It is deemed feasible to store reactor fuel wastes in a salt dome cavity to a depth where the differential in pressure between the soil over-burden pressure and pressure of the fluid inside the cavity does not exceed 3000 psi, and the temperature is less than 400 deg F. Tests at pressure increments of 1000 psi were conducted on a 2" cylindrical cavity contained in a 6-in. long by 6-in. cylindrical salt core. Tests indicate that the cavity exhibited complete stability under pressures to 3000 psi and temperatures to 300 deg F. At temperatures of 100 to 400 deg F and pressures to 5000 psi continuous deformation of the cavity resulted. Initial movement of the salt was observed at all pressures. This was evidenced by vertical deformation and cavity size reduction. It was noted that a point of structural equilibrium was reached at lower temperatures when the pressure did not exceed 5000 psi. A literature study reveals that the most common type of cavity utilized in liquefied petroleum gas storage is either cylindrical or ellipsoidal. A few are pear or inverted cone shaped. There was no indication of leakage for cavities when pressure tested for as long as 72 hr. …

A parameter study was made of some of the nuclear characteristics the HRT would have if the core and blanket were operated at different temperatures. The power density in the fuel solution at the inner surface of the core tank was found to be affected very little by the temperature distribution. However, the thermal flux at the core-tank wall increased when the blanket temperature was reduced (a consequence of the reduced critical concentration). (auth)

Solid phases in the zirconium-nitric acid-hydrofluoric acid system were identified by chemical and x-ray diffraction methods. Five different compounds were crystallized at various temperatures and fluoride concentrations from fluoride or fluoborate solutions. These include the mono- and trihydrates of zirconium tetrafluoride, plus three hydrolysis products which possess a fluoride- to-zirconium ratio of approximately three, yet produce different x-ray patterns. The trifluorides crystallize from solutions of low fluoride-to-zirconium ratio at temperatures of below 90, 65 to 100, and above above 95 deg C, respectively. Solubilities of these basic trifluorides were measured at 25 deg C in 1, 6, and 16M nitric acid. (auth)

Tests have been made to determine the sensitivity of various radiation detection instruments for known amounts of ThO/sub 2/ contained in simulated cuts and abrasions. A shielded Geiger-Mueller counter tube can be expected to detect at least 0.1 mg ThO/sub 2/ when counting for a reasonable length of time provided the ThO/sub 2/ deposit is on the surface of the subject being counted. A shielded gamma-spectrometer-crystal, set at a 50-kev cutoff, can be expected to detect at least 0.5 mg ThO/sub 2/ even when an absorber equivalent to 1/2 in. of paraffin is placed between the crystal and the ThO/sub 2/ sample. Duration of exposure of standard film badge photographic emulsions is inversely proportional to the amount of material present and an exposure of about 300 hr is required to detect 10 mg of surface ThO/sub 2/. Although no information is available on the amount of thorium required to induce fibrosarcomas, an extrapolation of data for plutonium indicates that of the order of 1/2 gram of thorium must be present before occurrence of fibrosarcomas would be observed. This value does not represcnt a lower limit but is more likely to be a value for which occurrence of fibrosarcomas are a …

A review of data on the effects of chlorides in nitric acid solutions upon stainless steel indicates that the proposed maximum chloride specification of 350 ppm chloride in the Darex Pilot Plant product is reasonable. (auth)

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Report describing a the design requirements of a proposed nuclear power plant for use on an ice cap.

Two Zircaloy-clad capsules (GKH-14-19,20) containing two compacts each of high density PuO2-UO2 mixed crystal oxides were shipped to the MTR in December 2, 1958. The compacts contain 0.026 a/o PuO2, have densities of 91 percent of the theoretical value, and will generate the same specific power as an Al-1.8w/o Pu alloy rod of the same diameter would produce. Two capsules (GKH-14-21,22) have been prepared and contain three compacts each of low density, about 65 percent of the theoretical value, PuO2-UO2 mixed crystal oxides. It is tentatively planned to ship the last two capsules during January 1959.