With an increased water plant capacity, the installation of zirconium process tubes and the use of self-supported fuel elements, the power level capability of the K Reactors exceeds the current administrative limit. Exploitation of this capability, if approved, will almost certainly bring about higher graphite temperatures. Because of a continuing concern for graphite oxidation, and because the rate of oxidation increases with increasing graphite temperature, upgrading of the existing K-Reactor gas system through project actin has been proposed. This document presents the technical basis for such project action.

This report, from the Chemical Processing Department at HAPO for July 1963, discusses the following: Production operation; Purex and Redox operation; Finished products operation; maintenance; Financial operations; facilities engineering; research; employee relations; weapons manufacturing operation; and power and crafts operation.

The perturbation metheds used to obtain a relative plot of the electric field and the value of R/Q are described. A method involving radial pulling of dielectric and metallic beads is proposed for the R/Q measurement. The experimental data are shown to agree with the previously presented theoretical predictions. (D.C.W.)