Plutonium assay differences are frequently observed between laboratories exchanging plutonium dioxide powders. These differences are commonly the result of chemical changes and/or nonhomogeneities in sampled materials. The irregularities are often caused by moisture absorption during sampling, packaging, shipment, and storage of the materials. A method is proposed which eliminates the effects of chemical change in samples, particularly moisture absorption, and minimizes sampling error. A nondestructive thermal watts/gram test on every preweighed sampled and total dissolution of these samples for chemical assay are the primary features which make this method effective. Because this method minimizes the error related to exchange material, it is possible to design an interlaboratory exchange program which demonstrates the assay capabiliies of the participants. In an experiment performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method, three PuO/sub 2/ batches of varying isotopic composition were synthesized at Mound to be used in the exchange tess. Powder sample aliquots from each batch were weighed directly into their vials under controlled atmospheric conditions. Calorimetric heat measurements were made on each vial to test homogeneity and verify sample weight. Six vials of each batch were chemically assayed at Mound and six at NBL (New Brunswick Laboratory). Both laboratories chose controlled-potential coulometry …

The beam breakup mode has been observed and measured on ETA. Comparison between the measurements and the results of a computer code indicate that the beam breakup instability will be the most important limitation on current transport thru ATA. ETA Experiments that will enable a more accurate determination of the magnitude of the instability on ATA are discussed.

This bibliography covers the field of electrical discharges in vacuum, comprising both electrical breakdown in vacuum and vacuum arcs. A brief review section lists some review papers which would be helpful to the novice in this field. The bulk of the paper consists of bibliographic listings, arranged by year of publication and within each year, alphabetically by first author. An author index refers one to all papers authored or coauthored by a particular person. There are 2450 papers listed through December 1980.

This report describes work accomplished under two tasks: Task A, mechanisms of donor-solvent coal liquefaction, and Task B, CO/H/sub 2/O conversion systems. Under Task A, we describe additional evidence relating to the question of the mechanism of the iron oxide catalyzed cleavage of hydroxydiphenylmethanes. o-Hydroxydiphenylmethane is relatively more sensitive to catalysis by Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/, a possible one electron oxidant, and triphenylmethane is relatively more sensitive to catalyzed cleavage by SiO/sub 2//Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, a strong Bronsted acid catalyst. This provides further evidence that in the former case the reactions of radical cations are important in the cleavage mechanism. Tests with Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ show it to be ineffective under our reaction conditions as a catalyst for hydroxydiphenylmethane cleavage. We have also used the decomposition of diphenylether in tetralin, which we have previously shown to occur by a radical displacement reaction, as an indicator of steady state radical concentration in tetralin. The results of these experiments indicate that radical concentrations in tetralin are not significantly increased by spiking the tetralin with 1,2-dihydronaphthalene. This in turn suggests that rapid disproportionation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene to tetralin and naphthalene takes place by way of a concerted reaction, in addition to a slower radical disproportionation …

The invention is a tomograph modified to be in a clamshell configuration so that the ring or rings may be moved to multiple sampling positions. The tomograph includes an array of detectors arranged in successive adjacent relative locations along a closed curve in a first position in a selected plane, and means for securing the detectors in the relative locations in a first sampling position. The securing means is movable in the plane in two sections and pivotable at one point and only one point to enable movement of at least one of the sections to a second sampling position out of the closed curve so that the ends of the section which are opposite the point are moved apart a predetermined space.

A device is described for supporting a nuclear fuel rod in a fuel rod assembly which allows the rod to be removed without disturbing other rods in the assembly. A fuel rod cap connects the rod to a bolt which is supported in the assembly end fitting by means of a locking assembly. The device is designed so that the bolt is held securely during normal reactor operation yet may be easily disengaged and the fuel rod removed when desired.

The serious reduction in the aggregate commitment to nuclear power by US utilities over the past few years, as well as the serious stretchout of the completion schedules for many ongoing projects, has continued. A 1980 study which studied the factors causing this retrenchment is discussed. In this 1982 study, utilities were interviewed in an attempt to identify possible remedies which the Federal government might take to induce utilities to postpone rather than cancel units less than 10% complete, and to complete expeditiously units in the 10 to 60% completion range. The quality of the reserve margin is examined. The actions of state regulators are considered. Regulatory reform emerges as the key action the Federal government can take. (DLC)

This invention, which resulted from a contract with the United States Department of Energy, relates to a means for shifting the wavelength of light and, more particularly, to a means for changing the wavelength of a laser beam so that the beam can be effectively used in a process for separation uranium isotopes. As disclosed in US Patent 3,940,615, /sup 235/U can be separated from /sup 238/U by selectively ionizing the /sup 235/U isotope in a vapor containing both /sup 235/U and /sup 238/U, this ionization being effected by passing a laser beam having a proper frequency (or wavelength) through the vapor. Doppler shifting of the wavelength of a laser beam to obtain an optimal light wavelength for ionizing /sup 235/U in such a separation process has been proposed heretofore. However, the applicants are aware of no apparatus for Doppler shifting of the wavelength of light that has the features or advantages of apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of their invention. A light beam is reflected back and forth between a rotating body having a retroreflection corner at opposite ends thereof and a fixed mirror to change the wavelength of the light beam by the Doppler effect.

Microspheres for nuclear waste storage are formed by gelling droplets containing the waste in a gelation fluid, transferring the gelled droplets to a furnace without the washing step previously used, and heating the unwashed gelled droplets in the furnace under temperature or humidity conditions that result in a substantially linear rate of removal of volatile components therefrom. Fuel particles were also produced using this method.

A roundness calibration standard is provided with a first arc constituting the major portion of a circle and a second arc lying between the remainder of the circle and the chord extending between the ends of said first arc.

This research in hydrometallurgical solvent extraction is to develop a fundamental means to predict selectivity during simultaneous solvent extraction of multiple metal ions when the kinetic rates and thermodynamic equilibria both do not favor the desired metal. To this end the chemical kinetics and thermodynamic chemical equilibria models for the system copper-iron-acid sulfate solutions extracted by ..beta..-alkenyl-8-hydroxy quinoline in xylene are studied. These models can be employed with appropriate design equations to predict selectivity factors for two phase contactors. The work completed and in progress during the first half of the third funding period is on chemical equilibria studies for the iron-acid-sulfate-..beta..-alkenyl-8-hydroxy quinoline-xylene system. An aqueous phase ionic equilibrium model is available which can be used to calculate concentration of various Fe(III) ionic species present. Iron extraction data were obtained using both the AKUFVE, a high intensity stirrer with an in line centrifugal separator, and a shaker bath apparatus. Analysis of the data to determine a thermodynamic equilibrium model is in progress.

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