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This memorandum discusses discusses the design of a new reactor area in relation to the H pile.

Higher operating levels in the 100 Area piles have caused alarming increases in pile effluent activity and pressure drop through the process tubes. Projected additional increases in power level may not be possible unless the problems of film formation and pile effluent activity are overcome. Although a solution to these problems is not the responsibility of the Power Division, we do not have an interest in seeing that any proposed solution meets the test of operational practicability. Consequently, this was written in order that pertinent water treatment information may be readily available.

This is a progress report of the production reactors on the Hanford Reservation for the month of December 1950. This report takes each division (e.g., manufacturing, medical, accounting, occupational safety, security, reactor operations, etc.) of the site and summarizes its accomplishments and employee relations for that month.

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This report addresses the corrosion of zirconium in 600°F water and in 750°F superheated steam.

The purpose of the research work presented in this volume is to develop a process for the separation and purification of actinium-227 produced by neutron bombardment of radium-226 and to develop methods by which uniform films of actinium metal may be deposited on metallic surfaces. The design work on the cave structure and mechanical equipment used in the actinium separation is proceeding on schedule. As the mechanical design phase is nearing completion the emphasis is being directed toward processing equipment. The process as well as the mechanical equipment has been adapted from the research work of F. T. Hagemann and the Remote Control Group at Argonne National Laboratory. Consequently, one of the first objectives is to become familiary with the chemistry of the process and the operation of the mechanical equipment. Cold runs have been made on the T.T.A. benzene extraction using lanthanum and barium in place of actinium and radium. No difficulty with the operation was observed. The formation of precipitates was one of the difficulties encountered with the process as the precipitates carry radium. It has been found that metals such as nickel cause these precipitates to form and should, therefore, be avoided in the construction of equipment. …

The purpose of the research work reported in this volume is the development of a process for the separation and subsequent purification of radium from the K-65 (pitchblende) residue. Except for the accumulation of additional experimental data the process is essentially complete. After a preliminary extraction of about 85% of the lead and 40% of the silica with a 40% sodium hydroxide solution, the residue is treated with a solution containing both sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate to obtain additional lead removal and partial conversion of the radium and barium sulfates to carbonates. After leaching out the soluble carbonates, the residue containing unconverted sulfates is treated with a sodium carbonate solution at 170{sup o} under pressure. A study of the amount and concentration of sodium carbonate required to obtain a satisfactory conversion of the sulfates has shown that the total sodium carbonate may be reduced by 40% and that smaller volumes of solution may be employed without serious decrease in the efficiency of the conversion. In order to make calculations on the number of steps and tank sizes for the radium-barium separation by fractional precipitation, equations have been developed to calculate this information from the theoretical separation factors determined experimentally. …

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Recently three H-10 tubes (2,772, 2,176, 3,673) have been removed and the tritium and other gases have been extracted from the Z slugs. It is of interest to compare the calculated volumes of gases with the amounts obtained in these extractions. The comparison is given in this paper. The reasons for the large disagreement are not known at present. As pointed out below, the weakest part of the calculation is the knowledge of the exposure which these Z slugs have received. It is possible that some losses, particularly of tritium, occur during exposure and extraction. In view of these uncertainties, it does not appear likely that more 25 has been burnt up per unit of tritium than has been previously estimated.

Experimental results indicate that the production of UO/sub 3/ by the continuous calcination process is practicable. (W.L.H.)

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An experimental, gamma-sensitive, coaxial radioelectric cell has been tested by the Control Section. It was found to be as precise as the rotating sample gamma counter but much faster and simpler to operate. A gamma-sensitive, radioelectric cell of improved design has been constructed for the 'Y' Section. A neutron sensitive radioelectric cell has been tested over a range of pressures with various filling gases and with several combinations of hydrogenous electrode backings. Neutron to gamma discrimination ratios as high as 2,000 to 1 were obtained, A multiple electrode, alpha radiation, radioelectric cell using coated plastic electrodes gave increased current output, but the electrode life was quite short. Preliminary life tests indicated that aluminum electroscope foil would give excellent electrode life and techniques were worked out for making good electrodes of both aluminum and of gold electroscope foil. The vacuum-pressure gas system has been redesigned and completely rebuilt (p. 5) The fast-neutron scintillation counter is much smaller and lighter than a B-wall proportional counter and a large moderator. The former is more efficient for polonium-beryllium neutron sources but is less efficient for radium-beryllium neutron sources or for polonium sources producing lower energy neutrons The fast neutron scintillation counter would thus be …

Plant Assistance Group summaries are given for the B, D, F, H, and DR piles. The Engineering Development Group reports on: ball 3-X program, special field instruments, pile flux density measurements, magnesium inlet dummies, assistance to pile physics group, water survey program, boiling studies, slug temperature measurements, and the job status report for engineering development.

Accounting progress, analytical and theoretical development, and production aspects of the SF materials accounting program at Mallinckrodt Chemical Works are briefly reviewed. (L. T.W.)

Comparative studies of a series of halogenated solvents, as carriers for TTA in the chelate process for plutonium extraction, indicate that ortho-dichlorobenzene most nearly satisfies the requirements that are set forth. A complete process design is presented for use with this solvent, and flow data and equipment capacities are given for dissolver solution and for uranium-free fission product solution as alternate feeds to the process. Vertical mixer-settlers are recommended as the contractors, although pulsed columns or packed columns are also believed to be suitable. The size of such units is estimated from the best available rate and equilibrium data, and the effects of several operating variable are considered.

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This volume is one set of a series which has been prepared as a record of the research work done under the Manhattan Project and the Atomic Energy Commission.

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The arguments leading to the formulation of the Action Principle for a general field are presented. In association with the complete reduction of all numerical matrices into symmetrical and anti-symmetrical parts, the general field is decomposed into two sets, which are identified with Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac fields. The spin restriction on the two kinds of fields is inferred from the time reflection invariance requirement. The consistency of the theory is verified in terms of a criterion involving the various generators of infinitesimal transformations. Following a discussion of charged fields, the electromagnetic field is introduced to satisfy the postulate of general gauge invariance. As an aspect of the latter, it is recognized that the electromagnetic field and charged fields are not kinematically independent. After a discussion of the field-strength commutation relations, the independent dynamical variables of the electromagnetic field are exhibited in terms of a special gauge.