For the purpose of nonlinear control and uncertainty/imprecision handling, fuzzy controllers have recently reached acclaim and increasing commercial application. The fuzzy control algorithms often require a ``supervisory`` routine that provides necessary heuristics for interface, adaptation, mode selection and other implementation issues. Performance characteristics of an on-line fuzzy controller depend strictly on the ability of such supervisory routines to manipulate the fuzzy control algorithm and enhance its control capabilities. This paper describes an expert system driven fuzzy control design application to nuclear reactor control, for the automated start-up control of the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II. The methodology is verified through computer simulations using a valid nonlinear model. The necessary heuristic decisions are identified that are vitally important for the implemention of fuzzy control in the actual plant. An expert system structure incorporating the necessary supervisory routines is discussed. The discussion also includes the possibility of synthesizing the fuzzy, exact and combined reasoning to include both inexact concepts, uncertainty and fuzziness, within the same environment.

We have examined optical constants and predicted reflectivities of candidate surface coatings for whisper gallery mirrors in the extreme ultraviolet (100 {Angstrom} to 500 {Angstrom}). Previous work of Vinogradov and coworkers have identified the spectral regime near 100-150 {Angstrom} as particularly promising due to the high whisper gallery mirror reflectivities of the noble metals in the vicinity of their Cooper minima in this regime. We confirm this basic result using newer optical data, and we have sought surface materials which would extend the range over which the whisper gallery mirrors may be used: between 100 to 500 {Angstrom}. We find that substantial whisper gallery mirror reflectivities (near or greater than 50%) are predicted for a variety of elements, and that the TE peak reflection is larger than TM peak reflection by on the order of 10%. However, most of the elements which do reflect well have surfaces that are vulnerable to oxygen contamination, which seriously degrades mirror performance. A cryogenic mirror design using a dynamic solid rare gas surface which has the potential to defeat such surface contaminations is described: it has peak reflectivity of more than 50% centered near 280 {Angstrom}. 8 figs, 18 refs.

A brief summary is presented of the current status of jet studies in hadron-hadron collisions. The primary focus is on those issues that would benefit from comparisons of jet samples obtained from hadron-hadron collisions, from e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} annihilation events at LEP and from deep inelastic collisions at HERA. The important point is that, to perform this comparison properly, the jet various samples must be obtained using the same jet definition.

Microwave and intense electron beam excitation of copper vapor are being investigated to be used in copper vapor lasers for isotope separation. Both methods use copper chloride vapor by heating copper chloride. Helium was used as the buffer gas at 2 to 100 torr. In the microwave system, intense copperlines at 510 nm and 578 nm were observed. Initial electron beam results indicate that light emission follows the beam current.

Experiments on cobalt-catalyzed reactions of light 1-alkenes added to synthesis gas were performed. Data have been collected at 220C, 0.45 to 1.48 MPa and a synthesis gas flow rate between 0.015 and 0.030 Nl/(gcat{center_dot}min) with H{sub 2}/CO of 1.45 to 2.25. Ethylene, propene, and butene were added to synthesis gas feed from 0.5 to 1.2 mole% of total feed. For each material balance in which 1-alkenes were added, a material balance was performed at similar process conditions without 1-alkenes added, as ``base case``. Material balances without added 1-alkenes were also repeated to verify of catalyst selectivity stability. 49 material balances were performed during a single run lasting over 2,500 hours-on-stream. The hydrocarbon data have been completely analyzed; data correlations are still being made. Since C{sub 3}/C{sub 1} ratios by ethene addition, C{sub 4}/C{sub 1} ratios by propene addition, and C{sub 5}/C{sub 1} ratios by 1-butene addition, it appears that 1-alkenes may incorporate into growing chains on the surface of the catalyst. Further evidence for incorporation can be seen by comparing selectivity to n-alcohol one carbon number higher than added 1-alkene. Yield of this n-alcohol increases when alkenes are present. Sensitivity of hydrocarbon distribution to process variables seems to be greater …

A robot arm apparatus is provided for inspecting and/or maintaining an interior of a steam generator which has an outside wall and a port for accessing the interior of the steam generator. The robot arm apparatus includes a flexible movable conduit for conveying inspection and/or maintenance apparatus from outside the steam generator to the interior of the steam generator. The flexible conduit has a terminal working end which is translated into and around the interior of the steam generator. Three motors located outside the steam generator are employed for moving the terminal working end inside the steam generator in ``x,`` ``y,`` and ``z`` directions, respectively. Commonly conducted inspection and maintenance operations include visual inspection for damaged areas, water jet lancing for cleaning sludge deposits, core boring for obtaining sludge deposits, and scrubbing of internal parts.

None

A method has been found for treating phenolic resin filter, whereby the filter is solubilized within the filter cartridge housing so the filter material can be removed from the cartridge housing in a remote manner. The invention consists of contacting the filter within the housing with an aqueous solution of about 8 to 12M nitric acid, at a temperature from about 110 to 190{degree}F, maintaining the contact for a period of time sufficient to solubilize the phenolic material within the housing, and removing the solubilized phenolic material from the housing, thereby removing the filter cartridge from the housing. Any hazardous or other waste material can then be separated from the filter material by chemical or other means.

The invention is a process for selectively extracting strontium and technetium values from aqueous nitric acid waste solutions containing these and other fission product values. The extractant is a macrocyclic polyether in a diluent which is insoluble in water, but which will itself dissolve a small amount of water. The process will extract strontium and technetium values from nitric acid solutions which are up to 6 molar in nitric acid.

Ash accumulation is a key issue relative to our ability to achieve D-{sup 3}He ARIES III burn conditions. 1-1/2-d transport simulations using the BALDUR code have been used to examine the correlation between the global ash particle confinement time and the edge exhaust (or recycling) efficiency. This provides a way to benchmark the widely used 0-D model. The burn conditions for an ARIES-III plasma with various ash edge recycling coefficients are examined.

The overall objective of this project is to perform experiments to evaluate the necessary boundary conditions in the preparation and utilization of Coal Water Slurries and also develop a data base for the conceptual analysis of a prescription to predict slurry quality for a given coal candidate.

This is a brief review of the progress in the understanding, during the past twenty years, of hadronic elastic scattering near the forward direction at high energies. On the basis of quantum gauge field theories, the Pomeron is found to be a branch cut above 1. Using the physical picture that this result implies, phenomenology for proton-proton and antiproton-proton elastic scattering is constructed. Two noteworthy features are that, at high energies, both the total cross section and the ratio of the integrated elastic cross section to the total cross section to the total cross section are increasing functions of the center-of-mass energy. Detailed predictions are given for the elastic differential cross sections, Coulomb interference and the ratios of the real to imaginary parts of the forward amplitudes. These predictions have been extensively and accurately confirmed by experiments, and have also been given both for future experiments on existing accelerators and for experiments on future accelerators. 14 refs., 2 figs.

This overview of research conducted at ORNL in 1991 presents information on the subjects of biology, physics, and the environment. Specific topics include gene mutations in kidney disease, technology assessments in thermonuclear fusion, submarine hunting technology, ozone-safe refrigerants, optical data storage via surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, and waste mitigating microbes. (GHH)

Electron beam transport system parameters for the FEL experiment and for the FEL experiment are given. The perturbation of the ``interaction region`` optics due to wiggler focussing is taken into account and a range of solutions are provided for relevant Twiss parameters in the FEL or IFEL region. Modifications of the transport optics in specific sections of the overall beam transport lines, for reasons of enhanced diagnostic capability or enhanced beam momentum analysis resolution, is also presented.

The amorphous to crystalline transformations of Ge in Al/Ge thin film couples has been studied using glancing angle EXAFS, x-ray reflectivity and diffraction. It was found that crystallization occurs at a much lower temperature (118--150{degrees}C) than for bulk Ge, and initiates at the Al/Ge interface. X-ray diffraction studies were made at 152{degrees}C to study the kinetics of the reaction. After an initial period we find good agreement with a square root dependence of the time, characteristic of a diffusion limited reaction.

This report discusses: Theory of turbulent flame speed; flame extinction by periodic flow field; influence of swirl on the structure and extinction of premixed flames; propagation and extinction of nonsteady spherical flame fronts; geometrically invariant formulation of the intrinsic dynamics of premixed flames; nonlinear dynamics of oscillatory regime of premixed combustion; and pattern formation in premixed flames. (LSP)

The product of several advanced physical coal cleaning processes is a dry ultra-fine coal (DC), in the order of 10 microns mean mass diameter. To utilize this fuel commercially, cost-effective, environmentally safe systems must be provided for the storage, transport, and handling of this finely divided form of fuel. The objective of the project described herein is the development of total logistics systems for DC, including experimental verification of key features. The systems to be developed will provide for safe, economic, and environmentally protective storage and delivery of DC for residential, commercial, and industrial uses. (VC)

This document describes a method for converting starch into lactic acid of sufficient purity for use as a substrate for biodegradable plastics. The process is designed to work on industrial food waste streams such as potato wastes or cheese whey permeate. For potato waste, {alpha}-amylase and calcium chloride are added to the starch containing waste and incubated at a pH of 4--7, a temperature of 90--130{degree}C, and a pressure above 15 psi for not less than 15 minutes. At this point, glucoamylase is added and the mixture is incubated at a temperature of 50--70{degree}C and a pH below 6.5 for 4 hours. This results in the conversion of more than 90% of the starch into glucose, which is substantially free of microbial contamination. The hydrolysate is filtered, and introduced with additional nutrients to a fermentor containing a lactose producing microorganism to form a fermentation broth. This results in the fermentation of glucose to lactose, which is filtered and subjected to electrodialysis for purification. Conversion of glucose to lactic acid or lactate occurs with an efficiency of over 95%. 1 fig. (MHB)

In 1989, the research group`s activities were divided into several components. The major activity was Experiment PS 197 at CERN-LEAR with the Crystal Barrel detector. This report will deal mainly with the results of our experiment to date and the future of the program at LEAR. The second effort was the completion of several projects which are in the data analysis and publication phase: muon-catalyzed fusion, which will be the thesis of Tom Case; muon decay {eta} parameter, the thesis of Roy Bossingham; and several other publications which are appearing or have appeared this year. The third area being pursued involves the KAON Factory at TRIUMF, where a working group on hadron spectroscopy has been formed. Responsibilities for program organization are shared by Ken Crowe and Martin Comyn of TRIUMF. In July 1990, a major meeting was held with this group. There was a week-long series of sessions reviewing the progress, updating the design and planning the program for both the periods before and after the final approval of KAON by the Canadian government.

The major activities of the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council for 1989 are reviewed. The following are discussed: the Navy Panel, the CO2 Panel, the Committee on the Ocean`s Role in Global Change, the Committee on the Coastal Ocean, the Workshop on Issues of U.S. Marine Fisheries, and the Continental Margins Workshop Committee. Future plans are covered.

A commercial teleoperated wheeled vehicle was fitted with a modified commercial spray/vacuum decontamination system to allow floor and wall decontamination of an existing process room in one of the chemical separations areas at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Custom end-of-arm tooling was designed to provide sufficient compliance for routine cleaning operations. An operator console was designed to allow complete control of the vehicle base and are movements as well as viewing operations via multiple television monitors. 3 refs.

Rapid heating tensile tests from room temperature to above 1000{degree}C have been performed on specimens of solution-annealed Incoloy 903 charged with hydrogen and tritium. Absorbed hydrogen had very little effect on tensile properties. Internal helium from radioactive decay of absorbed tritium drastically decreased ductility above 700{degree}C.

Specialized miniature low cost video equipment has been effectively used in a number of remote, radioactive, and contaminated environments at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The equipment and related techniques have reduced the potential for personnel exposure to both radiation and physical hazards. The valuable process information thus provided would not have otherwise been available for use in improving the quality of operation at SRS.

SRS reactor charges are designed to ensure the reactor remains subcritical during chargeback and shutdown conditions. Calculations have recently been performed to determine the shutdown k{sub eff} for the K-14 charge. This document discusses the results and uncertainties.