Operations and maintenance continued this month at the Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI's) Environmental Control Technology Center (ECTC). Testing for the Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) study was conducted using the Carbon Injection System (the 4.0 MW Spray Dryer Absorber and the Pulse-Jet Fabric Filter). Testing also continued across the B&W/CHX Heat Exchanger this month as the effects of increased particulate loading are being studied. The 1.0 MW Cold-Side Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) unit and the 4.0 MW Pilot Wet Scrubber remained idle this month in a cold-standby mode and were inspected regularly. On September 13, 1996, the ECTC completed an independent test block for a third-party company, Air Purification Inc. (API). For this testing, the ECTC's staff (O&M and Testing) were contracted to conduct performance and validation testing across a new, integrated emissions control device, the Rotorfilter{trademark}. This testing was conducted for a thirty (30) day period simultaneously with the B&W/CHX test block. The HAP testing resumed as this third-party test block was completed. Testing in September at the Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI's) Environmental Control Technology Center (ECTC) included tests from the Pilot Trace Elements Removal (TER) test block as part of EPRI's overall program to develop control technology …

This research project demonstrated the effectiveness of using evolutionary software techniques in the development of path-planning algorithms and control programs for mobile vehicles in radioactive environments. The goal was to take maximum advantage of the programmer's intelligence by tasking the programmer with encoding the measures of success for a path-planning algorithm, rather than developing the path-planning algorithms themselves. Evolutionary software development techniques could then be used to develop algorithms most suitable to the particular environments of interest. The measures of path-planning success were encoded in the form of a fitness function for an evolutionary software development engine. The task for the evolutionary software development engine was to evaluate the performance of individual algorithms, select the best performers for the population based on the fitness function, and breed them to evolve the next generation of algorithms. The process continued for a set number of generations or until the algorithm converged to an optimal solution. The task environment was the navigation of a rover from an initial location to a goal, then to a processing point, in an environment containing physical and radioactive obstacles. Genetic algorithms were developed for a variety of environmental configurations. Algorithms were simple and non-robust strings of behaviors, …

The Y-12 Plant currently embraces three mission areas; stockpile surveillance, maintaining production capability, and storage of special nuclear materials. The Y-12 Plant also contributes to the nations` economic strength by partnering with industry in deploying technology. This partnering has been supported to a great extent through the Technology Transfer Initiative (TTI) directed by DOE/Defense Programs (DP-14). The Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology (ORCMT) was established to draw upon the manufacturing and fabrication capabilities at the Y-12 Plant to coordinate and support collaborative efforts, between DP and the domestic industrial sector, toward the development of technologies which offer mutual benefit to both DOE/DP programs and the private sector. Most of the needed technologies for the ``Factory of the Future`` (FOF) are being pursued as core areas at the Y-12 Plant. As a result, 85% of DP-14 projects already support the FOF. The unique capabilities of ORCMT can be applied to a wide range of manufacturing problems to enhance the capabilities of the US industrial base and its economic outcome. The ORCMT has an important role to play in DOE`s Technology Transfer initiative because its capabilities are focused on applied manufacturing and technology deployment which has a more near-term impact on …

Thirty-two individual graphite grains from the Murchison meteorite were analyzed for their Mo and/or Zr isotopic compositions by laser ablation resonant ionization mass spectrometry. {sup 96}Zr/{sup 94}Zr ratios range from 0.074 times to 10 times the solar value. Five grains have depletions in {sup 96}Zr, suggestive of the s-process, and two grains have extraordinary enrichments in {sup 96}Zr, suggestive of the r-process. Most graphite grains have close-to-terrestrial Mo isotopic imposition, but five have s-process Mo nucleosynthesis signatures.

The purpose of this analysis was to determine the applicability of the MFTF-B helium refrigerator to the requirements of the TPX Tokomak at Princeton. The TPX requires a high pressure stream of supercritical gas to all loads rather than the liquid helium loads that the refrigerator was originally designed to support.

Like other DOE facilities, ANL-W uses a variety of nuclear grade, industrial grade, or furnace-type particulate filters to control airborne radioactivity and hazardous contaminants in radiological containment structures or processes. As designed, these filters entrain and ultimately concentrate contaminants in the media. Toxic metal contaminants include cadmium, chromium, lead; and mercury present in sufficient concentrations to exhibit the hazardous waste characteristic of toxicity as defined in 40 CFR 261.24. Radionuclide contaminants deposited in the media may at times accumulate in sufficient quantity to classify the filter as transuranic or remote-handled waste. Upon their removal from the ventilation system, these particulate filters become wastes, which must be characterized to determine their hazardous and radioactive classifications. A well defined filter characterization process is essential for the proper/consistent waste characterization and minimization and for maintaining personnel radiological exposures as-low-as-reasonably-achievable (ALARA) (1,2). ANL-W has developed an approach to filter sampling and characterization to meet these needs. The ANL-W filter sampling and characterization process is designed to ensure representative sampling and/or process knowledge is utilized in characterizing the filters. The data obtained through sampling and/or process knowledge is used to show compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (3) and Treatment/Storage/Disposal Facility Waste Acceptance …

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has completed a survey of assumptions and techniques used for safety analyses at seven sites that handle or store mixed transuranic (TRU) waste operated by contractors for the US Department of Energy (DOE). While approaches to estimating on-site and off-site consequences of hypothetical accidents differ, there are commonalities in all of the safety studies. This paper identifies key parameters and methods used to estimate the radiological consequences associated with release of waste forms under abnormal conditions. Specific facilities are identified by letters with their safety studies listed in a bibliography rather than as specific references so that similarities and differences are emphasized in a nonjudgmental manner. References are provided for specific parameters used to project consequences associated with compromise of barriers and dispersion of potentially hazardous materials. For all of the accidents and sites, estimated dose commitments are well below guidelines even using highly conservative assumptions. Some of the studies quantified the airborne concentrations of toxic materials; this paper only addresses these analyses briefly, as an entire paper could be dedicated to this subject.

The fundamental and practical aspects are described for extracting ions from atmospheric pressure plasma sources into an analytical mass spectrometer. Methodologies and basic concepts of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are emphasized in the discussion, including ion source, sampling interface, supersonic expansion, slumming process, ion optics and beam focusing, and vacuum considerations. Some new developments and innovative designs are introduced. The plasma extraction process in ICP-MS was investigated by Langmuir measurements in the region between the skimmer and first ion lens. Electron temperature (T{sub e}) is in the range 2000--11000 K and changes with probe position inside an aerosol gas flow. Electron density (n{sub e}) is in the range 10{sup 8}--10{sup 10} {sup {minus}cm }at the skimmer tip and drops abruptly to 10{sup 6}--10{sup 8} cm{sup {minus}3} near the skimmer tip and drops abruptly to 10{sup 6}--10{sup 8} cm{sup {minus}3} downstream further behind the skimmer. Electron density in the beam leaving the skimmer also depends on water loading and on the presence and mass of matrix elements. Axially resolved distributions of electron number-density and electron temperature were obtained to characterize the ion beam at a variety of plasma operating conditions. The electron density dropped by a factor of 101 …

Efforts are under way worldwide to integrate electronic and mechanical components on solid state devices to perform the functions of traditional sensors at the micro-scale. For example, chemical sensors have been envisioned that involve pumping air or liquid samples at small volumetric flow rates over long periods of time for continuous monitoring of environments. The mechanical components on these devices are fabricated into monolithic silicon or other solid state media. These types of devices, if proven successfully, would offer new capabilities for remote monitoring at very small size, weight, and power consumption. When coupled with micro-scale monolithic communications components, the technical option could exist for extremely small remote monitoring devices. Heretofore, little effort has been invested at the Laboratory in examining specific design problems that could capitalize on the emerging component technologies under development at both large and small computer and electronics firms worldwide. Our program involved conceptual designs and selected prototype manufacturing of three different types of micro-scale sensors that could be applied to problems in the nonproliferation mission areas.

Two reactions which are important to coal liquefaction include intermolecular transfer and the elimination of two hydrogen atoms. We have designed several model reactions to probe the viability of several hydrogen transfer and elimination pathways. This report described studies on these reactions using organic model compounds.

We describe an interactive toolkit used to perform comparative analysis of two or more data sets arising from numerical simulations. Several techniques have been incorporated into this toolkit, including (1) successive visualization of individual data sets, (2) data comparison techniques such as computation and visualization of the differences between data sets, and (3) image comparison methods such as scalar field height profiles plotted in a common coordinate system. We describe each technique in detail and show example usage in an industrial application aimed at designing an efficient, low-NOX burner for industrial furnaces. Critical insights are obtained by interactively adjusted color maps, data culling, and data manipulation. New paradigms for scaling small values in the data comparison technique are described. The display device used for this application was the CAVE virtual reality theater, and we describe the user interface to the visualization toolkit and the benefits of immersive 3D visualization for comparative analysis.

{sup 27}Al and {sup 61,65}Cu NMR measurements are reported for powder samples of stable AlCuFe and AlCuRu icosahedral quasicrystals and their crystalline approximants, and for a AlPdMn single grain quasicrystal. Furthermore, {sup 27}Al NQR spectra at 4.2 K have been observed in the AlCuFe and AlCuRu samples. From the quadrupole perturbed NMR spectra at different magnetic fields, and from the zero field NQR spectra, a wide distribution of local electric field gradient (EFG) tensor components and principal axis system orientations was found at the Al site. A model EFG calculation based on a 1/1 AlCuFe approximant was successful in explaining the observed NQR spectra. It is concluded that the average local gradient is largely determined by the p-electron wave function at the Al site, while the width of the distribution is due to the lattice contribution to the EFG. Comparison of {sup 63}Cu NMR with {sup 27}Al NMR shows that the EFG distribution at the two sites is similar, but that the electronic contribution to the EFG is considerably smaller at the Cu site, in agreement with a more s-type wave function of the conduction electrons.

Ukraine operates pressurized water reactors of the Soviet-designed type, VVER. All Ukrainian plants are currently operating with annually renewable permits until they update their safety analysis reports (SARs). After approval of the SARS by the Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, the plants will be granted longer-term operating licenses. In September 1995, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority and the Government Nuclear Power Coordinating Committee of Ukraine issued a new contents requirement for the safety analysis reports of VVERs in Ukraine. It contains requirements in three major areas: design basis accident (DBA) analysis, probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), and beyond design-basis accident (BDBA) analysis. The DBA requirements are an expanded version of the older SAR requirements. The last two requirements, on PRA and BDBA, are new. The US Department of Energy (USDOE), through the International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP), has initiated an assistance and technology transfer program to Ukraine to assist their nuclear power stations in developing a Western-type technical basis for the new SARS. USDOE sponsored In-Depth Safety Assessments (ISAs) have been initiated at three pilot nuclear reactor units in Ukraine, South Ukraine Unit 1, Zaporizhzhya Unit 5, and Rivne Unit 1. USDOE/INSP have structured the ISA program in such a way as to …

A EUVL reticle blank was fabricated on a specially polished quartz blank. The stress-induced distortion of the multilayer coating was unacceptably large. The distortion can be effectively eliminated by coating the backside of the reticle blank with an identical coating. This strategy has the potential to eliminate multilayer induced stress distortion for the reticle blank in a manner which is compatible with the existing reticle fabrication infrastructure.

The quality of the steel used for most galvanizing (and tinplate) applications makes scrap derived from their production and use a premier solid charge material for steelmaking. In 1989 the AISI created a Task Force to define the issues and to recommend technologically and economically sound approaches to assure continued, unhindered recyclability of the growing volume of galvanized scrap. The AISI program addressed the treatment of full-sized industrial bales of scrap. The current, on-going MRI (US)--Argonne National Laboratory program is focused on ``loose`` scrap from industrial and post-consumer sources. Results from these programs, issues of scrap management from source to steel melting, the choices for handling zinc in iron and steelmaking and the benefits/costs for removal of zinc (and lead) from scrap prior to melting in BOF and foundry operations are reviewed in this paper.

In this work the author describes the set up of a UHV system to study the growth of ultra-thin metallic films on a silicon substrate under RHEED conditions. However, a new feature has been added to the normal RHEED apparatus. Because the phosphor screen acts as a high pass filter for the scattered electrons, energy filtering is normally excluded from RHEED techniques. In the experimental apparatus, a biased Faraday collector has been added to measure only the elastically scattered part of the diffracted beams. The electrical currents involved range from about 15 nA to 0.1 nA for the elastically scattered part of a diffracted beam. The (111) surface of Si has been chosen to perform RHEED, with the incident beam along the (100) direction. In order to test the performance of the RHEED set-up, the authors have performed two kinds of measurements, first, they have deposited Ag/Si(111) at different rates and have monitored the diffracted current of the specularly reflected beam with the Faraday collector unbiased, and second, they have tested the capability of the Faraday cup to measure only the elastically scattered part of the diffracted beams.

With the ever increasing awareness of the toxicity of Pb, significant pressure has been put on the electronics industry to get the Pb out of solder. This work pertains to the development and characterization of an alloy which is Pb-free, yet retains the proven positive qualities of current Sn-Pb solders while enhancing the shortcomings of Sn-Pb solder. The solder studied is the Sn-4.7Ag-1.7Cu wt% alloy. By utilizing a variety of experimental techniques the alloy was characterized. The alloy has a melting temperature of 217{degrees}C and exhibits eutectic melting behavior. The solder was examined by subjecting to different annealing schedules and examining the microstructural stability. The effect of cooling rate on the microstructure of the solder was also examined. Overall, this solder alloy shows great promise as a viable alternative to Pb-bearing solders and, as such, an application for a patent has been filed.

The volume of sludge contained in the 100-KW Sandfilter Backwash Pit (SFBWP) was calculated from depth measurements of the sludge, pit dimension measurements and analysis of video tape recordings taken by an underwater camera. The term sludge as used in this report is any combination of sand, sediment, or corrosion products visible in the SFBWP area. This work was performed to determine baseline volume for use in determination of quantities of uranium and plutonium deposited in the pit from sandfilter backwashes. The SFBWP has three areas where sludge is deposited: (1) the main pit floor, (2) the transfer channel floor, and (3) the surfaces and structures in the SFBWP. The depths of sludge and the uniformity of deposition varies significantly between these three areas. As a result, each of the areas was evaluated separately. The total volume of sludge determined was 3.75 M{sup 3} (132.2 ft{sup 3}).

The objective of this 24 month project is to determine the degree of sulfur retention in slag in a full scale cyclone coal combustor. This effort will consist of a series of up to 20 parametric tests in a 20 MMBtu/hr slagging, air cooled, cyclone combustor. During the present reporting period, this combustor was in the final stages of re-installation in a new facility in Philadelphia, PA following its relocation from a test facility in Williamsport, PA. Initial shakedown test on this new combustor facility began in December 1995, at the end of the present quarterly reporting period. The shakedown tests will continue through the next quarterly reporting period in the first three months of calendar year 1996. SO{sub 2} is controlled by injecting calcium oxide based sorbents into the combustor to react with sulfur emitted during combustion. The spent sorbent is dissolved in the slag and removed with it, thereby encapsulating the sulfur in slag. Part of the sorbent exits the combustor with the combustion products into the boiler where it can react with the sulfur. The primary objective of the present tests is to maximize the degree of sulfur retention in the slag. All spent sorbent not reporting …

This is a direct revision to Rev. 0 of the BLTC Control System Software. The entire document is being revised and released as HNF-SD-FF-CSWD-025, Rev 1. The changes incorporated by this revision include addition of a feature to automate the sodium drain when removing assemblies from sodium wetted facilities. Other changes eliminate locked in alarms during cold operation and improve the function of the Oxygen Analyzer. See FCN-620498 for further details regarding these changes. Note the change in the document number prefix, in accordance with HNF-MD-003.

Evolutionary programs (EPs) and evolutionary pattern search algorithms (EPSAS) are two general classes of evolutionary methods for optimizing on continuous domains. The relative performance of these methods has been evaluated on standard global optimization test functions, and these results suggest that EPSAs more robustly converge to near-optimal solutions than EPs. In this paper we evaluate the relative performance of EPSAs and EPs on a real-world application: flexible ligand binding in the Autodock docking software. We compare the performance of these methods on a suite of docking test problems. Our results confirm that EPSAs and EPs have comparable performance, and they suggest that EPSAs may be more robust on larger, more complex problems.

This Engineering Work Plan defines the scope, function and design criteria, and installation activities that will be provided in support of the Tank Farm Lightning Mitigation System. The Tank Farm Lightning Mitigation System is comprised of two tasks, the light pole air terminal design and the tank riser bonding design. Air terminals, riser and riser flange bonding system will be designed and installed to mitigate the effect of lightning strikes in single shell tank farms with watchlist tanks.

Over the past few years Sandia National Laboratories has been moving toward an increased dependence on model- or physics-based analyses as a means to assess the impact of long-term storage on the nuclear weapons stockpile. These deterministic models have also been used to evaluate replacements for aging systems, often involving commercial off-the-shelf components (COTS). In addition, the models have been used to assess the performance of replacement components manufactured via unique, small-lot production runs. In either case, the limited amount of available test data dictates that the only logical course of action to characterize the reliability of these components is to specifically consider the uncertainties in material properties, operating environment etc. within the physics-based (deterministic) model. This not only provides the ability to statistically characterize the expected performance of the component or system, but also provides direction regarding the benefits of additional testing on specific components within the system. An effort was therefore initiated to evaluate the capabilities of existing probabilistic methods and, if required, to develop new analysis methods to support the inclusion of uncertainty in the classical design tools used by analysts and design engineers at Sandia. The primary result of this effort is the CMX (Cassandra Exoskeleton) …

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Rapid Reactivation Project at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico. The EA analyzes the potential effects of a proposal to increase production of neutron generators from the current capability of 600 units per year up to 2,000 units per year. The project would use existing buildings and infrastructure to the maximum extent possible to meet the additional production needs. The increased production levels would necessitate modifications and additions involving a total area of approximately 26,290 gross square feet at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, Technical Area 1. Additional production equipment would be procured and installed. The no-action alternative would be to continue production activities at the current capability of 600 units per year. The EA analyzes effects on health, safety, and air quality, resulting from construction and operation and associated cumulative effects. A detailed description of the proposed action and its environmental consequences is presented in the EA.