This document discusses increases in water pressure from the 190 Building process pumps which has been contemplated for a range of pressures up to 550 PSIG. The existing process pumps are dual units, consisting of a steam turbine driven primary pump operated: in series with an electric driven secondary pump. The secondary pumps installed in 100-B, D, F, and H Areas were designed for 400 PSIG working pressure, and were given factory hydrostatic tests of 600 PSIG. The 100-DR pumps were given factory hydrostatic tests of 650 PSIG. The Ingersoll-Rand Company advises that a working pressure of 425 PSIG is as high as they would-recommend for pump casing pressure on the secondary pumps. In consideration of problems incident to increased operating pressures, the immediate limiting factor is the total head pressure permissible on secondary pump casings. Other limiting factors are filter plant capacities, and 183 process water capacities.

This report is a monthly progress report for the 100 Area of the Hanford Reservation, covering work by the plant assistance group and engineering development group. It summarizes activities of these groups in support of the production reactors in this area.

This memorandum discusses the expected life of the piles with regard to additional production capacity.

This memorandum discusses the removal of ruptured slugs utilizing new methodology.

The 105-B Pile which was shut down on July 18, 1951 to permit removal of a ruptured uranium slug from tube No. 2169-B. The rupture was detected from effluent water monitor evidence and a survey of rear face pigtails. Removal was accomplished with the pneumatic charging machine using only normal pushing force.

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.

Activities discussed in this report are as follows: shielding studies; xenon generator; assay of xenon sample counting techniques; crystal diffraction neutron spectrometer; C{sup 12} cross sections measurements; magnetic spectrometer; scintillation spectroscopy; improved pile structure; criticality for the untamped 16 inch spherical reactor; exponential experiments; large scale pile structure; and operational pile physics.

This memorandum discusses a meeting held to fix water requirements necessary for additional production capacity.

At the 100{endash}300 Areas Steering Committee meeting of March 7, following a general discussion of pile level increases, the chairman pointed out the necessity for programming tentative level objectives as far in advance as possible so that the P and Service Divisions may proceed with the planning details incidental to making the necessary equipment changes. A committee consisting of Mr. Warren and Mr. McCullough was appointed to prepare an outline of pile level objectives and to determine the major equipment changes involved in attaining such levels.

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The policy of operating the Hanford Piles at the highest level attainable under existing standards has resulted in pile levels` being occasionally limited by maximum permissible exit water temperatures. The practicability of using refrigeration to reduce the inlet water temperature during peak periods and so increase pile levels has been reviewed and is discussed in this document.

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 memorandum discusses factors involved in the additional production capacity of Hanford Works.

Topics in the heat studies section include: front and rear face reflector shields at the C-pile; process tube channel thermocouples; water temperature limits for horizontal rods; slug temperature and thermal conductivity calculations; maximum slug-end cap temperature; boiling consideration studies; scram time limit for Panellit alarm; heat transfer test; slug stresses; thermal insulation of bottom tube row at C-pile; flow tests; present pile enrichment; electric analog; and measurement of thermal contact resistance. Topics in the water studies section include: 100-D flow laboratory; process water studies; fundamental studies on film formation; coatings on tip-offs; can difference tests; slug jacket abrasion at high flow rates; corrosion studies; front tube dummy slugs; metallographic examination of tubes from H-pile; fifty-tube mock-up; induction heating facility; operational procedures and standards; vertical safety rod dropping time tests; recirculation; and power recovery. Mechanical development studies include: effect of Sphincter seal and lubricant VSR drop time; slug damage; slug bubble tester; P-13 removal; chemical slug stripper; effect of process tube rib spacing and width; ink facility installation; charging and discharging machines; process tube creep; flapper nozzle assembly test; test of single gun barrel assembly; pigtail fixture test; horizontal rod gland seal test; function test of C-pile; and intermediate test of …

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