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The Underground Test Area (UGTA) Activity uses a variety of methods to collect groundwater samples to identify radionuclide migration from underground nuclear tests. These include depth-discrete bailing, pumping with low-volume rod pumps, and pumping with electrical submersible pumps. The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Integrated Groundwater Sampling Plan specifies that when sampling with a pump, a minimum of three effective well volumes are withdrawn and then samples are collected after water-quality parameters have stabilized. In locations where pumping is not feasible, depth-discrete bailing is used and purging prior to sampling is usually not required. A recent study evaluated three sampling technologies and recommended that historical tritium results be evaluated where both pumped and bailed samples are available to identify preferred sampling protocols for the collection of tritium samples. The tritium (³H) activities were obtained from the UGTA chemistry data base. Wells were identified with known ³H activities above method detection limits, and then evaluated if both bailed and pumped samples had been collected. Twenty two wells and piezometers with bailed samples, pumped samples, and ³H activities above background were identified for further consideration. The conclusions from this analysis are: Bailed samples collected for ³H analysis near the water surface in a well are lower in ³H activity than bailed samples from within screened intervals and pumped samples. Depth-discrete bailed samples from within the screened intervals are generally in good agreement with pumped samples from developed wells and piezometers. Depth-discrete bailed samples from undeveloped wells and piezometers are in good agreement with the first pumped samples. However, the next pumped samples increased in ³H activity, resulting in a greater percent difference between the undeveloped bailed samples and later pumped samples. Continuous pumping over extended periods removing large purge volumes from wells can perturbate the surrounding groundwater system for long periods of time. These perturbations can cause large changes in ³H activities in the aquifer near the well because of the mixing of groundwater with variable ³H activities. Recommendations include: Bailed samples for ³H should not be collected near the water surface in the well. Bailed samples should be collected from within the well screen. Logs of temperature, chemistry, and thermal flow should be evaluated to identify optimal depths within the well screen to collect depth-discrete bailer samples. Purging of large volumes of water from the well over extended periods of time should be avoided when collecting ³H samples. Sufficient time should be allowed after pumping large volumes of water from the well (e.g., after well development) for the surrounding aquifer and ³H activities to return to ambient conditions

This paper formalizes an optimal water-power flow (OWPF) problem to optimize the use of controllable assets across power and water systems while accounting for the couplings between the two infrastructures. Tanks and pumps are optimally managed to satisfy water demand while improving power grid operations; {for the power network, an AC optimal power flow formulation is augmented to accommodate the controllability of water pumps.} Unfortunately, the physics governing the operation of the two infrastructures and coupling constraints lead to a nonconvex (and, in fact, NP-hard) problem; however, after reformulating OWPF as a nonconvex, quadratically-constrained quadratic problem, a feasible point pursuit-successive convex approximation approach is used to identify feasible and optimal solutions. In addition, a distributed solver based on the alternating direction method of multipliers enables water and power operators to pursue individual objectives while respecting the couplings between the two networks. The merits of the proposed approach are demonstrated for the case of a distribution feeder coupled with a municipal water distribution network.

Hydroelectric power provides a cheap source of electricity with few carbon emissions. Yet, reservoirs are not operated sustainably, which we define as meeting societal needs for water and power while protecting long-term health of the river ecosystem. Reservoirs that generate hydropower are typically operated with the goal of maximizing energy revenue, while meeting other legal water requirements. Reservoir optimization schemes used in practice do not seek flow regimes that maximize aquatic ecosystem health. Here, we review optimization studies that considered environmental goals in one of three approaches. The first approach seeks flow regimes that maximize hydropower generation, while satisfying legal requirements, including environmental (or minimum) flows. Solutions from this approach are often used in practice to operate hydropower projects. In the second approach, flow releases from a dam are timed to meet water quality constraints on dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature and nutrients. In the third approach, flow releases are timed to improve the health of fish populations. We conclude by suggesting three steps for bringing multi-objective reservoir operation closer to the goal of ecological sustainability: (1) conduct research to identify which features of flow variation are essential for river health and to quantify these relationships, (2) develop valuation methods to assess the total value of river health and (3) develop optimal control softwares that combine water balance modelling with models that predict ecosystem responses to flow.

In this paper, we model water injection through a growing vertical hydrofracture penetrating a low-permeability reservoir. The results are useful in oilfield waterflood applications and in liquid waste disposal through reinjection. Using Duhamel's principle, we extend the Gordeyev and Entov (1997) self-similar 2D solution of pressure diffusion from a growing fracture to the case of variable injection pressure. The flow of water injected into a low-permeability rock is almost perpendicular to the fracture for a time sufficiently long to be of practical interest. We revisit Carter's model of 1D fluid injection (Howard and Fast, 1957) and extend it to the case of variable injection pressure. We express the cumulative injection through the injection pressure and effective fracture area. Maintaining fluid injection above a reasonable minimal value leads inevitably to fracture growth regardless of the injector design and the injection policy. The average rate of fracture growth can be predicted from early injection. A smart injection controller that can prevent rapid fracture growth is needed.

A generic computer model has been developed for the dynamic simulation of the radwaste evaporator system in nuclear power stations. The waste evaporator system is designed to receive dilute radioactive waste and to produce distillate and concentrated waste. The generic system component models developed include a submerged tube evaporator, a platetype absorber, a partially submerged tube condenser, and the interconnecting piping. The system component models have been integrated with Bechtel's Dynamic Analysis Program to simulate the system's dynamics. To illustrate the application of the model, the dynamics of an adjustment to the condenser cooling water flow valve have been simulated and presented. This presentation illustrates the strong potential of the model for solving control problems in new and operating radwaste evaporator systems. Potential applications of the computer model to radwaste evaporator systems include troubleshooting, optimization of control parameters, and automation of control functions.