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.

The nuclear safety portion of this report is inclined to ignore the factors by which safety limits can be increased. It makes no mention of the control that can be exercised by limiting the assay of the U-235 being processed in the plant. From some of the previous reports, it is apparent that this plant is not anticipating processing U-235 of assay greater than approximately 20%. At this value, many of the numbers that are presented in the tables could be increased markedly. Rough examination indicates that these values all refer to top product U-235. The general discussion is, however, excellent. The references apparently used are those unclassified references with which we are all familiar and think highly of. We would recommend the inclusion of TID-7016.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Technical report of an investigation to determine a suitable material for sintering and casting of braze rings. Braze rings afford an excellent means of preplacing braze alloy on tube to head joints of radiators, heat exchangers, and similar applications. A cast ring is especially desirable because of its increased strength. Previous efforts at casting had used welding grade carbon blocks with the desired ring cavities machined into their surface. Conclusion: Stackpole grade 331 electro-graphite provided the best results of the materials investigation. It is hard and more readily machinable with conventional tools than other grades. Carbon, in general, proved to be more satisfactory especially due its ease and speed of fabrication.

The development of a reduction step using plutonium trichloride instead of plutonium tetrafluoride in 234-5 Building processing was proposed early in 1958. This process change was intended to reduce the neutron radiation associated with plutonium fluoride. Neutron dose estimates shaw that over half of 234-5 Building neutron exposure is associated with the fluoride process steps. Other measurements show that a 60-fold reduction in neutron flux could be realized by converting to a chloride process. Progress up to September 1958, was described in a document covering the chemical aspects of the development work, including batch preparation of trichloride. The present report summarizes work done on this process over the past year, emphasizing continuous preparation of plutonium trichloride in large-scale equipment, the reduction of this product to metal, and large-scale recovery of slag and crucible.

This monthly document details activities of the Hanford Operations Office during the month of August 1959. (FI)

Previous reports on the chlorination of plutonium dioxide describe numerous small-scale experiments and a few fair-sized batch preparations. The chemistry of chlorination by numerous reagents is covered, but no process had received sufficient study for large-scale preparation of anhydrous plutonium trichloride. The literature search revealed no extensive studies on chlorination rates, exhaust gas filtering, atmospheric requirements, reactor materials, etc. A program was undertaken to select a chlorination process, to develop the necessary information for defining operating conditions and equipment specifications, and then to demonstrate the operation of the process.

"Abstract: Data on analog magnetic tape characteristics are presented along with results from conventional and modulator playback system operational tests. Theoretical considerations imply that the modulator head should be loss sensitive to short term variations in record and playback tape speed. It is also pointed out that although a tape recorder operating at 7.5 in./sec has only 12 kcs bandwidth for sinusoidal wave forms. the record and play-back amplifiers for pulse recording can operate with other bandwidths. These amplifiers must be capable of passing a square wave with a frequency of 1.5 kcs. A square wave of such frequency represents the condition of 350 microsecond pulses with a 700 microsecond period. (J.R.D)."

Report discussing the equations of the Debye-Huckel theory modified to include quantum statistics.

The following report proposes a concept of a transient version of Astron thermonuclear reactor while describing the basic concepts of the reactor and the design criteria.

Report discussing the application of some previously established methods to yield a calculation of the pressure and internal energy functions of a system of point charges interacting only with Coulomb forces.

Possible mechanisms for creep rupture during irradiation are examined. Evidence that the rupture occurs by grain boundary sliding alone, or by vacancy condensation, is compared. It is observed that vacancy condensation is the more probable mechanism, and that this mechanism predicts a reduction in creep rupture life for metals exposed to a fast neutron flux (neglecting effects of radiation annealing). (T.F.H.)

The total K/sup +/-p cross section was measured at the three K/sup +/- meson energies 175 er inch per 25, 225 er inch per 25, and 275 er inch per 25 Mev and the differential scattering cross section was measured at 225 Mev. The K/sup +/-p nuclear force was shown to be repulsive from the observed constructive interference with Coulomb scattering. The differential c=oss section was otherwise isotropic and could arise from either pure S-wave or pure P- wave scattering. Subtracted dispersion relations were applied to these data and the rest of the available K proton scattering data. The statistical errors on the data were found to be too large to determine the K-hyperon relative parity. However, if the K DELTA and K SIGMA relative parities are assumed to be the same, then if the coupling were scalar, the coupling constant g/sup 2/4 pi would be less than 0.6; if pseudoscalar, less than 10. (auth)

The net multiplication effect of beryllium oxide, which is due to the (n,2n) reaction, was calculated using an essentially exact calculation of the neutron spectrum as a function of energy. The upper limit of the (n,2n) cross section curve gives the unpoisoned value epsilon /sup +/ = 1.047 and the lower limit gives epsilon /sup -/ = 1,027. The behavior of the Li/sup 6/poisoned fast multiplication effect as a function of the number of collisions was studied for both beryllium and beryllium oxide. (auth)

BS>(((((Unscannable abstract)))))

The equations of the Debye-Huckel theory, modified to include quantum statistics, are discussed. It is found that the nonlinear equations used by Cowan and Kirkwcod are not unique and that the nonlinear theory can be formulated in different ways to give different answers. The linearized equations of these alternative formulations are discussed, and the correct form of the linearized theory is established. From the linear theory, the Helmholtz free energy of a slightly degenerate plasma is derived, and from this result, useful formulas in the near-classical limit are obtained for the pressure and internal energy. (auth)

Various types of uranium --graphite fuel elements were irradiated in the central hole of a 1-Mw swimming pool reactor at a flux of 4 x 10/sup 14/ n/cm/sup 2/-sec. The impregnated graphite sphere samples were prepared with an aqueous uranyl nitrate solution with subsequent baking for conversion to UO/sub 2/. Other types included an admixture of high fired UO/sub 2/ blended with graphite powder and coal tar binder and lumped specimens prepared by mixing a phenolic coke filler with UO/sub 2/ and a phenolic binder. Test results such as dimension and weight change are listed as well as results of compression tests, impact tests, and abrasion tests. Also, fission product leakage to the inner capsule gas space was collected and measured. (J.R.D.)

The H-F conductance and susceptance were determined for coil-type vessels over a range of frequencies from 2 to 30 mc. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of organic compounds in the vapor phase were determined, and a maximum was assigned to each compound. The dielectric constant values for five alpha substituted ketones at 25 deg C are reponted. A series of acids in dimethylformamide was titrated with the alkali methoxides by the high-frequency and conductance methods. The titration curves by these two methods were very similar in shape and also very similar to the curves for the corresponding type of acid in aqueous solution (W.L.H.)

Data on analog magnetic tape charactcristics are presented along with results from conventional and modulator playback system operational tests. Theoretical considerations imply that the modulator head should be loss sensitive to short term variations in record and playback tape speed. It is also pointed out that although a tape recorder operating at 7.5 in./sec has only 12 kcs bandwidth for sinusoidal wave forms. the record and play-back amplifiers for pulse recording can operate with other bandwidths. These amplifiers must be capable of passing a square wave with a frequency of 1.5 kcs. A square wave of such frequency represents the condition of 350 microsecond pulses with a 700 microsecond period. (J.R.D)

On the basis of screening tests and favorable mechanical propenties, AISI Type 318 stainless steel was selected as a fuel-element cladding material to operate in c coolant comprised essentially of gaseous nitrogen modified by the addition of oxygen and water vapor. Tests at atmospheric pressure confirmed calculations which indicated that small additions of oxygen to nitrogen would inhibit nitriding by the process of preferential oxidation. The tests at atmospheric pressure determined that the rate of oxidation of Type 318 stainless was generally at a minimum when 0.5 volume per cent oxygen was added to the nitrogen gas. Oxidation of this steel was more severe when additions of 0.1 and 5.0 volume per cent oxygen were made to the nitrogen The rate of oxidation was primarily temperature dependent, but was also influenced by time. Oxidation during exposure periods of less than 1000 hr appeared to proceed at a parabolic rate. On longer exposures, however, there wcre indications of more rapid attack. A maximum depth of attack of 2.9 mils was observed on Type 318 stainless which had been exposed at 1650 F for 3658 hr. Stress-corrosion studies indicated that unstressed and stressed specimens were attacked at about the same rate. Stresses …

Comments made hy FMPC personnel on Eurochemic technical documents are given, (T.R.H.)