Managed by UT-Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy * Issue Number 67 June 2005 Old tech, new mission Advanced nuclear reactor concept borrows from ORNL’s seasoned Molten Salt Reactor ith fossil fuel prices climbing and no and ran with it, putting together a collabora- you get boiling liquid, which you don’t want, Wnew petroleum fields discovered in tion with Sandia and the University of and that limits the temperature at which you decades, nuclear energy is beginning to once California-Berkeley,” says Dan. can operate the reactor,” Dan says. again receive serious consideration as an Gordon later left NTPO to apply his ideas “A typical light-water reactor is running at energy alternative. DOE has embarked upon a to ORNL’s first homeland security science 350¼C. You need about 850¼C to generate program to design the next-generation nuclear program. Charles, of the Nuclear S&T hydrogen on a large scale (see sidebar), which reactor, drawing from a wealth of designs and Division, is one of the nation’s most-cited is a prime objective of DOE’s Advanced ideas. authorities on nuclear Reactor Program.” A proposed next-generation design that is power. It seems illogical that something as hot as attracting attention is based on a previous The most accepted and liquid fluoride salt can “cool” anything. Dan generation’s work: ORNL’s Molten Salt common designs for explains that the liquid salt circulating through Reactor Experiment. Researchers in the Lab’s power generation the reactor actually transfers and distributes Nuclear Technology Program Office and reactors are the (See SALT, page 5) Nuclear Science and Technology Division are water-cooled touting a design that would use hot, liquid reactor the gas- The late Glenn Seaborg (foreground), fluoride salt, which was mixed with uranium cooled reactor. then Atomic Energy Commission fuel in the old MSRE but is “clean” in this Both have their chairman, fires up ORNL’s Molten Salt concept, to cool a power generation reactor. advantages, Dan Reactor in 1968. Technology from the The NTPO’s Dan Ingersoll says the idea says, but they project may boost the arose as a “spare time” project for a group of have their “hydrogen economy.” the Lab’s nuclear technology experts. They drawbacks. prefer the modifier “liquid” over “molten” to “Gas-cooled distinguish between the new concept’s clean reactors are coolant and the old project’s molten mixture cooled with of uranium fuel and salt. helium, which is “Gordon Michaels, who was over the a poor carrier of NTPO at the time, lobbied an idea to use solid heat. With water- reactor fuel and use clean liquid salt as the cooled reactors coolant. Charles Forsberg picked up the ball The wait is over: F&O drastically reduces job cycle times f you’re in the dark, the drain is slow or a average cycle time on routine repair mainte- that FMD calls on from Facilities & Opera- Ibreaker’s thrown, the wait is over. Facilities nance orders to approximately three days. Just tions’ Craft Resources Division are Management Division staff have reduced the a few years ago the average was more than completing 50,000 jobs a year. The work is 40 days. referred to as grade 4 tasks—those that FMD Director Jimmy Stone require no special permit or lockout proce- says the secret of their success dures. They include jobs such as changing lies in the efforts of FMD staff lights, unclogging drains and hanging members and crafts and the pictures. adoption of a scheduling tool. ORNL staff members have often expressed “We schedule the work— frustration over the long wait for certain it’s that simple,” says Jimmy. repairs to be made. Worse, the delays often “We know what jobs need to impeded research. be done and individuals are The gains in efficiency come just as the assigned to accomplish those Lab has grown in terms of both new and old tasks.” facilities and in programmatic work. ORNL’s Complex facility managers new space—mostly the new east campus and their teams meet and use facilities—doesn’t require as much mainte- the scheduling tool to plan nance. On the other hand, as the older facilities get ever older, they need more

Curtis Boles resources around customers’ Craft Resources Division’s Reggie Thompson (left) and Herschel service requests in their daily upkeep. And there are more of them. Old Brooks service an electrical panel. Facilities and Operations staff “plan of the day” meetings. facilities currently outnumber the new by members have cut job request cycle times to nearly zero. The roughly 250 workers (See CYCLE, page 2 Harrison, Mezzacappa, Thundat named Corporate Fellows hree researchers— Robert J. Harrison of computational astrophysics initiatives. Tthe Computer Science and Mathematics Tony is a fellow of the American Division, Anthony Mezzacappa of the Physical Society and received the Physics Division and Thomas G. Thundat of Presidential Early Career Award in the Life Sciences Division— have been Science and Engineering in 1999. named UT-Battelle Corporate Fellows. Thomas Thundat is a world leader in The Corporate Fellow designation is the nanomechanical sensors. His work in highest level of recognition for career biomedical engineering and biotechnol- achievements in science and technology, ogy, micromechanical sensors, and performance and leadership. Lab Director nanoscale imaging and detection has Jeff Wadsworth says that awardees’ contribu- been featured in Time magazine. His Harrison Mezzacappa Thundat tions to international leadership in research, numerous national and international new and expanded research programs and honors include two R&D 100 Awards, three received 19 patents for nanomechanical mentoring of staff are vital to the success of Federal Laboratory Consortium in Technol- sensor technologies ranging from medical the Laboratory as a whole. ogy Transfer awards, the Jesse Beams Award, instrumentation to land mine detection. Robert Harrison joined ORNL in 2002 as the Discover Award, ASME Pioneer Award Thomas is a Battelle Distinguished inventor group leader for Computational Chemical and the Scientific American Top 50 Technol- and a Fellow of the American Physical Sciences following a distinguished career at ogy Leaders Award. Society. He is also a research professor of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where The author of more than 170 scientific physics at UT and a visiting professor at the he was a Battelle Fellow. He holds a joint papers in refereed journals, Thomas has University of Burgundy, France. appointment with the University of Tennes- see, where he is a professor in the chemistry In particular, although the heating and air department. Cycle Continued from page 1 Widely recognized for his work in the conditioning crew is usually going at full tilt, electronic structure of molecules, computa- about 300 to 10. the complex’s aging ventilation system often tional chemistry and high performance A prime example of an aging infrastructure gives problems. The building’s climate algorithms and computing, he is chief is the 4500 complex, the 1950s era home to control is difficult to balance, particularly architect of NWChem, the world’s leading labs and offices that, frankly, doesn’t look that when the seasons change. computational chemistry code, now used at bad on the outside. But the complex literally is Nevertheless, when President Bush visited more than 1000 sites worldwide. a poster child for aging facilities: The 4500 last July on what was arguably the summer’s Tony Mezzacappa, a leader in computa- complex’s problems are outlined on a poster muggiest day, a packed Wigner Audiorium tional astrophysics and a pioneer in the field affixed directly across from Jimmy’s desk. was kept comfortable for several hours. of supernova science, was the first to The 4500 complex is a 700,000-square-foot Older facilities are energy hogs. Jimmy implement Boltzmann kinetic theory to fixer upper. For instance, nearly a third of the notes that the 4500 complex uses 300 percent model neutrino transport during supernova complex’s ventilation supply fans failed more energy per square foot than the energy- explosions, a theoretical and numerical feat during the past year. Fan failures shut down efficiency-certified new facilities. long thought impossible. Since joining labs, which stops R&D work. In one calami- The 4500 complex isn’t the only set of ORNL in 1996, he has conceived, proposed tous event a few years ago, a lightning surge buildings with infirmities. Building 1505 on and now leads the Terascale Supernova blew out 60 fans at once. Then there are the the west end has a high-maintenance chiller Initiative, a multi-million dollar, multiyear usual nuisances like ancient electrical panels, system and a currently inoperable vacuum DOE initiative involving several dozen clogged drains, roof leaks and crumbling system. Many of the Lab’s 350 older researchers at a dozen institutions around the walls. buildings are in similar shape. world. TSI is one of the world’s largest FMD keeps it all running despite the “We have aging infrastructure that causes challenges. operational impacts with increasing fre- quency,” Jimmy says. Jimmy credits the FMD staff with keeping researchers happy (in a recent survey customers said things have generally im- proved) and doing more with less. He gives an example: is published for employees and retirees “The industry standard of square feet that of ORNL, which is managed and janitors are responsible for is 25,000 square operated for the U.S. Department of feet. Our janitors are responsible for an Energy by UT-Battelle. average 55,000 square feet,” he says. Eventually, a facilities upgrade plan and funding will bring many of the old facilities Bill Cabage, editor up to snuff with the newer ones. In the 865/574-4399 or [email protected] meantime, FMD is working to keep the lights on and water running. Deborah Barnes, associate editor “We need to provide world-class support for world-class research,” Jimmy says. 865/576-0470 or [email protected] Curtis Boles “Currently the FMD people in the field are The Physics Division’s Chang-Hong striving to provide that support.” Yu helped demonstrate a traditional On the Web: www.ornl.gov/reporter If you have a facilities maintenance or Chinese dance during May 17th’s repair job, submit a service request via the Asian Pacific American Heritage Web, www.fo.ornl.gov/apps/prod/svcreq/. DOE Inspector General Hotline: 1-800-541-1625 celebration. —B.C. 2 June 2005 getting done; it’ll be a big of Building 1000 have been moving out in improvement,” Bruce preparation for that rustic facility’s demolition says, speaking for the this summer. Lab’s small cadre of The place has some history behind it. The two-wheel commuters. H-shaped structure was moved, says ORNL Bethel Valley Road history buff Steve Stow, in three pieces from will also gain its the old K-25 plant in 1948. More recently it’s roundabout, or traffic been famous for its homesteading wildlife, circle described in including raccoons that have tumbled through Reporter No. 66, this the ceiling and skittered down the hall. summer at the Visitor Residents are being dispersed to various Center entrance. Construc- temporary locales, including Commerce Park tion will require a temporary near town and Building 4500-North. The rerouting of Visitor Center access, target date for demolition, says Facilities probably after July 4, back to the old route Development’s Lance Mezga, is Community Day coming in August down Fifth Street and along Central Avenue September 30. ORNL is planning a Community Day, its through the currently closed portion of first since 1997. Outsiders who last visited Central to the Research Support Center. Answering the call again Earlier this year ORNL staff members then will hardly know the place. Commuters will also witness the installa- opened their hearts and wallets for tsunami In fact, plans are for the open house to tion of a new security barrier just past the relief. It wasn’t long before a need hit closer feature the Spallation Neutron Source and the portals. The barrier—a net—is designed to to home. new east campus “quad,” which has been pop up and snare any intruding vehicle that One evening in April, Chemical Sciences receiving finishing touches, including sod on has gotten past the entrances. Motorists Division staff member Linda Pyles, her its grassy commons area, in the past weeks. needn’t worry: There are plenty of alarms husband and grandson were awakened by a The new grass has time to take hold: The date that sound before the net deploys, if it ever smoke alarm. They managed to get out of for Community Day has been set for Saturday, needs to. their home safely before the blaze destroyed August 27. Norm says planners will try to keep impact all their possessions, which were uninsured. Because security has changed a lot since on commuter traffic to a minimum. For An account was established in the ORNL 1997, visiting family members and members instance, work on the roundabout might be Federal Credit Union, similar to the one set up of the public will need to preregister. Because conducted mostly in the evenings. But expect for the tsunami effort. Lab employees again of the expected large number of attendees, the occasional lane closing and flagmen on rose to the occasion, contributing more than other areas of the Lab outside the SNS and the road. $10,000 to the Pyles’ recovery from their quad won't be accessible to visitors. Neverthe- “Please drive carefully during this plight. less, the doors will be open to U.S. citizens summer’s road work,” Norm says, which “Thank you so much to all my ORNL and foreign nationals alike, as long as they goes without saying. friends who have been and continue to be so sign up. Watch local media and ORNL Today kind, generous and caring to my family and for details on how to register friends and And on the west end… me since the fire,” Linda says. “What would family members. Except for the new Mouse we have done without you? Your kindness Community Outreach Manager Brenda House, the Lab’s west end has and caring are truly appreciated.” Hackworth says Lab divisions will be invited escaped much of the construction Reported by Bill Cabage to set up displays and activities for the event, activity. That is about to change. which will run from from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Preliminary “Other national labs who have had open work on the houses recently have drawn huge crowds, and Joint Institute with our new campus and new facilities like for Biological the SNS, we expect droves,” Brenda says. Sciences has begun, Mark August 27 on your calendar and stay which has tuned for details. necessitated closing the Busy summer on BVR parking lot on Jeff Wadsworth slipped in a bombshell in a the east side of The Physics Division’s recent Director’s Message that focused on Building Michael Smith surely safety: Six-foot-wide shoulders will be paved 1505. Work wouldn’t hurt a fly, but alongside Bethel Valley Road in both direc- on that new he struck this fearsome tions this summer. The whoops of joy that state-funded pose while performing for reverberated across the Lab were from joggers facility the Asian Pacific Ameri- and bicyclists who have cursed the rough and probably won’t can Heritage festival May 17 unfriendly roadside for years. begin until in the Research Support Facilities and Operations’ Norm Durfee later. Center. Michael demon- says the paving will likely take a couple of How- strated wu-shu, or a kung-fu months this summer. Initially the six-foot- ever, routine with a Chinese wide twin pathways will extend between the an- broadsword, or dao. east and west vehicle entrances. other Michael’s spouse is Chang- Bruce Siefken of the Research Reactors nearby Hong Yu, shown on page landmark’s

Division used to bicycle to work often before Curtis Boles two. He says she got him heavy morning traffic and loose gravel days are interested in wu-shu, but dissuaded him. “I’m looking forward to that numbered. Residents stays well clear when he rehearses. Oak Ridge National Laboratory 3 SEAs ORNL employees cited in latest round of Significant Event Awards RNL recently distributed its latest batch in the Yucca Mountain Repository. Leslie R. Hicks, Eddie R. Tapp and Mark W. O of Significant Event Awards. Congratu- Dole of Nuclear Science & Technology Wezensky of the Spallation Neutron Source lations to the following recipients, who are Development of extraordinary two-com- Successful design, development, deploy- identified with their accomplishment and host pany, co-sponsored project in diesel emission ment and commissioning of high-level division. controls. John F. Thomas of Engineering applications software in support of SNS linac Science & Technology beam commissioning. Team: John D. A major proposal win that established Successful design and deployment of an Galambos, Chungming Chu, Thomas A. ORNL at the forefront of ecosystem genomics ORNL Radio Frequency Identification system Pelaia, Andrei P. Shishlo, Jeffrey G. Patton, and the use of molecular information to at the Defense Logistics Agency’s two main Mariehelene S. Cousineau and Viatcheslav V. forecast ecosystem change. Team: Stephen P. distribution centers to meet the specified Danilov of the Spallation Neutron Source Difazio, Stan D. Wullschleger, Timothy J. capabilities and ambitious schedule of the Proactive implementation of National Fire Tschaplinski and Christopher W. Schadt of Department of Defense’s RFID policy. Team: Protection Association 70E. Team: Samuel P. Environmental Sciences Teresa A. Rose of Computational Sciences & McKenzie, Ronnie J. Cornwell, Kevin P. Annotated genomes prepared for initial Engineering and Bobby R. Whitus, Kathy W. Norris and Paul S. Holik of the Spallation release of Integrated Microbial Genome Hylton, Regina K. Ferrell, Richard W. Jones, Neutron Source database. Team: Miriam L. Land and Frank Richard I. Crutcher, Simon D. Rose and Obtaining Department of Commerce W. Larimer of Life Sciences Kenneth S. Weaver of Engineering Science & clearance for waiving import duties for Supported tsunami disaster humanitarian Technology scientific equipment and apparatus procured relief efforts by providing up-to-date, high- Provided technical leadership and support to for ORNL staff. Team: Nicole E. Porter of the resolution population distributions using upgrade the HFIR electrical distribution Legal Directorate and Clinton D. Rash and ORNL’s LandScan Global population system. Team: Tommy J. Ledford, Mark E. Joel E. Pearman of Contracts database. Team: Budhendra L. Bhaduri, Mathews and Richard H. DeCosta of Research Handled complex procurement of commer- Edward A. Bright and Phillip R. Coleman of Reactors cially available and specially equipped Computational Sciences & Engineering Completion of the HB-4 HFIR Shield vehicles from the International Armoring Center for Computational Sciences’ initial Tunnel. Team: John A. Ellis and Donald L. Corp. Jason W. Piller of Contracts installation of RSA Security’s token-based Garrett of Facilities Development and Young Exemplary performance and leadership in access for computing platforms. Team: James S. Kwon and Joan T. Muecke of Research relocating the excess and sales operations to W. Simmons and Sally A. Silvia of Network- Reactors an off-site facility. Team: Cheri L. Cross and ing & Computing Technologies, Don E. Developing and successfully deploying the Marcia D. Whitson of Asset Management & Maxwell and Kenneth D. Matney of Com- Spectrometer Instrument Control Environment, Small Business Programs puter Science & Mathematics and Suzanne thereby enabling a new generation of neutron Achievement of internationally recognized W. Willoughby of Networking & Computing scattering experiments. Team: Mark D. National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Technologies Lumsden, J. Lee Robertson and Mohana Program accreditation for the ORNL Metrol- TeraGrid milestone: Transition to opera- Yethiraj of Condensed Matter Sciences ogy Laboratory. Team: Robert P. Effler, tions for the Neutron Science TeraGrid HFIR Instrument Air Upgrades to modify Gerard F. Payne, William E. Wright, Gregory Gateway for the ORNL TeraGrid Project. and improve the instrument air supply. Team: A. Strickland and Carol D. McNelly of Team: Susan E. Hicks of Networking & Dave G. Davenport and Mark E. Mathews of Quality Services Computing Technologies and Gregory G. Research Reactors Preparation of regulatory documentation Pike of Computer Science & Mathematics Exceptional contribution to Weigh-In- required for Multiprogram Research Facility New USEC modified eddy current balance Motion program. Richard M. Davis of the land transfer. Team: Terry M. Bonine and probe performance certification. Team: National Security Directorate David D. Skipper of Environmental Protec- Marcus L. Simpson, Michael S. Emery and For receiving the Presidential Early Career tion & Waste Services Charles R. Schaich of Engineering Science & Award for Scientists and Engineers for his Operation and maintenance cost savings Technology pioneering approach to the study of magnetism and infrastructure improvements associated Successful completion of methods develop- in nanostructure materials synthesis. Jian Shen with ORNL’s electrical power supply. Joseph ment and validation for the Nuclear of Condensed Matter Sciences G. Whedbee of Facilities Management Regulatory Commission. Mark D. Dehart of Discovery and first experimental demonstra- Exceptional support for HFIR 402A and Nuclear Science & Technology tion of strong polarization enhancement in 402B outage. Team: James E. Buchanan, Development of advanced operating asymmetric three-component ferroelectric Edwin R. Blackburn, Hugh T. Christie, Bruce scenarios for the ITER fusion experiment. superlattices. Ho Nyung Lee of Condensed G. Walker of Facilities Management Team: Masanori Murakami and Mickey R. Matter Sciences Support of programming and preliminary Wade of Fusion Energy Production of 125 clad vent sets for NASA. design efforts on the Multiprogram Research Rapid resumption of vital classified George B. Ulrich of Metals & Ceramics Facility project. Team: Richard C. Griffin, computing operations under new A-CREM Breakthrough research based on advanced Deborah B. McCarter, Peter R. Kulesza and rules and dramatic reduction of classified electron microscopy of polymer-based Bart A. Hammontree of Facilities Develop- media inventory. Daniel S. Clark of Nuclear membrane-electrode assemblies. Team: Karren ment Science & Technology L. More and Kimberly S. Reeves of Metals & Consolidation and integration of facilities- Completion of a 200-page document to Ceramics related information into a Computer-Aided meet a DOE joule milestone. Team: Richard Power coupler conditioning in support of Facilities Management system that will enable L. Schmoyer and Lorena F. Truett of Engi- critical path schedule for the SNS linac. Team: all staff to have easy access to information neering Science & Technology Yoon W. Kang, Dale A. Heidenreich, Sheng related to operations of facilities at ORNL. Capturing a lead role for ORNL to evaluate Peng, Debra L. Douglas, Mark P. Cardinal, Team: Ricky C. Stephens of Networking & the use of cost-effective cementitious material Bryan R. Gross, Mark T. Crofford, Jimmy D. (Continued on next page)

4 June 2005 Computing Technologies, David A. Kennard Salt “Liquid salt distributes heat so well that of Integrated Operations Support and Daniel the vessel becomes very hot, so we would G. O’Connor of Facilities Management Continued from page 1 need to engineer very good thermal insula- Improvements to Building 1506 and the the heat from the low-enriched uranium-235 tion, which is a materials problem,” Dan addition of two state-of-the-art research graphite-coated fuel particles, delivering more says. “And although liquid salt’s high boiling greenhouses for the Environmental Sciences heat to the job to be done. Liquid salt boils at temperature is an advantage, it also has a Division. Team: Owen W. Hale and Jeffrey S. 1400¼C, which is well above its operating high freezing temperature, turning to a solid Harrison of Facilities Development, Steven R. temperature, and it operates at low pressure, at 350Ð500¼C. This presents a refueling Cline of Environmental Sciences, Wayne S. which trumps another disadvantage of a gas- challenge because the reactor must be kept Underwood of Operational Safety Services cooled reactor, which operates at high very hot, which has perplexed some vendors and Elizabeth M. Schilling of Contracts pressures. who have been interested. Instrumentation Renovation and transformation of Building Once powered up and operating, the heat also will have to be designed to withstand the 7601. Team: Ann R. Bryant of Integrated from the reactor would heat.” Operations Support and Steffon C. Riser of keep the salt melted and None of that sounds particularly insur- Facilities Management flowing. At higher mountable, and ORNL, which once enjoyed Planning and managing for the continuity of temperatures, the salt has the reputation as the center of the Earth for operations of the Visitor Services Center the same look and feel as nuclear technology, has a trove of data from during the move to a new state-of-the-art water. the MSRE project, which started out with the facility. William J. Manuel of Laboratory “Because liquids carry nuclear aircraft program of the 1950s. Protection heat much better than Dan notes that the MSRE itself ran for two Development and delivery of californium- gases, a liquid salt-cooled and a half years and that salt test loops ran 252 products. Team: Robert R. McMahon and reactor can run at three for up to nine years. The Atomic Energy Edward H. Smith of Nonreactor Nuclear times as much power,” Commission, which oversaw ORNL’s Facilities and Leslie K. Felker of Nuclear Dan observes. “It looks operations at the time, went instead with a Science & Technology Ingersoll like a pretty attractive sodium breeder reactor, which was never International Motor Selection Survey and system.” built. The Clinch River Breeder Reactor, Analysis Technical Committee Meeting The liquid-salt idea was proposed too late slated for Oak Ridge and killed in the 1970s, preparation. Susan S. Johnsen of Engineering for the Advanced Reactor Program’s lead would have been a sodium-cooled breeder. Science & Technology concept roadmap, but it attracted enough The MSRE, forlorn in Melton Valley, has Exceptional support for Transportation attention to receive funding for a viability been relieved of its fuel and is now an Security Project. Kristi L. Seal of Nuclear study last year. No viability issues arose, and environmental management project. The Science & Technology funding for more studies arrived this year. knowledge from that project, however, may Dan’s NTPO group is putting together a help provide a critical source of energy in the Outstanding administrative support as a collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory, future. team during a period of significant change and which is the lead DOE lab for nuclear tech “This concept brings together everything transition. Team: Vicki M. Mayfield and (and is a sister Battelle lab to ORNL), and ORNL is good at—high-temperature Shirley A. North of Environmental Protection other labs and universities. materials, coolant and fuels. It will take all of & Waste Services There are, of course, some concerns and those to make that reactor work,” Dan Sustained performance and support to the technical hurdles to overcome. says.—B.C. Facilities Development Division during a time of significant change in staff and job assign- ments. Judith M. Noe of Facilities Development Installation of the cold neutron guide sections in the HB4 shield tunnel. Scott A. Forsberg: Need for hydrogen is now Moore of Condensed Matter Sciences eplacing gasoline with hydrogen as a transportation fuel is a long way off, but R producing gasoline from low-grade, heavy oil itself requires hydrogen. “There is an immediate need for hydrogen production,” says the Nuclear S&T Division’s Charles Forsberg. Don’t GET locked out Charles is a leading member of the ORNL team that has produced an s of May 31, the building proximity cards attention-getting proposal for a liquid-salt-cooled reactor that would A of employees whose General Employee function at the high temperatures that hydrogen production requires. Training has expired will be deactivated until He explains that the quality of crude oil is dropping, requiring the the required training is completed. Employees increasing insertion of hydrogen. with expired prox cards will need an escort to “In a very simplified manner, if you take coal or any hydrocarbon access buildings in controlled areas—which and add hydrogen, you get an increasingly liquid substance that can be include most of the Lab. converted to gasoline,” Charles explains. “And as the crude oil sources “ORNL has buildings as well as outdoor get dirtier, such as shale oil or tar sands, you need more hydrogen.” Forsberg and off-road locations designated as ‘con- Charles notes that hydrogen for these processes now comes from trolled areas’ with the posting of signs around natural gas. In fact, approximately five percent of the U.S. natural gas consumption is used campus,” says Operational Safety Services to make hydrogen. Division Director Carol Scott. “While “There is a very large hydrogen industry that most of us don’t notice. It sort of gets accessing our controlled areas does not mean swallowed up inside the big refineries,” he says. you will encounter radiation or radioactive The liquid-salt-cooled reactor would be powerful enough to make hydrogen on an materials, it is important that we ensure economical scale by using the reactor’s heat to break water down into hydrogen and hazards and rules are communicated to oxygen, or by using electricity, or both. personnel entering controlled areas. In And there wouldn’t be that double-dependency on fossil fuels.—B.C. addition, it’s the law.”

Oak Ridge National Laboratory 5 Climate conundrum Progress against certain pollutants, resulting in Earth’s brightening, poses environmental dilemma hree recent papers’ report that the Earth’s surface has brightened during Tthe past 15 years poses an environmental dilemma for human societies, according to Lianhong Gu of ORNL’s Environmental Sciences Division. The papers, published in the May 6 issue of Science, indicate that sunshine reaching the surface has been increasing since 1990, and this brightening trend erased a 30-year dimming of the Earth’s surface that had been observed from 1960 through 1990. Gu—a member of his division’s R&D staff who has studied environmental and atmospheric issues related to solar radiation over the past 10 years—says the UT-Battelle Scholarship winner Kellen brightening is likely a result of implementation of clean air policies and the application O’Connor (left) is congratulated by of better energy-use technologies in many countries throughout the world, which has ORNL Director Jeff Wadsworth. reduced atmospheric particulate pollutions. “The cleaner air policies that began in the 1970s have helped generate the progress that began to take effect around late 1980s O’Connor wins and made the Earth’s surface brighter,” Gu said. “When the air was dirtier, the surface of the Earth was not as bright. One can UT-B Scholarship see this clearly when the two periods from 1960 to 1990 and ellen Daniel O’Connor of Farragut High from 1990 to present are compared.” K School, son of Dan O’Connor of the Gu said this should be good news. However, this is only one Facilities Management Division, has received side of the story. the 2005 UT-Battelle Scholarship worth up to “The human societies have been putting all kinds of stuff into $20,000. the atmosphere.” Gu said. “Broadly speaking, they can be Kellen has a 4.23 grade point average and grouped into two categories of fine particles or pollutants—also has earned numerous honors and accolades, called aerosols—and greenhouse including the Tennessee Volunteer Scholar- gases such as carbon dioxide.” Lianhong Gu ship and the Farragut High School Pride Aerosols and greenhouse gases Award for all A’s. He is a member of the The presence of have nearly opposite effects on our climate, according to Latin Honor Society, was nominated for the Gu. National Society of High School Scholars and greenhouse gases, “Aerosols tend to reflect more sunlight back to space and for Who’s Who among U.S. students. He is which trap heat, and cool the earth surface whereas greenhouse gases tend to trap also a member of the Latin Club, Mu Alpha the heat inside our earth system and thus warm the surface,” Theta and the National Junior Classical particulate Gu says. “When they are both present in our atmosphere, League and participated in the American pollution, which they help keep the effects of each other on our climate in Mathematics Competition. check.” On another level, Kellen is regarded as an reflects the sun, The ORNL researcher said this is probably the reason excellent problem solver and is especially created a balance. little warming was observed before the 1980s even though adept at rebuilding computers, setting up the greenhouse gas concentration increased. network communications and writing Success at removing “Because of health concerns, governments have been computer programs. In the community, particulates, and the trying to control emissions of pollutants into the air,” Gu Kellen is a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, says. “Yet the effort of curbing greenhouse gas emissions performs with a church choir at nursing lack of progress with lags much behind, and atmospheric greenhouse gas homes and missions and serves dinner at the greenhouse gases, concentrations have been continuously climbing. This Volunteer Ministry Center. creates an imbalance for our climate system, which probably The UT-Battelle scholarship is a competi- may explain the explains the sharp warming trend observed more recently.” tive award presented annually to the child of recent sharp The authors of the three papers in Science view potential an ORNL employee. The scholarship is impacts of global brightening on the climate as important awarded in $5,000 annual increments over a warming trend. issues that require additional research. Gu agrees with that four-year period to an outstanding graduating assessment, emphasizing ORNL has an important role to high school student who plans to study play in that research. science, mathematics or engineering at UT. “All of this is related to many projects we’re doing in the Environmental Sciences Division,” Gu says. “We concentrate a lot of our research on looking at the effects on ecosystems, including the study of plants, soil, the water and Retirements carbon cycles. All of these tie in with global brightening issues because the energy from Dave O’Kain has retired the sun drives everything in ecosystems.” from the Engineering S&T Gu says a two-pronged strategy is needed in future research into global brightening Division with more than 37 and greenhouse issues. years of service. Dave most “You’re dealing with a chain of reactions,” Gu says. “This is an ecological issue as recently worked at the well as an atmospheric issue. We need to increase collaborative research in both the National Transportation areas of greenhouse effects and reducing pollution. It is a complicated process, but the Research Center, but his research needs to be done together. The national labs—especially ORNL—can make career also covered great contributions in this important issue.”—Fred Strohl flywheel and gas centrifuge research. Dave resides in O’Kain Oak Ridge. 6 June 2005 New Staff Members ORNL establishes Shull fellowship Gregory Lynn Capps, Jerry Lee Stockton, Timothy Daniel Crisp, John Mary DeBaca, for studies in neutron science Spallation Neutron Source Norman Cleveland Couns, Office of Counter- RNL has announced the establishment of the Clifford G. Shull Fellowship, a two- intelligence O year postdoctoral appointment similar to ORNL’s Wigner Fellowship. A maxi- Colby Allen Earles, Creative Media mum of 10 appointments, sponsored by the Spallation Neutron Source and High Flux Daniel Scott Franklin ,William “Brence” Isotope Reactor, will be made over several years. Gilley, Douglas Allen Harrill, Steve The Shull Fellowship is open to fields of science and engineering that foster further Warner Samuelson, Timothy Neal Taylor, advances in neutron science. Sandra Lee Wry, Charlene Vanessa “The fellowship’s goal is to attract new scientific talent to ORNL and its neutron Hardaway, Stephanie Michelle Layden, science programs, making it possible for these outstanding new scientists to continue on Steve Wayne Malone, Jeffrey Clay Clower, the path to excellence while substantially contributing to ORNL and DOE missions and Christopher Wayne Duncan, Janice Elaine goals,” says SNS Director Thom Mason. Giles, Timothy Michael Ingram, Jamie Ray Shull fellows will be expected to provide valuable stimuli to the research efforts of Seeber, Michael Edward Bowling, Andy the Laboratory, make available the most recent developments of university science and Wayne Crass, William Mack Seals, Craft engineering departments and represent the Laboratory to its sponsors and collaborators Resources in the scientific community. Leslie Leon Morgan Jr., Human Resources The fellowship is named for Clifford Shull, co-recipient of the 1994 Nobel Prize for Daniel James Getman, Tracy Anne Warren, physics, who began his work in 1946 at what is now ORNL. He has been called the Computational Sciences and Engineering “father of neutron scattering,” and the fellowship has been established in recognition of Christopher Michael Hayes, Bruce Wayne his pioneering work in the field. Patton, Brigham Thomas, Nuclear S&T For more information on the fellowship, contact Bob Martin, (865) 241-2950, Otis Earl (Bronson) Messer II, Computer [email protected]. Science & Mathematics Ricky Lynn Bullock, Quality Services Calvin Josaphat, Facilities Management Bruce Matthew Walker, Research Reactors Nathan Lee Wood, Engineering S&T Retirement plans? John Sheffield Diana Renee Lowery, Health Services publishes his 30-year labor of love Service Anniversaries RNL retiree John Sheffield, who once John says. June Oled the Fusion Energy Division and is Writing the novel was an epic in itself. 45 years: Margaret B. Emmett, Nuclear currently a senior fellow at UT/ORNL’s Joint Interested in Greek and Norse mythology since Science & Technology Institute for Energy and Environment, has childhood, he began the book as a short story 30 years: William J. Allington, Bill Bryan and published a novel, set in modern times but in 1974, when he worked on the Joint Euro- John C. Rowe, Engineering Science & based on, and intertwined with, Greek pean Torus project, and got two-thirds through Technology; Nermin A. Uckan, Fusion Energy; mythology. before setting it aside around 1988 because of Gary A. Hampton, Asset Mgt & Small The book, Marienna’s Fantasy, published work commitments, “until the turn of the Business Programs; Willie J. Allen, Integrated by iUniverse, is the product of 30 century.” Operations Support; Rickey Darnell Madison, years of off-and-on writing, John’s family has contributed to James M. Ellis and Raymond T. Cox, Craft revision and review. his own labors by reviewing his Resources; David P. Vogt, Environmental The book is about a Greek- drafts of both Marienna’s Sciences Texan scientist playing out Fantasy and a second book, 25 years: Betty A. Lawson, Logistical Ser- the fantasies of his god- called Roseland, that he vices; John K. Mongar, Facilities Management; mother, who has written hopes to have published Joel C. Lewis, Boyd Hallman and Joseph four plays about Greek gods within the year. Franklin Walker, Jr., Nuclear Science & with family members in “My wife and son and Technology; N. L. Hardin, Craft Resources; established roles. The daughter-in-law provided Wilfred M. Post and Gail Robinson Hamilton, godmother, Marienna, important critical commentary Environmental Sciences; Tammy Sue Darland, becomes convinced the roles and I rewrote [Marienna] a Computer Science and Mathematics; Teresa D. may be real and persuades her number of times,” John says. Ferguson, Paul D. Ewing and M. S. Emery, scientist godson, Festus, to repeat a “Interestingly, and I bet this happens to Engineering Science & Technology; Stephen version of the so-called Labors of Heracles. most or all authors, the characters began to E. Burnette, Research Reactors; S. N. Murray, The labors include a search for the Loch take over: The story evolved up to the time I Jr., SNS Accelerator Systems; Susan D. Patty, Ness monster, translating the Phaestos Disk published it.” Computational Sciences & Engineering; and a battle with an oil-eating bug that fouls John currently lives north of Atlanta and Dorothy J. Tate and Benjamin A. Carreras, machinery. As Festus becomes selfishly comes to Oak Ridge about once a month. Fusion Energy; Tammy K. Hill, Business & immersed in one labor after another, his wife Marienna’s Fantasy is available in hardback, Information Services Dir.; LeJean M. Hardin, and daughter leave him. soft cover or download from iUniverse, Communications & External Relations Dir.; “Like many scientists, he focuses single- www.iUniverse.com. —B.C. Paul F. Becher, Metals & Ceramics mindedly on his work, neglects his wife and 20 years: Brian H. Davison, Life Sciences; daughter, and they leave him. He struggles to Image: The “Phaestos Disk” Gerald Alan Seymour, Craft Resources; get them back while still doing the labors,” looms large in Sheffield’s plot. Samuel J. Henley, Research Reactors; Steven J. Zinkle, Metals & Ceramics Oak Ridge National Laboratory 7 Knoxville, ORNL, SNS at best for May’s PAC05 visitors he world, almost literally, of particle only the Taccelerator physics came to Knoxville last government month for the 2005 Particle Accelerator can supply, Conference. Conferees left, says conference and the reality chair Norbert Holtkamp, with a tremendous is that those impression of Knoxville and of their first look scarce at the Spallation Neutron Source. resources will “It was a perfect conference,” Norbert says. go to those “We’ve gotten a lot of e-mails from many things that attendees who say that is was a great scientific ordinary meeting and enormously appreciated. Many citizens think were impressed with the governor’s remarks. are important [Nobel laureate] Carlo Rubbia had a great to themselves time.” and to their Many attendees, who came from all over children and to the globe, went away with a very real our nation. impression of the Spallation Neutron Source, That’s our job, which sponsored this year’s PAC05 with to remake that Curtis Boles Jefferson Lab. Nearly 500 attendees toured connection in Fielding questions from the Einstein in the City audience May 18 are, the SNS during the week, including nearly the 21st from left, Bill Madia, Morris Tanenbaum, Norbert Holtkamp, 300 who stayed an extra day after the century,” he Michael Turner and Carlo Rubbia. conference. said. “The SNS tours were a phenomenal The particle accelerator community may be panel discussion on science between sets of success—they wondered how we had gotten far flung, but it is a close group. The confer- music would play with the crowd, but the all that done,” Norbert says. ence was marked by numerous hallway audience packed the stage and peppered the Gov. Phil Bredesen, who owns a degree in conversations among colleagues who likely panel with science questions. physics, welcomed the conference on rarely gathered except at the biannual Rubbia was a crowd favorite. One of his Monday, May 16, and stayed for the morning conference. Anywhere there were two chairs, most enlightening observations was that Peter plenary sessions. ORNL Director Jeff there was a discussion going on. Higgs, who first theorized the Higgs boson, is Wadsworth and a host of top particle physi- The PAC05 organizers joined the city of a bit chagrined over his namesake because cists joined the governor for an extended Knoxville for May 18’s Einstein in the City “he doubts it exists.” lunch. event on the World’s Fair site. Attendees and The conference was a major event for the In his remarks, Bredesen stressed the locals mingled for music and one of the city of Knoxville and its new conference importance of government’s role in science surprise hits of the conference: a panel center. PAC05 was the first big conference and scientists’ role in helping the public discussion and question and answer session booked for the Knoxville Convention Center, understand what they are supporting. led by Battelle’s Bill Madia and featuring and with a crowd filling the corridors, the “Regardless of whether the next president Rubbia, the National Science Foundation’s place is a showpiece. Conference crowds or the next Congress is Democrat or Republi- Michael Turner, former AT&T executive packed lunch spots downtown. The city can, the reality is that resources are scarce, the Morris Tanenbaum and Norbert. clearly would like to experience more weeks reality is that big science needs resources that Organizers were unsure how sandwiching a like May 16Ð20.—B.C

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage No. 67, June 2005 PAID Permit #37 Powell, TN New role for MSRE tech, page 1

F&O is faster, page 1

Lab Notes: Community Day coming, charity, page 3

SEA winners, pages 4-5

Climate conundrum, page 6

Scholarship winner, page 6