The weekly progress for D and F piles is given. Status of the test to determine the cause of white deposits on the horizontal control rods of the F pile is given. Also discussed are studies of process water control and pressure drop, corrosion, and graphite expansion. Test results indicate that graphite expansion has not seriously limited discharge of process tubes.

This is the first of a series of monthly reports covering details of the work of the Engineering Group of the Pile Technology Section of the Technical Department. The monthly Slug Inspection Report is being discontinued as a separate document and is being incorporated in this group report. Included is work on corrosion and blistering; graphite expansion; and irradiation studies.

There were seven charges of metal inspected during the month for corrosion and blistering studies. There were no unusual cases of blistering noted and the corrosion rates were normal for this time of year. Borescopic examination of the graphite packing around the ``B`` Hole in the F Pile revealed that the graphite is no more severely cracked than in the D Pile when it was inspected about a year ago. Examination of the graphite at the downstream and of Tube 1385-D did not indicate that any damage had been done by the leak in that tube. Forty one tubes have been charged in the F Pile on Production Test 105-90-P, ``Exposure of TX Metal Slugs.`` The routine job of taking vertical bowing measurements was turned over to the Instrument Department after working with them once in each Area. Installation of Van Stone test units was completed and a brief run was started. Van Stone flanges at both ends of 64 process tubes in both the B and F Piles were measured with a micrometer to determine the minimum amount of metal remaining.

This monthly report covers activities for the production reactors. The 100 Area activities include: corrosion and blistering studies of slugs and flanges; study of the process tube leak at 105-D; graphite expansion studies which include galling of process tubes and stresses in biological shields; and irradiation studies.

There were no cases of unusual blistering of slugs being followed under Production Tests. Two normal production tubes were borescoped following trouble with discharge. In Tube 3188-D a distorted slug became stuck in the region of sharp curvature near the inner end of the rear gun barrel; this is the first time this phenomenon has occurred. Examination of irradiated slugs of rolled metal after normal exposure indicates that rolled material has no particular advantages over extruded material from the standpoint of blistering. However, no extensively blistered pieces were found in either the rolled metal are being held for more extended exposure. Inspection of a large number of Van Stone flanges in the D and F Piles has confirmed that the inlet flanges are in generally good condition but that the rear Van Stone flanges of tubes in the 0.140-inch orifice sone of both piles were badly corroded and generally contained deep pits that extended about half-way through the flange. The Van Stone test units are to be installed unshielded in the risor room at the rear of the D Pile, since the shielding required in the X Sample Room exceeded the allowable floor loading. Recent experimental observations indicate that solid …

This report covers work done by the Pile Engineering Groups and work done on special assignments. Topics covered include: slug blistering and corrosion; graphite allocation to DR pile; slug molding; segmental discharge; Van Stone corrosion; flow laboratory modifications; downcomer at B pile; downcomer at D pile; annealing of pile graphite; replacement of pile atmosphere with CO{sub 2}; unit motion; beta experiment; can opening; slug annealing; new technical building, 300 area; and ruptured slugs.

This monthly report details Engineering Department technical activities for the month of May 1947.

This report covers work done by the Physical Chemistry Group and the Pile Engineering Groups. Subjects covered are as follows: corrosion laboratory testing details; pile borescopic inspections; slug deformation details; Van Stone flange corrosion details; corrosion rate at elevated temperature; added control ink facility; borescope equipment and repair; water recirculation cooling tests; pile expansion; carbon dioxide experiment; special graphite measurements; graphite core sample; vertical thimble temperature; beta experiment; x-ray diffraction studies; thermal annealing; empty process tube temperatures; oxidation of graphite; thermal annealing -- interferometer measurements.

This monthly report details Physics Department 100 Area technical activities for the month of April 1947.

This report summarizes physics experiments carried out in different parts of the 100 area at Hanford during December, 1946. This included work on the D pile, F pile, and experiments aimed at studying the irradiation properties of graphite and metal samples exposed to different radiation environments. Pile tests included reactivity tests, calibrations of control rods, and power coefficient tests.

This document details 100 Areas technical activities in reactor physics research and operation for the month of February 1947.

Activities for the month of February are as follows: (1) calculations of reactivity and temperature limits; (2) calculations of operating levels of D pile if reduced in size; (3) symposium on power coefficients; (4) test of new vertical (safety) rods; (4) metal quality studies; (5) status of process tube ionization chamber failures; (6) reactivity balance of each of operating piles; (7) graphite testing; (8) water activity calculations; (9) pile shielding; (10) radioactivity of titanium; and (11) critical mass experiments.

Four routine shutdowns were experienced during the month. A measurable amount of the excess reactivity held in the control rods at the first of the month has been lost in the decrease in the average accumulated exposure of all the metal in the pile. The vertical safety rod guides have been measured for vertical alignment by the Maintenance Dept. A definite pattern has been found in the misalignment of the guides. The horizontal rod thimbles were borrowed on January 2, 1947 to see if any leaks were present. No leaks were observed but No. 2 Rod and No. 8 Rod had heavy gouge marks along the longitudinal axes. Several thimbles contained white corrosion. During the month two new bismuth tubes were established, 2871-D and 2877-D. This now gives the desired pattern of ten bismuth tubes.

Activities covered in this report for the month of January are as follows: (1) power coefficient test of the F Pile; (2) control rod calibration; (3) investigations into reactivity gains possible by zoning the pile for metal charging; (4) polonium production under emergency conditions: (5) analysis of process tube ion chamber failures; (6) measurements of the thermal neutron flux in various pockets of the E Test Hole of the F Pile; (7) reactivity balance of each of the operating piles at beginning and end of this report period; (8) graphite studies; (9) pile shielding; (10) radiation measurements on a simulated D-R rod guide and rod; and (11) calculation of radioactive isotopes expected in cooling water.

The pile physics group reports on reactivity power coefficients from the production test No. 105-248-P, the water leak in B pile, graphite properties, xenon equations from the B pile shutdown of March 1946, and reactivity balance. The experimental physics group headed by J.M. West reports on graphite testing, the P-11 project, and shielding. The experimental physics group headed by E.B. Montgomery reports on diffusion length measurements in the DR and H piles. (GHH)

U.M. Staebier reports from the pile areas. Foil tests were conducted at the B pile. A power coefficient test was performed at the D pile; special request materials and reactivity balance are also reported. The new No. 2 horizontal rod of the F pile has been slightly resized. Graphite temperature readings, thermal conductivity calculations, special request materials, and reactivity balance are also reported. General physics are considered. Production tests 105-85-P and 106-1-P are reported. Egg testing at the 305 test pile is discussed. (GHH)

This report divides the activities for November into three sections: D Pile; F Pile; and general physics. During November the D Pile was down twice for regularly scheduled shutdowns. Two scram occurred during the month, both of short duration. Five Special Request 15 tubes were discharged and recharged with Special Request 15. Some 13 inhour of reactivity were gained during the month. Vertical rod thimbles, 10 through 22, were tested. A Production Test was performed to determine the reactivity power coefficients of the F Pile at low power levels and with practically no xenon poison remaining. Additional experience in the use of temporary poison columns during an extended shutdown of the pile was obtained during the month. Four new bismuth columns were charged during the month and six tubes were charged with LiF. The F Pile had not yet returned to xenon equilibrium following the shutdown of November 27 at the end of the month, but conditions just prior to this shutdown indicate a loss of one inhour since October 31. Two sets of specimens were removed from the ``B`` Test Hole of the F Pile on November 4. Samples were also machined from graphite removed from the No. 9 …

Work of the pile physics and experimental physics groups is reported. Theoretical work is also reported.

The D Pile was down five times for scheduled shutdowns. The fifth shutdown was of short duration for the purpose of discharging temporary ``P`` columns. Details of the shutdowns are given. Three new bismuth columns were established, Special Requests were charged into seven tubes and three Special Requests were discharged. Three tubes were charged with four-inch slugs. The power level of the F Pile has been corrected for the discrepancy noted last month. Material for irradiation under the Special Request program was charged into six tubes and the B experimental hole during the month. The effect of poison columns and rods on the temperature distribution of the pile was checked for the overall content of the pile. The F Pile gained two in hours in cold, clean reactivity during the month if allowance is made for xenon poison values corresponding to 190 MW for the beginning of the month and 200 MW at the end of the month. The graphite stringer removed from the ``D`` test hole of the D Pile on 3-12-46 was studied physical radiation effects.

This report contains brief summaries of activities at the Hanford production reactors for the month of Oct. The activities for the Pile Physics Group are: (1) H Area start-up; (2) outlet temperature recording systems; (3) reactivity balance for each pile for this period. Activities for the Experimental Physics Group are: (1) graphite testing; (2) 305 testing -- P-slug standardization and graphite standards; (3) shielding. Also status is given on critical mass project.

The Pine unit was down four times during the month. These were all regularly scheduled shutdowns. Times down vary from 16.9 hours to 19.2 hours. A total of 33.4 tons of metal was discharged. The galvano-meter chamber in experimental hole {open_quotes}A{close_quotes} was replaced. One Special Request was discharged and three tubes have been loaded with Special Request samples. A new bismuth column has been established. Some difficulty has been experienced with high temperatures of both tube exit water and graphite following startup. On one occasion the normal operating level was exceeded for a short period of time.

The physics of the shutdown of the D pile on July 2 is emphasized in the operation report. The F pile shutdown and operating specifics are also discussed. Water, corrosion, and engineering are reported for the B, D, and F areas.

This monthly report details 100 Area technical activities of the Physics Group for the month of August 1949.

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