There have been numerous independent suggestions to use high speed shocks to heat deuterium gas to thermonuclear temperature (E. Teller, R.R. Wilson, H. Grad, W. Marshall)², and extensive experimental work in this field is being carried on by, e.g., Kolb³, and S. Janes⁴. Our own work in this field has been directed towards a fundamental understanding of the strong shock process in the limit of no particle collision, to find out if within this limit the ion heating following the passage of the shock is large enough to give rise to a thermonuclear reaction.

Sodium hydride dissolves in and reacts with molten NaOH to give an equilibrium mixture of NaH, NaOH, Na/sub 2/O, Na, and H. In the case where there is a gaseous phase (hydrogen) and only one condensed phase, the system is defined by the temperature, pressure, and one composition variable. The equilibrium, H/ sub 2/ pressure, which is a measure of the H/sub 2/ activity within the melt, was determined as a function of the composition of the condensed phase(s) at 600, 700, and 500 deg for equilibrium mixtures with original compositions of 2.5 to 97.5, 5.0 to 95.0, l0.0 to 90.0, and 20.0 to 50.0 mole% NaH-NaOH. The equilibrium H/sub 2/ pressure-composition isotherms obtained by removing measured increments of H/sub 2/ were reproduced by reabsorbing H/sub 2/. Results for the 5.0 mole % NaH mixture were duplicated by starting with an equivalent quantity of either Na in NaOH or Na/sub 2/O in NaOH, and reacting with measured increments of H/sub 2/. The system is discussed in relation to the interdependent reactions involved, the phase rule, the thermodynamics of certain reactions, and experimental techniques employed. (auth)

Portions of the NaOH-NaH phase diagram were studied by means of differential thermal analysis. Under certain conditions NaH will either react with NaOH according to the equation NaH + NaOH in equilibrium Na/sub 2/O + H/ sub 2/ or thermally dissociate according to the equation NaH in equilibrium Na + 1/2 H/sub 2/. Both of these reactions are suppressed by a high H/sub 2/ pressure; and NaH neither reacts nor dissociates to an extent sufficient to affect the results reported. This was evidenced by the fact that changing the H/ sub 2/ pressure above the system in the range indicated did not change, within the limit of error of the experiments ( approximately plus or minus 5 deg ), the temperature at which a phase change was started or completed. Therefore the concentrations of Na and Na/sub 2/O present in the samples must have been small in all cases. Under a high H/sub 2/ pressure, therefore, the system may be considered as essentially binary, consisting of NaOH and NaH. (auth)

Considerable interest has been shown at HAPO in the development of a continuous ion exchange process for concentrating plutonium solutions. Development work has been performed on continuous ion exchange for both uranium and plutonium concentrations at the X-10 at ORNL. On a recent trip to Oak Ridge to discuss critical mass problems and experiments with Dr. A. D. Callihan of the ORNL critical mass facility, a meeting was also held with C. W. Hancher and R. Higgins of X-10 regarding continuous ion exchange operation. From this meeting, information was obtained that is helpful to work out nuclear safety aspects of such a plant for the concentration of plutonium solutions. An advance copy of "Countercurrent Ion Exchange" by T. A. Arehart, J. C. Bresee, C. W. Hancher, and S. H. Jury was obtained. This paper is to be presented at an AIChE meeting this fall. Preliminary blue prints of ORNL-3" Ion Exchange column design were also obtained. Upon my return to HAPO, a meeting was held with members of the Process Planning, Equipment Development, and Chemical Engineering Development Units of the Chemical Engineering Sub-Section (Separations Technology) to present the document and blue prints on continuous ion exchange and arrive at a …

Storage of the fission products separated from the product streams of the Purex process is being accomplished using a smaller volume of accompanying solution than any other process here-to-fore used at HAPO. The operating technique and control mechanisms which are needed to store large quantities of these highly radioactive wastes are not yet fully understood, but considerable insight into the problem has been gained from the experience at Redox during the last 36 months. The basic intentions of the 241-A Storage Facility design is to control the boiling wastes by providing suitable tanks to contain the liquid and a vapor system provided with suitable seals to control the vapors. This document (Part I) will present a somewhat detailed description of the Purex Storage Facility and a review of the activities there before plant start-up. Part II, published under separate cover, contains a description of Waste Farm Technology including a process description and a recommended plan for operation.

A 4-ft-7-in. adsorption column packed with 1/8 in. sodium fluoride pellets was designed to reduce the hydrogen fluoride content of the fluorine being used by the Volatility Pilot Plant from 5% to less than 0.01%. It will be a non-isothermal packed bed with the bas inlet heated to 100 C to avoid plugging and the exit cooed to 25 C for more complete HF removal.