The transfer or circulation of raw dissolver solutions containing gross particulate matter presents many problems not easily overcome by standard pumping equipment. In April of 1956 the HAPO concept of a modified Archimedes screw pump was developed. Two basic models, externally powered and driven through extended shafts, were constructed and tested. Operation of these preliminary models was so satisfactory that a third unit, integrally formed into drive motor, was built and placed in extended life test. This report describes construction and testing of the third and final model.

The methods for the separation of the elements from thorium to americium having wide use are those employing solvent extraction techniques (1) (2). During recent years the behavior of these elements on anion exchangers has been studied, resulting in the wide application of these resins to the separation of the actinides (3) (4) (5) (6) (7).

The instability of the steel tank bottom of 113SX waste storage tank was postulated to have been caused by a pressure underneath the steel liner which was in excess of the hydrostatic liquid load of the waste resting on the steel bottom.

In HW-56161(1), the preliminary background, bases, and advantages which could be visualized in the study and establishment of reactor concepts utilizing boiling mercury- 204 were presented. The attractive chemical and metallurgical properties of mercury which make it particularly suitable for use in special non-rigid fuel systems as well as its potential for heat transfer applications were considered to be of significant interest to the Plutonium Recycle Program also, since the issuance of the original document, continued study of the potentials for an economical isotope separations process for mercury has shown attractive possibilities for a method based on photochemical activation (HW-59329). (2) The prospectas(3) for this process appear so favorable that earlier opinions and expectations seem to have been conservative. Although the desired level of initial effort in related studies has not yet been realized, particularly in the area of chemical engineering, reactor engineering, and economics, it appears advisable to revise the earlier document to recognize the impact of the favorable outlook for economical mercury isotope production, to present other related information which has been developed, and to recommend the beginning of a research and development program.

The processing of spent fuels from nuclear power and propulsion reactors is planned by Hanford Atomic Products Operation as part of the Atomic Energy Commission's interim processing scheme. The spent nuclear fuels have cores of UO2, U, or alloys of U-Mb, U-Al, or U-Zr clad in either stainless steel, aluminum, or Zircaloy. This report discusses only the Zircaloy-clad fuels and the applications of the Zirflex Process for dissolution. Zirflex chemical flow sheets are presented as developed by pilot plant operations.

This note describes an analysis of the primary creep rates in thin-walled pressure tubing. The analysis accounts for the increase in tube radius and decrease of tube wall thickness. Both of these effects increase the stress; hence, they can affect the creep rate and cause unstable creep conditions.

Zirflex cladding waste is to be neutralized to pH 10 before transfer to waste storage tanks. This treatment causes the precipitation of zirconium oxide or hydroxide, which may lead to flow difficulties during transfer. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the physical properties and flow characteristics of the neutralized slurry to assist in the selectin of satisfactory transfer equipment and storage conditions.

A new package type facility for corrosion decontamination studies has been designed and fabricated. This report gives a description, drawings, and comments on its operation. It has been in operation since December, 1958.

The purpose of the Analytical Laboratory Manual is to assemble the basic procedures to be used for the analyses of materials employed within the Fuels Preparation Department. The methods appear in detailed steps suitable for laboratory use. This document replaces the "Essential Material Analytical Manual, " HW-25375 and "Metal Preparation Analytical Manual," HW-30862.

Following is a description of what may be an invention in the art of compacting uranium dioxide (UO2) and other ceramic or cermet nuclear fuel materials for ultimate use as reactor fuel elements. Vibration of ceramic fuel materials at the resonant frequency of the metal encasing material, using high rates of acceleration, produces uniformly compacted high-density fuel elements.

Designing a dissolver safe for up to 5 per cent U.235 enriched NPF's and having a one a ton per day capacity is a fundamental problem of Hanford NPF Program. Two basic design concepts have so far evolved, both of which employ a recirculating system in which the fuel elements are placed in the critically safe geometry separated from the bulk of the solution in another vessel. In one concept the fuel elements are charged to a set of geometrically safe cylinders or tubes and solution is circulated through them/ In the other concept the fuel elements are placed on a flat tray while solution is sprayed over them. In the latter system, nuclear safety is obtained by avoiding submerged dissolution and the resulting neutron moderation by the solution.

It is being considered that the in-reactor portion of the test section of the PRTR Gas-Cooled Loop Facility consist, in part, of two concentric Inconel-X tubes. The outer tube is the main stress member, with 3.5 O.D. and a wall thickness of 0.065. The inner tube is 3.0 O.D. and has a wall thickness of 0.030. The inner tube provides an annular gas space to serve as thermal insulation.

This is a report of what may be an invention in the preparation of uranium dioxide of a quality particularly useful for the fabrications of fuel elements for nutronic reactors.

A means for decontaminating the primary system of recirculating type reactor is necessary to insure operation and maintenance. This recirculation system can be contaminated by fuel element rupture products and induced corrosion product activities.

Report describing Hanford Laboratories' second report regarding thin wall tubing tests. This part covers "the production [of] test equipment developed, its operation, and test results" (p. 2).

The wrist badge provides a dosimeter that is useful in estimating the radiation dose to the hands and forearms. Its new shield system gives good gamma and slow neutron dose discrimination with duPont 552 film packets. The film can be evaluated using the present technique and equipment. Several attempts to develop hand dosimeters have been made. Finger rings using film have been used routinely but have not been entirely satisfactory for all situations. The wrist badge was developed to provide improved gamma and slow neutron dose measurement of the upper extremities under certain appropriate conditions. The wrist badge dosimeter is not a substitute or alternate for finger ring dosimeters but is a necessary dosimeter for some extremity exposure situations.

Exponential and critical approach type measurements have been made to determine the critical mass, material buckling, and in a few cases, the extrapolation length for the lattices. This report attempts to list all measurements on water-uranium heterogenous lattices made to date at Hanford. All lattices were water moderated hexagonal arrays loaded with uranium of enrichments up to 3.15.

One of the primary reasons for operating the high pressure KER loops is to obtain information concerning water quality control characteristics for recirculating water cooled reactors. The KER-1 loop is predominantly carbon steel and approximates the water quality conditions specified for the New Production Reactor (NPR).

In answer to the question, "How well do we know the composition of the fuel material for the PRTR start-up tests?", the analytical data on the PRTR fuel elements and other fuel elements which were fabricated by similar processes was gathered and analyzed. The results of this analysis are presented.

It is the purpose of this report to explain the bands and uses of a digital computer program for the calculation of steady state steam-water pressure drop and critical flow in pipes. The program has been coded for the IBM 709 computer. While so attempt has been made to obtain improved models of two-phase flow, it is believed that the numerical integration technique used in the code will permit more accurate calculation where pressure drops are large compared to the upstream pressure. The technique should lend itself readily to any improved correlations which appear in the future.

Over the past ten years, there has been considerable interest and expenditure on the recovery of ionium (thorium-230) from certain residues accumulated from the World War II uranium process at St. Louis, Missouri. Most of these efforts were reported in the classified literature. However, an unclassified report was issued recently by the Mallinckrodt Chemical Works on the plant design for ionium recovery. A review of the earlier efforts shows that consideration of ionium recovery was limited to the St. Louis residues. At that time the development of a substantial U. S. uranium ore milling industry had not yet been achieved.

A disposal method is needed for wastes generated from the decontamination of the NPR primary coolant loop. The limitations imposed by facilities design criteria for the disposal of NPR wastes preclude direct river release of the spent cleaning solutions because of the anticipated quantities of radioactive material in these wastes. The soil at a 100-N Area trench or crib should not be relied on for removing radionucleotides by ion exchange or filtration because of the high salt content of the wastes and the presence of solubilizing reagents. Permanent or long term storage of large volume of decontamination wastes would be expensive. A waste treatment is sought for concentrating the radioactive materials to volume suitable for long term storage and which would permit dispersal of the excess liquid to the environs.

Continued operation of F reactor with high water collection rates during the past 12 years has resulted in numerous detrimental effects. In addition to promoting external corrosion tube leaks, water leaks have corroded the Gunbarrel to the biological shield donut assemblies and cast iron thermal shield blocks, thus preventing the majority of tubes in F reactor from unrestrained thermal expansion. Fatigue of the Van Stone flange under the resulting compression loads leads to eventual failure in some cases. In addition, excessive compression loads exerted against the nozzle gasket result in plastic deformation and eventual failures of the gasket.

Two types of enclosed hot junction arrangements are possible with sheathed mineral insulated thermocouples. They are the integral junction and he isolated junction. The integral junction is formed by welding, soldering, brazing or forging the two wires into the end of the sheath. The process forms a good thermal and electrical contact between the three materials.