Results to date are presented for a research project which is in progress at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The goal of the research is to find a cost-effective process to convert the energy in humid air into mechanical work, which will be used to drive an electrical generator. The research is being carried out by computer modeling. Results for a natural draft tower show that it is not a cost-effective way to get energy from humid air. Parametric studies are presented for expansion-compression cycles. With suitable conditions, including large amounts of cooling during compression, this cycle has an attractive net work output. To avoid using all the output power to overcome machine losses, it appears necessary to use a one-machine mechanization. The most promising uses vortex flow to achieve the necessary expansion and subsequent compression with cooling. Power output and costs have been estimated for a vortex plant located in Puerto Rico.

None

Major emphasis was placed on laboratory evaluations of heavy metal associations with fly ash. Data are presented showing that most fly ashes contain considerable amounts of As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, and Zn. Desorption studies suggest that pH and the presence of various heavy metal sinks on the ash particle surface (notably hydrous iron oxides) play significant roles in the release of these metals into solution. Adsorption studies using natural ash leachate/soil systems and vertical soil columns give quantitative estimates (through the use of adsorption isotherms) of the degree of attenuation of the heavy metals. Results verify the importance of solution pH and iron oxide concentration. In general the element cadmium shows the least tendency toward sorbing onto local solid phases while lead is sorbed to the greatest extent. Among soil types, organic peat was the most effective in removing metals while silica was least effective.

A new theory of Ostwald ripening (the coarsening of particles in a matrix or on a substrate) is being developed, which is based on the principle of minimum entropy production. This theory yields particle size distribution functions whose general shape is in much closer agreement with existing observations than is that of well established theories. Progress is reported both in the theoretical development and in several areas of experiment. The goal of the experimental program is the determination of actual distributions from very large numbers of size measurements, in order to provide statistically more significant basis for comparison with the various theories than has previously characterized such measurements.

The record for the first of the public briefings in the Consumer Information Series scheduled by the Department of Energy is presented. The series presents, for public information and discussion, those DOE policies and programs of specific interest to consumers and public interest groups. In the first meeting DOE officials responded to questions from the public on the DOE role in nuclear policies and programs.

A study was made of neutron irradiation at 110/sup 0/C producing octahedral voids in high purity nickel samples containing up to 84 wt ppm carbon. The kinetics of void size, formation, and density with increasing carbon content is discussed. It was found that the effect of carbon was mainly to suppress void nucleation, with little or no effect on void growth. Also a trapping mechanism is proposed. There are 64 references. (JFP)

Transient high speed gas flow up a gravel stemming column was investigated. The results provide an upper bound to the extent of gas pressure propagation in the first several seconds following an underground nuclear test. Application of these results to the LASL BANDICOOT event demonstrate that gas flow through the gravel column cannot explain that vent.

The goals of the United States Department of Energy sodium removal and decontamination programs are (1) to identify plant requirements and develop safe effective processes for sodium removal, both for experimental facilities and for reactor components, (2) to develop effective decontamination processes for removing deposited radioactivity, (3) to establish and put into use a set of workable criteria for requalification and return to service of components after sodium removal and decontamination, (4) to design, build and operate facilities in which to perform the sodium removal and decontamination operations. The paper gives a summary of progress toward each of these goals. Three basic processes for sodium removal have been investigated extensively: the use of water vapor in an inert carrier gas, the use of alcohol-type reagent, and evaporation. The process development work on the first two processes has been essentially completed. The evaporative process is still under development, but preliminary parameters have been established.

The BSR operated at an average power level of 1,868 kW for 23.58 percent of the time during July, August, and September. Water-quality control in both the reactor primary and secondary cooling systems was satisfactory. The PCA was used in training programs and was operated on two occasions when the Oak Ridge Associated Universities' students actively participated in training laboratories.

The LLL field brine-scaling test system and a variety of measurement techniques have been used to test a group of eight proprietary additives from eight different companies, a hydroxyethylcellulose previously found to retard silica precipitation, and geothermal sludge as a seeding agent to reduce scaling. For each additive, scaling rates at both 210 and 125/sup 0/C and on three different materials--mild steel, Teflon, and Hastelloy C-276--were measured using test coupons. Sections of steel pipe and perforated screens also were exposed to the treated brine, silica precipitation rates in the effluent brine were measured by means of the electrochemical linear polarization resistance technique. Examination of the pipe sections and chemical analyses of the scales are not complete, thus only preliminary conclusions are reported here. It appears that, although none of the additives effected a dramatic reduction in scaling rates, several decreased the rate of scaling of mild steel at 125/sup 0/C by a factor of 2 to 3. Only hydroxyethylcellulose retards the rate of precipitation of silica in the effluent brine. Scaling rates could not be measured accurately in the seeding experiment because of its short duration, but this brine treatment had the desired effect, at 125/sup 0/C, of reducing the …

Measures the axial flux distribution at several radical locations