Report describing alternative methods for depleting a large turnings inventory in a short period of time.

From introduction: "This report gives the results of a 1000-hour corrosion test of SAE 1010, low carbon steel, in synthetic Redox waste solutions...The present test was designed to obtain corrosion rates for waste solution temperatures of 180 F, 200 F, and 220 F in solutions neutralized to pH values of 11, 12, and 13.

This report examines the failure of two 18-8 grade stainless steel gate valves used in sulfamic acid and determines the cause of the failures through a series of tests.

Introduction:"A corrosion test program to determine the effect TBP process streams, which contain chlorides, have upon the corrosion resistance of several construction materials, was completed. Data are presented on the performance of Carpenter 20, T-309SCb, T-347. T-316 and tantalum in the RAF and RAW process streams and on the performance of titanium and zirconium in the RAW stream."

This report provides data on production test 105-329-P and solid graphite samples used to analyze damage obtained from controlled natural erosion tests. The data provided will help establish current ideas on the status of filler block graphite and interpretation of the data will assist in establishing pile operating temperature limits based on stored energy.

The following report describes the procedures developed for the x-ray photometric determination of uraniuim in metal oxides and sludge and compares results, precision, and length of time of analyses by the General Electric X-Ray Photometer with analyses by the present titration method.

Summary: "This investigation showed that a sound , weather-resistant coating can be applied to uranium that the surface to be plated is cleaned and etched properly. Using the proposed two-bath plating method at 80 C., a four-mil nickel coat can be deposited in thirteen hours."

From introduction: "The test was performed to gain knowledge which would be useful for evaluating and improving currently planned methods for the design and construction of high density concrete shielding."

The following report discusses laboratory investigations of the suitability of some commercially available limestone for neutralization of slightly acidic distillates.

From introduction: "In this report an attempt was made to summarize the results of recent research on the effective height of smoke stacks. In this summary attention is paid only to the case in which the density of the stack effluent is the same as that of the surrounding air."

From objectives: "The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate the hydraulic forces in the pulse column, and determine their effects on pulse column design."

The following document analyzes plutonium in urine which uses nuclear track film for evaluation of the quantity of separated plutonium.

Report describing "the effects of variable graphite conductivity and of the gas layers in the lattice" under the assumptions that "graphice conductivity varies as a power of the distance from the center of each cell" and "uniform distribution of heat sources" - from abstract.

The following remarks are intended primarily to assist in the orientation of the PRP reactor control development program in a direction consistent with the basic objectives of the program as a whole, and to discuss certain aspects of particular control systems which have a bearing on the capabilities of the reactor with respect to these objectives.

Several studies of power recovery from Hanford pile effluents have been made, from which the conclusion can be drawn that, while recovery of power is feasible, it is costly because of the large volume of vapor which must be handled per kilowatt-hour of energy provided. This note is to call attention to the possibility of developing cheaper machinery than the conventional low-pressure turbine stages considered in previous studies through use of a water expansion cycle.

The desirability of employing leakproof process pumps for handling the corrosive and radioactive process solutions in the H.A.P.O. separations plants has led to the establishment of a program for the development and testing of packless pumps with particular emphasis on evaluation of commercially available units. One such pump, its operating characteristics and behavior, are described in this report.

The letter E. R. Irish/W. H. Swift to R.E. Burns and H. H. Hopkins, dated August 15, 1956, subject Plutonium Concentration Problems, requested information on corrosion of stainless steel, titanium, and tantalum in plutonium nitrate-nitric acid solution, with and without sulfate ion. Experimental conditions and results of tests designed to yield the requested information are given below.

The objective of this investigation was to determine the feasibility of centrifugal casting to produce fuel element plates suitable for use in a power reactor. Preliminary investigations involving the centrifugal casting of metal plates suitable for use in a power reactor proved to be successful. Lead plates cast at medium speeds contained very few voids and exhibited a surface which conformed very closely to that of the mold.

The basic scheme for processing power reactor fuels at Hanford includes the removal of inert endfittings ("hardware") from the active sections of the fuels. Within Hanford Laboratories, research and development studies have been in progress on various types of saws which might be used for hardware cutoff. In the initial phase of the program, high-speed saws were investigated; more recently, studies on low speed saws have been conducted. This report summarizes the high speed saw studies and includes information on abrasive wheels, diamond wheels and metal "friction" blades which cut by actually melting metal ahead of the saw blade. At the completion of the low speed saw testing program currently in progress, basic saw types will be compared and the saw type to be included in the reprocessing complex will be selected.

The first series tests in the KER-REP-1 loop proved that a fisssion product contaminated loop could be decontaminated to a safe level for contact maintenance. The second series of tests ere scheduled for a more thorough evaluation of these processes includes specific decontamination factors, process corrosion rates, loop activity reduction factors (loop decontamination factors), and any preferential decontamination which may be present.

Considerable interest has developed in the use of ion-exchange in the nuclear energy field in the last decade. Aside from the obvious use of providing demineralized coolant water for reactors, the projected uses of ion-exchange include the recovery of fission products from aquaeous waste streams and the separation and purification of fissionable materials from spent reactor fuels. The latter process may be incidental to the over-all operation, as is the case with the Purex anion exchange facility, or it may be the prime separation process, as may be the case in the recovery of Pu or U from spent power reactor (PRTR) fuel elements.

A report which is the ninth report of the research and development activities of the radiological sciences department, Hanford Works, which includes some items charged to control but include for for general interest.

Tests on twenty identically prepared 26 gauge Chromel-Alumel thermocouples have been completed. It appears that wires of this material without protection are unsatisfactory mechanically and thermoelectrically for service in atmospheres of CO₂ at 1000°C.

Five continuous coatings were produced on zirconium coupons using an anodizing technique. These layers appear to be quite adherent and not subject to visible or audible failure caused by flaxion of the basis metal, Their abrasion resistance, though not investigated thoroughly, appears to be moderately good.