This report describes progress in testing nonaqueous methods for extracting uranium and vanadium from Western ores. Acetone leaches were found to be effective.

The following progress reports continues the investigation of the HCl-acetone process for extracting uranium, discovering that it is applicable to most Western ores, yielding high uranium recoveries. The economics of the process have been improved by substitution of sulfuric acid for part of the hydrochloric acid requirements.

This report describes progress regarding construction of a small pilot plant and a five-step process involving hydrochloric-sulfuric acid treatment and acetone extraction.

Boron solution circulated through special poison tubes to achieve more variable control of neutron flattening'' was tested in the 100-DR Hanford reactor. About 2700 gallons of irradiated waste Ink solution from Production Test 105-529-A was discharged to an underground crib at 100-DR, after radiochemical analyses and evaluation of radiation protection aspects by the Radiological Sciences Department. In case the Ink method is considered for production use at Hanford in the future, further biological and biophysical study is recommended to determine whether irradiated waste Ink solution may be disposed of into the Columbia River, into the ground near the river, or into the ground several miles from the river. 10 refs, 2 tabs.

From abstract: "Within the framework of age theory an expression is developed which represents the probability of a neutron being reflected with an energy loss corresponding to age, v, as a function of reflector thickness."

This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for July 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.

On July 27, 1954, 965 grams of plutonium alloy contained in three standard quart size ice cream cartons were being removed from the process line by two process operators using the plastic bag technique. Shortly after the plastic bag scaler had been energized a brown spot appeared on the plastic bag. The glowing turnings burned through the containers and plastic bag and continued to burn until completely oxidized. Personnel contamination was minor and readily removed. The contamination was confined to the room of the incident and was deposited in gross amounts in the area surrounding Task IV and V. This report includes a description of the incident and subsequent decontamination activities and a summary of plutonium recovery. Facts unknown about the incident and the reasons for these facts not being known are discussed. Plans for the future for reducing the possibility of recurrence of a similar incident are formulated.

None

"Engineering was continued on the development of sodium cooled, graphite moderated type reactors. General studies were carried out as well as studies specifically devoted to the following: a. full scale poser-only plant, b. thirty-mega watt pilot plant, the SGR, c. sodium reactor experiment, the SRE. This work consisted of theoretical analysis of various aspects of nuclear performance; economic investigations of different fuel element, cooling system and plant arrangements; and experimental investigations related to the properties of certain materials and to the development of components. Preliminary consideration was given to alternative reactor arrangements employing liquid hydrocarbon moderators and high temperature coolants other than sodium. In addition to a summary of the general design features of the SRD, a program was prepared outlining the proposed use of this installation.

Herman Lurie's weekly report for the sugar market. Details include prices, distribution, refiners, and quotas.

Bevatron operation has been stopped temporarily due to a generator fault. While repairs are being instituted the tank will be down to air for repairs and target installation. Operation on one generator is scheduled for May 3. It has been previously proposed that one could investigate the {pi}{sub 0} lifetime by measuring the converted electron yield from {pi}{sub 0} decay photons as a function of the thickness of a thin target in which both the {pi}{sub 0} production and photon conversion occur. If the lifetime were effectively zero the electron yield should depend quadratically upon thickness; whereas if the lifetime is sufficiently great, this quadratic rise will be delayed as the thickness is increased, due to the distance travelled by the {pi}{sub 0} before decay. In fact, the beginning of the yield dependence is cubic rather than quadratic in character. It is estimated that a lifetime of 10{sup -15} seconds should provide a distinctly detectable effect. The investigation may be considered practical at the Bevatron providing: (a) the production cross section for {pi}{sub 0}'s at 6 Bev is about 100 times that at 340 Mev, (b) a Bevatron pulse of 10{sup 8} protons, with a recirculation of 1000 times thru …

The equations used in advanced reactor core calculations and a semigraphical method for their solution are presented. The following fuel elements are analyzed: continuous plates, parallel-flow rods, cross-flow rods, tubular flow channels in a solid matrix of fuel, and pellets. (M.H.R.)

None

This report addresses the determination of oxygen in uranium and uranium hydride by reaction with bromine trifluoride.

Report presenting shock-position controls designed to actuate the translating spike and variable bypass of a variable-geometry inlet in the 8- by 6-foot supersonic tunnel. The operation of the inlet was observed in combination with a J34 turbojet engine at a range of Mach numbers. Results regarding terminal-shock-positioning control systems and combination control are provided.

Report presenting chordwise pressure distributions measured over the left wing of a Convair XF-92A delta-wing airplane at low lift to determine the effect of Mach number on the wing characteristics at transonic speeds. The critical Mach number of the basic wing was 0.83 for an airplane normal-force coefficient at 0.09. The spanwise load distributions were roughly triangular in shape.

Report presenting a program to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of a family of delta wings with a blunt double-wedge section in the hypersonic tunnel at Mach number 6.9. The wings varied at semiapex angle and were tested over a range of angles of attack and Reynolds numbers. Results regarding lift and drag characteristics, center of pressure and moment coefficient, Schlieren photographs, and surface film flow studies are presented.

"A method is described for measuring the dynamic stability derivatives of a model airplane in a wind tunnel. The characteristic features of this system are that single-degree-of-freedom oscillations were used to obtain combinations of rolling, yawing and pitching motions; that the oscillations were excited and controlled by velocity feedback which permitted operation under conditions unfavorable for more conventional types of oscillatory testing; and that data processing was greatly simplified by using analog computer elements in the strain-gage circuitry. A small number of experimental data are included to illustrate the general scope of results obtainable with this system" (p. 1).

Engine tests were made on a transpiration-cooled blade that was fabricated from an internal load-carrying member with an external surface of wire cloth. After operation in the engine, some damage was noted at the tip region of the trailing edge of the blades. On other sections of the blade, the wire cloth did not appear greatly overheated, and it appeared that satisfactory chordwise temperature distribution was provided by orifices in the blade base.

Report presenting an investigation of four axial-flow single-stage compressors with a hub-tip radius ratio of 0.5 with three objectives related to the ideal symmetrical-velocity-diagram design, the comparison of blade-element turning angle and loss data with cascade data, and the validity of the simplified radial-equilibrium equation. Results regarding the overall performance, blade-element performance, and radial equilibrium considerations are provided.

Report presenting the effects of deflecting full-span, constant-chord, leading-edge flaps with round or sharp leading edges on the lift, drag, and pitching-moment characteristics of a model of an interceptor-type aircraft at supersonic and subsonic speeds.

Memorandum presenting an investigation of flow deflectors which extend forward of an open-nose inlet for improving positive angle-of-attack performance and auxiliary scoops for use at off-design engine air-flow conditions at low angles of attack to determine their effect on net inlet performance. The results show that a deflector inlet and a basic open-nose inlet have about the same net performance at low angles of attack although the flow steadiness characteristics of the deflector inlet are the less desirable.

Report presenting an investigation of the performance of four divergent ejector configurations with shroud-exit to primary-nozzle-exit diameter ratios of 1.2 and 1.3 with minimum-shroud to primary-nozzle-exit diameter ratios of 1.1 and 1.2. A comparison of the performance of conical, cylindrical, and divergent ejectors showed that on the basis of similar design variables each configuration has merit. Results regarding the divergent-ejector performance and comparison of ejectors are provided.

Memorandum presenting an investigation of the effects of orientation by multi-axial stretching on properties of various plastic glazing materials. The materials studied were Lucite HC-222, Plexiglass 55, Gafite, and resin C. Some of the tests conducted included dimensional stability at elevated temperatures, surface abrasion, standard tensile tests, and stress-solvent crazing tests using ethylene dichloride.