Data on the properties, constitution, compatibility, radiation behavior, fabrication, preparation, storage, and handling of uranium, thorium, and plutonium carbides are reviewed. 187 references. (C.J.G.)

This document details activities of the Fuels Preparation Department during the month of April 1960. (FI)

Introduction. The phase diagram data reported in this paper were obtained during an investigation of the beryllium-metal compounds of the titanium group transition elements. Several compounds in these systems had been previously reported but their compositions and structures were not all known. In the course of this study many details of the phase diagrams of the system were observed. Tentative diagrams consistent with this data will be presented.

In the Hanford production reactors, failure of fuel element cladding is known as subcooled burnout since the bulk coolant temperature is below the saturation temperature at time of failure or burnout of the fuel cladding. The heat generation rate at which subcooled burnout occurs, establishes a limit to allowable reactor power level. This document compares present and potential power level limits at the Hanford production reactors with power level limits established by subcooled burnout.

A neutron-sensitive semiconductor counter was constructed by depositing a thin layer of Li/sup 6/F between two silicon surface-barrier counters. Neutrons are detected by observing the alpha + T pair resulting from the Li/sup 6/(n, alpha )T reaction; pulses from the two counters are added, and the sum pulse is amplified and recorded on a multichannel analyzer. Since the sandwich geometry permits simultaneous detection of both reaction products, the magnitude of the resulting sum pulse is proportional to the energy of the incoming neutron. Pulse-height spectra from slow neutrons and monoenergetic fast neutrons. in the energy region 0.6 to 3.5 Mev, were recorded from two counters of this type; in both counters the sensitive area was about 0.7 cm/sup 2/, with a Li/sup 6/F layer of order 150 mu g/cm thick. In all cases. a well defined neutron peak was observed in the pulse-height spectrum. In a typical case the full width at half maximum of the fast-neutron peak was about 300 kev. Counters of this type are relatively insensitive to background effects, notably gamma rays, and thus may prove to be useful in the detection and spectroscopy of fast neutrons. (auth)

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A test was made to determine the direction and magnitude of any drift in the temperature-sensing elements and the receiver-indicating units for the reactor coolknt loop and pressurizer resistance thermometers. A test was also made to determine the difference between the measured value of the neutron flux with the reactor shut down, as determined by BF/sub 3/ counters, and the neutron flux due to the Po-Be source. (W.L.H.)

From abstract: "The study evaluates the utilization of superheat and moisture separation techniques in the SM-2 design to improve the steam plant reliability and thermal efficiency. Ease of packaging, steam plant transient response, and capital costs are also considered. The reference design used for comparison is the steam cycle employing saturated steam at 600 psia described in APAE No. 40, Volume II."

Cutoff energies were calculated for height/diameter (H/D) values of 1, 3, 6, and 11.25 for cadmium cylinders. These are presented along with the values for H/D = 2 for comparison. Similar values for boron filters for H/D values of 1 and 2 are shown. (M.C.G.)

Abstract: This technical report contains a description of the nuclear analysis performed upon the SM-2 core and vessel for the period September 1, 1958 to December 31, 1959. Calculations are given for core reactivity, power distributions, lifetime, reactor control, kinetics, radiation problems, fuel and poison burn-ups, and the nuclear effects of poisons, temperature, and geometry. Wherever possible, experimental data is included in order to test the validity of the analytical models. The SM-2 nuclear analysis was performed by Alco Products, in. under Tasks 1, 8, and 10 of Contract No. AT(30-2)-326 for the Atomic Energy Commission.

A brief series of experiments was performed to study the high temperature reaction of the Zircaloy-uranium-aluminum system at the request of Reactor Engineering Operation, Irradiation Processing Department. Knowledge of the high temperature behavior of this combination of materials is important to the evaluation of reactor behavior during possible accidental over-heating of a fuel channel.

A resume of Health Physics activities for January, February, and March, 1960 is presented. Discussions and tabulations which summarize results of field surveys, bioassay, personnel monitoring, and environmental surveys are included.

This document presents experimental data obtained during a series of tests which were completed at 105-D and DR Reactors in February and March, 1960. No analysis of the data is included in this document. The tests were: PT-301-I, II -- Reactor cold, full flow, BPA power failure; PT-278-A, III B -- 1170 MW, full flow, BPA power failure; and PT-278-A, II -- 1190 MW, full flow, poison push causing bulk surge and scram.

Low attack rates (0.1 to 0.5 mpy) were displayed by coupon specimens of type 347 stainless steel, titanium RC-55, and Zircaloy-2 which were exposed for 2877.5 hr in an oxygenated slurry of Th--8% U oxide, 116.5 hr in water, 6.9 hr in 5% HNO/sub 3/, and 4.3 hr in 3% triscdium phosphate during mns SM-6 through SM-9 in the slurry blanket mockup. The leading coupon of type 347 stainless steel showed a slightly higher rate than the other stainless steel ccupons due to entrance effects. Specimens of SA-212-B carbon steel displayed average attack rates of 2.9 mpy. (auth)

Experiments with a simple pulsed magnetic field in cusped geometry are described. The plasma is generated inside the containment region rather than injected from an external source. It was found that creation of the plasma by a linear pinch discharge is most successful. Only qualitative studies have been carried out so far, using time-resolved visual observation of the plasma. Well-defined plasma bodies located in the central region between the cells were photographed. In order to make them clearly visible, a few percent of argon was added to the hydrogen.

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The objective of this test authorization is to increase reactivity and thus reduce short term enrichment requirements by increasing graphite temperature limits during low exposure operation following full central zone discharge.

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 Attorney General's Opinion No. MS-94 is in conflict with or overruled by Opinion No. WW-355 relating to lotteries?

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 a "profit-sharing bonus card" distributed by a grocery constitutes a lottery scheme as defined in the Penal Code?

The Stationary Low Power Reactor No. 1 is a three Mw boiling water reactor designed to demonstrate the feasibility of a nuclear reactor to supply electrical power and space heat for remote sites. In addition to performance evaluation the facility provides training for military personnel. The reactor was operated for 1159 hr during the quarter for a total core burnup of 20.3%. Power generation was 103.7 Mwd for a total power accumulation of 466.9 Mwd. Eight malfunctions occurred during the quarter for a total unscheduled downtime of 40 hr 44 min, As a result of malfunctions, aluminum keys will be installed on the control rod drives, instrument well covers were removed, and an order has been placed for a station auxiliaries breaker with a higher temperature rating. Data were taken on seven tests during the quarter. Four of these are expected to be completed during the next quarter. All equipment items on order for the SL-1 power extrapolation expansion program are scheduled to be delivered before June 15, 1960. Although condenser dampers and damper controls, process instrumentation, equipment cabinets, and the radiation monitoring equipment have not yet been ordered, construction will not be delayed. The two tie-ins to the existing …

The concentrations of and activities due to N/sup 16/ and N/sup 17/ in the HFIR primary coolant water were calculated. At the pressure vessel exit, the N/sup 16/ activity is 3.9 x 10/sup 6/ dis/secml and the N/sup 17/ activity is 6.9 x 10/sup 2/ dis/sec-ml. Comparison of the N/sup 16/ activity with the data obtained from the ORR water system indicates that the calculated results are slightly conservative. (auth)

The neutrons in an operating nuclear reactor are generated primarily by the fission events which are taking place. The great bulk of these relatively high energy or fast neutrons are slowed down or thermalized by a series of elastic collisions with the moderator nuclei which comprise the bulk of the volume of the reactor core. Once slowed down, the neutrons diffuse through the reactor core until they are absorbed or eliminated by some other process. Each of these three groups of neutrons, i.e., the fast or source neutrons, the intermediate or slowing down neutrons, and the slow or thermal neutrons, has a characteristic energy distribution. At a constant power level or rate of fissioning, an equilibrium is soon established among the groups at any point in the reactor. If it is assumed that a smooth transition exists between the different energy groups, it is possible to evaluate the entire neutron spectrum at a point in the reactor by determining the parameters which characterize each of the three groups. This has been done in the F Reactor Quickie Facility using radioactivants.

Preliminary engineering evaluations indicate that piping in the 105 B, D, F, DR, and H reactors has deteriorated to the extent that an increasing rate of component failure can be expected. In view of this, a budget submission was made in the FY-1962 P. A. and C budget and has been included in the I.P.D. Plant Improvement Program. The purpose of this report is to substantiate the need for this program and to review information generated during the past three years concerning the condition of rear face piping and hardware. This review includes the history of rear face piping and hardware problems, study activities undertaken to date to ascertain the condition of the components, action taken to correct actual component failures, programs recommended to correct deficiencies which operating experience and engineering judgement indicate are necessary, and programs to accumulate additional information to support design of new piping and hardware components.

The chemical vapor deposition of niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, chnomium, carbcn, and niobium--vanadium alloys in a fluidized bed of UO/sub 2/ powder particles wss used to provide uniform, dense, nonporous coatings on the individual particles. in the case of niobium, which received major attention, hydrogen reduction of niobium pentachloride vapor was used as the vapor- deposition reaction. The most serious problem was that of maintaining bed fluidity aad avoiding agglomeration. This problem was overcome to permit routine operation of the coating equipment. In the entire program of 68 experimental runs, only 1.1 per cent of the product was lost by agglomeration. In routine operation, this loss should be even lower. (auth)