This technical progress report details 100 Area activities for the time period of July 16 through July 22, 1946.

Progress on finding suitable water conditions for start-up had been approached as closely as possible with our present equipment and information as to the requirements. The water composition should be attainable that is not corrosive or build up a film rapidly, and we have means available for removal of such films. Slug classification methods were analyzed from a dimensional standpoint. Analysis of current CMX data was undertaken with the objective of establishing allowable variations in pressure drop in W-tubes due to film formation. Calculations were made of the number of slugs which have jacket temperatures in excess of various values, for various loading arrangements. On July 26 the proposed loading of the discharge nozzle is to be checked on CMX tube 1 during an inspection shut-down. Evacuation procedures in the event of a catastrophe in the 100-B area were discussed with W.E. Rapp during a visit to that area on July 19, 1944. Tests for slug leaks will not be less severe with water in the autoclave than with steam, and have a considerable chance to be more decisive, especially if a wetting agent is added to the water. Calculations were made on the sensitivity to be expected from three …

This document details activities at the Hanford Works during the month of June 1948.

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At the shutdown of the B Pile, 269 active tubes were discharged and ten poison columns were charged. As a result, the pile was let considerably below critical. The present test described in this report was set up to develop methods of detecting possible changes in reactivity by periodic measurements of neutron flux in the shutdown pile. The irradiation of indium foils in an empty process tube was found to provide a satisfactory method of monitoring the shutdown pile, and was sensitive than the proportional counter with was also tried. The accuracy with which the subcritical condition can be determined is roughly 20%. The uncertainty is due mostly to the irregular arrangement of metal and poison in the unit and the resulting difficulty in representing the neutron flux mathematically.