In the P234-5 Building operation, Task I consists of converting plutonium nitrate solution received from the primary separations plants to a plutonium oxalate slurry. The slurry is filtered and the filter cake is transferred to Task II while the filtrate is treated and returned for further processing in either Recuplex, Redox, or Purex. The basic Task II process consists of calcining the plutonium oxalate cake to form plutonium dioxide. The plutonium dioxide is then fluorinated to form plutonium tetrafluoride which is transferred to Task III for further processing. Various alternate schemes for increasing production have been studied by the Technical and Design Sections during the past several months. The results of these studies are available in references (10) and (11). It is the purpose of this document to describe in detail the new equipment required for replacing Task I and II and to serve as a basis for detailed design of the proposed project.

Investigation to evaluate some of the designs, techniques, and methods for fabrication of a root pass.

A preliminary report has shown the potential importance of organic reactor coolants to Hanford technology. The salient points are complete avoidance of corrosion problems and accomplishment of DPR performance with low pressure technique. The recommendation of the report that loop tests be made at Hanford is to be acted upon by Recirculation Technology Unit as soon as organic coolant material is received. To insure starting this experimental work fully abreast of the information available, a trip to sites working with organic coolants was made. Specifically, data were sought on practical details of design for handling organic coolants, heat transfer and fouling characteristics, corrosion of materials, and hazards of handling organics.

When a ``K`` type process tube is operated without a slug column, damage may take place in the connector because of the cavitation that originates in the venturi. Reported here is a study of this cavitation problem as related to CG-654 operating conditions. A series of curves were developed to present the effect of the venturi diameter on the venturi {Delta}P for instrument operation and on the cavitation problem at the higher flows which are experienced when the tube is operated without a slug column.