This report is a qualitative summary of research conducted at MIT from 1967 to 1977 in the area of reactor kinetics methods. The objectives of the research were to find methods of integration of various mathematical models of nuclear reactor transients. From the beginning the work was aimed at numerical integration methods. Specific areas of research, discussed in more detail following, included: integration of multigroup diffusion theory models by finite difference and finite element methods; response matrix and nodal methods; coarse-mesh homogenization; and special treatment of boundary conditions.

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) is studying ways in which the environmental quality of The Geysers-Calistoga known geothermal resources area may be protected from any significant harmful consequences of future geothermal development. The LLL study includes the effects of development on air and water quality, geology, the ecosystem, socioeconomics, and noise. The Geothermal Resource Impact Projection Study (GRIPS) has grants to undertake similar work. On 28 and 29 November 1977, LLL and GRIPS jointly sponsored a workshop at Sonoma State College at which knowledgeable earth scientists presented their views on the potential geological hazards of geothermal development. The workshop produced recommendations for studies in geological mapping, slope stability, subsidence, seismicity, and groundwater hydrology. These recommendations will be evaluated along with other considerations and in conjunction with the other subjects of the LLL study. The results of the study will be contained in a preplanning report of final recommendations to the Department of Energy.

The purpose of this test was to demonstrate that the pump utilized for the developmental program to be conducted on the Kilowatt Isotope Power System (KIPS) fulfilled the requirements of Test Procedure 398A, Component Test Procedure for the Ground Demonstration System Pump. The results of the tests are reported. From these results it was concluded that the pump for the Kilowatt Isotope Power System has satisfactorily completed the requirements of Sundstrand Pump Test Procedure, TP 398A.

The Department of Energy, Minnesota Energy Agency, Northern States Power Company, and other local government and private organizations are cooperatively performing an in-depth application study to determine the feasibility of district heating for a large northern-U.S. city. Over 90% of the space- and water-heating requirements are currently supplied by oil and gas. Hence, district heating can potentially replace large quantities of scarce fuels with coal or nuclear resources. In addition, district heating, using a co-generation power plant, substantially increases the fuel-utilization efficiency when compared to an electric-only plant. A Swedish firm, AB Atomenergi, is performing a preliminary economic and technical assessment. The analysis uses current Swedish district-heating technology and experience, and adapts it, where necessary, to U.S. conditions. Preliminary Swedish results indicate favorable economics for a large system, which includes residential areas, when technology innovations such as temperature-resistant plastic piping are used. For conventional-piping technology the economics appear favorable for the commercial areas of the city core. The peak heat load for the Twin Cities is approximately 4200 MW(t). The scenario presented by AB Atomenergi assumes 2250 MW(t) would be supplied by co-generation units, and the remaining 2000 MW(t) would be peaking, heat-only units. The dual-purpose units would be used …

NIS power range setpoints are given at which the bistable inputs should be set to guarantee compliance with Phase-B Technical Specification Requirements. (JDB)

The Phase I Report, Grid ICES, presented the broad alternatives and implications for development of an energy system satisfying thermal demand with the co-generation of electric power, all predicated on the use of solid fuels. Participants of the system are the University of Minnesota, operator and primary thermal user, and Northern States Power Company, primary electrical user; with St. Mary's Hospital, Fairview Hospital, and Augsburg College as Add-on Customers for the thermal service (Option I). Included for consideration are the Options of (II) solid waste disposal by the Pyrolysis Method, with heat recovery, and (III) conversion of a portion of the thermal system from steam to hot water distribution to increase co-generation capability and as a demonstration system for future expansion. This report presents the conceptual design of the energy system and each Option, with the economic implications identified so that selection of the final system can be made. Draft outline of the Environmental Assessment for the project is submitted as a separate report.

The University of Minnesota is studying and planning a grid-connected integrated community energy system to include disposal of wastes from health centers and utilizing the heat generated. Following initial definition of the 7-county metropolitan region for which the solid waste management system is to be planned, information is then necessary about the nature of the waste generated within this region. Estimates of the quantities generated, generation rates, and properties of the waste to be collected and disposed of are required in order to determine the appropriate size and capacity of the system. These estimates are designated and subsequently referred to as ''system input''. Institutional information is also necessary in designing the planned system, to be compatible with existing institutional operations and procedures, or to offer a minimum amount of problems to the participating institution in the region. Initial considerations of health care institutions generating solid waste within the defined region are made on a comprehensive basis without any attempt to select out or include feasible candidate institutions, or institutional categories. As the study progresses, various criteria are used in selecting potential candidate institutional categories and institutions within the 7-county region as offering the most feasible solid waste system input to …

It is possible to design a canister to cool a borehole gravimeter for use in geothermal and high-temperature (up to 350/sup 0/C) gas wells. Repeat surveys with such a gravimeter could (1) help estimate the extent of reservoir plugging in geothermal injection well after one year of operation and (2) detect compaction of a geothermal aquifer if the change in thickness of the aquifer exceeds 1 m. The instrument could be used together with conventional logging tools to evaluate radial dependence of density around a well, or to estimate gas-filled porosity around wells drilled with mud. A high-temperature borehole gravimeter could also be used to evaluate structure and stratigraphy around geothermal and high-temperature gas wells.

A report is given of radiographic inspections to estimate the extent of corrosion and scale buildup at the Geothermal Test Site in Calipatria, California. Radiation exposure techniques using /sup 60/Co and /sup 192/Ir isotopes were developed. Radiography safety procedures were established. Five radiographic evaluations were made of the Geothermal Test Site from May 1976 to February 1977. Estimations of scale buildup from radiographs of operating plant pipes, valves, and tanks correlated closely with our actual scale measurements from used plant sections.

The initial phase of the Detroit Lakes Energy Systems Study was designed to assemble and analyze sufficient data from which to recommend specific classes of alternative energy supplies. Most of the information on meteorological conditions and biomass materials have been obtained. This is being compiled into a useful form for future evaluation. Research into legal and economic areas are underway. Analysis of this data is being conducted and results will be used in assessing the impact of alternative energy systems. Current technical information on solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind and hybrid power systems is being evaluated. Potential systems are being considered in light of their impact on the Detroit Lakes region and the northern latitudes in general. Final evaluation of the data is expected well within schedule.

Energy storage and transfer requirements for many of the present day reactor systems are listed. Two ohmic heating (OH) requirements, those for toroidal Z-pinches and Tokamaks, are described in more detail. Technologies envisioned for the power conditioning circuitry are discussed.

The report presents results of calibration tests on strain meters. The approach was divided into two phases: (1) an overview of meter performance criteria for PCPV applications and techniques for strain measurements in concrete and (2) procurement of commercially available gages and their evaluation to assess the reliability of manufacturer-supplied calibration factors. Calibration test results for gages embedded in 15.2-cm-diam by 54-cm cylindrical concrete specimens indicated that calibration factors should be determined (verified) by embedding samples of the gages in test specimens fabricated using a representative mix and that further research should be conducted on other measurement techniques based on inductance, capacitance, semiconductors, and fluidic principles.

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, John L. Hill, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether a secret ballots conducted by a governing body violate the Open Meetings Act.

This report documents the history of transit systems in the United States and discusses ways to lessen the financial strain of maintaining them.

From abstract: Results of a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the Plainview Quadrangle, Texas are reported. Field and laboratory data are presented for 969 groundwater samples and 571 stream sediment samples.

From abstract: Results of a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the Plainview Quadrangle, Texas are reported. Field and laboratory data are presented for 969 groundwater samples and 571 stream sediment samples. Statistical and areal distributions of uranium and other possible uranium related variables are displayed. A generalized geologic map of the survey area is provided, and pertinent geologic factors which may be of significance in evaluating the potential for uranium mineralization are briefly discussed.

A new pressure system utilizing a heated internal pressure vessel was used to obtain pressure-vs-composition isotherms for the U--H system over the range 700--1065/sup 0/C at pressures up to 137.9 MP (1361 atm). The experimentally determined ''plateau'' pressures are compared with values extrapolated from lower temperatures and pressures previously obtained by other workers. The current investigation shows that, in contrast to the work of Chevalier, et al., the U--H system retains broad two-phase plateaus at temperatures as high as 1065/sup 0/C. 19 figs, 3 tables.

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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, John L. Hill, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether articles 13.57 and 14.10, Election Code, prohibit the use of names which are similar to the names of political parties.

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, John L. Hill, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Advertising of delinquent tax sales.

A modified (one-cycle) Purex process has been developed for the separation and recovery of plutonium and uranium from mixed actinide residues. The process utilizes 30 vol % tributyl phosphate--dodecane to extract uranium from a 5M nitric acid-plutonium (III)-uranium(VI) feed. After uranium extraction, plutonium in the aqueous feed solution is purified by anion exchange technology. Uranium in the organic is scrubbed and stripped to effectively purify the uranium so that it contains <5,000 ppM plutonium. The process has been used successfully to separate residues consisting of plutonium and uranium oxide.

Objective is to determine the relationships between the shale characteristics, hydrocarbon gas contents, and well location, for assessing the productive capacity of the Eastern Devonian Gas Shale deposits and guiding research, development, and demonstration projects to enhance the recovery of natural gas from the shale deposits. One well was sampled during this reporting period. Another well from Monongalia County, WV (M-1) was cored in April. 31 samples were obtained for Battelle with additional 55 samples canned for other DOE contractors. Characterization tasks on shale samples from R-146 (Mason County, WV.) and M-1 wells (Monongalia) have been completed. In the preliminary analysis correlations were observed between the hydrocarbon gas contents and can pressure, propane content, well location, oxygen content CO/sub 2/ content, bulk density and carbon contents. Higher pressures are attributed to higher hydrocarbon gas contents. For high gas pressures, propane content is an important indication of hydrocarbon gas content. At low gas pressure, butane contents more accurately predict the hydrocarbon gas contents. High CO/sub 2/ and carbon contents indicate high hydrocarbon gas values, whereas oxygen contents are inversely related to hydrocarbon gas contents. Analysis of the limited wire-line log data shows that correlations between the laboratory and well log data …

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target designs are considered which may have very high gains (approximately 1000) and low power requirements (< 100 TW) for input energies of approximately one megajoule. These include targets having very low density shells, ultra thin shells, central ignitors, magnetic insulation, and non-ablative acceleration.

The level of radon and its daughters inside conventional buildings is often higher than the ambient background level. Interest in conserving energy is motivating home-owners and builders to reduce the rate of infiltration of fresh air into homes, and hence to increase the concentration of indoor air contaminants, including radon. It is unlikely, but possible, that the present radiation levels from radon daughters account for much of the lung cancer rate in non-smokers. In any event, it is likely that some increased lung cancer risk would result from increased radon exposures; hence, it is desirable not to allow radon concentrations to rise significantly. There are several ways to circumvent the increased risk without compromising energy conservation considerations.