Monthly magazine discussing natural resources, parks, hunting and fishing, and other information related to the outdoors in Texas.

A transistorized binary counter circuit is described that operates over a temperature range of -65 degree F to +165 degree F. the supply voltage is 28 + 4 volts and the maximum trigger repetition rate is 5 kilocycles. the binary circuit is pre-settable and resettable by means of a switching arrangement that can be mechanized. Texas Instrument type 904 silicon transistors whose large signal current gain is 2.8 or greater at a -65 degree F can be used in this circuit.

The results of an experimental pilot study on the location time, for a sequence of N specified positions on a panel, are given for 1 <_ N <_ 30. The positions to be located were randomly arranged on one set of panels and arranged according to an ordering scheme on a second set of panels. Th location time for N positions randomly arranged on a panel varies approximately as N(2). In the case of an order arrangement the location time is essentially proportional to N. Even for as few as 30 positions, the location time for an random arrangement was twelve times greater than for an order panel. For 60 positions the ratio would be 19, and for 90 positions the ratio would be 26.

Fourier analyses are made on two functions. The first is a step function forward from periodic samples of a sinusoid. If the frequency of the sinusoid is less than one-half of the sampling frequency, it is shown that the step function has no frequency components less than one-half of the sampling frequency other than that of phase, and duration with respect to the interval of the analysis. It is shown that the insertion of a blank space in the period of analysis reduces greatly the uncertainty of the amplitude of the initial sinusoid as estimated from the results of the Fourier analysis. The results of the analyses are useful in the design and evaluation of certain analog data-analyzing systems.

Ultrasonic inspection for subsurface flaws is widely used in American industry. This report reviews the general principles and specific techniques of ultrasonic testing. The information is based on a review of the technical literature plus the experience of the Quality Assurance Department at Sandia Corporation in applying this nondestructive testing technique to quality evaluation programs.

A generalization of the Lindemann law is used in connection with the Murnaghan equation of state for a solid to derive theoretically the empirical Simon equation for the fusion curve. For the alkali metals it is shown that experimental values of the temperature exponent in the Simon equation are quantitatively compatible with the theoretical evaluation given, and, furthermore, that the theory can predict approximate values of the experiment, in practice.

Equipment has been designed and constructed for the purpose of leaching pure uranium minerals in both acidic and basic circuits. This equipment provides a means for removal of a series of samples during any one run, control over speed of agitation, indication of gas over pressure, and automatic temperature control. These units may be operated up to 1500 p.s.i. Solid UO2 samples were prepared by sintering under hydrogen to 1800 degree C. Preliminary results of the leaching of sintered UO2 in a basic Na2CO3-NaHCO3 circuit resulted in the formation of an insoluble yellow precipitate (probably Na2UO4) for low concentrations of Na2-NaHCO3. At higher carbonate concentrations no insoluble precipitate was formed and the rate of leaching was found to increase vary rapidly above 300 p.s.i. oxygen over pressure.

A generalization of the Fermi-Thomas model for application of mixtures. This study attempts to determine the equation of state of water up to pressure of 10,000 megabars and temperatures of several thousand electron-volts.

A comparison of the simple impact theories of line broadening by electrons with the detailed computations of Kivel, Bloom, and Margenau.

Monthly newsletter of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, discussing the field of underground water. Topics include profiles of water conservation research, annual pre-plant soil moisture survey data, annual Winter Water Level measurement data, and information about the latest water conservation tips.

The purpose of this report is to present a conceptual design study on a low power electrical and heat generating plant powered by nuclear energy. The nuclear reactor used in this study is the homogeneous circulating fuel type.

The conversion of UNH to UF4 and UF6, utilizing moving-bed techniques, is being studied; sufficient progress has been made that an evaluation of the process is warranted. The procedures under study, the Fluorox Process, have three major advantages: (1) substitution of HF for high-cost fluorine, (2) considerable reduction in HF requirements, and (3) marked reduction in plant-size and mechanical complexity.

Bench scale studies have been made of the recovery of uranium from acid leach liquors (and slurries) by solvent extracting with di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid in an organic diluent. Uranium may be stripped from the organic solvent by either alkaline or acidic reagents, the former having been studied in greater detail. On the basis of these tests, a recovery process may be considered which shows promise both from the standpoint of operation and chemical costs. Under proper conditions, vanadium can also be extracted by the di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid and stripping again may be accomplished with either acidic or alkaline reagents. Preliminary studies have been made of these possibilities. In addition to di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid, some other organophosphorus acids, have been cursorily examined in respect to their extraction and/or stripping performance.

The development of ionic methods for the determination of corrosion products in the highly radioactive Homogeneous Reactor (HR) fuels has been of major interest in the work of the Ionic Analyses Laboratory. Methods for the spectrophotometric determination of aluminum and for the polarographic determination of iron in HR fuels have been developed. The polarographic determination of molybdenum in uranyl sulfate solutions was studied. A polarographic method for the determination of zinc was developed. A fluorometric method for the determination of microgram amounts of fluoride was studied. Three organic reagents were investigated as precipitants for microgram quantities of zirconium in HR fuel. The automatic photometric titration technique was applied to the determination of thorium and of sulfate. A method was developed for the ionexchange separation and potentiometric titration of cobalt. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of technetium and rhenium were studied.

New systems involving the exchange of boron between boron trifluoride and boron trifluoride addition compounds have been explored. These systems have large separation factors and potentially simple reflux mechanisms. A precise determination of this separation factor for the anisole-boron trifluoride system gave the value (see report). Boron exchange was found to occur between BF and BCl3. Several homogenous catalysts have been found which activate the hydrogen-water exchange, but none are adoptable to the production of deuterium because of the slow exchange rate. Platinum or platinum oxide may be usable as a heterogeneous catalyst with proper support or dispersion techniques. The high-pressure solubility of hydrogen in several amalgams was investigated in connection with a unique countercurrent exchange system. A proposed system involving isotopic exchange between lithium dipivaloylmethane in diethyl ether and lithium hydroxide in aqueous solution was shown to give little or no isotopic separation. Column studies of the carbonate system exchange reaction were concluded with a 40°C run. Slightly higher enrichment of N15 was obtained than at 30°C . The temperature dependence of all in this system was measured between 15 and 45°C. The factor increases with temperature, showing a tendency toward a maximum near 45°C. Isotopic exchange appears to …

The purpose of this report is to present the information obtained relative to the characteristic adsorption of radioisotopes in a long (forty feet) laboratory soil column treated with a high salt, process waste of high activity density. The movement of adsorbed cations in a soil column subjected to prolonged leeching by water also was determined.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the theory and results of chemical exchange experiments for separation of heavy metal isotopes. The aim is to find a means of predicting those chemical exchange systems likely to produce large isotopic separation factors.

The effects of variables on the rate of Purex solvent deterioration were investigated with the emphasis on those deterioration products which cannot be removed by carbonate washing. The deterioration rate was found to be directly proportional to the acid and nitrate ion concentrations, and proportional to the square root of the concentration of nitrite ion. Other observations on the effects of temperature, relative merits of brand name solvents, and the effects of radiation are included. A method of calculating the equilibrium level of the solvent deterioration products based on study conclusions and various estimates is outlined.

This report is a survey of methods for determining trace amounts of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide in air. The methods are evaluated in relation to their applicability to continuous monitoring procedures for these substances in stack gas and in air for human consumption.

In this document, simple modes are used to demonstrate the importance of different material effects on predicted material behavior. This document should help one understand the basic assumptions made in stress analysis.

A large (size 2) Purex pulse generator was installed in the 321 Building Tan Farm to pulse solutions in the prototype Purex HA Column. Flow sheet considerations indicated a need for information on leakage rates with various size weep holes in the pulse generator piston. In addition to leakage tests, experiments were conducted to determine the air required under the piston to hold the column contents away from the pulse generator piston thereby preventing leakage during shut down and the determine the time required to bleed the air trapped in the pulse leg when the column is first filled. [...] Leakage past the piston was not appreciably affected by pulse frequency. [..] Bleeding the air out of the pulse leg under start-up conditions, even with the piston weep hole plugged, was rapid. The longest time required to bleed the pulse leg was 36 minutes, which included a column-filling time of 30 minutes.

A study of the fabrication failures for zirconium and zircaloy-2 process tubes was made. In the tube reducing operation, a non-uniform reduction in area for the cross section was found to be a major cause of failure. In annealing studies, a cycle of 2 hours at 820 deg C in vacuum followed by furnace cooling produced the greatest ductility of extruded zircaloy-2 for the annealing treatments studied. The ductility of cold worked and annealed zircaloy-2 was found to be superior to that of extruded and annealed material. The strain rate of a cold working process was found to affect the ductility of zircaloy-2.

This report describes the evaluation of physical properties of AGHT and 185-W graphites that are important to pile construction and operation. On the basis of these data, purified AGHT graphite was allocated to either filler block positions in the central regions of the K piles or to the upper or lower reflectors. This decision was based on the similarities of physical properties between AGHT graphite and the other moderator components. A similar allocation could be made for 185-W graphite for some future pile if it can be successfully purified or if purification is not required.

The absorption of the important fission products by plants is quantitatively presented as a concentration factor which is defined as the ratio of the fission product concentration found in the leaves to the fission product concentration found in the nutrient substrate. Of the fission products, the isotopes of strontium were found to be the most important by virtue of their high concentration factor, long half-life, and low maximum permissible amounts for animals. Iodine and barium follow in importance, with cesium moderately important in some soils. All other fission products have concentration factors less than strontium by 100 or more. The effect on the concentration factor of different agricultural plants, as well as different organs of the same plant, causes variations of about a factor of ten or less for each isotope. The concentration factor tends to increase as the pH of the nutrient substrate is decreased. Addition of stable carrier to the substrate does not decrease the amount of the radioactive isotope that is absorbed into the plant. The presence of iodine and yttrium carrier actually causes a significant increase in the concentration of the respective radioactive isotopes in the plant tissue.