Tests have been made to study the effects of lowering process water pH from pH 7.7 to the range pH 6.2--7.3; of reducing the amount of sodium dichromate inhibitor added to the water; and of eliminating the filtration step in the water treatment process. The results on the pH testing showed that reducing the pH of the cooling water would reduce aluminum corrosion rates. The plant specification has been changed to lower process water pH from 7.7 to 7.3 and plant scale testing of pH 7.0 water is in progress. Reducing the dichromate concentration in the water from 2 to 0.2 ppm had no deleterious effects on the aluminium pile components but might cause pitting of the carbon steel pile effluent lines. The use of unfiltered water is technically feasible from the stand-points of corrosion and film formation but probably would cause a sizable increase in the radioactivity of the pile effluent water. 6 figs., 5 tabs.

This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for April 1955. 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.

This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for May 1955. 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.

This memorandum covers the results of a study aimed at recommending a general course of action on waste handling and storage at Savannah River. It is the intent of the study to develop recommendations applying to the immediate needs for additional waste storage capacity, to plant tests of methods for reducing waste volumes to engineering design and development aimed at future economies, and to research on longer term phases of the program. It is further intended that steps recommended for the immediate future be such as to permit taking maximum advantage of late developments.

The magnetic susceptibility of artificial graphite was determined as a function of exposure in the MTR. Specimens were studied with exposures ranging from 0.07 to 82 {times} 10{sup18} nvt. Fluxes were determined by means of x-ray measurements and resistivity measurements. The dependence of the magnetic susceptibility on exposure in the MTR and also in a Hanford reactor are graphed, and an equivalence factor is calculated.

None

None

None

The feasibility of designing and developlng a canned centrifuge capable of operating for extended periods in a highly radioactive area was investigated. A preliminary design for the entire unit is outlined. It is concluded that such apparatus can be designed and built. Cost estimates are given, and recommended features for incorporation in the centrifuge are listed. (J.R.S.)

Seven control rods will be used in the APPR-1 instead of five as originally planned. Critical experiments evaluating the rod worth for the APPR-1 have been performed at ORNL, and calculations have been carried out by ALCO interpreting these experimental results. The calculations indicate that the capability of any four of the original five rods to shut down the cold reactor at mid-life is marginal. The calculations are summarized in this memorandum. (auth)

None

The production of U/sup 232/ in the cost optimized TBR and oneregion thorlum oxide-uranium oxide slurry reactor has been estimated to be, respectively, 40 and 260 parts per million parts of U/sup 233/ produced. These production rates are compared with corresponding production rates in irradiated thorium rods and found to be comparable. Recommendations are made for increasing the purity of the U/sup 233/ product. (auth)

None

None

None

None

Sampling and analysis of scavenged waste is necessary to determine if the settled supernate is suitable for disposal to ground and to make corrections in pretreatment of the waste with minimum delay if unsuitable supernate is being produced. From experience to date with TBP waste scavenging and initial first cycle waste scavenging, which are generally similar, the procedures discussed in this report for sampling, analysis, and reporting of results for these two wastes are recommended to fulfill Radiological Sciences' needs.

None

A study was made to evaluate the possibility of an explosive reaction occurring in the Hanford Purex Plant concentrators as presently instrumented. Results revealed that the occurrence of an explosive reaction in the Purex Plant concentrators with present instrumentation is very unlikely. (W.L.H.)