Second and third tests were conducted on an expansion bellows and Zircaloy-stainless steel transition joint assembly, duplicating that used in the core-pressure vessel assembly of the HRT. The assembly was exposed for 1140 hours in the second test and and 167 hours in the third to a solution containing 0.04m UO2SO4, 0.02m H2SO4, and 0.005m CuSO4 in a 100A dynamic corrosion loop under conditions simulating reactor startup, shutdown, and steady-state operation. Results indicated that the transition joint assembly as tested was mechanically sound and leak-tight. Pit-type corrosion continued on the expansion bellows where the upper retaining tangent contacts the bellows. Results are included of specimens exposed to the circulation solution during transition joint and bellows test.

A letdown valve design is described which reduces erosion of the sealing surfaces. It also provides for water flushing of the sealing surface before closing.

.Recalculations were made of HRT cell pressures in the event of a simultaneous rupture of the reactor core vessel and the fuel and blanket heat exchangers. These calculations will be applicable after the replacement fuel heat exchanger is installed. The pressure rise in the cell is plotted as a function of time. A maximum cell pressure of 34 psig is achieved ~7 sec after rupture.

The radiolytic decomposition of tributyl phosphate has been show by burr to product gases, acids, and polymers. the acids that are formed can limit the usefulness of tributyl phosphate for the processing of radioactive materials. The study of acid formation on radiolysis therefor becomes important to us for the understanding of the mechanism of acid formation, the influence of added materials and the effect of the structure of organo- phosphorous compounds. Samples of purified esters have been irradiated in the ORNL cobalt source. Conclusions: (1) The formation of acid from tributyl phosphate during irradiation with cobalt gamma rays involves a mechanism that is not a primary step. Evidence has been obtained for a secondary reaction that is minimized by the presence of certain compounds. (2) Toluene acting as an inhibitor for radiolytic formation of acid may indicate the usefulness of an aromatic hydrocarbon diluent in processing. (3) The aromatic hydrocarbon, when phenyl, was not effective when it was part of the molecule. (4) First tests revealed that dibutyl butyl-phosphonate produced less acid the TBP and may warrant further consideration for process application.

A technique is presented for liquid ammonia leaching of metallic sodium from corrosion coupons, filter elements, and sodium samples to reveal contaminants and impurities.

This report covers the S-I-5-B-M fuel irradiation in the GETR Maritime Loop during the third quarter of fiscal year 1962. The data are summarized in Section II. Discussions on fuel performance, fuel environment (water chemistry), and loop operations are included.

During the eighth quarter the instrumented assemblies were removed from VBWR and examined for effects of the exposure to reactor conditions. Also during this period the Big Rock developmental fuel assembly design was completed and a topical report was issued. A summary of progress by task is presented here.

The Fuel Cycle Program is an integrated program of investigation in the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor and other facilities to improve the technological limits of boiling water reactors in several areas. Progress is reported here.

This is a report of work completed during the period January 1, 1962, to March 31, 1962. Work was done on fuel irradiation, activation studies and UO2 scattering experiment

The design status of the Experimental Fast Ceramic Reactor (EFCR) is described for the period up to October 31, 1961. The primary purpose of the facility is to study the dynamic behavior of a fast ceramic reactor, including the experimental demonstration of the effectiveness of the Doppler coefficient in limiting the power excursion following a rapid insertion of reactivity.

Work performed during the quarter is summarized by: direct measurement of fission gas pressure, loop operations, performance of UO2 fuel, UO2 grain growth and melting studies.

Work performed during the quarter is summarized by direct measurement of fission gas pressure, loop operations, performance of UO2 fuel.

This phase of the program is concerned with irradiation of fuel assemblies to determine central temperature limitations.

The fourth quarter of effort applied to the Consumers R & D Program is summarized in the following: high power density fuel development, fuel fabrication development, stability, heat transfer and fluid flow, physics development, operation planning and test coordination.

The causes for loss of uranium originally adsorbed on strong base anion exchange resins from Rand cyanide residue leach liquors after prolonged passage of such liquors through resin columns were investigated.

In this report, the stability of a pinched fluid is studied theoretically, under the combined influence of a longitudinal magnetic field and conducting exterior shell. Conditions allowing complete stability are found.

The transition region between short, but controlled, pile periods and uncontrolled, highly-supercritical conditions has been investigated with an unreflected, spherical uranium assembly (Godiva). This study was undertaken because knowledge of the behavior of supercritical systems is important in evaluation of reactor hazards and also the hazards of less standard operations involving possibly critical quantities of active material.

Data on critical configurations of fissionable metals are summarized in a form emphasizing the influence of conditions commonly of concern in nuclear safety questions.

Progress report of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Biology Division providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work. This report includes a summary of scholarly output from the division and departmental activities in cytology and genetics, mammalian genetics and development, microbial protection and recovery, mammalian recovery, pathology and physiology, general physiology, biochemistry, enzymology and photosynthesis, microbiology, plant biochemistry, and biophysics.

Semiannual Progress report of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Chemistry Division providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work in inorganic and physical chemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical physics, chemistry of separation processes, radiation chemistry, and reactor chemistry.

Much of the shielding work carried out with the Bulk Shielding Reactor (BSR) has yielded data of particular interest for the design of swimming pool type reactors, However, it is often difficult for a reactor designer to locate such data since it may be recorded in a report primarily concerned with shielding problems. Therefore, this memorandum presents a bibliography of reports from the Bulk Shielding Facility arranged according to the application of data to the various aspects of reactor design.

For Co60 source at 15 meters, the air-scattered gamma dose rate predicted by theory is excerpted from ORNL-1575, pp. 167-203. This is compared with experimental measurements for the same source and comparable geometry reported by Convair in CVAC-170T. After applying an appropriate correction for ground scattering as estimated in Mart-55-16T (Convair), the two results are found to be in substantial agreement.

Two revised Excer process flowsheets are presented for the production of UF4 from urnayl nitrate solution. In both, the uranium is sorbed on a cation-exchange resin and eluted with aqueous HF. In one, the resulting UO2F2 in dilute HF is mixed with dilute sulfuric or hydrochloric acid and electrolytically reduced in a cation-exchange-membrane cell, and the precipitated UF4·0.75H2O is dried and dehydrated to anhydrous UF4. A cost of 20¢ per pound of reduced uranium is estimated. In the other, ammonium fluoride is also added to the uranyl fluoride solution before the electrolytic reduction step, and the precipitate is UF4·04NH4F. A flowsheet for preparing UF4 from raw ore is also shown. The uranium is sorbed on an anion-exchange resin from a sulfuric acid leach liquor and eluted with dilute HCl. Ammonium fluoride and HF are added to the UO2Cl2-HCl solution before the uranyl ion is electrolytically reduced to precipitate UF4·0.4NH4F. Decontamination factors as high as 45 and 9 for gross beta and gamma activities and of 10 to 5000 for light metal impurities were obtained in the electrolytic reduction step.

The Aircraft Reactor Experiment (ARE)was successfully concluded in November of 1954, and a detailed report of the operation was published the following year. At that time it was thought that an extensive examination of the reactor and system components after disassembly was warranted. It was realized, of course, that the level of radioactivity of the components would necessitate extensive delays in the examinations. Since examination of a few critical ARE samples showed nothing unexpected, much of the planned hot-cell inspection was postponed and complete examination of all but a few specimens was indefinitely suspended. The few examinations that were completed are described in this report, along with a description of the disassembly of the ARE system. Diagrams of the fuel system, sodium system, and off-gas system are presented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 for reference use in visualizing the disassembly process.