The purpose of this paper is to describe a few of the suggested advanced concepts for fast breeder reactors and to compare these with the standard approach as to their potential advantage. I have attempted to estimate the economic effect of full technical success with each of the proposed concepts. The proposed concepts include: (1) single sodium system, (2) steam-cooled core concept, (3) direct cycle reactor using potassium as reactor coolant and working fluid, (4) molten plutonium-fuel alloy circulated and cooled by a jet of sodium, (5) settled-bed core, (6) molten salt concept, and (7) paste-fuel system.

A exploratory study was made of a polarographic technique in which an alternating sine or square-wave potential is superimposed upon the applied d.c. potential of the polarographic scan. Recording of the a.c. component of the polarographic current results in derivative-type waves. It was shown that the technique yields greater sensitivity and greater selectivity than normal polarographic technique.

Abstract: The erroneously high values for uranium content of salvage solutions as determined by the ether extraction-ascorbic acid procedure have been demonstrated to be due to the presence of colored organic materials in these solutions. Evaporation of such solutions to fumes of HC104 before extraction has been shown to be completely successful in preventing such interference while pretreatment with activated carbon is sufficiently successful for application in Control laboratories. Complete procedures for application of either protreatment and results of such application to composite salvage solutions received over a six-month period are included.

Seven runs were made with the system Penn. Ref. Co. "Supersol" (dispersed) water (continuous) to investigate the effects of pulse frequency, amplitude plate spacing, volume flow ratio, and throughput on backmixing, using the technique of continuous injection of a tracer solution into the packed section. Backmixing was found to be surprisingly insensitive to all the above variables over the range studied with the exception of pulse amplitude and continuous phase flow rate, showing greatest dependence on the later. Backmixing increased with decreasing continuous phase flow rate and increased with pulse amplitude.

Experiments are described which show that magnetic fields can exert a controlling influence on the operating characteristics of point contact transistors. The effect is especially evident when the transistor is operated in its negative resistance region. The frequency of an oscillator can be varied, or a switch made to trigger by applying a magnetic field to the transistor. Some applications of the principle are suggested; many more are evident.

The fact that material transport does occur under conditions of finite temperature difference in a flowing molten metal system was established. The rate mass transfer was thought to be either diffusion limited or solution rate limited. It is believed that the mass transfer of structural materials in Na or NaK systems is solution rate limited. The limiting process has not been qualitatively or quantitatively confirmed for the Inconel-Na or Inconel-NaK system. Increasing the maximum system wall temperature increases the amount of mass transfer, at least above 1300 deg F. The effect of the total temperature difference across the system on the amount of mass transfer was determined.

A method was developed for calculating shield induced gamma radiation escaping through openings in a biological shield. The method was applied to the HRT and the results indicated that the contribution to the dose from induced activity in the HRT shield was around 0.1 r/hr and was insignificant in comparison to to other mechanisms contributing to the escape of gamma rays through shield openings.

The following report provides data that was discovered from a preliminary literature survey that was made to define the utility of the newer refractory ceramics or ceramic-based materials.

Abstract: The nonmetallic inclusions in both as-reduced and fabricated dingot uranium have been studied for comparison with those in ingot uranium. Special attention was paid to the hydride for the purpose of determining the amount and distribution in the various types of uranium. The types and distribution of other inclusions were also studied. It was found that the dingot uranium was of a higher quality than ingot uranium and was comparable to as-reduced derby uranium on the basis of over-all inclusion count. The hydrogen content in dingot uranium, however, was found to be appreciably higher than in either ingot or derby uranium.

Report describing the research and development activities related to nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry and basic chemistry conducted by the Argonne National Laboratory Chemistry Division, Section C-1.

A program has been prepared for the 709 computer which will determine extrapolation length from horizontal traverses measurements taken in an exponential pile. The flux across the pile is assured to fit a cosine function of the form y = A cos B (X-C)

Technical report. Numerous application of various column adsorption techniques to inorganic analytical chemistry have appear in the literature. The comparatively recent introduction of ion exchange resins has resulted in the development of efficient, simple, and rapid column adsorption methods. the principal service of column adsorption methods to analytical chemistry is that of providing a relatively simple means of separating an element in a sufficiently pure state so that a direct precipitation, ignition, and weighting, for example, will suffice to complete the quantitative analysis. Systems involving uranyl nitrate will naturally be emphasized in this report but information will be included concerning the separation of the individual members of a series from one another, such as in the alkaline earths and the rare earths.

Several experiments have been performed at ORNL with light water solutions of uranyl nitrate (highly enriched in either U^233 or U^235) in an essentially bare sphere 27 inches in diameter. This report presents the results of several calculations with elementary bare reactor theory and a discussion of the observed discrepancies between the calculated and experimental results. If the observed critical concentration is used in the calculations, the calculated effective multiplication constant is less than unity' thus a higher critical concentration would be predicted than is actually observed.

The thermophysical properties of Armco iron such as thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient have been extensively investigated and reviewed up to 1000 degrees C. Few investigations of such properties have been made on high purity iron. If such a study is made using the same apparatus to determine the properties of two purity levels of iron, then several significant intercomparisons can be made which add meaning to data on a single material. The systemic errors for a single apparatus are the same, therefore comparison of a property of two similar materials is more significant. A comparison of the property changes with temperature and purity can show the effects of impurities on the mechanisms contributing to a property and allows prediction of the properties of iron as a function of purity. For these reasons a study was initiated on the high-purity iron for comparison to Armco iron.

Tory 11-A, the first experimental reactor in the Pluto nuclear ramjet program, will be tested in late 1960 at the Nevada Test Site of the Atomic Energy Commission. The fundamental objective of Tory II-A is to demonstrate that a high power density, high-temperature, air-cooled reactor can be successfully designed, constructed, and operated. This application places requirements on the reactor control system which are considerably more stringent than those found in previous reactor systems, both from the standpoint of radiation environment and system performance. To fulfill the system requirements a high-performance reactor control system has been designed and built; control actuation hardware has been developed which can withstand the high-radiation environment of Tory LI-A. This actuation system features radiation-tolerant electrohydraulic components: actuators, servo-valves, solenoid valves, feedback transducers, accumulators and associated hydraulic components. To provide high reliability against undesired shutdowns while carrying out high power level transients, the Tory 11-A control philosophy includes a new concept in reactor safety: reliance on a nonlocking, fast-reset safety system during accident situations. The fast-reset system acts so as to hold the programmed power level rather than initiating an irreversible "scram" action. A reactor "scram", if tolerated, could produce thermal shocks which would seriously damage the …

The circuits described herein and shown functionally in Fig. 1 are to be added to the HRT control circuit to provide control and protection for the revised HRT cooling water system. The circuitry will provide protection against excess pressure in the demineralized cooling water loop and cooling water activity, will initiate action to insure containment of activity in event of an explosion and will provide emergency cooling water from the tower basin when required.

Because of the excessive vertical fragility and high replacement costs of mice-window G-M tubes used in vertical and horizontal lead-pig shelf counters, it was requested that a simple system of conversions to reliable scintillation detection be accomplished.

The chromium-nickel-manganese alloys are a group of austenitic stainless steels which were developed during the Korean War to conserve nickel. These alloys are very similar to their corresponding 300 Series grades in mechanical, physical and corrosion properties. A portion of the nickel in the 300 Series grades has been replaced by approximately 2% manganese for each percent of nickel replaced. Two compositions, AISI 201 and AISI 202, are recognized as standard grades. Two other compositions, AISI 204 and AISI 204-L, have been produced in limited quantities to replace AISI 304 and AISI 304-L. Experience with the 200 Series steels indication they are every bit as good as the grades for which they were once alternates. In some shapes, such as rod and sheet, the cost per pound is considerably lower than the corresponding 300 Series grades.

Abstract: "Creep and creep-rupture tests were made on 25-O aluminum sheet at temperatures of 500 and 550 C. The estimated stresses that will produce 0.5 per cent deformation and rupture in 10,000 hours at 400, 450, 500, and 550 C (data at 400 and 450 C are from BMI-T-29, dated June 9, 1950) are presented."

Abstract: "Measurements have been made on pseudo-cylindrical graphite-enriched uranium unreflected systems. These measurements include both critical mass determinations and time dependent measurements using a pulsed neutron source to drive the assemblies."

Abstract: "A batch of slugs is being prepared for which the U-235 content will be 1.75 per cent, and it is of interest to calculate the minimum number of such slugs required for a critical assembly in water. Using Handbook (CL-697) methods, a critical assembly of these slugs arranged in a lattice with a spacing of 5.5 cm."

A general program has been written to plot curves on the Oracle curve plotter. A description of the code and complete instructions for preparation of input tapes and operation of the code are given. The code tape is available from the Mathematics Panel or from the author.

This paper for the Project Vela Technical Symposium is intended to be a brief resume of the principle results of the Cowboy program. The material is taken from a report entitled "Use of Large Cavities to Reduce Seismic Waves from Underground Explosions" by Herbat, Werth, and Spring (1960). As a result, no effect is made to justify each step in the analysis; reference should be made to the complete report.

Quarterly progress report describing work related to a study of radiation physics problems involved in the design of high-level cesium-137 gamma sources. It outlines work completed and ongoing goals for the project.