Optical microscopic examination of air- and rain-borne dust shows most of the particles to be less than one micron in diameter. Electron microscopic examination of the same dust shows predominantly clusters of particles whose individual diameters are in the range 200 to 1000 A. The residue obtained by filtering rain water through a millipore filter is found to be slightly radioactive in more than half the cases observed.

Since 105-C Pile was designed without thimbles, gas seals are required on all horizontal control rods to prevent the pile gases from escaping and contaminating the atmosphere.

Subjects discussed include uranium structure, stability under irradiation, cold working of surfaces, deformation, hollow slugs, grain size, canning, etc.

A program to develop a new fuel element was initiated at Hanford in 1951. A survey of the possible methods of making such a fuel element was completed and a document listing all possible lines of research was written. The problem was outlined as it appeared at that time; various developments which have occurred subsequently have changed this problem to a greater or lesser extent. Essentially the problem concerned the development of a fuel element which would not fail or would fail in a slow and predictable manner and would not cause damage to the pile. A largenportion of the research and development was concerned with the application of these layers. This paper will review the research that was done on the development of these corrosion-resistant layers and will evaluate the problem as it appears now after approximately four years have elapsed.

None

None

None

This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for March 1955. The report is divided into sections by department. A plant wide general summary is included at the beginning of the report, after which the departmental summaries begin. The Manufacturing Department reports plant statistics, and summaries for the Metal Preparation, Reactor and Separation sections. The Engineering Department`s section summarizes work for the Technical, Design, and Project Sections. Costs for the various departments are presented in the Financial Department`s summary. The Medical, Radiological Sciences, Utilities and General Services, Employee and Public Relations, and Community Real Estate and Services departments have sections presenting their monthly statistics, work, progress, and summaries.

The Ferrotherm Company is undertaking a design study of a test radiator. Since January 21, 1955, preliminary designs of several radiators have been completed prior to the selection of one for the final design study. Ferrotherm has been given prototype design specifications for structural design, typical in-flight prototype performance specifications for core-size estimates, test core specifications for their design study, and a method whereby radiators may be evaluated. From analysis of the prototype specifications a matrix will be selected for the test core design study. Although the analysis has narrowed to both a plate-and-sheet-metal fin and a plate-and-pin-fin core geometry, Ferrotherm is more or less committed to pin-fins.

In April, 1954, Thompson Products Inc. formally began work on a program leading to the fabrication of two test radiators. The work done to date is summarized in report number PWAC-127, First Technical Report by Thompson Products Inc. on Liquid-Metal-to-Air Radiators and in PWAC-128, Second Technical Report by Thompson Products Inc. on Liquid-Metal-to-Air Radiators. The first report describes possible radiator design concepts meeting the required specifications and presents an analytical method which was derived to optimize the designs. Thompson Products has decided that a core with cast NaK passages in combination with the sheet-metal, ribbon fins on the airside offers maximum reliability. The second report formulates the analysis of the final radiator design and presents the fabrication and evaluation studies used to select the design. To evaluate the permeability of cast NaK passages, Thompson Products is planning to build a hot NaK flow rig. A parallel investigation on wrought materials will be carried out as an alternate NaK passage type. The next phase of the program, the final design of the test radiator, has started.

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Interest in using low pH water (pH 6.5--7.3) for cooling Hanford reactors dates back to carly laboratory investigation. Work has consistently shown that the use of this low pH water should reduce overall corrosion rates of the aluminum components. Work done by Draley at the Clinton Laboratories with simulated Columbia River water showed that aluminum corrosion rates at 80 C were minimized at pH 6.5. These results were later substantiated by work at Hanford by the CMX Project. (Z) In spite of these results. the original specifications called for the process water pH to be maintained in the range 7.5--7.8. This report details the data obtained from tests on the 100-F reactor at Hanford.

None

None