The technology verification phase program plan of the Dynamic Isotope Power System (DIPS) project is presented. DIPS is a project to develop a 0.5 to 2.0 kW power system for spacecraft using an isotope heat source and a closed-cycle Rankine power-system with an organic working fluid. The technology verification phase's purposes are to increase the system efficiency to over 18%, to demonstrate system reliability, and to provide an estimate for flight test scheduling. Progress toward these goals is reported. (LCL)

This is a summary of the techniques used and the results obtained in the study of creep at high pressure, pressure dependence of yield stress and elastic constants, etc. 58 references. (DLC)

Compressive creep tests were performed on molybenum samples exposed to four different pre-test conditions: (1) annealed; (2) annealed and neutron irradiated at 480/sup 0/C to a fluence of 5 x 10/sup 19/ n cm/sup -2/ (E > 1 MeV); (3) stress-relieved; and (4) stress-relieved and neutron irradiated at reactor ambient temperature to a fluence of 1 x 10/sup 19/ n cm/sup -2/ (E > 1 MeV). The tests were performed in the temperature range of 600 to 900/sup 0/C with an initial applied stress of 176.5 MPa. Both pre- and post-test specimens were examined using electron microscopy and the relationship between substructure and mechanical properties is discussed. Possible controlling mechanisms of deformation are proposed and activation energies for creep are determined.

Surface temperatures in electron beam welding cavities in stainless steel 304 and aluminum 1100, 2024, and 6061 were measured with a narrow band infrared radiation pyrometer. A special device was designed for mounting the radiation-sensing probe next to the electron beam gun in the welding chamber. This mounting device included a mechanism for oscillating the probe so as to scan the cavity region both perpendicular and parallel to the welding direction. At the center of its movement the probe viewed almost directly down into the welding cavity. The effect of interreflections occurring in the welding cavity were accounted for by the use of an apparent spectral cavity emittance. Typical measured cavity temperature distributions for SS-304 ranged from 1950/sup 0/C at the mouth to a peak of 2350/sup 0/C at the cavity base and from 1300 to 1650/sup 0/C for A1-1100. First approximation predictions of the cavity surface temperatures were determined by assuming a quasi-steady-state condition. The surface temperature is then a function of the vapor pressure, which is required to balance the surface tension and the hydrostatic pressure both of which tend to collapse the cavity. Base temperatures thus predicted were about 5% and 10% higher than measured for SS-304 …

This Number System Cross Reference Guide constitutes a ready reference for programing the MCS-8 Microcomputer or designing logic systems. Columns give the number equivalents of decimal, binary, octal, and hexidecimal systems for decimal numbers zero through 255, as well as a corresponding teletype character opposite each row of equivalent numbers. (RWR)

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A summary of the Brayton Isotope Power Systems (BIPS) design layout drawings is presented. These drawings were generated in compliance with Task 3 (Preliminary Design of the BIPS Ground Demonstration System) of Phase I of the ERDA sponsored BIPS contract E(04-3)-1123.

The specific objectives of the project are to determine on a geographic basis the current and potential USA production capability for grain and grass crops, to perform a preliminary screening of conversion processes, and to perform preliminary technical and economic feasibility analyses. The results obtained to date on biomass production, conversion processes, and data management are reported. (JSR)

The technology training program at LLL is summarized. The program is directed toward transfer of unclassified laboratory technology to government and private-industry employees. Information is included on technology training program (TTP) organization, facilities and equipment, and participating companies and government agencies. A five-day training program on joining, fastening, and welding is outlined. (JRD)

The toxicology and metabolism of nickel compounds (NiCl/sub 2/, Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/, NiS, Ni powder, and Ni(CO)/sub 4/) were investigated in rats and hamsters. Triethylenetetramine (TETA) and d-penicillamine are more effective than other chelating agents (Na-diethyldithiocarbamate, CaNa/sub 2/-versenate, diglycylhistidine-N-methylamide and ..cap alpha..-lipoic acid) as antidotes for acute Ni(II)-toxicity in rats. The antidotal efficacy of triethylenetetramine (TETA) in acute Ni(II)-toxicity is mediated by rapid reduction of the plasma concentration of Ni(II), consistent with renal clearance of the TETA-Ni complex at a rate more than twenty times greater than the renal clearance of non-chelated Ni(II). Fischer rats are more susceptible than other rat strains (Wistar-Lewis, Long-Evans and NIH-Black) to induction of erythrocytosis after an intrarenal injection of Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/, and elucidation of the serial pathologic changes that occur in rats after an intrarenal injection of Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/. When amorphous nickel monosulfide (NiS) and nickel subsulfide (Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/) were administered by im injection to randomly selected Fischer rats in equivalent amounts under identical conditions, NiS did not induce any tumors whereas Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/ induced sarcomas in almost all of the rats.

This study on the rate of lung cancer development in uranium miners was initiated in 1957 by the U. S. Public Health and many facets of this project are reaching final objectives. Many new studies have developed in the course of this study and will continue. The projects supported by The Energy Research and Development Administration are of utmost importance and consist of: collection of material from uranium miners known to have cancer of the lung into a tumor registry; manual on pulmonary cytology; regression study of sputum cytological findings in uranium miners who showed marked atypical squamous cell metaplasia and have quit smoking cigarettes, mining, or both; continuation of sputum collection and collection of lungs from deceased miners, and the development of instruments such as uv fiber-optic bronchoscopes for localization of carcinoma in situ of the lung. Approximately 75,000 sputum samples were examined over the last 19 years in cases that showed normal cytology at the inception of study and subsequently developed carcinoma of the lung and resulted in an accumulation of material that is worthy of study.

Previous calculations of line emission were extended to higher density, lower temperature plasmas, typical of those expected in early ablative compression experiments. Emission from Ne-seeded fuel was analyzed in order to diagnose the density and temperature of the compressed core. The Stark/Doppler broadened emission profile is calculated for the H-like Ne resonance line. The observable lineshape is then obtained by time-averaging over expected density and temperature profiles and by including the effects of radiative transfer.

Significant progress was made during the past quarter in establishing the operability and reliability of major pieces of equipment needed for the production of protein and methane from spent sulfite liquor (SSL). Batch ozonations of SSL were conducted at times varying from 1 to 6 hours at pH's in the range of 10 to 2. These screening experiments consistently indicate that low ph's favor the breakdown of SSL into organic fragments which are more easily assimulated by micro-organisms. Approximately 23% of the organics are oxidized at all pH levels indicated that pH has no effect on the total oxidation of SSL. As was expected total sulfur content of SSL is not measurably altered by ozonation. The intense brown color of SSL is appreciably removed during ozonation. The contents of the reactor assume a light brownish-yellow hue during the course of a 4 hour ozonation treatment. Attempts to quantify the reduction have not been successful to date.

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The performance of an idealized geothermal binary-fluid-cycle energy conversion system is shown to be a function of the temperatures of brine and working fluid leaving the heat exchanger. System power output, heat exchanger area required and initial well and heat exchanger costs are determined for counterflow, single and multi-pass parallel-counterflow exchangers. Results are presented graphically as functions of the brine and working fluid exit temperatures from the exchanger. Use of the system analysis developed is illustrated by showing quantitatively the advantage of the counterflow over the other flow arrangements considered.

Fusion is examined against the yardstick of fission technology with respect to inventories of radioactivity (and associated Biological Hazard Potentials), routine emissions, accident pathways and consequences, radioactive-waste management, and misuse of nuclear materials. Based on conceptual designs of Tokamak fusion reactors with stainless steel structure and tritium inventories of 10 kg per thermal gigawatt, the apparent advantage of fusion is 1 to 2 orders of magnitude in most indices of radiological hazards. Fusion's advantage is 2 to 5 orders of magnitude in comparing damage potential of intentional airborne dispersal of tritium and plutonium, and nonexistent in comparing medium-term radwaste hazard potential (1000 to 100,000 years) and intentional waterborne dispersal of tritium and plutonium. Fusion appears to have some qualitative advantages with respect to accident pathways and safeguards considerations. Fusion has the theoretical potential for improvements of 1 to 2 additional orders of magnitude in short-term BHPs and 3 orders of magnitude and more in radwaste BHPs after 10 years if vanadium-titanium alloy can be used in place of stainless steel in the reactor structure. Other important unresolved questions are how much the inventory of tritium can be reduced by ingenious design, and what fraction of a fusion reactor's activation products …

During the past contract period, this research has been concerned with three principal tasks, namely: (1) Fusion-product studies. The primary objective of this work is to study potential effects (e.g. instabilities, changes in heating profile and wall loadings, etc.) caused by high-energy fusion products. A second objective is to establish the operating conditions and measurements required for use of D-/sup 3/He in early experiments such as TFTR to simulate D-T burns. (2) Mirror system studies. The objective of this work is to provide specialized support for the mirror research and development effort at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Three topics are under study: charge-exchange losses during neutral beam injection; the dynamics of plasma build-up during start-up; new approaches to mirror systems such as the ''twin-beam'' mirror. (3) Exploratory studies. Several new studies have been initiated during this period. These include: extension of the mirror neutral-beam injection studies to toroidal geometry and preliminary studies of reversed field configurations. Further details about each of these areas are contained in subsequent sections.

The technical and economic feasibility of generating electricity from solar energy is being studied. Collector experiments included heliostat tests. Hardware preparation and assembly constituted the steam generator work. The thermal storage subsystem research experiment, which featured thermal energy storage in a sodium nitrite/sodium hydroxide phase-change mixture, was discontinued. Analytical and design work on the electrical generation subsystem and plant integration progressed satisfactorily. (MHR)

Quantitative estimations are made for the atmospheric dispersion of gases, heat, and noise due to geothermal energy sources in Southern California's Imperial Valley. In particular, gas concentration per unit source strength, change in mixing ratio, relative humidity, temperature, and the ratio of heat flux to solar constant are calculated. The possibility of atmospheric refraction of source noise is also considered.

Progress is reported on studies on hereditary anemias of mice. At present under study are four macrocytic anemias, four hemolytic anemias, nonhemolytic microcytic anemia, transitory siderocytic anemia, sex-linked iron-transport anemia, and the autoimmune hemolytic anemia of NZB. Each of these blood dyscrasias is caused by the action of a unique mutant gene, each of which determines the structure of different intracellular molecules, and thus controls a different metabolic process. Thus our wide range of different hereditary anemias has considerable potential for uncovering many different aspects of hemopoietic homeostatic mechanisms in the mouse.

Progress is reported in the following LMFBR piping design studies: collection of sodium piping failure data, analysis of piping systems with prior successful operating history, evaluation of sensitivity of piping design margins to variability in materials and geometry, and high cycle fatigue behavior at elevated temperature. (DG)

A time-limited signal which, when passed through a linear system, maximizes the total output energy is considered. Previous work has shown that the solution is given by the eigenfunction associated with the maximum eigenvalue in a Hilbert-Schmidt integral equation. Analytical results are available for the case where the transfer function is a low-pass filter. This work is extended by obtaining a numerical solution to the integral equation which allows results for reasonably general transfer functions.

The one-dimensional computer calculations described in this report were performed to simulate stress-wave propagation and kinetic energy transfer associated with subsurface cratering detonations in soils. A hypothetical 20-ton-yield nuclear explosive was assumed as the energy source, surrounded by a single soil material. Various soil descriptions were selected in order to systematically study the range of soil response to the nuclear detonation. The soils were representative of the layered mixtures of sand and clay found at the ESSEX high-explosive cratering sites near Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Soil properties analyzed in this study include water saturation, bulk density, failure envelope, and low-pressure bulk modulus.

The investigation of two poorly understood but technologically important physical properties of silicate glasses and related materials is described. The use of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance to investigate the nature of radiation-induced damage in glasses exposed to a variety of high-energy radiation sources is discussed first. Second, the measurement of the nonlinear index of refraction coefficient in a variety of optical materials related to the design of high-power laser systems is described. The radiation damage investigations rely heavily on the comparison of experimental results for different experimental situations. The comparison of EPR lineshapes, absolute spin densities and power saturation behavior is used to probe a variety of microscopic and macroscopic aspects of radiation damage in glasses. Comparison of radiation damage associated with exposure to gamma rays and fast neutrons (and combinations thereof) are interpreted in terms of the microscopic damage mechanisms which are expected to be associated with the specific radiations. Comparison of radiation damage behavior in different types of glasses is also interpreted in terms of the behavior expected for the specific materials. The body of data which is generated is found to be internally self-consistent and is also generally consistent with the radiation damage behavior expected for specific situations. …