This report evaluates the closure activities at the 105-DR Large Sodium Fire Facility. The closure activities discussed include: the closure activities for the structures, equipment, soil, and gravel scrubber; decontamination methods; materials made available for recycling or reuse; and waste management. The evaluation compares these activities to the regulatory requirements and closure plan requirements. The report concludes that the areas identified in the closure plan can be clean closed.

The overall objective of this project is to demonstrate that development program based on advanced reservoir management methods can significantly improve oil recovery. The demonstration plan includes developing a control area using standard reservoir management techniques and comparing the performance of the control area with an area developed using advanced reservoir management methods. specific goals to attain the objective are (1) to demonstrate that development drilling program and pressure maintenance program, based on advanced reservoir management methods , can significantly improve oil recovery compared with existing technology applications, and (2) to transfer the advanced methodologies to oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin and elsewhere in the US oil and gas industry. This is the second quarterly progress report on the project. Results obtained to date are summarized.

Objective is to demonstrate that a development program based on advanced reservoir management methods can significantly improve oil recovery and to transfer this technology to oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin. The demonstration plan includes developing a control area using standard reservoir management techniques and comparing the performance of the control area with an area developed using advanced management methods. Specific goals are (1) to demonstrate that a development drilling program and pressure maintenance program, based on advanced reservoir management methods, can significantly improve oil recovery compared with existing technology applications, and (2) to transfer the advanced technologies to oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin and elswhere in the US oil and gas industry. This is the first quarterly progress report on the project; results to date are summarized.

A system to measure the tunes of a single antiproton (or proton) bunch was built and has been commissioned. The system achieved high sensitivity with a novel closed-orbit suppression system. The use of high bandwidth directional pickpus and kickers in conjunction with precise timing gates enabled the measurement of the tune of a single bunch.

The US Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office (DOE-SR), has prepared the Site Treatment Plan (STP) for Savannah River Site (SRS) mixed wastes in accordance with RCRA Section 3021(b), and SCDHEC has approved the STP (except for certain offsite wastes) and issued an order enforcing the STP commitments in Volume 1. DOE-SR and SCDHEC agree that this STP fulfills the requirements contained in the FFCAct, RCRA Section 3021, and therefore, pursuant to Section 105(a) of the FFCAct (RCRA Section 3021(b)(5)), DOE`s requirements are to implement the plan for the development of treatment capacities and technologies pursuant to RCRA Section 3021. Emerging and new technologies not yet considered may be identified to manage waste more safely, effectively, and at lower cost than technologies currently identified in the plan. DOE will continue to evaluate and develop technologies that offer potential advantages in public acceptance, privatization, consolidation, risk abatement, performance, and life-cycle cost. Should technologies that offer such advantages be identified, DOE may request a revision/modification of the STP in accordance with the provisions of Consent Order 95-22-HW. The Compliance Plan Volume (Volume 1) identifies project activity schedule milestones for achieving compliance with Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR). Information regarding the technical evaluation …

As a result of the end of the Cold War, the Department of Energy (Department) has downsized many of its facilities. This may have a negative impact on many communities that were heavily dependent on Departmental operations for economic stability. To lessen the negative effects on these communities, the Department has encouraged the formation of community reuse organizations that are responsible for acting on behalf of the community to determine and sponsor initiatives to offset the consequences of the Department`s downsizing. One such initiative has been the award of economic development grants and cooperative agreements. The objective of the audit was to determine whether economic development grants and a cooperative agreement with East Tennessee not-for-profit organizations were achieving the Department`s intended purposes.

The concentrations of mercury at the FAVC inlet and exit were measured during the BL1 and PX6 runs of the Integrated DWPF Melter System (IDMS) with the HEME bypassed and without the ammonia scrubber. The results showed that mercury concentrations of approximately 1.02-12.7 (mean 5.74) times saturation occurred at the FAVC exit. The concentration of mercury at the FAVC inlet was found to be 0.66-6.2 times the saturation value (based on the SRAT condenser exit). In the PX7 run, the ammonia scrubber was used and the FAVC HEME was not bypassed. The results from this run showed that the FAVC inlet concentrations again were above saturation (1.45-15.5 times saturation), but that the FAVC exit concentrations were only 0.02-0.41 times saturation (except for one data point at 1.61 times saturation). Operation of the FAVC without the HEME could therefore result in FAVC exit mercury concentrations of greater than 5.74 times saturation, which would result in DWPF emitting greater than 405 lb/yr of mercury at 100 percent attainment; this quantity is well in excess of the permit limit of 175 lb/yr (for all of DWPF). However, with the HEME in place, the emissions are predicted to be only about 40 lb/yr for …

In December 1995, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was requested by SAF/MIQ to review the information associated with the BOMARC missile accident site and the November 16, 1992 Record of Decision (ROD). The purpose of this review was, {open_quotes}{hor_ellipsis} to help ensure our plans call for using the most efficient and up-to-date technology in our cleanup, and to ensure our plans to ship the contaminated waste meet all regulatory requirements.{close_quotes}

The K East Basin contains open-top canisters with up to fourteen N Reactor fuel assemblies distributed between the two barrels of each canister. Each fuel assembly generally consists of inner and outer concentric elements fabricated from uranium metal with zirconium alloy cladding. The canisters also contain varying amounts of accumulated sludge. Retrieval of sample fuel elements and associated sludge for examination is scheduled to occur in the near future. The purpose of this document is to specify particular canisters and elements of interest as candidate sources of fuel and sludge to be shipped to laboratories.

Methods for limiting the size of hadronic spin-flip in the Coulomb- Nuclear Interference. region are critically assessed. This work was presented at the High Energy Polarimetry Workshop in Amsterdam, Sept. 9, 1996 and the RHIC Spin Collaboration meeting in Marseille, Sept. 17, 1996.

The work accomplished during the first six-month period of Phase II consisted of process laboratory experimentation and computer modeling of the process. Work on demonstration unit design and fabrication has awaited the results of these two tasks. Now that data are available from the laboratory phase, some of the design work can be initiated. The laboratory work has included equipment development, shakedown operations and actual process runs with the laboratory scale units. The computer modeling has been delayed by some logistical issues. Prof. Ruthven, project modeling consultant, moved from the University of New Brunswick to the University of Maine during the early stages of Phase II. He was still able to take delivery of Prof. Alpay`s gProm computer simulation package (from Imperial College in the UK) during that period, but was not able to make any runs with the system. The University of Maine`s Sun Workstations were not totally compatible with the gProm program. It has now been installed at the University of New Brunswick and Prof. Ruthven will be able to make simulation runs at that University. Results will-be available in the immediate future.

The Cost Analysis For Final Disposal of Double-Shell Tank Waste provides the Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE contractors with a better understanding of costs associated with the transfer, storage, and treatment of liquid mixed wasted within the Double-Shell Tank System (DST). In order to evaluate waste minimization/pollution prevention ideas, it is necessary to have reliable cost data that can be used in cost/benefit analyses; preparation of funding requests and/or proposals; and provide a way for prioritizing and allocating limited resources. This cost per gallon rate will be used by DST waste generators to assess the feasibility of Pollution Prevention Opportunity Assessments (P20A) and to determine the cost avoidances or savings associated with the implementation of those P20As.

The spectral line profiles of ionized emitters in plasmas play an important role in the calculation of opacity, for short-wavelength laser studies, and for the diagnostics of inertial confinement fusion plasmas. Sophisticated theoretical methods and modeling have been advanced and applied in recent years to calculate spectral line profiles in the limits where broadening by electron collisions or by ion microfield dominates. Here, the authors describe recent measurements of spectral line profiles of a z-pinch experiment employing precision plasma diagnostic techniques. In particular, the electron-collisional-broadened 2s--2p transitions in B{sub III} have been investigated because their line profiles provide an excellent test for electron-impact line shape theories and electron collision strength calculations. Although they find good agreement with semiclassical calculations, a factor of two discrepancy with the most elaborate quantum-mechanical five-state close coupling calculations is observed. They discuss the experimental error estimates of the various measured quantities and show that the observed discrepancy can not be explained by experimental shortcomings. They further discuss measurements of non-isolated spectral lines of some {Delta}n = 1 transitions in C{sub IV}--O{sub VI}. For these transitions ion broadening dominates. Excellent agreement for the whole line profile with line broadening calculations is obtained for all cases only …

A side view of the double sided ladder is shown in Figure 1. There are two types of double sided ladder; 6 chip and 9 chip. The 6 chip ladder has three SVX II chips mounted directly opposite the cooling channel and 3 chips mounted at the ladder end. The 9 chip ladder has 4 SVX II chips directly opposite the cooling channel and 5 chips at the ladder end. The power density is highest in the 6 chip ladder. All plots and calculations in this Engineering Note pertain to the 6 chip ladder with the understanding that the 9 chip temperature profile is somewhat improved over the 6 chip due to the reduced power density in the row of chips opposite the cooling channel. The two dimensional finite difference technique used for these calculations is described in DOEN 447 and will not be described here. The assumed thermal conductivity of beryllium is 190 W/m-K, and that of silicon is 149 W/m-K. The SVX II power dissipation is assumed 0.400 W. There is no cable or hybrid component power dissipation in this set of simulations. The epoxy in the glue joints consists of 2 mils thickness of thermally conductive epoxy …

Automatic control of fine coal cleaning circuits has traditionally been limited by the lack of sensors for on-line ash analysis. Although several nuclear-based analyzers are available, none have seen widespread acceptance. This is largely due to the fact that nuclear sensors are expensive and tend to be influenced by changes in seam type and pyrite content. Recently, researchers at VPI&SU have developed an optical sensor for phosphate analysis. The sensor uses image processing technology to analyze video images of phosphate ore. It is currently being used by PCS Phosphate for off-fine analysis of dry flotation concentrate. The primary advantages of optical sensors over nuclear sensors are that they are significantly cheaper, are not subject to measurement variations due to changes in high atomic number minerals, are inherently safer and require no special radiation permitting. The purpose of this work is to apply the knowledge gained in the development of an optical phosphate analyzer to the development of an on-fine ash analyzer for fine coal slurries. During the past quarter, installation of the video-based ash analyzer at the Middle Fork plant site was completed. A method of measuring and automatically adjusting for small variations in the sensor illumination scheme was developed …

Automatic control of fine coal cleaning circuits has traditionally been limited by the lack of sensors for on-line ash analysis. Although several nuclear-based analyzers are available, none have seen widespread acceptance. This is largely due to the fact that nuclear sensors are expensive and tend to be influenced by changes in seam type and pyrite content. Recently, researchers at VPI&SU have developed an optical sensor for phosphate analysis. The sensor uses image processing technology to analyze video images of phosphate ore. It is currently being used by PCS Phosphate for off-line analysis of dry flotation concentrate. The primary advantages of optical sensors over nuclear sensors are that they are significantly cheaper, are not subject to measurement variations due to changes in high atomic number minerals, are inherently safer and require no special radiation permitting. The purpose of this work is to apply the knowledge gained in the development of an optical phosphate analyzer to the development of an on-line ash analyzer for fine coal slurries. During the past quarter, an industrially-hardened version of the video-based ash analyzer was designed and constructed. All components are now in place at the Middle Fork plant site awaiting the installation of a sample line …

The Department of Energy (DOE) has expressed a need for an on-line, real-time instrument for assaying alpha-emitting radionuclides (uranium and the transuranics) in effluent waters leaving DOE sites to ensure compliance with regulatory limits. Due to the short range of alpha particles in water ({approximately}40 Tm), it is necessary now to intermittently collect samples of water and send them to a central laboratory for analysis. A lengthy and costly procedure is used to separate and measure the radionuclides from each sample. Large variations in radionuclide concentrations in the water may go undetected due to the sporadic sampling. Even when detected, the reading may not be representative of the actual stream concentration. To address these issues, Tecogen, a division of Thermo Power Corporation, a Thermo Electron company, is developing a real-time, field-deployable, alpha monitor based on a solid-state silicon wafer semiconductor (patent pending, to be assigned to the Department of Energy). The Thermo Alpha Monitor (TAM) will serve to monitor effluent water streams (Subsurface Contaminants Focus Area) and will be suitable for process control of remediation as well as decontamination and decommissioning operations, such as monitoring scrubber or rinse water radioactivity levels (Mixed Waste Focus Area and D&D Focus Area). It …

The purpose of this Documentation and Analysis for Packaging (DAP) is to certify that the packaging system currently in use for the 100 B and C Area large scale excavation and remediation campaign, meets the intent of U.S. Department of Transportation(DOT) requirements for bulk packaging (49 CFR 173.427) of radioactive materials, up to and including low specific activity (LSA) I quantities of Class 7 material.

The next generation of high power lasers offers the prospect of creating multi-kilovolt x-rays with {gt}10% efficiency. Such efficiencies are achieved with ``underdense radiators``, a non- traditional source of laser generated x-rays. Applications of these sources with the proposed National Ignition Facility (NIF) include volume preheating of experiments; bright, multi-keV backlighting; pumps for fluorescent imaging of capsule dopants and Doppler velocimetry; uniform irradiation of large test objects. This paper presents two-dimensional numerical simulations for these high power lasers with unprecedented efficiency.

The Lockheed Martin Energy Systems plating group has decades of experience in electroless nickel plating. The group conceived of, established the validity of, and patented the ENVIRO-CP process for plating bath rejuvenation, which eliminates the generation of hazardous waste from plating processes. Fidelity Chemical Products Corporation supplies chemicals to and has knowledge of the plating industry. A second partner (CRADA identity protected) conducts production plating. The objective of this Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) project was to transfer the ENVIRO-CP process to the plating industry. Energy Systems personnel were to evaluate and modify the general process so that it could be used for a specific plating process, working in concert with the partner. Technical results/accomplishments: the plating solutions and the ENVIRO-CP process were analyzed and modified for direct use in the partner`s plating facility. An engineering flowsheet and pilot plant production-scale equipment were designed. Some pilot-scale equipment was fabricated; the balance will be procured and the system tested when the partner is able to budget for purchase of the remaining equipment.

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) Customer Satisfaction Survey was developed and executed in support of EREN`s continuous quality improvement (CQI) plan. The study was designed to provide information about the demographic make up of EREN users, the value or benefits they derive from EREN, the kinds and quality of services they want, their levels of satisfaction with existing services, their preferences in both the sources of service and the means of delivery, and to provide benchmark data for the establishment of continuous quality improvement measures. The survey was performed by soliciting voluntary participation from members of the EREN Users Group. It was executed in two phases; the first being conducted by phone using a randomly selected group; and the second being conducted electronically and which was open to all of the remaining members of the Users Group. The survey results are described.

The goal of this research is to engineer enzymes to be efficient and economically attractive catalysts for the chemical industry. The author is attempted to demonstrate generally-applicable approaches to enzyme improvement as well as develop specific catalysts for potential industrial application. The paper describes the progress in two projects: (a) Random mutagenesis of pNB esterase: Improved activity and stability; and (2) Subtilisin mutants exhibiting improved ligase activity in organic solvents.

The key issues in reticle manufacturing are cost and delivery time, both of which are dependent upon the yield of the process line. To estimate the cost and delivery time for EUVL reticles in commercial manufacturing, we have developed the first model for an EUV reticle factory which includes all the tools required for a presumed EUVL reticle fabrication process. This model includes the building, support tools and sufficient ``in-line`` process tools for the manufacture of (more than) 2500 reticles per year. Industry specifications for the tool performance are used to determine the number of tools required per process step and the average number of reticles fabricated per year. Building and capital equipment depreciation costs, tool installation costs, tool maintenance costs, labor, clean room costs, process times and process yields are estimated and used to calculate the yearly operating cost of the reticle factory and the average reticle fabrication cost. We estimate the sales price of an EUV reticle to be $60K for non-critical levels and $120K for ``leading-edge.`` The average reticle fabrication time is calculated for three different process-line yields.

This note is to review our experience at Argonne with assembling the first four sumodules constructed at this location. We will try to cover all of the experiences, and at the end add some comments about changes that were incorporated into the current modules, and suggested changes that may be incorporated into future modules.