100A were collected. The agglomerates were like those seen in typical smokes, i.e. catenulate or chain-like in nature and several microns in length, although some were less than 1..mu.. in dimension. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the material to be UO/sub 2/F/sub 2/ 2H/sub 2/O while infrared absorption spectrometry indicated the presence of UO/sub 2//sup 2 +/ H/sub 2/O …

The data required to estimate the probability of occurrence of initial meteorological conditions leading to an effect on the weather by the pilot solar thermal electric plant are discussed. No completely appropriate data summaries are available. Vertical atmospheric profiles are the most appropriate source of raw data for a statistical analysis, but these are not available from the pilot plant location either. The available stability data for the pilot plant site are presented. A procedure is outlined to obtain the required estimates of occurrence frequency if desired. However, it is recommended that more substantial effects be demonstrated with a physically realistic model before great effort is expended on data analysis.