An abrasive cutoff machine design, based upon a previous model, (1) was undertaken to provide for the sampling of radioactive material. the design objective was; first, to provide samples for metallographic examination, second, to provide samples for physical and mechanical property testing, and, third, to meet the following design requirements: 1. Remote operation. 2. Airborne contamination control. 3. Radioactive waste collection. 4. Remote maintenance.

The method is based on caustic precipitation and centrifugation (which removes the Cs and small amounts of Sr, rare earths, Zr, Nb, and Ru). These are removed in the supernatant and run through a cation exchange column. This separates Zr-NB and Ru. The effluent is precipitated and the Zr-Nb is stored in an asphalt pit. The Ru then may be recovered from the precipitate. The precipitate from the original centrifugation is calcined, pressed and transported to a deep well.

From Introduction: "The design and flight evaluation of an airborne target simulator for use in tracking studies of fighter-type airplanes equipped with optical gunsights have recently been reported (ref. 1). In this equipment the target airplane was represented by a movable dot of light projected on the windshield of the test airplane."

Abstract: Experimentally measured promp-neutron decay constants for sub-critical systems are of considerable value as normalization data for calculations of prompt-neutron time constants. A method of measuring these decay constants with a pulsed neutron source, neutron detector and multi-channel time-delay analyzer has been developed and used on a number of fast-spectrum subcritical systems. An analysis of this method based on the one-energy group, one-delayed-neutron group reactor kinetic equations is presented and discussed. The curve of neutron flux versus time predicted by the kinetic equations is compared with the observed curve obtained with a 13.1-cm. diam. enriched-uranium sphere to indicate the application and limitations of the analysis.

In order to evaluate the behavior of an APPR type absorber rod, an irradiation test program has been established. Approximately 21 more samples are planned for testing under this request. The request proposes testing a full size APPR-1 type control rod in the MTR. The objective of the test is to better evaluate the neutron absorbing material proposed for the APPR-1 control rod.

Abstract: A description is given of the design and operation of a windowed autoclave system employed in the study of corrosion by pressurized hot water. The device has been used to obtain time-lapse motion pictures of the swelling and rupture of deliberately defected zirconium-clad uranium specimens. A method is described by which corrosion rates were calculated from pressure and temperature measurements. A typical set of pictures taken during a test is presented, and corrosion rates are reported for uranium-0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 w/o zirconium alloys subjected subjected to 600 F water.

A method was developed for calculating shield induced gamma radiation escaping through openings in a biological shield. The method was applied to the HRT and the results indicated that the contribution to the dose from induced activity in the HRT shield was around 0.1 r/hr and was insignificant in comparison to to other mechanisms contributing to the escape of gamma rays through shield openings.

Resistance of carbon steel to corrosion in oxygenated high-temperature (250C) water was unexpectedly good at high oxygen concentration. Pertinent literature, critically examined, and toroid experiments indicted that at low oxygen concentration attack did increase with concentration, but as oxygen concentration was sufficiently increased, more protective films were formed on the metal. Some corrosion factors in the application of carbon steel to nuclear reactors systems are discussed.

Catalysts for use in recombining the gases produced by the radiolytic decomposition of water in thorium oxide slurries under neutron irradiation were investigated in out-of-pile tests using stoichiometric mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen. Most favorable results were obtained with a molybdenum oxide catalyst. Satisfactory rate also were attained with palladium and silver oxides. Copper, nickel, vanadium and chromium compounds were less effective.

Abstract: The nonmetallic inclusions in both as-reduced and fabricated dingot uranium have been studied for comparison with those in ingot uranium. Special attention was paid to the hydride for the purpose of determining the amount and distribution in the various types of uranium. The types and distribution of other inclusions were also studied. It was found that the dingot uranium was of a higher quality than ingot uranium and was comparable to as-reduced derby uranium on the basis of over-all inclusion count. The hydrogen content in dingot uranium, however, was found to be appreciably higher than in either ingot or derby uranium.

A promising scheme for the chemical processing of a thorium breeder reactor of the two-region aqueous homogeneous type consists of the following operations: concentration of insoluble fission and corrosion products from the core system into a small volume of fuel solution, combining this slurry with irradiated thorium oxide slurry taken from the blanket, recovery of D2O by evaporation, dissolution of the thorium and uranium in HNO3, and, after a suitable cooling period, recovery of the uranium and thorium by solvent extraction for return to the reactor. The use of a hydroclone and underflow container arrangement for concentrating insoluble fission and corrosion products under simulated reactor conditions has been successfully demonstrated on dynamic loops. Solids concentration factors greater than 103 were demonstrated, and equilibrium solids concentration in the circulating solution less than 1 ppm was attained in these tests. Present data indicate that proper design and operation will minimize solids deposition in the reactor system and that the insoluble impurities can be effectively removed by the hydroclone. An alternate method of processing the slurry removed from the core system by the hydroclone consists of removing the room temperature insolubles by centrifugation, recovering the uranium from the supernatant by peroxide precipitation, thermal …

When it was discovered that two HRT flange bolts of a lot of 16 spares contained serious cracks, a program was launched to (1) determine the cause for the cracking, and (2) find methods for non-destructive testing the remainder of the 672 bolts shipment, a large portion of which had been installed in the HRT. Concurrently, inspection of 8 ferrules removed from an HRT flange revealed hairline cracking in 4 of them. Magnaglo, a magnetic particle inspection method using a fluorescent dye, proved to be the only definitive method for inspecting the bolts. The evidence gathered on the bolts pointed to quench cracking as the cause for the defects. Nothing abnormal was disclosed in regard to the bolt material. The alloy and heat treatment at present prescribed for the HRT bolts and ferrules are considered suitable. However, recommendations are made for plating with zinc, instead of formerly prescribed cadmium, to a thickness of 0.0002 inch, followed by a hydrogen relief treatment and a final bichromate chemical dip.

Short reports to the members of the Nuclear Cross Section Advisory Group from three groups: (1) High voltage group; (2) Fast chopper time-of flight spectrometer; and (3) Electronuclear research division.

Monthly newsletter of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, discussing the field of underground water. Topics include profiles of water conservation research, annual pre-plant soil moisture survey data, annual Winter Water Level measurement data, and information about the latest water conservation tips.

Some refined calculations have been made, relative to a proposed delay prior to a dump, to determine the expected D2 concentration in the vent stream from the pressurizer gas bleeds during a dump of the Homogeneous Reactor Test (HRT). These calculations indicate that for vent valves have a Cv of 0.07 (venting time from 2000 psia to D2O saturation pressure of approximately 12 minutes), a delay period is not required since the D2 concentration is well below lower explosive limit. For vent valves having a Cv of 0.3 (venting time approximately 2.4 minutes), the calculation indicate that a delay before venting of approximately two minutes will be required. This is due entirely to the possibility of mass ebullition the D2. Since the pressure drops so quickly, the reactor solution becomes saturated with D2 before appreciable recombination can occur.

This report describes the design, construction, and application of an electrical analogue for solution of the steady state problem. Teledeltos paper (an electrically conductive paper) was used to construct this analogue, and although this and other sheet materials has been used for heat transfer analogues in several previous investigations, it is believed that the present work is unique in the application of Teledeltos paper to three dimensional problems of radial symmetry.

The feasibility of determining particle sizes in the submicron range by employing an activation analysis - centrifugation method has been demonstrated. It is believed that this method is now applicable to the analysis of thorium oxide for submicron particles. The same techniques are, in most instance, usable in determining particle sized in other sample materials.

At the request of the Alloy Preparation Group, the Nondestructive Test Development Group investigated the feasibility of determining the clad thickness on Mark X MTR Fuel Plates. As the use of induced eddy-currents was considered to be the most promising approach, a prototype instrument and probe coil utilizing this principle was developed to measure clad thickness. The results of the investigation conducted with this instrument indicate that the clad thickness of this type of fuel plats can be measured to withing +- 0.001 in.

The General Electric Company is designing and building a 180,000 kilowatt nuclear power plant for the Commonwealth Edison Company at a site near the confluence of the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers in Grundy County, Illinois, about 47 miles southwest of Chicago. The plant will be known as the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, and will employ a nuclear reactor of the dual-cycle boiling water type.

An estimate has been made of the gamma radiation levels at access holes in the HRT Shielding when the plugs have been removed to service or maintain the reactor. In every case the radiation level at the holes was greater than the maximum permissible exposure rate of 0.3 roentgens per week. The radiation through the holes can be attenuated to some extent by flooding the reactor cell up to the flange to be disconnected. However, shielding would still be required and it is more practical to provide a small additional shield thickness to compensate for the moderate attenuation that could be gained from flooding.

Few data exist for the thermal conductivity and viscosity of gases at very high pressure. The possibility of using gases for heat transfer media at pressures up to 100 atmospheres and above raised the problem of estimating variations in the conductivity and viscosity at high pressure. Generalized plots are presented which are based on the work of Enskog, Eucken, and Hirschfelder et al. Some pertinent data from Hirschfelder et al and from Hilsenrath et al are presented.

A six-inch diameter "O" ring from the HRT Mockup was examined metallographically after 2452 hours exposure to uranyl sulfate solution at 300C. surface defects, except for cold work defects were found only in areas exposed to uranyl sulfates. Defects found were pits, transgranular cracks, surface cracks, and grain attacks.

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.

Abstract: "Indium was bombarded with protons in the energy range 2 to 6 Bev. Cross sections are reported for the (p,px+), (p,pn), and (p,p') reactions, as well as those for the formation of Be-7 and several neutron deficient isotopes of cadmium and indium. It was found that the (p,pn) yield increases slowly in the energy range 2 to 6 Bev, while the (p,px+) and (p,p') yields are approximately constant. The variation of the (p,pn) and (p,px+) yields with target thickness is discussed. The yields of several isomeric levels are correlated with their nuclear spin."