Study on FBR core concepts to increase proliferation resistance of plutonium in LWR–FBR transition period

The possibility to enhance proliferation resistance of discharged plutonium in fast breeder reactor (FBR) has been investigated in terms of reactor core-design aspects. The provisional target for proliferation resistance measures based on Saito's attractiveness (ATTR) is defined. It is found that a few percent of plutonium loading and/or Am/Cm loading, which come from various types of spent fuel, might satisfy the provisional target with a minimum impact on the core neutronic performances. On Am/Cm loading core, decay heat constraints for fuel-handling aspects are found to be important and should be considered in design. There is not significant change on the current developing scenarios for light water reactor–FBR transition period by applying the measures based on Saito's ATTR. It is found that applying Kimura's proposal, 15% ²³⁸Pu content requires about 7% MA loading fraction both in the core and the blanket, and it only can be applied at limited case. The period to consume minor actinides is shorter than to consume plutonium.     

Maleated Natural Rubber as a Coupling Agent for Recycled High Density Polyethylene/Natural Rubber/Kenaf Powder Biocomposites

Kenaf powder (KP) was incorporated into recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE)/natural rubber (NR) blend using an internal mixer at 165°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites decreased, while the tensile modulus increased with increasing filler loading. The water absorption was found to increase as the filler content increased. The maleic anhydride grafted natural rubber was prepared and used to enhance the composites performance. The addition of MANR as a coupling agent improved the tensile properties of rHDPE/NR/KP biocomposites. The water absorption was also reduced with the addition of MANR.     

PREPARATION AND PERMEABILITY CONTROL OF ELECTRO-SENSITIVE MICROCAPSULES WITH IMMOBILIZED FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE SEGMENTS

Nylon-polystyrene microcapsules with immobilized ferroelectric liquid crystalline segments were prepared, and the permeability control of the encapsulated core material was investigated under an external electric field. A ferroelectric liquid crystal monomer possessing both mesogenicity and chirality effectively responded to an external electrical field. Permeation of the material (oxprenolol) contained in the inner aqueous core of the microcapsules was enhanced under a feeble electric field (2 V). Furthermore, it was found that the permeability of the microcapsules without the ferroelectric liquid crystal group did not depend on the external electrical field. In order to clarify the controlled release mechanism of the core material, the transmittance was quantitatively evaluated under an external electric field using a handmade polarized light transmittance apparatus.     

Polyurea thin film ultrasonic transducers for nondestructive testing and medical imaging

Ultrasonic transducers using polyurea piezoelectric thin film are studied in this paper. Aromatic polyurea thin films, prepared by vapor deposition polymerization, have useful characteristics for use as an ultrasonic transducer. This paper presents the fabrication and experimental evaluation of ultrasonic transducers formed using polyurea films. First, the vapor deposition polymerization process using two monomers is briefly reviewed, and the temperature conditions for higher piezoelectric constants are explored. Second, in order to test the fundamental characteristics of this material as a high-frequency, ultrasonic transducer, a polyurea film of 2.5 microm thickness was deposited on a silicon substrate. In the pulse/echo experiment results, a resonant frequency of about 100 MHz was observed. Third, we fabricated a concave point focus transducer and a cylindrical line focus transducer. To examine the performances of the focus transducers, two-dimensional images of a coin and V(z) curve measurements for an aluminum surface were demonstrated.     

Influence of the conditions of storage and cooking on growth,invasion and survival of Salmonella enteritidis in eggs

Basal studies for the confirmation of sanitary rules in the kitchen were performed, focusing on preventing an outbreak of food poisoning due to eggs contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), using hen and quail eggs. SE did not grow at 5 degrees C but grew markedly at 25 degrees C in eggs. The invasion and growth of SE were marked under very humid conditions regardless of whether the eggshell was damaged. The invasion of SE into egg also occurred when eggs were taken in and out of the refrigerator. Moreover, SE was spread immediately to all non-contaminated eggs when SE-contaminated eggs were cracked into a bowl with non-contaminated eggs. In homemade mayonnaise containing 15% vinegar, sterilization took several hours to occur. On a stainless-steel bowl, SE survived for 2 weeks or more. These findings suggest that it is necessary to pay attention to secondary contamination.     

Structural Investigation of 95(0.6Li2S0.4SiS2)5Li4SiO4 Oxysulfide Glass by Using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

S2 p and O1 s photoelectron spectra were obtained for the 95(0.6Li₂S0.4SiS₂)5Li₄SiO₄ oxysulfide glass prepared by twin-roller quenching. A four-peak deconvolution technique was used to separate the S2 p peak of the glass into the components of bridging and nonbridging sulfur atoms. As a result of the deconvolution of the S2 p peak, we found that ∼92% of the sulfur atoms were present as nonbridging atoms. The O1 s peak of the glass was separated into two components: bridging and nonbridging oxygen atoms. This separation of the O1 s peak indicated that ∼85% of the oxygen atoms were present as bridging oxygen atoms.     

Preparation and properties of novel poly(urethane-imide)s

A series of poly(urethane-imide)s were prepared by a novel approach. Polyurethane (PU) prepolymer was prepared by the reaction of polyester polyol and 2,4-tolylenediisocyanate (2,4-TDI), and then end-capped with phenol. The PU prepolymer was blended with poly(amide acid) or oligo(amide acid) prepared from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and oxydianiline (ODA) at room temperature in various weight ratios. The blend films obtained by casting and then drying were not transparent, suggesting that phase separation occurred between the polyimide (PI) and PU components. The films became transparent, however, after thermal treatment at 100°C and then 200°C for 1 h each, irrespective of the ratio of the two components. The poly(urethane-imide) films showed good solvent-resistance. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the films showed that glass transition temperatures (T_g) shifted depending on the ratio of PI and PU components. This shift of T_g, along with the transparency of the films, suggests that the PU and PI components employed here are miscible to some extent and that domains of each phase by microphase separation are small. Tensile measurement of the blend films from poly(amide acid) showed that the films are plastic or elastic, depending on the ratio of the components. Thermal stability of the PU was found to increase by the incorporation of polyimide component.     

A novel sphingophosphonolipid head group 1-hydroxy-2-aminoethyl phosphonate in Bdellovibrio stolpii

Members of the bacterial genus Bdellovibrio include strains that are free-living whereas others are known to invade and parasitize larger Gram-negative bacteria. The bacterium can synthesize several sphingophospholipid compounds including those with phosphoryl bonds as well as phosphonyl bonds. In the present study, the dominant sphingophosphonolipid component was isolated by column chromatography, and the long-chain bases, fatty acids, and polar head groups were identified by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatographic procedures. The definitive structural identity of the sphingolipid was established by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry of hydrolysis products and the intact compound. The compound was identified as N-2′-hydroxypentadecanoyl-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxyheptadecan-1-phosphono-(1-hydroxy-2-aminoethane).     

Fluid circulation and heat extraction from engineered geothermal reservoirs

A large amount of fluid circulation and heat extraction (i.e., thermal power production) research and testing has been conducted on engineered geothermal reservoirs in the past 15 years. In confined reservoirs, which best represent the original Hot Dry Rock concept, the flow distribution at any given time is primarily determined by three parameters: (1) the nature of the interconnected network of pressure-stimulated joints and open fractures within the flow-accessible reservoir region, (2) the mean pressure in the reservoir, and (3) the cumulative amount of fluid circulation—and therefore reservoir cooling—that has occurred. For an initial reservoir rock temperature distribution and mean fluid outlet temperature, the rate of heat extraction (i.e., thermal power) is at first only a function of the production flow rate, since the production temperature can be expected to remain essentially constant for some time (months, or even years). However, as reservoir circulation proceeds, the production temperature will eventually start to decline, as determined by the mean effective joint spacing and the total flow-accessible (i.e., heat-transfer) volume of the reservoir. The rate of heat extraction, which depends on the production flow rate, can also vary with time as a result of continuing changes in the flow distribution arising from reservoir cooling.The thermal power of engineered reservoirs can most readily be increased by increasing the production flow rate, as long as this does not lead to premature cooldown, the development of short-circuit flow paths, or excessive water losses. Generally, an increase in flow rate can be accomplished by increasing the injection pressure within limits. This strategy increases the driving pressure drop across the reservoir and the mean reservoir pressure, which in turn reduces the reservoir flow impedance by increasing the amount of joint dilation. However, the usefulness of this strategy is limited to reservoir operating pressures below the fracture extension pressure, and may lead to excessive water losses, particularly in less-confined reservoirs. Under such conditions, a downhole production-well pump may be employed to increase productivity by recovering more of the injected fluid at lower mean reservoir operating pressures.