This is a proposal to study p-p elastic scattering at the highest possible P{sub {perpendicular}}{sup 2} at NAL, using a CH{sub 2} or H{sub 2} target placed directly in the extracted beam and a double arm spectrometer. We expect to be able to set an upper limit at the level d{sigma}/dt/d{sigma}/dt{sub t=0} {approx} 10{sup -14}. This would be sufficient to determine if there are exactly three regions in the p-p interaction with considerable precision.

The energy of the observed maximum of the 250 keV resonance in the total neutron cross section of /sup 6/Li is measured to be 244.5 +- 1 keV relative to the velocity of light. The observed peak magnitude is 11.20 +- 0.20 b.

The Department of Energy contracted with Gibbs and Cox, M. Rosenblatt and Son and Lockheed Missile and Space Corporation to prepare conceptual designs, cost estimates and analyses for a 400 MWe OTEC Commercial Size platform. Each contractor was directed to investigate two predetermined hull configurations and to relate them to one operating site, selected by DOE. A total of 6 designs, covering sphere, spar, ship and semisubmersibles were studied by the three contractors. The results of their investigations were presented by DOE in Washington on May 8, 1978. The presentations showed that whereas a considerable data base has been built, no clear conclusions had emerged with respect to the direction that future design of the commercial platform should take. JJMA has been directed by Value Engineering on behalf of DOE to review the conceptual designs and the accompanying data base prepared by the three contractors. The intent of this review is to propose to DOE the answers to the following questions, based on the results of studies by the three contractors: (1) If DOE were to build a 400 MW OTEC plant, starting now, what should they build. (2) What are the reasons for the decisions. (3) What would it …

The policy of the United States Atomic Energy Commission is to take custody of all commercial high-level radioactive wastes and maintain control of them in perpetuity. This policy (Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix F) requires that the high-level wastes from nuclear fuels reprocessing plants be solidified within five years after reprocessing and then shipped to a federal repository within ten years after reprocessing. Ultimate disposal sites and/or methods have not yet been selected and are not expected to be ready when waste deliveries begin about 1983. Therefore, the AEC plans to build an interim storage facility, called Retrievable Surface Storage Facility (RSSF), to store and isolate the waste from man and his environment until the suitability of the permanent repository is demonstrated and public acceptance has been established. Meantime, the AEC is proceeding with the study and development of an ultimate disposal method. Bedded salt is being considered for ultimate waste disposal, and work is in progress to develop a Bedded Salt Pilot Plant to demonstrate its acceptability. The pilot plant will permit in situ verification of laboratory work on the interaction of heat and radioactivity of the waste with the salt and surroundings. One concept …

This report describes the incorporation of input--output technical coefficients for five new energy supply and conversion technologies as estimated by the MITRE Corporation into a 110-sector Energy I--O Model. The five new technologies are solvent refining of coal, oil shale mining and retorting, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor electricity generation, high-BTU coal gasification, and COGAS combined-cycle electricity generation. Incorporation of seven existing energy supply and conversion technologies is also described: crude oil and gas extraction, coal mining, refined petroleum products, pipeline gas, fossil electric generation, and hydroelectric generation. Non-energy input coefficients are given in units of 1967 $/10/sup 6/ BTU and represent the inputs in constant 1967 dollars from non-energy sectors (e.g. manufacturing, transportation, services) required per 10/sup 6/ BTU of energy production by each of these energy supply technologies. The 90 non-energy sectors included are based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis 83 sector input--output structure for 1967 with minor disaggregations. Energy input coefficients are given in units of BTU/BTU.

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This report is intended to be a "user manual" for the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory version of the Eulerian incompressible hydrodynamic computer code ABMAC. The theory of the numerical model is discussed in general terms. The format for data input and data printout is described in detail. A listing and flow chart of the computer code are provided.

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The program for acetic acid production from marine algae has made significant progress in the current quarter. Some of the significant developments during this period are: (1) conversion of the available reducing equivalents in Chondrus crispus to organic acids has been carried to better than 80% completion; (2) thermophilic fermentations produce higher ratios of acetic acid to total acid than is the case for mesophilic fermentations (80% vs. 50%); (3) a membrane extraction process for removing organic acid products has been developed which has potential for commercial use; (4) a large scale fermentation was shown to convert over 50% of the available carbon in five days; (5) a reducing equivalents balance on the large scale fermentation was closed to with 96% of theoretical.

Acoustic data were obtained from two high-temperature lithium niobate microphones on the loop background noise and transient pressure pulses during the Sodium Loop Safety Facility (SLSF) P1 in-reactor experiment. This experiment simulated an LMFBR loss-of-piping-integrity (LOPI) transient on a nineteen element, end-of-life, enriched-UO/sub 2/ fuel assembly. The microphones were exposed to liquid sodium at a distance 4.85 meters above the reactor core at temperatures between 315/sup 0/ and 590/sup 0/C. The distance and location of the microphones in the P1 Test Train provided an attenuative transmission path which was undesirable for optimum acoustic detection of sodium boiling and fuel failure. The data gathered on the loop background noise was observed to be dominated by pump and electrical noise at frequencies below 1.5 KHz and appeared to be dominated by flow induced local turbulence noise at higher frequencies. During the period of time that the sodium in the fuel assembly was at its saturation temperature 943/sup 0/C (1730/sup 0/F), as indicated by the wire wrap thermocouples, several discrete pulses were observed with peak-to-peak pressure between 3.3 kPa and 7.9 kPa and center frequencies between 360 and 550 Hz. The pulses occurred at two separate gradually increasing repetition rates. These observations appear …

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The improvement and technical development of several promising methods for desulfurizing and recovering fine coal was continued. These methods include froth flotation, selective oil agglomeration, pelletization, and a chemical desulfurization process which involves leaching fine coal with a hot dilute solution of sodium carbonate containing dissolved oxygen or air under pressure. Numerous laboratory experiments and measurements were conducted in the areas of froth flotation, selective oil agglomeration and chemical desulfurization. The results showed that when pyrites are leached with an alkaline solution containing dissolved oxygen, the sulfur is extracted in the form of soluble sulfates and the iron is converted to ferric oxide or hematite. It was also shown that the rate of conversion of pyritic sulfur to soluble sulfates depends on the oxygen partial pressure with the rate increasing as the partial pressure is raised. Results which could lead to major improvements in the froth flotation method of separating coal and pyrites included the successful demonstration of an oxidative chemical pretreatment process which would greatly reduce the floatability of pyrite particles without greatly affecting the floatability of coal. Also conditions were identified which would aid in the selection of suitable cationic and anionic flotation collectors for effecting a better …

Research progress is reported on fabrication of advanced LMFBR fuels, irradiation testing of high performance fuels, and measurements of thermodynamic properties of advanced fuels. (JWR)

Advanced fuel cell research and development activities at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) during the period January to March 1977 is described. Efforts have been directed toward understanding and improvement of molten carbonate electrolyte fuel cells operating at temperatures near 650/sup 0/C. A primary focus of the work has been on developing electrolyte structures which have high strength and conductivity, as well as good electrolyte retention, and on developing methods of synthesis for electrolyte structures that are amenable to mass production. Several synthesis methods have been investigated, and at least one appears to yield a highly desirable product and to greatly simplify production. Cell testing is essential for understanding and evaluating individual component behavior and the interactions of the components under realistic operating conditions. Most of the testing to date has been conducted in a 2/sup 3///sub 4/-in.-dia cylindrical cell with Type 316 stainless steel housings and current collectors, a nickel anode, and a nickel oxide cathode. Reproducible cell operation has been achieved in these cells, and operational parameters have been brought under control. Necessary improvements in cell components have been defined, and a systematic program of optimization has begun. Components evaluation and development include post-test analysis and evaluation of all …

Advanced fuel cell research activities at Argonne National laboratory during the period of October--December 1978 are described. These efforts have been directed toward understanding and improving the components of molten--carbonate--electrolyte fuel cells operated at temperatures near 925/sup 0/K. The primary focus of this work has been the development of electrolyte structures that have good electrolyte retention and mechanical properties as well as long-term stability, and on developing methods of synthesis amendable to mass production. The characterization of these structures and their stability is an integral part of this effort. Current electrolyte structures are comprised of LiAlO/sub 2/ particles and an eutectic of Li/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ and K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/. The development of procedures for synthesizing LiAlO/sub 2/ from low cost materials is being pursued. The thermal stability of cold-pressed pellets of LiAlO/sub 2/ and carbonate eutectic has been tested at 925/sup 0/K for 22 to 2400 h in air, CO/sub 2/, and H/sub 2/--CO/sub 2/--H/sub 2/O. In general, under these test conditions the allotropic form of the LiAlO/sub 2/ particles remained stable, but their surface area decreased with time of heat treatment. Thermomechanical tests indicated that the strength of LiAlO/sub 2/ pellets increases with increased particle surface area. Several small …

Research is described that led to the discovery of three nuclear-pumped lasers (NPLs) using mixtures of Ne--N/sub 2/, He--Hg, and He or Ne with CO or CO/sub 2/. The Ne--N/sub 2/ NPL was the first laser obtained with modest neutron fluxes from a TRIGA reactor (vs fast burst reactors used elsewhere in such work), the He--Hg NPL was the first visible nuclear-pumped laser, while the Ne--CO and He--CO/sub 2/ lasers are the first to provide energy storage on a millisecond time scale. Important potential applications of NPLs include coupling and power transmission from remote power stations such as nuclear plants in satellites and neutron-feedback operation of inertial confinement fusion plants.

Research discussed includes the experimental study of the effects of structured electrodes on converter performance, an experimental study of a cylindrical converter, an analysis of the operating characteristics of the plasmatron, and the high current zero power converter (ZEPO) test. (WHK)

The individual papers were abstracted separately for the data base. (DG)

A number of important recent advances in the processing of steels have resulted from the sophisticated uses of heat treatment to tailor the microstructure of the steels so that desirable properties are established. These new heat treatments often involve the tempering or annealing of the steel to accompish a partial or complete reversion from martensite to austenite. The influence of these reversion heat treatments on the product microstructure and its properties may be systematically discussed in terms of the heat treating temperature in relation to the phase diagram. From this perspective, four characteristic heat treatments are defined: (1) normal tempering, (2) inter-critical tempering, (3) intercritical annealing, and (4) austenite reversion. The reactions occurring during each of these treatments are described and the nature and properties of typical product microstructures discussed, with specific reference to new commercial or laboratory steels having useful and exceptional properties.

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Two large-scale aerosol behavior tests, using sodium pool fires as the aerosol source, were performed in the Containment Systems Test Facility (CSTF). The tests were conducted to characterize the properties and behavior of sodium aerosol particles formed and aged in a large containment vessel. The 20-m high, 850-m/sup 3/ CSTF containment building in regard to parameters that affect agglomeration and gravitational settling. In both tests, sodium burned for one hour in a 4.38-m/sup 2/ pool, and the only difference between them was that steam was injected during the second test, simulating the release of water vapor from heated concrete.

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Air quality impacts of construction activities and induced housing growth as a result of construction activities were evaluated for four possible facilities in the LWR fuel cycle: a fuel reprocessing facility, fuel storage facility, fuel fabrication plant, and a nuclear power plant. Since the fuel reprocessing facility would require the largest labor force, the impacts of construction of that facility were evaluated in detail.