Report that summarizes out-of-reactor tests undertaken to determine operating conditions, estimate damage from and extent of fretting corrosion, and describe continuing tests planned to monitor and eliminate this corrosion.

Report investigating the compatibility of uranium carbide with tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, Zircaloy-2, AISI 304L SS, Inconel, Hastelloy F, niobium-1% Zr, and niobium-33% Ta-1% Zr. These pairs were heated together at 1000 C and above for ten minutes.

Report documenting experience gained by operating the spare PRTR Primary Process Pump. This includes descriptions of equipment used, testing procedures, and operating history.

Report describing the vibrationally compacted UO2 nested tubular fuel element, its design specifications, fabrication, and assembly.

Report discussing the use of sintered aluminum powder for nuclear fuel cladding. This report includes descriptions of pertinent materials and experimental procedures.

Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor (PRTR) final safeguards analysis involving a gas-cooled loop.

Report describing the properties of the Zircaloy pressure tubes at the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor. Topics include the fabrication of these tubes, their mechanical properties, and operating stresses.

Report describing the performance, fission product tolerance, design, and costs of the DR-1 Gas Loop, which is an in-reactor test facility.

Report describing "[t]he fabrication of of the first aluminum-plutonium spike enrichment fuel elements for the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor (PRTR) at Hanford" Laboratory (p. 2).

Report describing the fabrication of of the I-H aluminum-plutonium spike enrichment fuel elements for the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor (PRTR), including the materials used and design specifications. Appendix begins on page 28.

Measurements of k∞, f, p, and ∈ have been performed in the PCTR in support of the EGCR Program. The values listed below were obtained for the 21.875-inch cell used in the PCTR measurements. They are for a nonabsorbing (helium or vacuum) atmosphere.

This report discusses the mathematical and statistical questions concerned with the estimation of a leak rate from data collected during a reactor containment vessel pressure test such as that performed on the PRTR vessel in May, 1959. A mathematical method is suggested in Section 3 for the construction of a total number of gas molecules in the containment vessel time series using vessel absolute pressure and temperature readings at several positions within the vessel. A formula for the precision of the series is given in terms of the individual instrument precisions. The question of accuracy and its relationship to the temperature gradient within the vessel is also considered.

The feasibility of removing and recovering cesium-137 from various HAPO process solutions by precipitation of Cs2ZnFe(CN)6 has been demonstrated previously. Pilot plant studies of calcination and steam hydrolysis of non-radioactive Cs2ZnFe(CN)6 precipitates by members of the Process Equipment Development Operation are currently in progress. In support of these pilot plant studies, experiments were performed to determine the extent, if any, to which cesium volatilizes during calcination and hydrolysis of Cs2ZnFe(CN)6 precipitates containing cesium-137. Experimental procedures and results are presented in this report.

The work described was undertaken to provide data for nuclear safety studies concerning NPF reprocessing equipment. The original objective was to determine the uranium density and water (hydrogen) content of UO2-H2O mixtures ranging from compact centrifuge cakes to dilute slurries. The scope was later expanded to include mixtures of UO2 with hydrocarbon oil and mixtures of UO3-H2O.

The need for criticality control in the proposed reprocessing of slightly enriched non-production fuels at Hanford has led to the development of a geometrically "safe", vertical tube, recirculating dissolver. A study of the nitric acid dissolution of uranium dioxide in a pilot plant dissolver of this type is reported here. The study was pointed toward the comparison of uranium dioxide dissolution rates in a batch and a recirculating dissolver and the definition of hydraulic problems associated with the recirculation of nitric acid, by air lift, technique through beds of reacting uranium dioxide.

A study and tests of the feasibility and best method of reaming rear face Parker fittings has been made. Flow increase of 8 percent, based on maintaining the same front header pressure, can be obtained at B, D, and F reactors by reaming the rear Parker fittings to .610 inch and using existing rear face hardware. Tests indicate mechanical strength will not be significantly reduced, high frequency vibration will not be increased, and that methods of reaming are available.

The result of a leak in a PRTR process tube between the flow monitor and the heated section would be to increase the flow through the monitor, but to decrease the flow through the heated section. The concern for the case of small leaks is whether the increase in flow through the flow monitor is sufficient to cause a high flow tip and a reactor scram for the condition where the flow through the heated section is reduced to the point to cause excessive fuel element temperatures.

Specifications including detail dimension, materials, fabrication steps, acceptance criteria, and final assembly steps for the swaged uranium dioxide, 19-rod cluster Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor fuel element.

The fabrication processes applied to nuclear fuels are subject to severe limitations because of the conditions imposed by the reactor environment. The combined problems of neutrons fluxes, high heat fluxes, corrosion by the coolant , and embrittlement by hydriding or similar reactions may be minimized through establishing rigorous materials and fabrication specifications for fuel and cladding.

The components for the present aluminum clad, Al-Si bonded, internally and externally cooled (I & E), uranium fuel elements are composed of impact extruded cans and spire caps as shown in Figure 1. This type of component requires two impact extrusions; however, in December, 1957, J. E. Ruffin proposed another design of component in which there was only one impact extrusion. For this component, Figure 2, the spire was impact extruded as a part of the can.

Powder metallurgy is rapidly gaining importance as a means of fabricating nuclear fuel elements and other reactor components. It provides a convenient method for forming metals, unusual combinations of metals, and metal-ceramic combinations. The unique features of this technique which make it desirable for nuclear engineering purposes are the following:

Late in 1958 it became apparent that some fuel elements were failing in the Hanford reactors as a result of water entering through the weld. The mode of entry appeared to be first through a void in the weld, then through a non-wet area or a train of voids in the braze, and finally to the uranium core. Defective closures of a similar nature were also typical of many fuel elements which have failed in the autoclaving operation as shown in Figure 1.

Space has been reserved near the southeast corner of the 100-N Area for the 122-N Decontamination Facility. Previous correspondence between Burns and Roe, Inc and General Electric bae discussed various facilities which might be needed in the building. The concepts of the decontamination processes are under active development by research groups at Hanford. At present, there are several workable processes known; each one has one or more fairly serious drawbacks.

In many cases of analysis of two-phase flow in systems, considerable computation or program time could be saved if the critical pressures ratio were known. If a reservoir or plenum pressure is fixed, the usual computational procedure involves the assumption of several critical pressures and the generation of several momentum terms to find the applicable critical pressure ratio and thereby the critical flow. The formulation of an equation of state make it possible to compute critical pressure ratios directly.