Abstract: A pilot plant facility for recovering Pu238 and unconverted neptunium from irradiated neptunium target elements was operated for 17 months at the Savannah River Laboratory. The process required that the irradiated target elements be dissolved and the solution be processed through three anion exchange cycles for removal of undesirable fission products and cations, recovery of unconverted neptunium, and concentration of Pu238 solution. The process equipment was enclosed in three stainless steel boxes that were installed in two general-purpose cells of a ten-cell complex. The basic cells were not modified. The two cells were not separated from from the adjacent 8 cells. Containment of the high-specific-activity alpha emitters was accomplished by ventilation, development of handling techniques, use of procedures, and close Radiation Control coverage. The facility was dismantled, and the cells were decontaminated and returned to normal use. With the exception of an accidental overexposure, all personnel exposures were kept below the administrative level of 3 R/yr. None of the personnel assimilated detectable amounts of he material handled.

The Heavy Water Components Test Reactor (HWCTR) was built for the Atomic Energy Commission by the Du Pont Company to satisfy a need for fuel testing in the AEC's Heavy Water Power Reactor Program. The reactor was designed to provide a realistic test environment for full size fuel candidates. The report contains sections on (1) the containment building, (2) vertical cross section of the reactor vessel, (3) core layout, (4) low power physics tests and comparison with calculations, (5) rod worths, (6) temperature coefficients, (7) flux shapes, and (8) the operating philosophy of a test reactor.

The Heavy Water Components Test Reactor (HWCTR) is a pressurized reactor, cooled and moderated with D2O, and has the capability of testing fuel assemblies under operating conditions of coolant flow, temperate, and pressure that are typical of those proposed for modern power reactors. The report contains (1) description of the four systems used for failed element detection, (2) discussion of the laboratory analyses of water samples used a as backup for the fuel failure instruments, (3) description of 3 monitors, Cyclic Air Sampling Monitor, Stack Gas Activity Monitor, Health Physics Building Monitors, (4) normal full power activity readings, (5) discussion of the experience during fuel failure.

The Heavy Water Components Test Reactor (HWCTR) is used to test prototype fuel elements for power reactors that are moderated with heavy water and fueled with natural or slightly enriched uranium. During the initial critical experiments in the HWCTR, it was observed that there were unexpected variations in nuclear reactivity. Investigations revealed that this effect was due to bubble of helium gas appearing and disappearing in the moderator. An examination of the expected operating conditions of the HWCTR and the solubility of helium in D2O showed that it was possible during normal operation for the helium content of the moderator to exceed saturation and thus for helium to appear as bubbles in the moderator. The possibility of helium bubbles appearing in the moderator because of solubility characteristics was eliminated by modifications to the process system so as to maintain the gas content of the moderator appreciably below saturation.

The Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor is a research and development tool supporting the Plutonium Recycle Program and the research activities at Hanford. The present organization directly associated with the PRTR is composed of Operating, Technical Assistance, Maintenance, and Engineering Groups. Liaison with research groups utilizing PRTR facilities is accomplished through the Technical Assistance Group. the other three groups serve the PRTR in the manner suggest by the group name. This paper limits its interest to the staffing experience of the Operating Group.

Abstract. The kangaroo rat is readily tamed and has certain characteristics that make it unique and of interest in highly specialized research programs. Studies were conducted on its ability to exist on a dried diet with only a bare minimum of water and that obtained from succulent plants. Hematological studies indicate that the kangaroo rat exhibits a different hematological distribution of cells than the mouse or rat. The lymphocyte constitutes 81.4% of the total leuokocytes. The hematocrit has a value of 46 to 48 in spite of the high degree of water conservation practiced by the animal. The response to ionizing radiation of this species does not differ from that reported for the mouse or rat. Behavior studies indicate that the digging characteristics of the kangaroo rat are similar to those of the gerbil. Furthermore, the animal shows definite psychotic tendencies under the influence of psychotomimetics like LSD-25 and psilocybin. An evaluation of the physiological responses of isolated tissues from this animal as well as its responses to anesthetics is being undertaken to evaluate its further usefulness in the laboratory.

Montgomery and Chandrasekhar and Hulm suggested models for predicting Im and Hm of high-field superconducting solenoids. Montgomery's model for predicting the degradation effect of superconducting solenoids leads to a unique coil quenching characteristics if geometrically similar solenoids are considered. Experiments do not verify these predicted results. Chandrasekhar and Hulm's model leads to one unique coil quenching characteristic for all solenoids with identical wire type and turn distance; coils with identical load factor should display identical values im and Hm. An analysis of the surface currents in an ideal superconducting infinitely long solenoid demonstrated possible forms of shielding currents. Experiments with Pb coils with and without NbZr and compensation agree with results expected from this analysis, but contradict Chandrasekhar and Hulm's model. Measurements of individual turn resistances show behavior of a soft superconductor solenoid in the intermediate state.

The radiation chemistry of ammonia, pure or with various additives, was studied by Co60 gamma radiation. The kinetics of aniline formation by the irradiation of homogeneous benzene-ammonia mixtures was determined together with the kinetics of hydrazine formation in the case of pure ammonia. The effects of dose, intensity, temperature, and specific additives were determined.