The minimum shutdown time, to permit accessibility, for the Intermediate Power Reactor is estimated to be 38 hours. In case the reactor were shutdown following each rupture this long shutdown period would have serious disadvantages. The desirability of being able to make firm power commitments (independent of slug ruptures) has led to a study of the possibility of continuous operation following a rupture. There is evidence to indicate that, at the proposed water temperature, the rate of corrosion of uranium may be so high that at least a major portion of the rupture products may have entered the system before the reactor can be shutdown. A pushout of the affected column would then be a pushout of only those slugs which are still intact and the problem would still remain of removing the rupture products from the system. The first portion of this report is concerned with the rate of corrosion of a slug following rupture and the possible limitations to the principle of non-shutdown operation. These limitations include a flow stoppage by the ruptured can, undue increase in gamma activity, increased corrosion by the rupture products, and adherence of rupture products to the piping. The latter portion of the …

This report discusses Production Test 105-516-A which was written to determine the stability by both measurement and visual examination, of thorium slugs as used in flattening columns to exposures in excess of 400 MWD/AT. Both rolled and extruded thorium slugs were used; the highest exposures reached were about 1000 MWD/AT. Also discussed is Production Test 105-551-A which was written to demonstrate the stability of thorium slugs as used in flattening columns at exposures up to approximately 1500 MWD/AT; the supplement authorized exposures up to 3000 MWD/At. Six tubes of 10-66 material already in the pile were chosen; these have been discharged at exposures varying from {approximately}1230 to {approximately}2000 MWD/At.

This is the second of a series of documents issued quarterly. The documents present, for critical examination by management and for the information of related groups, that portion of the future 100 Area technical program which relates directly and more or less immediately to the Technical-Manufacturing efforts to increase both power levels and production. An attempt is made to describe and justify the key production tests planned for the following six month period. Only those tests necessary for the relief of technical and process limitations and vital to the slug improvement program are included. Best estimates of changes in current Process Specifications during the ensuing six months are also given. To further longer range planning, power level forecasts based on foreseeable changes of technical limits and scheduled physical changes of the water plants and reactors are extended several years into the future.

This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for October 1954. The report is divided into sections by department. A plant wide general summary is included at the beginning of the report, after which the departmental summaries begin. The Manufacturing Department reports plant statistics, and summaries for the Metal Preparation, Reactor and Separation sections. The Engineering Department`s section summarizes work for the Technical, Design, and Project Sections. Costs for the various departments are presented in the Financial Department`s summary. The Medical, Radiological Sciences, Utilities and General Services, Employee and Public Relations, and Community Real Estate and Services departments have sections presenting their monthly statistics, work, progress, and summaries.

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Mixtures of fluoride salts were found to show promise for the circulating-fuel application. An experiment to measure the heat transfer characteristics of the fluoride salt mixture NaF-- ZrF/sub 4/-- UF/sub 4/ was performed. A correlation of film heat transfer coefficients and the effect on heat transfer of deposits resulting from corrosion or mass transfer of container materials are reported. (J.E.D.)

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A design study has been made of a small "Package" nuclear power plant for the production of electric power and heat in remotely located, inaccessible areas devoid of natural fuels. The design utilizes a horizontal boiling reactor as a steam generator consistent with safe and simple equipment and a minimum building height. A reactor design of 51/2 Mw capacity, with a combined net electric power output of 750 kw and a heat plant output of 4500 kw, was studied in detail. Tertative cost estimates are presented on the basis of this combination. General comparisons have been made between different systems designed for either independent or combined production of 425 kw net electric power and 2500 kw available heat. (auth)

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The purpose of this document is to present in graphical form a current picture of the quality of the Hanford plutonium product.

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Every type of thermal insulating material tested showed attack in varying degeces. Many specimens which had been cured at 1000 deg F, with no color change, did show drastic changes at 950 deg F due to the action of sodium. The materials showing the least disintegration and greatest preservation of mechanical properties were Superex paste and Eagle-Picher mineral wool. The uncured Superex Block did not hold up as well as Superax paste, presumably due to the presence of water of crystallization; after curing, the results were similar to that of the paste. The refractory clays showed the greatest degree of destruction. The time element is of vital importance, since a long perfod of contact with liquid sodium would presumably result in complete destruction of every specimen tested. (auth)

The operating performance of air-cleaning facilities at AEC installations is reviewed, and fundamental information obtained from basic studies of aerosol behavior is presented. Separate abstracts have been prepared for each paper. (W.L.H.)

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The recent occurrence of an excessive number of a slug ruptures, approximately half of which were stuck, has held the operating efficiency at H Pile to a very low level. This document presents information pertinent to these failures, steps which have been taken to remedy the situation, and a possible reason for their occurrence. 2 figs., 1 tab.