Bart Sokolow

• D.Env. Envirn Sci. & Engr
• University of California, Los Angeles

Often, we encounter inquiries from colleagues, asking whether they can engage a consulting firm for an environmental site investigation, expecting to receive a confidential report. While this request may seem straightforward, it is based on the erroneous assumption that the data and information generated by the consultant’s efforts will, in all ins...

A series of studies were undertaken to assess the safety hazards in proposed solar thermal power systems (STPS). Among the risks identified are distributed heliostat defocussing, interruption of working fluid flow, receiver meltdown, and leakage of hazardous fluids. It is concluded that unique hazards are presented by sensible heat, latent heat, an...

In addition to routine events, off-normal events can be expected to affect worker health and safety. Reflecting the distributed nature of solar energy, collector subsystem response to off-normal events may not be as controllable as, for example, the power in a fossil fueled power plant. The consequences are reflected within the receiver subsystem i...

A data base and methodology useful for the quantitative estimation of worker hazards in hypothetical technologies is proposed. The hazard to workers is partitioned into categories of accident sources and injury-types. The probability of experiencing a specified rate in each category is estimated from data on a selected group of industries. Direct c...

The effects of the use of thermal energy storage (TES) subsystems in solar thermal power systems (STPS) on operating failures and on worker health and safety are examined. Revelant near- and medium-term designs for TES subsystems are reviewed. Generic failure events are considered by an event tree methodology. Three generic categories of initiating...

Some aspects of safety in solar thermal power systems (STPS) have been studied to ascertain ways in which worker health and safety may be protected. Unique STPS hazards are also examined. A data base and methodology for quantitative predictions of injury rate is proposed. The methodology utilizes ordered comparisons of worker activities in STPS and...

Routine failure events in selected solar thermal power system designs are examined, and their rates of occurrence estimated. The results are used to compare and rank the systems considered. Modules of 1 to 100 MWe are developed based on reference or other near-term designs. Technologies used include parabolic trough, parabolic dish, and central tow...

An interdisciplinary summer (1972) study was carried out at UCLA to examine environmental, technical, legal, and safety questions related to potential siting of floating nuclear power plants off the coast of California. This paper discusses differences arising from the variety of sites considered, and tentative concepts for the floating barge, a sh...

The design of solar pond electric power generation systems is reviewed to delineate factors which may affect worker health and safety. Materials handling problems are identified, including brine production and circulation hazards. Toxicity of microorganisms and of pond additives is considered, as well as salt intrusion and dispersal. Each appears t...

This study results from the need of Southern California to receive a large part of its electrical energy from coal-fired power plants located outside of the state. The dependence on coal arises from arrangements made by the electrical utilities of Southern California with officials of the Federal government and of states other than California. Of p...

An analysis was made of unique technical issues to be considered in siting solar-thermal energy systems in small communities. Four systems are described: central receiver, parabolic trough, parabolic dish, hemispherical bowl. The difference between central receiver systems and distributed receiver systems are indicated with reference to current app...