Fused uranium dioxide has desirable characteristics for fabricating high density nuclear fuel elements by swaging. Methods of preparing dense uranium dioxide particles being investigated at HAPO include are arc fusion, and sintering and crushing of low density powder. This paper reports the results of exploratory experiments to prepare fused uranium dioxide by induction heating of low density powder in graphite crucibles.

This report was written to describe briefly several possible variations of such systems along with probable cost estimates. Previous work has been shown that the application of scintillation detectors is the simplest and most reliable means for such monitoring. By proper detector selection and measuring methods, the system can be of an approximate gamma dose-rate with gamma energy independence above about 100 Kev. The same system using detector change only is directly applicable to beta, gamma, slow neutron and fast neutron detection. Any type of alarming device desired can be incorporated.

Several hollow uranium cores of "C" size I & E diameters were fabricated by cold extrusion (550 to 750 F) at Hunter Douglas Aluminum Corporation. Results show diameter control and reproducibility are excellent. Preferred orientation induced by this process is completely removed by a single standard beta heat treatment.

Relatively long time cycles are required for the standard nitric acid dissolution of enriched uranium using safe batch size techniques for criticality control. Upwards of forty eight hours are required for the total dissolution of solid of I and E enriched slugs in nitric acid. The dissolution capacity may be increased by: (1) using a dissolver critically safe by virtue of its geometry or, (2)increasing the rate of uranium dissolution. Dilute agua regia -- a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids -- is known to dissolve uranium much more rapidly than nitric acid. This reports present a flowsheet for the rapid dissolution of uranium slugs in dilute agua regia.

Extraction systems involving chelating agents are widely used in radiochemical separations on a control basis due to the economy in time and equipment. In the case of waste streams, the element of interest is, by definition, at a very low concentration in the presence of gross fission product activities. The resultant large sample size necessary for a reliable analytical results creates a marked radiation hazard to laboratory personnel.

The Stack Effluent Radioisotope Monitor is an instrument which continuously measures and records the amounts of each of several different radioactive isotopes in the stack effluent of the Redox Facility. An informal report, HW-56151, describing the theory of operation and the circuits was prepared and is available to Hanford personnel from the technical files. The formal report, HW-56151 Rev, containing essentially the same information, is available from the Office of Technical Services, Department of Commerce, Washington 25, D. C.

Property changes to common graphites resulting from reactor irradiation depends strongly on the temperature of exposure. Radiation affects at 30 C and 400 to 500 C are quite well known; however, at intermediate temperatures, results are not well known although a large volume of graphite in most reactors operate in this range. Production test, IP-22A, was reactivated, after a dormant period of many months, to study radiation damage between 30 and 400 C. This report concerns mainly the experimental details and evaluation of the equipment necessary for the controlled temperature irradiation.

The Atomic Energy Commission has assigned Hanford Atomic Products Operation the responsibility of reprocessing some of the slightly enriched uranium fuel elements from nuclear power reactors. Some stainless steel clad fuel elements contain sodium or a sodium-potassium alloy as a heat transfer medium between metallic core and outer sheath. The nature of the reaction between water and sodium is well known; however, the reaction between sodium and an oxidizing acid is more energetic and not so well known. The unknown factor of interest is the pressure generated by the reaction between the next transfer medium and the acid used for fuel dissolution prior to solvent extraction. The scouting studies discussed in this report were made to determine hydraulic pressures developed when sodium is exposed to cold concentrated nitric acid beneath the liquid surface.