This technical report describes development work done on zonal centrifuge systems at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant during the period July 1 to December 31, 1962 under the Joint National Institute for Health-Atomic Energy Commission Zonal Centrifuge Development Program. A basic purpose of this project is to develop new methods for isolating virus particles associated with cancerous cells and tissues. Three classes of rotor systems capable of separating particles ranging in size from whole animal or plant cells to protein or nucleic acid molecules on the basis of either sedimentation rate or density alone have been developed. Experiments with phage particles indicate the feasibility of large-scale virus isolation by continuous-flow centrifugation, followed by isopycnic banding in cesium chloride and velocity sedimentation in sucrose - all steps being carried out sequentially in the same rotor. Zonal rotors using the reorienting gradient principle for molecular separations have been tested to 141,000 rpm (formula). Previous work on zonal centrifugation and future plans for this program are discussed.

The in-plie slurry loop work is now being considered as a joint program between the PAR project and ORNL. It is proposed that PAR design, fabricate and test the in-pile loops and that ORNL operate the loops in-pile, dismantle the loops after irradiation and made the appropriate measurements to determine the radiation effects. This report gives the objects of the slurry in-pile program and outlines the facilities and operations required to execute ORNL's part of this program.

Calculated data and graphs describing the effects of batch thermal-neutron irradiations on the buildup of fission products in natural uranium, enriched uranium, and thorium are presented together with empirical equations and plots correlating total fission product activities and/or decontamination factors. Fluxes of 1012-1015 are considered.

A series of two-group calculations has been made on the Oracle for the purpose of obtaining critical-mass and flux distribution data for various ORR core configurations. The 3G3R code of Bate, Einstein, and Kinney was used, together with the RSP code developed by Nelson. This made it possible to obtain results for the three-dimensional case. The results, which are presented graphically, are intended to serve as a guide for the design of experiments until such time as actual measurements are available. The calculations were performed for the "clean cold" case, and it should be realized that the presence in the core of experiments and of fission products built up during operation will materially alter the flux patterns found. It is believed that the critical-mass data are accurate to within 10%. Within the fuel region it is believed that the thermal-flux patterns are the also accurate to this degree. Comparison of the results with MTR critical experiments, however, indicates that the thermal flux in the reflector in the vicinity of the fuel-reflector interface may have been underestimated by a factor of as much as 1.3. It should also be recalled that in a two-group calculation the "fast flux" is often a …

This quarterly progress report details the ongoing research and experiments at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project. The first part of this report discusses reactor theory and design. The second part of this report is not included. The third part of this report discusses materials research. The fourth part of this report includes appendixes

Studies are being made on the recovery of thorium (and uranium) from granitic rock, since this source represents a very large potential thorium reserve for the nuclear power industry. In preliminary leaching studies on 16 granite samples (containing 8-95 ppm thorium and 1.5-16 ppm uranium), maximum recoveries of thorium and uranium ranged 30-85% and 15-65% respectively, and sulfuric acid consumption was high (30-120 lbs H2SO4 per ton of granite). A relatively high acidity was needed to obtain rapid and efficient dissolution of the soluble thorium fraction. The cost of treating granite was estimated at $3.50-5.20 per ton, variations within this range being dependent primarily on differences in acid consumption for different granites. Estimated costs per pound of thorium plus uranium recovered ranged $30-500.

Several compatibility test of various materials in contact in sodium under 500 psi pressure were conducted for 716 hr at 1500 F. Of the diffusion couples studies, the Inconel-beryllium system showed the largest amount al alloying. The reaction between molybdenum and beryllium resulted in the formation of two compounds, both of which were severely cracked in several areas. The molybdenum-INOR #8, and the INOR #8p type 316 stainless steel interfaces showed little if any alloying.

The friction characteristics of a full-scale straight-tube model of the ART fuel-to-NaK heat exchanger were determined experimentally. The presence of the spacers resulted in a transition to semi-turbulent flow at a Reynolds modulus of 350. this semi-turbulent flow persisted up to a Reynolds modulus of 5,000. The circumferential spacers were found to contribute slightly more than the radial spacers to the pressure loss in the heat exchanger.

In an elastic collision the neutron loses part of its kinetic energy to the nucleus with both the kinetic and momentum of the system being conserved. However, for many elements the scattering is not isotropic in the center-of-mass system at the higher neutron energies. Many of the present reactor multigroup codes include anisotropic scattering at the high neutron energies, while many others assume isotropic scattering at all energies. In order to consider some of the effects of including anisotropic scatting, reference is made t the multigroup equation generally assumed for the slowing-down density.

The dose of ionizing radiation received by passengers and crew members traveling on commercial airlines which transport radioisotopes is of interest to all persons who travel the airways frequently. Tariff regulations permit the air transport of 40 units of radioactive materials where one unit represents a quantity of radioisotopes which when packaged delivers a dose rate of one mr/hr at a distance of one meter from the center of the package. Using five different types of commercial aircraft, shipments of radioisotopes were simulated and dose levels determined at various locations in the aircraft under conditions normal to commercial travel. The survey indicates that the tariff regulations should be amended giving consideration to the type of aircraft involved.

From abstract: "The stability of polystyrene and phenolic ion-exchange resins to radiation from a Co60 source and from absorbed Ce144-PR144 was investigated. Sulfonated polystyrene cation-exchange resins lost 10 to 20% of their capacity per watt-hour of radiation absorbed per gram of oven-dry resin, while the quaternary amine anion-exchange polystyrene resins lost about 40%. Phenolic cation-exchange resins lost only 1%."

Technical report outlining the construction progress of the Oak Ridge digital computer at Argonne. Included is the schedule of events for the Mathematical panel and programs during the presentation of contributed papers for the Biometric Society [From Summary]

From July through December, a total of 1750 hr of computer time was used by programmers in "debugging" and in running problems. With the acquisition of a second operator, the evening shift was initiated. A night-shift operator is presently being trained, and third-shifts operations will probably begin after completion of the magnetic-tape memory. / Engineering time is regularly scheduled for 4 hr each morning and 1/2 hr late in the afternoon. An electronic technician is on duty during evening-shift operations. / Installations of the magnetic-tape memory units is complete, and the units are expected to go into operation in the near future. Work is continuing on the new input-output system.

Technical report presenting a summary of the flowsheets, equipment, and progress for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) pilot plant development of the Purex Process and of the ORNL Metal Recovery Program. As of this report, conversion of the Purex pilot plant equipment in Buildings 3019 and 3503 is 90% complete. The building structure for the ORNL Waste Metal Recovery plant had been completed, and 15% of the process equipment had been installed. The first hot runs for this plant were scheduled for June, 1951. [From Abstract; Introduction]

This quarterly progress report of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project at ORNL records the technical progress of the research on circulating-fuel reactors and other ANP research at the Laboratory under its Contract W-7405-eng-26. The report is divided into three major parts: I. Reactor Theory, Component Development, and Construction, II. Materials Research, and III. Shielding Research. The ANP Project is comprised of about 530 technical and scientific personnel engaged in many phases of research directed forward the achievement of nuclear propulsion of aircraft. A considerable portion of this research is performed in support of the work of other organizations participating in the national ANP effort. However, the bulk of the ANP research at ORNL is directed toward the development of a circulating-fuel type of reactor. The design, construction, and operation of the Aircraft Reactor Test (ART), with the cooperation of the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Division, are the specific objectives of the project. The ART is to be a power plant system that will include a 60-Mv circulating-fuel reflector-moderated reactor and adequate means for heat disposal. Operation of the system will be for the purpose of determining the feasibility, and the problems associated with the design, construction, and operation, of a …

Technical report covering experiments happening on the Analytical Chemistry Division's sites at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Includes information on ionic analyses, radiochemical analyses, spectrochemical analyses, service analyses, inorganic preparations, analytical chemical control of homogeneous reactor solution, optical and electron microscopy, and service analyses. [From Abstract]

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)

From abstract: "This report summarizes the corrosion data obtained for nine construction materials located throughout the ORNL Purex Pilot Plant Acid Recovery Unit during seven hundred hours of operation."

Technical report outlining how uranium hexaflouride was prepared be the direct combination of irradiated uranium metal with elemental fluorine and subsequently decontaminated by adsorption, filtration, and sublimation on a laboratory scale. Report proposes a survey of other methods of preparing UF6 from uranium metal, a study of adsorption techniques for removing plutonium from UF6, and an investigation of fractional distillation for removing the volatile fission product fluorides from UF6. [From Abstract, Summary]

From abstract: "On the 86-inch cyclotron a 41-kw beam has been calorimetered at a net ion loading efficiency of 40%; the average proton current was 1.85 ma at 22.5 Mev. Practical specific yields have been determined for (p,2n) reactions on zinc and bismuth. The investigation of products of proton-induced fission of uranium has been continued and new techniques are being used in measuring angular distribution of reaction products. The 63-inch heavy particle cyclotron is now in operation; N+++ particles have been accelerated to ~25 Mev. In preliminary tests, induced activities have been detected in carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen targets. A hot-cathode ion source is ready for test operation. The 22-inch cyclotron is being used in an investigation of the problems associated with the use of rf and dc electrodes for the acceleration of protons from the ion source into the dees. Radiation-induced corrosion in Inconel tubing containing #21 eutectic (ANP) has been produced by proton irradiation in the 86-inch cylclotron; it is shown that the corrosion was not due to thermal effects. Approximately 150 grams of highly purified U 238 (< 5 ppm U 235) have been prepared, and two grams of thorium 230 (ionium) has been enriched to 90.6%."

A study was conducted to demonstrate the stripping and evaporation steps in a Purex-type uranium recovery process and to ascertain the operating behavior of the equipment under a range of conditions. The factors considered were control, effectiveness, and reliability of equipment and optimum feed point. Experimental procedures are described, and recommendations for equipment modifications are included. (J.R.D.)

A study has been made of the radioactive nuclides present in the cooling water of the Low Intensity Test Reactor. Prominent nuclides which have been identified include Np239 and certain fission products. The experimental evidence points to the probability that there could be adequate U235 contamination on the fuel plates to quantitatively account for the fission products identified in the LITR cooling water. inasmuch as new aluminum does not contain uranium, it must be assumed that the contamination occurs during the fabrication of the fuel elements.

Factors affecting the results of thoria particle size distribution measurements by sedimentation procedures currently and recently employed are considered. The effects of thoria concentration, solvent, dispersant, thoria properties, and other factors are discussed.