This workshop on potential effcts of geothermal energy conversion on the ecology of Imperial Valley brought together personnel of Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and many collaborators under the sponsorship of the ERDA Imperial Valley Environmental Project (IVEP). The LLL Integrated Assessment Team identified the electric power potential and its associated effluents, discharges, subsidence, water requirements, land use, and noise. The Working Groups addressed the ecological problems. Water resource management problems include forces on water use, irrigation methods and water use for crops, water production, and water allocation. Agricultural problems are the contamination of edible crops and the reclamation of soil. A strategy is discussed for predevelopment baseline data and for identification of source term tracers. Wildlife resources might be threatened by habitat destruction, powerline impacts, noise and disturbance effects, gas emissions, and secondary impacts such as population pressure. Aquatic ecosystems in both the Salton Sea and fresh waters have potential hazards of salinity and trace metal effects, as well as existing stresses; baseline and bioassay studies are discussed. Problems from air pollution resulting from geothermal resource development might occur, particularly to vegetation and pollinator insects. Conversion of injury data to predicted economic damage isneeded. Finally, Imperial Valley desert ecosystems might be …

The Thermal Storage Subsystem Research Experiment is designed to give maximum information for evaluating the design, performance, and operating parameters of the Barstow Solar Pilot Plant. The experiment is summarized, and the experiment components detail design and integration are described. The experiment test and operation is described which is designed to collect engineering data to allow the design, performance, and operational characteristics to be specified for the Pilot Plant. Appended are: design documentation; pressure drop calculations; materials studies for thermal energy storage; flow charts for data acquisition and control; condenser detail design; instrumentation error analysis; logic diagrams for the control system; literature survey to evaluate the two-phase forced convection heat transfer; and the vaporizer performance model. (LEW)

The performance of ion extractors is analyzed with crude approximations that show improved performance to be possible with the certain modifications. However, additional studies are required to evaluate the beam optics in the presence of the deformed grids.

Details of existing superconducting magnet failures are collected and evaluated with regard to future CTR superconducting magnet safety and reliability. Fourteen magnet systems with sixteen failures are presented. These failures are analyzed and categorized as to causative factors (e.g. hot spots, arcing, lead failures, and conductor movement). Responses of the instrumentation and protection systems during these accident situations are also presented. Repairs and present status of the magnets are described. Preliminary conclusions are: the failure rate of existing magnet systems is too high to be tolerable for CTR magnets; although failure analyses of present systems can be used as a reference for future CTR magnet safety design, the prediction of successful operation of CTR magnet systems represents a significant extrapolation from the experiences accumulated so far; much development work and repeated testing of magnet system components and sub-systems are required.

The light emission time response of quenched NElll plastic scintillators has been measured using a streak camera (20 ps resolution) and 100 to 180 ps, 1.06 ..mu..m, laser-produced, pulsed, low energy x-ray excitation. Each light output pulse was obtained by deconvolution from the film data using the x-ray temporal response measured with an x-ray sensitive streak camera (10 ps resolution). Time response parameters are presented for benzophenone and acetophenone, quenching agents which most effectively reduce the decay time of the singlet component. Full width-half-maximums less than or equal to 260 ps were observed for NElll samples quenched with greater than or equal to 2 percent benzophenone. Results are given for unquenched samples consisting of different concentrations of butyl-PBD in PVT and for the phosphor ZnO doped with Ga.

Analysis of the sensitivity of previous negative searches for magnetic monopoles shows that they constitute prior evidence against the monopole interpretation of the event reported as ''evidence for detection of a moving magnetic monopole''. The strength of the evidence varies with the unknown mass of the monopole. For M less than or equal to 10/sup 5/ GeV, odds are greater than 10/sup 6/ : 1 against. For larger masses, the limits depend strongly on assumptions about the range of monopoles and the threshold for detection of monopole tracks in obsidian. In no case are the odds, less than 8 : 1 and they may be no less than 8000 : 1 against. Since the reported event may also be due to an electrically charged heavy particle, it is probably not due to a monopole.

Construction has started on an outdoor testing station for flexible ac superconducting power transmission cables. It is intended to serve as an intermediate step between laboratory-scale experiments and qualification testing of prototype-scale cables. The permanent equipment includes a 500 W supercritical helium refrigerator using a screw compressor and multistage turbine expanders. Helium storage for 250,000 cu ft of helium at 250 psi is provided. Initially, the cables will be tested in a horizontal cryostat some 250 ft long. High-voltage 60 Hz tests will be performed with the cable in a series resonant mode with a maximum line to ground capability of 240 kV, this is adequate for a 138 kV system design. Impulse testing up to about 650 kV is planned. The cable conductor will be energized by current transformers, initially at about 4 kA and later up to fault levels of 40 kA. The refrigerator is now at the site and testing on a dummy load will commence in the Fall of 1976. The cryostat will be installed in 1977 followed about a year later by the first cable tests.

Energy losses have been measured on a set of mixed matrix (CuNi, Cu, NbTi) superconducting wires at B's up to 1.5 x 10/sup 7/ G/s. The losses have been measured as a function of wire diameter, twist pitch, maximum applied field, and B. Both static and dynamic losses were measured for a field applied perpendicularly to the wire axis. The dynamic losses were measured by slowly applying an external field to a sample and then causing the field to decay exponentially in roughly 1 ms to 10 ms. Under low B (9 kG) and B (10/sup 6/ G/s) conditions the hysteretic loss dominated. At high B (21 kG) and B (1.5 x 10/sup 7/ G/s) the matrix losses became dominant. The systematic variation of the losses with the mentioned parameters will be presented and will be compared to theoretical predictions.

A new method for producing lithium was investigated. In a continuous process, lithium amalgam would first be formed by reduction of aqueous LiOH/sup -/ or Li/sub 2/CO/sub 3/. Lithium would then be electrochemically separated from the amalgam to form the pure liquid metal. Laboratory determination of the coulombic efficiency for the reaction Li + OH/sup -/ = LiOH(aq) + e/sup -/ continued. The coulombic efficiency was found to approach 1.0 as the anodic diffusion-limited current density was approached. 2 figures. (RWR)

The Bauschinger effect (different elastic-plastic behavior upon unloading) was measured in uranium and a model of the effect developed for use in one-dimensional hydrodynamic codes. Results from plate-impact tests show that rarefaction waves in uranium can be calculated more accurately with this model. We conclude that the Bauschinger effect can be an important aspect of rarefaction waves in uranium and other materials. 8 figures. (auth)

The purpose of this investigation is to develop web-dendritic process methods that will: (1) minimize the cost of processing silicon into ribbons of solar cell quality with a terrestrial energy conversion efficiency greater than 10 percent, and (2) be suitable for large quantity production. The report for this second quarter describes the work of the program during this period and presents the plan for the program for the full length of the contract. Work is described on: (1) the procedures used to calibrate and operate the web-dendritic growth furnace; (2) use of the furnace to grow web-dendritic ribbon; (3) considerations applied for the thermal analysis and modeling of the web-dendritic growth system; and (4) procedures, facilities, and initial results for the structural and electrical characterization of web material. (WDM)

Air pollution monitoring activities at Kawasaki City, Japan during 1969 through 1974 are discussed. Data are presented on sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, CO, and suspended particulates in relation to weather conditions.

It has been hoped that high-Z semiconductors would offer efficient ..gamma..-ray detection at or near ambient temperatures with energy resolution significantly better than NaI (Tl) scintillators. For use at X-ray energies, this goal has been achieved with both HgI/sub 2/, CdTe, and GaAs detectors. However, at higher energies (approximately 660 keV) all current detectors have one or more significant deficiencies in terms of attainable volume, charge collection efficiency, and polarization effects. Starting with first principles, all potential compounds which can be formed by the binary combination of elements from the periodic chart were considered as possible detector materials. A rank-ordered listing of the most promising materials for further development is given as well as an assessment of the prospects for future success. 25 references.

A program at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory to develop multifilamentary Nb/sub 3/Sn conductors suitable for use in constructing fusion research magnets has resulted in the commercial production of conductors having cross-sectional areas in the range 0.06 cm/sup 2/ to 0.84 cm/sup 2/. Critical current densities near the goal of 10/sup 4/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 12 T and 4.2 K have been obtained in conductors produced by two different techniques. The latest results of this program are presented and discussed.

Small-scale production and mechanical properties of TATB/Kel-F 800 (92.5/7.5), a useful plastic bonded explosive, are described. TATB particles are slurried in water while adding a solvent solution of Kel-F. As the solvent is removed from the slurry at 75 to 80/sup 0/C under vacuum, the fine particles of TATB become coated with Kel-F and clump together to form granules. After drying at 80/sup 0/C the granules are pressed at 120/sup 0/C and 138 MPa (20,000 psi) to form needed shapes.

In the Elmo Bumpy Torus Reactor (EBTR) study the feasibility of achieving a fusion power plant based on the EBT confinement concept was evaluated. If the present understanding of the physics can be extrapolated to reactor scale devices the reactor could operate at high beta, high power density, and at steady state. The high aspect ratio of the device eases the accessibility, structural design and remote maintenance problems which are common to low aspect ratio machines. A version of the EBTR reference design described here could be constructed with only minor extrapolations in available technology.

Because of recent breakthroughs in the target area, and in the glass laser area, the scientific feasibility of laser fusion--and of inertial fusion--may be demonstrated in the early 1980's. Then the development in that time period of a suitable laser (or storage ring or other driving source) would make possible an operational inertial fusion reactor in this century. These are roughly the same time scales as projected by the Tokamak magnetic confinement approach. It thus appears that the 15-20 year earlier start by magnetic confinement fusion may be overcome. Because inertial confinement has been demonstrated, and inertial fusion reactors may operate on smaller scales than Tokamaks, laser fusion may have important technical and economic advantages.

A superconducting cable incorporating Nb/sub 3/Sn is briefly described and requirements for the superconductor discussed. State of the art metallurgical procedures for reducing ac losses and increasing critical currents of Nb/sub 3/Sn are reviewed. The loss behavior is then related to presently available theoretical models and shown to depend largely on surface currents which are attributed to the surface barrier. Effects of temperature, trapped magnetic flux, cladding, and cable configuration are discussed. 11 figures, 43 references.

Large pools for storing spent, nuclear fuel elements are being proposed to augment present storage capacity. To preserve the ability to isolate portions of these pools, a modularization requirement appears desirable. The purpose of this project was to investigate the effects of modularization on earthquake resistance and to assess the adequacy of current design methods for seismic loads. After determining probable representative pool geometries, three rectangular pool configurations, all 240 x 16 ft and 40 ft deep, were examined. One was unmodularized; two were modularized into 80 x 40 ft cells in one case and 80 x 80 ft cells in the other. Both embedded and above-ground installations for a hard site and embedded installations for an intermediate hard site were studied. It was found that modularization was unfavorable in terms of reducing the total structural load attributable to dynamic effects, principally because one or more cells could be left unfilled. The walls of unfilled cells would be subjected to significantly higher loads than the walls of a filled, unmodularized pool. Generally, embedded installations were preferable to above-ground installations, and the hard site was superior to the intermediate hard site. It was determined that Housner's theory was adequate for calculating …

Short beam usage times were encountered using a 60 keV electron beam welder. These short times were the direct result of a buildup of a reaction product (WO/sub 2/./sub 90/) that occurred on graphite washers which housed the tungsten emitter plate. While it was not possible to prevent the reaction product, its growth rate was sufficiently altered by changing graphite materials and minor design changes of the washers. With these modifications beam usage times increased from an original 40 min to approximately 675 min.

An rf system is described for the 500-MHz cylindrical resonator that is coupled to the Astron beam to modulate its energy by +- 1.5 percent.

An interlaboratory program was established to compare the radiation damage produced in Mo at 800 to 1000/sup 0/C by different ions of different energies. The program included comparisons of microstructures produced by different ions, of measurements on a round robin TEM specimen, and of measurements on a common micrograph. Results are discussed. Ions used included Ni/sup 2 +/, Mo/sup +/, Cu/sup 4 +/, and H/sup +/.

These 2.2-T, 300-kJ magnets are to operate at 10 to 12 kA with a safety factor in critical current of about 50 percent at 10 kA. The conductor must exhibit low losses in addition to being stable. Magnetic Corporation of America (MCA) designed a flat conductor using 1224 copper-matrix, monofilament wires combined in two stages of cabling followed by two stages of flat braiding. Two of these conductors were constructed, one with wire already on hand and the second using wire made specifically for this application. Intermagnetics General Corporation (IGC) designed two rectangular conductors using 315 and 319 mixed-matrix multifilament wires combined in three stages of cabling followed by compaction in a Turk's head. The maximum transport current capabilities (I/sub t/) of these cables were measured in hairpin shaped samples with the straight section under test in perpendicularly applied fields. The measured results at 2.5 T for the two MCA cables were 11.7 kA and 15.4 kA, and for the IGC cables were 18.2 kA and 19.3 kA (extrapolated). In addition, samples of the compacted and uncompacted major strands from the IGC cables were tested. The results of these measurements are compred with values of I/sub t/ from the single-wire …

A status report is given of the design and fabrication of a small pilot-project accelerator and storage ring using superconducting magnets. The project is called ESCAR, for Experimental Superconducting Accelerator Ring. Work is reported on a pre-production dipole magnet, a 1500W helium refrigeration plant, planned major systems tests, and conventional component development. (PMA)