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Argonne will lead a joint research program to develop a proliferation-resistant and economical nuclear-based energy supply system for use in industrialized and developing nations after the year 2020.
"The basic concept is to use clean nuclear energy as the heat source for manufacturing hydrogen, a clean chemical fuel that burns without releasing carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming," said Reactor Analysis Division Director Dave Wade.
"In contrast to current greenhouse-gas-intensive hydrogen-production technologies widely used for refining and fertilizer manufacture," he said, "no greenhouse gases will be released at any point in the system's entire energy cycle, since it is based on a nuclear reactor."
The hydrogen will power fuel cells for electric automobiles, which are expected to be in widespread use in several decades, and other residential or industrial uses, Wade said. The hydrogen can be stored and later used to produce electricity during periods of peak demand.
(Fuel cells are like batteries with fuel tanks. They use hydrogen as fuel to produce electricity, but as long as the hydrogen keeps coming, they never run down.)
In addition to hydrogen, he said, the integrated energy system will be able to produce a mix of energy services, including fresh water, oxygen, electricity and high-level and low-level process heat.
The project combines the efforts of Argonne's Reactor Analysis, Reactor Engineering and Energy Systems divisions. Working with Argonne will be Texas A&M University, General Electric, the Japan Nuclear Cycle and Development Institute, and the Italian National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Environment.
The three-year project will receive about $465,000 for the first year's work. It is one of 10 new projects for fiscal year 2000 chosen in a competitive peer-reviewed process under the U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI), a $22.5-million-per-year program aimed at retaining nuclear energy as an expandable energy option for the nation's future. NERI funds a total of 56 projects.
The system's heat source, Wade said, is a modular-sized, fast-neutron reactor that is passively safe and cooled with liquid metal.
"Fast-neutron" means the neutrons that sustain the nuclear chain reaction will have relatively high energies, enabling the reactor fuel cycle to exploit the full energy content of uranium. Known uranium reserves are sufficient to supply the world's needs for many centuries.
The system will be kept economically competitive through a simplified, modular design and standard components that can be mass produced and quickly assembled on site.
"Single modules will be sized to meet the additional energy needs of developing economies," he said. "Modules can be added as an area's economy grows, and several modules can be combined to meet energy needs in nations that are already industrialized."
Concern about nuclear proliferation will be reduced by using nuclear fuel "cartridges" that only need changing every 15 to 30 years. Fuel-handling equipment will be brought to the site only as needed to change cartridges and then removed. Plans call for fuel to be owned by regional consortia monitored closely by international agencies.
The reactor will be "passively safe," which means it will shut down automatically if it starts to overheat.
The nuclear chain reaction is driven by neutrons that are emitted from splitting fuel atoms. To maintain the chain reaction, enough of these neutrons must strike more fuel atoms to split them in turn.
"The reactor core will be made of materials that expand enough when overheated that the fuel elements in the core move apart, allowing neutrons to escape and stopping the chain reaction," Wade said. This safety capability was demonstrated in 1986 at the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II), a research reactor that Argonne operated in southeastern Idaho until it was shut down in 1994.
The reactor core, he said, will sit in a pool of molten lead or tin with an enormous capacity to absorb heat before boiling. Natural convection currents in the pool cause the liquid to flow through the core, cooling it. This simplifies the reactor design and makes it less expensive by eliminating the need for pumps. The safety advantage of a large molten metal pool was also demonstrated in Argonne's 1986 experiments at EBR-II.
Although Argonne-West will not receive a final report for two to three months, a DOE inspection team found the site's counterintelligence program well supported and effectively managed and implemented.
Andy Duffin, the inspection team leader, said the team documented only three findings during the inspection; all were relatively minor and easily corrected.
The comprehensive inspection of Argonne-West's counterintelligence program by DOE's Office of Counterintelligence began June 19 and concluded with a June 28 close-out briefing for John Sackett, deputy associate laboratory director for Argonne-West.
The inspection team examined management support, personnel management and resource allocation, foreign visits and assignments vetting and approval process, employee awareness, cyber security, analysis, program liaison with local law enforcement and the intelligence community and the investigations program.
Sackett said the inspection team was impressed with the overall comprehensiveness and vitality of the Argonne-West counterintelligence program. Areas singled out for praise were the overall employee awareness, the foreign visit and assignment vetting and approval process, and the foreign travel and foreign national host/escort briefing and debriefing program.
Children of Argonne employees received University of Chicago/Argonne Scholarships at the July 13 Awards ceremony. Recipients were Brian Derstine, son of Keith Derstine (RA); Demetrios Raptis, son of Apostolos Raptis (ET); John Holland, son of John Holland (RE) and Alan Liu, son of Guokui Liu (CHM).
The J. Harris Ward Graduate Fellowship for graduate studies at the University of Chicago was awarded to Kristen Kasza, daughter of Ken Kasza (ET). Kristin was a recipient of the University of Chicago/Argonne scholarship four years ago.
Jesse Morales (PFS-GR) won two United round trip airline tickets in the Argonne Combined Appeal raffle, held at the Argonne-East employee picnic on July 8.
Morales will use the tickets to visit his mother and family in Houston over Thanksgiving.
The Combined Appeal raffle raised $2,430. The money will be contributed to the Metropolitan Chicago United Way/Crusade of Mercy, United Way of Will County and other charities.
"Winning is great, but pitching in is even better," said Morales, who turned in his tickets half an hour before the drawing.
Other raffle winners were:
J. Bailey(TD) -- Loew's-Cineplex Theatres, two movie passes
W. Bird (ESH) -- Jewel/Osco, $25 gift certificates
R. Bottino (HR) -- Carriage Greens, $25 gift certificate
D. Briddick (ASD) -- Chili's free appetizer certificate
F. Collart (BIO) -- Yorktown General Cinema, two movie passes
E. Davis -- Chili's free appetizer certificate
M. Delrose (ESH-HP) -- Loew's-Cineplex Theatres, two movie passes
E. Dolan (MCS) -- Surefire Auto Parts, Lemont $25 gift certificate
V. Gaines (IPD-TIS) -- Walgreen's $15 gift certificate
D. Graczyk (CMT-AC) -- Tivoli Theatre, two movie passes
G. Gunderson (AOD) -- Chili's free appetizer certificate
K. Hansen (PFS) -- Chili's free appetizer certificate
A. Jansen (CMT) -- Lemont Street Café, $20 gift certificate
H. Kaper (MCS) -- Maggiano's Restaurant, $25 gift certificate
G. King(OCF-BUD) -- Jewel/Osco, $25 gift certificates
A. Klimara (XFD) -- Hyatt Oak Brook, weekend night for two
D. Knight(ITD) -- William Tell Restaurant Sunday brunch for two
I. Krashak (UPD) -- Tivoli Theatre, two movie passes
M. Luce-- Old Town Restaurant, $10 gift certificate
D. Mancini (XFD) -- Second City Admission for two, $30 value
J. Morales (PFS-GR) -- Traverso's Restaurant, $60 gift certificate
S. Palomino (PBC) -- Omega Restaurant, $25 gift certificate
J. Pransky (AOD) -- Omega Restaurant, $25 gift certificate
B. Ragland (ITD) -- Tivoli Theatre, two movie passes
B. Shack (ET) -- Yorktown General Cinema, two movie passes
G. Trento (ASD) -- Chili's Free appetizer certificate
S. Underwood (OCF-PRO) -- Tivoli Theatre, two movie passes
C. Wilkinson (OPA) -- Tivoli Theatre, two movie passes
J. Young (ECT) -- Theatre of Western Springs, two subscriptions
The Argonne-West Red Cross Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, Aug. 9, in the fire station.
Donation hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 533-7341 to make an appointment.
Argonne's chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals is collecting recipes for a fundraiser cookbook.
Favorite recipes from employees, their families and friends are wanted.
Send recipes to Pat Frankovich (EQO) in Argonne-East's Building 201 or Diane Hawk (BIO) in Building 202. Include name and phone number.
Electronics and Computing Technologies will hold several computer software classes at Argonne-East in August.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Building 221, Room A142, are limited to 10 participants and cost $195.
Full class descriptions and schedules are available online. For more information on enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail to dkcavazos@ anl.gov.
Microsoft Outlook 2000 (ECT377) -- Monday, Aug. 14, 8:30
a.m. -- 4:30 p.m.
Intermediate Access Version 2000 (ECT376) -- Wednesday, Aug. 9,
8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to eight.
Intermediate Word 2000 (ECT374) -- Monday, Aug. 7, 8:30
a.m. -- 4:30 p.m.
Beginning Unix (ECT564) -- This class consists of two
three-hour sessions for a total of six hours. First session:
Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. - noon. Second session:
Thursday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. - noon. Cost: $245.
Intermediate Excel 2000 (ECT375) -- Tuesday, Aug. 8,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Advanced
PowerPoint 2000 (ECT382) -- Friday, Aug. 11, 1:30 p.m.
_ 4:30 p.m. Cost: $135.
Front
Page 2000 (ECT383) -- This class is one full day and one
half day. Thursday, Aug. 10, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m., and
Friday, Aug. 11, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m. Cost: $330.
