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At least 127 records · Page 7

Cesium Removal from AP-106 Tank Waste Using Crystalline Silicotitanate

The Tank Side Cesium Removal (TSCR) system, currently operated by Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC, prepares Hanford waste tank supernate feeds for the Low-Activity Waste Facility at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). In addition to entrained solids removal from the supernate, the primary goal of TSCR is to remove cesium-137 ( 137 Cs) by ion exchange (IX), allowing contact handling of the liquid effluent product at the WTP as governed by a waste acceptance criterion (WAC). Specific to 137 Cs, this requirement is <3.18E-5 Ci 137 Cs/mole of Na. Crystalline silicotitanate (CST), manufactured by Honeywell UOP, LLC (product IONSIV R9140-B), was selected as the ion exchange media for TSCR.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W

Evaluation of Hanford Supernatant Waste Evaporation

• Hanford site in Washington has 27 underground “double-shell” storage tanks containing radioactive waste. Storage space is utilized to max capacity. • Construction of new tanks is undesirable, but volume reduction is still possible by vacuum evaporation of liquid waste. • Excess evaporation may create additional problems in solids precipitation, waste density and corrosivity. • Evaporation of liquid waste was simulated to determine possible outcomes.

Barkai, Benjamin [Savannah River National Laborato

Nozzle and cavity wall cooling limitations on specific impulse of a gas-core nuclear rocket.

Experimental and theoretical study of the performance of a gas-core nuclear rocket, showing that in a uranium plasma nuclear rocket with an 8-ft cavity diameter the cavity wall can be cooled up to a power level of 7400 MW when the rocket operates at a pressure of 1000 atm and the propellant mass flow rate is 10 lbm/sec. A maximum cavity specific impulse of 5800 sec was obtained under such operating conditions. The fact that the wall heat flux was much lower for reactor powers below this level is linked to the presence of a relatively cool, opaque insulating layer of seeded propellant between the hot plasma and the solid wall. The additional coolant required for nozzle protection reduced the maximum cavity specific impulse to 5200 sec.

Kascak, A. F.

Development of advanced high strength tantalum base alloys. Part 1: Screening investigation

Five experimental tantalum alloy compositions containing 13-18% W+Re+Hf solid solution solute additions with dispersed phase strengthening achieved by carbon or nitrogen additions were prepared as 1.4 inch diameter ingot processed to 3/8 inch diameter rod and evaluated. Elevated temperature tensile and creep strength increased monotonically with increasing solute content. Room temperature elongation decreased for 20% to less than 2% as the solute content was increased above 16%. Phase identification indicated that the precipitating phase in the carbide containing alloys was Ta2C.

Buckman, R. W., Jr.

Effect of silicone oil on nozzle heat transfer in solid propellant rockets

The feasibility of reducing heat transfer rates to inert nozzle walls in solid rockets by addition of silicone oil as a propellant ingredient is explored experimentally. A metallized control propellant and its counterpart with 1% silicone oil are fired in a 2 1/2-in. diameter end burning all-metal burner. Pressure-time histories are obtained; temperature-time data at the nozzle throat are obtained in some of the runs. The heat loss by the product gases to the cold inert walls of the nozzle lower the temperature of the gases leading to the condensation of aluminum oxide on the walls. This condensation is used as an index of the heat transfer rate to the nozzle. On a statistical basis it is found that the silicone propellant gives practically no condensation in 70% of the firings contrasted with 21% for its counterpart with no silicone oil in it. The gas temperature at the nozzle throat is experimentally seen to be generally higher with the silicone propellant than with its counterpart; this higher temperature is consistent with a preliminary analysis that is used here to relate the nozzle surface temperature to the heat transfer from the product gases.

Ramohalli, K.

Effect of silicone oil on solid propellant combustion in small motors

The feasibility of reducing troublesome nozzle blockage (by condensation deposits) in laboratory-scale solid rockets by addition of a silicone oil as a propellant ingredient was explored experimentally. An aluminized composite propellant and its counterpart with 1% silicone oil replacing part of the binder were fired in a 63.5 mm diameter, end-burning, all-metal burner. Pressure-time histories were recorded for all of the tests by a Taber gauge mounted at the downstream end of the chamber; temperature-time data at the nozzle throat were obtained in some of the runs by thermocouples having junctions positioned at the wall but insulated from the metal. Deposition of condensables on the nozzle walls causing a progressive increase in the chamber pressure with time was noted. The fraction of firings exhibiting practically no condensation was 59% with silicone and 32% without. On the average, temperature readings at the nozzle throat were higher with the silicone propellants. Although various phenomena may contribute to these findings, the results are not understood completely.

Ramohalli, K.

Transformation toughened ceramics for the heavy duty diesel engine technology program

The objective of this program is to develop an advanced high temperature oxide structural ceramic for application to the heavy duty diesel engine. The approach is to employ transformation toughening by additions of ZrO.5HfO.5O2 solid solution to the oxide ceramics, mullite (2Al2O3S2SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3). The study is planned for three phases, each 12 months in duration. This report covers Phase 1. During this period, processing techniques were developed to incorporate the ZrO.5HfO.5O2 solid solution in the matrices while retaining the necessary metastable tetragonal phase. Modulus of rupture and of elasticity, coefficient of thermal expansion, fracture toughness by indent technique and thermal diffusivity of representative specimens were measured. In Phase 2, the process will be improved to provide higher mechanical strength and to define the techniques for scale up to component size. In Phase 3, full scale component prototypes will be fabri-]cated.

Musikant, S.

Improved isoparametric solid and membrane elements

Improvements that were made to the COSMIC NASTRAN elements CIHEX1 and QDMEM1 are described. These elements are isoparametric representations of solid and membrane elastic behavior. Recent papers by the authors have shown the official COSMIC versions of these elements to be inferior to those available in the MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation (MSC) version of NASTRAN in that they are overly stiff for some loadings. Modifications were made to these elements which reduce the order of integration for shear terms and, for the eight-mode solid element, add additional strain functions. The resulting element formulations give behavior similar to that of the MSC elements. The changes made in the element formulations are discussed and results of test problems are compared with results from the official COSMIC elements and with the MSC elements.

Case, W. R.

Thermodynamic state of SO2 on Io's surface

It has been suggested that surface conditions on Io might be conducive to significant SO2 adsorption on sulfur or alkali sulfides. A number of spectroscopic arguments for and against the high abundance of a SO2 adsorbate (versus frost) on Io have been made. SO2 absorption isotherms on particulate sulfur are measured, and the question of SO2 adsorbate/ice is approached from a thermodynamic perspective. Because of formidable experimental difficulties, data were not obtained at the very low temperatures and P(SO2) characteristics of Io; however, data were obtained over a wide range of pressures and temperatures somewhat higher than Io's and extrapolated to Io surface conditions. Errors in estimating adsorptive capacity accrue through extrapolation of the adsorption isotherms; however, more significant is the addition of the solid SO2 equilibrium vapor pressure curve to the phase diagram. The formation of ice places a strict upper limit on adsorptive coverage at any temperature. The limit for Io based upon the data is calculated, and it is shown that no more than 0.014 monolayers of SO2 can adsorb on sulfur at Io temperatures. Given the assumption that sulfur forms the primary adsorbent on Io's surface, or the assumption that the adsorptive capacity of the other adsorbents is not substantially greater than that of sulfur, this explains the fact that the nu(1) + nu(3) band center position is in better agreement with that of frost than adsorbate.

Zent, Aaron P.

Propulsive lift noise

Propulsive life noise is the increase in noise that occurs when airframe surfaces are placed in the propulsive system's exhaust to increase their lift force. Increased local flow velocities and turbulence levels, due to the propulsive system exhaust gases passing along the airframe lifting surfaces, cause an increase in maximum lift coefficient. The airplane's flight speed required for takeoff and landing can then be significantly reduced, allowing operation from shorter runways than those of conventional commercial airports. Unfortunately, interaction of high velocity turbulent exhaust flow with the airframe's solid surfaces generates additional noise radiation. Aeroacoustic processes that cause propulsive lift noise also are present in airframe noise and propulsive system installation noise. Research studies of propulsive lift noise led to development of improved methods of predicting noise radiation from surfaces in turbulent flows. Noise reduction and prediction methods of aircraft noise are discussed.

Fink, Martin R.

Effects of particulate radiation on premixed gas flames

Observations of the effect of the addition of fine solid particles to weakly combustible methane-air mixtures are reported. Burning rates, pressure rise, and thermal characteristics are found to exhibit nonmonotonic trends with increasing particle loading. These results are interpreted in terms of the effects of augmentation of radiant loss at small particle loadings and re-absorption of emitted radiation at larger loadings. It is suggested that in sufficiently large systems, flammability limits might not exist because of this reabsorption effect.

Abbud-Madrid, Angel

Experimental evaluation of the certification-trail method

Certification trails are a recently introduced and promising approach to fault-detection and fault-tolerance. A comprehensive attempt to assess experimentally the performance and overall value of the method is reported. The method is applied to algorithms for the following problems: huffman tree, shortest path, minimum spanning tree, sorting, and convex hull. Our results reveal many cases in which an approach using certification-trails allows for significantly faster overall program execution time than a basic time redundancy-approach. Algorithms for the answer-validation problem for abstract data types were also examined. This kind of problem provides a basis for applying the certification-trail method to wide classes of algorithms. Answer-validation solutions for two types of priority queues were implemented and analyzed. In both cases, the algorithm which performs answer-validation is substantially faster than the original algorithm for computing the answer. Next, a probabilistic model and analysis which enables comparison between the certification-trail method and the time-redundancy approach were presented. The analysis reveals some substantial and sometimes surprising advantages for ther certification-trail method. Finally, the work our group performed on the design and implementation of fault injection testbeds for experimental analysis of the certification trail technique is discussed. This work employs two distinct methodologies, software fault injection (modification of instruction, data, and stack segments of programs on a Sun Sparcstation ELC and on an IBM 386 PC) and hardware fault injection (control, address, and data lines of a Motorola MC68000-based target system pulsed at logical zero/one values). Our results indicate the viability of the certification trail technique. It is also believed that the tools developed provide a solid base for additional exploration.

Sullivan, Gregory F.

Compton scattering in jets: A mechanism for approximately 0.4 and less than or approximately 0.2 MeV line production

We show that gamma-ray line emission at approximately 0.4 and less than or approximately 0.2 MeV can be produced by Compton scattering of beamed radiation in the jets of Galactic black hole candidates. This mechanism has the novel feature of not invoking the presence of e(exp +)-e(exp -) pairs. To produce the two lines, we employ a symmetric double-sided jet with bulk flow velocity of about 0.5c and incident beam radiation with a hard energy spectrum. We show that the two lines can be seen at viewing-angle cosines relative to the jet ranging from 0.2 to 0.6. This comprises 40% of the total solid angle. In addition, the line radiation is approximately 10% polarized. Depending on the bulk flow and viewing angle, the model can produce lines at other energies as well. In particular, a broad feature near 1 MeV can be seen by viewing the jet close to its axis. Our model can also accommodate single-line spectra if the beamed gamma-ray emission or the jets themselves are asymmetric.

Skibo, J. G.

Disturbance Dynamics in Transitional and Turbulent Flows

The dynamics of an ensemble of linear disturbances with a known probability distribution associated with the initial mode amplitudes are studied in boundary-layer flows through an analysis of the transport equations for the mean disturbance kinetic energy and disturbance energy dissipation rate. Effects of adverse and favorable pressure-gradients on the disturbance dynamics are also included in the analysis. Unlike the fully turbulent regime where nonlinear phase scrambling of the fluctuations affects the flow field in proximity to the wall, the laminar regime fluctuations studied here are influenced across the boundary layer by the solid boundary. In addition to the low Reynolds number, early stage transition regime, the dynamics of these disturbance fields can be related in some respects to the near-wall dynamics of the fully turbulent regime.

Grosch, C. E.

Modeling Disturbance Dynamics in Transitional and Turbulent Boundary Layers

The dynamics of an ensemble of linear disturbances in boundary-layer flows at various Reynolds numbers is studied through an analysis of the transport equations for the mean disturbance kinetic energy and energy dissipation rate. Effects of adverse and favorable pressure-gradients on the disturbance dynamics are also included in the analysis. Unlike the fully turbulent regime where nonlinear phase scrambling of the fluctuations affects the flow field even in proximity to the wall, the early stage transition regime fluctuations studied here are influenced across the boundary layer by the solid boundary. In addition, the dominating dynamics in the disturbance kinetic energy equation is governed by the energy production, pressure-transport and viscous diffusion - also in contrast to the fully turbulent regime. For the disturbance dissipation rate, a dynamic balance exists between the destruction and diffusion of dissipation.

Grosch, C. E.

Growth and Metabolism of the Green Alga, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa, in Simulated Microgravity

The effect of microgravity on living organisms during space flight has been a topic of interest for some time, and a substantial body of knowledge on the subject has accumulated. Despite this, comparatively little information is available regarding the influence of microgravity on algae, even though it has been suggested for long duration flight or occupancy in space that plant growth systems, including both higher plants and algae, are likely to be necessary for bioregenerative life support systems. High-Aspect-Ratio Rotating-Wall Vessel or HARV bioreactors developed at Johnson Space Center provide a laboratory-based approach to investigating the effects of microgravity on cellular reactions. In this study, the HARV bioreactor was used to examine the influence of simulated microgravity on the growth and metabolism of the green alga, Chlorella pyrenoidosa. After the first 2 days of culture, cell numbers increased more slowly in simulated microgravity than in the HARV gravity control; after 7 days, growth in simulated microgravity was just over half (58%) that of the gravity control and at 14 days it was less than half (42%). Chlorophyll and protein were also followed as indices of cell competence and function; as with growth, after 2-3 days, protein and chlorophyll levels were reduced in modeled microgravity compared to gravity controls. Photosynthesis is a sensitive biochemical index of the fitness of photosynthetic organisms; thus, CO2-dependent O2 evolution was tested as a measure of photosynthetic capacity of cells grown in simulated microgravity. When data were expressed with respect to cell number, modeled microgravity appeared to have little effect on CO2 fixation. Thus, even though the overall growth rate was lower for cells cultured in microgravity, the photosynthetic capacity of the cells appears to be unaffected. Cells grown in simulated microgravity formed loose clumps or aggregates within about 2 days of culture, with aggregation increasing over time. Presently, the basis for, or significance of, the cell aggregation is unknown. The results from this study suggest that cell growth and morphological characteristics of green algae may be altered by culture in simulated microgravity. The data obtained to date should provide a solid basis for additional experimentation regarding the influence of modeled microgravity on cell morphology, physiological activity, protein production and possibly gene expression in algal and plant cell systems. The final aim of the study is to provide useful information to elucidate the underlying mechanism for the biological effects of microgravity on cells.

Mills, W. Ronald

1100 to 1500 K Slow Plastic Compressive Behavior of NiAl-xCr Single Crystals

The compressive properties of near <001> and <111> oriented NiAl-2Cr single crystals and near <011> oriented NiAl-6Cr samples have been measured between 1100 and 1500 K. The 2Cr addition produced significant solid solution strengthening in NiAl, and the <111> and <001> single crystals possessed similar strengths. The 6Cr crystals were not stronger than the 2Cr versions. At 1100 and 1200 K plastic flow in all three Cr-modified materials was highly dependent on stress with exponents > 10. The <011> oriented 6Cr alloy exhibited a stress exponent of about 8 at 1400 and 1500 K; whereas both <001> and <111> NiAl-2Cr crystals possessed stress exponents near 3 which is indicative of a viscous dislocation glide creep mechanism. While the Cottrell-Jaswon solute drag model predicted creep rates within a factor of 3 at 1500 K for <001>-oriented NiAl-2Cr; this mechanism greatly over predicted creep rates for other orientations and at 1400 K for <001> crystals.

Whittenberger, J. Daniel

Development of an Efficient CFD Model for Nuclear Thermal Thrust Chamber Assembly Design

The objective of this effort is to develop an efficient and accurate computational methodology to predict both detailed thermo-fluid environments and global characteristics of the internal ballistics for a hypothetical solid-core nuclear thermal thrust chamber assembly (NTTCA). Several numerical and multi-physics thermo-fluid models, such as real fluid, chemically reacting, turbulence, conjugate heat transfer, porosity, and power generation, were incorporated into an unstructured-grid, pressure-based computational fluid dynamics solver as the underlying computational methodology. The numerical simulations of detailed thermo-fluid environment of a single flow element provide a mechanism to estimate the thermal stress and possible occurrence of the mid-section corrosion of the solid core. In addition, the numerical results of the detailed simulation were employed to fine tune the porosity model mimic the pressure drop and thermal load of the coolant flow through a single flow element. The use of the tuned porosity model enables an efficient simulation of the entire NTTCA system, and evaluating its performance during the design cycle.

Cheng, Gary