The fire involved approximately 30 liters of isopropyl alcohol as a result of the ignition of about 16-18 liters of isopropyl alcohol and a slurry of thoria and ammonium nitrate in a 20-liter glass carboy. This material was undergoing a volume reduction by boiling in a floor-type metal hood with Plexiglas sides and 3 sliding door on the front of ordinary glass. The alcohol vapor was vents directly into the hood (Fig1.)

A series of critical experiments with blocks of 2% U235-enriched UF4-C25H52 has been initiated at the ORNL Critical Experiments Facility. Thus far assemblies with H:U235 atomic ratios of 195 and 294 have been built in parallelepipedal and simulated cylindrical geometries, both reflected and unreflected. From the results the minimum critical masses for reflected spheres have been determined to be 16.3 and 8.5 kg of U235 for fuel mixtures with H:U235 atomic ratios of 195 and 294, respectively. The minimum critical masses for unreflected spheres of these two fuel mixtures are 24.3 and 12.7 kg of U235, respectively.

This is the final report on the progress, "A Wide-Range Neutron Detector and Monitoring Instrument," ARF 1118-6. This report covers activities from May 8, 1958 to May 8, 1959. This report describes the basic design principles of a proportional counter that has been constructed whose cathode diameter increases towards one end.

The solids in Purex lww were first observed during flowsheet tests for recovery of fission products from plant wastes. Since the nature of this solid was not apparent from the flowsheet composition of lww, some work was performed to characterize this material. Although this work has been conducted over a period of about one year, it has been subordinate to the main one of testing flowsheets for fission product recovery. The solids have been observed in each of about six samples of plant lww that have been studied, and the centrifuged volume of solids has been about four percent in each case.

The following report describes the investigations of the microwave solution and the Astron solution, to produce high current electron beams.

Report detailing various Bremsstrahlung theories since 1945. Citations for different theories are included.

Report discussing low and high acceleration flight mechanics for interplanetary missions, as well as the energy limitation for electric propulsion systems powered by a nuclear energy source. From abstract: "An optimization procedure for low acceleration systems is given which leads to a simple relationship between mission requirements, payload fraction, power plant specific power, and exhaust velocity."

The following report describes two methods of extrusion cladding of uranium fuel plates that were investigated and evaluated.

"A ring circuit is a succession or two-port networks and at least one three-port network, each feeding the next at one port and the last feeding the first so that the sequence closes on itself leaving at least one input port. The input admittance is derived in terms ef various matrices describing the circuit for one- and two-input port rings."

Abstract: "The oxidation resistance of thin sheets of iron-28 w/o chromium-2.67 to 10.0 w/o alloys, nominally 0.004, 0.006, 0.008, 0.012, and 0.016 in. thick, was determined by exposure in static air for 100 hr at 2100 and 2300 F. A minimum of 3.67 and 9.37 w/o aluminum was necessary to prevent excessive oxidation of 0.004-in.-thick sheet material at 2100 and 2300 F, respectively. Correspondingly, specimens of lower aluminum content and greater thickness withstood the oxidation attack. Oxidation of iron-chromium-aluminum alloys appeared to be related to the diffusion of aluminum to surfaces of the sheet to form an adherent protective layer of Al2O3."

A general program has been written to plot curves on the Oracle curve plotter. The supplement includes changes to slow down some of the loops and minimize the possibility of read-around errors and changes to handle special cases.

During the development of in-reactor corrosion experiments three types of bomb designs have been developed for following quantitatively the consumption of oxygen in a bomb which is fabricated from the particular metal under test. The bombs are designed so as to be rocked continuously during their in-reactor exposure, consequently agitating the uranium salt solution contained in the bomb and permitting gentle movement of the solution past metal specimens and other corroding surfaces. The oxygen pressure is produced within the bomb at the beginning of the run either by the withdrawal of gas from an oxygen tank or by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide added just prior to closure. Temperature measurements are obtained by mans of thermocouples placed in a well within the bomb body or, in the latest design, there will also be thermocouples staked at several points on the outer wall of the bomb. The assembly is inserted in an experimental access hole in the reactor, brought up to a predetermined operating temperature by means of an electric furnace in close contact with the bomb, and allowed to remain for the desired amount of exposure to reactor radiation. Periodic measurements of temperature and pressure are made and the bomb …

The operation of the HRT mockup was on 0.042m UO2SO4, 0.024m H2SO4, and 0.005m CuSO4 at 280 C and 1400 psi pressure. with the O2 content at near 500 ppm. The pump showed bearing wear and high corrosion. The letdown heat exchanger was removed from the mockup and sectioned. The metallographic examination revealed corrosion. Results of corrosion runs on Ti, zircaloy-2, and stainless steel are given.

A qualitative theory for cake formation in ThO2 slurries is presented. The sphere formation which occurs in "Standard" slurry can be explained on the same basis. The irregular and unpredictable yield strength is easily fitted into the theory. On the basis of this theory, the writer has been led to the conclusion that only colloidally stable slurries, or slurries with crystallites or comminution-resistant particles which are large enough to overcome colloidal effects (probably larger than 0.1u) can be used with assurance in the ThO2 reactor system. This conclusion holds for 300 gm/kg slurries as well as for more concentrated mixtures.

In analyzing stresses, deflections, and forces in piping and certain structural systems, it is useful to have a set of equations giving the deflections at any point of a curved beam in terms of the various loads acting on the beam. This technical report presents the deflection equations for a curved circular-arc beam of variable length. The cases treated include in-plane and out-of-plane bending due to forces and moments applied to the end of the beam in three principal directions, and uniformly distributed loads applied along the beam in these three directions. Deflections were calculated by the strain energy method using Castigliano's theorem.

"This is a bibliography of journal articles relating to beryllium oxide. Sources consulted include; Chemical Abstracts, 1951-1955; Physics Abstracts, 1951-1955; Industrial Arts Index, 1955-Jan, 1957; and the library card catalog. Starred articles are available in the library.

In order to test the effect of chromate ion on the corrosion of Zircaloy-2 a 0.04 m uranyl sulfate solution (enriched) containing added acid, copper sulfate and 557 ppm Cr (VI) was autoclaved with rocking at 280 C for about eight days in the HB-5 facility of the LITR. The average corrosion rate established by the a rate of consumption of oxygen was 9.9 mpy at a power density of 4.9 w/ml. It is indicated by comparison with a previous corrosion study under LITR radiation that the presence of Cr (VI) had no significant effect on the radiation corrosion of Zircaloy-2 by enriched uranyl sulfate solutions. However, the data are not conclusive and may be interpreted as showing a low corrosion rate for a limited period (i.e. a short term inhibition) followed by a correspondingly rapid corrosion.

In order to test the effect of chromate ion on the corrosion of Zircaloy-2, a 0.04 m uranyl sulfate solution (enriched) containing added acid, copper sulfate and 557 ppm of Cr (VI) was autoclaved with rocking at 280 degrees C for about eight days in the HB-5 facility of the LITR. The average corrosion rate established by the rate of consumption of oxygen was 9.9 mpy at a power density of 4.9 w/ml. It is indicated by comparison with a previous corrosion study under LITR radiation that the presence of Cr (VI) had no significant effect on the radiation corrosion of Zircaloy-2 by enriched uranyl sulfate solutions. However, the data are not conclusive and may be interpreted as showing a low corrosion rate for a limited period (i.e. a short term inhibition) followed by correspondingly rapid corrosion.

A prototype sampler for obtaining samples of high radioactive UO2SO4 solution for use in the HRT is presented. It was successfully operated in conjunction with a low pressure water system and a high pressure, high temperature UO2SO4 system.

The object of this study was to determine the effects of several annealing treatments and aging treatments on the tensile test behavior of Zircaloy-3b.

The Redox process uses or produces only a very few materials that are hazardous for reasons other than radioactivity. The conditions under which these materials become hazardous were carefully taken into consideration in the development of the process and design of the equipment. A considerable about of information on the hazardous properties of the process materials was obtained so that the pertinent material could be incorporated into the process specifications. Providing the equipment is operating properly and the process is being carried out within specification limits, no hazardous conditions can be created by the process. The purpose of this report is to assemble in a single, readily available document all of the information on the normal concentration limits and safe handling procedures needed to adequately control the use and storage of these materials. This report should be helpful in preparing safety bulletins and provide guidance in case of unusual incidents, malfunctioning of equipment, or contemplated changes in either the process or equipment. It is important to remember that a maximum allowable concentration (MAC) is only a limit on the concentration of a toxic material which cannot be exceeded in the air to which workers are constantly exposed to every working …

Abstract: "The measurement of large, high-frequency, short-pulse currents--ordinarily complicated by inductance, stray magnetic fields, and magnetic forces that tend to disassemble the measuring device--is simplified and made with an average error of 2-1/2% by the use of a specially developed noninductive radial shunt in conjuntion with an oscilloscope. The skin-effect correction is derived theoretically and the accuracy of the method is demonstrated."

Below Richland, Washington there is a gradual decrease in the concentration of beta particle emitters in the Columbia River water. The concentration of alpha particle emitters in Columbia River water averages 5 X 10⁻⁹ μl/ml at all locations. The activity of alpha particle emitters in mud samples was less than the detection limit of 3 x 10⁻⁶ μl/gm; the average activity density of beta particle emitters approximates those reported for the previous quarter.

The design criteria are written to supply information for the preparation of a project proposal covering budget item B-2265 for Fiscal Year 1956. The function of in-line instrumentation installed shall be the rapid on-the-spot analysis of process variables for quick presentation to process operators for immediate action in process control. Alarm or safety circuits may be incorporated on the equipment.