per Ci vs. $1.50-2.00 per Ci), but this advantage is largely offset by the much higher source strength required to get the same throughput (see Table 2) and by the lower dose distribution uniformity obtained in a 137Cs irradiator. The U.S. Department of Energy, formerly the supplier of 137Cs in the United States, no longer sells this isotope for industrial uses. Limited quantities are available elsewhere from suppliers such as Russia. Theoretical cost calculations show a clear cost benefit of electron beam irradiators as compared to either of the gamma sources (12,13). Other calculations have shown that this may only be true for facilities with a high annual throughput. Data presented by Morrison (20) indicate that 60Co is more economical than an electron accelerator, both with regard to initial investment and to treatment costs, when the plant is designed for an annual throughput of less than about 45,000.

Abstract The United States has had three operational numerical weather prediction centers since the Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit was closed in 1958. This led to separate paths for U.S. numerical weather prediction, research, technology, and operations, resulting in multiple community calls for better coordination. Since 2006, the three operational organizations—the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, and the National Weather Service—and, more recently, the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, have been working to increase coordination. This increasingly successful effort has resulted in the establishment of a National Earth System Prediction Capability (National ESPC) office with responsibility to further interagency coordination and collaboration. It has also resulted in sharing of data through an operational global ensemble, common software standards, and model components among the agencies. This article discusses the drivers, the progress, and the future of interagency collaboration.

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A Review of DOE ECUT Tribology Surveys

Journal of Tribology ◽

10.1115/1.3261252 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 108 (4) ◽

pp. 497-501 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

L. S. Dake ◽

J. A. Russell ◽

D. C. Debrodt

Keyword(s):

Friction And Wear ◽

Surface Modifications ◽

The United States ◽

Department Of Energy ◽

Energy Losses ◽

Research Needs ◽

Technology Program ◽

Heat Engines ◽

The Government ◽

The U.S

Experts estimate that in 1978 over four quadrillion Btu of energy were lost in the United States because of simple friction and wear. The Energy Conversion and Utilization Technology Program (ECUT) in the U.S. Department of Energy commissioned six surveys from various experts in the field of tribology to learn about the causes of these energy losses and how to reduce them. The surveys included: 1) identification of typical tribology energy sinks in industry, 2) reduction of tribological losses in utilities and transportation, 3) tribological research needed for advanced heat engines, 4) energy conservation potential of new surface modifications, 5) identification of current tribology work sponsored by the government, and 6) an assessment of industrial research needs. A summary of the major findings of each survey is included in this paper.

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Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Waste Forms Development

Volume 7: Decontamination and Decommissioning, Radiation Protection, and Waste Management; Mitigation Strategies for Beyond Design Basis Events ◽

10.1115/icone26-81017 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kimberly Gray ◽

John Vienna ◽

Patricia Paviet

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Fuel ◽

Fuel Cycle ◽

Nuclear Fuel Cycle ◽

The United States ◽

Department Of Energy ◽

High Level Waste ◽

Fuel Cycles ◽

Waste Forms ◽

The U.S

In order to maintain the U.S. domestic nuclear capability, its scientific technical leadership, and to keep our options open for closing the nuclear fuel cycle, the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) invests in various R&D programs to identify and resolve technical challenges related to the sustainability of the nuclear fuel cycle. Sustainable fuel cycles are those that improve uranium resource utilization, maximize energy generation, minimize waste generation, improve safety and limit proliferation risk. DOE-NE chartered a Study on the evaluation and screening of nuclear fuel cycle options, to provide information about the potential benefits and challenges of nuclear fuel cycle options and to identify a relatively small number of promising fuel cycle options with the potential for achieving substantial improvements compared to the current nuclear fuel cycle in the United States. The identification of these promising fuel cycles helps in focusing and strengthening the U.S. R&D investment needed to support the set of promising fuel cycle system options and nuclear material management approaches. DOE-NE is developing and evaluating advanced technologies for the immobilization of waste issued from aqueous and electrochemical recycling activities including off-gas treatment and advanced fuel fabrication. The long-term scope of waste form development and performance activities includes not only the development, demonstration, and technical maturation of advanced waste management concepts but also the development and parameterization of defensible models to predict the long-term performance of waste forms in geologic disposal. Along with the finding of the Evaluation and Screening Study will be presented the major research efforts that are underway for the development and demonstration of waste forms and processes including glass ceramic for high-level waste raffinate, alloy waste forms and glass ceramics composites for HLW from the electrochemical processing of fast reactor fuels, and high durability waste forms for radioiodine.

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Global Accounting Convergence and the Potential Adoption of IFRS by the U.S. (Part I): Conceptual Underpinnings and Economic Analysis

Accounting Horizons ◽

10.2308/acch.2010.24.3.355 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 355-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 234

Author(s):

Luzi Hail ◽

Christian Leuz ◽

Peter Wysocki

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

The United States ◽

Future Evolution ◽

Reporting Practices ◽

Market Effects ◽

Ifrs Adoption ◽

Transition Costs ◽

The U.S

SYNOPSIS: This article is Part I of a two-part series analyzing the economic and policy factors related to the potential adoption of IFRS by the United States. In this part, we develop the conceptual framework for our analysis of potential costs and benefits from IFRS adoption in the United States. Drawing on the academic literature in accounting, finance, and economics, we assess the potential impact of IFRS adoption on the quality and comparability of U.S. reporting practices, the ensuing capital market effects, and the potential costs of switching from U.S. GAAP to IFRS. We also discuss the compatibility of IFRS with the current U.S. regulatory and legal environment, as well as the possible macroeconomic effects of IFRS adoption. Our analysis shows that the decision to adopt IFRS mainly involves a cost-benefit trade-off between (1) recurring, albeit modest, comparability benefits for investors; (2) recurring future cost savings that will largely accrue to multinational companies; and (3) one-time transition costs borne by all firms and the U.S. economy as a whole, including those from adjustments to U.S. institutions. In Part II of the series (see Hail et al. 2010), we provide an analysis of the policy factors related to the decision and present several scenarios for the future evolution of U.S. accounting standards in light of the current global movement toward IFRS.

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The U.S. withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty

Pathways to Peace and Security ◽

10.20542/2307-1494-2021-1-133-150 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 133-150

Author(s):

N. Sokov

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Cold War ◽

Arms Control ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

The United States ◽

Central Focus ◽

Access To Data ◽

The Cold War ◽

Domestic Support ◽

The U.S

The article analyzes the dynamics, causes and implications of the collapse of the Open Skies Treaty in the broader context of gradual dismantlement of the network of arms control and confidence building regimes created at the end of the Cold War. The central focus is on the explanation of the declining U.S. support for the treaty since the 2010s and the eventual withdrawal addressed against the background of the evolution of the U.S. approach to arms control during the first two decades of the 21st century. While policies changed from one president to another, a sequence of U.S. administrations shared growing loss of interest in arms control and unwillingness to invest in generating domestic support for existing and new agreements. The weakening of arms control became preferable to limitations on the U.S.’ own programs and forces, in line with the belief that the United States was sufficiently advanced to remain ahead of any possible competitors, including Russia. While arms control issues are more effectively addressed through detailed, difficult negotiations and compromises, the evolving U.S. approach to perceived treaty violations by Russia amounted to an ultimatum to Moscow to admit violations and fix them the way the U.S. wants them to be fixed. Russia’s decision to follow suit by withdrawing from the treaty, while not immediate or preordained, is explained as driven both by political motives and, in cost-benefit terms, by concerns that the United States would keep access to data on Russia collected under the treaty through the U.S. NATO allies. The prospects for modest upgrade of the arms control agenda under the Biden administration are also addressed.

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THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF EMERGING SOFTWARE PARADIGMS**This work was supported by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission under a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Energy, and performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48.

Safety, Reliability and Applications of Emerging Intelligent Control Technologies ◽

10.1016/b978-0-08-042374-6.50018-3 ◽

1995 ◽

pp. 83-95

Author(s):

Gregory J. Suski ◽

Warren L. Persons ◽

Gary L. Johnson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ◽

National Laboratory ◽

Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽

The United States ◽

Department Of Energy ◽

United States Department ◽

States Department ◽

Regulatory Commission ◽

The U.S

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Drop Test Results for the Combustion Engineering Model No. ABB-2901 Fuel Pellet Shipping Package

Transportation, Storage, and Disposal of Radioactive Materials ◽

10.1115/pvp2004-2788 ◽

2004 ◽

Author(s):

Ronald S. Hafner ◽

Gerald C. Mok ◽

Lisle G. Hagler

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ◽

National Laboratory ◽

Preliminary Test ◽

Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽

The United States ◽

Department Of Energy ◽

Drop Test ◽

Regulatory Commission ◽

The U.S

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) contracted with the Packaging Review Group (PRG) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to conduct a single, 30-ft shallow-angle drop test on the Combustion Engineering ABB-2901 drum-type shipping package. The purpose of the test was to determine if bolted-ring drum closures could fail during shallow-angle drops. The PRG at LLNL planned the test, and Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED) personnel from LLNL’s Site-300 Test Group executed the plan. The test was conducted in November 2001 using the drop-tower facility at LLNL’s Site 300. Two representatives from Westinghouse Electric Company in Columbia, South Carolina (WEC-SC); two USNRC staff members; and three PRG members from LLNL witnessed the preliminary test runs and the final test. The single test clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of the bolted-ring drum closure to shallow-angle drops—the test package’s drum closure was easily and totally separated from the drum package. The results of the preliminary test runs and the 30-ft shallow-angle drop test offer valuable qualitative understandings of the shallow-angle impact. • A drum package with a bolted-ring closure may be vulnerable to closure failure by the shallow-angle drop, even if results of the steep-angle drop demonstrate that the package is resistant to similar damage. • Although there exist other mechanisms, the shallow-angle drop produces closure failure mainly by buckling the drum lid and separating the drum lid and body, which the bolted ring cannot prevent. • Since the closure failure by the shallow-angle drop is generated mainly by structural instabilities of a highly discontinuous joint, the phenomenon can be rather unpredictable. Thus, a larger-than-normal margin of safety is recommended for the design of such packages. • The structural integrity of the bolted-ring drum closure design depends on a number of factors. To ensure that the drum closure survives the shallow-angle drop, the following general qualitative rules should be observed: – The drum closure components should be quality products made of ductile materials, and the torque value for tightening the bolted ring should be included in the SAR and operating procedures to ensure quality. – The package should not be too heavy. – The package internal structure should be impact-absorbent and resistant to disintegration and collapse under high compressive load. However, a strong internal structure may defeat the purpose of protecting the containment vessel from damage during a free drop. • If not previously tested, drum packages with bolted-ring drum closures should be drop-tested at shallow angles. Due to the unpredictable nature of the behavior, the demonstration should be completed by test and on a case-by-case basis. The test plan should take into account the behavior’s sensitivity to the details of the package design and the impact condition. • Because the shallow-angle drop can open the drum closure, organizations using these types of drum packages should assess the consequences of exposing the radioactive contents in the containment vessel to unconsidered external elements or conditions. This work was supported by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission under a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Energy, and performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48.

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Hydrogen Production and Utilization in Petroleum Refineries: A Study of the U.S. Oil and Gas Industry

ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Parts A, B, and C ◽

10.1115/es2011-54752 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Mohamed A. Mohamed ◽

Radwa Soelem ◽

Fares Attar ◽

Nesrin Ozalp

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Production ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Oil And Gas Industry ◽

The United States ◽

Department Of Energy ◽

Oil Refining ◽

Efficient Production ◽

Production Plant ◽

Gas Industry ◽

The U.S

Petroleum refining industry in the United States is the largest in the world operating 148 refineries. These refineries contribute a major economic value to the U.S. market for providing the chemical industry with vital products. The economic gain, however, is challenged by the increasing competitiveness within the refining sector as well as the unpredictable oil prices. Furthermore, environmental obligations also have been recently advocating low emission rates that may entail additional operating costs to refineries. In this study, we analyze hydrogen production and utilization in the U.S. oil and gas industry to characterize its key role and trends in this energy-intensive industry. We referred to U.S. Department of Energy data and statistics of hydrogen production rates as well as we considered other elementary factors of refineries productivity such as; economics of crude oil, power consumption and chemical outputs. Considering the fact that hydrogen-dependent processes in refining count as a key element in oil refining; it is certainly that efficient production and implementation of hydrogen in processes such as hydro-cracking and hydro-desulfurization will result in cost saving opportunities for refineries. From this point of view, we highlight the economic and environmental advantages of solar cracking of natural gas as an alternative way of hydrogen production. Hydrogen production in refineries could possibly benefit from utilizing this alternative method on both local and global levels. Economically, this study explains how solar cracking could save about $62 million in hydrogen production for U.S. refineries. Even though the momentum of desulfurization acts are not yet strong in the U.S., major European refining investments are in jeopardy if not soon to utilize enhanced desulfurization facilities in response to demands of lower sulfur content of refined products. A comprehensive expenditures model is presented in this study to monitor primary areas of saving in hydrogen production from the early stages of establishing a hydrogen production plant. Further alternatives showing potential are also included as future considerations for the refinery sector.

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