This paper presents fundamental researches based on the electronic structure calculations and X absorption spectroscopy, allowing the knowledge on nuclear fuels at an atomic scale. They bring a better understanding of these material behavior to accurate the macroscopic simulation. The calculation methods, the experimental techniques of validation and the ab initio calculations results are detailed. (A.L.B.)
This study shows that the physical conditions necessary for thermal waves to materialize in Dual-Phase-Lagging porous media conduction are not attainable in a porous slab subject to a combination of constant heat flux and temperature (Neumann and Dirichlet) boundary conditions. It is demonstrated that the approximate equivalence between Dual-Phase-Lagging (DuPhlag) heat conduction model and the Fourier heat conduction in porous media subject to Lack of Local Thermal Equilibrium (La Lotheq) that suggested the possibility of thermal oscillations and resonance reveals a condition that cannot be fulfilled because of physical constraints. (author)
The objective of this research was to determine improved thermal, epithermal, and fast fluxes and several responses at mechanical test surveillance location keys 2, 4, 5, and 7 of the pressure vessel of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) for the beginning of the fuel cycle. The purpose of the research was to provide essential flux data in support of radiation embrittlement studies of the pressure vessel shell and beam tubes at some of the important locations.
Indian PHWRs are designed to operate with natural uranium (NU) as the main fuel. Earlier in the initial fresh core, to achieve flux flattening and hence to operate the reactor at design rated power, limited number of depleted uranium bundles were loaded in the central portion of the core. Presently even in fresh core about 40 % of the core is loaded with depleted uranium bundles (?0.6 wt % 235U) from the consideration of conserving the natural uranium fuel. This is achieved by loading most of the depleted bundles in the peripheral locations of the channels. Successful operation with large number of DU bundles in the fresh core has been proven in MAPS - 2 and MAPS - 1cores after EMCCR as well as in TAPP - 4. In these three reactors 100 % FP was possible even with 40 % DU bundles in the core. In TAPP-4 and 3 initial core, depleted bundles of 0.36 wt % 235U are also loaded to conserve the depleted bundles of 0.6 wt % 235U. ...
A method of calculating the neutron source strength in irradiated Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), fuel has been developed and is presented in this paper. This method has been used to perform calculations in support of the reactivity monitoring of the FFTF reactor by the modified source multiplication method during refueling operations. 31 refs.
This paper reports that, to obtain better simulation results for a Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU) reactor operation, a new simulation method is developed that uses actual detector readings as a correction factor. Detector readings from a CANDU reactor are used to correct the calculatedflux distribution during core calculation iterations. A suitable function is found to describe the relationship between the detector flux and the fluxes of mesh points around the detector. The new simulation method is tested by performing numerical calculations for the Wolsung reactor (a CANDU-600). The results show that the new method predicts the core state more accurately with fewer iterations.
Independent calculations of the antiproton-to-proton ratio by Gaisser and Maurer and by Badhwar et al. have produced conflicting results which obscure the interpretation of recent measurements of cosmic ray antiprotons. A detailed reexamination of these calculations has been performed and these differences have been resolved. We find that the first calculation was essentially correct and the reported fluxes of antiprotons are significantly higher than expected for secondary antiprotons in conventional models of cosmic ray propagation, as indicated by other recent calculations.
In 2002 and again in 2003, an investigative journalist unit at ABC News transported a 6.8 kilogram metallic slug of depleted uranium (DU) via shipping container from Istanbul, Turkey to Brooklyn, NY and from Jakarta, Indonesia to Long Beach, CA. Targeted inspection of these shipping containers by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel, included the use of gamma-ray imaging, portal monitors and hand-held radiation detectors, did not uncover the hidden DU. Monte Carlo analysis of the gamma-ray intensity and spectrum of a DU slug and one consisting of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) showed that DU was a proper surrogate for testing the ability of DHS to detect the illicit transport of HEU. Our analysis using MCNP-5 illustrated the ease of fully shielding an HEU sample to avoid detection. The assembly of an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) -- a crude atomic bomb -- from sub-critical pieces of HEU ...
This paper deals with electron flux densities and electron energy flux densities in positive column discharges. Recent kinetic calculations by Uhrlandt and Winkler have revealed the interesting physical phenomenon of radially inward directed energy flux densities in positive column plasmas. We have used a self-consistent positive column model, based on an accurate and highly detailed Monte Carlo code, to study this effect in more depth. The results of this study show a rather complex physical picture of electron particle and energy flux densities. Electrons with low energies usually exhibit radially outward directed particle and energy flux densities. At energies above the threshold for electronic excitation particle and energy flux densities are usually inward directed. Only close to the wall, at total energies above the wall potential ...
This regulatory guide describes methods acceptable to the NRC staff for calculating radon fluxes through earthen covers and for calculating the resulting minimum cover thickness needed to meet NRC and EPA standards. The guide also suggests methods for obtaining the various parameters used in calculating the radon fluxes and earthen cover thicknesses and suggests default values for certain parameters. This regulatory guide is applicable to active uranium tailings sites. The NRC staff is using the methods stated in this guide as a basis for review and concurrence of DOE remedial action plans for inactive sites. The guidance is intended to be used for calculating radon flux attenuation by earthen uranium mill tailings covers. The parameter values and examples presented are limited to earthen cover materials, but the diffusion theory and the ...
This regulatory guide describes methods acceptable to the NRC staff for calculating radon fluxes through earthen covers and for calculating the resulting minimum cover thickness needed to meet NRC and EPA standards. The guide also suggests methods for obtaining the various parameters used in calculating the radon fluxes and earthen cover thicknesses and suggests default values for certain parameters. This regulatory guide is applicable to active uranium tailings sites. The NRC staff is using the methods stated in this guide as a basis for review and concurrence of DOE remedial action plans for inactive sites. The guidance is intended to be used for calculating radon flux attenuation by earthen uranium mill tailings covers. The parameter values and examples presented are limited to earthen cover materials, but the diffusion theory and the ...
1 - Description of program or function: The COOLOD-N2 code provides a capability for the analyses of the steady-state thermal-hydraulics of research reactors. This code is a revised version of the COOLOD-N code, and is applicable not only for research reactors in which plate-type fuel is adopted, but also for research reactors in which rod-type fuel is adopted. In the code, subroutines to calculate temperature distribution in rod-type fuel have been newly added to the COOLOD-N code. The COOLOD-N2 code can calculate fuel temperatures under both forced convection cooling mode and natural convection cooling mode. A 'Heat Transfer package' is used for calculating heat transfer coefficient, DNB heat flux etc. The 'Heat Transfer package' is a subroutine program and is especially developed for research reactors in which plate-type fuel is adopted. In case of rod-type fuel, DNB heat flux is ...
The reverse approach to critical (RAC) experiments were performed in the ZPR-IX critical facility at Argonne National Laboratory. One of the major objectives of this project is to determine the adequacy of the low-level flux monitor (LLFM) detectors for initial loading of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). 5 references. (auth)
One-velocity angular flux of a neutron field generated by a polarly anisotropic point source in an infinite homogeneous region is calculated in P3 approximation, using the spherical harmonics operator formalism adapted to two-dimensional spherical geometry. The problem is reduced to simple algebraic equations. For weak absorption and linearly anisotropic scattering, the solution is given in closed form. (orig.).
The calculations with the broad-group cross-section library Bugle-96, and atom displacement (dpa) cross sections for iron, both derived from ENDF/B-VI data, result in higher calculated fast neutron fluxes, better agreement of calculations with radiometric dosimeter measurements, and significantly slower dpa rate attenuation through pressure vessel walls relative to the results with their predecessors: the Sailor library and ASTM iron dpa cross sections.
We calculate the expected fluxes of cosmic ray nuclei with charge 5 ≤ Z ≤ 28 at various depths in the earth's atmosphere, taking into account the initial charge distribution,...Full Text Available
Cross section parameterizations for antiproton production in pp collisions are used to predict the antiproton/proton ratio resulting from a flux of cosmic protons with energy spectral index of 2.6 interacting with a 5 gm/cm/sup 2/ column density of H. (GHT)
When a certain void fraction value is reached in the two-phase flow regime, a problem occurs in the COBRA-EN code. This problem was observed in the drift-flux model option and interrupts code execution. Two solutions are proposed to solve the problem.
The spectrum of antiprotons from dark matter annihilation are calculated using the Lund Monte Carlo program, and simple analytic expressions for the spectrum and low-energy antiproton/proton ratio are derived. Comparing the results with recent upper limits on low energy antiprotons, it is concluded that the reported 4-13 GeV antiproton flux cannot be accounted for by dark matter annihilation. The new upper limits do not provide useful constraints on dark matter particles. They restrict the annihilation rate and imply that annihilation gamma ray and e(+) fluxes would be far below the fluxes produced by cosmic-ray collisions. It may be possible to look for a dark matter halo annihilation signal at antiprotons energies below 0.5 GeV, where the flux from cosmic-ray collisions is expected to be negligible. 32 references.
This paper present the results of a series of calculations made to determine the "2"3"8Pu production potential of several advanced target assembly designs in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). These calculations show that by using advanced target designs the intimately mix the "2"3"7Np target material with an yttrium hydride moderator, the FFTF has the potential of producing up to 30 kg of high-quality "2"3"8Pu per year.
The aim of the present study was to describe the distribution and remobilization of plutonium (Pu) in the sediments off the Rhone river mouth. Most of the {sup 238}Pu and {sup 239,240}Pu isotopes introduced into the Rhone River were discharged by the liquid effluents released from the Marcoule reprocessing plant, located 120 km upstream the river mouth. Due to its high affinity for particles and its long half life, {sup 238}Pu is a promising tracer to follow the dispersion of particulate matter from the Rhone River to the Mediterranean Sea. During the 3 REMORA cruises, sediment samples were specifically collected in the Rhone pro-delta area and more offshore on the whole continental shelf of the Gulf of Lions. The measurements of alpha emitters gave a first detailed spatial distribution of Pu isotope concentrations in surface sediments off the Rhone mouth. Using {sup 137}Cs concentrations and their correlations with Pu isotopes, we were able to give a first estimate of Pu inventories ...
Experimental investigations are being conducted on a single-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine to examine the transient heat transfer characteristics. Transient temperature data from stationary locations in the piston and cylinder head were used as the basis for determining the transient heat flux rates. Transient surface temperature was measured using the thin film thermocouples. At first, the transient heat flux rates calculated from the analysis method used in this paper were compared with the results from FEM. The results showed good agreement. Using this analysis method, the transient heat flux rates were calculated. The tests were performed at 1200 rpm with constant air flow. The parameters that were varied included the fuel rate and injection timing. Based on these results, the present paper discusses the mechanism of heat rejection in a direct-injection diesel engine. 8 ...
TRACI, a model based on the physical mechanisms governing the radon transport in unsaturated soils, has been developed to evaluate the radon flux density at Uranium Mill Tailings (UMT) covers surface. First, moisture contents in the soil, induced by weather conditions, are calculated. Then, radon concentrations in the air-filled pore space, and radon flux density at the soil surface, are deduced from a transport model which takes account for diffusion and convection in the pore space. To check the hypothesis used in TRACI and the efficiency of cover layers, an in situ study was launched in 1997 with the French uranium mining company, COGEMA. It consists of continuous measurements of moisture contents, suctions, radon concentrations at various depths inside an UMT cover, and flux density at its surface. The first analysis made on in situ observations shows that radon concentrations and ...
Antideuterons are among the most promising galactic cosmic ray-related targets for dark matter indirect detection. Currently only upper limits exist on the flux, but the development of new experiments, such as GAPS and AMS-02, provides exciting perspectives for a positive measurement in the near future. In this Paper, we present a novel and updated calculation of both the secondary and primary antideuteron fluxes. We employ a two-zone diffusion model which successfully reproduces cosmic-ray nuclear data and the observed antiproton flux. We review the nuclear and astrophysical uncertainties and provide an up to date secondary (i.e. background) antideuteron flux. The primary (i.e. signal) contribution is calculated for generic WIMPs annihilating in the galactic halo: we explicitly consider and quantify the various sources of uncertainty in the theoretical ...
An analytical method was proposed for calculating radiative fluxes incident on a planar circular detector from a volume multiple point chemi- or bio-luminescent source inside a coaxial cylindrical reactor. The method was designed for a cylindrical reactor when the surface reflections were neglected and when chemi- or bio-luminescence reaches a detector embedded in the same homogeneous optical medium as the point emitters of the volume multiple point source model. The radiative fluxes from arbitrarily distributed point emitters were expressed by one generalized quadruple-integral formula. Then some double- and single-integral formulas were obtained for calculating radiative fluxes from identically radiating point emitters uniformly distributed within the reactor. Selected results were compu...
An accurate neutronics calculation of a local thermal environment within a fast reactor presents a major challenge. A method was previously described that used Monte Carlo techniques within a macrocell to make accurate and reasonably efficient design calculations for such an environment. This method is now being further optimized for the calculation of "2"3"8Pu production in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). Here, it is not only important to determine the "2"3"8Pu production from neutron capture in "2"3"7Np, but also to calculate the production of the contamination isotope "2"3"6Pu from high-energy (n,2n) and (#gamma#,n) reactions. The power of the Monte Carlo method to automatically include geometry and energy self-shielding is retained by optimization using fission neutron source biasing in both space and energy.
A Monte Carlo method called transient curve fitting method was developed to calculate a eigenvalues by first simulating the existing neutrons and precursors in the system, then calculating the Eigen-distribution of neutron flux and calculating the a eigenvalues using the transient results based on the Eigen-distribution by the code TMCC. The results of this method are tested by calculating Godiva Benchmark problems and they agree well with the benchmark results. Then the reasonable results of Subcritical Facility in Tsinghua University are given by TMCC, and the results are compared with the experimental results measured by Rossi-a method. Even in the deep subcritical cases, the method can give results consistent with experimental results. (authors)
This report is composed of the following two parts and appendix. (I) Improvement of the Method for Evaluating Reactivity Based on Monte Carlo Perturbation Theory: Theoretical formulation in Monte Carlo perturbation method had been checked, and then introduced into a calculation code. There are some cases that the results of the change of eigenvalues becomes positive or negative by changing the estimator, and there is no reasonable difference in the results between the conventional method, which does not consider the change of neutron source distribution caused by a perturbation, and the new method, which consider that change. Thus it is still necessary to check the Monte Carlo perturbation code. (II) Improvement of Nodal Transport Method for 3-D Hexagonal Geometry: We can accurately evaluate hexagonal geometry FBR core by nodal transport calculation code for hexagonal-Z geometry named `NSHEX`. However it is also found that in very heterogeneous ...
An important component of the overall program to validate WIMS-AECL for use with RFSP in the analysis of CANDU-6 reactors for design and safety analysis calculations is the validation of calculations of incremental cross sections used to represent reactivity devices. A method has been developed for the calculation of the three-dimensional neutron flux distribution in and around CANDU reactor fuel channels and reactivity control devices. The methods is based on one- and two dimensional transport calculations with the WIMS-AECL lattice cell code, SPH homogenization, and three-dimensional fluxcalculations with finite-difference diffusion theory using the MULTICELL code. Simulations of Wolsung 1 Phase-B commissioning measurements and Point Lepreau restart tests have been performed, as a part of the program to validate WIMS-AECL lattice cell ...
The present study treats only the collective risk of ex-utero leukaemia associated with the routine releases of the nuclear industrial installations of the North Cotentin (0.0009 cases over the considered period) the uncertainty on the contribution to the collective risk of the incidents and the accidents of the nuclear installations (notably the drilling of the pipe of release in sea arisen in 1979-1980 and the fire of the waste silo on January 6. 1981, for the reprocessing plant of La Hague has not been considered. Only 45% of the risk are taken into account by the study. Every calculated value remains very inferior to the number of leukemia cases observed (4 cases observed for two expected cases) and to the risk of radioinduced leukemia any merged exposure sources, that is to say 0.84 cases. It appears thus not very probable that the nuclear installations of the North - Cotentin can explain the tendency to the excess of observed leukaemia. The limits of the ...
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) core loading during its ninth operating cycle was significantly different from that of previous cycles because of the presence of the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE). The CDE consists of a number of axially blanketed fuel assemblies and internal blankets prototypic of advanced oxide cores in Liquid Metal Reactors (LMR). In preparation for the Cycle 9 reload design effort, a careful assessment of control rod worth and reactivity calculations for Cycles 1 through 8 was made. The goal of this study was to establish calculational biases and reduce uncertainties factored into the reload design calculations. These analyses helped assure that the operational objectives for Cycle 9 were met.
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) core loading during its ninth operating cycle was significantly different from that of previous cycles because of the presence of the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE). The CDE consists of a number of axially blanketed fuel assemblies and internal blankets prototypic of advanced oxide cores in Liquid Metal Reactors (LMR). In preparation for the Cycle 9 reload design effort, a careful assessment of control rod worth and reactivity calculations for Cycles 1 through 8 was made. The goal of this study was to establish calculational biases and reduce uncertainties factored into the reload design calculations. These analyses helped assure that the operational objectives for Cycle 9 were met.
The principal objective of this study is to formulate an effective optimal fuel management strategy for the TRIGA MARK II research reactor at AERE, Savar. The core management study has been performed by utilizing four basic types of information calculated for the reactor: criticality, power peaking, neutron flux and burnup calculation. This paper presents the results of the burnup calculations for TRIGA LEU fuel elements. The fuel element burnup for approximately 20 years of operation was calculated using the TRIGAP compute code. The calculation is performed in one-dimensional radial geometry in TRIGAP. Inter-comparison of TRIGAP results with other two calculations performed by MVP-BURN and MCNP4C-ORIGEN2.1 show very good agreement. Reshuffling at 20,000MWh step provides the highest core l...
Experimental investigations are being conducted on a single-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine to examine the effects of combustion chamber specifications and swirl ratios on the heat release and transient heat transfer characteristics. Heat rejection was examined on the basis of heat release calculations using cylinder pressure time histories. Transient surface temperature data obtained from stationary locations in the piston and cylinder head were used as the basis for determining the transient heat flux rates. The results showed good agreement with the heat rejection calculated from cylinder pressure data and that transient heat flux in a piston cavity was reduced with the larger cavity diameter and a higher swirl ratio. On the other hand, a transient heat flux in a piston head was not changed by the cavity diameter and swirl ratio. 5 refs., 19 figs.
This work concerns the development of nuclear energy and nuclear waste management in particular. Two parts of this study can be distinguished. In the first part (theoretical), a thorium-plutonium fuel based on MOX and dedicated for PWR was investigated in order to transmute plutonium in a potentially low waste fuel cycle. It was shown that this type of fuel is not regenerative but could be used for a transition to the industrial thorium fuel cycle without building new reactors. Thanks to moderated neutron spectra and high loaded actinide mass in the core, U-233 is quickly created ({approx}300 kg/y) for a loss of about {approx}1200 kg of fissile plutonium. In the second part (experimental), we have developed and built a new reaction chamber to measure neutron cross sections of actinides by alpha-gamma spectroscopy. This experimental device (in principle transportable) was commissioned in the high flux reactor of ILL Grenoble. Neutron flux was ...
A black neutron detector of novel design has been constructed and tested as a neutron flux monitor. The neutron time-of-flight (TOF) technique was used to measure the zero degree neutron spectrum from a subnanosecond pulsed proton beam on a thick metallic lithium target. We describe the detector, discuss the shielding arrangement and electronics, determine the low-energy cut-off. We calculate the efficiency, show spectra and compare measured zero degree differential cross-section of the {sup 7}Li(p, n{sub 0}){sup 7}Be reaction with recommended published cross-sections. (orig.).
We consider propagation of relativistic heavy nuclei injected by a young pulsar into the radiation field of a massive companion. If the binary system (BS) is compact enough, then the nuclei suffer multiple photodisintegrations in collisions with thermal photons coming from the massive star (MS). Due to the propagation effects of charged particles in the magnetic field of the MS some hadrons can impinge onto the MS surface at large angles. We calculate the fluxes of produced neutrinos as a function of the viewing angle measured from the plane of the BS. It is found that significant fluxes of neutrinos should be also expected in the case of non-eclipsing BSs.
Analyses of pressure vessel damage resulting from neutron irradiation have primarily relied on two-dimensional transport calculations and a spatial-synthesis methodology to accommodate three-dimensional effects in the results of two two-dimensional calculations. In this paper, the authors report on calculations made on the Pool Critical Assembly (PCA) Benchmark, Configuration 12/13, using the three-dimensional, continuous energy Monte Carlo transport code, MCNP, and the three-dimensional, multigroup, diffusion accelerated discrete ordinates transport code THREEDANT. Neutron fluxes and activation rates as determined from these two calculations are compared to each other and to experimental results in the literature. The authors also draw some conclusions on the value of 3D calculations on the interpretation of experimental results.
We construct the time-dependent radiation model for the pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe), assuming that leptons are accelerated in resonant scattering with heavy nuclei, which are injected into the nebula by the pulsar. The equilibrium spectra of these particles inside the nebula are calculated taking into account their radiation and adiabatic energy losses. The spectra of {gamma}-rays produced by these particles are compared with the observations of the PWNe emitting TeV {gamma}-rays and predictions are made for the expected {gamma}-ray fluxes from other PWNe. Expected neutrino fluxes and neutrino event rates in a 1 km{sup 2} neutrino detector from these nebulae are also calculated. It is concluded that only the Crab Nebula can produce a detectable neutrino event rate in the 1 km{sup 2} neutrino detector. Other PWNe can emit TeV {gamma}-rays on the level of a few percent of that observed from the Crab ...
This paper presents some situations, in which measurements of electromagnetic fields generated by transmission lines and substations should be performed. The range of measurements may differ, but maximum values of electric and magnetic fields and flux density must be identified in all situations. The area with electric field exceeding 1 kV/m should be identified as well. The author also presents basic requirements to be met by the measurement technique. These requirements are specified according to the national standard. Special attention should be paid to the identification of the spatial distribution of electric field and flux density generated in the vicinity of high voltage transmission lines. To verify the measurement results, it is necessary to calculate the distribution of both aforesaid field components. For environmental protection purposes, it is also proposed that the report should include measurements of ...
The Cycle 8A static tests conducted in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) during 1986 have resulted in the separation of various feedback reactivity components. These feedback components, described by closed-form equations depending only on the reactor temperature field, can be regarded as database for the validation and/or calibration of feedback mechanistic models. The SASSYS safety analysis code contains the most developed feedback reactivity models and was selected for the comparison study between database and mechanistic calculations for the FFTF. Although detailed feedback models for control rod repositioning and core radial expansion/bowing exist, only the simple models were available in SASSYS at the time of this study. The results are described in this paper.
A balloon-borne instrument has measured the cosmic-ray antiproton flux between 130 and 320 MeV and searched for antihelium between 130 and 370 MeV per nuclear. These particles were selected from the background of normal-matter cosmic rays by combining a selective trigger with a detailed spark chamber visualization of each recorded event. Antiprotons are identified by their characteristic annihilatin radiation. Residue from background processes meeting the selection criteria is small. The observed 14 antiprotons yield a measured differential flux of 1.7 +- 0.5 x 10/sup -4/ antiprotons m/sup -2/ sr/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ MeV/sup -1/ at the top of the atmosphere. The corresponding antiproton/proton ratio is 2.2 +- 0.6 x 10/sup -4/,, only slightly smaller than the ratio observed by other experiments at higher energies. Thus the antiprotons have a spectral shape similar to the protons, at least down to about 100 MeV. The expected ...
Atmospheric impact of peatlands is a sum of their gas fluxes. In contrast to carbon dioxide, peatlands are net sources for methane (CH{sub 4}). Methane is an end product in the anaerobic decomposition processes and it has greater capacity to absorb infrared radiation than carbon dioxide. Most of the data on the CH{sub 4} release from northern peatlands is from North America. The total amount of methane released from wetlands is calculated to be 110 Tg yr{sup -1} of which 34 percent (38 Tg yr{sup -1}) is estimated to be emitted from the northern peatlands. Peat with high content of nitrogen is a potential source for gaseous nitrogen oxides, i.e. nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) and nitric oxide (NO). However, the importance of peatlands in producing these trace gases is poorly known. Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide are important components in the atmospheric chemistry and N{sub 2}O also is an effective greenhouse gas. Land-use activities and ...
The registration of secondary cosmic ray neutrons is a convenient tool for the investigation of primary cosmic ray variations and for meteorological effects as well. At present a large network of neutron monitors exists, aiming at studies of cosmic ray variations which are related to interplanetary conditions and geomagnetic activity. At the same time cosmic ray variations may be related to some atmospheric processes. In this connection, using the data from two neutron monitors (a standard and a lead free one), a gamma detector from Moscow station and lead free neutron monitor at BEO Moussala, we studied the correlations between rain flows and neutron flux. In this study we used daily averages on the basis of 10 min data for the neutron flux, corrected for barometric pressure and data from local meteo-stations. The preliminary analysis indicates a correlation between rain flows and neutron flux in several cases. To explain ...
TAPP-3 and 4 are the 540 MWe PHWRs having horizontal fuel channel. At normal 100% FP operation there is no boiling in the channel. However, when the power increases due to any transient, the boiling may start in the channel. The main application for critical heat flux (CHP) prediction is to set the operating power with a comfortable margin to avoid CHF occurrence. This margin of CHF can be expressed in terms of minimum critical heat flux ratio (MCHFR), which is the ratio of CHF to local heat flux for the same pressure, mass flux and quality. The CHF depends on power, coolant flow rate as well as coolant condition in the channel. As the power increases the flow reduces in the channel and cooling is degraded. The thermal hydraulic code is developed for present analysis. The output of analysis are CHF prediction quality calculation at axial locations of the maximum rated channel at ...
A new method for analysis and design of smoothing reactances utilising two-dimensional planar models is presented in this paper. Inductance and magnetic flux density are calculated, and their results compared with those measured experimentally. The results obtained are good if compared with those measured once the machine have been built. Moreover, the method herein developed is applied to the calculation of air gap lengths in terms of the desired current and inductance. The kind of reactances studied presents windings in both limbs and air gaps in the four corners (joint of limbs and yokes). The main contribution of this paper is the presentation of a method of industrial application, to be easily developed, with a very important reduction in the time of machine calculation (due to the decrease in the number of nodes and elements compared with the three-dimensional model) for the determination of the ...
Neutron spectra measured in the FFTF In-Reactor Thimble (IRT) by proton recoil proportional counters, proton recoil emulsions, and passive dosimeters have been evaluated and compared with each other and with three-dimensionl diffusion theory calculated spectra for the purpose of validating the passive dosimeter spectrum adjustment technique. The least squares data adjustment code, FERRET, was used to combine measured reaction rates, calculated spectra, and dosimeter cross sections, resulting in adjusted spectra and cross sections with uncertainties and correlations that properly account for uncertainties and correlations on the input parameters.
We study the duality of N=1 gauge theories in the presence of a massless adjoint field. We calculate the superpotential using the factorization method and compare with the result obtained by applying Kutasov duality. The latter result is just the leading term of the former, indicating that Kutasov duality is exact only in the IR limit as claimed in the original literature. We also study various checks for the equivalence of the calculational methods developed recently: factorization methods, diagrammatic expansion, loop equations, integrating fluxes.
To further optimize thermo-hydraulic capability of HCSB-TBM, two different thermo-hydraulic schemes would be proposed and investigated by relevant calculating and simulating of thermo-dynamics in normal and peak heat flux condition. With computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT, the actual temperature distribution of key components of HCSB-TBM is simulated. (authors)
Thermal absorption with its combined thermal and mechanical loads in a solar receiver does depend significantly on the distribution of incident solar radiation. For a cavity receiver with paraboloid collectar a method is derived which enables the calculation of solar radiation distribution on the areas inside the receiver. The theoretical bases are presented first, and a subsequent example shows the influence of the most important geometric parameters on the distribution of solar radiation.
A model of formation of cosmic ray antiproton spectrum in plasma consisting mainly of electron-positron pairs (nsub(+-)/nsub(p) > or approximately 10) is considered. Additional energy losses due to Coulomb collisions in plasma provide significant increase of the antiproton flux in the energy range < or approximately 1 GeV. Calculated anti p/p ratio is in a satisfactory agreement with the observational data.
The atmospheric correction factor for cosmic-ray antiproton measurements has been re-calculated using an approximation of the slab model. It is found that the effect of the antiproton non-annihilation inelastic interaction is quite significant. Neglecting this effect has led to an overestimation of the expected antiproton flux at low energies at the atmosphere.
Depth dose distributions for protons in the energy range from 2 to 600 MeV have been calculated by Monte Carlo and analytical methods. The dependence on energy of Maximum Dose Equivalent (MDE), quality factor and isotropic factor recommended for practical use are presented. The problems connected with regulation of maximum permissible proton fluxes are discussed. (author).
Finite element method is one of the bases for numerical solutions to engineering problems. Complex engineering problems using finite element analysis typically imply excessively large computational time. Parallel supercomputers have the potential for significantly increasing calculation speeds in order to meet these computational requirements. This paper predicts parallel NIKE3D performance on the Kendall Square Research (KSR1) system. The first part of the prediction is based on the implementation of parallel Cholesky (U{sup T}DU) matrix decomposition algorithm through actual computations on the KSRI multiprocessor system, with 64 processors, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The other predictions are based on actual computations for parallel element matrix generation, parallel global stiffness matrix assembly, and parallel forward/backward substitution on the BBN TC2000 multiprocessor system at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The ...
Residual plutonium (Pu), with trace quantities of depleted uranium (DU) or weapons grade uranium (WU), exists in surficial soils at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), Nellis Air Force Range (NAFR), and the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) as the result of the above-ground testing of nuclear weapons and special experiments involving the detonation of plutonium-bearing devices. The special experiments (referred to as safety shots) involving plutonium-bearing devices were conducted to study the behavior of Pu as it was being explosively compressed; ensure that the accidental detonation of the chemical explosive in a production weapon would not result in criticality; evaluate the ability of personnel to manage large-scale Pu dispersal accidents; and develop criteria for transportation and storage of nuclear weapons. These sites do not pose a health threat to either workers or the general public because they are under active institutional control. The DOE is committed to remediating ...
O close-quote Neil and Smith [T.M. O close-quote Neil and R.A. Smith, Phys. Plasmas 1, 8 (1994)] have argued that a pure electron plasma can be confined stably in a toroidal magnetic field configuration. This paper shows that the toroidal curvature of the magnetic field of necessity causes slow cross-field transport. The transport mechanism is similar to magnetic pumping and may be understood by considering a single flux tube of plasma. As the flux tube of plasma undergoes poloidal ExB drift rotation about the center of the plasma, the length of the flux tube and the magnetic field strength within the flux tube oscillate, and this produces corresponding oscillations in T_p_a_r_a_l_l_e_l and T_p_e_r_p_e_n_d_i_c_u_l_a_r. The collisional relaxation of T_p_a_r_a_l_l_e_l toward T_p_e_r_p_e_n_d_i_c_u_l_a_r produces a slow dissipation of electrostatic energy into heat and a consequent expansion (cross-field ...
Calculations have been made to determine the production of "1"8"8W from "1"8"6W in several US fission reactor systems, e.g., Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), and the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). Important input to these calculations are the cross-section parameters for "1"8"6W, "1"8"7W, and "1"8"8W. Only two values have been measured for "1"8"7W and none for "1"8"8W. Consequently, results from integral measurements play a crucial role in determining the "1"8"7W and "1"8"8W values. This has been studied for irradiations in the FFTF and the Oregon State Univ. (OSU) research reactor. Short irradiation of enriched "1"8"6W in both the FFTF and the OSU reactors have produced #mu#Ci/g quantities of "1"8"8W/"1"8"8Re. Measurements were made of the "1"8"8W gamma ray emission. These results were incorporated with other available data to provide more accurate "1"8"8W ...
The technology of minor actinide recycling in fast reactors has been discussed. In CEA, the feasibility study on Am once-through recycling in Phenix core with the moderated target subassemblies (S/As) has been performed. In this report, the evaluation of the heterogeneity effect on the moderated target S/As is described. It was evaluated by the calculation with the continuous energy Monte-Carlo code, MVP, because the accuracy of the deterministic method for the moderated target S/As is unknown. The reaction rates of four isotopes (Am-241, Am-242, Am242m and Am-243) calculated with the heterogeneous model and the homogeneous one were compared. These four isotopes play the important role in Am incineration. It is seen that the homogeneous model overestimates the reaction rates of Am-241 and Am-243 by 4 - 13%, and underestimates those of Am-242 and Am-242m by 13 - 23%. Further investigation made it clear that the overestimation of Am-241 and ...
Using an expanded nuclear data base, the transmutation of PCA, AMCR33 (a reduced activation austenitic steel), HT-9, Rafer2 (a reduced activation ferritic steel), V-15%Cr-5%Ti alloy, and SiAlON (a ceramic) were calculated for two positions in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), three positions in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), and the first wall position of both the STARFIRE and MARS conceptual fusion reactors. The peripheral test (PTP) position, and to a lesser extent the radial beryllium (RB) position, of HFIR show significant transmutations which are often in the opposite direction to the transmutations in the fusion conceptual designs. The positions in FFTF, as well as the hafnium covered location in the HFIR RB position show relative minor transmutations.
A numerical and experimental investigation is carried out in a solar thermochemical reactor for the thermal dissociation of ZnO at 2000 K using concentrated solar energy. The reactor consists of a cavity-receiver lined with ZnO particles and directly exposed to high-flux irradiation. A transient heat transfer model is formulated to link the rate of radiation, convection, and conduction heat transfer to the reaction kinetics. The radiosity and Monte Carlo methods are applied to obtain the distribution of net radiative fluxes at the internal surfaces of the reactor cavity and at the surface of the ZnO bed. Validation is accomplished in terms of the calculated and measured transient temperature profiles and chemical reaction rates.
An energy transfer and conversion model for high-temperature solar cavity receivers has been developed using the transport behaviour of solar radiation as described by the spectral radiative exchange factors. A Monte-Carlo ray-tracing method coupled with optical properties was adopted, to predict radiation characteristics of the solar collector system by calculating radiative exchange factors. A cavity receiver with a plano-convexo quartz window was proposed, based upon the directional characteristics of the focal flux and the redistribution effect of the quartz window. Parametric studies on the windowed receiver provided a more uniform flux distribution, higher efficiency and lower loss than the windowless receivers. The predicted results serve as a design reference for the solar receiver...
Water vapor is well known to be a critical component in many aspects of atmospheric research, such as radiative transfer and cloud and aerosol processes. This requires both improved measurements of the columnar water vapor and its profiles in the atmosphere in a wide range of conditions, and adjustment of water vapor parameterizations in radiation codes including the perfection of spectroscopic parameters. In this paper we will present the results of comparison of our calculations and downward solar fluxes measured with Rotating Shadowband Spectroradiometer under conditions of horizontally homogeneous clouds. We also will discuss the sensitivity of atmospheric radiation characteristics to variations of water vapor in the band 940 nm: these results may be useful for development of new methods of retrieval of the total column water vapor content (WVC) in the atmosphere from data of radiation observations.
Heat-transfer augmentation by straight grid spacers in rod bundles is studied for single-phase flow and for post-critical heat flux dispersed flow. The heat transfer effect of swirling grid spacers in single-phase flow is also examined. Governing heat-transfer mechanisms are analyzed, and predictive formulations are established. For single-phase flow, the local heat transfer at a straight spacer and at its upstream or downstream locations are treated separately. The effect of local velocity increasing near swirling spacer is considered. For post critical heat flux (CHF) dispersed flow, the heat transfer by thermal radiation, fin cooling, and vapor convection near the spacer are calculated. The predictions are compared with experimental data with satisfactory agreement.
The dynamic response of cylindrical and ring-shaped YBaCuO bulk parts to pulsed magnetic fields is calculated by using small sets of finite elements. Some comparisons with experimental results are provided, and they give confidence in the modelling of the superconducting properties. Transient magnetizations as a function of time and space as well as shapes and absolute values of trapped magnetic flux profiles are presented. The influence of the sample geometry is investigated for different millisecond pulsed magnetization processes. Results are reported for different radial thicknesses and heights, different pulse durations, peak magnetic fields and pulse sequences with and without stepwise cooling. Comparisons concerning the achievable trapped magnetic field and flux are made, and implications for the use of high-temperature superconductor bulk parts as cryo-permanent magnets in potential applications like electric ...
The US NRC, in its Generic Environmental Impact Statement on uranium milling has specified that the radon flux escaping a uranium mill tailings pile will be reduced to pCi/m/sup 2/ s by application of covering layers of soils and clays. These covers present a radon diffusion barrier, which sufficiently increases the time required for radon passage from the tailings to the atmosphere to allow for decay of /sup 222/Rn within the cover. The depth of cover necessary to reduce the escaping radon flux to the prescribed level is to be determined by calculation, and requires precise knowledge of the radon diffusion coefficient in the covering media. A Radon Attenuation Test Facility was developed to determine rates of radon diffusion through candidate cover materials. This paper describes this facility and its application for determining the influence of physical properties of the soil column on the radon diffusion coefficient.
Preparations are under way for the initial startup and testing of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). The FFTF Reactor Characterization Program is that part of the startup test plan that deals with the determination of the neutron, gamma ray and thermal hydraulic characteristics of the reactor. This program encompasses measurements and calculations of: neutron spectra, flux and fluence; gamma-ray spectra, dose and heating; fission rate distributions; capture rate distributions; other reaction rates of interest; fission product yields; and thermal hydraulic data. Measurements of these parameters will be made in the reactor core and reflectors, will extend vertically downward to the vicinity of the core support structure and upward to the top of the sodium pool, and will extend radially outward to include in-vessel fuel storage locations and the cavity between the reactor vessel and the concrete wall.
The reliability analysis of the Fast Flux Test Facility reactor shutdown system was reevaluated. Failure information based on five years of plant operating experience was used to verify original reliability numbers or to establish new ones. Also, system modifications made subsequent to performance of the original analysis were incorporated into the reevaluation. Reliability calculations and sensitivity analyses were performed using a commercially available spreadsheet on a personal computer. The spreadsheet was configured so that future failures could be tracked and compared with expected failures. A number of recommendations resulted from the reevaluation including both increased and decreased surveillance intervals. All recommendations were based on meeting or exceeding existing reliability goals. Considerable cost savings will be incurred upon implementation of the recommendations.
The reliability analysis of the Fast Flux Test Facility reactor shutdown system was reevaluated. Failure information based on five years of plant operating experience was used to verify original reliability numbers or to establish new ones. Also, system modifications made subsequent to performance of the original analysis were incorporated into the reevaluation. Reliability calculations and sensitivity analyses were performed using a commercially available spreadsheet on a personal computer. The spreadsheet was configured so that future failures could be tracked and compared with expected failures. A number of recommendations resulted from the reevaluation including both increased and decreased surveillance intervals. All recommendations were based on meeting or exceeding existing reliability goals. Considerable cost savings will be incurred upon implementation of the recommendations.
The authors have developed a high-sensitivity real-time neutron radiography (NR) system by the use of the low power reactor of Kinki University. The system was constructed with a high efficiency neutron-photon converter, an image intensifier and a SIT TELEVISION camera. Some digital image processing techniques were applied for improving the quality of the real-time neutron images. By the use of this system, dynamic neutron imaging was performed successfully under the condition of a weak neutron field that was about two orders of magnitude lower than that of the standard NR system. The neutron flux, calculated from the fluctuation of the neutron response of the images, was nearly equal to the value measured by the foil activation method. From this fact, the efficiency for the neutron detection of the imaging system was estimated to be almost 100%. For the purpose of developing a system with higher sensitivity, consideration of neutron statistics ...
The authors have developed a high-sensitivity real-time neutron radiography (NR) system by the use of the low power reactor of Kinki University. The system was constructed with a high efficiency neutron-photon converter, an image intensifier and a SIT TELEVISION camera. Some digital image processing techniques were applied for improving the quality of the real-time neutron images. By the use of this system, dynamic neutron imaging was performed successfully under the condition of a weak neutron field that was about two orders of magnitude lower than that of the standard NR system. The neutron flux, calculated from the fluctuation of the neutron response of the images, was nearly equal to the value measured by the foil activation method. From this fact, the efficiency for the neutron detection of the imaging system was estimated to be almost 100%. For the purpose of developing a system with higher sensitivity, consideration of neutron statistics ...
A new numerical technique called the convolution-based particle tracking (CBPT) method is developed to simulate resident or flux-averaged solute concentrations in groundwater models. The method is valid for steady-state flow and linear transport processes such as sorption with a linear sorption isotherm and first-order decay. The CBPT method uses particle tracking to take advantage of the ability of particle-based approaches to maintain sharp fronts for advection-dominated transport problems common in groundwater modeling and because of the flexibility of the random walk method to simulate a wide range of possible forms of the dispersion tensor. Furthermore, the algorithm for carrying out the convolution and superposition calculation from particle tracking results is very efficient. We sho...
The LWR fuel performance analysis computer code, FRAPCON-1, are evaluated to investigate the performance of CANDU fuel elements loaded in Wolsung-1 reactor. The FRAPCON-1 models of neutron flux depression in fuel and of fuel-to-cladding heat transfer are modified, and the validity of fission gas release model for CANDU fuel is evaluated. And the heavy water properties are provided in calculating the heat transfer coefficient between cladding and coolant. By using the modified code, FRAPCON-1-CSK, the sensitivity studies are carried out for Wolsung-1 fuel element design parameters. The performance analysis is also performed for Wolsung-1 fuel elements. The calculated results are discussed in terms of LWR fuel design criteria because of unavailability of CANDU fuel design criteria. (Author).
The benchmark calculations have been performed for MCNP-4B code using the measurement data of Wolsong nuclear power plant 2. In this study, the benchmark calculations have been performed for the criticality, boron worth, reactivity device worth, reactivity coefficient, and flux scan. Cross-section libraries were newly generated from ENDF/B-VI release 3 through NJOY97.114 data processing system and a three-dimensional full core model was developed for MCNP calculation. The simulation results have shown that the criticality is estimated within 4 mkn and the estimated reactivity worth of the control devices are generally consistent with the measurement data. In certain cases, the simulation results have shown large discrepancies against the measurement data, which will be sturdied further in the near future.
The radiotherapy is the prime treatment for the cavum cancer. It is also useful to treat the tumor recurrences, in this case the reirradiation stays the only efficient therapy option to give a correct local control. The reirradiation, exclusive or in association with other therapies can contribute to the local control of cavum cancer recurrences with a survival rate at five years of 36 to 58%. (N.C.)
Abstract This article introduces some of the key philosophical contributions of W. E. B. Du Bois. Du Bois studied with Santayana and William James (among others), but chose social science, social theory, journalism, and activism over academic philosophy. Despite this detour, the philosophic depth of his work has won the attention of scholars in fields such as history, English, post colonial theory, African American Studies, American philosophy, and Africana philosophy, and it has belatedly begun to attract the interest of philosophers more generally. This brief overview will explore the philosophical dimensions of some of Du Bois s best known positions his claims about the color line and the Talented Tenth, his argument with Booker T. Washington, and his account of double consciousness. Th...
Utilities are evaluating several electric generation and storage (G ampersand S) technologies for distributed utility (DU) applications. Attributes of leading DU technologies and implications for photovoltaics (PV) are described. Included is a survey of present and projected cost and performance for: (1) small, advanced combustion turbines (CTs); (2) advanced, natural gas-fired, diesel engines (diesel engines); and (3) advanced lead-acid battery systems (batteries). Technology drivers and relative qualitative benefits are described. A levelized energy cost-based cost target for PV for DU applications is provided. The analysis addresses only relative cost, for PV and for three selected alternative DU technologies. Comparable size, utility, and benefits are assumed, although relative value is application-specific and often technology- and site-specific.
An interfacial shear stress equation in the dispersed-annular two-phase flow regime has been developed, which is based on a three-fluid model consisting of a liquid film on a rod, vapor and entrained liquid associated with a vapor flow. It is an extension of J.G.M. Andersen's procedure that provides a two-fluid interfacial shear stress equation using the drift flux parameters C{sub 0} and V{sub gj}. This interfacial shear stress equation can take into account a phase and velocity distribution through an equivalence between the drift flux parameters and the interfacial shear stress. Using the three-fluid subchannel analysis code TEMPO with the three-fluid interfacial shear stress model the capability of a three-fluid calculation using the drift flux parameters C{sub 0} and V{sub gj} that reproduce a measured void fraction is demonstrated. A comparison was made with advanced X-ray computed ...
Contrary to previous plans for the preparation of diagnostic systems for D-T break-even experiments in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR), it now appears that a limited Q#approx#1 demonstration can be carried out without constructing a close-fitting igloo radiation shield around the tokamak. In order to assess the impact of D-T operation of TFTR without an igloo shield, particularly with regard to hardening of diagonstic systems, we have mapped neutron and gamma fluxes inside the test cell and test cell basement, using a variety of radiation measurements. The measurements are sufficiently detailed to resolve massive hardware components, such as neutral beams and shielded diagnostic systems, and can be used to predict local fluxes. By comparing the measurements with transport code calculations for the case of a bare tokamak, we conclude that the models have substantially overestimated fluxes both ...
The flux distributions and enhancement factors for various gas doser designs typically used in surface science applications and chemisorption studies have been calculated and compared. The following conclusions, which will aid the experimentalist in the choice of doser design, can be made. (1) The enhancement factor expected for a given doser can easily be derived from Fig. 2. (2) The optimum doser design is a multichannel array with a radius slightly larger than that of the sample, and a distance from the sample < 10% of the sample diameter. (Complications of this design are discussed.) (3) Because of space requirements, the sample--doser distance must sometime be > or =40% of the sample diameter, in which cases it is better to use a cosine emitter. A good, very simple doser design is described that consists of a small cosine emitter with a sample--doser distance of 1/2 the sample diameter. This provides an enhancement factor >50% of ...
The SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor) which is a 330 MWt advanced integral PWR was developed by the KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Institute) for electricity generation and seawater desalination. A thermal hydraulic evaluation and analysis of the SMART is performed by the TASS /SMR-S (Transient And Setpoint Simulation/System integrated Modular Reactor-Safety). The TASS/SMR-S code has various models reflecting the design features of the SMART such as the drift flux model, the core models (core power and core heat transfer model), the component models, and the specific models. One of the core models is the core heat transfer model. The role of this model is to calculate the heat flux and radial temperature profiles at a fuel rod surface using the relevant heat transfer correlations for all of the heat transfer modes. Also it is modeled to meet the requirements of the 10 CFR 50 appendix K EM model for the CHF ...
An experimental study was carried out to determine the effect of rod-bowing on critical heat flux, using an electrically heated rod cluster. In this experiment, rod-bow was set to occur in the severest subchannel and axially at the middle between the last two spacers, with uniform axial heat flux. The maximum gap between the outer and inner rods was reduced variously to 1.6 mm, 1.00 mm and zero from the nominal value of 2.1 mm. Other experimental conditions were as follows: pressure 7 MPa; mass velocity 640-2600 kg/m"2sec; inlet subcooling 40-560 kJ/kg. Experimental results show only a slight rod-bowing effect, if any, compared with normal spacing, as confirmed by analysis of three-dimensional heat conduction around the rod-bowing area and by the local steam quality deviations calculated by subchannel analyses. (Auth.).
A new measurement of the cosmic ray antiproton-to-proton flux ratio between 1 and 100 GeV is presented. The results were obtained with the PAMELA experiment, which was launched into low-earth orbit on-board the Resurs-DK1 satellite on June 15th 2006. PAMELA is equipped with a silicon-microstrip magnetic spectrometer and a silicon-tungsten imaging calorimeter and has been collecting data since July 2006. During 500 days of data collection a total of about 1000 antiprotons have been identified, including 100 above an energy of 20 GeV. The high-energy results are a ten-fold improvement in statistics with respect to all previously published data. The antiproton-to-proton flux ratio increases smoothly with energy up to about 10 GeV, in agreement with previous experiments, and then levels off. The data follow the trend expected from secondary production calculations and significantly constrain contributions from exotic sources, ...
Producing nuclear energy in order to reduce anthropic CO{sub 2} emission and to meet high energy demand, implies three conditions to the nuclear plants of the IV. generation: safety improvements, radioactive waste minimization, and fuel breeding for a sustainable use of the resources. The Thorium fuel cycle used in Molten Salt Reactors seems promising. Many numerical studies based on probabilistic codes are carried out in order to analyse the behaviour of such reactors. Nevertheless, one of the most important parameters is badly known: the alpha ratio of {sup 233}U, ratio of the neutron capture cross section to fission one for {sup 233}U. This key-parameter is necessary to calculate the breeding ratio and thus, the deployment capacities of those reactors. This Ph-D thesis was intended to prepare a precise measurement of the alpha ratio of {sup 233}U between 1 eV and 10 keV. Preliminary measurements have been performed on the experimental platform PEREN. This ...
The aim of this work was to develop a method to distinguish between different ion formation processes and to determine the influence of these processes on the total number of detected monatomic ions of a certain element. A vector/matrix-formalism was developed, which describes the physical processes of sputtering, ion formation, mass separation and detection in laser-SNMS. In the framework of the method developed, based on this theoretic formalism, changes in the secondary flux contribution of the respective element were observed by comparing the detected monatomic ion yield obtained in specifically aligned (SIMS and) laser-SNMS experiments. The yields resulting from these experiments were used to calculate characteristic numbers to compare the flux composition from different surfaces. The potential of the method was demonstrated for the elements boron, iron and gadolinium by investigating the changes in the ...
A modified accumulator was devised to measure surface radon flux from porous media. It consists of a collector hood accumulator with a homogenizer pump and a pressure balancer. The latter was used to compensate for any pressure changes produced during sample withdrawl and hence eliminate additional radon transport from media. Errors resulting from radon back diffusion due to decreasing concentration gradient with time across the interface were eliminated by measuring radon concentrations in the accumulator for two different periods of time and calculating the true radon flux, J(o), from the solution of a time-dependent radon transport equation. Core samples from the observation site were withdrawn for laboratory determination of porosity, moisture content, bulk and grain densities, Ra-226 source concentration and the fraction of Rn-222 produced in the void volume. The data were used to calculate the ...
A modified accumulator was devised to measure surface radon flux from porous media. It consists of a collector hood accumulator with a homogenizer pump and a pressure balancer. The latter was used to compensate for any pressure changes produced during sample withdrawl and hence eliminate additional radon transport from media. Errors resulting from radon back diffusion due to decreasing concentration gradient with time across the interface were eliminated by measuring radon concentrations in the accumulator for two different periods of time and calculating the true radon flux, J(o), from the solution of a time-dependent radon transport equation. Core samples from the observation site were withdrawn for laboratory determination of pkrosity, moisture content, bulk and grain densities, Ra-226 source concentration and the fraction of Rn-222 produced in the void volume. The data were used to calculate the ...
We calculate the light `glueball' mass spectrum in N_f=2 lattice QCD using a fermion action that is non--perturbatively O(a) improved. We work at lattice spacings a~0.1 fm and with quark masses that range down to about half the strange quark mass. We find the statistical errors to be moderate and under control on relatively small ensembles. We compare our mass spectrum to that of quenched QCD at the same value of a. Whilst the tensor mass is the same (within errors), the scalar mass is significantly lighter in the dynamical lattice theory, by a factor of ~0.84 +/- 0.03. We discuss what the observed m_q dependence of this suppression tells us about the dynamics of glueballs in QCD. We also calculate the masses of flux tubes that wind around the spatial torus, and extract the string tension from these. As we decrease the quark mass we see a small but growing vacuum expectation value for the corresponding ...
A transient eddy current measurement method is presented to determine the thickness and conductivity of a conductive plate. The conductive plate is induced by an air-cored coil, the magnetic flux density along the axial is measured and the various signals corresponding to plates with different thickness and conductivity are calculated using a 3D transient eddy current simulator. Characteristic features are obtained from the transient response. A similarity-based modeling method is utilized in this study to estimate the thickness and conductivity of the conductive plate. (author)
A nonlinear dynamic transient analysis merging hand calculations and the NASTRAN structural analysis computer code was conducted for a Fast Flux Test Facility in-reactor test assembly during an extremely unlikely design basis accidental event which is considered a Hypothetical Core Disruptive Accident (HCDA). The finite element modeling of the problem took advantage of NASTRAN's versatility to create loads and nonlinear elements not previously found in NASTRAN's library. The structural criteria for the test assembly to withstand an HCDA stipulates that the test assembly and its spoolpiece shall remain integral with the reactor head such that missiles are not generated.
An accelerator experiment was performed using a low-energy antiproton beam to measure antiproton detection efficiency of BESS, a balloon-borne spectrometer with a superconducting solenoid. Measured efficiencies showed good agreement with calculated ones derived from the BESS Monte Carlo simulation based on GEANT/GHEISHA. With detailed verification of the BESS simulation, the relative systematic error of detection efficiency derived from the BESS simulation has been determined to be {+-}5%, compared with the previous estimation of {+-}15% which was the dominant uncertainty for measurements of cosmic-ray antiproton flux.
In the analysis of the consequences of a hypothetical meltdown accident in an LMFBR, it is important to estimate the final location of the molten fuel pool in the concrete and ground underlying the reactor vessel. The GROWS program and the AYER program have been developed to calculate the final location of the molten fuel pool as the culmination of the transient analysis of this unusual Stefan problem but these programs require extensive computational resources. The solution is provided to the concrete and ground temperatures surrounding the stationary fuel pool and the related heat flux from the pool to the ground surface outside the containment building. This solution can be used to estimate the final location of the fuel pool and to check the end results of the sophisticated programs.
Shield measurements and four cycles of operating experience have shown the design and construction of radiation shields for the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) reactor and plant to be satisfactory. A number of minor shield deficiencies were found and corrected. Most of these were associated with interfaces between components, each of which was satisfactory by itself. Preliminary evaluation of the shield measurements indicates satisfactory agreement with design calculations. Operator doses to date have been quite small, especially when compared to light water reactor experience.
The design of a solar heated cavity receiver transferring 60 MW of thermal energy to the working medium (air) for a closed-cycle gas turbine is described. The gas turbine plant with its cycle layout is presented. Then the tubes for the receiver are designed taking into account thermal and mechanical loads. It is shown how the occurring stresses are influenced by the destribution of the locally absorbed hat flux. Calculations for an existing coal fired air heater of a closed-cycle gas turbine give a first impression of the long-term behaviour to be expected of the receiver tubes.
The validity is given to the newly proposed two {delta}f method for neoclassical transport calculation, which can be solve the drift kinetic equation considering effects of steep plasma gradients, large radial electric field, finite banana width, and an orbit topology near the axis. The new method is applied to the study of ion transport with steep plasma gradients. It is found that the ion thermal diffusivity decreases as the scale length of density gradient decreases, while the ion particle flux due to ion-ion self collisions increases with increasing gradient. (author)
An accelerator beam experiment was performed using a low-energy antiproton beam to measure antiproton detection efficiency of the BESS detector. Measured and calculated efficiencies derived from the BESS Monte Carlo simulation based on GRANT/GHEISHA showed good agreement. With detailed verification of the BESS simulation, the relative systematic error of detection efficiency derived from the BESS simulation has been determined to be {+-}5%, compared with the previous estimation of {+-}15% which was the dominant uncertainty for measurements of cosmic-ray antiproton flux. (author)
After a presentation of methods and tools for the basic and extensive characterization of polluted sites and the study of evolution and transfer of current organic pollutants in the ground, the example of the rehabilitation of an old Rhone-Poulenc site (at Chauny, France) polluted with metals and arsenic, is described: soil and aquifer diagnosis, risk analysis and determination of migration schemes
The emission isolation flux chamber (EIFC) methodology was applied to Superfund investigations at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300 to determine if on-site workers were exposed to VOCs volatilizing from the subsurface and what, if any, health risks could be attributed to the inhalation of the VOCs volatilizing from the subsurface. During July and August of 1996, twenty, eighteen, and twenty six VOC soil vapor flux samples were collected in the Building 830, 832, and 854 areas, respectively using EIFCS. The VOC concentrations in the vapor samples were used to calculate soil flux rates which were used as input into an air dispersion model to calculate ambient air exposure-point concentrations. The exposure-point concentrations were compared to EPA Region IX Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs). Buildings 830 and 832 exposure-point concentrations were less then the ...
Because of questions regarding current density and inductance estimates of the Atlas oil transmission line in the region where the vertical plates connect to the disk line, calculations using the 3D FE program Flux3d were initiated. Flux3d inductance values are nearly that estimated by D. Scudder. Calculations for three base designs of E. Ballard and D. Pierce were completed where several variations for each base design were used to determine the important parameters affecting inductance and to check inductance consistency. Flux3d showed for the first base design a very high current density of 36MA/m at the connection between the vertical and horizontal ground plates resulting in a magnetic pressure of 120 kpsi. The second base design modified this connection to reduce the current density to 20MA/m and 36 kpsi and for design 3 current density is 17MA/m. Maximum current density on ...
ResumeObjectif determiner dans une etude randomisee l'impact d'un enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane pendant 48 heures sur le controle glycemique trois mois plus tard chez des patients presentant un diabete de type 1 (DT1) ou de type 2 (DT2). Methodes Quarante-huit patients avec un mauvais equilibre glycemique (HbA1c : 8-10,5 %) ont beneficie d'un enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane pendant 48 heures avec le systeme GlucoDay (A. Menarini Diagnostics) et ont ete randomises en deux groupes : ajustement de traitement en fonction de l'autosurveillance glycemique capillaire (groupe ASG) ou du profil d'enregistrement continu du glucose sous-cutane (groupe CGM). Le dosage d'HbA1c et le port du GlucoDay ont ete renouveles trois mois plus tard. Resultats Trente-quatre patients ...
Solar cavity receiver plays a dominant role in the light-heat conversion. Its performance can directly affect the efficiency of the whole power generation system. A combined calculation method for evaluating the thermal performance of the solar cavity receiver is raised in this paper. This method couples the Monte-Carlo method, the correlations of the flow boiling heat transfer, and the calculation of air flow field. And this method can ultimately figure out the surface heat flux inside the cavity, the wall temperature of the boiling tubes, and the heat loss of the solar receiver with an iterative solution. With this method, the thermal performance of a solar cavity receiver, a saturated steam receiver, is simulated under different wind environments. The highest wall temperature of the boi...
Neutron energy spectra were measured for two OSURR experimental facilities. The method of multiple foil activation was used with the SAND-II neutron spectrum unfolding code to obtain spectral data for the Central Irradiation Facility and Rabbit tube. Limited data was obtained for the thermal column using only gold foils. Calculations were made of the neutron environment in various locations using the MORSE code. A shift towards higher neutron energies was observed comparing results for LEU and HEU cores. A slight loss in total thermal neutron flux was measured for all positions. Calculational results show reasonable agreement with measured data.
Modeling is performed for focused-ion-beam (FIB) sputtering and redeposition on trench sidewalls in a steady state approximation. Calculations are carried out to demonstrate the sputtered surface profile under known parameters such as sputtering yield as a function of ion incident angle, the FIB current density profile, and the FIB scan speed. It is found that a steplike slope with a gradient angle of {theta}{sub 0} is formed at the FIB bombarding position. Furthermore, the redeposition flux on the sidewalls is calculated as a function of {theta}{sub 0} for the FIB trench milling assuming the cosine law for the angular distribution of the sputtered atom. The redeposition will be more accurately predictable and controllable when more information about these assumptions is obtained.
Modeling is performed for focused-ion-beam (FIB) sputtering and redeposition on trench sidewalls in a steady state approximation. Calculations are carried out to demonstrate the sputtered surface profile under known parameters such as sputtering yield as a function of ion incident angle, the FIB current density profile, and the FIB scan speed. It is found that a steplike slope with a gradient angle of #theta#_0 is formed at the FIB bombarding position. Furthermore, the redeposition flux on the sidewalls is calculated as a function of #theta#_0 for the FIB trench milling assuming the cosine law for the angular distribution of the sputtered atom. The redeposition will be more accurately predictable and controllable when more information about these assumptions is obtained.
The paper introduces the disposal procedures of the old reactor pressure vessel head. Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) heads were replaced successfully in Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. The on-site treatment and disposal of replaced heads was thereafter implemented. This is the first time in China for large size radioactive article disposal. To guarantee the safety of old head treatment, issues of radiation protection have to be taken into account. Dose rate distribution of the old head surface and radioactivity were initially calculated according to the operation history and the neutron flux rate of the reactor. Shielding calculation and package design was thereafter worked out based on the data obtained from the old head, e.g. neutron flux, sorts of nuclides, radioactivity and dose rates. Shielding package was afterwards manufactured in special factories and transported to Daya Bay NPP site by truck and ...
With the objective to improve the reactor physics calculation on a 2D and 3D nuclear reactor via the Diffusion Equation, an adaptive automatic finite element remeshing method, based on the elementary area (2D) or volume (3D) constraints, has been developed. The adaptive remeshing technique, guided by a posteriori error estimator, makes use of two external mesh generator programs: Triangle and TetGen. The use of these free external finite element mesh generators and an adaptive remeshing technique based on the current field continuity show that they are powerful tools to improve the neutron flux distribution calculation and by consequence the power solution of the reactor core even though they have a minor influence on the critical coefficient of the calculated reactor core examples. Two numerical examples are presented: the 2D IAEA reactor core numerical benchmark and the 3D model of the Argonauta ...
The reactor core of TAPP-3 and 4 is divided into 14 power zones for spatial power control. Corresponding to each zone is a light water zonal compartment. The 14 ZCCs are located in two radial planes, each containing 7 ZCCs. For each zone, power measurement is carried out using three cobalt Self Powered Neutron Detectors (SPNDs) at appropriate locations close to the respective ZCC. Since the zone power as obtained by the true average of the healthy zone control detector (ZCD) readings belonging to a particular zone may not correspond to its actual power because these 3 detectors per zone, measure only point fluxes but the zone extends over a large core region. Therefore accurate estimation of zone power calibration factors is required to estimate the zone powers and also to provide effective spatial power control to avoid the xenon induced spatial power oscillations in large PHWRs like 540 MWe Reactor. This accurate calculation of zone power is ...
We evaluate the neutrino fluxes to be expected from neutralino lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) annihilations inside the Sun, within the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model with supersymmetry-breaking scalar and gaugino masses constrained to be universal at the grand unified theory scale [the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model (CMSSM)]. We find that there are large regions of typical CMSSM (m_1_/_2,m_0) planes where the LSP density inside the Sun is not in equilibrium, so that the annihilation rate may be far below the capture rate. We show that neutrino fluxes are dependent on the solar model at the 20% level, and adopt the AGSS09 model of Serenelli et al. for our detailed studies. We find that there are large regions of the CMSSM (m_1_/_2,m_0) planes where the capture rate is not dominated by spin-dependent LSP-proton scattering, e.g., at large m_1_/_2 along the CMSSM coannihilation strip. We ...
This document exposes the results of the fourth evaluation report of the working group II of the inter government experts group on the climatic change. This evaluation presents the today scientific understanding of the climatic change impacts on the humans and their adaptation ability and vulnerability. It is based on the GIEC evaluations and new knowledge added since the third evaluation report. (A.L.B.)
The objective of this paper is to perform an impact analysis of the Interim Storage Cask (ISC) of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) for a 4-ft end drop. The ISC is a concrete cask used to store spent nuclear fuels. The analysis is to justify the impact force calculated by General Atomics (General Atomics, 1994) using the ILMOD computer code. ILMOD determines the maximum force developed by the concrete crushing which occurs when the drop energy has been absorbed. The maximum force, multiplied by the dynamic load factor (DLF), was used to determine the maximum g-level on the cask during a 4-ft end drop accident onto the heavily reinforced FFTF Reactor Service Building`s concrete surface. For the analysis, this surface was assumed to be unyielding and the cask absorbed all the drop energy. This conservative assumption simplified the modeling used to qualify the cask`s structural integrity for this accident condition.
A cylindrical coordinate mathematical model to calculate "2"2"2Rn flux and movement was developed considering "2"2"2Rn production, decay, and diffusion in a multilayered, porous, permeable matrix. Air movement, transporting radon through the media, satisfies Darcy's law and is influenced by the air (barometric) pressure applied at the surface. Two zones of porous material have been defined, one with a "2"2"2Rn production term (the uranium ore zone) and the other without this term to simulate shotcrete or concrete ground support. A provision is made to evaluate the effect of a pinhole in an otherwise impermeable sealant. Comparisons are made between field measurements and predicted values. Specific examples are given of "2"2"2Rn flux from a finite ore-body model versus steady and periodic changes in barometric pressure. Also examined are "2"2"2Rn losses through pinholes for cases of linearly varying and static barometric ...
The University of Virginia's real-time neutron radiography facility was characterized by measurement of the total neutron flux, gold/cadmium ratio, neutron/gamma ratio, and the effective collimar length-to-aperture diameter (L/D) ratio. The real-time neutron imaging system and collimator were further characterized by measuring the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the system. The collimator effectiveness was measured by using the MTF to determine the ''unparallelism'' of the neutron beam. The computer-based image processing system allowed rapid calculation of the MTF and the collimator effectiveness. The results of these measurements, using no collimator and a simple tube collimator, demonstrated the method's ability to determine the effective L/D ratio. The MTF measurement scheme provided a fast, reliable, and reproducible means of monitoring any changes in the real-time system, ...
The University of Virginia's real-time neutron radiography facility was characterized by measurement of the total neutron flux, gold/cadmium ratio, neutron/gamma ratio, and the effective collimar length-to-aperture diameter (L/D) ratio. The real-time neutron imaging system and collimator were further characterized by measuring the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the system. The collimator effectiveness was measured by using the MTF to determine the ''unparallelism'' of the neutron beam. The computer-based image processing system allowed rapid calculation of the MTF and the collimator effectiveness. The results of these measurements, using no collimator and a simple tube collimator, demonstrated the method's ability to determine the effective L/D ratio. The MTF measurement scheme provided a fast, reliable, and reproducible means of monitoring any changes in the real-time system, including both the neutron beam and the electronic ...
This report compares the performance characteristics of /sup 10/B-lined and fission-neutron detectors in gamma-ray fluxes typical of the fields to be encountered during nondestructive testing of irradiated light-water fuel assemblies stored in water. Using the optimum time constants for each of the /sup 10/B-lined detectors, the 0.25-in.-dia detector had a 5% loss in neutron count sensitivity at 7000 rad/h. Similarly, the 0.5-in.-dia detector had a 7% loss at 13,000 rad/h and the 1-in.-dia detector had a 5% loss in sensitivity at 1000 rad/h. Uranium-235 fission chambers were operated successfully in fields above 100,000 rad/h with no loss in neutron counting sensitivity. Shielding calculations were done to determine the appropriate shield thickness needed for a /sup 10/B-lined neutron detector to operate in a 50,000 rad/h field, typical of light-water-reactor spent-fuel assemblies stored in water. 7 refs., 4 figs., 9 tabs.
Several years ago the shipment of spent fuel of the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten has come to a standstill resulting in an ever growing stock of fuel elements that are labelled 'fully burnt up'. Examination of those elements showed that a reasonably number of them have a relatively high {sup 235}U mass left. A reactor physics analysis showed that the use of such elements in the peripheral core zone allows the loading of four instead of five fresh fuel elements in many cycle cores. For the assessment of safety and performance parameters of HFR cores a new calculational tool is being developed. It is based on AEA Technology's Reactor physics code suite Winfrith Improved Multigroup Scheme (WIMS). NRG produced pre- and post-processing facilities to feed input data into WIMS's 2D transport code CACTUS and to extract relevant parameters from the output. The processing facilities can be used for many different ...
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a liquid-metal-cooled test reactor located on the Hanford Site. The FFTF is the only reactor of this type designed and operated with the intent of meeting the licensing requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Unique characteristics of the FFTF that present special challenges related to leak rate testing include thin wall containment vessel construction, cover gas systems that penetrate containment, and a low-pressure design basis accident. The successful completion in 1986 of the third FFTF Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT) five days ahead of schedule and 10% under budget was a major achievement for the Westinghouse Hanford Company. The success of this operational safety test was due in large part to a special local area network (LAN) of three IBM PC/XT computers that monitored the sensor data, calculated the containment vessel leak rate, and displayed test results. The multiple computer ...
The idea to couple the Treatment Planning System (TPS) to the information on the real boron distribution in the patient is the main added value of the new methodology set-up at DIMNP of University of Pisa, in collaboration with the JRC of Petten (NL). The methodology has been implemented in the new TPS, called BDTPS (Boron Distribution Treatment Planning System), which takes into account the actual boron distribution in the patient brain, while the standard TPS assumes a uniform boron distribution, absolutely far from the reality. Nowadays, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is able to provide this in vivo information. The new TPS, based on the Monte Carlo technique, has been validated comparing the main BNCT parameters (thermal flux, boron dose, etc.) as measured during the irradiation of a special heterogeneous boron phantom (HEBOM), ad hoc designed, as calculated by the BDTPS and by the standard TPS SERA. An evident SERA overestimation of ...
We study the spectral evolution of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) taking into account the energy injected when they are young. We model the evolution of the magnetic field inside a uniformly expanding PWN. Considering time-dependent injection from the pulsar and coolings by radiative and adiabatic losses, we solve the evolution of the particle distribution function. The model is calibrated by fitting the calculated spectrum to the observations of the Crab Nebula at an age of a thousand years. The spectral evolution of the Crab Nebula in our model shows that the flux ratio of TeV #gamma#-rays to X-rays increases with time, which implies that old PWNe are faint in X-rays, but not in TeV #gamma#-rays. The increase of this ratio is because the magnetic field decreases with time and is not because the X-ray emitting particles are cooled more rapidly than the TeV #gamma#-ray emitting particles. Our spectral evolution model matches the observed rate of ...
In the hypothetical event of a severe accident in a Light Water Reactor, scenarios in which the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) fails and the core melt mixture (called corium) relocates into the reactor cavity, cannot be excluded. The viscosity (in fact, corium rheological behaviour) plays a major role in many phenomena such as core melt down, discharge from reactor pressure vessel, interaction with structural materials (concrete,...) and spreading in a core-catcher. For these reasons, it is important to be able to predict the rheological behaviour of corium melts of different compositions (essentially based on UO{sub 2}, ZrO{sub 2}, Fe{sub x}O{sub y} and Fe for in-vessel scenarios, plus SiO{sub 2} and CaO for ex-vessel scenarios) at temperatures above solidus temperature. In the case of corium-concrete mixtures, the increase of viscosity depends not only on the increase of particles in the melts but also on the increase of the residual liquid phase viscosity (due to the increase in ...
Fuel irradiation leads to a swelling resulting from the formation of gaseous (Kr, Xe) or solid fission products which are found either in solution or as solid inclusions in the matrix. This phenomena has to be evaluated to be taken into account in fuel cladding Interaction. Fuel swelling was studied as a function of burn up by measuring the corresponding cell constant evolution by X-Ray diffraction. This study was realized on Mixed Oxide Fuels (MOX) irradiated in a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) at different burn-up for 3 initial Pu contents. Lattice parameter evolutions were followed as a function of burn-up for the irradiated fuel with and without an annealing thermal treatment. These experimental evolutions are compared to the theoretical evolutions calculated from the hard sphere model, using the fission product concentrations determined by the APPOLO computer code. Contribution of varying parameters influencing the unit cell value is discussed. Thermal ...
The development of rechargeable lithium batteries with a high mass capacity, made with non-toxic and low cost materials is an important industrial challenge. Morphological and structural modifications occurring in the electrode materials during charge-output cycles should not lower the electrochemical characteristics and the cycling properties of the battery. Thus the structure of electrode materials must be sufficiently deformable and stable to support the constraints linked with lithium intercalation and de-intercalation (ions and electrons absorption/extraction). The aim of this work is to explain some characteristics (mass capacity, ions and electrons mobility, cycling) using the relation between some mechanisms of lithium insertion (sites occupation, lattice reduction mods) and the nature of atoms and chemical bonds (covalence, ionicity). This approach is developed on 2-D models of crystallized and vitreous sulfur compounds (CdI{sub 2} type) with a large inter-sheet distance, and ...
Depleted uranium (DU) is a dense heavy metal used primarily in military applications. Although the health effects of occupational uranium exposure are well known, limited data exist regarding the long-term...Full Text Available
This report presents a summary of highlights of the year 1978. It then discusses: Research and development in numerical analysis and prediction systems; Techniques, development and application of new products; Analysis-forecast systems in operation use du...
The mechanical characteristics of semicrystalline materials are related to the proportion, size and structure of the crystalline phase. Studying isothermal crystallization is the first stage in determining what relations exist between structure and charac...
isotherme, dans un courant d'azote ou sous vide entretenu. I t. Comptes Rendus Scientific Academy, Paris, Vol. 265 pyrolyse du carbonate de calcium, ...
This article presents the text of a lecture delivered by American Educational Research Association President Carol D. Lee at the 29th Annual Charles H. Thompson Lecture-Colloquium Series which was held on November 5, 2008. In her lecture, Lee discussed several points of similarities between W. E. B. Du Bois and President Barack Obama. These similarities in background, education, and in their ideas on politics and power are historically connected with implications for educating Black people though race consciousness.
The French office for technical studies and control of big dams (BETCGB), has recently reedited the `guidebook for the control of dams in exploitation`. The aim of this document is to provide to the regional directions of industry, research and environment (DRIRE) a methodological help for their control actions of hydroelectric dams granted for exploitation. It comprises 6 chapters dealing with: the different type of dams, the inspection, the surveillance, the floods evacuation, the flood instructions, and the particular emergency plans. (J.S.)
There are very different views on the health hazards of DU munitions. Most of the concerns of veterans and their advisors focus on the radiological effects of DU and consequently these are the focus of this editorial. Effects on the kidney and environmental consequences are, however, considered in the second of the Royal Society reports and the main conclusions of both of the reports are outlined in the summary document published in this issue of the journal. The main radiological concerns focus on the irradiation of lung tissues from inhaled DU particles and irradiation resulting from the translocation of inhaled particles to the thoracic lymph nodes.The overwhelming scientific view, presented in the two Royal Society reports and in other independent reviews, is that the main risks of exposure to DU aerosols are an increase in lung cancer and (from chemical toxicity) damage to the kidney, although ...
The results make appear that the cesium 137 would be eliminated less quick than what the ICRP considered for its models. Pectin would accelerate the cesium elimination but less quick than what is announced by its promotors. Politically speaking, the pectin is ignored by the officials of medicine and radiation protection at the pretext that its efficiency is not proved but no study is made. (N.C.)
The critical currents of A-15 phase Nb(,3)Sn, V(,3)Si, Nb(,3)Ge, V(,3)Ga, and Nb-Sn with a few at.% Ga and Al(,2)O(,3) have been measured at temperatures up to T(,c) and in magnetic fields up to 8T to study fundamental flux pinning interactions as a function of defect size and density. The samples are electron beam evaporated films typically 2 (mu)m thick. Their particular usefulness for this study is that they span the clean to dirty limits and their normal state resistivity and grain size can be controlled by deposition parameters. The grain boundaries are the defects most responsible for flux pinning. The electron scattering mechanism is based on the local change in the coherence length due to increased conduction electron scattering and is chosen from among several possible mechanisms to calculate the elementary pinning force at a grain boundary. A direct summation of the elementary pinning force of each boundary is ...
The risk to human health from fragments of depleted uranium (DU) at Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) was estimated using two types of ecosystem pathway models. A steady-state, model of the JPG area was developed to examine the effects of DU in soils, water, and vegetation on deer that were hunted and consumed by humans. The RESRAD code was also used to estimate the effects of farming the impact area and consuming the products derived from the farm. The steady-state model showed that minimal doses to humans are expected from consumption of deer that inhabit the impact area. Median values for doses to humans range from about 1 mrem ({plus_minus}2.4) to 0.04 mrem ({plus_minus}0.13) and translate to less than 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} detriments (excess cancers) in the population. Monte Carlo simulation of the steady-state model was used to derive the probability distributions from which the median values were drawn. Sensitivity analyses of the ...
The activity concentrations of potassium, uranium and thorium in minerals and soil samples from a mining site in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria were measured using gamma ray spectroscopy method. Effective dose per annum has been calculated from the activity concentrations of dominant gamma-emitting natural radionuclides, potassium, uranium and thorium. Samples collected include minerals (beryl, quartz and feldspar), soil samples from the mining pits, heaps and undisturbed land around the mining site. The activity concentrations of {sup 40}K, {sup 238}U and {sup 232}Th, respectively in Bq kg-1 in the mineral samples were as follows: 1985 +- 16, 4.8 +- 0.9 and 11.8 +- 5.8 for beryl sample, 115.1 +- 27.9, 5.0 +- 1.3 and 6.3 +- 5.0 for feldspar samples and 1421 +- 122, <4.8 and 20.1 +- 3.5 for quartz samples. For the soil samples, the mean activity concentrations of {sup 40}K, {sup 238}U and {sup 232}Th, respectively, were 314.2 +- 5.7, 27.7 +- 2.6 and 11.5 +- 5.9 ...
Ion neoclassical transport with finite orbit width dynamics is calculated over whole poloidal cross section by using accurate {delta}f method which employs an improved like-particle collision operator and an accurate weighting scheme to solve drift kinetic equation. Ion thermal transport near magnetic axis shows a great reduction from its conventional neoclassical level due to non-standard orbit topology, like that of previous {delta}f simulation. On other hand, the direct particle loss from confinement region may strongly increase ion energy transport near the edge. It is found that ion parallel flow near the axis is also largely reduced due to non-standard orbit topology. In the presence of steep density gradient, ion thermal conductivity is significantly reduced, and an ion particle flux is driven by self-collision alone. (author)
A thermohydraulic study of MTR fuel element is presented as a basic requirement for the development of an irradiation facility for testing fuel elements. A computer code named 'Thermo' has been developed for this purpose, which can stimulate different working conditions, such as, cooling, power elements and neutron flux, performing all pertinent thermohydraulic calculations. Thermocouples were used to measure the temperature gradients of the cooling fluid throughout the IEAR-1 reactor core. All experimental data are in good agreement with the theoretical model applied in this work. Finally, a draft of the proposed facility and its safety system is presented. (author)
This paper consists the radiation streaming analysis of Horizontal Flux Unit (HFU) penetrations in Calandria Vault of 540 MWe PHWR. There are total 7 HFU penetrations on west wall of calandria vault. As these penetrations are in accessible area, a detailed analysis has been carried out to find the neutron and gamma dose rates around these penetrations when reactor is operating. Analysis has been carried out Using the computer code MCNP and DOT-III. Based on the predictions at HFU penetrations, shielding arrangement was recommended. Neutron and gamma dose rate higher than estimated were observed at TAPS-4. This was because of installed shield not being similar to recommended one due to site conditions. Subsequently semi-empirical calculations using measured data were carried out by MCNP to further augment the existing shield taking into consideration the space limitations at site. (author)
Results of experimental investigation into radiation electromagnetic effect (REM) in samples of germanium crystals under approximately 40 MeV #alpha#-particle irradiation in a cyclotron are presented. A high level of excitation, volumetric character of generation of non-equilibrium carriers and formation of defects as well as the form of their spatial distribution are shown to result in some peculiarities of the EMF of the REM effect on the particle flux, fluence and sample parameters. Agreement of theoretical calculations, conducted with account of specificity of #alpha#-particle interaction with a crystal, and experimental data is obtained. It is revealed that the REM effect can be applied in obtaining data on spatial distribution of non-equilibrium carrier concentrations along the particle trajectory in the crystal.
Heavy Ion Collisions at RHIC and LHC energies are potentially an interesting laboratory for the study of QED. In these collisions, a Heavy Ion in one beam sees a highly Lorentz contracted electric field due to an oncoming beam particle. The Electric field reaches a maximum value of E {approx_equal} {gamma}{sub eff} {center_dot} Z {center_dot} e/b{sup 2}, where the apparent Lorentz factor, {gamma}{sub eff} = 2 {center_dot} {gamma}{sub beam}{sup 2} - 1. The collision may be viewed in terms of a flux of photons colliding with a stationary ion target using the equivalent photon approximation, originally introduced by Fermi in 1924. We show that the cross section for Inelastic Electromagnetic Interactions of Heavy Ions are both calculable and have been measured in the first RHIC running period.
The ORR operated at an average power level of 29.7 MW for 85.3% of the time during this period. The reactor was shut down on fifteen occasions, nine of which were unscheduled. Reactor downtime needed for refueling and checks was normal. The reactor remained available for operation 88.3% of the time. Special tests completed during the quarter included: (1) transfer of LEU fuel elements CLE-202 and NLE-201 from core positions B-9 and B-2 to core positions C-5 and C-6 for continued operation; and (2) calculation of maximum heat flux in LEU elements CLE-201 and NLE-202 in core positions A-2 and A-8. In-service inspections included inspections of ORR decay tank, primary heat exchanger No. 4, and the 24-in. strainer.
In this paper we study theoretically a pulsed corona discharge plasma in air at atmospheric pressure. A self consistent one-dimensional model, using a flux-corrected transport numerical scheme, is presented to achieve it. The charged particle kinetics in this model are described by one-dimensional continuity equations coupled with Poisson's equations. The spatio-temporal local field, charge density variations and the velocity profile of an ionizing front are calculated to describe the dynamical behavior of corona discharge plasmas. The simulation results of a wire-in-cylinder corona discharge plasma explain the physical mechanisms of discharge processes. These results may also be apply to obtain the optimizing parameters for designing the plasma reactor.
A thermal neutron imaging facility for real-time neutron radiography and computed tomography has recently been developed at the University of Texas TRIGA reactor. Extensive Monte Carlo design calculations were used to determine optimal design parameters of the neutron collimator system to avoid costly trial and error. Thermal neutron flux determined by gold foil activation is 5 {times} 10{sup 6} n/cm{sup 2}{center_dot}s at the primary imaging location with beam size of 22.5 cm in diameter. The collimation ratio can be varied from 125 to 235. The neutron-to-gamma ratio is 7.8 {times} 10{sup 6} n/cm{sup 2}{center_dot}mR. The facility has been tested for radiography and tomography applications and is now fully operational.
The authors provide the intact criticality information that supports the disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from the US Department of Energy's (DOE's) Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) in the potential Monitored Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain. FFTF is one of more than 250 forms of DOE-owned SNF. Because of the variety of the DOE SNF, the National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program has designated nine representative fuel groups for disposal criticality analyses based on fuel matrix, primary fissile isotope, and enrichment. The FFTF fuel is representative of the mixed-oxide fuel (MOX) group.
A new calculation of the $\\bar{p}/p$ ratio in cosmic rays is compared to the recent PAMELA data. The good match up to 100 GeV allows to set constraints on exotic contributions from thermal WIMP dark matter candidates. We derive stringent limits on possible enhancements of the WIMP \\pbar flux: a $m_{\\rm WIMP}$=100 GeV (1 TeV) signal cannot be increased by more than a factor 6 (40) without overrunning PAMELA data. Annihilation through the $W^+W^-$ channel is also inspected and cross-checked with $e^+/(e^-+e^+)$ data. This scenario is strongly disfavored as it fails to simultaneously reproduce positron and antiproton measurements.
The thermal analysis of a turbine stack discharging exhaust gases to the atmosphere is presented. The examined turbine stack belongs to a gas lift plant for oil extraction located in the Gulf area. The analysis has been performed because an overheating of the anchor flange/bolts and of the concrete foundation occurred and caused small cracks in the upper layer of the foundation. A qualitative thermal analysis of the stack has pointed out that the main cause of the overheating was the thermal radiation in the air-filled region underneath the stack bottom plate. Detailed calculations performed by using a CFD code (Fluent ver. 6.0.12), cross-checked with measurements taken from site, have shown that a significant reduction of the heat flux to the foundation could be obtained by filling the above mentioned air region with an insulating material. The benefits of this solution are prevailing over those achievable with the installation of external ...
In the safety assessment of a high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal system, it is required to estimate radiological impacts on future human beings arising from potential radionuclide releases from a deep repository into the surface environment. In order to estimated the impacts, a biosphere model is developed by reasonably assuming radionuclide migration processes in the surface environment and relevant human lifestyles. It is important to modify the present biosphere models or to develop alternative biosphere models applying the biosphere models according to quality and quantify of the information acquired through the siting process for constructing the repository. In this study, alternative biosphere models were developed taking geosphere-biosphere interface of marine environment into account. Moreover, the flux to dose conversion factors calculated by these alternative biosphere models was compared with those by the present basic ...
The aim of this study is to clarify the radon behavior in the soil at the waste rock yards of uranium mine. We have developed an apparatus for measuring radon diffusion coefficient in soil under the control of soil temperature. The radon diffusion coefficients changed suddenly around the soil temperature of 0degC. The radon diffusion coefficients in dry soil have little temperature dependency, and were comparable coefficients obtained by empirical formula of Rogers and Nielson. To study the restraint effect of radon exhalation by covering with bentonite on soil, we carried out the measurements and the calculations by using one-dimensional transport model of atmosphere and soil. The decrease of radon exhalation rate was 2.9 Bq m"-"2s"-"1 when soil covered with the bentonite of 5 cm thick. The radon concentrations in snow cover and the radon flux from the snow surface were measured at the waste rock yard in Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering ...
Single pellets (of approximately 70 g each) of irradiated lithium aluminate target from N-Reactor test PT-57 were used in a series of experiments to determine the extent to which the product tritium can be recovered by (a) vacuum outgassing of the target (thermal extraction-TX) and (b) in-vacuo chemical dissolution of the target in molten sodium tetraborate (flux extraction-FX). Five TX runs and seven FX runs were made. Thirty-five percent of the tritium was recovered in a form non-condensable at -196"0C. The remainder was recovered in a condensable form (as T_2O, HTO, etc.). Post-extraction analysis of the melt from the seven flux extractions showed that a maximum of 2 percent of the original amount of tritium remained and that target dissolution was essentially complete in 12 hours. Flux extraction of two pellets which had been subjected to thermal extraction showed less than 0.4 percent of the original amount of tritium ...
We present a forward modelling technique for calculating the surface X-ray spectra for a variety of lunar terrains. Our calculations considered variations in solar fluxes from solar quiescent condition to large flare activity (M1 flare), and expected elemental concentrations in the target, as well as yield, instrumental, and viewing geometry parameters for X-ray induced fluorescence from the lunar surface. Additionally, we present estimates of anticipated XRF signals from prominent Ka lines observable by a collimated 14cm2 X-ray detector from a 100km lunar orbit with 20km spatial resolution. Our results show that Mg, Al and Si characteristic Ka lines can be observed for all solar conditions. The Ca Ka lines line can be differentiated from a fixed background during more energetic solar cond...
The improvement of the ecological conditions at waste storing reservoirs is an important task of the restoration activity at Production Association (PA) ``Mayak`` (South Urals). The radionuclides mostly {sup 90}Sr, {sup 137}Cs, and chemical pollutants deposited in the reservoir water and in the bottom sediment are very dangerous sources for the contamination of Techa River below the reservoirs and the contamination of groundwater in the surrounding formations. The spreading of radioactive contaminants has both hydrogeological and the chemical features. The thermodynamic approach used to account for physical-chemical interactions between water and the bed rocks based on Gibbs free energy minimization of multicomponent system (H-O-Ca-Mg-K-Na-S-Cl-C-Sr) permitted the authors to calculate the corresponding ionic and complex species existing in the solutions, and to characterize the processes of precipitation and dissolution. The model takes into account the input and ...
The US Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors an extensive research program to improve the methods, dosimeters, and instruments available to DOE facilities for measuring neutron dose and assessing its effects on the work force. The Total Dose Meter was recently developed for measuring in real time the adsorbed dose of mixed neutron and gamma radiation and for calculating the dose equivalent. The Field Neutron Spectrometer was developed to provide a portable instrument for determining neutron spectra in the workplace for flux-to-dose equivalent conversion and quality factor calculation. The Combination Thermoluminescence/Track Etch Dosimeter (TLD/TED) was developed to extend the effective neutron energy range of the conventional TLDs to improve detection of fast-energy neutrons. An Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter is presently being developed for application to gamma, neutron, and beta radiation. An Effective Dose ...
A calculation model was developed for the analysis of thermal and hydraulic processes in the PGV-1000 horizontal steam generator. The model makes it possible to examine the hydraulics of the primary medium, i.e., the distribution of flow velocities and mass flows in the exchanger tube system and hydraulic losses of the primary medium in the steam generator during its flow between the two connecting sites to the main circulation pipeline, spatial distribution of heat fluxes between the primary and secondary sides of the steam generator and the total transmitted thermal power, pressure on the secondary side of the generator, natural circulation of the working medium on the secondary side, and the mean circulation number, spatial distribution of the volume fraction of the steam component in the intertubular space, effect of the perforated sheet on the thermo-hydraulic processes in the steam generator, redistribution of the steam component in the ...
Numerical simulations are used to predict the migration of radionuclides from the disposal units at Material Disposal Area G through the vadose zone and into the main aquifer in support of a radiological performance assessment and composite analysis for the site. The calculations are performed with the finite element code, FEHM. The transport of nuclides through the vadose zone is computed using a three-dimensional model that describes the complex mesa top geology of the site. The model incorporates the positions and inventories of thirty-four disposal pits and four shaft fields located at Area G as well as those of proposed future pits and shafts. Only three nuclides, C-14, Tc-99, and I-129, proved to be of concern for the groundwater pathway over a 10,000-year period. The spatial and temporal flux of these three nuclides from the vadose zone is applied as a source term for the three-dimensional saturated zone model of the main aquifer that ...
The young open cluster Berkeley 87 was predicted to be associated with the COS B {gamma}-ray source 2CG 075+00 on the basis of the experimental evidence of the presence of a shock front around the Wolf - Rayet star ST3 placed in the inner part of the cluster. The CGRO phase-1 data confirm this identification. Protons accelerated at the shock boundary can produce {pi} deg. via p-p interactions and then {gamma}-rays. With the measured flux F{sub {gamma}} (E > 100 MeV) {approx_equal} 9x10{sup -7} ph cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} and the power-law proton spectrum with spectral index {gamma} = 2, the cosmic-ray-energy-density in the inner part ({approx} 0.8 pc radius) of Berk 87 is about 100 times greater than that in the vicinity of the Earth. We have calculated {gamma}-ray spectra expected from the decay of {pi}{sup d}eg. produced in p-p interactions. The spectra have been normalized to the observed flux of Berk 87 by using ...
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a liquid-metal-cooled, fast neutron test reactor located on the Hanford Site. A dual computer system has been developed to monitor the reactor cover gas to detect and characterize any fuel or test pin fission gas releases. The system acquires gamma spectra data, identifies isotopes, calculates specific isotope and overall cover gas activity, presents control room alarms and displays, and records and prints data and analysis reports. The Fission Gas Monitor System (FGMS) integrates commercially available hardware and software, providing a reliable and easily maintained system. The design provides extensive automation of previous manual operations, reducing the need for operator training and minimizing the potential for operator error. The dual nature of the system allows either system A or B to be taken out of service for periodic tests or maintenance without interrupting the overall system performance. A ...
An extensive study of the effects of correlations on both charged and neutral current weak interaction rates in dense matter is performed. Both strong and electromagnetic correlations are considered. The propagation of particle-hole interactions in the medium plays an important role in determining the neutrino mean free paths. The effects due to Pauli blocking and density, spin, and isospin correlations in the medium significantly reduce the neutrino cross sections. As a result of the lack of experimental information at high density, these correlations are necessarily model dependent. For example, spin correlations in nonrelativistic models are found to lead to larger suppressions of neutrino cross sections compared to those of relativistic models. This is due to the tendency of the nonrelativistic models to develop spin instabilities. Notwithstanding the above caveats, and the differences between nonrelativistic and relativistic approaches such as the spin- and isospin-dependent ...
Consolidation of spent fuel is under active consideration as the US Department of Energy plans to dispose of spent fuel. During consolidation, the fuel pins are removed from an intact fuel assembly and repackaged into a more compact configuration. After repackaging, approximately 30 kg of residual spent fuel assembly hardware per assembly remains that is also radioactive and requires disposal. Understanding the nature of this secondary waste stream is critical to designing a system that will properly handle, package, store, and dispose of the waste. This report presents a methodology for estimating the radionuclide inventory in irradiated spent fuel hardware. Ratios are developed that allow the use of ORIGEN2 computer code calculations to be applied to regions that are outside the fueled region. The ratios are based on the analysis of samples of irradiated hardware from spent fuel assemblies. The results of this research are presented in three volumes. In Volume 1, ...
Important steady-state thermohydraulic parameters of the TRIGA research reactor operating under natural convection mode of coolant flow were investigated using NCTRIGA computer code. Neutronic parameters used in preparing the input of NCTRIGA were taken from the analysis performed by 3-D Monte Carlo code MCNP4C. Benchmarking of the NCTRIGA calculated results were performed against the experimental data measured by the thermocouples in the instrumented fuel element (IFE) during the steady state operation of the reactor under natural convection mode of coolant flow. Various thermohydraulic parameters like the coolant velocity, flow rate and mass flow rate were generated for the hot channel as well as for the two channels comprising instrumented fuels. Calculated peak fuel temperatures at different power levels were compared with the measured values and also with the calculations performed by PARET code. Axial temperature ...
Jurisdictional wetlands of the Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL-E) site in DuPage County, Illinois, were delineated in the summer and autumn of 1993 in accordance with the 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers methodology. Potential wetland sites with an area greater than 500 m{sup 2} (0.05 ha [0.124 acre]) were identified for delineation on the basis of aerial photographs, the DuPage County soil survey, and reconnaissance-level field studies. To qualify as a jurisdictional wetland, an area had to support a predominance of hydrophytic vegetation as well as have hydric soil and wetland hydrology. Thirty-five individual jurisdictional wetlands were delineated at ANL-E, totaling 180,604 m{sup 2} (18.1 ha [44.6 acres]). These wetlands were digitized onto the ANL-E site map for use in project planning. Characteristics of each wetland are presented -- including size, dominant plant species and their indicator status, hydrologic characteristics ...
W. E. B. Du Bois, one of the brightest lights in African American history, wrote a sparkling critique of the American social and economic system originally planned as part of the Bronze Booklets series, edited and published by Alain Locke and the Associates in Negro Folk Education. The piece was never published and has, until now, been lost to the annals of adult education history. Using historical evidence, the authors examine Du Bois's Basic American Negro Creed and the circumstances that led to its exclusion from the series. It is argued that the Creed was far too radical for the liberal minded Carnegie Corporation and its leaders who were only interested in accommodating adult education for Blacks through the AAAE funded Bronze Booklets. The exclusion of the Creed represents an example of repressive tolerance by the AAAE.
The study of passive films formed on a nickel base alloy type Inconel 600 is performed by capacitance measurements (Mott-Schottky approach). This research is supported by the passivation study of the alloying elements Ni, Cr, Fe and high purity alloys Ni-Cr, Ni-Fe, Ni-Cr-Fe. The results obtained show that the capacitive behaviour of the Inconel 600 in the passive state is similar to that on a p-n heterojunction to which a barrier zone of nickel oxide is added. The individual or combined action of alloying elements on the development of this kind of electronic structure is discussed. (authors). 5 refs., 6 figs.
The impacted armor targets used in testing high density armor-piercing ammunition containing depleted uranium (DU) are subject to disposal as low-level radioactive waste. Because of the costs associated with disposal of the entire armor plate and the limited use of secured commercial sites in the future, the U.S. Army is seeking to identify and evaluate new technologies for decontaminating these armor plates. The objectives of this Phase I SBIR program are two-fold, namely: to develop a selective solvent that can decontaminate impacted armor targets containing DU for disposal or recycle, and to identify and characterize technologies that can remove depleted uranium from the solvent for solvent recycle and uranium recovery for easier hazardous-waste disposal.
LLNL is developing the nuclear fusion based Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) power plant concept. The baseline design uses a depleted uranium (DU) fission fuel blanket with a flowing molten salt coolant (flibe) that also breeds the tritium needed to sustain the fusion energy source. Indirect drive targets, similar to those that will be demonstrated on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), are ignited at 13Hz providing a 500MW fusion source. The DU is in the form of a uranium oxycarbide kernel in modified TRISO-like fuel particles distributed in a carbon matrix forming 2-cm-diameter pebbles. The thermal power is held at 2000MW by continuously varying the 6Li enrichment in the coolants. There are many options to be considered in the engine design including target yield, U-to-C ratio in th...
This poster presentation covered a number of issues related to the new regulations concerning information on new substances derived from the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The authors described the background, and the objectives of the research project. A brief overview of the Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) process was provided, as well as the sulphate reduction process. The general methodology was explained, and the results of the bioactivation presented. The process followed for the bioaugmentation and the results obtained were presented. The regulations concerning information on new substances derived from the CEPA were described. The authors then presented their conclusions and perspectives. 26 figs.
SPEOS takes advantage of a geological situation which apparently does not occur much in Switzerland. The SPEOS pilot installation, which was erected in 1982, is designed for the supply of heat for about 500 persons. In the course of 10 cycles, the possibilities and limits of the seasonal heat storage were displayed. It was demonstrated that large quantities of heat with temperatures of up to 75 C can be stored in an aquifer. The behaviour of such a storage can be predicted with sufficient accuracy with mathematical models. (author) 12 refs.
Here we present a revision of the fossil record of chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) of Late Pleistocene and Holocene marine deposits of Uruguay and discuss their potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Chitons were recorded as isolated valves in bivalve- and gastropod-rich assemblages. They are represented by the species Chaetopleura angulata (Spengler), C. isabellei (d'Orbigny), C. asperrima (Gould) and Ischnochiton striolatus (Gray). The last two species are recorded for the first time as fossils not only in Uruguay but also in South America. Exclusively recorded for the Late Pleistocene is the warm water species I. striolatus, whose current southern range limit is located in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Higher temperatures than at present are inferred for the Uruguayan coast duri...
The aim of this economic study is the wording of a synthetic document for the public information in the framework of the 98/30/CE european directive transposition to the gas internal market. It is writing in four main chapters, one for each country concerned: the Germany, the Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Each one presents the historical context, the actors of the natural gas industry and the main provisions. (A.L.B.)
The Eddy covariance technique allows to measure different components of turbulent air fluxes, including the flow of water vapour. Sap flux measurements determine directly the water flow in tree stems. We compared the water flux just above the crowns of trees in a forest by the technique of Eddy covariance and the water flux by the xylem sap flux method. These two completely different approaches showed a good qualitative correspondence. The correlation coefficient is 0.8. With an estimation of the crown diameter of the measured tree we also find a very good quantitative agreement. (author) 3 figs., 5 refs.
The Monte-Carlo method and experimental methods were used to determine the neutron fluxes in the irradiation channels of the Ghana Research Reactor -1. The MCNP5 code was used for this purpose to simulate the radial and axial distribution of the neutron fluxes within all the ten irradiation channels. The results obtained were compared with the experimental results. After the MCNP simulation and experimental procedure, it was observed that axially, the fluxes rise to a peak before falling and then finally leveling out. Axially and radially, it was also observed that the fluxes in the centre of the channels were lower than on the sides. Radially, the fluxes dip in the centre while it increases steadily towards the sides of the channels. The results have shown that there are flux variations within the irradiation channels both axially and radially. (au)
Thermal fatigue is one of the key factors governing the lifetime of the divertor plate. Tungsten is a promising candidate to cover the surface of the divertor plate in the design of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER). The W/Cr-bronze divertor small scale mock-ups were manufactured by hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) technique. Thermal fatigue tests of W/Cr-bronze divertor mock-ups have been carried out by an electron beam facility. The mock-ups were tested under a cyclic surface heat flux of 9 MW m"-"2 for 1000 cycles. The electron beam was loaded on the mock-up surface for 20 s and unloaded for 20 s, alternately. The flow rate of water coolant was 0.1 L s"-"1. The 0.3 mm diameter NiCr-NiSi thermocouples were used to monitor the temperature distribution of the mock-up. It was found that the maximum temperature of the tungsten surface was about 400 degree sign C. The saturated temperature at the joint of tungsten and Cr-bronze was 160 degree ...
The full text follows. A thermal neutron imaging facility (TNIF) capable of real time neutron radiography and computed tomography was developed for the University of Texas TRIGA Mark II (UT-TRIGA) reactor from 1994-1998. The facility was developed with a through reactor beam port capable of producing a 5.2 x 10{sup 6} n/cm{sup 2}/s thermal neutron flux with a gamma dose rate of less than 1 mR/s after collimation. The original TNIF included the UT-TRIGA reactor, neutron collimation array, sample positioning system, neutron image intensifier tube, video camera, computerized image acquisition system, and a radiation shield. A 0.7 mm slit in cadmium was easily detectable using neutron radiography, and 1.4 mm diameter holes bored in an aluminum block were easily resolved using computed neutron tomography. Precise lower limits of the system resolution have hot been determined. The TNIF is currently being revamped to begin work with the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of ...
The field of neutron imaging has a broad scope of applications and has played a pivotal role in visualizing and quantifying hydrogenous masses in metallic matrices. The field continues to expand into new applications with the installation of new neutron imaging facilities. In this scope, a neutron imaging facility for computed tomography and real-time neutron radiography is currently being developed around 2.0 MW TRIGA MARK-II Reactor at Maamora Nuclear Research Centre in Morocco (CENM). The neutron imaging facility consists of a neutron collimator, a real-time neutron imaging system and imaging process systems. In order to reduce the gamma-ray content in the neutron beam, the reactor tangential channel was selected. For power of 250 kW, the corresponding thermal neutron flux measured at the inlet of the tangential channel is around 3.10{sup 11} n*cm{sup 2}/s. This facility will be based on a conical neutron collimator with two circular diaphragms with diameters of ...
The field of neutron imaging has a broad scope of applications and has played a pivotal role in visualizing and quantifying hydrogenous masses in metallic matrices. The field continues to expand into new applications with the installation of new neutron imaging facilities. In this scope, a neutron imaging facility for computed tomography and real-time neutron radiography is currently being developed around 2.0 MW TRIGA MARK-II Reactor at Maamora Nuclear Research Centre in Morocco (CENM). The neutron imaging facility consists of a neutron collimator, a real-time neutron imaging system and imaging process systems. In order to reduce the gamma-ray content in the neutron beam, the reactor tangential channel was selected. For power of 250 kW, the corresponding thermal neutron flux measured at the inlet of the tangential channel is around 3.1011 n*cm2/s. This facility will be based on a conical neutron collimator with two circular diaphragms with diameters of 4 cm and 2 ...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of visualization and void fraction measurement of air-water two-phase flow in a small diameter tube (I.D.: 4.08 mm) by using the real-time neutron radiography and image processing techniques. Video images of two-phase flow were taken by using the real-time neutron radiography system (thermal neutron radiography facility No.2) installed at the Japan Research Reactor 3M of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. The shape of bubbles and its moving behavior were clearly observed from the video images. The image corrections for dark current, shading, field intensity fluctuation and electrical system drift were examined in order to measure the void fraction from the video images. Though, generally speaking, the effect of the scattered neutron could not be ignored for quantification of the images taken by the neutron radiography, the scattered neutron could not affect the final results of void fraction in the case of a small ...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of visualization and void fraction measurement of air-water two-phase flow in a small diameter tube (inner diameter; 4.08mm) by using the real-time neutron radiography and image processing techniques. Video images of two-phase flow were taken by using the real-time neutron radiography system (thermal neutron radiography facility No.2) installed at the Japan Research Reactor 3 M of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. The shape of bubbles and its moving behavior were clearly observed from the video images. The image corrections for dark current, shading, field intensity fluctuation and electrical system drift were examined in order to measure the void fraction from the video images. Though, generally speaking, the effect of the scattered neutron could not be ignored for quantification of the images taken by the neutron radiography, the scattered neutron could not affect the final results of void fraction in the case of a ...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of visualization and void fraction measurement of air-water two-phase flow in a small diameter tube (I.D.: 4.08 mm) by using the real-time neutron radiography and image processing techniques. Video images of two-phase flow were taken by using the real-time neutron radiography system (thermal neutron radiography facility No.2) installed at the Japan Research Reactor 3M of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. The shape of bubbles and its moving behavior were clearly observed from the video images. The image corrections for dark current, shading, field intensity fluctuation and electrical system drift were examined in order to measure the void fraction from the video images. Though, generally speaking, the effect of the scattered neutron could not be ignored for quantification of the images taken by the neutron radiography, the scattered neutron could not affect the final results of void fraction in the case of a small ...
This study deals with testing the capability of the code PARET to simulate natural convection cooling phenomena under different boundary conditions. In addition to applying and testing some new options related to simulation of the control rod movement and studying the reactivity effect of thermal expansion fuel elements. The experiments of the simple thermal hydraulic loop of Missouri university about natural cooling phenomena in two narrow paralled channels were used to validate the code. The study indicate good results regarding the distribution of coolant flux velocity and clad temperature. In particular the heat transfer coefficient of natural convection has been calculated in good agreement with the experiment. On the other hand, the core of MNSR reactor has been modelled to simulate the reactor dynamic behaviour under natural convection cooling conditions for different initial power level. The observed oscillation during the initial phase ...
The principal mathematical tools frequently available for calculations in Nuclear Engineering, including coupled neutron-gamma radiations shielding problems, involve the full Transport Theory or the Monte Carlo techniques. The Multigroup Albedo Method applied to shieldings is characterized by following the radiations through distinct layers of materials, allowing the determination of the neutron and gamma fractions reflected from, transmitted through and absorbed in the irradiated media when a neutronic stream hits the first layer of material, independently of fluxcalculations. Then, the method is a complementary tool of great didactic value due to its clarity and simplicity in solving neutron and/or gamma shielding problems. The outstanding results achieved in previous works motivated the elaboration and the development of this study that is presented in this dissertation. The radiation balance resulting from the ...
The principal mathematical tools frequently available for calculations in Nuclear Engineering, including coupled neutron-gamma radiations shielding problems, involve the full Transport Theory or the Monte Carlo techniques. The Multigroup Albedo Method applied to shieldings is characterized by following the radiations through distinct layers of materials, allowing the determination of the neutron and gamma fractions reflected from, transmitted through and absorbed in the irradiated media when a neutronic stream hits the first layer of material, independently of fluxcalculations. Then, the method is a complementary tool of great didactic value due to its clarity and simplicity in solving neutron and/or gamma shielding problems. The outstanding results achieved in previous works motivated the elaboration and the development of this study that is presented in this dissertation. The radiation balance resulting from the ...
We investigate the influence of lunar-like satellites on the infrared orbital light curves of Earth-analog extra-solar planets. Such light curves will be obtained by NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) and ESA's Darwin missions as a consequence of repeat observations to confirm the companion status of a putative planet. We use an energy balance model to calculate disk-averaged infrared (bolometric) fluxes from planet-satellite systems over a full orbital period (one year). The satellites are assumed to lack an atmosphere, have a low thermal inertia like that of the Moon and span a range of plausible radii. The planets are assumed to have thermal and orbital properties that mimic those of the Earth while their obliquities and orbital longitudes of inferior conjunction remain free parameters. Even if the gross thermal properties of the planet can be independently constrained (e.g. via spectroscopy or visible-wavelength detection of specular ...
We improve the steady-state ab initio laser theory (SALT) of Tureci et al. by expressing its fundamental self-consistent equation in a basis set of threshold constant flux states that contains the exact threshold lasing mode. For cavities with non-uniform index and/or non-uniform gain, the new basis set allows the steady-state lasing properties to be computed with much greater efficiency. This formulation of the SALT can be solved in the single-pole approximation, which gives the intensities and thresholds, including the effects of nonlinear hole-burning interactions to all orders, with negligible computational effort. The approximation yields a number of analytic predictions, including a "gain-clamping" transition at which strong modal interactions suppress all higher modes. We show that the single-pole approximation agrees well with exact SALT calculations, particularly for high-Q cavities. Within this range of validity, it provides an ...
Operating PWR units in the USA have experienced very severe corrosion of the tube support plate at the crevice between the tube and the support. This results in distortion of the plate and crushing of the tube (denting). The first task of this project required that currently available computational methods to estimate the pH attained by concentrating boiler water under various fault conditions such as condenser leakage of river waters and faulty operation of condensate polishing plant. Particular attention has been paid to systems in which sulfate predominates. In the second task, the mechanisms are discussed by which solutions become concentrated in porous deposits on a boiling heat transfer surface. It is concluded that more experimental data are needed to test the validity of existing models. High solution concentrations in the deposit may occur at a heat flux close to the critical value for drying out the base of the deposit. The pore to bulk concentration ...
We demonstrate that fitted values of stellar radius obtained by fitting theoretical light curves to observations of millisecond period X-ray pulsars can significantly depend on the method used to calculate the light curves. The worst-case errors in the fitted radius are evaluated by restricting ourselves to the case of light emitted and received in the equatorial plane of a rapidly-rotating neutron star. First, using an approximate flux which is adapted to the one-dimensional nature of such an emission region, we show how pulse shapes can be constructed using an exact spacetime metric and fully accounting for time-delay effects. We compare this to a method which approximates the exterior spacetime of the star by the Schwarzschild metric, inserts special relativistic effects by hand, and neglects time-delay effects. By comparing these methods, we show that there are significant differences in these methods for some applications, for example ...
Recent preliminary results from the PAMELA satellite indicate the presence of a large flux of positrons (relative to electrons) in the cosmic ray spectrum between approximately 10 and 50 GeV. As annihilating dark matter particles in many models are predicted to contribute to the cosmic ray positron spectrum in this energy range, a great deal of interest has resulted from this observation. Here, we consider pulsars (rapidly spinning, magnetized neutron stars) as an alternative source of this signal. After calculating the contribution to the cosmic ray positron and electron spectra from pulsars, we find that the spectrum observed by PAMELA could plausibly originate from such sources. In particular, a significant contribution is expected from the sum of all mature pulsars throughout the Milky Way, as well as from the most nearby mature pulsars (such as Geminga and B0656+14). The signal from nearby pulsars is expected to generate a small but ...
We study the expected properties of starbursts in order to provide the point of reference for interpretation of high-z galaxy surveys and of very metal-poor galaxies. We concentrate mainly on the UV characteristics such as the ionizing spectra, the UV continuum, the Ly alpha and HeII 1640 A line and two-photon continuum emission. We use evolutionary synthesis models covering metallicities from Pop III to solar and a wide range of IMFs. We also combine the synthetic SEDs with the CLOUDY photoionization code for more accurate predictions of nebular emission, and to study possible departures from case B assumed in the synthesis models. The ionizing fluxes, UV continuum properties, and predicted Ly alpha and HeII 1640 A line strengths are presented for synthesis models covering a wider range of parameter space than our earlier calculations. Strong departures from case B predictions are obtained for Ly alpha and two-photon continuum at low ...
Vertical thin film evaporators have been used to concentrate and dry solutions because their rotating swing blades prevent scale from being deposited on the heated surfaces. Powdering capacity of the vertical thin film evaporator was examined experimentally for drying applications of radioactive liquid waste generated from nuclear power plants. As a result, it was found that the powdering capacity increased with the blade rotation, changing significantly in the low ratational region and scarcely in the high rotational region. The powdering capacity in the high rotational region was restricted by the lack of heat flux which was theoretically evaluated for the concentrating process. As the critical factor in the low rotational region was not clear, a visual test apparatus was made to observe flow patterns in the evaporator, and a powdering model was obtained. This model showed that powdering process was obstructed when the liquid film lost its fluidity at high ...
Vertical thin film evaporators have been used to concentrate and dry solutions because their rotating swing blades prevent scale from being deposited on the heated surfaces. Powdering capacity of the vertical thin film evaporator was examined experimentally for drying applications of radioactive liquid waste generated from nuclear power plants. As a result, it was found that the powdering capacity increased with the blade rotation, changing significantly in the low ratational region and scarcely in the high rotational region. The powdering capacity in the high rotational region was restricted by the lack of heat flux which was theoretically evaluated for the concentrating process. As the critical factor in the low rotational region was not clear, a visual test apparatus was made to observe flow patterns in the evaporator, and a powdering model was obtained. This model showed that powdering process was obstructed when the liquid film lost its fluidity at high ...
Inherent safety tests were performed during 1986 in the 400-MW (thermal) Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) reactor to demonstrate the effectiveness of an inherent shutdown device called the gas expansion module (GEM). The GEM device provided a strong negative reactivity feedback during loss-of-flow conditions by increasing the neutron leakage as a result of an expanding gas bubble. The best-estimate pretest calculations for these tests were performed using the IANUS plant analysis code (Westinghouse Electric Corporation proprietary code) and the MELT/SIEX3 core analysis code. These two codes were also used to perform the required operational safety analyses for the FFTF reactor and plant. Although it was intended to also use the SASSYS systems (core and plant) analysis code, the calibration of the SASSYS code for FFTF core and plant analysis was not completed in time to perform pretest analyses. The purpose of this paper is to present the results ...
Inherent safety tests were performed during 1986 in the 400-MW (thermal) Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) reactor to demonstrate the effectiveness of an inherent shutdown device called the gas expansion module (GEM). The GEM device provided a strong negative reactivity feedback during loss-of-flow conditions by increasing the neutron leakage as a result of an expanding gas bubble. The best-estimate pretest calculations for these tests were performed using the IANUS plant analysis code (Westinghouse Electric Corporation proprietary code) and the MELT/SIEX3 core analysis code. These two codes were also used to perform the required operational safety analyses for the FFTF reactor and plant. Although it was intended to also use the SASSYS systems (core and plant) analysis code, the calibration of the SASSYS code for FFTF core and plant analysis was not completed in time to perform pretest analyses. The purpose of this paper is to present the results ...
We review results from general relativistic axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic simulations of accretion in Sgr A*. We use general relativistic radiative transfer methods and to produce a broad band (from millimeter to gamma-rays) spectrum. Using a ray tracing scheme we also model images of Sgr A* and compare the size of image to the VLBI observations at 230 GHz. We perform a parameter survey and study radiative properties of the flow models for various black hole spins, ion to electron temperature ratios, and inclinations. We scale our models to reconstruct the flux and the spectral slope around 230 GHz. The combination of Monte Carlo spectral energy distribution calculations and 230 GHz image modeling constrains the parameter space of the numerical models. Our models suggest rather high black hole spin ($a_*\\approx 0.9$), electron temperatures close to the ion temperature ($T_i/T_e \\sim 3$) and high inclination angles ($i \\approx 90 \\deg$).
The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is one of the world's most powerful research reactors. In 1996, one year after the demise of the Advanced Neutron Source Project, the U.S. Department of Energy embarked on an aggressive program to upgrade the neutron scattering facilities at the HFIR. These upgrades, which are now in progress, include the installation of larger beam tubes, a high-performance hydrogen cold source, and additional neutron guides and neutron scattering instruments. An extensive analysis effort was performed over the past 4 yr to support the design of the modified beamlines and new user facilities and to assess the impact of the upgrades on the integrity of the existing reactor system. The results of three of these analyses are summarized here. Specifically, results are presented for analyses related to the design of the new cold neutron source (CNS), the assessment of beam tube changes on the anticipated ...
We calculate the structure of accretion disks around Kerr black holes for accretion rates 0.001 - 10 M_sun/s. Such disks are plausible candidates for the central engine of gamma-ray bursts. Our disk model is fully relativistic and treats accurately microphysics of the accreting matter: neutrino emissivity, opacity, electron degeneracy, and nuclear composition. The neutrino-cooled disk forms above a critical accretion rate that depends on the black hole spin. The disk has the ``ignition'' radius r_ign where neutrino flux rises dramatically, cooling becomes efficient, and the proton-to-nucleon ratio Y_e drops. Other characteristic radii are r_alpha where most of alpha-particles are disintegrated, r_nu where the disk becomes neutrino-opaque, and r_trap where neutrinos get trapped and advected into the black hole. We find r_alpha, r_ign, r_nu, r_trap and show their dependence on the accretion rate. We discuss the qualitative picture of accretion ...
We investigate monoenergetic gamma-ray signatures of Z^1 dark matter annihilations in a non-minimal Universal Extra Dimensions model. The self-interactions of the non-Abelian Z^1 gauge boson give rise to a large number of contributing Feynman diagrams that do not exist for annihilations of the Abelian gauge boson B^1, which is the standard Kaluza-Klein dark matter candidate. We find that the annihilation rate is indeed considerably larger for the Z^1 than for the B^1. Even though relic density calculations indicate that the mass of the Z^1 should be larger than the mass of the B^1, the predicted fluxes are of the same order of magnitude. We compare our results to existing experimental limits, as well as to future sensitivities, for image air Cherenkov telescopes, and we find that the limits are reached already with a moderately large boost factor. However, the realistic prospects for detection depend on the energy resolution, as well as on the ...
In closed systems, the O2 compensation point (?O) was previously defined as the upper limit of O2 level, at a given CO2 level, above which plants cannot have positive carbon balance and survive. Studies with 18O2 measure the actual O2 uptake by photorespiration due to the dual function of Rubisco, the enzyme that fixes CO2 and takes O2 as an alternative substrate. One-step modelling of CO2 and O2 uptakes allows calculating a plant specificity factor (Sp) as the sum of the biochemical specificity of Rubisco and a biophysical specificity, function of the resistance to CO2 transfer from the atmosphere to Rubisco. The crossing points (Cx, Ox) are defined as CO2 and O2 concentrations for which O2 and CO2 uptakes are equal. It is observed that: (1) under the preindustrial atmosphere, photorespir...
The National Spallation Neutron Source (NSNS), in which neutrons are generated by bombarding a liquid mercury target with 1 GeV protons, will place extraordinary demands on materials performance. The target structural material will operate in an aggressive environment, subject to intense fluxes of high energy protons, neutrons, and other particles, while exposed to liquid mercury and to water. Components that require special consideration include the Hg liquid target container and protective shroud, beam windows, support structures, moderator containers, and beam tubes. In response to these demands a materials R and D program has been developed for the NSNS that includes: selection of materials; calculations of radiation damage; irradiations, post irradiation testing, and characterization; compatibility testing and characterization; design and implementation of a plan for monitoring of materials performance in service; and materials engineering ...
Using a facility named SPHINX, which can accommodate a heat transfer test with CO{sub 2} at supercritical pressure, a series of tests was performed. The test geometries include tubes with the inner diameter of 4.4, 6.32 and 9 mm. a concentric annular passages with 8 x 10 mm, and an eccentric annular passages with 9.5 x 12.5 mm. Based on the test results, heat transfer correlations were developed and compared with the existing correlations. The heat transfer deterioration which may occur at certain conditions of heat and mass flux, were carefully studied and the published criteria were reviewed against our test results. Numerical calculation by using commercial CFD code, Fluent, were performed in order to provide the pre-test information for the heat transfer tests. Various turbulence models were evaluated and reliable models were suggested for each case
The described heat transfer model supplies plausible results for the size distribution of active nucleation spots. For boiling states for which a comparison with measured bubble covering density is possible, that is for low boiling pressures and low heat flux densities, the bubble covering densities calculated by model on the basis of heat transfer measurements agree relatively well with the values observed. (orig.) [Deutsch] Das beschriebene Waermeuebergangsmodell liefert plausible Ergebnisse fuer die Groessenverteilung der aktiven Keimstellen. Fuer die Siedezustaende, fuer die ein Vergleich mit gemessenen Blasenbelegungsdichten moeglich ist, d.h. fuer niedrige Siededruecke und kleine Waermestromdichten, stimmen die aufgrund der Waermeuebergangsmessungen mit dem Modell berechneten Blasenbelegungsdichten verhaeltnismaessig gut mit den beobachteten Werten ueberein. (orig.)
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a liquid-metal-cooled test reactor located on the Hanford site. A dual computer system has been developed to monitor the reactor cover gas to detect and characterize any fuel or test pin fission gas releases. The system acquires gamma spectra data, identifies isotopes, calculates specific isotope and overall cover gas activity, presents control room alarms and displays, and records and prints data and analysis reports. The fission gas monitor system makes extensive use of commercially available hardware and software, providing a reliable and easily maintained system. The design provides extensive automation of previous manual operations, reducing the need for operator training and minimizing the potential for operator error. The dual nature of the system allows one monitor to be taken out of service for periodic tests or maintenance without interrupting the overall system functions. A built-in calibrated ...
Much research has been done to estimate the residual stress on a dissimilar metal weld. There are many methods to estimate the weld residual stress and FEM (Finite Element Method) is generally used due to the advantage of the parametric study. And the X-ray method and a Hole Drilling technique for an experimental method are also usually used. The aim of this paper is to develop the appropriate FEM model to estimate the residual stresses of the dissimilar overlay weld pipe. For this, firstly, the specimen of the dissimilar overlay weld pipe was manufactured. The SA 508 Gr3 nozzle, the SA 182 safe end and SA376 pipe were welded by the Alloy 182. And the overlay weld by the Alloy 52M was performed. The residual stress of this specimen was measured by using the Neutron Diffraction device in the HANARO (High-flux Advanced Neutron Application ReactOr) research reactor, KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute). Secondly, FEM Model on the dissimilar overlay weld pipe ...
The resolution of X-ray diffraction microscopy is limited by the maximum dose that can be delivered prior to sample damage. In the proposed Serial Crystallography method, the damage problem is addressed by distributing the total dose over many identical hydrated macromolecules running continuously in a single-file train across a continuous X-ray beam, and resolution is then limited only by the available molecular and X-ray fluxes and molecular alignment. Orientation of the diffracting molecules is achieved by laser alignment. We evaluate the incident X-ray fluence (energy/area) required to obtain a given resolution from (1) an analytical model, giving the count rate at the maximum scattering angle for a model protein, (2) explicit simulation of diffraction patterns for a GroEL-GroES protein complex, and (3) the frequency cut off of the transfer function following iterative solution of the phase problem, and reconstruction of an electron density map in the ...
The AMANDA-II data collected during the period 2000-2003 have been analysed in a search for a diffuse flux of high-energy extra-terrestrial muon neutrinos from the sum of all sources in the Universe. With no excess events seen, an upper limit of E{sub {nu}}{sup 2} xs dN{sub {nu}}/dE{sub {nu}} < 7.4 x 10{sup -8} GeV cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} sr{sup -1} was obtained. The sensitivity of the diffuse analysis of IceCube 9 string for 137 days of data is calculated to be E{sub {nu}}{sup 2} x dN{sub {nu}}/dE{sub {nu}} < 1.3 x 10{sup -7} GeV cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} sr{sup -1}. No excess events are observed, which confirms the AMANDA-II upper limit.
The present emphasis on inherent safety for liquid-metal reactor designs has resulted in a need to represent the various reactivity feedback mechanisms as accurately as possible. The dominant negative reactivity feedback has been found to result from radial expansion of the core for most postulated anticipated transient without scram events. For this reasons, a more detailed model for calculating the reactivity feedback from radial core expansion, including subassembly bowing has been recently developed for use with the SASSYS/SAS4A code system. The purpose of this summary is to present an extension to the model so that it is more suitable for handling a core restraint design as used in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), and to compare the SASSYS/SAS4A results using this model to the empirical correlation presently being used to account for radial core expansion reactivity feedback in the FFTF.
We will examine modeling data for various orbits using modeling software and compare this with actual satellite flight result. In particular, we will discuss the contributions of trapped protons to total dose and the effectiveness of shielding.
This device has and head-race pipe with an external part and a coaxial inner part. A measuring head is mounted movable between these 2 parts and has at least a thermocouple and a mobile grid for varying the section and the sodium flow to facilitate the impurities dissolution. This ensemble is completed by a longitudinal body containing the main parts of the indicator and surrounded by a thermal exchanger to cool the sodium.
The relations between nuclear energy availability and nuclear plant safety are analyzed in the particular cases of naval propulsion nuclear boilers (aircraft carriers, submarines): safety objectives, present and potential risk analysis, optimization of the availability-safety couple, at the design stage and during operation (procedural rules related to the boiler state, real time decisions). 6 fig., 1 tab.
French ... Title Synthese d'agregats metalliques par radiolyse de solutions aqueuses de sels simples ou complexes. Etude par M. E. du greffage des agregats sur membranes de carbone.
Zusammenfassung Der vom Bundesamt f?r Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI) entwickelte Ansatz des IT-Grundschutzes war bereits Gegenstand von Beitr?gen in der DuD. Inzwischen hat das ?Grundschutzhandbuch? Eingang in die internationale Standard-Familie ISO 2700x gefunden. Der Autor berichtet ?ber die Erfahrungen mit den ersten durchgef?hrten Zertifizierungen nach dem neuen ISO-Standard auf der Basis von IT-Grundschutz.
Three HQE (High Quality of the Environment) realizations are presented to illustrate the environmental quality in the architecture, and to see how the natural gas answers the demands of the HQE. (A.L.B.)
The Conference on Building Design and Architecture organized by Swedish Council for Building Research Contents included articles on building physics, thermal-climate technology, and building location and planning.
Identity is a part of self-consciousness, which is also expressed as ''being in the world'' which one in turn shows to others as the Self. The assessment of the Self in a population of patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a multidimensional definition (physical, social, spiritual), showed that the social self was impaired, and the severity of impairment of the self was correlated to apathy and lack of semantic autobiographical memory. It also appears that ipseity is selectively affected by the disease.
The mission of the Heavy Water portion of D Area (or 400 Area) at SRS is to purify the site inventory of heavy water for storage in the Reactor Areas for future DOE missions.
In order to conserve vaccines in hot countries a solar refrigerator has been made by a French university. It is a photothermal refrigerator without batteries. It uses two gases: ammonia and calcium chloride. The refrigerator is autonomous and can work eleven days without sun. (N.C.)
Metabolic carbon labelling experiments enable a large amount of extracellular fluxes and intracellular carbon isotope enrichments to be measured. Since the relation between the measured quantities and the unknown intracellular metabolic fluxes is given by bilinear balance equations, flux determination from this data set requires the numerical solution of a nonlinear inverse problem. To this end, a general algorithm for flux estimation from metabolic carbon labelling experiments based on the least squares approach is developed in this contribution and complemented by appropriate tools for statistical analysis. The linearization technique usually applied for the computation of nonlinear confidence regions is shown to be inappropriate in the case of large exchange fluxes. For this reason a sophisticated compactification transformation technique for nonlinear statistical analysis is ...
In order to assess various core parameters a reference equilibrium core with Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel for Pakistan Research Reactor (PARR-1) was assembled. Due to increased volume of reference core, the average neutron flux reduced as compared to the first higher power operation. To get a higher neutron flux an irradiation facility was created in centre of the reference equilibrium core where the advantage of the neutron flux peaking was taken. Various low power experiments were performed in order to evaluate control rods worth and neutron flux mapping inside the core. The neutron flux inside the central irradiation facility almost doubled. With this arrangement reactor operation time was cut down from 72 hours to 48 hours for the production of the required specific radioactivity. (author)
An optimal deployment pattern of flux mapping detectors for a Canada uranium-deuterium (CANDU)-600 pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) is determined by obtaining an optimal feedback relationship between flux measurements and zone controllers. The reactor core is modeled with a time-dependent two-group, two-dimensional diffusion equation, and flux perturbation are expressed by model expansions. The modal expansion coefficients are used as elements of the state vector representing the system dynamics. An optimal feedback matrix connecting the flux measurement vector to the control vector is derived by minimizing a quadratic performance index involving both the state and control vectors. We obtain the detector effectiveness in terms of the optimal feedback matrix and determine optimal detector locations for the Wolsung Unit 1 reactor in Korea. We have tested the methodology through evaluation of ...
Full text of publication follows: Different to the very simple class of homogeneous non-equilibrium models (HEM) an one dimensional thermal-hydraulic theoretical drift-flux based and thus non-homogeneous coolant channel model and, as a result, an in itself complete thermal-hydraulic coolant channel module CCM have been established allowing to simulate in a very general way the steady state and transient behaviour of the most important parameters of a single- or two-phase fluid flowing within any type of heated or non-heated coolant channel (with an eventually varying cross flow area). To avoid mathematical discontinuities at the transition from single- to two-phase flow the coolant channel will, in its general form, be split into different regions, i.e. be looked as a basic channel (BC) which can consist of a number of different flow regimes and can, accordingly, be subdivided into a number of sub-channels (SC-s). All of them belong, obviously, to only two types of ...
In order to practice a design-by-analysis of thermohydraulics design of BWR fuel rod bundles, the subchannel analysis would play a major role. There, the immediate concern is improvement in its predictive capability of CHF due in particular to the film dryout (boiling transition phenomena: BT) on the fuel rod surface. Constitutive equations in the subchannel analysis formulation are responsible for the quality of calculated results. The constitutive equations are a result of integration of the local and instantaneous description of two-phase flows over the subchannel control volume. In general, they are expressed in terms of subchannel-control-volume- as well as area-averaged two-phase flow state variables. In principle the information on local and instantaneous physical phenomena taking place inside subchannels must be counted for in the algebraic form of the equations on the basis of a more mechanistic modeling approach. They should include also influences of the ...
This report provides the results of a JASON review of the technical feasibility of using the Department of Energy`s (DOE`s) Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) to generate tritium needed for the enduring United States nuclear weapons stockpile.
13C metabolic flux analysis (MFA) is the most comprehensive means of characterizing cellular metabolic states. Uniquely labeled isotopic tracers enable more focused analyses to probe...Full Text Available
We analyze transport through conical channels due to the difference in particle concentration on the two sides of the membrane. Because of the detailed balance, fluxes of non-interacting particles...Full Text Available
{gamma}-ray excitation functions have been measured for the interaction of fast neutrons with {sup 48}Ti (neutron energy from 1 MeV to 250 MeV). The Los Alamos National Laboratory spallation neutron source, at the LANSCE/WNR facility, provided a ''white'' neutron beam which is produced by bombarding a natural W target with a pulsed proton beam. The prompt-reaction {gamma} rays were measured with the large-scale Compton-suppressed Ge spectrometer, GEANIE. Neutron energies were determined by the time-of-flight technique. Excitation functions were converted to partial {gamma}-ray cross sections, taking into account the dead-time correction, the target thickness, the detector efficiency, and neutron flux (monitored with an in-line fission chamber). The data analysis is presented here for neutron energies between 1 to 20 MeV. Partial {gamma}-ray cross sections for transitions in {sup 47,48}Ti, {sup 48}Sc, and {sup 45}Ca have been ...
In most conceptual fusion power reactor designs, it is proposed to use beryllium as a neutron multiplier in the blanket. Detailed chemical composition of beryllium is necessary for evaluation of the tritium breeding ratio, and estimating the activation and transmutation of beryllium in the fusion reactor. In the present report, special attention was paid to a detailed analysis of impurities in beryllium, relevant to the tritium breeding ratio evaluation. Two different methods were used for the study of impurities: an analysis of the local sample by the ICP-MS method, and an integral analysis of the beryllium assembly, using the pulsed neutron method. The latter method was proposed as the most effective way of analyzing the integral effect to impurities in beryllium on production of the tritium on the lithium-6. The evaluation of the integral effect was based on time behaviour observations of the thermal neutron flux, following the injection of a burst of D-T ...
An effort to expand the irradiation mission of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) beyond testing fuels and materials for the liquid-metal reactor (LMR) program included a study of the feasibility of producing commercial quantities of "6"0Co. The "6"0Co would be produced by neutron capture in assemblies containing an array of natural cobalt pins and hydrogen-bearing moderator pins located at the periphery of the FFTF core. Adding hydrogenous material to the assemblies enhances "6"0Co production by slowing neutrons into energy ranges where the "5"9Co capture cross section is higher. Some of the moderated neutrons leak from the moderated region to adjacent fuel regions, increasing local fission rates. In order to validate calculated fission rates and establish calculational biases and uncertainties, experiments were conducted in the zero-power plutonium reactor (ZPPR) to measure fission rates in fuel regions adjacent to a ...
The authors solve the two-dimensional stefan problem of solidification in a half-space, where the heat flux at the wall is a slightly varying function of positioning along the wall, by means of a large Stefan number approximation (which turns out to be equivalent to a small time solution), and then by means of the Heat Balance Integral Method, which is valid for all time, and which agrees with the large Stefan number solution for small times. A representative solution is given for a particular form of the heat flux perturbation.
The Flux Mapping System (FMS) of 540 MWe PHWR is a system, which is first of its kind used in Indian PHWRs. It is used to compute a detailed flux/power distribution of the reactor core using modal synthesis method .The paper brings out the high availability features of FMS and the software design philosophy. The paper emphasizes on framework based reusable architectural design, which simplifies and speeds up the development of data acquisition systems. (author)
Full text of publication follows: A porous media solution PORFLO has been developed for the 3-dimensional two-phase flow by describing the process facility in Cartesian or cylindrical coordinates. The local porosity fraction is applied for distinguishing the fluid filled volumes from the solid structures. The solid structure contribute the two-phase flow through the wall friction, flow area and heat transfer. Optionally the solid structure may contain primary liquid of steam generators, steam in the higher temperature and pressure to be condensed or electrical heating power. By using these optional boundary conditions three different process facilities have been analysed. The thermohydraulic solution based on 5-equation approach, where the conservation equations are solved for the liquid and gas (vapour) mass, mixture momentum (giving the velocity only for the mixture), liquid and gas energy, is described shortly. In addition to that the principles modelling optional boundary ...
Lithium ion batteries use an oxide as a positive electrode and a carbon material as a negative electrode. The performances of carbon electrodes have rapidly evolved during the last years thanks to the substitution of soft carbons of Conoco or MCMB-2510 type by graphites (F-399, MCMB-2528) and then by hard carbons. These high capacity carbons (700 mAh/g) have higher service life and volume capacity than graphites but their irreversible losses are greater (>20%). In this work, materials with similar electrochemical performances are prepared by mechanical crushing. Mechanical crushing allows to obtain a wide range of carbon materials with various morphologies, specific surfaces and levels of disorder. The formation of the passivation film is directly linked with the surface of materials. A reaction scheme of the reversible and irreversible capacities has been defined and has permitted to obtain compounds with reversible capacities of 720 mAh/g (2 lithium for 6 carbon). (J.S.)
The Ministere des Ressources naturelles du Quebec (Quebec Natural Resources Department) implemented a remedial program to treat the waste rock pile at Wood Cadillac, located near Cadillac, in Abitibi, Quebec. The solutions proposed by INRS-Georessources and ENVIROCONSEIL are aimed at eliminating erosion and stabilizing the geochemical processes. Part of the proposed solution also included the use of a reducing trickling filter for the treatment of acid leachates, which also contain arsenic when exiting the waste rock pile. The trickling filter is composed of forest tailings in which the bacteria reduce the sulphates and stimulate the precipitation of arsenic into arsenic sulphates. This is a new treatment that was developed following laboratory experiments which demonstrated the feasibility of the process and quantified the parameters. A demonstration unit was constructed by ENVIROCONSEIL and installed at the Wood Cadillac waste rock pile under the supervision of ...
R?sum? La rate baladeuse est une anomalie rare chez l?enfant. Elle est souvent d?crite chez l?adulte, particuli?rement la femme enceinte. Elle est due ? un d?faut de fixit? anatomique de la rate avec les organes de voisinage. Ses manifestations cliniques sont variables, mais la complication la plus redoutable est la survenue d?une torsion du p?dicule spl?nique. Nous rapportons le cas d?une fille de 11 ans qui s?est pr?sent?e avec des douleurs abdominales aigu?s et des vomissements. Les examens radiologiques ont montr? une absence de la vascularisation spl?nique. ? l?exploration chirurgicale, on a d?couvert une torsion du p?dicule spl?nique avec une isch?mie tissulaire avanc?e. La rate ?tait d?pourvue d?attaches ligamentaires. La d?torsion n?a pas permis de sauvegarder la rate, et une spl?n...
Mining operations took place at the Sullivan Mine, located at Sullivan, Abitibi, Quebec between 1930 and 1967 and generated large quantities of tailings. These tailings now represent a waste rock pile in the shape of a delta on the shore of De Montigny Lake. The area covers approximately 50 hectares. When the waste rock pile was first established, several terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems were lost forever. In addition, the very nature of the tailings, combined to the action of the wind and lake, further slow the natural site regeneration. The Ministere des Ressources naturelles du Quebec (Quebec Natural Resources Department) asked Les Consultants en Environnement Argus to prepare a site remediation plan to stimulate the natural regeneration of the ecosystems. It would enable the local fauna to resume its occupation of the territory, while ensuring its proper integration in the environment. The authors described in detail the proposed plan that addresses all the ...
Abuzakuk T, Coward P, Shenava Y, Kumar VS, Skinner JA. The management of wounds following primary lower limb arthroplasty: a prospective, randomised study comparing hydrofibre and central pad dressings. Pris en charge des plaies apres arthroplastie primaire du member inferieur: une etude randomisee prospective comparant hydrofibre et pansements central pad La prise en charge des plaies apres arthroplastie du member inferieur n'a pas fait l'objet de recherches approfondies, essentiellement car ces plaies cicatrisent habituellement sans complications. Cependant, lorsque des implants prothetiques sont utilizes, les serieux problemes de plaies peuvent devenir desastreux. Nous rapportons les resultants d'une etude prospective, randomisee, controlee comparant un hydrofibre et un pasnement centra...
LLNL is developing the nuclear fusion based Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) power plant concept. The baseline design uses a depleted uranium (DU) fission fuel blanket with a flowing molten salt coolant (flibe) that also breeds the tritium needed to sustain the fusion energy source. Indirect drive targets, similar to those that will be demonstrated on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), are ignited at #approx#13 Hz providing a 500 MW fusion source. The DU is in the form of a uranium oxycarbide kernel in modified TRISO-like fuel particles distributed in a carbon matrix forming 2-cm-diameter pebbles. The thermal power is held at 2000 MW by continuously varying the "6Li enrichment in the coolants. There are many options to be considered in the engine design including target yield, U-to-C ratio in the fuel, fission blanket thickness, etc. Here we report results of design variations and compare them in terms of various figures of merit such as ...
The deposition of platinum on various carbon blacks was carried out by forming active functional groups on the surface of the carbon support, and exchanging these active groups with different platinum complexes. Using H{sub 2}PtCl{sub 6} solution, an impregnation rather than an exchange takes place. However, using divalent platinum complexes [Pt(NH{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sup 2+}, a fast exchange takes place which leads to extremely small platinum particles highly dispersed on the surface of carbon black. A comparison of the catalytic activities of platinum supported on various carbon blacks was also carried out. The performances of PEFC (Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell) based on the process of the ion exchange are reported. (authors) 3 refs.
RESUME: Cet article propose une tude du r le croissant que joue l valuation dans la gouvernance des services domicile en Europe. L introduction de quasi march s dans plusieurs pays europ ens va de pair avec un processus d autonomisation de la fonction d valuation qui devient un v ritable outil de r gulation de la concurrence. Une analyse compar e des situations en Belgique, France et Royaume Uni, tant de la demande que de l offre de services, met en vidence les tensions r currentes dans les objectifs de l valuation (qualit des services, ma trise des budgets sociaux, cr ation d emploi), la faible prise en compte de la qualit de l emploi ainsi que les limites des dispositifs standardis s d valuation au regard de la rh torique du libre choix de l usager (consommateur).
This report deals with the renewable energies and the local development called the territory intelligence in action. Taking into account the place of the electricity in the french energy accounting and the part of the nuclear in its production, the local authorities have to act in the heat domain, which is the first energy need in France, far in front of the specific electricity (those which cannot be replace by other type of energy). But 80% of the heat is today covered by fossil energies. No actions to change this situation will be done without a real implication of the local government. The authors preconize an ambitious objective: cover 50% of the heat needs from renewable energies in the next generat This objective must rely on a program called ''alternative energies''. In this framework the authors provide recommendations on the implementation of the renewable energies as an essential challenge for the local authorities. (A.L.B.)
A survey to assess the techniques used to control occupational exposure to formaldehyde (50000) and methanol (67561) was conducted at the E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (SIC-2869) formaldehyde production unit, Linden, New Jersey, in October 1982. Exposure concentrations were reduced primarily by the use of a process that was completely enclosed except for process sampling, methanol unloading, and formaldehyde discharge points. Local and area exhaust ventilation, and work practices were also used to control exposures. Formaldehyde concentrations in the absorber area were controlled by burning the exit gases in an afterburner and discharging them high above the ground. Analysis of area and breathing zone samples showed methanol and formaldehyde concentrations below the OSHA limits of 200 and 3 parts per million, respectively. The authors conclude that workers are not overexposed to either methanol or formaldehyde on a short or long term basis. Maintenance ...
ATLAS is one of the four experiments which will take place at the LHC, the CERN future protons collider. This accelerator, which should start in 2007, will allow to continue the studies carried out by its predecessors, as the standard model Higgs boson and new physics searches. The very high luminosity -10 fb{sup -1} during the first three functioning years, then 100 fb{sup -1}- and the 14 TeV in the frame center will ease these studies. The Centre de Physique des Particules de Marseille took part in the ATLAS collaboration, taking in charge half of the End-cap electromagnetic calorimeter modules construction. The description of this sub-detector and the construction steps, in particular the electrical tests which allow the stacking validation, are presented in this document. These tests results, obtained for the live first production modules, are analysed. The pre-series module (module 0) performances, obtained with beam tests performed at CERN in 1999, are also presented. The ...
Le Club d’Orientation du CERN vous propose de venir participer à la cinquième étape de la coupe d’automne Genevoise. Celle-ci sera organisée samedi 16 octobre par le club de Lausanne-Jorat (Canton de Vaud). Un fléchage depuis le Mont-sur-Lausanne en direction de Cugy vous conduira au Chalet à Gobet. 5 circuits seront proposés sur la carte Le Flon. Les inscriptions et les départs se feront sur place de 13h à 15h. Il est prévu une initiation à 13h30 pour les débutants. Les deux dernières étapes de la coupe d’automne sont prévues pour vendredi 22 octobre au soir et samedi 23 octobre après-midi. Le Club d’Orientation du CERN Informations sur le site http://cern.ch/club-orientation
The Alice experiment is one of the four main LHC (Large Hadron Collider) experiments. It is dedicated to the study of a new state of matter: the quark gluon plasma, where quarks and gluons are no longer confined within hadrons. In this document, the physics issues that led to the construction of Alice dimuon spectrometer, are described. Then, the research and development on the dimuon spectrometer is presented. The different absorbers are described and experimental tests used to determine their dimensions are presented. The dimuon trigger built using the RPC (Resistive Plate Chamber) streamer mode is then described along with the associated beam and cosmic tests and results. Finally, the tracking system is described in detail and more particularly all its electronics and the first station. The physics constraints on the expected performances of all these systems are clearly defined. (author)
The work opened by the A.C.R.O. is in line with in an initiative of evaluation of the radiological quality of marine and continental waters of the Normandy coast. In this perspective, measures of radioactivity were made, not near an emissary (already very watched environment) but in more large scale because in marine environment, more than 640 km of coast are concerned. It was a question of supplying a representative assessment of the radioecological situation, for one year,of the marine environment (along the Normandy coast) and main streams which supplies it. (N.C.)
The lithium-polymer energy storage technology requires the production of thin films of huge surface. The BT-EdF-CEA consortium has studied the various manufacturing techniques of these films and their assembly. The process was chosen according to its productivity, low expensiveness, ecological impact and energy performances with capacities reaching 40 Ah. This paper explains: the objectives and specifications of the project, the advantage of the consortium and the role of the different partners, the results (coating, dry extrusion and battery element manufacturing techniques), and the electrochemical performances of the elements. (J.S.)
Preliminary results of studies into penetrant testing at high surface temperature (up to 200 deg.C), are presented. Tests were performed to assess the effectiveness of red dye penetrants using Al and NiCr samples containing artificial as well as natural discontinuities. The test results will be used in due course to formulate a specification for non-destructive testing procedure qualification at non-standard (i.e. outside 16-52 deg.C) temperatures.
The Purex process and the fluorescence spectrometry are first recalled, then uranyl fluorescence is studied in a pure nitric medium without other elements to establish a theoretical model, allowing the description of uranium fluorescence signal with a general equation. The influence of different parameters (temperature, inhibitors, dynamic quenching of iron and cerium) is investigated to develop the model. A quantitative analysis method without addition of reagents is proposed to validate the model.
CYRANO3 is the new EDF thermomechanical code developed to evaluate the overall fuel rod behavior under irradiation. In that context, this paper presents the phenomena to be simulated and the correlations adopted for modelling purposes. The empirical models presented are taken from the CYRANO2 code and a compilation of the relevant literature. The present revision corrects and supplements version B on the basis of its use during the software coding phase from January 1991 to May 1993. (authors). figs., tabs., 120 refs.
The paper investigates the effect of the wall heat flux ratio on the local heat transfer augmentation in a square channel with two opposite in-line ribbed walls for Reynolds numbers from 15,000 to 80,000. The square channel composed of 10 isolated copper sections has a length-to-hydraulic diameter ratio of 20. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio is 0.0625 and the rib pitch-to-height ratio equals 10. Six ribbed side to smooth side wall heat flux ratios are studied for four rib orientations. The results show that the ribbed side wall heat transfer augmentation increases with increasing ribbed side to smooth side wall heat flux ratios, but the reverse is true for the smooth side wall heat transfer augmentation. The average heat transfer augmentation of the ribbed side and smooth side wall decreases slightly with increasing wall heat flux ratios. The effect of wall heat flux ...
Recent observations of a large excess of cosmic-ray positrons at high energies have raised a lot of interest in leptonic decay modes of dark matter particles. Nevertheless, dark matter particles in the Milky Way halo could also decay hadronically, producing not only a flux of antiprotons but also a flux of antideuterons. We show that for certain choices of parameters the antideuteron flux from dark matter decay can be much larger than the purely secondary flux from spallation of cosmic rays on the interstellar medium, while the total antiproton flux remains consistent with present observations. We show that if the dark matter particle is sufficiently light, the antideuteron flux from dark matter decay could even be within the reach of planned experiments such as AMS-02 or GAPS. Furthermore, we discuss the prospects to observe the antideuteron ...
Land surface parameterization schemes such as the Simple Biosphere Model (SiB2) have found considerable use in climate simulation models, where they provide lower boundary conditions in the form of surface sensible and latent heat fluxes. A methodology is described to apply models of this type at high resolution, using data from the Department of Energy{close_quote}s Cloud and Radiation Testbed in Oklahoma and Kansas, to determine the spatial variations of heat fluxes over the domain and to determine area-weighted flux averages for use in single-column model studies. Data from a dense array of meteorological instruments are interpolated to provide the wind, temperature, vapor pressure, radiation, and precipitation values needed by SiB2. The state of the vegetation is characterized through the use of the normalized difference vegetation index determined from satellites. The performance of the SiB2 model is evaluated by ...
For heavy-ion beam driven inertial fusion ''liquid-protected'' reactor designs such as HYLIFE-II, a mixture of molten salts made of F{sup 10}, Li{sup -6}, Li{sup 7} and Be{sup 9} (called flibe) allows small chambers and final-focus magnets closer to the target with superconducting coils suffering higher radiation damage, though they can stand only a certain amount of energy deposited before quenching. This work has been primarily focusing on verifying that total energy deposited by fusion neutrons and induced gamma rays remain under such limit values and the final purpose is the optimization of the shielding of the magnetic lens system from the points of view of the geometrical configuration and of the physical nature of the materials adopted. The system is analyzed in terms of six geometrical models going from simplified up to much more realistic representations of a system of 192 beam lines, each focused by six magnets. A 3-D transport ...
Severe depletion of nutrients through removal of the above ground litter caused a cessation of growth of a Eucalyptus exserta forest in tropical China. Since there is no above ground input of C in this forest, microbial biomass (C_m_i_c) and soil organic C (C_o_r_g) are maintained by the below ground input only. By determining the maintenance requirement of the soil microflora, it should be possible to estimate the below ground production of this forest. To check this hypothesis the authors performed an experiment with labelled C. Since large scale production and field application of "1"4C labelled Eucalyptus litter were not feasible, 'naturally labelled' C_4 plant litter (Zea mays) was used. Maize litter has a #delta#"1"3C of -12.7 per mille as compared with a #delta#"1"3C of -30.7 per mille for Eucalyptus leaf litter. The "1"3C abundance is used to determine the amount of maize C in each of the soil layers. Investigations were made of how supplementation of the soil with litter ...
Some important thermal hydraulic parameters of the 3 MW TRIGA MARK-II research reactor operating under transient condition were investigated using two computer codes PULTRI and TEMPUL. Major transient parameters, such as, peak power and prompt energy released after pulse, maximum fuel and coolant temperature, surface heat flux, time and radial distribution of temperature within fuel element after pulse, fuel, fuel-cladding gap width variation, etc. were computer and compared with the experimental and operational values as reported in the safety Analysis Report (SAR). It was observed that pulsing of the reactor inserting an excess reactivity of $2.00 shoots the reactor power level to 854.353 MW compared to an experimental value of 852 MW; the maximum fuel temperature corresponding to this peak power was found to be 846.76"o C which is much less than the limiting maximum value of fuel temperature of 1150"0 C as reported in SAR. During a pulse if the film boiling ...
To study the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field topology and its long-term evolution associated with the X3.4 flare of 2006 December 13, we investigate the coronal relative magnetic helicity in the flaring active region (AR) NOAA 10930 during the time period of December 8-14. The coronal helicity is calculated based on the 3D nonlinear force-free magnetic fields reconstructed by the weighted optimization method of Wiegelmann, and is compared with the amount of helicity injected through the photospheric surface of the AR. The helicity injection is determined from the magnetic helicity flux density proposed by Pariat et al. using Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Michelson Doppler Imager magnetograms. The major findings of this study are the following. (1) The time profile of the coronal helicity shows a good correlation with that of the helicity accumulation by injection through the surface. (2) The coronal helicity of the AR is estimated to ...
Atmospheric and ionospheric perturbations associated with the acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) with typical frequencies of a few hertz -millihertz are considered. These events may be caused by the influence from space and atmosphere as well as by oscillations of the Earth surface and other near-surface phenomena. The surface sources include long-period oscillations of the Earth's surface, earthquakes, explosions, thermal heating, seisches and tsunami waves. The wavelike phenomena manifest themself as travelling disturbances of air (in the atmosphere) and of electron density (in the ionosphere). Travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) are well detected by radio physical methods. AGW generation by near-surface sources is modeled by the numerical solution of the equation of geophysical fluid dynamics for different sources in two-dimensional non-linear dissipative compressible atmosphere. The numerical calculations are based on the FCT (Flux ...
For the study of radiation biology and its application to radiotherapy, the double differential cross section of electron emission from water vapor induced by 6.0 MeV alpha particle beam is measured. The energy spectra of electrons ranging 7- 10000 eV are detected by the electrostatic analyzer and micro channel plate. The measurements are made at angles between 20 and 160 degrees. With use of this data set, the radial dose distribution in water is calculated by using KURBUC code. It is the Monte Carlo type code of the electron transport process, where the track of the electron is simulated through each individual interactions including elastic scattering, ionization cross section and total excitation cross section in case that electrons with certain energy are put in the liquid-density water. In order to understand the effect of radiation when the particle flux is injected in the human body like radiotherapy using accelerator beam, the dose ...
A real-time neutron radiography facility was constructed including the capability of neutron tomography. The neutron beam was measured for total neutron flux ((1.0 +/- 0.2) x 10/sup 11/ m/(m/sup 2/-sec)), gold cadmium ratio (52 +/- 3) and effective neutron temperature (83/sup 0/C +/- 8/sup 0/C). The angular divergence or nonparallelism of the neutron beam was measured to be 2.3/sup 0/ +/- 0.1/sup 0/ thereby providing a means of quantifying the collimator effectiveness. The resolution capabilities of both static film and real-time neutron radiographs were quantified using a Fourier transform algorithm to calculate the modulation transfer function of both types of radiographs. The contrast sensitivity of both types of radiographs. The contrast sensitivity of both types of radiographs was measured as 3.1% for film and 4.0% for real-time radiographs. Two tomography algorithms, the simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique (SIRT) and the ...
A real-time neutron radiography facility was constructed including the capability of neutron tomography. The neutron beam was measured for total neutron flux ((1.0 +/- 0.2) x 10"1"1 m/(m"2-sec)), gold cadmium ratio (52 +/- 3) and effective neutron temperature (83"0C +/- 8"0C). The angular divergence or nonparallelism of the neutron beam was measured to be 2.3"0 +/- 0.1"0 thereby providing a means of quantifying the collimator effectiveness. The resolution capabilities of both static film and real-time neutron radiographs were quantified using a Fourier transform algorithm to calculate the modulation transfer function of both types of radiographs. The contrast sensitivity of both types of radiographs. The contrast sensitivity of both types of radiographs was measured as 3.1% for film and 4.0% for real-time radiographs. Two tomography algorithms, the simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique (SIRT) and the convolution method, were ...
The effective fraction of delayed photoneutrons ({beta}{sup ph}) has been theoretically defined and experimentally determined in various different configurations of the LWR-PROTEUS critical facility. The peculiarity lies in the fact that the reactor has D{sub 2}O in only one of the four fuelled zones, thus D({gamma},n)H reactions take place mainly in this region. The work is divided into three parts. The first part is devoted to the description of the LWR-PROTEUS facility and to the measurements of {beta}{sup ph}. These experimental values are derived from standard inverse-kinetics analysis of neutron flux decay experiments for each of seven different configurations, with nine additional groups of neutron precursors to account for photoneutron effects. In the second part, the coupled neutron and gamma Boltzmann equations are reduced to exact point kinetics equations using the photon infinite-velocity approximation, and then to the point reactor model. ...
A technique involving shifting of core fuel loadings was investigated as a method for reducing the neutron flux at points of high damage accumulation in the pressure vessel wall of a light water reactor. Calculations were run for six types of commercial generic PWR. Information is provided on the progress being made to develop and apply the Solid State Track Recorder (SSTR) method for in-situ in- and ex-vessel measurements of neutron exposure parameter values, such as fluence (E > 1.0 MeV) and dpa in iron. A new technique of quantitative track counting, the Buffon needle method, is advanced. It is based on random sampling of the SSTR surface. A desensitized etching technique was developed that resulted in an excellent differential energy response for alpha particles in the 3- to 14-MeV energy range. The optical efficiency of Muscovite mica for manual fission track counting is being redetermined to form a data base for comparison with ...
The effect that different chemical and physical atomic environments can have on the relative intensities of radiative electron transitions from the filling of K shell vacancies was investigated. The method used involved the detection of photoionization induced X-ray fluorescence. An experimental system based on a hyper pure germanium detector (HPGE) was used to measure the relative K-L and K-M X-ray yields from the photofluorescence of a series of lanthanide elements and compounds. A background subtraction and peak integration strategy was employed which accounted for scattering in the samples and scattering of the flux from the radioisotope photoionization sources. Analysis of the data resulted in a tabulation of relative K/sub ..beta..//K/sub ..cap alpha../ X-ray intensity ratios. The measured relative K/sub ..beta..//K/sub ..cap alpha../ X-ray intensity ratios were compared to the calculated values predicted by the theoretical development of ...
The effect that different chemical and physical atomic environments can have on the relative intensities of radiative electron transitions from the filling of K shell vacancies was investigated. The method used involved the detection of photoionization induced X-ray fluorescence. An experimental system based on a hyper pure germanium detector (HPGE) was used to measure the relative K-L and K-M X-ray yields from the photofluorescence of a series of lanthanide elements and compounds. A background subtraction and peak integration strategy was employed which accounted for scattering in the samples and scattering of the flux from the radioisotope photoionization sources. Analysis of the data resulted in a tabulation of relative K/sub #beta#//K/sub #alpha#/ X-ray intensity ratios. The measured relative K/sub #beta#//K/sub #alpha#/ X-ray intensity ratios were compared to the calculated values predicted by the theoretical development of Scofield and ...
11-MeV neutrons were elastically and inelastically scattered from eight single-closed-shell nuclei: three proton-vibrational nuclei with N = 50 ("8"8Sr, "9"0Zr, "9"2Mo) and five even-even neutron-vibrational nuclei ("1"1"6"-"1"2"4Sn) with Z = 50. Detection methods involving electronic discrimination against #gamma# rays, and time-of-flight techniques were used to measure the energy of the scattered neutrons. Data were taken from 15"0 to 150"0 in 5"0 intervals. Measured differential cross sections were normalized to the zero-degree neutron flux and corrected. An optical model (OM) analysis was used to fit the elastic data with the code GENOA, and potential parameters were obtained for each nucleus. The observed low-lying electric quadrupole (2"+) and octupole (3"-) states were collective in nature; the macroscopic or collective model for inelastic scattering was used to generate the differential cross-section angular distributions with the distorted wave method. The ...
Outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and low-level wind fields in the Atlantic and Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) are dominated by variability on synoptic time scales primarily associated with convectively coupled easterly waves during boreal summer and fall. This study uses spectral filtering of observed OLR data to capture the convective variability coupled to Pacific easterly waves. Filtered OLR is then used to isolate easterly waves in winds, temperature and humidity fields from TAO/TRITON and TAO/EPIC buoys, radiosondes, and gridded reanalysis products. Our analysis shows that while some of the Pacific easterly waves originate in the Atlantic, most of the waves appear to form and strengthen within the Pacific. Pacific easterly waves have wavelengths of 3300-5500 km and phase speeds of 9-13 m s-1. A warm, moist boundary layer is observed ahead of the convective wave, with moisture lofted quickly through the troposphere by deep convection, followed by a cold, dry signal ...
It was generated the concentration curve of the Xe{sup 135} (t) during the TRIGA Mark III reactor operation cycle, for a continuous irradiation of 72 h to 1 MW of thermal power, as well as the accumulation curve of the isotope after the shutdown, for the fuel configuration No. 16 in the thermal column. The maximum negative reactivities generated by the Xe{sup 135} for operation times greater than 60 h to 1 MW and after the reactor shutdown its were of 1.968 {+-} 0.15 dollars and 2.30 {+-} 0.15 dollars respectively. When comparing these results with those theoretically calculated we find differences of the order of 3.6% and 5.34% which are understood inside the experimental error that on the average was of 7.6%. The results before mentioned have an important application during the start up process of the Reactor, when analyzing the value of the weekly reactivity excess of the core and when is choice the pattern of bars to use for experiments of but of 2 h, where is ...
The purpose of this study was to assess the energy flux and energetic balance related to the swine production and the recycling of residues generated by the system for utilization as organic fertilizers. The experiment was carried out at Vale dos Ipes Farm, located in the city of Ouro Verde do Oeste, in the Western of Parana State. One finishing phase swine unity containing 600 animals was monitored from January to June 2005. The treatment system is composed by one steel digester with capacity for 50 m{sup 3}, one sedimentation tank, one algae tank and one bio fertilizer storage tank. The swine barn cleaning is performed by dry scratching on a daily basis. The generated residues flow by gravitation through ducts towards the digester. The duration of the hydraulic retention period was 12 days. In the calculation of energetic efficiency, the energetic component ration is the greatest energetic cost in production system of finishing phase swine, ...
The recently observed X-ray synchrotron emission from four supernova remnants (SNRs) has strengthened the evidence that cosmic-ray electrons are accelerated in SNRs. We show that if this is indeed the case, the local electron spectrum will be strongly time-dependent, at least above roughly 30 GeV. The time dependence stems from the Poisson fluctuations in the number of SNRs within a certain volume and within a certain time interval. As far as cosmic-ray electrons are concerned, the Galaxy looks like actively bubbling Swiss cheese rather than a steady, homogeneously filled system. Our finding has important consequences for studies of the Galactic diffuse gamma-ray emission, for which a strong excess over model predictions above 1 GeV has recently been reported. While these models relied on an electron injection spectrum with index 2.4 (chosen to fit the local electron flux up to 1 TeV), we show that an electron injection index of around 2.0 would (1) be consistent ...
Numerical models based on finite-difference or finite-element methods are used by various research groups in studies of radon-222 transport through soil and building materials. Applications range from design of radon remediation systems to more fundamental studies of radon transport. To ascertain that results obtained with these models are of good quality, it is necessary that such models are tested. This document reports on a benchmark test organized by the EU project ERRICCA: European Research into Radon in Construction Concerted Action. The test comprises the following cases: 1) Steady-state diffusive radon profiles in dry and wet soils, 2) steady-state entry of soil gas and radon into a house, 3) time-dependent radon exhalation from a building-material sample. These cases cover features such as: soil heterogeneity, anisotropy, 3D-effects, time dependency, combined advective and diffusive transport of radon, fluxcalculations, and ...
Using infra-red (IR) thermography, power loads onto the MKII Gas-Box divertor targets have been investigated in Type-I ELMy H-Mode plasmas at JET in medium current discharges (Ip = 2.6 MA and BT = 2.7 T). Heat fluxes are calculated from the measured divertor target tile surface temperatures taking into account the influence of co-deposited surface layers on tile surfaces. This is particularly important when estimating the energy deposition during transient events such as ELMs. Detailed energy balance analysis is used, both from IR and tile embedded thermocouples, to demonstrate an approximately constant ELM-averaged in/out divertor target asymmetry of ?0.55 and to show that the ELM in/out energy deposition ratio ranges from 1 : 1 to 2 : 1. The inter-ELM in/out ratio is close to the ELM-averaged value at low pedestal collisionalities and decreases down to values close to zero when the inner target plasma detaches at the highest pedestal ...
The absorption of solar heat and the attendant thermal and mechanical loadings on the tubes of cavity receivers depend predominantly on the flux distribution of the incident solar radiation. For an axially symmetric cavity receiver with a parabolic dish collector, it is simple to determine the insolation pattern on the receiver internal surfaces if the system is ideal. In such a system the surface of the dish is perfectly parabolic (no contour flaws are present), and the sun's central ray impinges on the dish surface parallel to the focal axis (no sun tracking flaws are present). These two conditions cannot be achieved in practice, and therefore the feasible parabolic dish system is referred to as a real system although, in actual fact, it is only an approximation to any actual system. The purpose of this paper is to devise calculation principles which permit analysis of a receiver designed for ideal conditions to verify its structural ...
At the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe the HGF Strategy Fund project entitled 'Innovative Technology to Reduce Radiotoxicity' is performed which delivers an essential scientific contribution to the application oriented fundamental research for Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS). The addressed topics are in the areas of heavy liquid metal technology, thermalhydraulics and materials / corrosion. An ADS consists of three main components: an proton accelerator, a spallation target and a subcritical blanket. The strategic objective of an ADS is the transmutation of long-lived radioactive waste (plutonium, minor actinides and long-lived fission products) into short-lived isotopes or stable elements, thus closing the fuel cycle. The objective of one task of the HGF Strategy Fund Project is the numerical calculation of a closed spallation target module. In a consequent next step such a spallation target can be experimentally investigated at IKET and the numerical results can be ...
Theatres are the most complex of all auditorium structures environmentally. They usually have high heat loads, which are of a transient nature as audiences come and go, and from lighting which changes from scene to scene, and they generally have full or nearly full occupancy. Theatres also need to perform well acoustically, both for the spoken word and for music, and as sound amplification is less used than in other auditoria, background noise control is critically important. All these factors place constraints on the ventilation design, and if this is poor, it can lead to the deterioration of indoor air quality and thermal comfort. To analyse the level of indoor air quality and thermal comfort in a typical medium-sized mechanically ventilated theatre, and to identify where improvements could typically be made, a comprehensive post-occupancy evaluation study was carried out on a theatre in Belgrade. The evaluation, based on the results of monitoring (temperature, relative humidity, ...
The five thermal-hydraulic concepts chosen for conceptual study of advanced PWR systems have been studied as follows: (1) Critical Heat Flux in passive PWR Conditions: review of previous works (various of correlations, analysis of parametric trends) on CHF, assessment and improvement of CHF prediction models for round tubes, development of the prediction model on bundle CHF with considering the correction factor calculated from the tube data base, design and construction of the intermediate-pressure CHF experimental loop, extension of CHF data base by performing the experiments at low-flow, and low-quality conditions (2) Passive Cooling Concepts for Concrete Containment Systems: Selection of the external condenser by comparing and reviewing between passive cooling concepts for concrete containment system concepts, survey and review of previous studies (theoretical mechanism of condensation heat transfer and effect of non-condensable gases) on ...
In this paper, a phenomenological model of the thermal hydraulics of convective boiling in the post-critical-heat-flux (post-CHF) regime is developed and discussed. The model was implemented in the TRAC-PF1/MOD2 computer code (an advanced best-estimate computer program written for the analysis of pressurized water reactor systems). The model was built around the determination of flow regimes downstream of the quench front. The regimes were determined from the flow-regime map suggested by Ishii and his coworkers. Heat transfer in the transition boiling region was formulated as a position-dependent model. The propagation of the CHF point was strongly dependent on the length of the transition boiling region. Wall-to-fluid film boiling heat transfer was considered to consist of two components: first, a wall-to-vapor convective heat-transfer portion and, second, a wall-to-liquid heat transfer representing near-wall effects. Each contribution was considered separately in ...
The relationship between the emission line equivalent width and the continuum luminosity, so called the Baldwin effect, plays an important role in studying the broad line region physics of AGNs. Using the archived ultraviolet spectra obtained by IUE, HST and HUT in 1978-2002, we investigated the intrinsic CIV Baldwin effect of a best-studied Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151. Both its continuum flux and CIV emission line flux varied about two orders of magnitude in more than two decades, making it one of the best targets for studying the slope variation of the Baldwin effect. We fitted the CIV line profile of the 490 archived UV spectra of NGC 4151 with a same model consisting of a few Gaussian components, and derived the slope in the log-log plot for the total flux of CIV emission line against the UV continuum flux in different observation epochs.We found that the slope is not constant for NGC 4151, varying ...
Methyl halide fluxes were measured from fine (nonwoody) litter samples at a temperate deciduous forest site in Scotland on 16 occasions over more than a year and at a coniferous forest site. The resulting mean (+-1 sd) CH3Br and CH3Cl fluxes were 4.1 +- 3.7 ng kg-1 h-1 and 0.98 +- 0.62 mg kg-1 h-1, respectively, for dry mass leaf litter and 5.7 +- 6.3 ng kg-1 h-1 and 0.47 +- 0.14 mg kg-1 h-1 for dry mass needle litter. Temporal variations of net fluxes from leaf litter were significantly greater than spatial variations suggesting seasonality in the fluxes. The mean CH3Cl/CH3Br mass ratio of fluxes was 200 (to 1 sig. fig.), an order of magnitude larger than the ratio of their estimated global turnovers. Temperate forest litter may be a moderate net source of CH3Cl globally but a negligible ...
A concept for a fast spectrum irradiation facility has been developed for insertion in the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The design is based on the very large fast flux that is available in this reactor combined with the use of a strongly-absorbing thermal neutron shield. The preferred concept from the several considered consists of a three-pin design surrounded by a Eu{sub 2}O{sub 3} thermal neutron shield located in the reactor flux trap. Preliminary analyses showed that this concept can provide a fast flux larger than 1x10{sup 15} n/cm{sup 2}{center_dot}s and a fast-to-thermal flux ratio greater than 300 while having an acceptable impact on the HFIR operation. Additional analyses are necessary to confirm that this design is feasible and meets the requirements for fast fuel irradiation. If the design proves to be suitable, it can provide a relatively ...
This report presents the results of a study of the Japanese MLU magnetic-levitation (maglev) system. The development of the MLU system is reviewed, and the dynamic circuit model then is introduced and applied to the figure-eight-shaped null-flux coil suspension system. Three different types of figure-eight-shaped null-flux suspension systems are discussed in detail: (1) the figure-eight-shaped null-flux coil suspension system without cross-connection; (2) the combined suspension and guidance system; and (3) the combined propulsion, levitation, and guidance system. The electrodynamic-suspension maglev systems developed in Japan seem to be very promising and could result in a commercial application in the near future.
A search for monopoles and tachyons at ground level was carried out using an arrangement consisting of an ionization calorimeter and two hodoscope detectors. No clear evidence for these particles was obtained. The flux of monopoles with velocities beta approximately 0.01 is found to be less than 5.1 x 10 to the minus 13th power square centimeters s(-1) sr(-1) (95% cl.). The upper limit on the tachyon flux density is set as a 6 x 10 the minus 9th power particle/square centimeter event.
The satellite-borne experiment PAMELA has been used to make a new measurement of the cosmic-ray antiproton flux and the antiproton-to-proton flux ratio which extends previously published measurements down to 60 MeV and up to 180 GeV in kinetic energy. During 850 days of data acquisition approximately 1500 antiprotons were observed. The measurements are consistent with purely secondary production of antiprotons in the galaxy. More precise secondary production models are required for a complete interpretation of the results.
The Monte Carlo ray-tracing method is applied and coupled with optical properties to predict the radiation performance of solar concentrator/cavity receiver systems. Several different cavity geometries are compared on the radiation performance. A flux density distribution measurement system for dish parabolic concentrators is developed. The contours of the flux distribution for target placements at different distances from the dish vertex of a solar concentrator are taken by using an indirect method with a Lambert and a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. Further, the measured flux distributions are compared with a Monte Carlo-predicted distribution. The results can be a valuable reference for the design and assemblage of the solar collector system.
Determination of thermal to fast neutron flux ratio (ffast) and fast neutron flux (phi-fast) is required for fast neutron reactions, fast neutron activation analysis, and for correcting interference reactions. The ffast and subsequently phi-fast were determined using the absolute method. The ffast ranged from 48 to 155, and the phi-fast was found in the range 1.03x1010-4.89x1010 n cm-2 s-1. These values indicate an acceptable conformity and applicable for installation of the fast neutron facility at the MNA research reactor.
The Fast Flux Test Facility has provided a very useful framework for testing the advances in Liquid Metal Reactor Safety Technology. During the licensing phase, the switch from a nonmechanistic bounding technique to the mechanistic approach was developed and implemented. During the operational phase, the consideration of new tests and core configurations led to use of the anticipated-transients-without-scram approach for beyond design basis events and the move towards passive safety. The future role of the Fast Flux Test Facility may involve additional passive safety and waste transmutation tests. 26 refs.
To get a considerable reduction of the radiotoxicity due to americium, a thermal neutron fluence of 2.10{sup 22} cm{sup -2} or a fast neutron fluence of 2.10{sup 24} cm{sup -2} is required. Irradiation in a thermal neutron flux leads to lower masses of {sup 234}U and precursors and of {sup 237}Np and precursors, but to higher curium masses and much higher neutron emission rates than irradiation in a fast neutron flux. Therefore, irradiation in a fast neutron flux has preference when multiple recycling is adopted. When once-through burning is applied, irradiation in a thermal neutron flux can be applied. Then irradiation in a heavy water reactor (HWR) has preference above irradiation in a PWR or in a high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). (authors) 4 refs.
To get a considerable reduction of the radiotoxicity due to americium, a thermal neutron fluence of 2.10{sup 22} cm{sup -2} or a fast neutron fluence of 2.10{sup 24} cm{sup -2} is required. Irradiation in a thermal neutron flux leads to lower masses of {sup 234}U and precursors and of {sup 237}Np and precursors, but to higher curium masses and much higher neutron emission rates than irradiation in a fast neutron flux. Therefore, irradiation in a fast neutron flux has preference when multiple recycling is adopted. When once-through burning is applied, irradiation in a thermal neutron flux can be applied. Then irradiation in a HWR has preference above irradiation in a PWR or in a HTGR. (orig.).
A large database (507 station-years) of daily suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration and discharge data from 36 stations on river basins ranging from 600?km2 to 600,000?km2 in size (USA and Europe) was collected to assess the effects of SPM transport regime on bias and imprecision of flux estimates when using infrequent surveys and the discharge-weighted mean concentration method. By extracting individual SPM concentrations and corresponding discharge values from the database, sampling frequencies from 12 to 200 per year were simulated using Monte Carlo techniques. The resulting estimates of yearly SPM fluxes were compared to reference fluxes derived from the complete database. For each station and given frequency, bias was measured by the median of relative errors between estima...
... in Taylor and Williamson.* Most satellite sensors cannot be ... The coordinates of the rocket Ii ... I - Incoming Global Radiant Flux between 0.285 and ...
This task within the EU R and D for ITER was aimed at the development of basic manufacturing solutions for the high heat flux plasma facing components such as the divertor targets, the baffles and limiters. More than 50 representative small-scale mock-ups have been manufactured with beryllium, carbon and tungsten armour using various joining technologies. High heat flux testing of 20 of these mock-ups showed the carbon mono-blocks to be the most robust solution, surviving 2000 cycles at absorbed heat fluxes of up to 24 MW m{sup -2}. With flat armour tiles rapid joint failures occurred at 5-16 MW m{sup -2} depending on joining technology and armour material. These test results serve as a basis for the selection of manufacturing options and materials for the prototypes now being ordered. (orig.) 11 refs.
Using EAS data from the EAS-EXC group (EAS plus hadronic calorimeter and nuclear emulsion-X chamber hybrid experiment) on Mount Chacaltaya during the 1990's the fractal properties of the energetic cosmic ray fluxes was investigated. A discrimination in the hadron content of the energetic primaries furnishes two different data samples, the total EAS fluxes and the hadron-less fluxes. The sidereal diurnal variation of the hadron-less EAS time variation shows values of 0.5% with a phase at about 2.29 hr sidereal time. With the help of the Crassberger Procaccia algorithm the fractal dimensions have been investigated of, on the one hand, the differences in arrival times of the hadron-less showers and on the other hand the EAS fluxes time series with an integration time of five min. The obtained fractal dimensions show inconclusive evidence of continuous chaotic component in the data samples ...
The Monte-Carlo transport code MCNP was used to evaluate possible arrangements of cores for the MIT Reactor using monolithic LEU fuel. Plate and moderator thicknesses were varied, and fixed absorbers and inner reflectors added in an effort to maximize available neutron fluxes at in-core and ex-core locations of experimental facilities. Addition of D_2O in the H_2O moderator was also evaluated. Comparisons of the fast, epithermal, and thermal fluxes were made at selected locations. Keff was also evaluated and critical blade heights compared with the existing HEU core. Results indicate that the LEU fluxes could approach HEU values with the use of a fueled in-core experimental facility, a fixed boron absorber spider and an inner beryllium reflector. (author)
The purpose of this report is to provide management with performance data on key performance indicators selected from the FFTF Early Warning System performance indicators.
Plants require solar radiation for photosynthesis and their growth is directly related to the amount received, assuming that other environmental parameters are not limiting. Therefore, precise estimation of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is necessary to enhance overall accuracies of plant growth models. This study aimed to explore the PAR radiant flux in the San Francisco Bay Area of northern California. During the growing season (March through August) for 2?years 2007?2008, the on-site magnitudes of photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) were investigated and then processed at both the hourly and daily time scales. Combined with global solar radiation (R S) and simulated extraterrestrial solar radiation, five PAR-related values were developed, i.e., flux density-based PAR ...
A non-contact method, using magnetic drag force principle, was proposed to design the braking systems to improve the shortcomings of the conventional braking systems. The extensive literature detailing all aspects of the magnetic braking is briefly reviewed, however little of this refers specifically to upright magnetic braking system, which is useful for industries. One of the major issues to design upright magnetic system is to find out the magnetic flux. The changing magnetic flux induces eddy currents in the conductor. These currents dissipate energy in the conductor and generate drag force to slow down the motion. Therefore, a finite element model is developed to analyze the phenomena of magnetic flux density when air gap and materials of track are varied. The verification shows the predicted magnetic flux is within acceptable range with the measured value. The results will facilitate the design of ...
A numerical study of a natural convection in a rectangular cavity with the low-Reynolds-number differential stress and flux model is presented. The primary emphasis of the study is placed on the investigation of the accuracy and numerical stability of the low-Reynolds-number differential stress and flux model for a natural convection problem. The turbulence model considered in the study is that developed by Peeters and Henkes (1992) and further refined by Dol and Hanjalic (2001), and this model is applied to the prediction of a natural convection in a rectangular cavity together with the two-layer model, the shear stress transport model and the time-scale bound #upsilon#"2-f model, all with an algebraic heat flux model. The computed results are compared with the experimental data commonly used for the validation of the turbulence models. It is shown that the low-Reynolds-number differential stress and ...
AbstractWe propose a mechanism for the formation of membrane oscillations and traveling waves, which arise due to the coupling between the actin cytoskeleton and the calcium flux through...Full Text Available
The report presents the results of experimental studies conducted to provide a description of the conditions which lead to the occurrence of critical heat flux (CHF), in Combustion Engineering (C-E) fuel assemblies using the C-E standard spacer grid. A CHF correlation is presented which is based on CHF data obtained in tests with electrically heated rod bundles representative of the C-E 14 x 14 and 16 x 16 array fuel assemblies. The results reported are for a uniform axial heat flux distribution. The experiments were conducted in the Medium Pressure Heat Transfer Flow Loop at the Chemical Engineering Research Laboratories at Columbia University.
The patient positioning and repositioning control in radiation therapy all along the treatment can be conducted using a variety of X-ray sources and imaging detector devices. The development of image guided radiation therapy techniques leads to more frequent use of this imaging control. In this article we summarize the current methods for measuring the dose delivered by X-ray imaging devices used in radiation therapy, as well as basic proposals to take account of these imaging doses for prescribing, recording and reporting radiation therapy treatment. (authors)
Energy projects are extremely capitalistic and the costs involved have a significant weight on the balance sheets of companies. This paper describes the general rules of financing policies used by companies from the natural gas and petroleum industries: constraints (external and financial markets, partnership, warranties..); implication of financiers; risk analysis (political (nationalization, civil or military troubles, difficult transfer of profits outside the project..), financial (property developer, nature of the project, delay, cost overruns, performance, market..)); financial instruments (proper funds and debt, bankers and insurers, loans etc..). These rules are illustrated with several examples of recent projects of gas pipelines and exploitation of oil fields abroad. (J.S.)
Mining of copper and zinc took place at the Clinton Mine located in the Estrie region of Quebec between 1973 and 1975, during which time 115,000 tons of mineral were treated at the Solbec plant. In this poster presentation, the authors provided the background information pertaining to this mine and described the state in which it was in 1994. The pit was covered with good quality water, with a pH of 7,1 and copper and zinc content ranging between 0,1 and 0,6 mg/l, and iron ranging between 0,2 and 1,8 mg/l. The tailings basin drainage was found to have a pH of between 3,6 and 6,1. A program for the characterization of the site was implemented and the concept for the restauration of the Clinton site was developed and implemented. The work carried out at the site is discussed during this presentation as well as the monitoring taking place. 27 figs.
This article reviews the little examined early work of the Greek Marxist and state theorist, Nicos Poulantzas (1936-1979). In his first book, Nature du choses et droit of 1965, the young scholar developed a sociology of law culled from the insights of philosophical ontology. The article sets out the central claims of that book and reflects on its place in Poulantzass intellectual development. Drawing on Heidegger, Sartre and Marx, Poulantzas proposed a species of Natural Law theory that unified `facts' and `values' by grounding legal concepts in a theory of social praxis centred on material labour. Legal categories were thus irreducible to ahistorical essences but were, rather, expressions of mankinds struggle to realize its intrinsic freedom. As we shall see, although flawed and in key re...
ResumeLa convergence des solutions faibles du systeme de Navier-Stokes-Fourier-Poisson compressible avec un terme de frottement est etudiee dans la limite dun frottement infini, la loi de pression incluant, comme cas particulier, celle correspondant aux particules de Fermi-Dirac. La limite se trouve etre une solution faible dun systeme de Smoluchowski-Poisson non isotherme, la temperature ne dependant que de la variable temporelle et etant determinee par la conservation de lenergie totale.
The thesis deals with measurement of the mass of the W boson at LEP2, based on the direct reconstruction of its decay products in the hadronic channel. A set of procedures necessary for the extraction of the W mass from the experimental data collected with the DELPHI detector in 1997 was developed (search of optimal variables for the event selection, development of a special method of kinematical reconstruction). The measured value of the mass was interpreted in the framework of the Standard Model, allowing to constrain the mass of the Higgs boson. A substantial part of the work is devoted to systematic effects due to the interactions between the hadronic decay products of the W bosons (colour reconnection and Bose-Einstein correlations), which may significantly influence the measurement of their mass. (author) 53 refs., 104 figs., 33 tabs.
The law of the 30 December 1991 on the high activity long lived radioactive wastes reached the end. This synthesis final document presents the scientific and technological results, obtained still the end of 2005, on the separation and the transmutation of long lived radionuclides of high activity long lived radioactive wastes. It is organized in five chapters: a presentation of the context and the historical aspects, the researches, the objectives and the strategy of the axis 1, the researches results on the advanced separation, the researches results on the transmutation, the scenario of separation-transmutation and their environmental, technical and economical impacts. (A.L.B.)
The BT-EdF-CEA consortium for the development and the performance improvement of lithium/polymer batteries has carried out a safety analysis of the industrial risk and the risk for users linked with this new technology. The process chosen for the manufacturing of lithium/polymer batteries does not generate any particular risk of personnel or environmental contamination. Security tests have permitted to observe and analyze the behaviour of 4 Ah elements during thermal shocks, perforation and crushing, and during external short-circuit on 20 Ah elements. These tests demonstrate the great thermal stability and the excellent behaviour of batteries in the case of partial destruction. (J.S.) 2 refs.
Beaked whales (Ziphiidae) often show highly specialized features, involving bone morphology or structure, in the rostral region of their skulls. Previous studies revealed an extremely derived and peculiar histological structure in the rostrum of the extant Mesoplodon densirostris. In order to assess if this structure is a general feature of ziphiids, the swollen premaxillae of Aporotus recurvirostris, a Miocene species from the North Sea, were studied histologically. These bones are pachyostotic and strongly osteosclerotic. However, their structural organization is entirely different from that of M. densirostris rostrum: they are basically made of a non-remodeled, laminar tissue that was cyclically deposited by the periosteum. As compared to the generalized structure of the premaxillae of ...
ObjectivesTo assess the influence of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the efficacy of ionizing radiation on prostate cancer cells because of the increased use of dietary interventions, especially by patients with prostate cancer. Radiotherapy is used to treat localized prostate cancer. Some people consume green tea (EGCG) as a chemopreventive agent against prostate cancer. Green tea can act as an antioxidant and induce superoxide dismutase enzymes, which could scavenge the free oxygen radicals generated by radiotherapy. MethodsProstate cancer cell line DU145 cells were treated with EGCG or radiotherapy, or both. Cell death was assessed using trypan blue cell counting, and apoptosis was confirmed by assessing poly (adenosine phosphate ribose) polymerase cleavage. The antioxidant potenti...
This evaluation has for object to inform about the levels in carbon 14 in the environment of the factories of La Hague. Two sectors were differentiated on one hand the terrestrial environment, and on the other hand the marine environment. The investigations concerned first and foremost food products stemming as the vegetable culture (vegetables) or individual breeding (milk, eggs) but also foodstuffs stemming from the local agriculture (cereal). In touch with the second sector, the marine environment, the sampling concerned the accessible products of the sea by all and those locally marketed (fishes, molluscs, shellfishes). The different results are presented in tables. (N.C.)
This poster presentation discussed the management of environmental risks. It began with the methodology for the proper risk analysis, and its application to a liquefied sulphur dioxide reservoir. The authors described the risks presented by sulphur dioxide on human health and followed with the risk assessment method. The authors then discussed environmental risk management as it relates to the mining industry, with a special emphasis on tailings. Some examples of remedial action implemented on various waste rock piles were also presented. The conclusions emphasized the possible consequences of a major liquefied sulphur dioxide accident and the need to prepare for them by developing emergency plans, identifying remedial actions, and ensuring the proper training of all employees. 81 figs.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of replication-competent adenovirus-mediated double suicide gene therapy in an adjuvant setting with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in an experimental prostate cancer model in preparation for a Phase I clinical study in humans. Methods: For efficacy studies, i.m. DU145 and intraprostatic LNCaP C4-2 tumors were established in immune-deficient mice. Tumors were injected with the lytic, replication-competent Ad5-CD/TKrep adenovirus containing a cytosine deaminase (CD)/herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-1 TK) fusion gene. Two days later, mice were administered 1 week of 5-fluorocytosine + ganciclovir (GCV) prodrug therapy and fractionated doses of EBRT (trimodal therapy). Tumor control rate of trimodal therapy was compared to that of EBRT alone. For toxicology studies, immune-competent male mice received a single intraprostatic injection (10"1"0 vp) of the replication-competent ...
The aim of this work is the study of the heat transfer and of thermal behaviour of the HF (high frequency) components (in fact capacitors) of the ITER-proto-2005-FCI antenna. Preliminary results carried out with the Castem software show that it is possible to cool the hottest part of the antenna efficiently. A water flow (1 bar, 25 Celsius degrees) or an helium flow (10 bars, 50 Celsius degrees) permit to limit the maximal value of the temperature to 270 Celsius degrees. A second software Ansys has allowed the author to simulate capacitors with more complicated shapes. (A.C.)
The paper present the results of the study on D.U. (depleted uranium) contamination in the environment and possible effects on animal healths in the region o f Bujanovac. Samples of soil, feed, leaves, grass, lichen, moss, honey and water were collected randomly in 2003/2004 in the vicinity of the target area (500-1000 m) and 5 km from the target area. Activity of the radionuclides ({sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 40}K, {sup 210}Pb, {sup 238}U, {sup 235}U, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 7}Be) in soils, grass, lichen, moss and honey was determined on Hp Ge detector (Canberra, relative efficiency 23%) by standard gamma spectrometry. Total alpha and beta activity in water was determined on proportional alpha/beta counter (Canberra 2400, efficiency for alpha emitters 11%, efficiency for beta emitters 30%). Non significantly higher values of concentrations of {sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 238}U and {sup 235}U were measured in the immediate vicinity of the targeted site, but {sup ...
Acid mine drainage is probably the most important problem facing the mining industry. In this study, the authors evaluated different techniques for the remediation of mine tailings. An in situ characterization of the Aldermac mine tailings was conducted and the results were presented in this poster presentation. The site characterization was performed to determine the extent of the contamination, and sampling of soils was also performed for laboratory experiments in soil covers. The authors described the methodology followed in the laboratory experiments. Chemical analysis of the leaching water was performed to determine its composition in metals. Microbiological analysis was also conducted, as well as the determination of the water saturation index. The authors indicated that they will analyze the results further. tabs., 12 figs.
Pyogenic sacroiliitis is a rare entity in children. Diagnosis is often delayed because of its variable clinical presentation, low suspicion by the examining physician, and rare findings on radiographs. Delayed diagnosis, however, results in complications such as iliopsoas abscess. We report the case of a 12-year-old girl hospitalized with a 21-day history of fever, pain in the left iliac fossa, and flexion contracture of the hip. On examination, she had fever (38.9 ^oC), psoitis, localized tenderness at the left sacroiliac joint, and pain elicited by lateral compression of the pelvis. The abdominal examination was normal. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 130mm in the first hour, C-reactive protein was 186mg/l, and the white blood cell count was 18,400/mm^3, with 79% neutrophils. Urin...
A classic sum rule by Das et al. is extended to seven of the low-energy constant K{sub i}, introduced by Urech, which parameterizes electromagnetic corrections at chiral order O(e{sup 2}p{sup 2}). Using the spurion formalism, a simple convolution representation is shown to hold and the structure in terms of the chiral renormalization scale, QCD renormalization scale and the QED gauge parameter is displayed. The role of the resonances is studied as providing rational interpolants to relevant QCD n-point functions in the Euclidean domain. A variety of asymptotic constraints must be implemented which have phenomenological consequences. A current assumption concerning the dominance of the lowest-lying resonances is shown clearly to fail in some cases. (author)
In this paper, the unsteady MHD free convection heat and mass transfer of viscous fluid flowing through a Darcian porous regime adjacent to a moving vertical semi-infinite plate under Soret and Dufour effect have been examined. Viscous dissipation effects are included in the energy equation. A uniform magnetic field is applied transversely to the direction of the flow. The differential equations governing the problem have been transformed by a similarity transformation into a system of non-dimensional differential equations which are solved numerically by element free Galerkin method. The influence of Grashof number (Gr), magnetic parameter (M), heat absorption parameter (Q), permeability parameter (K), Schmidt number (Sc), Soret number (Sr), and Dufour number (Du) on the velocity, tempera...
The study of SO{sub 2} reduction in non-aqueous solvent can help to understand the functioning of Li/SO{sub 2} batteries and to find a simpler way for the synthesis of Li{sub 2}S{sub 2}O{sub 4} dithionite. This paper presents the results of electrochemical studies (cycle volt-amperometry in semi-infinite and thin film diffusion conditions, visible spectro-electrochemistry) and spectroscopic studies (UV, visible and RPE) performed on SO{sub 2} solutions. A mechanism of SO{sub 2} reduction is proposed and discussed. (J.S.) 18 refs.
The purpose of the work reported in this paper was to measure the radionuclide buildup in primary heat transport system cell No. 3 at the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) and to compare the results with predicted values from a model based on experimental studies and experience at similar reactors. The information obtained is used for maintenance planning and to enhance ability to assess radionuclide buildup in the future at FFTF and in other reactors.
Large sized reactor such as 540 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) requires continuous in core monitoring of local flux in order to provide effective control and protection. About 198 self powered neutron detectors (SPNDs) of the straight individually replaceable type are distributed in the reactor core. For purposes of reactor regulation, 42 prompt responding cobalt SPNDs called zone control detectors (ZCDs) are housed in vertical flux units (VFUs) and these are uniformly distributed in 14 power zones. The in core detectors used for spatial control by ZCCs do not accurately represent average zone power as they sense the flux over a small volume. Flux mapping system (FMS) comprising of 102 vanadium SPNDs in 26 VFUs, provide accurate measure of neutron flux, even though they have slow response to change in neutron flux levels. For reactor protection ...
Four unique deisgn features are described which make the Fast Flux Test Facility eminently suitable for irradiation test programs. These features are a fast flux level of 7 x 10"1"5 neutrons/cm"2/sec, a 36-inch reference (breeder reactor) core height, test volumes suitable for testing of statistical quantities of materials, and the capability for direct (contact) or indirect (proximity) instrumentation of active core experiments.
This report provides key information on the irradiation environment of the MONJU fuel tests MFA-1 and MFA-2 in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). This information includes the fission powers, neutron fluxes, sodium temperatures and sodium flow rates in MFA-I, MFA-2 and adjacent assemblies. It also includes MFA-1 and MFA-2 compositions as a function of exposure. The work was performed at the request of Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuels Corporation (PNC) of Japan.
During four years of operation at the Central Receiver Test Facility (CRTF) ceramics have performed well in cyclic solar flux densities of less than 30 W/cm/sup 2/. Above 100 W/cm/sup 2/, serious limitations exist. Important application considerations include: the geometry, cyclic and long time exposures, flux density gradients, thermal shock, weathering, and soiling.
The energy flux distribution at the aperture of cavity receivers is an important parameter that characterizes the performance of point-focusing solar concentrators. Together with simplifying assumptions about cavity absorptance, emittance, and convective losses, good estimates of the dish-receiver collection efficiency as a function of incident flux and effective cavity temperature can be obtained. For detailed design of cavity receivers, however, it is necessary to determine the incident flux distribution on the interior surfaces. This information is needed ultimately to determine the resulting energy fluxes to the working fluid, temperature distributions within the cavity, and receiver performance. Knowing the incident flux distributions provides the designer with insights such as where hot-spots are likely to occur, where heat exchange surfaces are needed, and where more detailed ...
Nutrient elements contained in litter fall flux, that of uptake flux and turnover rate had generally tended to increase with the increase in the Warmth Index, while the amount of nutrient in the A[sub 0] horizon and nutrient use efficiency did not. However, it is suggested that topographic and climatic aridity, and the amount of available and exchangeable phosphorus, calcium and magnesium greatly affect the nutrient dynamics in a each forest ecosystem as the Warmth Index increases. (J.P.N.).
Sediment trap fluxes of solids, organic carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in Lake Superior in 1984 and 1985. Mass fluxes from surface waters ranged from 0.14 to 1.1 g/m{sup 2}{center dot}day and increased near the lake floor due to resuspension of surficial sediment and horizontal transport in the benthic nepheloid layer. Organic matter fluxes from surface water ranged from 60 to 90 mg of C/m{sup 2}{center dot}day, with {approximately}5% of organic carbon settling from surface waters accumulating in bottom sediments. Concentrations of PCBs and PAHs are enriched 10-100 times on settling particles relative to those on suspended particles. Resultant settling fluxes are 10-100 times greater for several PCB and PAH compounds than net accumulation rates in bottom sediments, indicating the effective and rapid recycling in the benthic region. ...
At Tarapur Atomic Power Station 3 and 4, 540 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, core being large in size requires a continuous in core monitoring for local flux disturbances. Nearly 200 Self Powered Neutron Detectors (SPNDs) of the Straight Individually Replaceable (SIR) type are distributed in the reactor core. For purpose of reactor regulation and protection, cobalt SPNDs that have a prompt response for changes in power is used for in-core flux mapping, vanadium SPNDs that provide accurate measure of neutron flux, even though having slow response is used In core SPNDs are placed in Vertical Flux Units (VFU) and Horizontal Flux Units (HFUs). These SPNDs were to be replaced at regular intervals to meet the design intent. Cobalt SPNDs have dose rates of the order of 1000 Gy/h and the Mineral Insulated (MI) cables of Vanadium SPNDs have dose rates of the order of 100 Gy/h. So far 3 ...
Swelling hemoglobin CC erythrocytes stimulates a ouabain-insensitive K flux that restores original cell volume. Studies were performed with the K analog, "8"6Rb. This volume regulatory pathway was characterized for its anion dependence, sensitivity to loop diuretics, and requirement for Na. The swelling-induced K flux was eliminated if intracellular chloride was replaced by nitrate and both swelling-activated K influx and efflux were partially inhibited by 1 mM furosemide or bumetanide. K influx in swollen hemoglobin CC cells was not diminished when Na in the incubation medium was replaced with choline, indicating Na independence of the swelling-induced flux. Identical experiments with hemoglobin AA cells also demonstrated a swelling-induced increase in K flux, but the magnitude and duration of this increase were considerably less than that seen with hemoglobin CC cells. The increased K ...
The United States and Russia have agreed to jointly develop a solar dynamic (SD) system for flight demonstration on the Russian Mir space station starting in late 1997. Two important components of this SD system are the solar concentrator and heat receiver provided by Russia and the US, respectively. This paper describes optical analysis of the concentrator and solar flux predictions on target receiver surfaces. The optical analysis is performed using the code CIRCE2. These analyses account for finite sun size with limb darkening, concentrator surface slope and position errors, concentrator petal thermal deformation, gaps between petals, and the shading effect of the receiver support struts. The receiver spatial flux distributions are then combined with concentrator shadowing predictions. Geometric shadowing patterns are traced from the concentrator to the target receiver surfaces. These patterns vary with time depending on the chosen Mir ...
The atmosphere and the biosphere are inherently coupled to one another. Atmospheric surface state variables such as temperature, winds, water vapor, precipitation, and radiation control biophysical, biogeochemical, and ecological processes at the surface and subsurface. At the same time, surface fluxes of momentum, moisture, heat, and trace gases act as time-dependent boundary conditions providing feedback on atmospheric processes. To understand such phenomena, a coupled set of interactive models is required. Costs are still prohibitive for computing surface/subsurface fluxes directly for medium-resolution atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs), but a technique has been developed for testing large-scale homogeneity and accessing surface parameterizations and models to reduce this computational cost and maintain accuracy. This modeling system potentially bridges the observed spatial and temporal ranges yet allows the incorporation of ...
Except nuclear industry, diverse structures (hospitals, of research or manufacturers) can have appeal to the use of radioisotopes conditioned under unsealed shape. Such practices lead to tolerate releases in environment in the respect of a statutory device. So the collective network can contain radioisotopes the future of which is going to depend partially on the cleaning applied to waste water. This study through the analysis of a concrete case, has for objective to inform about the future of gamma radioelements present in waste water treated by a wastewater treatment plant. The contamination of the network is essentially due to Tc{sup 99} and I{sup 131}, radioelements present whatever the working day and the hour considered. The total estimated in-load for a day is important, of the order of 4000 MBq for Tc{sup 99} and 15 to 300 MBq for I{sup 131}. The assessment of cleaning of the station shows that this one plays a role towards this pollution through these stages of treatment. ...
The 24 papers presented at the conference on Neutralisation des eaux de drainage dans l'environnement minier (NEDEM) (Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND)) 2000 symposium on research on innovative methods to control acid mine drainage, covered eight sessions with both technical and general interest papers. The technical papers covered the topics of acid mine drainage and remediation measures, such as flooding, soil cover with various materials, encapsulation, and others. Other topics discussed included the freeze-thaw cycle and its effect on the performance of soil covers. The environmental impacts of acid mine drainage were also described. Some case studies were included to further illustrate the environmental impacts of acid mine drainage and to demonstrate the effectiveness of remedial actions in specific situations. Most of the cases studied were mines located in Quebec and Northern Ontario, with some in British Columbia. The general interest papers discussed topics ...
Full text: Many factors including drug efficacy, compliance and antibiotic resistance may influence HP eradication rates. The "1"4C urea breath test is a sensitive method of confirming HP colonisation and eradication. The aim was to study the relationships between the peak "1"4CO_2 counts on the breath test prior to treatment, smoking and HP eradication, and to assess if persistent or recurrent symptoms implied failure of eradication. 117 patients with DU and HP colonisation proved on biopsy or rapid urease test who underwent "1"4C urea breath tests at least one month after eradication treatment was ceased were studied (69 male, 48 female, mean age 41, range 26-87 y). Questionnaire assessment of treatment regimen, smoking history and dyspeptic symptoms was made at the time of the breath test. A sub-group of 43 patients who had pre- and post-treatment breath tests was studied to assess if high peak "1"4CO_2 counts on the pre-treatment breath test related to ...
A method for calculating plume rise above stack level is presented. The equations set forth by Briggs, which are presently the most popular for such calculations, are discussed. A method using 2 nomographs, simplifying the calculations is given. (JMT)
We observed at 22 GHz with the VLBI array VERA a sample of 1536 sources with correlated flux densities brighter than 200 mJy at 8 GHz. One half of target sources has been detected. The detection limit was around 200 mJy. We derived the correlated flux densities of 877 detected sources in three ranges of projected baseline lengths. The objective of these observations was to determine the suitability of given sources as phase calibrators for dual-beam and phase-referencing observations at high frequencies. Preliminary results indicate that the number of compact extragalactic sources at 22 GHz brighter than a given correlated flux density level is twice less than at 8 GHz.
Changes in cell density and cyst flux of Alexandrium tamarense, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin contents in shellfishes, and environmental parameters were measured in two stations in Daya Bay, South China Sea from March 2005 to July 2006. Vegetative cells of A. tamarense occurred sporadically; however, they presented abundantly during the winter months. Meanwhile, cyst flux reached its maximum level just following the peak abundance of motile cells. The PSP contents in shellfish were generally low, but higher in winter with the maximum of 14,015 @mg STX equiv./kg. The majority of toxins were found in digestive glands, with a maximum of 66,227 @mg STX equiv./kg. There were significant positive relationships between toxin level and vegetative cell density and cyst flux. This indica...
A module is described with a receiver having a solar energy acceptance opening and supported by a mounting ring along the optic axis of a parabolic mirror in coaxial alignment for receiving solar energy from the mirror, and a solar flux modulator plate for varying the quantity of solar energy flux received by the acceptance opening of the module. The modulator plate is characterized by an annular, plate-like body, the internal diameter of which is equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the solar energy acceptance opening of the receiver. Slave cylinders are connected to the modulator plate for supporting the plate for axial displacement along the axis of the mirror thereby shading the opening with respect to solar energy flux reflected from the surface of the mirror to the solar energy acceptance opening.
The Advanced MAPLE is a research reactor design under development as a high-flux neutron source. The main performance goals for the reactor are a high peak thermal neutron flux in a heavy-water reflector tank, and a high average fast neutron flux in a central irradiation facility, with a maximum linear fuel rod rating of less than 120 kW/m. This study investigated the neutronic and reactor design consequences of the use of H_2O coolant as opposed to D_2O. The neutronics results, and several other considerations, indicate that H_2O coolant has a number of advantages. It is suggested that the H_2O coolant option be considered in the design of the Advanced MAPLE reactor. (L.L.) 9 refs., 4 figs., tab.
A radiometric method of measuring the ratio of liquid and solid phases (crust thickness) in a continuous ingot for automation of the continuous steel casting process, has been proposed. The essence of the method is, that radiation flux, bearing information on the object tested, is transformed in a succession of electric pulses, which is processed afterwords for obtaining necessary information. In this case either the flux of non-scattered radiation, passed through the object, or the flux of single-scattered radiation reflected from the object is registered. Block-diagram and specifications of a radiometric device with the Co source of 50 gxequiv. Ra activity developed for this purpose are presented. The technique for calibration ob the device and the results of its tests, are described. It is shown, that introduction of such devices for the control crust thickness at the installations of continuous steel casting of ...
A large detector with high redundancy is used to search for various types of anomalous particles in cosmic rays at sea level. The detector is sensitive to zenith angles between 45/sup 0/ and 90/sup 0/. Previously obtained limits on the fluxes of charge (1/3) and (2/3) particles are reduced to 2.9 x 10/sup -10/ and 2.6 x 10/sup -10/ cm/sup -2/sr /sup -1/ sec/sup -1/, respectively. The flux of ionizing tachyons is determined to be less than 2.4 x 10/sup -9/ cm/sup -2/ sr/sup -1/ sec/sup -1/. The massive-particle flux limit we obtain is inconsistent with previous claims of such particles assuming that these particles are isotropic in zenith angle.
A large detector with high redundancy is used to search for various types of anomalous particles in cosmic rays at sea level. The detector is sensitive to zenith angles between 45"0 and 90"0. Previously obtained limits on the fluxes of charge (1/3) and (2/3) particles are reduced to 2.9 x 10"-"1"0 and 2.6 x 10"-"1"0 cm"-"2sr "-"1 sec"-"1, respectively. The flux of ionizing tachyons is determined to be less than 2.4 x 10"-"9 cm"-"2 sr"-"1 sec"-"1. The massive-particle flux limit we obtain is inconsistent with previous claims of such particles assuming that these particles are isotropic in zenith angle.
Even if there have been efforts to validate remote-sensing-based energy balance models, which provide evapotranspiration (ET) maps over a large spatial scale, few studies have been conducted to validate their performance in Korea. In this study, surface energy balance fluxes including ET were estimated and inter-compared with two different models using the Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) image over a watershed scale in Korea. While there were larger spatial discrepancies for net radiation, soil heat and sensible heat fluxes on a pixel-by-pixel basis between the two models, relatively smaller spatial discrepancies for the latent heat flux and daily ET were detected. The spatial discrepancies for the daily ET were larger in low topography and dense vegetation ranges. Despite the different par...
TAPP-3 and 4 reactors use large number of Self Powered Neutron Detectors (SPNDs) for Neutronic lower measurement and control. To perform in-situ calibration of these detectors in select locations and to validate the reactor physics codes which predict flux at various points in the core, traveling in-core probes (TIP) are required. The TIP assembly consists of a miniature neutron sensitive detector. The detector is driven in and out of core using a mechanism which facilitates positioning of the detector anywhere inside a vertical tube (Central carrier tube of any of the six select Vertical Flux Units) in the core. TIP is driven through retractable feed mechanism for a stroke of 13 m. This paper describes the developmental efforts and the operational feedback of the retractable feed mechanism for the stroke of 13 m used at TAPP 3 and 4 reactor. (author)
Critical current density and dissipation of four sintered YBCO filaments were measured using a continuous DC power supply. Each sample exhibited somewhat different characteristics from the others even though 3 of the 4 samples are from the same batch. The data suggest that it is possible for the YBCO filament to be in a state of stable equilibrium when part of the filament is in the flux-flow state and part of the filament is in the normal state (local hot spots). This behavior may be advantageous for resistive fault current limiters because the intermediate state (partly flux-flow and partly normal) has an overall resistance much higher than that of the flux-flow state but it does not lead to thermal runaway (burnout) or excessive heating compared to a YBCO filament driven into normal state over its entire length. Two of the samples were broken as a result of local burnout.
We study the phonon fluxes emitted when the condensate velocity crosses the speed of sound, i.e., in backgrounds which are analogue to that of a black hole. We focus on elongated one dimensional condensates, and on stationary flows. Our theoretical analysis and numerical results are based on the Bogoliubov-de-Gennes equation without any further approximation. The spectral properties of the fluxes and of the long distance density-density correlations are obtained, with and without an initial temperature. In realistic conditions, we show that the condensate temperature dominates the fluxes, and thus hides the presence of the spontaneous emission (the Hawking effect). We also explain why the temperature amplifies the long distance correlations which are intrinsic to this effect. This confirms that the correlations pattern offers a neat signature of the Hawking effect. Optimal conditions to observe the pattern are discussed.
Using a quasi-static approach valid for Stefan numbers less than one, we derive approximate equations governing the movement of a phase change front for materials which generate internal heat. These models are applied for both constant surface temperature and constant surface heat flux boundary conditions, in cylindrical, spherical, plane wall and semi-infinite geometries. Exact solutions with the constant surface temperature condition are obtained for the steady-state solidification thickness using the cylinder, sphere, and plane wall geometries which show that the thickness depends on the inverse square root of the internal heat generation. Under constant surface heat flux conditions, closed form equations can be obtained for the three geometries. In the case of the semi-infinite wall, we show that for constant temperature and constant heat flux out of the wall conditions, the solidification layer grows then remelts. ...
According to the development of power electronic element (GTO, IGBT) nd material for electrical machines (permanent magnet, super conductor), the technology for electrical machines is now a day rapidly developing. here with, a novel electrical machine, based on the new conception of transverse flux configuration leads to a considerable increase in power density and enables simultaneously high efficiency.The transverse flux machine with PM excitation will be applied to gearless direct drives for railway traction system. The designed and measured performance of transverse machine for railway traction system revealed a great potential of system improvements to reduce linear motor mass. (author). 10 refs., 14 figs., 3 tabs.
Analytical relations are obtained for estimating how the distributions of temperature and heat flux vary along a steam-generating tube and how the steam-generator power output reduces due to formation and accumulation of deposits.
Analytical relations are obtained for estimating how the distributions of temperature and heat flux vary along a steam-generating tube and how the steam-generator power output reduces due to formation and accumulation of deposits.
This document establishers the Software Configuration Management Plan (SCMP) for the software associated with the control system of the Sodium Removal System (SRS) located in the Interim Examination and Maintenance (IEM Cell) Facility of the FFTF Flux Test.
In vivo short-term effects of recombinant human TNF-alpha on lipolysis, FFA flux, fat oxidation, triglyceride-fatty acid cycling, and glucose kinetics were evaluated with stable isotopic tracers and...Full Text Available
This paper describes a radiation shield verification survey of a large hot cell at the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). The following aspects of the shield test are discussed: description of the FFTF; description of the hot cell; the test procedures; radiation protection, and the test results.
Revised neutron fluence and damage values are reported for the MOTA-2A experiment in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). This revision corrects an error with processing of the {sup 235}U(n,f) reaction. Net corrections are on the order of 5%.
Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) has been measured hourly from waking to sleeping in 29 workers with respiratory symptoms exposed to the fumes of soft soldering fluxes containing colophony (pine resin)....Full Text Available
The applicability of isothermal solidification as a contacting method for solar cells was proved for the systems AgSn and AuIn. The process is advantageous in that it requires no fluxes, no inert gases, and no pretreatment of the components. The IE contac...
The influence of insulin on unidirectional flux of glucose across the blood-brain barrier and on net uptake of glucose by the brain was investigated in seven fasting patients. The unidirectional extraction,...Full Text Available
An experimental study of the {sup 241}Am incineration in a high-intensity thermal neutron flux was carried out at the high-flux reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble. The combination of nuclear {gamma}-ray spectroscopy and off-line mass spectrometry methods made possible the measurement of several parameters of the transmutation chain and the first experimental determination of the unknown {sup 242gs}Am thermal neutron capture cross section, which plays an essential role in the {sup 241}Am incineration process. During a 19 days irradiation in a thermal neutron flux of 5.6x10{sup 14} n/(s cm{sup 2}), (46{+-}5)% of the initial {sup 241}Am was transmuted by neutron capture of which (22{+-}8)% was incinerated by nuclear fission. A value of the thermal neutron cross section of {sup 242gs}Am(n,{gamma}) of (330{+-}50) barns was obtained. We show that this keeps the option open to incinerate {sup 241}Am by ...
Two important greenhouse gases, CO{sub 2} and CH{sub 4}, are closely connected to the carbon cycling of wetlands. Although virgin wetlands are mostly carbon accumulating ecosystems, major proportion of the CO{sub 2} bound annually in photosynthesis is released back to the atmosphere. Main portion of the carbon cycling in wetlands is quite fast while a small proportion of carbon diffusing from soil is released from organic matter, which may be ten thousand years old. Methane is formed in the anaerobic layers of wetlands, from where it is released gradually to the atmosphere. The decomposition in anaerobic conditions is very slow, which means that usually only a few percent of the annual carbon cycling takes place as methane. Research on CO{sub 2} fluxes of different virgin and managed peatlands was the main topic of this project during the first phase of SILMU. The measurements were made during two seasons in varying conditions in c. 30 study sites. In the second ...
Detailed spray characteristics were obtained for a small-capacity, pressure-swirl atomizer using an Aerometrics phase-Doppler particle analyzer. Measurements included drop size and velocity distributions, liquid volume fluxes, and air velocities at four axial locations, 25,50,75, and 100 mm, with complete radial traverses at each location. Drop size results were compared with measurements from a Malvern laser-diffraction instrument, and integrated liquid volume fluxes were compared with measured flow rates to estimate measurement uncertainties. Drop sizes measured by the two independent techniques and area-weighted-averaged over the radial traverses at each of the four axial stations varied on average by less than 4 percent. Integrated volume flux measurements by the phase-Doppler instrument at four axial stations differed from the nozzle flow rate by at most 19 percent, with some of the difference due to evaporation. The ...
The current status of bounds on and limits of fermion determinants in two, three and four dimensions in QED and QCD is reviewed. A new lower bound on the two-dimensional QED determinant is derived. An outline of the demonstration of the continuity of this determinant at zero mass when the background magnetic field flux is zero is also given.
This study assesses the feasibility of removing the FFTF reactor vessel from its current location in the reactor cavity inside the Containment vessel to a transporter for relocation to a burial pit in the 200 Area.
Finite-difference acoustic-wave modeling and reverse-time depth migration based on the full wave equation are general approaches that can take into account arbitrary variations in velocity and density and can handle turning waves as well. However, conventional finite-difference methods for solving the acoustic- or elastic-wave equation suffer from numerical dispersion when too few samples per wavelength are used. The flux-corrected transport (FCT) algorithm, adapted from hydrodynamics, reduces the numerical dispersion in finite-difference wavefield continuation. The flux-correction procedure endeavors to incorporate diffusion into the wavefield continuation process only where needed to suppress the numerical dispersion. Incorporating the flux-correction procedure in conventional finite-difference modeling or reverse-time migration can provide finite-difference solutions with no numerical dispersion even for impulsive ...
Nov 14, 2009 ... Ring Current electrons from the Fok Ring Current Model are computed using plasma and magnetic field values from the SWMF magnetosphere ...
Nov 14, 2009 ... Ring Current electrons from the Fok Ring Current Model are computed using plasma and magnetic field values from the SWMF magnetosphere ...
Nov 14, 2009 ... Ring Current electrons from the Fok Ring Current Model are computed using plasma and magnetic field values from the SWMF magnetosphere ...
Using 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance, we studied the relationship between myocardial high-energy phosphate content and flux values for the creatine kinase reaction in the living rat under inotropic...Full Text Available
The flux ratio (influx/efflux) of K+ across the plasmalemma of beet cells at an external potassium concentration of 0.6 mm does not respond to changes of membrane potential in the...Full Text Available
The Secure Automated Fabrication (SAF) line, an automated and remotely controlled manufacturing process, is scheduled for startup in 1987 and will produce mixed uranium/plutonium oxide fuel pins for the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). The application of robotics in the fuel fabrication and supporting operations is described.
Amongst the minor actinides issued from the spent nuclear fuel, {sup 241}Am is present in high concentration and contributes significantly to the long-term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. A major uncertainty was present in the transmutation chain of {sup 241}Am when irradiated by a high intensity thermal neutron flux. This uncertainty was brought about by the poor knowledge of the {sup 242gs}Am neutron capture cross section. A dedicated experiment has been performed at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, which gives a definitive experimental answer to this problem.
Amongst the minor actinides issued from the spent nuclear fuel, "2"4"1Am is present in high concentration and contributes significantly to the long-term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. A major uncertainty was present in the transmutation chain of "2"4"1Am when irradiated by a high intensity thermal neutron flux. This uncertainty was brought about by the poor knowledge of the "2"4"2"g"sAm neutron capture cross section. A dedicated experiment has been performed at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, which gives a definitive experimental answer to this problem.
Measurements of the rate of heat transfer, enhanced by electroconvection, between two parallel plates have been carried out. Results show that the non-dimensional heat flux, or the Nusselt number, increases when an electric field acts on an injected space charge within the insulating liquid. The motion of the liquid depends on the electrical forces (Coulomb force) and the buoyancy effects have little or no influence. This is evident from steady state and time dependent results which show that for a given voltage, the Nusselt number takes the same value no matter what the flux of heat supplied to the bottom plate.
Hydrogen and helium cosmic ray nuclei spectra gathered from 1976 to 1993 have been corrected to the top of the atmosphere and normalized at high rigidities. The variation of these primary cosmic ray fluxes above 400 MeV/nucleon has been examined as a function of the phase of the solar cycle with the force-field approximation model. The intensity of the normalized fluxes between solar maximum and minimum conditions varies by a factor of 6 for hydrogen and a factor of 4.3 for helium at the lowest rigidities considered.
A solar energy receiver is described including a separable endless wall formed of a ceramic material having defined therein a cavity of a substantially cylindrical configuration for entrapping solar flux, and an acceptance aperture adapted to admit to the cavity a concentrated beam of solar energy, said wall being characterized by at least a pair of contiguously related segments separated by lines of cleavage intercepting said aperture, at least one of the segments being supported for pivotal displacement, and a thermal responsive actuator adapted to respond to excessive temperatures within the cavity for initiating pivotal displacement of said one segment, whereby thermal flux is permitted to escape from the cavity.
Criticality was first achieved with the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) a little more than 10 yr ago on February 9, 1980. Although the FFTF was designed and built primarily for testing fuels, materials, and components for the liquid-metal fast breeder reactor program, it has, over its first 10 yr of operation, provided valuable information in many other areas. This paper provides a summary of the contributions to the physics of liquid-metal reactors (LMRs) obtained from operation of and testing in the FFTF, with emphasis on some of the more significant and interesting accomplishments.
Reactive sticking coefficients (RSCs) were measured for silane and disilane on polycrystalline silicon for a wide range of temperature and flux (pressure) conditions. The data were obtained from deposition-rate measurements using molecular beam scattering and a very low-pressure cold-wall reactor. The RSCs have nonlinear Arrhenius temperature dependencies and decrease with increasing flux at low (710 /sup 0/C) temperatures. Several simple models are proposed to explain these observations. The results are compared with previous studies of the SiH/sub 4//Si(s) reaction and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition-rate measurements.
The multi-frequency binary sequence experimental technique has been implemented at the Fast Flux Test Facility for routine surveillance activities. The frequency content of the standard rod-movement sequence has been shown to be sufficient to normalize the data at moderate frequencies. This obviates the need for auxiliary calibration measurements and provides the reactivity worth of the test control rod. Analyses of a series of tests conducted in 1986 illustrate that the rod worths inferred from the tests are consistent with zero-power measurements. Also, the dependence of the prompt feedback time constant on reactor conditions was determined.
This article discusses the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in-core flux thimble tube in-service inspection method and strategy. High light of the multiple frequency eddy current technology adopted including frequency and probe choice, standard design, data acquisition process are involved. The wear defect-growing trends are studied on base of the history data, which contribute to the in-service inspection strategy decision. (authors)
Absolute fission rate measurements using modified National Bureau of Standards fission chambers were performed in the Fast Flux Test Facility at two core locations for isotopic deposits of {sup 232}Th, {sup 233}U, {sup 235}U, {sup 238}U, {sup 237}Np, {sup 239}Pu, {sup 240}Pu, and {sup 241}Pu. Monitor chamber results at a third location were analyzed to support other experiments involving passive dosimeter fission rate determinations.
Absolute fission rate measurements using modified National Bureau of Standards fission chambers were performed in the Fast Flux Test Facility at two core locations for isotopic deposits of {sup 232}Th, {sup 233}U, {sup 235}U, {sup 238}U, {sup 237}Np, {sup 239}Pu, {sup 240}Pu, and {sup 241}Pu. Monitor chamber results at a third location were analyzed to support other experiments involving passive dosimeter fission rate determinations.
The purpose of the present research is to find a suitable technique to measure trace amounts of uranium and thorium and to determine the surface #alpha#-flux in silicon compound (SiO) used for fabrication of integrated circuit packaging materials. Among several commonly-used detecting techniques, it was found that neutron activation analysis (NAA) was most promising. The results from NAA show a large difference in uranium and thorium concentrations when cadmium and boron carbide shields are used, whereas #alpha#-flux measurements show a low #alpha#-activity, which corresponds to the trace amounts of uranium and thorium expected to be present in these materials. (author) 13 refs.; 6 figs.
The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) is proposing to develop a sodium-cooled fast-spectrum reactor (SFR) to transmute and consume actinides from discharged nuclear fuel. To meet performance objectives, new and advanced fuels and targets need to be developed. The fuels to be irradiated include metal and oxide mixed actinides (U-Np-Pu-Am-Cm); for the target concept, Am-Cm has been considered. A significant part of the development process is the irradiation of the fuel and cladding in a prototypic fast reactor environment to determine the performance under irradiation. Analysis results are presented in this paper for a fast-neutron irradiation facility design based on the large fast neutron flux available in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) combined with the use of a strongly-absorbing thermal neutron shield. Several designs were assessed; the preferred concept consists of a three-pin design with ...
Description or function: WLUP contains validated WIMS-D formatted cross section libraries in 69 and 172 energy group structures for nuclear reactor calculations. Materials from recently released evaluated nuclear data libraries are included. The NJOY nuclear data processing system was applied for generating the cross section files following the models and conventions built into the WIMS-D lattice code. The relevant features for the WIMS users are: - Energy group structures: 69 and 172 energy groups. - List of materials: WIMS ID, general information, source of data. - Cross sections: 69 and 172 group plots. - Resonance data: WIMS ID, temperature, background cross sections. - Goldstein-Cohen factors: Goldstein-Cohen lambda values. - Thermal scattering data: thermal scattering laws and P1 matrixes. - Fission spectrum: fission spectrum data. - Burnup data: burnup chains. - Fission product yields: fission yield tables. - Pseudo lumped fission product: Description of ...
We report the implementation of positron wave function and lifetime calculations in the all-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. Calculations of lifetimes for more than 30 materials with two different forms of the enhancement factor were done and compared to prior calculations and experiment. We find that reasonable agreement with experiment can be obtained within the local density approximation when all-electron full-potential calculations are done.
The applicability of Broyden's second method for accelerating the convergence of self-consistent electronic-structure calculations based on the linearized augmented-plane-wave method is discussed in terms of a W(001) surface calculation. It is found that its use results in a significant improvement in the convergence of the calculation, and based on this it is concluded that its use should increase the size of the systems for which such calculations are feasible.
Dual-fuel engines are modified diesel engines burning simultaneously two fuels inside the cylinder: a gaseous one, called the primary fuel and a liquid one, called the pilot fuel. The thermal efficiency of the dual-fuel engine and of the diesel engine are comparable; the level of emissions is lower compared to the diesel one. This article presents a new procedure for the combustion modeling in a LPG-diesel dual-fuel engine. The procedures deals with the ignition delay period and with the rate of heat release inside the cylinder. This procedure is validated using experimental data issued front a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology from Madras, India. The used engine is a single-cylinder one, air-cooled. The pilot fuel is direct injected inside the cylinder The engine was run at constant load and with different diesel substitutions, i.e. for different air to fuel ratios of the primary fuel-air mixture. The general error of the procedure is below 10%. (authors)
The sedimentary geometry is determined by several types of stratigraphic surfaces: transgressive surfaces (TS), maximum flooding surfaces (MFS) and downward shift surfaces (DS). They are organized hierarchically into major and minor surfaces from the facies stacking-pattern. These surfaces which are observable on well logs and cores structure the sedimentary architecture and are, therefore, the best candidates to form major seismic reflectors. The well (logs and cores) to seismic (surface seismic) passage involves inherently a change of observation scale. That is from a high resolution sequence stratigraphy (metric to pluri-metric) to a sequence stratigraphy s.l. (decametric to pluri-decametric). This passage is composed of two phases. The first phase consists of the validation of density and sonic logs whose product corresponds to the acoustic impedance. The second phase allows for the modelling of the geological cross section of a field in a synthetic seismic section which is ...
We present new 12CO J=3-2 and HCN J=3-2 molecular line maps of the region surrounding the young star AR 6 using the 15 metre James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. AR 6 was previously found to be a double source with both components exhibiting several characteristics of FU Orionis (FUor) eruptive variable stars. Our data indicates that AR 6, like FU Orionis itself, does not possess a CO outflow and likewise, does not show evidence for large amounts of molecular g as in its circumstellar environment. We conclude that from the near-IR to the sub-mm, AR 6 is similar to FU Orionis in several respects. We interpret the lack of significant dust and molecular gas in the circumstellar environment of AR 6, together with the large near-IR thermal excess, as evidence that the sources have exhausted their natal envelopes, that they have at least small hot circumstellar disks, and that they are more evolved than Class I protostars. This, in itself, suggests that, since FUor eruptions have also been ...
This report primarily deals with three issues: the health consequences of the use of ammunition with depleted uranium cores; the health damage that radar staff may have suffered through stray X-radiation; and the way hazardous materials such as asbestos are handled in the German army. As regards uranium ammunition, the present findings suggest that there is neither reason for concern nor blame on anyone. The 31,000 American DU rounds that were fired over Kosovo in 1999 neither pose a health hazard to soldiers nor to the civil population. All that remains is a minimal risk of future groundwater contamination. The radar equipment currently in use in the German army poses no danger to operators, inspectors, service personnel or instructors provided that the relevant safety rules are observed. However, this cannot be said with the same degree of certainty with regard to the equipment used in the 1960s and 1970s. It is quite possible that X-radiation was emitted and ...
It is the Office of protection against the ionizing radiations (O.P.R.I.) who alerted the A.C.R.O. that a new ruthenium incident had arisen to the factory Cogema - La Hague on October 31., 2001. The A.C.R.O. immediately made a campaign of analyses the results of which are presented in this note. The previous similar incident dates May 18., 2001. A loss of depression in the workshop R7 of the factory UP2-800 specialized in the vitrification had brought an unchecked release, by one of the smokestacks, composed essentially of radioactive ruthenium and rhodium; the evacuated activity was estimated by the operator at approximately 11 MBq. The measures in environment made by the A.C.R.O. had led the association to question the Authority of Nuclear Safety about the total quantity of release announced by the operator. Having presented the results of the measures of radioactivity in the environment made following the incident of 31. october 2001, an estimation of the term source is proposed. In ...
The LiMnO{sub 2} lamellar oxide, obtained by exchange reaction from its sodium homologue {alpha}-NaMnO{sub 2}, has been used as a positive electrode for lithium batteries. After the first electrochemical cycle, the shape of the potential-composition curve changes and indicates a change in the structure. This modification changes imperceptibly at each cycle and after about 40 cycles, a stationary state is reached. Powder spectra refinement using the Rietvelt method shows a migration of manganese ions from the thin sheets towards the inter-sheet space. After a single cycle, 8% of the manganese ions are already present in the lithium site and this rate reaches 13% after 3 cycles. During long cycling, a redistribution of ions and vacancies inside the cfc oxygenated pile leads to a structure very similar to the LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel. This structure evolution is to be compared with the one obtained from the orthorhombic variety of LiMnO{sub 2} but the modification is more progressive ...
This issue of Barrages newsletter comprises three articles. The first article treats of the quality approach relative to the organization of the inspections of big and medium size dams. It summarizes the improvements of this approach added in 2003 after analysis of the experience feedback. The second article presents the conclusions of the decennial and annual inspections of dams in exploitation. Only the observations requiring a special follow-up are reported. The last article summarizes the activities of the control services for the third quarter of 2003: decennial and annual visits, important facts, administrative instructions, studies, projects and works, organization of services, technical studies etc.. (J.S.)
This paper presents new images and spectroscopy of NGC 34 (Mrk 938) obtained with the du Pont 2.5-m and Baade 6.5-m telescopes at Las Campanas, plus photometry of an HST archival V image. This Mv = -21.6 galaxy has often been classified as a Seyfert 2, yet recently published infrared spectra suggest a dominant central starburst. We find that the galaxy features a single nucleus, a main spheroid containing a blue central disk, and tidal tails indicative of two former disk galaxies. These galaxies appear to have completed merging. The remnant shows three clear optical signs that the merger was gas-rich ("wet") and accompanied by a starburst: (1) It sports a rich system of young star clusters, of which 87 have absolute magnitudes -10.0 > Mv > -15.4. Five clusters with available spectra have ages in the range 0.1-1.0 Gyr, photometric masses between 2x10^6 and 2x10^7 Msun, and are gravitationally bound young globulars. (2) The blue central disk appears to be ...
The present study answers at the request of the Inspection of the classified installations to see the operator of the G.I.P. Cyceron setting up a plan of environmental radiological surveillance around its installations and including, at a minimal level, the following data: Measures of radioactivity on representative biological indicators and measures of dose rate in the environment close to installations in functioning. Further to the radiological assessment of the terrestrial environment of the G.I.P. Cyceron installations realized at the end of 2003, within the framework of a project of the installations extension, the A.C.R.O. was again required for the implementation of this radiological surveillance for year 2005. The first purpose is to supply elements of appreciation about the impact of these installations on environment and persons. This evaluation participates in radiation protection and allows to make sure that the G.I.P. operator respects the required regulatory thresholds. ...
Concerning the gamma emitters, the only analysis on soils put in evidence the presence of cesium-137 ({sup 137}Cs), that does not come from the cyclotron functioning but from past man action as the Chernobylsk accident and the nuclear weapon tests in atmosphere. Independently of the functioning of the installation, we observe an increase of the ambient gamma radiation only near radioactive waste storage. It results of the storage of the former cyclotron elements. The induced increase is moderated because at 5 meters the values do not exceed the background noise. In relation with the functioning of the installation an increase of the ambient gamma radiation is noticed. Two causes are to considered: the release of radionuclides in atmosphere with gaseous effluents and the radiance of radiation sources inside the building. After the stopping of the installation (48 h at least), no increase of gamma radiation is observed. About the neutrons monitoring, the measures made during the ...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of verifying depleted uranium (DU), natural uranium (NU), low enriched uranium (LEU) and high enriched uranium (HEU) by a developed digital gamma-gamma coincidence spectroscopy. The spectroscopy consists of two NaI(Tl) scintillators and XIA LLC Digital Gamma Finder (DGF)/Pixie-4 software and card package. The results demonstrate that the spectroscopy provides an effective method of "2"3"5U and "2"3"8U quantification based on the count rate of their gamma-gamma coincidence counting signatures. The main advantages of this approach over the conventional gamma spectrometry include the facts of low background continuum near coincident signatures of "2"3"5U and "2"3"8U, less interference from other radionuclides by the gamma-gamma coincidence counting, and region-of-interest (ROI) imagine analysis for uranium enrichment determination. Compared to conventional gamma spectrometry, the method offers additional ...
The European demonstration project Hip Hip (house integrated photovoltaic high-tech in public) led the French photovoltaic market to reach a level comparable to those of the other European countries in terms of relevance of implemented solutions and costs. This document presents the best realizations and the experience gained through the Hip Hip project. Its aim is to convince the designers and managers of building projects of the advantages of photovoltaic installations integrated to the structure and connected to the power distribution grid: 1 - presentation of the technology; 2 - status of the Hip Hip demonstration project (goals, results: main innovations and impact on the French market); 3 - different possibilities of integration to the building structure; 4 - examples of projects realized in France in the framework of the Hip Hip project: integration in glass roof, frontage, added elements, fitting on roofs. (J.S.)
The aim of this work is the evaluation of biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of a cocaine analog, the N-(3-iodo-prop-2E-enyl)-2beta-carbo-methoxy-3beta-(4-methyl-phenyl) nor-tropane (PE2I), labeled with carbon 11 ([{sup 11}C]PE2I). The [{sup 11}C]PE2I is a selective radioligand for imaging neuronal dopamine transporter (DAT) with positron emission tomography (PET). The DAT is a membrane-bound pre synaptically located protein that regulates the concentration of dopamine at nerve terminals. DAT radioligands are often used to evaluate the progression of Parkinson's disease or the efficiency of neuro-protective therapeutics and, typically, these studies required several successive PET scans. (author)
The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is taken as an example of the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine tumours, given the standard characteristics of this procedure, whatever the nature of the primitive tumour. Management of ZES includes: anatomical localization of gastrinoma and of possible metastases, in 60 % of cases this step conditioning therapeutic indications and chances of cure; search of a type 1-multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN A), in 25 % of cases; therapeutic indications: ablative surgery with curative intent in case of gastrinoma and of resectable liver metastases, palliative treatment otherwise: anti-secretory drugs, somatostatin analogues, chemotherapy and interferon {alpha}; long-term follow-up of patients with resected tumour. At each step, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with indium 111-pentetreotide does play a pivotal role. (author). 110 refs.
This document reviews the status of the knowledge on the oxidation of fuels below 400 deg C, in all its forms, including fuel rods, by examining the consequences of this reaction on the strength or ruin of the fuel rods during dry storage in air for a hundred years. The data available in the scientific literature, and the data acquired by CEA, are abundant on irradiated powders and pellets, but sparser for irradiated fuel fragments and for rods or sections of fuel rods. A bibliographic review is made to identify the morphological and structural changes, as well as the kinetic laws. An analysis and a summary is made with a concern to evaluate the risks of rod ruin by oxidation. The final section, in a few pages, addresses the essential lessons from this study. It presents: first, a summary of the main results of this review and its analysis, recommendations and remedies for storage; proposed research guidelines as well as precise topics, in order to fill out our knowledge and, even ...
With its 527 217 m{sup 3} of low and medium activity wastes put in storage between 1969 and 1994, the C.S.M.( center of storage of Manche) is and remains to this day a necessary element to understand the problems posed by the eternal storage of nuclear materials and the limits of the notion of reversibility. There are therefore teachings to be drawn. We cannot repeat past mistakes in particular with high activity wastes which we wish to bury deep underground. This report is based on the analysis of the existing bibliography, of the internal A.N.D.R.A. documents which we released to the public, of the lessons drawn from our participation in the official concerting and work groups, and finally of the data obtained after inquiries were done in the region in the framework of R.I.V.I.E;R.E. (citizens network of radioecological surveillance, information and evaluation). In spite of all efforts produced, many questions remain unanswered regarding this site so it is sometimes difficult to be ...
This document gathers a series of very short articles concerning nuclear industry around the world. Areva company is investing 30 million euros in its Chalon-Saint-Marcel plant, it is the consequence of the extension of service life of nuclear power plants in the Usa. Areva holds 40% of the American market concerning the replacement of steam generators and 50% of that concerning the replacement of closure heads. The Obrigheim nuclear power plant was definitely closed down on may 2004, this decommissioning is a step forward in the German policy of progressively stepping out of nuclear energy. Chinese authorities are willing to construct 40 nuclear reactors in 15 years, despite that, the contribution of nuclear energy to the generation of electricity will reach only 4% in 2020. In 2007 Cea will begin the construction works of a new research reactor (Jules Horowitz reactor) in the Cadarache site. Prices of the yellow cake have been going up during the last years: from 9 dollar the pound ...
This report prepared for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) describes the practical realisation and testing of a heat recovery system based on a one-stage organic Rankine cycle with R134a as the working fluid. The waste heat has a temperature of 95 {sup o}C and originates from a gas engine that powers a small co-generation plant fuelled with biogas produced on-site. Two similar cycles have been built, ORC1 with one and ORC2 with two turbines. Only ORC1 has been tested so far. The maximum efficiency measured in these tests was 6.64% (theoretical Carnot-efficiency: 17 %) and the electric power output was 5.0 kW. The problems encountered during commissioning are described and recommendations for further improvements are given.
ABO{sub 3} perovskite-type oxides having vacancies in the A-sites of their structure are interesting candidates for solid electrolytes when their A-sites are occupied by Li{sup +} ions having a high mobility. This is the case with the [Li{sub 3x}La{sub 2/3-x}]TiO{sub 3} solid solution compound which has a 10{sup -3} S cm{sup -1} ionic conductivity at ambient temperature. Electrochemical intercalation in this material is possible thanks to the presence of Ti{sup 4+} but the small amount of vacancies (0.33 maximum) leads to a low intercalation rate. In order to solve this problem, the LiLaNb{sub 2}O{sub 7} material which has a greater amount of vacancies has been studied and the results relative to the electrochemical intercalation of lithium in this perovskite are presented. The thermodynamical and kinetics properties of the lithium intercalation reaction have been studied by intermittent galvano-static discharges and impedance spectroscopy in LiClO{sub 4}-propylene carbonate medium. ...
This project of law concerns an additional protocol to the agreement of warranties signed on September 22, 1998 between France, the European atomic energy community and the IAEA. This agreement concerns the declaration of all information relative to the R and D activities linked with the fuel cycle and involving the cooperation with a foreign country non endowed with nuclear weapons. These information include the trade and processing of nuclear and non-nuclear materials and equipments devoted to nuclear reactors (pressure vessels, fuel loading/unloading systems, control rods, force and zirconium tubes, primary coolant pumps, deuterium and heavy water, nuclear-grade graphite), to fuel reprocessing plants, to isotope separation plants (gaseous diffusion, laser enrichment, plasma separation, electromagnetic enrichment), to heavy water and deuterium production plants, and to uranium conversion plants. (J.S.)
For the inventory of water tritium concentration in the Manche department, it is the complementarity that animated the work opened during year 2001. To answer to a commune sensitivity such water quality, particularly drinking water at tap, the A.C.R.O. laboratory brought its know how to make and its technical means in the area of tritium analysis and the general council brought its know how to make and its logistics means in matter of sanitary control. This collaboration has allowed to supply an indication on the tritium content of the distribution waters of thirty of the most important cities of the department. Then, it allowed to inform on the radiological situation (in relation with the tritium presence) of coast waters and principal rivers waters. More than 160 controls have been realised between the months of march 2001 and february 2002. Only the tritium under the shape of tritiated water has been measured. The measures have been made by liquid scintillation according to the ...
Vanadium doped manganese bi-oxide has been obtained from a solution containing both cations. The X-ray diffraction of this material indicates a rutile-type phase but the enlargement of some lines supports the existence of several lattice defects. Also the particle size of the doped material is significantly smaller than the one of the non-doped material obtained in the same conditions. The presence of pentavalent vanadium inside the lattice leads to a small amount of trivalent manganese. Electron microscopy shows the existence of defects which have a tendency of becoming well-ordered and to stabilize a sur-structure. At ambient temperature, the electrochemical behaviour of doped manganese bi-oxide is greatly improved when compared to the non-doped phase. This behaviour is due to the presence of numerous lattice defects and to the smaller size of crystallites. In polymer batteries, the behaviour is similar the one of the non-doped material for which the kinetics performances are ...
Individual monitoring of personal exposure to inhalation of uranium oxides throughout the manufacture of fuel for pressurized water reactor (PWR) includes lung gamma-spectrometry, fecal analysis and urine analysis. Examination of the results shows the following: internal exposure is the consequence of repeated intake incidents as revealed by early peaks of urinary and particularly fecal elimination; a shift is often observed with the results of aerosol concentration measured through air collectors; the measured variations of uranium lung incorporations are relatively fast (apparent mean period 165 d). Correct evaluation of the effective dose equivalent from inhalation requires further information concerning the aerosol size distribution at work stations, the physico-chemical characteristics of the product leading to an estimate of its actual biological solubility, and the measurement of the fraction of aerosol liable to intake with an individual portable collector.
A 25m wind turbine blade was tested to failure when subjected to a flapwise load. With the test setup, it was possible to test the blade to failure at three diffe-rent locations. The objective of these tests is to learn about how a wind turbine blade fails when exposed to a large flapwise load and how failures propagate. The report shows also results from ultra sonic scan of the surface of the blade and it is seen to be very useful for the detection of defects, especially in the layer between the skin laminate and the load carrying main spar. Acoustic emission was successfully used as sensor for the detection of damages in the blade during the test. The report contains measurements of the total deflection of the blade, the local deflection of the skin and the load carrying main spar and also measurement of strain all as a function of the applied load and up to failure of the blade. The 'post mortem' analysis and description of how the damages propagate ...
Cooperation for low carbon and energy efficient development is a high priority for France, in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. France contributes to tackling climate change by working with its partners on all continents to implement projects both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change. Within the framework of the Marrakech Accords, France also encourages the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanism, in particular between French business and non-Annex I countries; this mechanism will facilitate the financing of mitigation projects and contribute to the sustainable development of host countries in the South. At multilateral level, France is a major donor. At a bilateral level, an initial analysis of cooperation projects which are strongly linked to tackling climate change identified public support of 136 millions euros per year, as an average over the past few years. Some project examples, mostly ...
The confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy has been used for the study of a Lithium/polymer electrolyte-LiTFSI/V{sub 2}O{sub 5} type battery in which the polymer electrolyte thickness is of about 80 {mu}m. The analysis is performed on the side of the battery thanks to a specially designed cell which preserves all the characteristics of the real system. The analysis is performed on 20 points aligned between the anode and the cathode and with a depth of several tenth of {mu}m. The analysis of data obtained during charging/output cycles allows to evaluate the gradients of salt concentration inside the electrolyte, the pollutions of LiOH, Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, Li{sub 2}O and Li{sub 3}N -type at the lithium interface, but also the structural modifications of the cathode material. The in-situ study of concentration gradients inside the electrolyte is of prime importance for the understanding of dendrites growth. (J.S.) 11 refs.
This thesis enters the field of highly compressed materials equation of state studies. In particular, it focuses on the case of laser shock compressed iron. This work indeed aims at getting to the conditions of the earth's core, comprising a solid inner core and a liquid outer core. The understanding of phenomena governing the core's thermodynamics and the geodynamic process requires the knowledge of iron melting line locus around the solid-liquid interface at 3.3 Mbar. Several experiments were performed to that extent. First, an absolute measurement of iron Hugoniot was obtained. Following is a study of partially released states of iron into a window material: lithium fluoride (LiF). This configuration enables direct access to compressed iron optical properties such as reflectivity and self-emission. Interface velocity measurement is dominated by compressed LiF optical properties and is used as a pressure gauge. Using a dual wavelength reflectivity diagnostic, ...
Swift heavy ion-solid interaction leads in volume to track creation and on the surface to the ejection of particles into the vacuum. To learn more about initial mechanisms of track formation, we are focused on the sputtering of uranium dioxide by fast heavy ions. This present study is exclusively devoted to the influence of the electronic stopping power on the emission of neutral particles and especially on their angular distribution. These measurements are completed by those of the ions emitted from UO{sub 2} targets bombarded with swift heavy ions. The whole experimental results give access to: i) the nature of the sputtered particles; ii) the charge state of the emitted particles; iii) the direction of ejection of the sputtered particles ; iv) the sputtering yields deduced from the angular distributions. These results are compared to the prediction of the sputtering models proposed in the literature and it seems that the supersonic gas flow model is well suited to describe our ...
Let $M$ be a complex manifold of complex dimension $n+k$. We say that the functions $u_1,...s,u_k$ and the vector fields $\\xi_1,...,\\xi_k$ on $M$ form a \\emph{complex gradient system} if $\\xi_1,...,\\xi_k,J\\xi_1,...,J\\xi_k$ are linearly independent at each point $p\\in M$ and generate an integrable distribution of $TM$ of dimension $2k$ and $du_\\alpha(\\xi_\\beta)=0$, $\\d^c\\u_\\alpha(\\xi_\\beta)=\\delta_{\\alpha\\beta}$ for $\\alpha,\\beta=1,...,k$. We prove a Cauchy theorem for such complex gradient systems with initial data along a $\\CR-$submanifold of type $(\\CRdim,\\CRcodim)$. We also give a complete local characterization for the complex gradient systems which are \\emph{holomorphic} and \\emph{abelian}, which means that the vector fields $\\xi_\\alpha^c=\\xi_\\alpha-J\\xi_\\beta$, $\\alpha=1,...,k$ are holomorphic and satisfy $[\\xi_alpha^c,\\bar{\\xi_\\beta^c}]=0$ for each $\\alpha,\\beta=1,...,k$.
This article, published in issue 80 of 'l'ACROnique du nucleaire', aims to retrace the early steps in the consideration of the possibility of a nuclear accident in France, with the inclusion of 'non-institutional' participants and applying the lessons learned in Belarus in the contaminated territories around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. After a review of the origin of the involvement of the Association pour le Controle de la Radioactivite dans l'Ouest (ACRO) in addressing post-accident issues alongside the populations living in an environment polluted by radioactivity, it discusses, from the critical viewpoint of an NGO, the context and the working method adopted for this examination. This is followed by some key elements of the programme and unresolved questions about the available body of knowledge which motivates research and about the method adopted for the work. The conclusion, moderately optimistic, ...
The study had three objectives: to collect information that explain the impact of the Aube storage center (C.S.A.) on environment and allow to evaluate the consequences for man, secondly, to build a referential for any future inquiry or follow-up, thirdly, to allow to the local commission of information to elaborate an information towards the side residents and local actors that take into account their questions. Trees, waters, sediments, soils, grass, products of gardens and vineyards were the object of sampling, their dosimetry is given in this report. Other dosimetry measures were made along the nuclear site and the results are equally in this report. (N.C.)
The European gas market is continuing to expand due to increased industrial, domestic and power generation demand. As a result of this demand, and the trend toward liberalization of the market, the need for storage of gas is also increasing. One key segment of the large scale storage of gas is underground storage, either in partially depleted gas or oil fields, naturally occurring caverns, aquifers and salt cavities. In most cases the gas produced after storage requires conditioning to meet the water of hydrocarbon dew point specification of the gas transmission system. For that reason export gas from storage will require gas conditioning in order to meet pipeline specifications. Adsorption as a feasible and reliable process will be presented in detail and especially in regards to hydrocarbon dew-pointing compared with other process options. (author)
Some crops of important nutritive requirements have been collected from farmlands located in Bitsichi an old tin mining town in north central region of Nigeria. The food crops were analyzed in order to determine trace element concentrations level using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). The activity concentrations due to natural radionuclides in the food samples and soil samples collected within the root zone of the crops were also determined using gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS). The NAA results obtained showed higher concentration of Potassium among the essential elements in all the crops. Calcium concentration in both maize and Guinea corn was below detection limit and also Zn in Green beans, sweet potato and cassava. The trace elements; Sc, Hf, Sm, and Th, were below detection limit in all the crops except in Green beans. Rubidium (Rb) and lanthanum (La) were below detection limits only in Cabbage. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the food samples were found ...
Perturbative approach to two-dimensional gravity and supergravity is considered. One-loop renormalization of the central charge of SL(2,R) Kac-Moody algebra is calculated perturbatively by functional integration and by explicit calculations of the Feynman diagrams. Also the wavefunction renormalization and the anomalous dimensions in the presence of gravity are calculated.
A cell calculation code SLAROM-UF has been developed for fast reactor analyses to produce effective cross sections with high accuracy in practical computing time, taking full advantage of fine and ultra-fine group calculation schemes. The fine group calculation covers the whole energy range in a maximum of 900-group structure. The structure is finer above 52.5 keV with a minimum lethargy width of 0.008. The ultra-fine group calculation solves the slowing down equation below 52.5 keV to treat resonance structures directly and precisely including resonance interference effects. Effective cross sections obtained in the two calculations are combined to produce effective cross sections over the entire energy range. Calculation accuracy and improvements from conventional 70-group cell calculation results were investigated through comparisons with ...
Calculations, drawing principally on developments at AERE Harwell, of the relaxation about lattice defects are reviewed with emphasis on the techniques required for such calculations. The principles of defect modelling are outlined and various programs developed for defect simulations are discussed. Particular calculations for metals, ionic crystals and oxides, are considered. (UK).
This paper presents calculations of the {sup 252}Cf-source-driven noise analysis measurements for subcritical highly enriched uranium metal cylinders using the Monte Carlo code MCNP-DSP. This code directly calculates the noise analysis data from the {sup 252}Cf- source-driven noise analysis method for both neutron and gamma ray detectors. Direct calculation of experimental observables by the Monte Carlo method allows for the benchmarking of the calculational model and the cross sections and for determining the bias in the calculation.
This handbook breaks down the complex field of nuclear reactor calculations into major steps. Each step presents a detailed analysis of the problems to be solved, the parameters involved, and the elaborate computer programs developed to perform the calculations. This book bridges the gap between nuclear reactor theory and the implementation of that theory, including the problems to be encountered and the level of confidence that should be given to the methods described. Volume III: Control Rods and Burnable Absorber Calculations. Perturbation Theory for Nuclear Reactor Analysis. Thermal Reactors Calculations. Fast Reactor Calculations. Seed-Blanket Reactors. Index.
Removal Sampling is an easy-to-use Windows program which calculates population statistics from removal trapping experiment data. Using maximum likelihood methods it ... ...
Sep 12, 1975 ... POCKET CALCULATORS. Jose P. Olivares 35, Robert B. Clowns and ... of pocket calculators and has an- Washington to arrive by Nov. 20. ...
A simple heuristic calculation is given for the rate of nucleation of black holes at positive temperature. This calculation is based on the classical theory of nucleation and reproduces the result of Gross, Perry, and Yaffe.
An experiment was performed with a mock-up of the core of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) reactor to evaluate three reactivity measurement methods for application to liquid-metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBR): modified source multiplication measurements with the low-level flux monitor for refueling (35 dollars subcritical) of FFTF, noise analysis to 35 dollars subcritical, and inverse kinetics rod drop to 12 dollars subcritical. To investigate the spatial dependence of these measurement methods and to resolve discrepancies previously reported, detectors were placed in the core, reflector, and radial shield, and experimental data were collected with the reactivity at near delayed criticality to 35 dollars subcritical. Conclusions from this experiment are the following. Low-level flux monitors in the shield of the FFTF will be adequate for reactivity surveillance during refueling, using the modified source multiplication ...
The study was directed towards determining the usability of clay and fine wastes (CW and FW) of boron from the concentrator plant in Kirka (Turkey) as a fluxing agent in production of red mud (RM) brick. Both laboratory studies on the characterization of materials and industrial-scale tests for production of bricks were carried out. CW and FW, which have similar chemical composition but include different types and amounts of oxides, were added in amounts of 5, 10 and 15wt% to RM, which consists of high amounts of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, SiO{sub 2} and alkalies. Six different sets of samples have been produced and fired at 700, 800 and 900{sup o}C. Dry shrinkage of green body, bending and compressive strength, firing shrinkage, water absorption, frost resistance and harmful magnesia and lime tests on heat-treated bodies have been performed. The mineralogical and mechanical tests showed that usability of boron wastes as a fluxing ...
The unsteady state heat transfer behaviour of a vertical wall subject to the effects of uniform radiation is investigated and the dimensional analysis of combined heat transfers by conduction, convection and radiation is presented. The convective heat transfer coefficients used in the numerical model are determined experimentally by means of an assembly resembling the conditions encountered in the dwelling (variable temperatures and heat flows in time and space, wall associated with a floor, radiative flux outside the wall). In routine conditions (homogeneous wall dimensions, temperature differentials less than 40/sup 0/C), it is shown that the problem depends in practice on three parameters (instead of five) and that nomographs can give the energy accumulated in the wall as a function of its geometric and thermal charactersitics and the external conditions (type and thickness of material, changes in incident flux, convection over the height of ...
In the framework of nuclear waste transmutation studies, the Mini-INCA project has been initiated at CEA/DSM with objectives to determine optimal conditions for transmutation and incineration of minor actinides (MA) in high intensity neutron fluxes. Our experimental tools based on alpha- and gamma-spectroscopy of the samples and the development of micro fission chambers could gather either microscopic information on nuclear reactions (total or partial cross sections for neutron capture and/or fission reactions) or macroscopic information on transmutation and incineration potentials. Neutron capture cross sections of selected actinides ({sup 241}Am, {sup 242}Am, {sup 242}Pu, {sup 237}Np) have already been measured at ILL, showing some discrepancies when compared to evaluated data libraries but in overall good agreement with recent data. The studies and possibilities offer by the MEGAPIE project to assess neutronic performances of a 1 MW spallation target and the ...
In the framework of nuclear waste transmutation studies, the Mini-INCA project has been initiated at CEA/DSM with objectives to determine optimal conditions for transmutation and incineration of minor actinides (MA) in high intensity neutron fluxes. Our experimental tools based on alpha- and gamma-spectroscopy of the samples and the development of micro fission chambers could gather either microscopic information on nuclear reactions (total or partial cross sections for neutron capture and/or fission reactions) or macroscopic information on transmutation and incineration potentials. Neutron capture cross sections of selected actinides ("2"4"1Am, "2"4"2Am, "2"4"2Pu, "2"3"7Np) have already been measured at ILL, showing some discrepancies when compared to evaluated data libraries but in overall good agreement with recent data. The studies and possibilities offer by the MEGAPIE project to assess neutronic performances of a 1 MW spallation target and the incineration of ...
Delta-doped boron marker layers in silicon have been used to test further the relationship between B transient enhanced diffusion (TED) and the flux of silicon interstitials released during the annealing stage following self implantation. The authors present new data which address a number of questions raised by the present models. They show that in the experiments bulk trapping of interstitials is significant only for low implant fluences ({approximately}10{sup 12} cm{sup {minus}2}). The origin of the observed diffusion-like profiles for the interstitial flux is instead found to lie in local trapping within the {delta}-doped layers themselves. Boron trapped in immobile clusters may be associated with Si interstitials in approximately a 1:1 ratio; nevertheless this trapping contribution alone may not entirely account for the observed gradient. They suggest that some part of the observed TED response with depth is attributable to local trapping ...
Delta-doped boron marker layers in silicon have been used to test further the relationship between B transient enhanced diffusion (TED) and the flux of silicon interstitials released during the annealing stage following self implantation. The authors present new data which address a number of questions raised by the present models. They show that in the experiments bulk trapping of interstitials is significant only for low implant fluences (#approx#10"1"2 cm"-"2). The origin of the observed diffusion-like profiles for the interstitial flux is instead found to lie in local trapping within the #delta#-doped layers themselves. Boron trapped in immobile clusters may be associated with Si interstitials in approximately a 1:1 ratio; nevertheless this trapping contribution alone may not entirely account for the observed gradient. They suggest that some part of the observed TED response with depth is attributable to local trapping of silicon ...
In the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Grenoble a new horizontally arranged cold neutron source will be installed that uses liquid deuterium (D_2) as the moderator for cold neutrons. This cold source should provide a high neutron flux, it should be simple in design, and be characterized by high reliability and by safe operation. A high neutron flux calls for installation of the cold source near the HFR core and good moderation requires a D_2 volume of #DELTA#5 litres. Hence, the moderator, contained in a horizontally arranged cylindrical cell of 21 cm diameter and 20 cm length, is installed at the end nearest to the core of a horizontal beam tube of roughly 4.5 m length with an inner diameter of only 23 cm (Fig. 1). The HFR will be equipped with a second cold neutron source. The installation in the existing horizontal beam tube together with the amount of heat released determined the problems to be solved: the liquid content of ...
We present results from an investigation of the dynamical behavior of buoyant magnetic flux rings in the radiative interior of a uniformly rotating early-type star. Our physical model describes a thin, axisymmetric, toroidal flux tube that is released from the outer boundary of the convective core, and is acted upon by buoyant, centrifugal, Coriolis, magnetic tension, and aerodynamic drag forces. We find that rings emitted in the equatorial plane can attain a stationary equilibrium state that is stable with respect to small displacements in radius, but is unstable when perturbed in the meridional direction. Rings emitted at other latitudes travel toward the surface along trajectories that largely parallel the rotation axis of the star. Over much of the ascent, the instantaneous rise speed is determined by the rate of heating by the absorption of radiation that diffuses into the tube from the external medium. Since the time scale for this ...
The fusion materials program has little irradiation effects data at temperatures from 100 to 350 degree C. Near-term machines such as the International Thermonuclear Engineering Reactor (ITER) will expose materials to neutron doses of 38 to 50 dpa at 150 degree C or less. The data base for structural materials must be extended into this range. Also, lower temperatures are needed to investigate the lower bound for tritium release from solid breeder materials. A low temperature test vehicle is proposed for the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), which will provide test temperatures of 100 to 350 degree C. An 8.5-cm dia. by 100-cm test volume will be instrumented to collect temperature data and provide feedback for control. The spectrum and flux will provide accelerated damage accumulation for structural materials testing and the best available approximation of fusion reactor conditions for solid breeder materials testing. Breeder samples can be ...
The Westerbork Northern Sky Survey (WENSS) and the NRAO/VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) were used to determine an upper limit to the diffuse radio flux from the nearby cluster Abell 2199. For the entire cluster, this limit is <3.25 Jy at 327 MHz from WENSS; for the inner 15' radius, the limit is <168 mJy at 1.4 GHz. These limits are used to constrain the cluster magnetic field by requiring that the radio flux be consistent with the hard X-ray (HXR) flux observed by BeppoSAX, assuming that the observed HXR excess is due to inverse Compton (IC) scattering of cosmic microwave background photons by relativistic electrons in the intracluster gas. We find that the magnetic field must be very weak (<0.073 uG) in order to avoid producing an observable radio halo. We also consider the possibility that the HXR excess is due to nonthermal bremsstrahlung (NTB) by a population of suprathermal electrons which are being accelerated to ...
The relationship between processing, microstructure, and properties was studied for A-15 compounds in multifilamentary composites produced by solid-state diffusion and in thin-film samples produced by vapor deposition. Grain sizes of A-15 superconducting compounds were measured by transmission electron microscopy of multifilamentary composites reacted at various temperatures. Critical current densities at 4.2 K and fields up to 6 T were found to be similar for niobium-tin, vanadium-gallium, and vanadium-silicon of the same grain size. Study of the Cu-V-Si phase diagram led to the production of improved multifilamentary vanadium-silicon conductors. The effects of various alloying elements on A-15 layers produced by solid-state diffusion were studied. The most promising new observation was that tantalum can be incorporated into niobium-tin reaction layers, leading to an enhancement of critical currents at high fields. The critical temperature of vapor-deposited, niobium-germanium films ...
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF)is a 400 MW (th) sodium-cooled fast flux test reactor located on the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State. The FFTF is operated by the Westinghouse Hanford Company for the United States Department of Energy. The FFTF is a three loop plant designed primarily for the purpose of testing full-scale core components in an environment prototypic of future liquid metal reactors. The plant design emphasizes features to enhance this test capability, especially in the area of the core, reactor vessel, and refueling system. Eight special test positions are provided in the vessel head to permit contact instrumented experiments to be installed and irradiated. These test positions effectively divide the core into three sectors. Each sector requires its own In-Vessel Handling Machine (IVHM) to access all the core positions. Since the core and the in-vessel refueling components are submerged under sodium, all handling ...
Bobbin-coil-type eddy current probes, which are conventionally used for nondestructive inspection of steam generator tubes in pressurized-water-type nuclear power plants, have poor detectability for circumferential flaws. Hence a new type of eddy current probe was proposed to detect effectively the magnetic flux component disturbed by a flaw and thus to eliminate the flaw direction dependency on the flaw detectability. In the course of development of the proposed method, structures of the probe were investigated based on the measurement of magnetic fields induced by exciting flat coils with several shapes. The new type of probe proposed here consists of differential pick-up coils detecting magnetic flux and exciting coils having a parallelogrammic shape, and its structure was fabricated experimentally in order to detect flaws independently of their directions. Nondestructive flaw detection tests was then conducted by using the probe. The ...
The true nature of the progenitor to GRBs remains elusive; one characteristic that would constrain our understanding of the GRB mechanism considerably is gamma-ray polarimetry measurements of the initial burst flux. We present a method that interprets the prompt GRB flux as it Compton scatters off the Earth's atmosphere, based on detailed modelling of both the Earth's atmosphere and the orbiting detectors. The BATSE mission aboard the \\textit{CGRO} monitored the whole sky in the 20 keV - 1 MeV energy band continuously from April 1991 until June 2000. We present the BATSE Albedo Polarimetry System (BAPS), and show that GRB 930131 and GRB 960924 provide evidence of polarisation in their prompt flux that is consistent with degrees of polarisation of $\\Pi>35$% and $\\Pi>50$% respectively. While the evidence of polarisation is strong, the method is unable to strongly constrain the degree of polarisation beyond a ...
The peak flux relationship between hard X-rays and microwaves from solar flares is studied using about 400 events simultaneously recorded with the hard X-ray burst spectrometer on the SMM satellite and the Nobeyama 17 GHz radiometer. The data indicate that the hard X-ray and microwave peak fluxes correlate best for X-ray energies of less than about 80 keV for impulsive flares and greater than about 360 keV for extended flares. By postulating that electrons responsible for microwave emission at 17 GHz are those emitting hard X-rays at these photon energies, it is concluded that: (1) in impulsive flares, microwaves at about 20 GHz are emitted mainly by electrons of less than about 200 keV from a layer through which the electrons stream down into the thick-target hard X-ray source; and (2) in extended flares, microwaves are emitted mainly by MeV electrons trapped in a coronal loop or loops. 59 references.
Planktivores, zooplankton grazers, and macrobenthos were studied to determine how changes in animal community structure may alter the flow of material in Dunham Pond, CT. Chaoborus and chironomid larvae were studied to determine how they affect the flux of matter across the sediment/water interface. This was done by incubating undisturbed cores in situ and relating changes in water chemistry to larval density. The log-transformed flux rates of iron, manganese, and phosphorus were linearly related to larval biomass. Functional groups may be successfully used to predict rates of material flow. Changes in the mass of macroinvertebrates affect the flux rates of redox-active substances across the sediment/water interface. The use of population densities and feeding characteristics to estimate trophic transfer in Dunham Pond indicate that (1) visual planktivory by larval perch may result in overutilization of prey, (2) ambush ...
The system of the early forecast of radiation hazardous fluxes of solar cosmic rays in space on the basis of the real time neutron monitors data obtained by the NMDB (Neutron Monitor Data Base) network is created. The forecast system is based on a short cut technique of definition of a spectrum of solar protons from the data of the limited number of neutron monitor stations and with a simplified procedure of accounts. It is shown that the results of computations of solar proton spectra with the short-cut technique little differ from spectra obtained with a complete technique at energies less than 5 GeV. Thus the good agreement between derived from the neutron monitor data intensities of solar protons in an energy range of hundreds MeV with the data of direct measurements of solar protons at GOES-11 spacecraft is observed. The maximum of increase on neutron monitors outstrips on several hours (2-10) an appropriate maximum of radiation-dangerous ...
The fluxes of atmospheric electrons, positrons, positive and negative muons and negative pions have been determined using the NMSU Wizard-MASS2 balloons-borne instrument. The instrument was launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, (geomagnetic cut-off about 4.5 GV/c) on september 23, 1991. The flight lasted 9.8 hours and remained above 100.000 ft. Muons and negative pions were observed and their momenta were determined. Since these particles are not a part of the primary component, the measurement of their fluxes provides information regarding production and propagation of secondary particles in the atmosphere. Similarly, observations of electrons and positrons well below the geomagnetic cut-off provides insight into electromagnetic cascade processes in the upper atmosphere. In addition, the determination of the energy spectra of rare particles such as positrons can be used for background subtraction for cosmic ray experiments gathering data ...
BaTiO{sub 3} compacts, when fluxed with {lt} 2 vol% of a complex borate glass phase, were sintered to near theoretical density at temperatures {lt} 1175{degrees}C in 2 h. Microstructural analysis showed a uniform grain size {lt} 1.0 {mu}m with 0.75 wt% ZrO{sub 2} added to the flux phase as a grain growth inhibitor. TEM analysis revealed a microcrystalline grain-boundary phase with the ZrO{sub 2} resident along the grain boundaries. These samples displayed an essentially flat dielectric profile, low dissipation factors ({lt} 2%) over the range 25{degrees} to 125{degrees}C, a near linear dependence ({approx} {+-} 15%) between 25{degrees} and {minus} 55{degrees}C, and significantly increased voltage stability. X-ray diffraction analysis of these small-grained materials indicates a suppression of the tetragonal structure toward a more cubic modification.
BaTiO_3 compacts, when fluxed with < 2 vol% of a complex borate glass phase, were sintered to near theoretical density at temperatures < 1175 degrees C in 2 h. Microstructural analysis showed a uniform grain size < 1.0 #mu#m with 0.75 wt% ZrO_2 added to the flux phase as a grain growth inhibitor. TEM analysis revealed a microcrystalline grain-boundary phase with the ZrO_2 resident along the grain boundaries. These samples displayed an essentially flat dielectric profile, low dissipation factors (< 2%) over the range 25 degrees to 125 degrees C, a near linear dependence (#approx# #+-# 15%) between 25 degrees and - 55 degrees C, and significantly increased voltage stability. X-ray diffraction analysis of these small-grained materials indicates a suppression of the tetragonal structure toward a more cubic modification.
We present ultraviolet spectra of Mira's companion star from the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The companion is generally assumed to be a white dwarf surrounded by an accretion disk fed by Mira's wind, which dominates the UV emission from the system. The STIS UV spectrum is dominated by numerous, narrow H2 lines fluoresced by H I Ly-alpha, which were not detected in any of the numerous observations of Mira B by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). The high temperature lines detected by IUE (e.g., C IV 1550) still exist in the STIS spectrum but with dramatically lower fluxes. The continuum fluxes in the STIS spectra are also much lower, being more than an order of magnitude lower than ever observed by IUE, and also an order of magnitude lower than fluxes observed in more recent HST Faint Object Camera objective prism spectra from 1995. Thus, the ...
We report a study of the physical characteristics of the pillars of C, Pt and W grown by 10-30 keV Ga focused ion beam (FIB) as a function of Ga ion flux, and present a quantitative analysis of the elements using energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX). All the FIB grown pillars exhibit a rough morphology with whisker like protrusions on the cylindrical surface and broadening of the base as compared to the nominal size. For a constant fluence, the height of the pillar initially increases and then reduces after going through a maximum as a function of ion flux in all the cases. The compositional analysis shows good metallic quality for Pt structures but reveals significant contamination of Ga in C and Ga and C in W structures at higher ion fluxes. Explanation to all these observations has been sought in the light of secondary ion and electron effects and the different processes involved which lead to the FIB induced ...
The flux of cosmic ray antiprotons with kinetic energies between /approximately/1 and 15 GeV is /approximately/5 times greater than the flux predicted on the basis of the leaky-box model. This excess is attributed to secondary antineutron production in compact sources. Because the antineutrons are not confined by the magnetic field of the compact source, they leave the interaction site, decay in interstellar space and account for the apparent excess cosmic ray antiproton flux. The escape and decay of neutrons produced in association with the antineutrons is a source of cosmic ray protons. Observations of the angular variation of the intensity and spectral shape of 100 MeV ..gamma..-rays produced by neutron-decay protons in the reaction p + p ..-->.. ..pi../sup 0/ ..-->.. 2..gamma.. could reveal compact-source cosmic ray production sites. COS-B observations of spectral hardening near point sources, and future ...
Compact heat exchangers have traditionally found wide application in the transportation industry, where they are used as evaporators and condensers in vapor compression cycles for air conditioning and refrigeration. Such heat exchangers possess numerous attractive features including high thermal effectiveness, small size, low weight, design flexibility, and pure counterflow, and they can accommodate multiple streams. Today, there is a widespread interest in expanding the range of application of compact heat exchangers to include phase-change heat transfer in the process industries, among others. An overall objective of this effort is to provide the basis for establishing design technology in this area. In the present study, small channel flow boiling heat transfer was extended to a rectangular channel (4.06 {times} 1.70 mm) using refrigerant 12 (R-12). As with the circular tube studies, the flow channel wall was electrically heated providing a constant heat flux. ...
The President`s budget request for FY 1994 included a construction project for the Advanced Neutron Source (ANS). However, the budget that emerged from the Congress did not, and so activities during this reporting period were limited to continued research and development and to advanced conceptual design. A significant effort was devoted to a study, requested by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and led by Brookhaven National Laboratory, of the performance and cost impacts of reducing the uranium fuel enrichment below the baseline design value of 93%. The study also considered alternative core designs that might mitigate those impacts. The ANS Project proposed a modified core design, with three fuel elements instead of two, that would allow operation with only 50% enriched uranium and use existing fuel technology. The performance penalty would be 15--20% loss of thermal neutron flux; the flux would still just meet the minimum design requirement ...
General corrosion testing of Alloy 800 tube material by the General Electric Co. using out of pile loops with steam temperatures in the range 430 to 770 deg.C and 70 at. pressure with a surface heat flux of 55 W.cm"-"2 and flow velocities of 30 to 60 m.sec"-"1 showed after about 5000 h (a) a relatively moderate loss of metal at a fairly high corrosion rate, (b) a relatively high loss of oxide to the steam phase, and (c) the formation of a zone at the metal surface depleted in chromium by diffusion to the oxide film. It is important to establish whether these results for Alloy 800 were typical of those to be expected under heat transfer, and whether they could be used as a basis for extrapolation to the higher heat fluxes and longer exposure time relevant to superheat applications. Additional corrosion tests in superheated steam of 1000 h duration under isothermal conditions were therefore undertaken and an experimental loop was built to study ...
Recent X-ray and radio observations have identified a transient low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) located only 0.1 pc in projection from the Galactic center, CXOGC J174540.0-290031. In this paper, we report the detailed analysis of X-ray and infrared observations of the transient and its surroundings. Chandra bservations detect the source at a flux of F_X = 2e-12 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (2-8 keV). After accounting for absorption both in the interstellar medium and in material local to the source, the implied luminosity of the source is only L_X = 4e34 erg/s (2-8 keV; D=8 kpc). However, the diffuse X-ray emission near the source also brightened by a factor of 2. The enhanced diffuse X-ray emission lies on top of a known ridge of dust and ionized gas that is visible infrared images. We interpret the X-ray emission as scattered flux from the outburst, and determine that the peak luminosity of CXOGC J174540.0-290031 was >2e36 erg/s. We suggest that the ...
Diffuse {gamma}-ray emission produced by the interaction of cosmic-ray particles with matter and radiation in the Galaxy can be used to probe the distribution of cosmic rays and their sources in different regions of the Galaxy. With its large field of view and long observation time, the Milagro Gamma Ray Observatory is an ideal instrument for surveying large regions of the Northern Hemisphere sky and for detecting diffuse {gamma}-ray emission at very high energies. Here, the spatial distribution and the flux of the diffuse {gamma}-ray emission in the TeV energy range with a median energy of 15 TeV for Galactic longitudes between 30{sup o} and 110{sup o} and between 136{sup o} and 216{sup o} and for Galactic latitudes between -10{sup o} and 10{sup o} are determined. The measured fluxes are consistent with predictions of the GALPROP model everywhere except for the Cygnus region (l {element_of} [65{sup o}, 85{sup o}]). For the Cygnus region, the ...
Recent data from CREAM seem to confirm early suggestions that primary cosmic ray spectra at few TeV/nucleon are harder than in the 10-100 GeV range. Also, helium and heavier nuclei spectra appear systematically harder than the proton fluxes at corresponding energies. We note here that if the measurements reflect intrinsic features in the interstellar fluxes, appreciable modifications are expected in the sub-TeV range for the secondary yields, such as antiprotons and diffuse gamma-rays. Presently, this effect represents a systematic error in the extraction of astrophysical parameters as well as for background estimates for indirect dark matter searches. We find that the spectral modifications are appreciable above 100 GeV, and can be responsible for ~30% effects for antiprotons at energies close to 1 TeV or for gamma's at energies close to 300 GeV, compared to currently considered predictions based on simple extrapolation of input ...
The detection efficiency of a lithium glass detector was calculated using MCNP code, and the calculation was compared with the published results in Pulsed Sphere Plan. A lithium glass detector of our own was made, and its neutron efficiency was calculated. The calculated neutron efficiency was verified with both pulsed and steady DD neutrons. Characteristics of Neutron response of "6Li detector was discussed. (authors)
The ..beta.. decay half-lives of neutron-rich isotopes with Z=24-28 are calculated in the QRPA with a Gamow-Teller residual interaction. For odd-mass and odd-odd systems QRPA phonon correlations are introduced to quasiparticle transitions in first-order perturbation. The calculated half-lives agree very well with the experimental values. For later application of this model to nuclei far from stability, we have examined the dependence of the calculated half-lives on the model parameters.
To calculate the energy band structures in semiconductors using the relativistic augmented plane wave method, atomic potential and charge density are needed, which are calculated by self-consistent method. Wave function for one electron is determined by solving the Dirac equation with the Hartree-Fock equation based on the slater's exchange potential. The results of calculation for Cu"+"1 are given. (Author).
The #beta# decay half-lives of neutron-rich isotopes with Z=24-28 are calculated in the QRPA with a Gamow-Teller residual interaction. For odd-mass and odd-odd systems QRPA phonon correlations are introduced to quasiparticle transitions in first-order perturbation. The calculated half-lives agree very well with the experimental values. For later application of this model to nuclei far from stability, we have examined the dependence of the calculated half-lives on the model parameters. (orig.).
On the basis of symmetry way of texture description a calculation method of elastic moduli of two-phase titanium alloys with rolling texture has been suggested. Efficiency of the calculation formulas is checked by comparing the calculation results of Young modulus anisotropy in the sheet plane of (#alpha#+#beta#)-titanium alloy VT23 with the experimental data.
An algebraic formulation of the electromagnetic field in which various quantization procedures can be described was chosen to discuss perturbation calculations. It is shown that the Feynman rules and the second order calculation of the self-energy of the electron can be developed on the basis of the Fermi method of quantization. The algebraic approach clarifies the problems in defining the vacuum and other states which are associated with calculations in terms of field algebra operators. It is demonstrated that the vacuum state defined on the field algebra by Schwinger leads to incorrect results in the self-energy calculation.
An analysis is presented of the electron temperature in a linear device which includes the effect of thermal conduction, heat flux limit, radiation, and end plugs. It is found that the thermal conduction and the heat flux limit are dominant in the initial phase of cooling, while the later phase is almost completely controlled by radiation that spatially homogenizes the temperature distribution. In the case of bremsstrahlung, within the frame of the present model, the temperature decays to zero in a finite time. This process takes the form of a cooling wave that moves from the ends of the column to the center. Impurities cause a milder, exponential decay, which is still much faster than the algebraic conduction decay. The thermal effectiveness of the end plugs is described by a convective transfer coefficient h/sub p/. Its scaling law (in terms of the coupled plamsa-plug system) reveals that a very high plug-plasma density ratio provides a ...
High-flux neutron sources are continuing to be of interest both in Canada and internationally to support materials testing for advanced power reactors, new developments in extracted-neutron-beam applications, and commercial production of selected radioisotopes. The advanced MAPLE reactor concept has been developed to meet these needs. The advanced MAPLE reactor is a new tank-type D_2O reactor that uses rodded low-enrichment uranium fuel in a compact annular core to generate peak thermal-neutron fluxes of 1 x 10"1"9 n#centre dot#s"-"1 in a central irradiation rig with a thermal power output of 50 MW. Capital and incremental development costs are minimized by using MAPLE reactor technology to the greatest extent practicable.
The importance of point defects in semiconductor and function materials has been studied in detail, but effective means for detecting point defects has not been available for a long time. The end of range defects in Si, produced by 140 keV Ge"+ implantation, were investigated as detectors for measuring the interstitial concentration created by 42 keV B"+ implantation. The concentration of interstitial resulting from the B"+ implantation and the behavior of the interstitial flux under different annealing condition were given. The enhanced diffusion in the boron doped EPI marker, resulting from mobile non-equilibrium interstitials was demonstrated to be transient. Interstitial fluxes arising from processing can be detected by transient enhanced diffusion (TED) of doped marker layers as well
In this study the soil/vegetation/atmosphere-model based on the formulation of Deardorff was refined to hour basis and applied to a field in Vihti. The effect of model parameters on model results (energy fluxes, temperatures) was also studied as well as the effect of atmospheric conditions. The estimation of atmospheric conditions on the soil-vegetation system as well as an estimation of the effect of vegetation parameters on the atmospheric climate was estimated. Areal surface fluxes, temperatures and moistures were also modelled for some river basins in southern Finland. Land-use and soil parameterisation was developed to include properties and yearly variation of all vegetation and soil types. One classification was selected to describe the hydrothermal properties of the soils. Evapotranspiration was verified against the water balance method
Abstract A large remaining source of uncertainty in global model predictions of future climate is how ecosystem carbon (C) cycle feedbacks to climate change. We conducted a field manipulative experiment of warming and nitrogen (N) addition in a temperate steppe in northern China during two contrasting hydrological growing seasons in 2006 [wet with total precipitation 11.2% above the long-term mean (348 mm)] and 2007 (dry with total precipitation 46.7% below the long-term mean). Irrespective of strong intra- and interannual variations in ecosystem C fluxes, responses of ecosystem C fluxes to warming and N addition did not change between the two growing seasons, suggesting independence of warming and N responses of net ecosystem C exchange (NEE) upon hydrological variations in the temperate ...
This system provides data logging facility for axial profile and dynamic profile experiments during low power physics experiments. The data from Cobalt Self Powered Neutron Detectors (SPNDs) are logged via hardware consisting of PC plug-in cards and data of vanadium SPNDs are logged from the Flux Mapping System (FMS) network (multicast data). The data along with programmable details of the experiment is transferred to an Access Database. The system provides online displays and extensive reports from the Access Database as per the requirement from Reactor Physicists. This paper briefly describes the evolvement of requirements (from the experience of operation of TAPS 4 to TAPS 3), software architecture and design. (author)
A new class of low aspect ratio toroidal hybrid stellarators is found using a more general plasma confinement optimization criterion than quasisymmetrization. The plasma current profile and shape of the outer magnetic flux surface are used as control variables to achieve near constancy of the longitudinal invariant J{sup {asterisk}} on internal flux surfaces (quasiomnigeneity), in addition to a number of other desirable physics target properties. A range of compact (small aspect ratio A), low plasma current devices have been found with significantly improved confinement, both for thermal as well as energetic (collisionless) particle components. With reasonable increases in magnetic field and geometric size, such devices can also be scaled to confine 3.5 MeV alpha particle orbits.
A new class of low aspect ratio toroidal hybrid stellarators is found using more general plasma confinement optimization criterion than quasi-symmetrization. The plasma current profile and shape of the outer magnetic flux surface are used as control variables to achieve near constancy of the longitudinal invariant J* on internal flux surfaces (quasi-omnigeneity), in addition to a number of other desirable physics target properties. We find that a range of compact (small aspect ratio A), high {beta} (ratio of thermal energy to magnetic field energy), low plasma current devices exist which have significantly improved confinement both for thermal as well as energetic (collisionless) particle components. With reasonable increases in magnetic field and geometric size, such devices can also be scaled to confine 3.5 MeV alpha particle orbits.
A design of a compact free-electron laser (FEL), generating ultra-fast, high-peak flux, XUV pulses is presented. The FEL is driven by ahigh-current, 0.5 GeV electron beam from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) laser-plasma accelerator, whose active acceleration length is only a few centimeters. The proposed ultra-fast source (~;;10 fs) would be intrinsically temporally synchronized to the drive laser pulse, enabling pump-probe studies in ultra-fast science. Owing to the high current (>10 kA) of the laser-plasma-accelerated electron beams, saturated output fluxes are potentially greater than 10^13 photons/pulse. Devices based both on self-amplified spontaneous emission and high-harmonic generated input seeds, to reduce undulator length and fluctuations, are considered.
Researchers report results from the Low Energy Antiproton Experiment (LEAP), a balloon-borne instrument which was flown in August, 1987. They found a value of 4.2 by 10-6 for the antiproton to proton ratio in the energy range from 120 MeV to 600 MeV at the top of the atmosphere. In particular, this experiment places an upper limit on the flux almost an order of magnitude below the reported flux of Buffington et al. This upper limit allows us to place significant constraints on both the primordial black hole and weakly interacting Majorana Fermion hypothesis, as well as on the low energy processes in more conventional models of galactic cosmic ray antiproton production.
Understanding the dynamic of soil C is a key to managing soil organic matter to enhance soil fertility and ecosystem functioning and reduce trace gas emission from soils. Our objective was to determine the influence of thermically-dry sewage sludge (TSL) and municipal waste compost and the application management on soil (mixed or on soil surface) applied at sludge (TSL) and municipal waste compost and the application management on soil (mixed or on soil surface) applied at two rates of 30 t ha"-1 and 60 t ha"-1, on CO_2 fluxes, microbial biomass C (MBC) and dehydrogenase activity (DH), during an incubation study. (Author)
A consideration is given to the problem of selecting optimized methods of radionuclide radiation registration during the control of the objects with essential changes in thickness. Adequate model of information signal formation is developed and analyzed for the case of the existence of an inertial link of the system with the dead time of a noncontinued type. The boundary values of radiation thickness and radiation flux intensity that divide the priority of using either digital or analog registration modes are revealed. The method is found for the full correction of a systematic error of flux intensity measurement because of the dead time of the apparatus. To control the objects with essential variation of thickness the method of selective measurement of radiation intensity is proposed
Measurements of local mass fluxes of liquid, local number fluxes of the drop and local drop size distributions at various locations in the test column were made for wide ranges of liquid flow rates and gas flow rates. An empirical correlation for the volume mean diameter of the drop at the nozzle exit was proposed. Measurements of the rates of absorption of carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide-air mixtures with water sprays (physical absorption) and aqueous sodium hydroxide sprays (chemical absorption) were made for wide range so fluid flow rates, feed gas concentrations, and initial alkali concentrations. The observed dimensionless rates of absorption were compared with the theoretical values by assuming penetration model with second-order irreversible reaction. 11 refs., 7 figs.