The objective of this program is to evaluate the mechanical properties of liquefaction process plant ''dissolver'' vessel materials in a ''dissolver'' vessel environment including coal slurry and pressurized hydrogen gas at temperatures up to 900/sup 0/F. Specifically, the degradation of notched-bar and smooth bar tensile samples of 2/sup 1///sub 4/ Cr--1 Mo will be monitored as a function of exposure time and stress in the ''dissolver'' vessel environment. This quarter was spent entirely on installing and debugging the newly acquired pressure vessels and their controlling circuitry. The vessels were installed in the Ames Lab explosion-safe, hydrogen-containment building, specially designed for this program. Leak checks of 24 to 72 hours were performed on the vessels at pressures ranging from 1000 to 5000 psig at temperatures of 72/sup 0/F and 800/sup 0/F. Automatic pressure and temperature monitoring controls were tested and calibrated. Pressure vessel furnaces were installed and are being tested. Containment building safety systems including hydrogen detectors, vessel over-pressure alarms, vessel over-temperature alarms, hydrogen check valves, surge valves, power failure emergency backup systems and fire alarms were tested and found satisfactory. Individual pressure vessel containment cell blow out panels and cell ventilation systems were found to be satisfactory.

Initial samples of four silicon aluminum oxynitride (Sialons) ceramics have been prepared from commercial Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, AlN, and SiO/sub 2/ powders by hot pressing at 1750 C. Si/sub 1/./sub 9/Al/sub 0/./sub 1/N/sub 1/./sub 9/O/sub 1/./sub 1/, Si/sub 1/./sub 8/Al/sub 0/./sub 2/N/sub 1/./sub 8/O/sub 1/./sub 2/, and Si/sub 3/./sub 6/Al/sub 2/./sub 4/N/sub 5/./sub 6/O/sub 2/./sub 4/ Sialons were densified to greater than or equal to 90% theoretical density, but Si/sub 5/./sub 4/Al/sub 0/./sub 6/N/sub 7/./sub 4/O/sub 0/./sub 6/ Sialon could be pressed only to 72% theoretical density. None of these materials are single-phase materials; one group of samples contains an unidentified Sialon phase, while the other group contains significant amounts of free elemental silicon. Chlorine in the Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ powder and free aluminum in the AlN powder are responsible for these effects. Initial evaluation of these materials in contact with molten silicon at 1450 C indicates that chemical reaction is occurring. Thin string-like precipitates found in the silicon after reaction with Si/sub 3/./sub 6/Al/sub 2/./sub 4/N/sub 5/./sub 6/O/sub 2/./sub 4/ Sialon are considered to be due to the presence of a second phase in the material. Electron probe analysis of silicon in contact with a Si/sub …

The objectives of this study were (a) to develop techniques for measurement of delayed neutron spectra with resolutions approaching 8.0 keV at the thermal peak and (b) to explore techniques for measuring gamma rays and neutrons in coincidence. During the contract period the following have been accomplished: (a) the electronic, acoustical and inherent noise characteristics of the 3 He neutron ionization chambers purchased from SEFORAD, LTD have been characterized. Through construction of an acoustical shield and replacement of several components at the input stage of the preamplifiers associated with the detectors, the resolutions of the spectrometers have been improved by about 10 to 15 percent and the environment has been controlled to permit maintenance of the improved resolution under normal laboratory conditions. The resolution of the best spectrometer is now 9.3 keV; (b) it has been shown that the amplitude and resolution for neutrons from a thermalized Pu-Be source are dependent upon pulse risetime. For the risetime range 0.2--1.2 ..mu..s, the amplitudes of pulses were found to vary by 0.7 to 0.8 keV and the longer risetime pulses led to a full energy peak narrower than that from the short risetime pulses by about 0.2 keV. (c) based on the …

A revised estimate of the recoverable thermal energy in the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA) was made using the strong correlation between the temperature distribution and the magnetic anomaly. Estimates of the power-generating potential range from 1300 MW-20 years (for indicated resources) to 8700 MW-20 years (for hypothetical resources). These figures are compatible with previously published estimates. Comparison of various estimation procedures reveals major differences in techniques used to assess reservoir volume. However, there is general agreement on parameters used to convert reservoir volume to recoverable energy. Conservative estimates justify continued research and development to solve the technical problems that stand in the way of commercialization of the Salton Sea resource.

This report is about the Senate Rules And Practices On Committee, Subcommittee And Chairmanship Assignment Limitations as of April 15th, 1978

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