A parameter survey was conducted on 19-rod fuel clusters using 3 and 10 wt.% Mo--U alloys. Graphs are included for the core diameter and initial conversion ratio for k/sub eff/= 1.064 as a function of moderator can size, and for the effect of the Mo resonance integral. (D. L.C.)

Abstract:"The creep resistance of various uranium binary alloys was investigated at 1500 and 1800 F in vacuum. Tests were made on alloys of uranium with beryllium, columbium, molybdenum, tantalum, titanium, and zirconium and on molybdenum-UO2 composites. Of the alloys examined, those of the uranium-molybdenum system exhibited the best creep resistance. At 1500 F, creep rates of about 0.005%/hr were produced in uranium-molybdenum alloys by a stress of 2500 psi and, at 1800 F, similar creep rates were obtained in composites of 90 wt % molybdenum-10 wt % UO2 by a stress of 12,000 psi."

The following report discusses the development of methods for sealing the ends of metallic-cored fuel rods.

Report discussing studies regarding properties of the zirconium-uranium epsilon phase related to stability and existence range. Data showing this phase's thermodynamic stability is presented as well as the zirconium-uranium constitutional diagram. Oxygen and nitrogen effects on zirconium-uranium alloys and epsilon-phase alloys is included as well as ternary zirconium-uranium-oxygen diagrams.

Abstract: "Approximate melting points have been determined for five samples of uranium tetrafluoride representing incompletely converted uranium dioxide and covering the range from about 2 to 20 w/o UO2, using the method of differential thermal analysis. The results indicate the melting temperatures are in the range of 920 to 980 C. No significant correlation between melting point and UO2 content was observed, possibly because of calcite formation. Similar results were obtained on synthetic mistakes of UF4 containing from 10 to 40 w/o UO2."

At about 6:30 a.m. one of the two Process Operators regularly stationed at 233-S was performing routine work in the Control Room, heard a nearby Poppy alpha detector breaking down.'' He checked and found the instrument appeared to be in operating condition as it would respond to a high level source. Further checking indicated that he was contaminated and that nearby horizontal surfaces were contaminated. This information was phoned to the Shift Supervisor who told the Operator that he would be right out and to throw a pair of shoe covers out the door. On arriving, the Supervisor donned the shoe covers and then quickly checked the Poppy response and confirmed the report of the Operator. Both men then left the building. Just outside they met the other Process Operator assigned to 233-S, returning from the lunchroom. The second Operator was handed a smear, previously taken and checked by the Supervisor, and told to check it on a Poppy in the load-out-room, a room adjacent to where the contamination was originally found. When the Supervisor heard the load-out-room Poppy break down as the smear was checked he instructed both Operators to stand by just outside the building while he went …

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From summary: "The hazards due to possible chemical explosion and detonation of the dissociation gases in homogeneous-reactor systems have been considered."

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This is the thirty-sixth progress report of the Laboratory for Nuclear Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Progress during the period of November 30, 1954 through February 28, 1955 is reported.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Price Daniel, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the Comptroller may authorize a distributor to make tax free sales of motor fuels purchased for the purpose of processing or compounding with other products to make paints, stains, acids, powdered insecticides and other products which are not motor fuel.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Price Daniel, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether Articles 883, 883(a), and 883(b), V.C.S., apply to motor bus companies transporting baggage.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Will Wilson, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Construction of Appropriation contained in Section 7 of Senate Bill 222 of the 55th Legislature - the insurance reorganization bill.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Will Wilson, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the "reserve" mentioned in Section 7 of Article 3.44, Texas Insurance Code, includes therein the deficiency reserve described in Section 2 of Article 3.28, Texas Insurance Code.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Price Daniel, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Authority of the Board of Chiropractic Examiners to require penalties or examinations as a prerequisite to reinstatement of a license suspended for nonpayment of annual renewal fees.

As originally installed, the primary process pump turbines in 190-B were arranged to accelerate considerably upon loss of BPA electric power supply to the Process Pump House. However, the acceleration comes too late to be of value in maintaining top of riser pressure within the first second or two, and the acceleration results only in maintaining final process water pressure and flow at values higher than needed. It is desired to limit the acceleration of the turbines to a relatively small amount in order to decrease the emergency steam demands and keep the combined steam demands of 100-B and 100-C Areas within the capacity of 184-B Boiler House, as outlined in Document HDC-2106, revised June 4, 1951. This report recommends that the desired results be obtained by simply reducing the speed setting of the turbine speed governors. No new equipment is needed. The setting of the emergency over speed trips would be left unchanged.

The following report describes the usage of tin-foil to obtain a mechanical joint of low electrical resistance while providing a seal to hold water at a pressure of 300 psi.

Abstract: A visualized electron beam has been reflected by a conventional magnetic mirror. Visualization of the beam path from the electron gun to and including the region of reflection was achieved by the "thread ray" technique of Wehnelt. The total current passing through a magnetic mirror has been measured as a function of the beam energy and angular momentum for H₂ over a range of pressures from 0.5 to 5 microns.

Thesis discussing the relative yield of neutral pions from elements in a reaction "as a function of the quantum-limit energy (the maximum energy of the quanta in the bremsstrahlung beam) of the Berkeley synchrotron." Interpretation of the results leads to values for the mean free path for absorption of the neutral pions in nuclear matter.

The following report describes a gaseous scintillation counting system, including the production and operation of the counter.

Recent tentative production forecasts indicate that as much as 96.6 Kg plutonium, associated with 190 tons uranium, may be produced each month. The ability of the Separations facilities to process these materials is herein summarized. The Redox Production Plant capacity has been reasonably predicted at about 112 tons uranium per month; this rate assumes only that critical mass control is achieved by the limitation of the possible volume accumulation at any point, and that the product concentration step has been modified to permit the greater capacity. At 600 MWD/T (522 g/t) then, the 112 tons uranium per month capacity limits the plutonium output of the plant to 58.5 Kg per month at 80% operating efficiency. The remaining 38 Kg plutonium per month may be processed in the B and T BiPO{sub 4} plants at an operating efficiency of 89.5%; if this operating efficiency cannot be realized, the postulated production rate may be met by either an increased Redox efficiency or by accepting an increased plutonium waste loss of 1% on some portion of the BiPO{sub 4} production.

Report describing the temperature in the Brookhaven concrete shield proposed for the X reactor. The report details the methods and equations used to find the values that determined that the effect of the gun barrel assembly in cooling the concrete is negligible.

From abstract: "The present paper proposes a lattice test pile, (or LTP) as an alternate to the continuing program of building up and tearing down of exponential piles."

This report discusses the feasibility of designing and building two 100 Areas at the Coyote Rapids site on the Columbia River. It incorporates the individual studies prepared by the Power and Mechanical Division-HDC-2241, Reactor Division-HDC-2239, Project Engineering Division-HDC-2244, Principal Engineer and HDC-2242, and the Engineering and Construction Services Division-HDC-2243, each outlining the proposed course of action and requirements for that facet of the contemplated work in which they are primarily interested.