Highlights of the Chemical Technology (CMT) Division's activities during 1988 are presented. In this period, CMT conducted research and development in the following areas: (1) high-performance batteries (mainly lithium-alloy/metal sulfide, sodium/metal chloride, and sodium/sulfur); (2) aqueous batteries (lead-acid, nickel/iron, etc.); (3) advanced fuel cells with molten carbonate or solid oxide electrolytes; (4) coal utilization, including the heat and seed recovery technology for coal-fired magnetohydrodynamics plants and the technology for fluidized bed combustion; (5) methods for recovery of energy from municipal waste and techniques for treatment of hazardous chemical waste; (6) nuclear technology related to a process for separating and recovering. transuranic elements from nuclear waste and for producing 99Mo from low-enriched uranium targets, the recovery processes for discharged fuel and the uranium blanket in a sodium-cooled fast reactor, and waste management; and (7) physical chemistry of selected materials in environments simulating those of fission and fusion energy systems.

This thesis describes an experimental study of the (..pi../sup +/, ..pi../sup 0/p) reaction at incident energy T/sub ..pi../sup +// = 165 MeV. This work is part of the first experiment to detect neutral pions and protons in coincidence in kinematically complete measurements. The reaction was studied on /sup 16/O (using water targets) at several pion angles: theta/sub ..pi../sup 0// = 70/degree/, 80/degree/, 110/degree/, and 130/degree/. At theta/sub ..pi../sup 0// = 110/degree/ measurements were also made on /sup 56/Fe, /sup 120/Sn, and /sup 208/Pb. The neutral pions were detected with the LAMPF ..pi../sup 0/ spectrometer, while the protons were detected in a vertical array of plastic-scintillator ..delta..E-E telescopes, each spanning 8.5 msr. Energy spectra of the differential cross sections d/sup 4/sigma/dE/sub ..pi../sup 0// dE/sub p/d..cap omega../sub ..pi../sup 0//d..cap omega../sub p/ were obtained for each proton telescope and subsequently integrated over proton and pion energy and proton angle. The characteristics of these spectra are consistent with a quasi-free description of the (..pi../sup +/,..pi../sup 0/p) reaction. The angular dependence of dsigma/d..cap omega../sub ..pi../sup 0//(theta/sub ..pi../sup 0//) for /sup 16/O(..pi../sup +/,..pi../sup 0/p) was found to be in accordance with that of the cross section for the corresponding free reaction at backward ..pi../sup 0/ angles. …

Liquid slurries expected under normal in-tank processing (ITP) operations are not ignitible because of their high water content. However, deposits of dry solids from the slurries are combustible and produce dense, black smoke when burned. The dry solids burn similarly to Styrofoam and more easily than sawdust. It is the opinion of fire hazard experts that a benzene vapor deflagration could ignite the dry solids. A tetraphenylborate solids fire will rapidly plug the waste tank HEPA ventilation filters due to the nature of the smoke produced. To prevent ignition and combustion of these solids, the waste tanks have been equipped with a nitrogen inerting system.

Liquid slurries expected under normal in-tank processing (ITP) operations are not ignitible because of their high water content. However, deposits of dry solids from the slurries are combustible and produce dense, black smoke when burned. The dry solids burn similarly to Styrofoam and more easily than sawdust. It is the opinion of fire hazard experts that a benzene vapor deflagration could ignite the dry solids. A tetraphenylborate solids fire will rapidly plug the waste tank HEPA ventilation filters due to the nature of the smoke produced. To prevent ignition and combustion of these solids, the waste tanks have been equipped with a nitrogen inerting system.

Although there are many differences between the High-Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR) concepts being developed in the US and the High Temperature Reactor (HTR) concepts in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the coated fuel particles are very similar. Significant benefits are achievable through cooperative research and exchange of information and data on the fuel performance and radionuclide retention in the coated fuel particles. This draft report describes cooperative work on HTGR safety research as agreed to in the "USA/FRG Umbrella Agreement for Cooperation in GCR Development: Safety Research Subprogram Plan," specifically, this work was conducted under Project Work Statement (PWS) S-6 titled "Fission Product Retention in Fuel," 9 refs., 12 figs., 4 tabs.

A preliminary conceptual design of a coal-fueled diesel system was prepared as part of a previous systems study. Since then, our team has accumulated extensive results from testing coal-water slurry on the 13-inch bore JS engine (400 rpm) in 1987 and 1988. These results provided new insights into preferred design concepts for engine components. One objective, therefore, was to revise the preliminary design to incorporate these preferred design concepts. In addition there were certain areas where additional, more detailed analysis was required as a result of the previous conceptual design. Another objective, therefore was to perform additional detailed design efforts, such as: (1) market applications and engine sizes, (2) coal-water slurry cleaning and grinding processes, (3) emission controls and hot gas contaminant controls, (4) component durability, (5) cost and performance assessments. (VC)

A preliminary conceptual design of a coal-fueled diesel system was prepared as part of a previous systems study. Since then, our team has accumulated extensive results from testing coal-water slurry on the 13-inch bore JS engine (400 rpm) in 1987 and 1988. These results provided new insights into preferred design concepts for engine components. One objective, therefore, was to revise the preliminary design to incorporate these preferred design concepts. In addition there were certain areas where additional, more detailed analysis was required as a result of the previous conceptual design. Another objective, therefore was to perform additional detailed design efforts, such as: (1) market applications and engine sizes, (2) coal-water slurry cleaning and grinding processes, (3) emission controls and hot gas contaminant controls, (4) component durability, (5) cost and performance assessments. (VC)

Defect production functions derived from atomistic modeling were evaluated for use in correlating yield stress changes of A212B and A302B pressure vessel steels irradiated in a wide variety of neutron spectra at low temperatures (40--90{degree}C) and low doses (<0.1 dpa). The irradiations were performed in RTNS-II, OWR, ORR and the HFIR pressure vessel surveillance positions. The data from RTNS-II, OWR and ORR are correlated fairly well on the basis of dpa, but the data from HFIR show that only one tenth as many dpa are needed to produce the same radiation-induced yield stress changes as in the other neutron spectra. About 96% of the neutrons in the HFIR surveillance position are thermal neutrons, and a significant fraction of the displacements is produced by recoils from thermal neutron captures. The best correlation of all the data is achieved when the property changes are compared on the basis of the production of freely migrating self-interstitial defects, which better represents the defects participating in the radiation strengthening process.

A review of the cosmological term problem is presented. Baby universe model and the compensating field model are discussed. The importance of more accurate data on the Hubble constant and the Universe age is stressed. 18 refs.

Most utilities in the US experience their peak demand for electric power during periods with high ambient temperature. Unfortunately, the performance of many power plants decreases with high ambient temperature. The use of aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) for seasonal storage of chill can be an alternative method for heat rejection. Cold water produced during the previous winter is stored in the aquifer and can be used to provide augmented cooling during peak demand periods increasing the output of many Rankine cycle power plants. This report documents an investigation of the technical and economic feasibility of using aquifer thermal energy storage for peak cooling of power plants. 9 refs., 15 figs., 5 tabs.

Recent theoretical and experimental progress on the manifestation of CP violation in K decays, and toward understanding whether CP violation originates in a phase, or phases, in the weak mixing matrix of quarks is reviewed. 23 refs., 10 figs.

Monthly newsletter of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, discussing the field of underground water. Topics include profiles of water conservation research, annual pre-plant soil moisture survey data, annual Winter Water Level measurement data, and information about the latest water conservation tips.

Thermodynamic data for aqueous species and solids that contain cyanide and antimony were tabulated from several commonly accepted, published sources of thermodynamic data and recent journal article. The review does not include gases or organic complexes of either antimony or cyanide, nor does the review include the sulfur compounds of cyanide. The basic thermodynamic data, ..delta..G/sub f,298//sup o/, ..delta..H/sub f,298//sup o/, and S/sub f//sup o/ values, were chosen to represent each solid phase and aqueous species for which data were available in the appropriate standard state. From these data the equilibrium constants (log K/sub r,298//sup o/) and enthalpies of reaction (..delta..H/sub r,298//sup o/) at 298 K (25/degree/C) were calculated for reactions involving the formation of these aqueous species and solids from the basic components. 34 refs., 14 tabs.

The SP-100 reactor will be ground tested at the SP-100 Ground Engineering System (GES) Test Site on the US Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site near Richland, Washington. Project direction and the flight system design evolution have resulted in a smaller reactor size and the consequential revision to Test Site features to accommodate the design changes and reduce Test Site costs. The significant design events since the completion of the Conceptual Design are discussed in this paper.

The design and performance of the pulsed-power system for the FRX-C compact toroid compression heating experiment are reviewed. Two inductively-isolated, 10-kV capacitor banks (total energy = 1.5 MJ) are discharged through a common, low-inductance load. The 5-MA currents are switched and crowbarred with parallel arrays of size-D ignitrons. Power supplies are constructed in simple 25 and 50 kJ modules, each capable of supplying 100 kA at 10 kV. Non-negligible source inductance and the addition of high-power resistors maintain module isolation and protect the system during fault modes. 21 refs., 31 figs.

The goal of the Final Focus Test Beam experiment (FFTB) is to produce an electron beam spot of 1 ..mu..m by 60 nm in transverse dimensions. In the future linear collider of TeV region (TLC), a typical spot size of 100 nm by 1 nm at the interaction point is required to get luminosity of 1 /times/ 10/sup 34/cm/sup /minus/2/s/sup /minus/1/. This spot size is about 1/1000 of the SLC in the vertical dimension, and is demanding for an optics design, alignments, beam diagnostics, and tuning procedures. The spot size of the FFTB will be an important next step from the SLC toward the TLC. This paper describes the design of the beam optics. 11 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

A detailed description of the background, technology and application for the development of a coal-fired pulse combustor for residential space heating was provided in the first quarterly report for the period October 1986 - December 1986, That material is omitted from this report. In May of 1988, DOE Contract No. DE-AC22-86PC90278 was modified with the addition of two new Tasks - 1.6 and 13 - as a Phase IA to bridge the gap between Phase I and II of the program. The descriptions of these tasks are now included in Section 1.1. Testing activities during this period were minimal with all effort focused upon resolving the issues associated with the extremely low slurry feed rates required for the unit. The use of a constant pressure slurry feed system followed by a low head peristaltic pump was successful for short periods of time providing the required slurry atomization but exceeded pump design specifications leading to rupture of the peristaltic tube. An attempt was made to locate a commercial pump with the required duty; delivering 1 to 2 gallons per hour at up to 100 psi but could not be located. Design modifications for the peristaltic pump were therefore initiated to meet …

The primary objective of this project was to develop a prototype neutron detector for use in criticality alarm systems (CASs) at US Department of Energy (DOE) and contractor facilities wherever significant amounts of fissile material are processed or stored. Constraints placed on the design of the detector were that the overall size of the detector was to be as small as practical, the input voltage requirements were to be no more than 24 V, and that the gamma sensitivity would be as low as possible. Also, the detector should give dosimetric neutron response, and should have sufficient temporal capabilities to measure the entire range from fast (>1 ms) to slow (seconds to minutes) excursions, and sufficient dynamic range to measure from background to over 100 times background levels to insure proper activation of the Immediate Evacuation Alarm (IEA). Finally, the detector should insure rapid (<1 s) activation of the IEA in the event of a criticality excursion. 24 figs., 11 tabs.

The goal of this research is to develop catalysts that directly convert methane and light hydrocarbons to intermediates that later can be converted to either liquid fuels or value-added chemicals, as economics dictate. In this reporting period, we have utilized samples of magnesia differing in their pretreatment temperature. Both the hydrido-ruthenium complex H{sub 4}Ru{sub 4}(CO){sub 12} and its reaction product with triethyl aluminum were reacted with these samples. The two ruthenium clusters are expected to react with the magnesia surface in different ways: by deprotonation of the hydride through an acid-base reaction with the basic surface, or by hydrolysis of the aluminum-carbon bond of the triethyl aluminum adduct. The concentration of hydroxyl groups on the magnesia surface able to hydrolyze the aluminum-carbon bond for immobilation should vary depending on the temperature of the pretreatment; the concentration of basic sites which can deprotonate the cluster should also vary with temperature. These differences were borne out by the experiment. We also compared the activity of two batches of AlRu{sub 4}/MgO which had been synthesized at different times in the project. Both batches had approximately the same activity, but the newer batch had greater selectivity for C{sub 6+} hydrocarbons.

This report discusses the benefits and challenges of distance education. It address the question how distance learning can change our approach to learning and how it can change us.

The gradual senescence of present-day operating nuclear facilities, and resultant contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, emphasize the importance of understanding the behavior of radionuclides in the environment. Observations and deductions concerning mechanisms of radionuclide transport can contribute significantly to knowledge of fundamental ecological processes. This study emphasized the ecosystem-level distribution of several long-lived radionuclides in an abandoned reactor cooling impoundment after a twenty year period of chemical and biological equilibration. 90 refs., 14 figs., 5 tabs.

Kokanee abundance, estimated from July trawl data, was 1.2 million fish in 1988, including 553,000 fry, 501,000 yearlings and 156,000 subadults. Spawning trend data indicated escapement was up threefold compared to 1987, despite a sport harvest of 207,000 kokanee averaging 258 mm caught at a rate of 1.5 fish per hour. An estimated 40,000 kokanee were counted during the September peak of spawning in five tributaries of the reservoir. Size of adult fish was below average at 293 mm. Zooplankton densities averaged 10.3 organisms/L in 1988 and ranged from 0.3 organisms/L during April at the Little North Fork station to 26.2 organisms/L in November at the Elk Creek station. Densities were similar to values obtained prior to the development of the primary kokanee fishery; however, cladocerans made up only 34.9% of the zooplankton sampled. Daphnia and Cyclops were the most important food items; Daphnia became the prime food organism as its seasonal abundance increased. Concentrations of ortho-phosphate and nitrate, lower than in the 1970s, indicated Dworshak may have become more oligotrophic. 13 refs., 24 figs., 4 tabs.

This report offers a brief review of the general characteristics of distance education, and reports the research of the 1980s on the main issues in teaching, learning, educational planning. organization and policy making with regard to use of communications technology in contemporary distance education.

This assessment analyzes how the Nation’s power systems could accommodate various proposals for competition intended to make the electric power industry more responsive to market forces. Operation of an electric power system is extremely complex, and increased competition could have serious effects on costs and reliability if not implemented carefully. The assessment identifies the technical requirements that must be met to keep the system working well as the level of competition increases, and determines how competitive enterprises could meet these requirements.