We have constructed a quadrupole-mass filter system to measure the equilibrium constants and rates of reaction of the ..beta..-particle-induced exchanges between H/sub 2/, D/sub 2/, and T/sub 2/ at cryogenic temperatures. Even with careful calibration experiments at 25.4/sup 0/C, we could not completely remove the mass discrimination inherent in our method. We estimate the accuracy of our mixture analyses to be +-2.2% in the D/sub 2/-DT-T/sub 2/ system, and +-9% in the H/sub 2/-HT-T/sub 2/ system. Preliminary kinetic experiments showed that the time to reach equilibrium in the exchange H/sub 2/ + T/sub 2/ = 2HT is 7 to 14 h. The equivalent time interval in the exchange D/sub 2/ + T/sub 2/ = 2DT is 3 to 7 h. This measured isotope effect of two can be used to predict the rates of the DT exchange from the HT rates in the literature.

Four runs were conducted in the Zirflex-Sulfex headend hot cell equipment. Prototype PWR blanket rods, Zircaloy2 clad UO/sub 2/, irradiated from 159 to 356 Mwd/t and decayed 2 years, were declad in boiling 6 M NH/sub 4/F-l M NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/, terminating with a F/Zr mol ratio of 7 in the spent decladding solution. Average decladding time was 1.5 hr, leaving end cap residues of about 5 g per pin. At the end of the decladding, maximum loss of uranium and plutonium to the decladding solution was 0.04 and 0.37%, respectively. The core pellets were largely shattered with less than 0.5 wt% smaller than 10 mesh. Core dissolution was complete in 5 M HNO/sub 3/ in about 40 minutes, yielding a solvent extraction feed containing 4 M HNO/sub 3/ and 100 g U/l. Solid residue from the decladding and core dissolution was less than 0.001% of the initial weight and consisted of traces of Ca, Fe, Cr, and Sn; uranium and plutonium were not detected. (auth)

Mass and energy balance errors noted in a number of IBM-executed problems are caused by the lack of precision in computing total mass and energy values for a domain. This problem is evident in domains constructed with highly variable mesh sizes during the early time of simulation. The machine round-off was corrected by double-precisioning certain calculations for mass and energy balance. Small differences that exist between the improved INTERCOMP code operating on an IBM machine and the old version on a CDC machine seem unimportant. The noted differences are greatest at an onset of physical system perturbation. These differences diminish rapidly with each succeeding time step. Comparisons with numerical and analytical solutions appear to prove authenticity of code results. Numerical comparisons with the CCC computer code on the Mobile experiment data demonstrate the advantage of using aquifer influence functions in place of an infinitely large mesh. The one-dimensional heat transfer in the overburden and underburden appears sufficiently accurate to describe aquifer heat losses.

This work reports initial tests of a carbon brush or tuft cathode intended for use by the Beam Research Program. It was found that electric fields of approximately 100 kV/cm were required to produce current densities above 20 A/sq cm. The beam extracted from the cathode consisted of many beamlets - one for each tuft. The beamlets were found to be quite uniform in peak current density and the cathode operation was microscopically repeatable. The turn-on time was estimated to be 200 ns.

We provide a synthesis of our Thomson-scattering measurements of electron temperature (T/sub e/) and density (n/sub e/) for the Tandem Mirror Experiment (TMX). TMX operated in two modes - high and low T/sub e/. When performing in the high T/sub e/ mode (in general > 100 eV), heating the central-cell ions with neutral beams raised T/sub e/ in the end plug. We achieved a maximum T/sub e/ of 260 eV in the east end plug. Specifically, our experiments demonstrated that in the end plug, the radial T/sub e/ profiles were flat to r = 5 cm; the ratio of potential (phi/sub p/) to T/sub e/ ranged between four and six. In addition, we found that although T/sub e/ in the central cell was generally comparable to that in the plug, it was often not constant along a magnetic field line. Under some conditions a non-Maxwellian electron distribution may have been present.

A task was undertaken to develop a method for analyzing industrial user responses to alternative rate designs. The method described considers the fuel switching and conservation responses of industrial users and the impact to a hypothetical utility regarding revenue stability, annual gas demand, and seasonal fluctuations. Twenty-seven hypothetical industrial plant types have been specified. For each combustor in the plant, the fuel consumption by season, initial fuel type, fuel switching costs, conservation costs, and amount of fuel conservable is provided. The decision making takes place at the plant level and is aggregated to determine the impact to the utility. Section 2 discusses the factors affecting an industrial user's response to alternative rate designs. Section 3 describes the methodology, includes an overview of the model and an example industrial user's response to a set of fuel prices. The data describing the 27 hypothetical firms is in an appendix.

Waste streams that may be generated by the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Advanced Energy Initiative may contain significant quantities of organics (0-53 wt%) and/or nitrates (0-56 wt%). Decomposition of high nitrate streams requires reducing conditions, e.g. organic additives such as sugar or coal, to reduce the NO{sub x} in the off-gas to N{sub 2} to meet the Clean Air Act (CAA) standards during processing. Thus, organics will be present during waste form stabilization regardless of which GNEP processes are chosen, e.g. organics in the feed or organics for nitrate destruction. High organic containing wastes cannot be stabilized with the existing HLW Best Developed Available Technology (BDAT) which is HLW vitrification (HLVIT) unless the organics are removed by preprocessing. Alternative waste stabilization processes such as Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming (FBSR) operate at moderate temperatures (650-750 C) compared to vitrification (1150-1300 C). FBSR converts organics to CAA compliant gases, creates no secondary liquid waste streams, and creates a stable mineral waste form that is as durable as glass. For application to the high Cs-137 and Sr-90 containing GNEP waste streams a single phase mineralized Cs-mica phase was made by co-reacting illite clay and GNEP simulated waste. The Cs-mica accommodates up to …

{delta}-Ln{sub 2-x}LuxS{sub 3} (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd; x = 0.67-0.71) compounds have been synthesized through the reaction of elemental rare earth metals and S using Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3} flux at 1000 C. These compounds are isotypic with CeTmS{sub 3}, which has a complex three-dimensional structure. It includes four larger Ln{sup 3+} sites in eight- and nine-coordinate environments, two disordered seven-coordinate Ln{sup 3+}/Lu{sup 3+} positions, and two six-coordinate Lu{sup 3+} ions. The structure is constructed from one-dimensional chains of LnSn (n = 6-9) polyhedra that extend along the b axis. These polyhedra share faces or edges with two neighbors within the chains, while in the [ac] plane they share edges and corners with other chains. Least square refinements gave rise to the formulas of {delta}-Ce{sub 1.30}Lu{sub 0.70}S{sub 3}, {delta}-Pr{sub 1.29}Lu{sub 0.71}S{sub 3} and {delta}-Nd{sub 1.33}Lu{sub 0.67}S{sub 3}, which are consistent with the EDX analysis and magnetic susceptibility data. {delta}-Ln{sub 2-x}LuxS{sub 3} (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd; x = 0.67-0.71) show no evidence of magnetic ordering down to 5 K. Optical properties measurements show that the band gaps for {delta}-Ce{sub 1.30}Lu{sub 0.70}S{sub 3}, {delta}-Pr{sub 1.29}Lu{sub 0.71}S{sub 3}, and {delta}-Nd{sub 1.33}Lu{sub 0.67}S{sub 3} are 1.25 eV, 1.38 eV, and 1.50 eV, respectively. …

Assimilation of radar velocity and precipitation fields into high-resolution model simulations can improve precipitation forecasts with decreased 'spin-up' time and improve short-term simulation of boundary layer winds (Benjamin, 2004 & 2007; Xiao, 2008) which is critical to improving plume transport forecasts. Accurate description of wind and turbulence fields is essential to useful atmospheric transport and dispersion results, and any improvement in the accuracy of these fields will make consequence assessment more valuable during both routine operation as well as potential emergency situations. During 2008, the United States National Weather Service (NWS) radars implemented a significant upgrade which increased the real-time level II data resolution to 8 times their previous 'legacy' resolution, from 1 km range gate and 1.0 degree azimuthal resolution to 'super resolution' 250 m range gate and 0.5 degree azimuthal resolution (Fig 1). These radar observations provide reflectivity, velocity and returned power spectra measurements at a range of up to 300 km (460 km for reflectivity) at a frequency of 4-5 minutes and yield up to 13.5 million point observations per level in super-resolution mode. The migration of National Weather Service (NWS) WSR-88D radars to super resolution is expected to improve warning lead times by detecting small scale …

Local transient hydrogen concentrations were evaluated inside a large process room when the hydrogen gas was released by three postulated accident scenarios associated with the process tank leakage and fire leading to a loss of gas confinement. The three cases considered in this work were fire in a room, loss of confinement from a process tank, and loss of confinement coupled with fire event. Based on these accident scenarios in a large and unventilated process room, the modeling calculations of the hydrogen migration were performed to estimate local transient concentrations of hydrogen due to the sudden leakage and release from a glovebox system associated with the process tank. The modeling domain represented the major features of the process room including the principal release or leakage source of gas storage system. The model was benchmarked against the literature results for key phenomena such as natural convection, turbulent behavior, gas mixing due to jet entrainment, and radiation cooling because these phenomena are closely related to the gas driving mechanisms within a large air space of the process room. The modeling results showed that at the corner of the process room, the gas concentrations migrated by the Case 2 and Case 3 scenarios …

The objective of this research project was the development of ionic liquids to capture and utilize waste heat from distributed power generation systems. Ionic Liquids (ILs) are organic salts that are liquid at room temperature and they have the potential to make fundamental and far-reaching changes in the way we use energy. In particular, the focus of this project was fundamental research on the potential use of IL/CO2 mixtures in absorption-refrigeration systems. Such systems can provide cooling by utilizing waste heat from various sources, including distributed power generation. The basic objectives of the research were to design and synthesize ILs appropriate for the task, to measure and model thermophysical properties and phase behavior of ILs and IL/CO2 mixtures, and to model the performance of IL/CO2 absorption-refrigeration systems.

This paper presents a case study of the potential market for the dual-service residential integrated water heater/dehumidifier (WHD). Its principal purpose is to evaluate the extent to which this integrated appliance might penetrate the residential market sector, given current market trends, producer and consumer attributes, and technical parameters. The report's secondary purpose is to gather background information leading to a generic framework for conducting market analyses of technologies. This framework can be used to assess market readiness as well as factor preferred product attributes into the design to drive consumer demand for this product. This study also supports analysis for prototype design. A full market analysis for potential commercialization should be conducted after prototype development. The integrated WHD is essentially a heat-pump water heater (HPWH) with components and controls that allow dedicated dehumidification. Adequate residential humidity control is a growing issue for newly constructed residential homes, which are insulated so well that mechanical ventilation may be necessary to meet fresh air requirements. Leveraging its successful experience with the energy-efficient design improvement for the residential HPWH, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL's) Engineering Science and Technology Division's (ESTD's) Building Equipment Group designed a water-heating appliance that combines HPWH efficiency with dedicated …

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The cracking resistance of Alloy 600, Alloy 690 and their welds, EN82H and EN52, was characterized by conducting J{sub IC} rising load tests in air and hydrogenated water and cooldown testing in water under constant-displacement conditions. All test materials displayed excellent toughness in air and high temperature water, but Alloy 690 and the two welds were severely embrittled in low temperature water. In 54 C water with 150 cc H{sub 2}/kg H{sub 2}O, J{sub IC} values were reduced by 70% to 95%, relative to their air counterpart. The toughness degradation was associated with a fracture mechanism transition from microvoid coalescence to intergranular fracture. Comparison of the cracking response in water with that for hydrogen-precharged specimens tested in air demonstrated that susceptibility to low temperature crack propagation (LTCP) is due to hydrogen embrittlement of grain boundaries. The effects of water temperature, hydrogen content and loading rate on LTCP were studied. In addition, testing of specimens containing natural weld defects and as-machined notches was performed to determine if low temperature cracking can initiate at these features. Unlike the other materials, Alloy 600 is not susceptible to LTCP as the toughness in 54 C water remained high and a microvoid coalescence mechanism was …

CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. is currently in the process of constructing a temporary surface barrier over a portion of the T Tank Farm as part of the T farm Interim Surface Barrier Demonstration Project. The surface barrier is designed to prevent the infiltration of precipitation into the contaminated soil zone created by the Tank T-106 leak and minimize movement of the contamination. As part of the demonstration effort, vadose zone moisture monitoring is being performed to assess the effectiveness of the barrier at reducing soil moisture. A solar-powered and remotely-controlled system was installed to continuously monitor soil water conditions in four instrument nests (i.e., A, B, C, and D) and the site meteorological condition. Each instrument nest was composed of a capacitance probe with multiple sensors, multiple heat-dissipation units, a neutron probe access tube and a datalogger. Nests A and B also contained a drain gauge each. The principle variables monitored for this purpose are soil-water content, soil-water pressure, and soil-water flux. In addition to these, soil temperature, precipitation, and air temperature are measured. Data from each of the dataloggers were transmitted remotely to the receiving computer. The neutron probe access tube was used to perform quarterly manual measurements …

It is widely recognized that increasing demands for water in Southern California are being affected by actions to reduce and redirect the amount of water imported from the Colorado River. In the Imperial Valley region, for example, import reductions will not only affect agricultural users but also could produce significant collateral impacts on the level and quality of water in the Salton Sea, its regional ecology, or even the long term air quality in the greater basin. The notion of using groundwater in the Imperial Valley as an additional source for agricultural or domestic needs, energy production, or Salton Sea restoration efforts, so as to offset reductions in imported water, is not a new concept. Even though it has been discussed recently (e.g., LLNL, 2002), the idea goes back, in part, to several studies performed by the US Department of Interior and other agencies that have indicated that there may be substantial, usable amounts of groundwater in some portions of the Imperial Valley. It has been estimated, for example, that between 1.1 and 3 billion acre-feet (AF) of groundwater lie within the extended, deep basin underlying the valley and Salton Sea region, even though much of it may be unrecoverable …

Dark red single crystals of PrLnYb{sub 2}S{sub 6} (Ln = Pr/Yb, Tb, Dy) have been synthesized through the reaction of elemental rare earth metals and S using a Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3} flux at 1000 C. These isotypic compounds adopt the F-Ln{sub 2}S3 three-dimensional open channel structure type. Eight-coordinate Pr{sup 3+} ions sit in the channels, which are constructed from three different edge-shared double chains running down the b axis, which contain Yb(1)S{sub 6} octahedra, Yb(2)S{sub 6}, octahedra and LnS{sub 7} monocapped trigonal prisms, respectively. Each double chain connects to four other neighbors by sharing vertices and edges. Considerable disordering in Ln positions was observed in single X-ray diffraction experiments only in the case of Pr/Yb. Least square refinements gave rise to the formulas of Pr{sub 1.34}Yb{sub 2.66}S{sub 6}, of PrTbYb{sub 2}S{sub 6}, and PrDyYb{sub 2}S{sub 6}, which are confirmed by the elemental analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Pr1.34Yb2.66S{sub 6}, PrTbYb{sub 2}S{sub 6} and PrDyYb{sub 2}S{sub 6} are paramagnetic down to 2 K without any indications of long range magnetic ordering. The optical transitions for Pr{sub 1.34}Yb{sub 2.66}S{sub 6}, PrTbYb{sub 2}S{sub 6}, and PrDyYb{sub 2}S{sub 6} are at approximately 1.6 eV. Crystallographic data: Pr{sub 1.34}Yb{sub 2.66}S{sub 6}, monoclinic, space group P2{sub …

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We have measured the half-life of 14O, a superallowed (0+\rightarrow 0+) \beta decay isotope. The 14O was produced by the12C(3He,n)14O reaction using a carbon aerogel target. A low-energy ionbeam of 14O was mass separated and implanted in a thin beryllium foil.The beta particles were counted with plastic scintillator detectors. Wefind \tau 1/2 = 70.696 +- 0.037\sigma. This result is 2.0\sigma higherthan an average value from six earlier experiments, but agrees moreclosely with the most recent previous measurment.

In order to reduce the current excesses of plutonium (both weapon grade and reactor grade) and other transuranium elements, a concept of inert matrix fuel (IMF) has been proposed for an uranium free transmutation of fissile actinides which excludes continuous uranium-plutonium conversion in thermal reactors and advanced systems. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is a promising candidate for inert matrix (IM) materials due to its high melting point (2827 C), high thermal conductivity (13 W/K {center_dot} m at 1000 C), good neutronic properties, and irradiation stability However, MgO reacts with water and hydrates easily, which prevents it from being used in light water reactors (LWRs) as an IM. To improve the hydration resistance of MgO-based inert matrix materials, Medvedev and coworkers have recently investigated the introduction of a secondary phase that acts as a hydration barrier. An MgO-ZrO{sub 2} composite was specifically studied and the results showed that the composite exhibited improved hydration resistance than pure MgO. However, ZrO{sub 2} is insoluble in most acids except HF, which is undesirable for fuel reprocessing. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of ZrO{sub 2} is low and typically less than 3 W {center_dot} m{sup -1} {center_dot} K{sup -1} at 1000 C. In search for an alternative …

A plant level simulation of the UREX+3a separations process has been developed using AMUSE for solvent extraction calculations coupled with Aspen Plus for other operations. AMUSE, an Excel based application developed at Argonne National Laboratory [1], performs a rigorous calculation of countercurrent solvent extraction processes using thermodynamically based distribution coefficients specifically designed for nuclear separations. Aspen Plus [2] models simulate other separations plant operations such as head end assembly chopping and dissolution, product solidification, acid recovery, off-gas treatment and waste water treatment. The model predicts that 55 feed streams and 14 output streams will be generated by separations plant operation. On the basis of one metric ton of initial reactor fuel, the model predicts a plant throughput of approximately 200 metric tonnes of material. Approximately half is treated waste water. Another 30% is gas emissions arising from feed to the calcination furnaces. The gas stream is treated for discharge to the environment. About 5% of the throughput is product material. Another 10% is recovered organics and acid that may be recycled. The remaining 5% is contaminated waste that requires disposal. While these results are preliminary, the model has successfully simulated operation of the UREX+3a separations process. Coupling AMUSE to Aspen …

Piping in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) must withstand the stresses involved during an unlikely but potential deflagration event. One method proposed for protection and reinforcement of piping during such an event is the use of a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composite (Diamond-Wrap{reg_sign}). In the DWPF, this reinforcement composite product would be required to maintain its safety function for a 20-year service life. This product has been ASME-approved (nuclear code case 589) for post-construction maintenance and is DOT-compliant per 49CFR 192 and 195. However, its radiation resistance properties have not been evaluated. This report documents initial radiation resistance testing of the product and microstructural effects. Additional testing is recommended to evaluate radiation effects on specific properties such as burst strength, chemical resistance/weeping and for service life prediction in critical applications.

Sampling of fluids in deep boreholes is challenging becauseof the necessity to minimize external contamination and maintain sampleintegrity during recovery. The U-tube sampling methodology was developedto collect large volume, multiphase samples at in situ pressures. As apermanent or semi-permanent installation, the U-tube can be used forrapidly acquiring multiple samples or it may be installed for long-termmonitoring applications. The U-tube was first deployed in Liberty County,TX to monitor crosswell CO2 injection as part of the Frio CO2sequestration experiment. Analysis of gases (dissolved or separate phase)was performed in the field using a quadrupole mass spectrometer, whichserved as the basis for determining the arrival of the CO2 plume. Thepresence of oxygen and argon in elevated concentrations, along withreduced methane concentration, indicate sample alteration caused by theintroduction of surface fluids during borehole completion. Despiteproducing the well to eliminate non-native fluids, measurementsdemonstrate that contamination persists until the immiscible CO2injection swept formation fluid into the observationwellbore.

Progress in the study of gluonic states depends crucially on accumulating data samples of order 10/sup 8/ J//psi/ decays, in order to perform complete partial wave analyses of radiative and hadronic J//psi/ decays. This requirement is well matched to the capabilities of the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider, which has approached the necessary luminosity in its first two months of operation. 28 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.