Calculations of water flow through Yucca Mountain show significant dryout and water perching in the vicinity of the proposed nuclear waste repository. These calculations also show that the extent of the dryout and perched water zones is a strong function of the material characteristics which are used to represent the fracture zones. The results show that for 100 {mu}m fracture case appreciable dryout and perched regions exist. When 1 {mu}m fractures are used no dryout or perched regions are calculated.

An integral part of the licensing procedure for the potential nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada involves accurate prediction of the in situ rheology for design and construction of the facility and emplacement of the canisters containing radioactive waste. The data required as input to successful thermal and mechanical models of the behavior of the repository and surrounding lithologies include bulk density, grain density, porosity, compressional and shear wave velocities, elastic moduli, and compressional and tensile strengths. In this study a suite of experiments was performed on cores recovered from the USW-NRG-6 borehole drilled to support the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) at Yucca Mountain. USW-NRG-6 was drilled to a depth of 1100 feet through four thermal/mechanical units of Paintbrush tuff. A large data set has been collected on specimens recovered from borehole USW-NRG-6. Analysis of the results of these experiments showed that there is a correlation between fracture strength, Young`s modulus, compressional wave velocity and porosity. Additional scaling laws relating; static Young`s modulus and compressional wave velocity; and fracture strength and compressional wave velocity are promising. Since there are no other distinct differences in material properties, the scatter that is present at each fixed porosity suggests that the differences …

A number of DOE facilities need to perform confirmatory inventory measurements on items of special nuclear material (SNM). The DOE Office of Safeguards and Security (OSS) has tasked the Safeguards, Safety and Nonproliferation Division (SSN) of the Department of Advanced Technology at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to develop a high-resolution gamma-ray-spectroscopy-based instrument for performing confirmatory inventory measurements on such materials, a ``gamma-ray fingerprint monitor`` (GRFM). This document is a conceptual design for the SSN GRFM system. This conceptual design is based on previous experience with measurements of plutonium-bearing materials and comparison of gamma-ray spectrum features, not on actual tests of the procedures or hardware described. As a result, modifications may be necessary when actual prototype hardware and software are tested in realistic circumstances on actual materials of interest.

The objective of GSAM development is to create a comprehensive, non-proprietary, microcomputer model of the North American natural gas system. GSAM explicitly evaluates the key components of the system, including the resource base, exploration and development practices, extraction technology performance and costs, project economics, transportation costs and restrictions, storage, and end-use. The primary focus is the detailed characterization of the resource base at the reservoir and sub-reservoir level. This disaggregation allows direct evaluation of alternative extraction technologies based on discretely estimated, individual well productivity, required investments, and associated operating costs. GSAM`s design allows users to evaluate complex interactions of current and alternative future technology and policy initiatives as they directly impact the gas market. Key activities completed during the past year include: conducted a comparative analysis of commercial reservoir databases; licensed and screened NRG Associates Significant Oil and Gas Fields of the US reservoir database; developed and tested reduced form reservoir model production type curves; fully developed database structures for use in GSAM and linkage to other systems; developed a methodology for the exploration module; collected and updated upstream capital and operating cost parameters; completed initial integration of downstream/demand models; presented research results at METC Contractor Review Meeting; conducted other …

Measurements of the polarization of J/{psi} produced in pion-nucleus collisions are in disagreement with leading twist QCD prediction where J/{psi} is observed to have negligible polarization whereas theory predicts substantial polarization. The authors argue that this discrepancy cannot be due to poorly known structure functions nor the relative production rates of J/{psi} and {chi}{sub j}. The disagreement between theory and experiment suggests important higher twist corrections, as has earlier been surmised from the anomalous non-factorized nuclear A-dependence of the J/{psi} cross section.

This issue includes the following articles: Federal Facility Compliance Act Task Force forms mixed waste workgroup; Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety considers construction of centralized storage facility; Midwest Commission agrees on capacity limit, advisory committee; EPA responds to California site developer`s queries regarding application of air pollutant standards; county-level disqualification site screening of Pennsylvania complete; Texas Compact legislation introduced in US Senate; Generators ask court to rule in their favor on surcharge rebates lawsuit; Vermont authority and Battelle settle wetlands dispute; Eighth Circuit affirms decision in Nebraska community consent lawsuit; Nebraska court dismisses action filed by Boyd County local monitoring committee; NC authority, Chem-Nuclear, and Stowe exonerated; Senator Johnson introduces legislation to transfer Ward Valley site; Representative Dingell writes to Clinton regarding disposal of low-level radioactive waste; NAS committee on California site convenes; NRC to improve public petition process; NRC releases draft proposed rule on criteria for decontamination and closure of NRC-licensed facilities; and EPA names first environmental justice federal advisory council.

This report is a review of a paper published in the 5th Annual International Conference on High Level Radioactive Wastes. The paper dealt with fluid inclusion studies of calcite veins from Yucca Mountain. This paper is included with this report. The author of this report analyzes the paper`s theory of the origin of these calcite deposits as dissolution and precipitation of carbonate materials from simple rainwater infiltration. The author reviews some of the methods utilized in the original research and the problems with thermometry of fluid inclusions in calcite. The author also expresses concerns over other laboratory procedures utilized to calculate various compositional values.

Elk spend the winter in areas at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that may contain radioactivity above natural and/or worldwide fallout levels. This study was initiated to determine the levels of {sup 90}Sr, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 239}Pu, and total uranium in various tissues (brain, hair, heart, jawbone, kidneys, leg bone, liver, and muscle) of adult cow elk that use LANL lands during the fall/winter months. No significant differences in radionuclide contents were detected in any of the tissue samples collected from elk on LANL lands as compared with elk collected from off-site locations. The total effective (radiation) dose equivalent a person would receive from consuming 3.2 lb of heart, 5.6 lb of liver, and 226 lb of muscle from elk that winter on LANL lands, after natural background has been subtracted, was 0.00008, 0.0001, and 0.008 mrem/yr, respectively. The highest dose was less than 0.01% of the International Commission on Radiological Protection permissible dose limit for protecting the public.

Accomplishments during this report period for waste cementation/processing operations are summarized. During this report period, the team completed an important site visit to the Rocky Flats Facility (RF). This visit focused on extensive interaction with DOE contract personnel about microstructural and phase characterization of saltcrete. A copy of the trip report prepared by the WES team is enclosed. The team prepared a document detailing procedures for sample preparation and analysis to enhance the usefulness of results of the forensic work underway at RF. A copy of this document is enclosed. A proposal was prepared for additional short-term tasks to contribute significantly to gaining the most benefit from data gathered during forensic analyses of saltcrete, and waste-treatment studies, by EG and G. A copy of this proposal was forwarded to RF at the end of May, and it is included.

This describes the planning and execution of a national meeting on alternative fuel vehicles held by teleconference in May of 1994. The report describes program initiation, promotion of the teleconference, production of the teleconference in cooperation with Pennsylvania Public Television Network, evaluation of the conference, expenditures for the project and program results.

The amphiphilic block copolymers of vinyl ether were prepared by living cationic polymerization. The partially deuterated copolymers for SANS experiments were especially synthesized by introducing deuterated phenyl units in the hydrophobic chain. SANS measurements were performed for aqueous solutions of these copolymers by changing H{sub 2}O/D{sub 2}O ratios. The SANS profiles indicate that the micelles in the present system exhibit a core-shell structure and that the size and shape of micelles are largely dependent on the length of hydrophobic chain. The micelle of shorter hydrophobic chain was found to be nearly spherical, whereas the micelle of longer hydrophobic chain was confirmed to have an ellipsoidal shape.

CaMath is an external Mathematica package which can be loaded into Mathematica by a user. CaMath consists of a special set of channel access functions which provides the Mathematica users with easy and flexible access of channel information across the IOC networks. It also provides a complete set of process variable event monitoring functions. The available functions for CaMath, their functionality, and their syntax are described herein. This document also gives examples how a Mathematica user can interface to channel access devices. It is assumed that the user is already familiar with using Mathematica. Few examples of Mathematica module of using CaMath functions are also given in this document.

The NEMS Macroeconomic Activity Module (MAM) tested here was used to generate the Annual Energy Outlook 1994 (AEO94). MAM is a response surface model, not a structural model, composed of three submodules: the National Submodule, the Interindustry Submodule, and the Regional Submodule. Contents of this report are as follows: properties of the mathematical solution; NEMS MAM empirical basis; and scenario analysis. Scenario analysis covers: expectations for scenario analysis; historical world oil price scenario; AEO94 high world oil price scenario; AEO94 low world oil price scenario; and immediate increase world oil price scenario.

The Geothermal Division of DOE initiated the Low-Temperature Geothermal Resources and Technology Transfer Program, following a special appropriation by Congress in 1991, to encourage wider use of lower-temperature geothermal resources through direct-use, geothermal heat-pump, and binary-cycle power conversion technologies. The Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT), the University of Utah Research Institute (UURI), and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute organized the federally-funded program and enlisted the help of ten western states to carry out phase one. This first phase involves updating the inventory of thermal wells and springs with the help of the participating state agencies. The state resource teams inventory thermal wells and springs, and compile relevant information on each sources. OIT and UURI cooperatively administer the program. OIT provides overall contract management while UURI provides technical direction to the state teams. Phase one of the program focuses on replacing part of GEOTHERM by building a new database of low- and moderate-temperature geothermal systems for use on personal computers. For Utah, this involved (1) identifying sources of geothermal date, (2) designing a database structure, (3) entering the new date; (4) checking for errors, inconsistencies, and duplicate records; (5) organizing the data into reporting formats; and (6) generating a map …

Vertical gas motions induced by barometric pressure variations can carry radioactive gases out of the rubblized region produced by an underground nuclear explosion, through overburden rock, into the atmosphere. To better quantify transit time and amount of transport, field experiments were conducted at two sites on Pahute Mesa, Kapelli and Tierra, where radioactive gases had been earlier detected in surface cracks. At each site, two tracer gases were injected into the rubblized chimney 300-400 m beneath the surface and their arrival was monitored by concentration measurements in gas samples extracted from shallow collection holes. The first ``active`` tracer was driven by a large quantity of injected air; the second ``passive`` tracer was introduced with minimal gas drive to observe the natural transport by barometric pumping. Kapelli was injected in the fall of 1990, followed by Tierra in the fall of 1991. Data was collected at both sites through the summer of 1993. At both sites, no surface arrival of tracer was observed during the active phase of the experiment despite the injection of several million cubic feet of air, suggesting that cavity pressurization is likely to induce horizontal transport along high permeability layers rather than vertical transport to the surface. …

Tank structural analysis to include effects of tank modifications for the LRM operations.

A rate expression with first- and second-order terms in the concentration of extractable compounds in solid coal particles is derived from a fundamental free-radical mechanism. The expression was suggested empirically by prior experiments for coal liquefaction in the presence of a hydrogen-donor solvent. Radical reactions are considered to occur in both coal and in solvent. The long-chain approximation justifies the neglect of initiation, hydrogen abstraction, and termination rates as quantitatively insignificant relative to propagation reaction rates.

During this quarter all technical work and documentation of the PULSAR design was completed. They also assisted UCLA in the planning of the DEMO program.In the area of RF technology, a decision was made to fabricate 4in x 4in gyrotron distributed window. An finally, they obtained good agreement between code predictions and measured data for the up and down field redeposition of tungsten in the DIMES-8 experiment.

Highlights of the DIII-D Research Operations are: began experimental research operations; successfully passed radiative divertor project review; presented papers at PSI, Diagnostics, and EPS meetings and prepared IAEA synopses; new computer speeds up data acquisition; completed installation of FWCD antennas with Faraday shields; and completed report of radiative divertor preliminary design with review committee. Summaries are given for progress in research programs; operations; mechanical engineering; electrical engineering; upgrade project; operations support; and collaborative efforts. Brief summaries are given for progress on the International Cooperation task which include JET, ASDEX, TEXTOR, TORE SUPRA, JAERI, TRINTI, T-10, and ARIES support. The work in support of the development plan for the TPX (Tokamak Physics Experiment) goals and milestones continued. Progress in improving on existing models and codes leading to improved understanding of experiments is given. Highlights from the User Service Center are: 18 gigabytes of disks were purchased for exclusive fusion use; a Hewlett-Packard 9000 Series 800 T500 computer was selected as the fusion complete server; the first VAX was removed from the USC cluster; security vulnerability on HP VUE software was corrected; and a cleanup script was developed for the NERSC Cray system. A list of personnel and their assignments is given …

The Puna Geothermal Resource Subzones (GRS) project area encompasses approximately 22,000 acres centered on the Kilauea East Rift Zone in Puna District, Hawaii Island. The area is divided into three subzones proposed for geothermal power development -- Kilauea Middle East Rift, Kamaili and Kapoho GRS. Throughout the time of human occupation, eruptive episodes along the rift have maintained a dynamic landscape. Periodic volcanic events, for example, have changed the coastline configuration, altered patterns of agriculturally suitable sediments, and created an assortment of periodically active, periodically quiescent, volcanic hazards. Because of the active character of the rift zone, then, the area`s occupants have always been obliged to organize their use of the landscape to accommodate a dynamic mosaic of lava flow types and ages. While the specific configuration of settlements and agricultural areas necessarily changed in response to volcanic events, it is possible to anticipate general patterns in the manner in which populations used the landscape through time. This research design offers a model that predicts the spatial results of long-term land-use patterns and relates them to the character of the archaeological record of that use. In essence, the environmental/land-use model developed here predicts that highest population levels, and hence the …

Wide-angle neutron diffraction measurements at temperatures from 6 to 250 K indicate that the major portion of a nanocrystalline chromium sample with a mean grain size of 73 nm becomes antiferromagnetically ordered at 119 {plus_minus} 10 K. The remainder of the sample has a Neel temperature above 250 K, as expected for coarse-grained chromium. No evidence for antiferromagnetic order in a second sample with a mean grain size of 11 nm was observed, even to temperatures as low as 6 K.

We demonstrate how the formulation of a nonlinear scale-space filter can be used for edge detection and junction analysis. By casting edge-preserving filtering in terms of maximizing information content subject to an average cost function, the computed cost at each pixel location becomes a local measure of edgeness. This computation depends on a single scale parameter and the given image data. Unlike previous approaches which require careful tuning of the filter kernels for various types of edges, our scheme is general enough to be able to handle different edges, such as lines, step-edges, corners and junctions. Anisotropy in the data is handled automatically by the nonlinear dynamics.

This paper shows an analysis of the applicability of an adsorption system for electric vehicle (EV) air conditioning. Adsorption systems are designed and optimized to provide the required cooling for four combinations of vehicle characteristics and driving cycles. The resulting adsorption systems are compared with vapor compression air conditioners that can satisfy the cooling load. The objective function is the overall system weight, which includes the cooling system weight and the weight of the battery necessary to provide energy for air conditioner operation. The system with the minimum overall weight is considered to be the best, because a lower weight results in an increased vehicle range. The results indicate that, for the conditions analyzed in this paper, vapor compression air conditioners are superior to adsorption systems not only because they are lighter, but also because they have a higher COP and are more compact.

Steady-state flow and tracer transport between an injection well and a pumping we in a heterogeneous confined aquifer were investigated with numerical modeling. Calculation of transport was based on the advective model for heterogeneous aquifers. Dispersion was assumed to be controlled by microscale velocity variation. An effective parameter of dispersion evaluated on the breakthrough curves was defined to account for the influences of heterogeneity. Breakthrough curves were calculated by using numerical modeling of transport in a strongly heterogeneous aquifer with spatial heterogeneous transmissivity fields. The results of modeling were processed by comparison with analytical solutions of doublet systems to obtain the effective parameters. A special solution was developed for advective transport in aquifers with a layered structure. Examples of real field heterogeneity were given to show its influence on breakthrough cures and the resulting impact on the effective macroscopic parameters.