Coupon immersion tests were performed on ASTM A537 Class 1 carbon steel in simulated DWPF recycle solutions at 90 [+-] 2[degrees]C, as part of the continuing effort to investigate the formation of shock-sensitive deposits. Coupons were partially immersed for four months in solutions of the same composition used previously at SRTC and at the DuPont Engineering Test Center (a salt solution containing 0.5 M hydroxide and 0.043 M nitrite). Shock-sensitive deposits were not seen on the coupons from this test. There was considerable general corrosion above the water line due to condensate and distilled water contact of the steel. New immersion tests are being planned for completion by September, 1993. The new test solution will reflect the recycle stream chemistry changes brought about by planned ammonia scrubbing in the DWPF.

Coupon immersion tests were performed on ASTM A537 Class 1 carbon steel in simulated DWPF recycle solutions at 90 {+-} 2{degrees}C, as part of the continuing effort to investigate the formation of shock-sensitive deposits. Coupons were partially immersed for four months in solutions of the same composition used previously at SRTC and at the DuPont Engineering Test Center (a salt solution containing 0.5 M hydroxide and 0.043 M nitrite). Shock-sensitive deposits were not seen on the coupons from this test. There was considerable general corrosion above the water line due to condensate and distilled water contact of the steel. New immersion tests are being planned for completion by September, 1993. The new test solution will reflect the recycle stream chemistry changes brought about by planned ammonia scrubbing in the DWPF.

The Pennsylvania State University is conducting a superclean coal-water slurry (SCCWS) program for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the objective of determining the capability of effectively firing SCCWS in an industrial boiler designed for heavy fuel oil. Penn State has entered into a cooperative agreement with DOE to determine if SCCWS (a fuel containing coal with 3.0 wt.% ash and 0.9 wt.% sulfur) can effectively be burned in a heavy fuel oil-designed industrial boiler without adverse impact on boiler rating, maintainability, reliability, and availability. The project will provide information on the design of new systems specifically configured to fire these clean coal-based fuels. The project consists of four phases: (1) design, permitting, and test planning, (2) construction and start up, (3) demonstration and evaluation (1,000-hour demonstration), and (4) program expansion (additional 1,000 hours of testing). The boiler testing wig determine if the SCCWS combustion characteristics, heat release rate, fouling and slagging behavior, corrosion and erosion limits, and fuel transport, storage, and handling characteristics can be accommodated in an oil-designed boiler system. In addition, the proof-of-concept demonstration will generate data to determine how the properties of SCCWS and its parent coal affect boiler …

The Pennsylvania State University is conducting a superclean coal-water slurry (SCCWS) program for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the objective of determining the capability of effectively firing SCCWS in an industrial boiler designed for heavy fuel oil. Penn State has entered into a cooperative agreement with DOE to determine if SCCWS (a fuel containing coal with 3.0 wt.% ash and 0.9 wt.% sulfur) can effectively be burned in a heavy fuel oil-designed industrial boiler without adverse impact on boiler rating, maintainability, reliability, and availability. The project will provide information on the design of new systems specifically configured to fire these clean coal-based fuels. The project consists of four phases: (1) design, permitting, and test planning, (2) construction and start up, (3) demonstration and evaluation (1,000-hour demonstration), and (4) program expansion (additional 1,000 hours of testing). The boiler testing wig determine if the SCCWS combustion characteristics, heat release rate, fouling and slagging behavior, corrosion and erosion limits, and fuel transport, storage, and handling characteristics can be accommodated in an oil-designed boiler system. In addition, the proof-of-concept demonstration will generate data to determine how the properties of SCCWS and its parent coal affect boiler …

Letter opinion issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether a legislator who serves as an independent contractor for an independent school district holds a “position of profit under this State” (RQ-513)

Newsletter focusing on pecan disease and pest control in Texas, including prevention, identification, treatment, and educational opportunities.

In this paper the authors compare and contrast three powerful methods for experimentally measuring bond energies in polyatomic molecules. The methods are: radical kinetics; gas phase acidity cycles; and photoionization mass spectroscopy. The knowledge of the values of bond energies are a basic piece of information to a chemist. Chemical reactions involve the making and breaking of chemical bonds. It has been shown that comparable bonds in polyatomic molecules, compared to the same bonds in radicals, can be significantly different. These bond energies can be measured in terms of bond dissociation energies.

Diffusion-bonded NiAl-Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] and Ni[sub 3]Al-Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] couples were thermally fatigued at 900 C for 1500 and 3500 cycles. The fiber-matrix interface weakened after 3500 cycles for the Saphikon fibers, while the Altex, PRD-166, and FP fibers showed little, if any, degradation. Diffusion bonding of fibers to Nb matrix is being studied. Coating the fibers slightly increases the tensile strength and has a rule-of-mixtures effect on elastic modulus. Push-out tests on Sumitomo and FP fibers in Ni aluminide matrices were repeated. Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] was evaporated directly from pure oxide rod onto acoustically levitated Si carbide particles, using a down-firing, rod-fed electron beam hearth; superior coatings were subsequently produced using concurrent irradiation with 200-eV argon ion-assist beam. The assist beam produced adherent films with reduced tensile stresses. In diffusion bonding in B-doped Ni[sub 3]Al matrices subjected to compressive bonding at 40 MPa at 1100 C for 1 hr, the diffusion barriers failed to prevent catastrophic particle- matrix reaction, probably because of inadequate film quality. AlN coatings are currently being experimented with, produced by both reactive evaporation and by N[sup +]-ion enhanced deposition. A 3-kW rod-fed electron-beam-heated evaporation source has been brought into operation.

Diffusion-bonded NiAl-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Ni{sub 3}Al-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} couples were thermally fatigued at 900 C for 1500 and 3500 cycles. The fiber-matrix interface weakened after 3500 cycles for the Saphikon fibers, while the Altex, PRD-166, and FP fibers showed little, if any, degradation. Diffusion bonding of fibers to Nb matrix is being studied. Coating the fibers slightly increases the tensile strength and has a rule-of-mixtures effect on elastic modulus. Push-out tests on Sumitomo and FP fibers in Ni aluminide matrices were repeated. Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} was evaporated directly from pure oxide rod onto acoustically levitated Si carbide particles, using a down-firing, rod-fed electron beam hearth; superior coatings were subsequently produced using concurrent irradiation with 200-eV argon ion-assist beam. The assist beam produced adherent films with reduced tensile stresses. In diffusion bonding in B-doped Ni{sub 3}Al matrices subjected to compressive bonding at 40 MPa at 1100 C for 1 hr, the diffusion barriers failed to prevent catastrophic particle- matrix reaction, probably because of inadequate film quality. AlN coatings are currently being experimented with, produced by both reactive evaporation and by N{sup +}-ion enhanced deposition. A 3-kW rod-fed electron-beam-heated evaporation source has been brought into operation.

This was the fifth quarter of the contract. During this quarter we (1) got approval for the NEPA requirements related to the field work, (2) placed the subcontract for the field data acquisition, (3) completed the field work, and (4) began processing the seismic data. As already reported, the field data acquisition was at Acomo`s Powder River Basin site in southeast Wyoming. This is a low permeability fractured site, with both gas and oil present. The reservoir is highly compartmentalized, due to the low permeability, with the fractures providing the only practical drainage paths for production. The two formations of interest are: The Niobrara: a fractured shale and limey shale to chalk, which is a reservoir rock, but also its own source rock. The Frontier: a tight sandstone lying directly below the Niobrara, brought into contact with it by an unconformity. The fractures are thought to lie in a roughly northwest-southeast trend, along the strike of a flexure, which forms one of the boundaries of the basin.

As part of the integrated verification experiment (IVE), we deployed a network of hf ionospheric sounders to detect the effects of acoustic waves generated by surface ground motion following underground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site. The network sampled up to four geographic locations in the ionosphere from almost directly overhead of the surface ground zero out to a horizontal range of 60 km. We present sample results for four of the IVEs: Misty Echo, Texarkana, Mineral Quarry, and Bexar.

As part of the integrated verification experiment (IVE), we deployed a network of hf ionospheric sounders to detect the effects of acoustic waves generated by surface ground motion following underground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site. The network sampled up to four geographic locations in the ionosphere from almost directly overhead of the surface ground zero out to a horizontal range of 60 km. We present sample results for four of the IVEs: Misty Echo, Texarkana, Mineral Quarry, and Bexar.

During the last quarter, work has focused on developing a numerical model to. approximate the flow characteristics of the Gladys McCall reservoir. Various reservoir models have been used in the study to simulate the well transient pressure and pressure derivative behavior during the reservoir production period. The pressure behavior of the 1983 Reservoir Limits Test (RLT) was closely matched by an elongated linear reservoir model with the well located off-center. The matching procedure appears to provide reasonable estimates of the probable configuration of Gladys McCall reservoir.geometry. Double-slope pressure behavior (on a semilog plot) develops after the. early radial flow period, indicating the existence of a no-flow boundary near the well. At later times, linear flow character (square-root-time straight line) becomes clear when two closer boundaries are both felt at the well.

During the last quarter, work has focused on developing a numerical model to. approximate the flow characteristics of the Gladys McCall reservoir. Various reservoir models have been used in the study to simulate the well transient pressure and pressure derivative behavior during the reservoir production period. The pressure behavior of the 1983 Reservoir Limits Test (RLT) was closely matched by an elongated linear reservoir model with the well located off-center. The matching procedure appears to provide reasonable estimates of the probable configuration of Gladys McCall reservoir.geometry. Double-slope pressure behavior (on a semilog plot) develops after the. early radial flow period, indicating the existence of a no-flow boundary near the well. At later times, linear flow character (square-root-time straight line) becomes clear when two closer boundaries are both felt at the well.