A detailed study of four reactor and shield configurations was made. Two basic reactor types, the boiling water and pressurized water reactors were considered. Shield materials of lead-water and iron-water were used with varying thicknesses for determining the optimum shield configuration for the PL-3 reactor. Also presented is a survey of available shielding codes. (auth)

As for any nuclear reactor, the operation of the Hanford reactors is governed by many technical and administrative considerations. With the completion of current project action, later this year, certain of the technical limitations on reactor power level will be relieved, notably at the K Reactors, At that time, the technical and engineering limitations will be more liberal at some reactors than required for operation at the administrative power level limits, imposed by the Atomic Energy Commission, that are currently in force. The following report discusses the various technical factors governing reactor power levels and compares these with the currently imposed administrative power level limits.

This is one of twenty-one volumes sumarizing the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Program of the General Electric Company. This volume discusses the background to the General Electric program, and summarizes the various direct-air-cycle nuclear test assemblies and power plants that were developed. Because of the requirements of high performance, low weight, and small size, vast improvements in existing technology were required to meet the flight objectives. The technological progress achieved during the program is also summarized. The last appendix contains a compilation of the abstracts, tables of contents, and reference lists of the other twenty volumes.

Methods for determining the velocity distributions in a SNAP reactor coolant channel for both laminar and turbulent flow conditions are presented. The results obtained by applying the methods to SNAP-2 conditions are given as maps of the ratio of local velocity to average velocity in the coolant channel. The use of the velocity distributions in subsequent heat transfer analyses of the fuel rod and coolant system is discussed. (auth)