A parametric study was performed to provide an estimate of the number of non-residential solar demonstration projects that will be required to start a commercial industry in solar equipment manufacturing, marketing, financing, and installation. An opinion survey was conducted among several experts in the field and results are shown. A techno-economic computer simulation of the solar industry was constructed. This simulation predicts the response of the marketplace to the ERDA program. The computer model showed that ERDA should offer to pay 75% of the initial cost of the system plus 90% of the maintenance and insurance costs over the next 20 years. The predicted response of the marketplace to the ERDA offer of 75%/90% is that 667 demonstration units would be built in all regions of the country, except the region around Seattle, Washington. (MHR)

Operations with the Geothermal Loop Experimental Facility are reviewed. Inspection of the separators, scrubbers, pumps, valves, and controls is described. (MHR)

The baseline design for a 10 MW proof-of-concept pilot central receiver solar power plant is described. Detailed designs for the collector, steam generator, and thermal storage subsystem research experiments are presented. (WHK)

A thermal analysis was performed to establish requirements for a heating system for the standpipe bubbler sufficient to maintain the sodium in the standpipe in a liquid condition over the range of operating conditions. There are very few formal requirements on operating limits or hardware selection. Therefore, consideration was given to standard types of equipment employed in a conventional manner. The recommended heating system consists of metal-sheathed resistance heaters with three units being mounted on standoffs and equally spaced around the pipe. The heaters would be covered by a layer of insulation having both interior and exterior coverings of reflective metal sheathing. The pipe temperature would be monitored by thermocouples, and the heaters would be turned on and off on a cycle of approximately 4 hours to maintain the pipe at a temperature of 800/sup 0/F +- 50/sup 0/F.

The effects of lateral mass efflux with prescribed temperature and velocity on vertical free convection boundary layers in a saturated porous medium at high Rayleigh numbers are studied analytically. Within the framework of boundary layer theory, similarity solutions are obtained for the special case where the prescribed temperature and velocity of the fluid vary as x/sup lambda/ and x/sup (lambda-1)/2/ respectively. The effects of mass efflux on surface heat transfer rate and boundary layer thickness are shown. Application to warm water discharge along a well or fissure to an aquifer of infinite extent is discussed.

Strain-gaged flat plates having one, two, three, and five closely spaced holes were tested under uniaxial and 1:1 biaxial loading conditions. The experimental results of these tests were compared with corresponding calculated values obtained using the computer program TABLES, which was developed at Battelle-Columbus Laboratories. The study was conducted (1) to obtain highly reliable experimental data that can be used in the design of penetrations in vessels having large radii of curvature, (2) to evaluate the capability of the computer program TABLES for accurately predicting the stresses in perforated flat plates, (3) to complete the initial step leading toward the planned development of a method of analysis for clusters of nozzles attached to pressure vessels, and (4) to investigate the stress states in regions of closely space holes. The comparisons of calculated and experimental stresses were in good agreement, and the method of analysis was found to be capable of accurately predicting the complex state of stress in the vicinity of the closely spaced holes.

An analysis was made to determine the fuel temperature in the Livermore Pool Type Reactor, LPTR, during a transient involving a reactor scram following a cooling system pump trip. A computer code was obtained for this purpose from the University of Virginia. This code was used in preparation of UVAR-18, the SAR Manual of the University of Virginia Reactor. This reactor is very similar to the LPTR. The code incorporates a form of the reactor point kinetics equation with six delayed neutron groups, and standard heat transfer equations. The code was modified for use in this study. These modifications included rewriting the code in Fortran IV from ALGO, replacing a straight line pump coastdown by an equation closely following the actual pump RPM during a pump trip, modifying flow resistance equations to conform to the conditions in the LPTR, and replacing various constants with others applicable to the LPTR. The calculations in this study apply to a reactor scram from conditions at the ''safety limit'' settings.

ARGUS is a two-beam Nd: glass laser system built for laser fusion irradiation experiments. It is the first glass laser system planned and built with the understanding that small-scale beam break-up is the dominant performance limiting factor in obtaining high output power. Accordingly, five vacuum spatial filters are located at strategic intervals along each chain to eliminate the accumulated small-scale filamentation. This strategy permits cascading of amplifiers to obtain a focusable output of more than one terawatt per arm in a spatially clean beam of 20 centimeter diameter. Beam diagnostics which characterize each shot include the time-integrated spatial profile and the time resolved intensity/power at the target. Demonstrated performance to date includes: (1) Peak power in excess of 2 TW at the target is achieved with regularity. (2) Maximum system brightness is in excess of 10/sup 17/ watts/cm/sup 2/ ster. (3) Shot-to-shot pointing stability within 50 ..mu.. radians is achieved over periods of days. (4) Successful target experiments have been performed with pulses of from 30 to 500 ps duration.

Most of this report is concerned with Study 4, ''Development of Accelerated and Abbreviated Testing Methods for Predicting Performance of Encapsulation Materials Over a 20-Year Lifetime.'' The outputs of the study are to be (1) the specification of a methodology for developing the experimental designs for aging tests, and (2) the development of the experimental designs for aging tests for selected materials and material interfaces. Pursuant to these goals, the aging behavior of polymeric materials has been reviewed to lead to identifying possible failure mechanisms and thus to appropriate choices of characteristics to be measured and stresses to be used in accelerated/abbreviated tests. A similar review has been made for glasses. The results are discussed. Aging data and data analysis methods (models) which have been used in other investigations have been identified and critiqued; these results are presented. Initial results of efforts on developing the methodology are also presented in the discussion. (WDM)

An analysis of the scheme to heat magnetically confined plasma columns to kilovolt temperatures with a laser beam requires consideration of two propagation problems. The first question to be answered is whether stable beam trapping is possible. Since the laser beam creates its own density profile by heating the plasma, the propagation of the beam becomes a nonlinear phenomenon, but not necessarily a stable one. In addition, the electron density at a given time depends on the preceding history of both the medium and the laser pulse. A self-consistent time dependent treatment of the beam propagation and the medium hydrodynamics is consequently required to predict the behavior of the laser beam. Such calculations have been carried out and indicate that propagation of a laser beam in an initially uniform plasma can form a stable filament which alternately focuses and defocuses. An additional question that is discussed is whether diffractive losses associated with long propagation paths are significant.

The formation of ozone from oxygen and the dissociation carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide and oxygen is studied in a gamma-neutron chemical process blanket associated with a controlled thermonuclear reactor. Materials used for reactor tube wall will affect the efficiency of the energy absorption by the reactants and consequently the yield of reaction products. Three kinds of materials, aluminum, stainless steel and fiber (Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/)-aluminium are investigated for the tube wall material in the study.

Progress is reported on studies on the physiology of blood platelets in thrombocytopenic patients and rabbits. Methods for the detection of platelet antibodies and the preservation of platelets in vitro were investigated. Studies on the effect of low doses of x irradiation (up to 1000 R) on platelet function indicate that platelets exposed to ionizing radiation have increased functional activity. A list is included of publications that report the results of the studies in detail.

A summary is presented of the activities and results of research in nuclear chemistry, nuclear geochemistry, nuclear cosmochemistry, and other minor areas from 1950 to 1976. A complete listing is given of publications, doctoral dissertations, and reports resulting from the research. A chronological list provides an overview of the activities at any particular time. (JSR)

A report of the fifth quarter's work on the web-dendritic ribbon growth at the University of South Carolina is presented. A brief description of the work initiated and carried out during this period to meet the program goals is given along with a copy of the Program Plan covering the entire period of the contract. The web growth portion of this program was spent in the design, installation and testing of a new furnace geometry for the growth of dendritic web ribbon. The new installation was completed and the testing 90% accomplished. Results of the testing to determine the effect of the relative position of the r.f. coil with respect to the susceptor on the thermal profile in the melt are described. The one-dimensional thermal model has been used to determine the relationship between growth rate, web thickness, and mensicus height for stable growth. The results of this analysis are also given. An analysis was completed of the thermal radiation from the meniscus including the effect of the curvature of the meniscus with the results indicating that inclusion of the curvature leads to approximately a 10% increase in the radiation loss.

Polymers prepared by autoclave heat treatment of simple hydrocarbons were evaluated as sources of synthetic pitches for use in fabricating composite carbons. Hydrocarbons included: indene, phenanthrene, triphenylbenzene, 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiyne, and cinnamylideneindene. Autoclave temperatures and pressures were in the ranges of 340 to 515/sup 0/C and 5 to 28 MPa, respectively. The more promising pitch materials were liquids or low-melting solids with coke yields of approximately 50 weight percent. Binary mixtures of organics were able to produce polymers and resulting carbons with properties that were correlated to the composition of the organic blend, thus allowing the controlled modification of properties.

Equipment and procedures used to spot weld tantalum- or stainless-steel-sheathed thermocouples to the inside diameter of Zircaloy tubing to meet the requirements of the Multirod Burst Test (MRBT) Program at ORNL are described. Spot welding and oxide cleaning tools were fabricated to remove the oxide coating on the Zircaloy tubing at local areas and spot weld four thermocouples separated circumferentially by 90/sup 0/ at any axial distribution desired. It was found necessary to apply a nickel coating to stainless-steel-sheathed thermocouples to obtain acceptable welds. The material and shape of the inner electrode and resistance between inner and outer electrodes were found to be critical parameters in obtaining acceptable welds.

A report is presented on four studies on encapsulation: (1) Evaluation of world experience and properties of materials for encapsulation of terrestrial photovoltaic arrays; (2) Definition of encapsulant service environments and test conditions; (3) Evaluation of properties of encapsulation materials; and (4) Development of accelerated and abbreviated testing mathods for predicting performance of encapsulation materials over a 20-year lifetime. (WDM)

This paper describes three proposed experiments for observing the breakdown of parity in atomic transitions due to the exchange of neutral, parity-violating currents arising from some of the new gauge models (e.g., the Weinberg model) for the weak interaction. The experiments are based on exploiting a suggestion, by Bouchiat and Bouchiat, that modern laser technology be utilized to produce intense, monochromatic, and polarized photon beams with which to excite forbidden atomic transitions of the basic form parallel ns/sup 1///sub 2/ broken bracket ..-->.. parallel n's/sup 1///sub 2/ broken bracket. The asymmetries (of the order of 10/sup -4/) in the de-exitation processes then signal the presence of the parity-violating components due to the neutral currents. In all three experiments suggested here, the use of multiple (uncollimated)atomic beams as targets forms a basic part, and their advantages over a temperature-equilibrium vapor are described. The first experiment uses /sup 55/Cs atomic beams as a target; the second uses /sup 37/Rb in conjunction with a superstrong magnetic field (approximately 80 kG); the third uses /sup 81/Tl and requires frequency doubling of the exciting laser beam. All three experiments appear to be quite feasible, and, given the requisite equipment (much of which is or soon …

The overall objective of the ERDA program described is to demonstrate new technology associated with a novel concept for a high-speed flywheel energy storage system. The concept, consisting of a high-speed composite flywheel combined with an integral inductor-type motor/alternator, offers the possibility of a small, lightweight package with high energy storage capability. The basic technology demonstrated in this program will have application to a number of flywheel energy storage systems. The demonstration unit will have a nominal rating of 20 kVA. The program will develop a flywheel energy storage system sized for a 3000 lb battery electric van. The balance of the report discusses the energy storage package: (1) design and fabrication of the inductor motor/alternator/flywheel; and (2) design and fabrication of the solid state power conditioner and control breadboard.

The objective of this research program is to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of producing solar cell-quality sheet silicon by coating one surface of carbonized ceramic substrates with a thin layer of large-grain polycrystalline silicon from the melt. With the present dip coating facility, pulling rates of 5 to 7 cm/min are most likely to produce layers of the crystalline quality from which high efficiency solar cells can be fabricated. At a pulling rate of 6 cm/min, it is possible to achieve smooth 50-..mu..m thick layers, with grains as large as 2.5-mm wide, generally extending the entire length of the substrate. At pulling rates less than 6 cm/min, single grains as large as 4 mm in width have been observed. Substrates held at an angle of 45/sup 0/ to the surface of the melt during dipping produced layers qualitatively similar to the vertical dipped layers, but they show some potential for improved coating uniformity. Diffractometer measurements on several samples showed that the strongest diffraction peak was from the silicon 220 plane which is about 10/sup 0/ from the sample surface. The (110) surfaces have been found to be dominant in the EFG and dendritic material, and it appears this …

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Tantalum capsules lined with tantalum carbide were loaded with a mixture of uranium carbide-20 wt% plutonium carbide and sealed with an electron beam weld for use in Argonne National Laboratory calorimetric studies of reactor fuels. Experimental welding tests were made to determine optimum welding parameters. Special equipment available only at LLL was used and techniques were developed to perform the loading and welding operations without exposure to moisture or oxygen and with complete containment of the radioactive particles. Three capsules were successfully loaded, welded, tested, and delivered to ANL.

The experimental procedure for irradiating the above specimens is given. No results are described. (MOW)

Impermeable rock units, preferably at least 500 feet thick and lying 1000 to 3000 feet below land surface, were sought in the region consisting roughly of the western /sup 3///sub 5/ths of Tennessee and the northern /sup 3///sub 5/ths of Alabama and Mississippi. All rock sequences, Cambrian through Eocene, were examined in varying detail, except the Cretaceous Selma Chalk and except the diapiric salt. These rocks were studied for their relative impermeable homogeneity, their continuity, their background of structural and seismic stability and their hydrologic associations. The Central Mississippi Ridge of north-central Mississippi is overlain by a long-stable mass of Porters Creek Clay 500-700 feet thick, in an area roughly 50-60 miles wide and about 150 miles long. The Yazoo Clay, where best developed in the west-central and southwest part of Mississippi, is in the 400-500 foot thickness range, but locally exceeds 500 feet. The entire area mapped is underlain by the Louann Salt which has produced many deep-seated salt domes and numerous piercement salt domes. Salt flow has complicated shallow structural geology throughout that area. The Chattanooga Shale rarely exceeds 60 feet in thickness in the region studied and is generally much thinner and is absent in many places. …