In support of an in-reactor thermocouple stability testing program now in progress, laboratory studies were made relative to the stability of thermocouple bundles similar to those projected for in-reactor use. Two sets of chromel-alumel, copper-constantan and iron-constantan thermocouples were held for extended periods at 300 C in successive atmospheres of 75% helium-25% carbon dioxide. 100% carbon dioxide and air. Thermocouple stability was verified by measuring emf's at the freezing point of lead. The results of these tests are to be used to evaluate data obtained from like thermocouples subjected to condition similar to the laboratory tests with the added facet of reactor irradiation.

"In Householder, using Weissinger's identity , obtained the necessary and sufficient conditions for the c onvergence of the Seidel method for the solution of finite matrix equations of the form (D-S-S*-F)u = f. The same coniditions were also obtained by Krein and Prozorovakaya for an analog of the Seidel method for the operator equations of the form (D+S+S*)u = f in a Hilbert space. The purpose of this article is to extend the result of the above authors to the generalized overrelaxation iterative method for the solution of a wider class of of operator equations in a Hilbert space."

Research progress on projects: Landau Effect with 32 Mev Protons, n - p Scattering of "300" Mev Neutrons, Geologic History of the Earth's Magnetic Field.

Maximum safe cylinder diameters, slab thicknesses, and minimum critical masses in spherical geometries for fuel of < 5.0& U-235 enrichment have been evaluated. It is of interest to know the minimum critical masses as a function of cylinder diameter for vessels that are not safe by geometry. Curves will be presented of critical masses as a function of cylinder diameter and fuel rod size for 1.6%, 3.0%, and 5.0% U-235 enriched metal-water systems.

Neutron radiation can be greatly reduced by substituting plutonium trichloride for plutonium tetrafluoride in the dry chemistry step of metal preparation. Chloride processes are now common in the metal preparation industry, and the 234-5 Developmental Laboratory has shown plutonium trichloride can be satisfactorily prepared and reduced to the metal.

We investigate the possibilities of using another reagent than glue as a filtration aid in South African ore treatment.

During this period a prototype gamma ray detection system was assembled and data was obtained on samples of beryllium salts on filter paper under a variety of conditions. Ordinarily either a scaler-register combination or the CRM-recorder combination would be sufficient for obtaining data. Both units have been used here in order to utilize the particular advantages of each system. The scaler-register unit was employed for obtaining precise data over short intervals while the CRM-recorder was used to maintain a check on stability over longer intervals of time.

In recognition of the need for an integrated system plan for future development requirements for radiological instrumentation, this information report was written to provide the initial step concerning such a planning. The report is to be considered a basic information analysis of the present in-use plant radiological instrumentation, of the instrumentation now undergoing active development, and of the future development work contemplated.

The problem of the separation or enrichment of isotopes is as old as the knowledge of the existence of isotopes of stable elements. The article focuses on the mass-dependent property of atoms continuing to be investigated in laboratories to test its usefulness for new solutions to this problem.

The design of the Purex Off-Gas Treatment Facility requires the use of new dissolver off-gas jets which will be installed in series with present jets in the Purex in-canyon "donut" jumpers. When the new jets are placed in operation, the motive air and steam supply services to the in-canyon jets will no longer be required and the in-canyon jets will become flow restrictions in the dissolver off-gas train. Calculated values of pressure drop across these "dead" jets at maximum off-gas rate varied from about 18 to 7 inches of water depending on whether the dead jets were considered as sharp-edged orefices or venturi meters without downstream pressure recovery. In the preparation of process specifications for hets for the new facility, accurate values for the pressure drcp introduced by the dead jets were required to avoid oversizing the new jets with resultant waster of motive jet fluid.

A centerless-ground, 0.25-in.-diam. by 0.75-in.-long sapphire single crystal exposed to an integrated thermal neutron flux of 2 x 10 19 nvt at a temperature of 350 deg C (660 deg F) did not change its dimensions appreciably simple beam, with slightly less force than was required to break a similar unirradiated rod. In a darkened room the irradiated sapphire begins to thermoluminesce noticeably at 280 deg C (535 deg F) and most of the amber or brown coloration produced by the pile exposure is retained after annealing for 24 hr at the pile exposure temperature of 350 deg C (660 deg F). (auth)

The system Dovex 21K and aqueous uranyl sulfate solutions were studied in the solution compositions range: 0-0.005 mol/liter uranyl sulfate, 0.15 mil/liter total sulfate, 0.02 mol/liter H2SO4 (pH 2).It is shown that UO3SO4 and/or UO2(SO4)2-/2 are sorbed on the resin to form R2UO2(SO4)2. It is surmized that these same species are also involved at high uranyl concentrations and pH 2 it is suggested that U2O5SO4, U2O5(SO4)2-/2, and R2U2O3SO4 species may be involved.

Information obtained in a survey of control rod applications and operating experience is reported. This survey covered the Army Nuclear Power Program, the Organic Moderated Reactor Experiment, the Yankee Atomic Power Plant, the Shippingport Pressurized Water Reactor and the Argonne Experimental Boiling Water Reactor.

Corrosion rates of present reactor grade uranium were measured in boiling distilled water and were found to have higher values almost by a factor of two then previously reported corrosion rates of uranium. Mallinckrodt biscuit metal showed corrosion rates in the same medium somewhat lower than reactor grade uranium, and high purity metal prepared at Argonne National Laboratory corroded considerably less rapidly than the biscuit metal.

The purpose of the test was to insure satisfactory operation of the turbine after overhaul of the turbine which was completed February 1, 1959. The operation of the turbine during this start-up was satisfactory.

Some results have been obtained which may be of use in studying the escape of fission fragments from slurry particles which contain fissioning material. Assuming that the fission fragments are of fixed range H, that they are generated uniformly and isotopically in a sphere of diameter D, the escape probability , mean path length, and path length distribution function have been derived.

A series of two-dimensional airfoils were run through a complete 360 ° angle of attack range to determine their low-speed force characteristics. The airfoils were chosen in an attempt to vary as many parameters (such as thickness, camber, thickness distribution, etc.) as possible with the limited number of shapes that time permitted. All airfoils tested had lift curves with two distinct stalls and quite similar drag curves between 0 ° and 90 ° angle of attack. The highly cambered sections developed peculiar characteristics in the inverted and trailing edge forward positions, as might be expected. The effective test Reynolds number of 0.81 x 10(6) based on the model chord of one foot.

A development program is being carried out in the pilot plant to improve the equipment involved in monitoring, metering and pumping process streams. The equipment under development includes an alpha monitor, a gamma monitor, a waste water monitor, a liquid flow rate meter, a canned rotor pump, a diaphragm pump, air lifts and a pressure tank pump. This report presents the present status of the testing program.

A short-term study was made to investigate the removal of radioiodine vapor from air-steam mixtures as could occur immediately following a nuclear incident in a pressurized water reactor. Activated charcoal traps, designed to simulate a small section of a commercial charcoal canister, were tested at gas velocities of 23.9 to 74.9 ft/min over the temperature range of 75 to 118°C. The iodine removal efficiency was found to range from 99.80 to 99.4% with an average of 99.9%. One test performed at a temperature of 105°C and with gas velocity of 290 ft/min indicated that the iodine removal efficiency was reduced to 99.54%. Activated charcoal exhibits a high efficiency for iodine vapor removal under these test conditions and appears suitable for application in the decontamination of air-steam mixtures.

The results of an examination of "O" ring gaskets remove from the HRT following a discovery that the water in the leak detector system contained 1000 ppm chloride are presented.

The essential physical and mechanical properties of materials which enter into the design considerations of high-temperature systems have been outlined, and the relationship of these factors to the detailed design of structural members noted. Particular attention is given to the phenomenon of strain-cycling and relaxation, and several engineering devices wherein these effects can markedly influence design are mentioned. Techniques and apparatus for the measurement of strain-cycling and relaxation properties are described and some recent data for Inconel at 1500 F is reported. A brief discussion is presented on design-criterial for high-temperature applications, and it is pointed out that in some high performance devices the considerations of the strain-cycling phenomenon may impose the design philosophy of "steady-state" operation. Some elementary applications of strain cycling data to design are described, and test experience indicates that analytical techniques can be developed for predicting with reasonable reliability of the fatigue life of structures.

The general solution to the basic differential equation d^4w/dy^4 +4w= -4f(y) is transformed from the primary form treated in most texts to an alternate form in which each integration constant corresponds to one edge condition at y=0. The relationships between the integration constants of the two forms are derived and the values for the transformed functions are tabulated. The particular solution is derived in general and given in unique form for various functional forms of f(y). Matrix notation is used throughout the derivations; however, a knowledge of matrix theory is not need for application of the results.

Equilibrium krypton and xenon adsorption isotherms were obtained for four varieties of charcoal and for Linde Molecular Sieves Types 4A and 5A, generally at 0, 25, and 60°c. Such data are of interest in connection with design and evaluation of adsorbers for radioactive noble gas fission products. The isotherms were fitted, by linear regression analysis, to straight-line forms of the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The Freundlich linear equation gave the better fit and the parameters of this equation are presented for each of the isotherms. Also presented are the constants for an equation representing the temperature dependence of arbitrary adsorption coefficients, the coefficients having been calculated from the Freundlich isotherm parameters. Some aspects of the applicability and accuracy of these results are discussed.