The technology as well as commercial suppliers have been developed for high temperature thermocouples for the Loss-of-Fluid-Test (LOFT) program. Two types of thermocouples were developed and tested. Model B units contained a 1/16-inch OD 24-inch long Mo/Re sheath probe and were capable of temperature measurement to 1550/sup 0/C. Model A units contained a 1/16-inch OD 41-inch long W/Re-augmented sheath probe and were capable of temperature measurement to 2200/sup 0/C.

Contrary to previous theoretical predictions, it is shown that the dissipative drift-wave instabilities are absolute in tokamak plasmas. The existence of unstable eigenmodes is shown to be associated with a new eigenmode branch induced by the finite toroidal couplings.

Newsletter issued by the Advisory Council for Technical-Vocational Education in Texas discussing news, events, and other relevant information related to technical and vocational education for adults in Texas.

This report presents the results of work performed from January 1, 1979 through March 31, 1979 on the Advanced Gas Cooled Nuclear Reactor Materials Evaluation and Development Program. The objectives of this program are to evaluate candidate alloys for Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Nuclear Process Heat (NPH) and Direct Cycle Helium Turbine (DCHT) applications, in terms of the effect of simulated reactor primary coolant (helium containing small amounts of various other gases), high temperatures, and long time exposures, on the mechanical properties and structural and surface stability of selected candidate alloys. Work covered in this report includes the activities associated with the creep-rupture testing of the test materials for the purpose of verifying the stresses selected for the screening creep test program, and the status of the simulated reactor helium supply system, testing equipment, and gas chemistry analysis instrumentation and equipment.

Aerial thermography is being used on a large scale to promote energy conservation ostensibly by pointing out structures or parts of structures having high heat loss.

From introduction: This volume contains information and survey results pertaining specifically to the Ritzville NTMS 1:250,000 scale Quadrangle, Washington, one of a group of 12 such quadrangles in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Washington included in an aerial radiometric and magnetic reconnaissance survey. General information concerning the instrumentation and methods used in data acquisition, processing, and interpretation is presented in Volume 1 of this final report.

Appendix containing single-record and averaged-record data listings to accompany a report on aerial radiometric and magnetic reconnaissance of the Ritzville Quadrangle.

From introduction: This volume contains information and survey results pertaining specifically to the Hot Springs NTMS 1:250,000 scale Quadrangle, South Dakota, one of a group of 12 such quadrangles in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Washington included in an aerial radiometric and magnetic reconnaissance survey. General information concerning the instrumentation and methods used in data acquisition, processing, and interpretation is presented in Volume 1 of this final report.

Appendix containing tables to accompany a report on aerial radiometric and magnetic reconnaissance survey of the Hot Springs Quadrangle.

From introduction: This volume contains information and survey results pertaining specifically to the Saint Johns NTMS 1:250,000 scale Quadrangle, Arizona and New Mexico, one of a group of 12 such quadrangles in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Washington included in an aerial radiometric and magnetic reconnaissance survey. General information concerning the instrumentation and methods used in data acquisition, processing, and interpretation is presented in Volume 1 of this final report.

Appendix containing tables to accompany a report on aerial radiometric and magnetic reconnaissance survey of St. Johns Quadrangle.

The results of sodium spray fires in air in the 850-m/sup 3/ CSTF vessel are discussed. During these tests, sodium at 600/sup 0/C was sprayed downward through commercial nozzles located 16 m above the floor. Test AB3 released 48 kg of sodium spray in 140 seconds with 670-..mu..m MMD drop size and produced a maximum pressure increase of 0.041 MPa and 30 g/m/sup 3/ of airborne sodium compounds. Test NT-1 sprayed 82 kg of sodium at 320 ..mu..m MMD drop size over 4.7 hours. In both tests, large stable temperature gradients, not predicated by pre-test SPRAY computer code calculations, were observed. Also, post-test estimations of pressure and aerosol concentration made using SPRAY and HAA-3B codes exceeded actual values measured. Thus, the codes conservatively over-predicted the aerosol leakage potential. The experimental data and the SPRAY and HAA-3B code calculations are compared and discussed.

A network of up to six air monitoring and sampling stations were operated 4 to 23 km downwind of the 700 MW coal-fired power plants at Colstrip, Montana. Continuous monitoring identified background SO/sub 2/ levels in the surrounding air at approximately 1 ppB (2.3 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/). Average air concentrations measured in 1978 throughout the network increased to about 2 ppB (4.6 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/) as a result of power plant operations. Meteorological and aerosol correlations with SO/sub 2/ concentrations helped identify and isolate the major source. The high sensitivity for SO/sub 2/ measurement provided resolution of all significant power plant plume fumigations at ground level. The magnitude of SO/sub 2/ exposures were higher than predicted in this rough terrain environment.

First volume of a final report documenting the results of an airborne radiometric and magnetic survey in a portion of Colorado and Utah, including a description of the survey methods, calibration of the systems, data processing and displays, and interpretation methods.

Second volume of a final report documenting the results of an airborne radiometric and magnetic survey, including data displays and interpretation results for the Cortez quadrangle.

This report documents the airborne gamma-ray spectrometer and magnetometer survey over the Du Bois quadrangle in Idaho, Montana, the study takes place between August 29 and September 21, 1978.

The following report is a collection of maps documenting the findings from the airborne gamma-ray spectrometer and magnetometer survey in the Du Bois Quadrangle.

The Amchitka Radiobiological Program began in 1970 and is a continuing program to collect biological and environmental samples for radiometric analyses. This report is an account of the program for calendar year 1978. Results of analyses for samples collected in August 1978 have been added to the tables of Seymour and Johnson (1978) which summarize the Amchitka program from 1970 to 1977 and include analyses for: (1) gamma-emitting radionuclides in freshwater, birds, lichens, marine algae, marine invertebrates, fish, aufwuchs, and freshwater moss and plants; (2) strontium-90 (/sup 90/Sr) in rats, birds, and soil; (3) /sup 239/, /sup 240/Pu in sand, soil, marine algae, and fish; and (4) tritium (/sup 3/H) in seawater, freshwater, and biological organisms. Monitoring of background radiation with survey instruments was added to the Laboratory's program in 1974, and the results of the five annual surveys since that date are included in this report. Conclusions from the results of the recent analyses are a reiteration of the results stated in Nelson and Seymour (1975a); namely, (1) no new radionuclides are present; (2) the most abundant radionuclides are naturally occurring beryllium-7 (/sup 7/Be) and potassium-40 (/sup 40/K); (3) the trace quantities of fission products and induced radionuclides are …

The prospects for generation of significant electric power using low-cost photovoltaic solar cells seem brighter with recent developments in sensitive impurity doping of glow-discharge-produced films of amorphous silicon containing large amounts of hydrogen (a-Si:H). The approach being taken to achieve the program objective centers on substituting sputtering for glow-discharge in the deposition of the a-Si:H films. Both planar and cylindrical forms of magnetron sputtering are being investigated in this program. Brief descriptions of the systems being used are presented. The planar system has the advantage that experimental costs are low; the cylindrical system is easily scalable to large product throughput. A-Si:H films are being prepared by magnetron sputtering, with reactive gases and/or doped Si targets, to achieve a reproducible and controllable process for the fabrication of solar cell devices. Ion implantation is being used for alloying and doping studies. This allows for a rapid and systematic survey of alloy materials, such as H, F and transition metals, for reducing mid-gap states, and also dopants, such as B, P and As, for conductivity control. In addition to being a flexible exploratory tool, ion implantation also has the potential for incorporation into large-scale production processes. The first quarter program plan emphasis was …

Analyses of a number of geothermal binary-cycles were made with the objective of finding a cycle which can produce low-cost electrical energy from a moderately low-temperature geothermal resource. Cycles were screened which included isobutane, pentane, cis-2-butene, and several mixed-hydrocarbon working fluids. Dual- and triple-boiling cycles were analyzed. Both shell-and-tube and direct-contact boilers, heaters, and condensers were assessed. A geothermal fluid (geo-fluid), typical of Raft River resource conditions was assumed, which has a temperature of 290/sup 0/F and 52 parts per million dissolved nitrogen. Special emphasis in the analyses was directed toward investigation of several methods for keeping the loss of working fluid for the cycle at an acceptable level. It was concluded that for the Raft River geo-fluid, the direct-contact cycle has a potential for net geofluid utilization effectiveness values, (watt-hr/lbm geo-fluid) equivalent to those of the shell-and-tube cycle. Therefore, because of the lower cost of direct-contact components, a potential exists for the direct-contact plant to produce lower cost electrical energy than a comparable shell-and-tube plant. Advanced cycles were assessed which showed improvements in net geo-fluid utilization effectivness, relative to the first Raft River 5-MW Pilot Plant (dual-boiling, shell-and-tube isobutane cycle), of up to 19%.

The activities involved in geopressured-geothermal resource production are identified and their ecological impacts are discussed. The analysis separates those activites that are unique to geopressured-geothermal development from those that also occur in oil and gas and other resource developments. Of the unique activities, those with the greatest potential for serious ecological effect are: (1) accidental brine discharge as a result of a blowout during well drilling; (2) subsidence; (3) fault activation and enhanced seismicity; and (4) subsurface contamination of water, hydrocarbon, and mineral reservoirs. Available methods to predict and control these effects are discussed.

Low- and medium-Btu gases (LBG and MBG) can be produced from coal with a variety of 13 existing and 25 emerging processes. Historical experience and previous studies indicate a large potential market for LBG and MBG coal gasification in the manufacturing industries for fuel and feedstocks. However, present use in the US is limited, and industry has not been making substantial moves to invest in the technology. Near-term (1979-1985) market activity for LBG and MBG is highly uncertain and is complicated by a myriad of pressures on industry for energy-related investments. To assist in planning its program to accelerate the commercialization of LBG and MBG, the Department of Energy (DOE) contracted with Booz, Allen and Hamilton to characterize and forecast the 1985 industrial market for LBG and MBG coal gasification. The study draws five major conclusions: (1) There is a large technically feasible market potential in industry for commercially available equipment - exceeding 3 quadrillion Btu per year. (2) Early adopters will be principally steel, chemical, and brick companies in described areas. (3) With no additional Federal initiatives, industry commitments to LBG and MBG will increase only moderately. (4) The major barriers to further market penetration are lack of economic …

In the two years since the last Gordon Conference, we have shifted our interest in laser-plasma interactions to the long pulse (1 ns) regime on the Argus facility. A variable Z disk series (at 3 x 10/sup 14/ W/cm/sup 2/) has been carried out and the Z dependence of line emission, backscatter, /sub h/ (hot electron temperature) and transport inhibition will be described. A variable thickness Au disk series that studied preheat and shocks will be analyzed. A simple theory for why T/sub h/ scales as Z/sup 1/4/ is presented, and a description of an electron transport experiment through layered disk targets is given.

A number of reactor deployment strategies for long-term nuclear system development are analyzed from a global perspective in terms of resource utilization and economic benefits. Two time frames are chosen: 1975 - 2025 and 1975 - 2050. Uranium demand for various strategies is compared with uranium supply assuming different production capabilities and resource base. The analysis shows that a given reactor deployment strategy could strongly influence the extent of uranium exploration and production. Power systems cost comparisons are made to identify clearly competitive or non-competitive reactors. The sensitivity of power cost to different uranium price projections and nuclear demands is also examined. The results indicate that breeders are necessary to support a long-term nuclear power system. Advanced converter-breeder symbiotic systems, particularly those operating on the Th/U-233 cycle, have clear advantages in terms of resources and economics.