The current status of the HYCSOS chemical heat pump and energy conversion system based on metal hydrides is described. Heat transfer fluid loops were insulated and modified for isothermal operation. Software development for HYCSOS manual mode operation was completed. Routines to handle data acquisition, logging, compression, correction and plotting, using a Tektronix Graphics system with flexible disk data storage, provide a rapid and versatile means of presenting HYCSOS data for analysis. Advanced concept heat exchangers to improve the heat transfer of the hydride bed with the heat transfer fluid are discussed. Preliminary tests made with a LaNi5 loaded aluminum foam test unit showed that heat transfer properties are very markedly improved. Thermodynamic expressions are applied to the selection of alloys for use in HYCSOS. The substitution of aluminum for nickel in AB5 type alloys is shown to reduce hysteresis and permits the use of potentially lower cost materials with added flexibility for the optimization of engineering design and performance characteristics of the hydride heat pump system. Transient thermal measurements on hydride beds of CaNi5 and LaNi5 show no deterioration with cycling. Relatively slow heat transfer between the hydride beds and heat transfer fluid in the coiled tube heat exchangers is …

This report surveys waste production rates and disposal practices at EBR-II, a small-scale liquid-metal fast breeder reactor, for the past decade. Normal airborne wastes have been reduced by switching to low-sulfur fuel oil in auxiliary boilers and converting to use of reactor steam for part of the plant space heating. Atmospheric releases of gaseous radioactive wastes initially increased during the implementation of program for testing reactor fuels to and beyond cladding breach; but the effluent rates have now been reduced to far below permissible limits by use of a cryogenic distillation column. EBR-II's small production of liquid radioactive waste is handled by evaporation, followed by disposal of the evaporator sludge as solid waste. Liquid-waste releases meet all applicable state and federal standards. Solid wastes are sent to two storage/disposal areas- one of which is reserved primarily for storage of materials containing sodium, pending development of a facility for disposal of the sodium.

This report evaluates abnormal and accident conditions postulated for the EBR-II cover-gas cleanup system (CGCS). Major considerations include loss of CGCS function with a high level of cover-gas activity, loss of the liquid-nitrogen coolant required for removing fission products from the cover gas, contamination of the cover gas from sources other than the reactor, and loss of system pressure boundary. Calculated exposures resulting from the maximum hypothetical accident (MHA) are less than 2% of the 5-Rcm limit stipulated in U. S. Regulation 10 CFR 100; i.e., a person standing at any point on an exclusion boundary (area radius of 600 m) for 2 h following onset of the postulated release would receive less than 0.45 Rem whole-body dose. The on-site whole-body dose (10 m from the source) would be less than 16 Rem.

The available thermodynamic information is reviewed for three categories of materials that meet essential criteria for use as breeding blankets in deuterium-tritium (D-T) fueled fusion reactors: liquid lithium, solid lithium alloys, and lithium-containing ceramics. The leading candidate, liquid lithium, which also has potential for use as a coolant, has been studied more extensively than have the solid alloys or ceramics.

Quarterly report of the Argonne National Laboratory Chemical Engineering Division regarding activities related to properties and handling of radioactive materials, operation of nuclear reactors, and other relevant research. This report includes fuel cycle studies in advanced solvent extraction techniques focused on development of centrifugal contactors for use in Purex processes and dispersion of liquids by explosions.

"This report represents the results of the reconnaissance sampling of the Deep Creek Mountains of western Utah...Samples collected in this study include dry and wet stream sediments and water from available streams, wells, and springs. The samples were analyzed for uranium, as well as 15 to 20 trace element, using neutron activation techniques. In addition, field and laboratory measurements were made on the water samples." (from Abstract)

Abstract: The results of analyses of the airborne gamma radiation and total magnetic field survey flown for the region identified as the Tonopah National Topographic Map NJll-5 is presented in Volume I and II of this report. The airborne data gathered is reduced by ground computer facilities to yield profile plots of the basic uranium, thorium and potassium equivalent gamma radiation intensities, ratios of these intensities, aircraft altitude above the earth's surface, total gamma ray and earth's magnetic field intensity, correlated as a function of geologic units. The distribution of data within each geologic unit, for all surveyed map lines and tie lines, has been calculated and is included. Two sets of profiled data for each line are included with one set displaying the above-cited data. The second set includes only flight line magnetic field, temperature, pressure, altitude data plus magnetic field data as measured at a base station. A general description of the area, including descriptions of the various geologic units and the corresponding airborne data, is included also.

This report presents the results of a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the Pratt quadrangle, Kansas. Field laboratory data is provided for 611 groundwater and 662 stream sediment samples.

Abstract: Bechtel National, Inc. has conducted a study of the requirement for, and a preliminary design of, a photovoltaic central station test facility.

The results are presented of a program of validation of the unit cell homogenization prescriptions and codes used for the analysis of Zero Power Reactor (ZPR) fast breeder reactor critical experiments. The ZPR drawer loading patterns comprise both plate type and pin-calandria type unit cells. A prescription is used to convert the three dimensional physical geometry of the drawer loadings into one dimensional calculational models. The ETOE-II/MC²-II/SDX code sequence is used to transform ENDF/B basic nuclear data into unit cell average broad group cross sections based on the 1D models. Cell average, broad group anisotropic diffusion coefficients are generated using the methods of Benoist or of Gelbard. The resulting broad (approx. 10 to 30) group parameters are used in multigroup diffusion and S(su n) transport calculations of full core XY or RZ models which employ smeared atom densities to represent the contents of the unit cells.

This report examines the dynamic elastic response of flawed and unflawed reactor subassembly ducts. A plane- strain finite-element analysis is presented for hexagonal ducts containing either internal corner cracks or external midflat cracks. Two geometric loading conditions are considered: uniform internal pressurization and point loads applied at opposite midflats. The time dependence of these loads was chosen as a Heaviside step function for the worst-case situation and as a triangular pulse to simulate the more likely condition.

A computer program (ARDISC, the Argonne Dispersion Code) is described which simulates the migration of nuclides in porous media and includes first order kinetic effects on the retention constants. The code allows for different absorption and desorption rates and solves the coupled migration equations by arithmetic reiterations. Input data needed are the absorption and desorption rates, equilibrium surface absorption coefficients, flow rates and volumes, and media porosities.

The DOE-1 computer program under development by Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, and Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory is used to examine energy consumption in a typical middle-class household in Cincinnati, Ohio. The program is used to compare energy consumption under different structural and environmental conditions including various levels of insulation in the walls and ceiling, double and single glazing of windows, and thermostat setback schedules.

Biaxial creep-fatigue test data for Type 316 stainless steel tubes at 1100*Y are presented. The specimens were subjected to constant internal pressure and fluctuating axial strain with and without hold times in tension as well as compress ion. The results show that internal pressure significantly affects diametral ratchetting and axial stress range. Axial tensile hold is found to he more damaging than axial compressive hold even cinder a biaxial state of stress.

The following report presents engineering details, individual borehole histories and brief preliminary geologic summaries of six holes drilled in two areas of the Upper Michigan Peninsula.

From abstract: Chemical and biological water quality in Rattlesnake Creek basin, Ohio, are evaluated. The data include field and laboratory data for eight sites during August 1976-August 1977 and summaries of earlier (1972-76) data.

Abstract: Virtually all treated public water supplies sampled in Florida meet the National Inter-Primary and Proposed Secondary Drinking Water Regulations. These findings are based on a water-quality reconnaissance of 129 treated public supplies throughout the State during the period November 1977 through February 1978. While primary drinking water regulation exceedences were infrequent , lead, selenium, and gross alpha radioactivity in a very few water supplies were above established maximum contaminant levels. Additionally , the secondary drinking water regulation parameters--dissolved solids, chloride, sulfate, iron, color, and pH--were occasionally detected in excess of the proposed Federal regulations. The secondary regulations, however, pertain mainly to the aesthetic quality of drinking water and not directly to public health aspects.

Final report documenting a high-sensitivity airborne radiometric and magnetic survey of the Salina, Moab, Montrose, and Leadville quadrangles including the survey description, specifications, data processing methods, interpretation methods, and regional geologic review.

Second volume of a report documenting a high-sensitivity airborne radiometric and magnetic survey of the Leadville quadrangle including a detailed geologic summary, interpretation report, standard deviation maps, pseudo-contour maps, interpretation maps, flight line and geologic base map, and individual corrected profiles.

The following report is the first in a series of volumes presenting data recorded during the months of August and September, 1978, from a radiometric and magnetic survey taken in four quadrangles between eastern Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and southern Montana (Newcastle, Gillette and Ekalaka).

This report contains data from a survey taken between August 11 and August 27, 1978 on the high sensitivity airborne gamma-ray spectrometer and magnetometer over the Ashton quadrangle in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Second volume of a report documenting a high-sensitivity airborne radiometric and magnetic survey of the Moab quadrangle including a detailed geologic summary, interpretation report, standard deviation maps, pseudo-contour maps, interpretation maps, flight line and geologic base map, and individual corrected profiles.

Second volume of a report documenting a high-sensitivity airborne radiometric and magnetic survey of the Montrose quadrangle including a detailed geologic summary, interpretation report, standard deviation maps, pseudo-contour maps, interpretation maps, flight line and geologic base map, and individual corrected profiles.

From abstract: During the summer of 1977, 1268 water and 1206 sediment samples were collected from 1292 lakes and streams throughout the 33 600-km2 area within the boundaries of the McGrath and Talkeetna National Topographic Map Series quadrangles in south-central Alaska. Each of the water samples was analyzed for uranium and 12 other elements, and each of the sediment samples was analyzed for uranium, thorium, and 41 other elements. All of the field and analytical data are listed in appendixes to this report, but only the uranium and thorium data are discussed herein.