Records show that difficulty has been encountered with the discharge of two tubes in B Pile, twelve in the D Pile, and fifteen in the F Pile during the period from initial start-up until March 15, 1948. In sixteen cases the tubes have been replaced, six of the tubes which were in the fringe have been made air tubes, four did not warrant replacement, and three are to be replaced in the future. General statistics for these twenty-nine tubes are presented with additional details in this report.

The lubricant (Calel A-60) used to reduce pushing forces when discharging slugs from pile tubes forms a cloudy emulsion with water. During the initial period of operation at 100 B and D areas, spillage of lubricant during discharge produced so much cloudiness in the basin water that it interfered with sorting operations. An investigation was started to see if a lubricant could be found that would effectively lubricate tubes during discharge and which would form optically clear systems when mixed with water. This report presents the data on a number of lubricants which were suggested for test.

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This document contains raw laboratory data concerning the testing done at the Columbia River at the Hanford Site.

On June 23, 1947, a hole was discovered in the earthen fill near the T Plant R-19 stairwell directly above the path followed by the underground waste lines from the canyon. Jetting of all canyon wastes to the 241 Buildings was stopped and the canyon process shut down. This report discusses repair and characterization procedures for the soils and waste line pipe.

The Purpose of this manual is to describe preparation of bismuth powder for use in process operations. Bismuth powder is to be prepared in Room 232 of ``T`` Building where all necessary apparatus is installed.

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This document presents the details of the design of the analytical control laboratory for the 234-5 project at the Hanford site.

On February 4 at a conference in T.C. Gary`s office attended by Messrs. Wood, Gary, H.T. Daniels, Burns and C.R. Johnson, the design of the strap plates on the front and rear shields of the pile was discussed from the standpoint of welding technique in the field. Discussion of the design centered about the plug welding of the plates to the Laminated blocks and the ability of the field to perform this work properly. It was decided that welding specialists should be consulted prior to the beginning of the actual field erection in order that the best technique could be employed to guarantee good workmanship. It was agreed that a conference with such specialists should embrace both the features of the design as well as the practical phases of welding itself. This report provides details of this conference.

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A theorem is derived which is useful in the analysis of neutron problems in which all neutrons have the same velocity. It is applied to determine extrapolated end-points, the asymptotic amplitude from a point source, and the neutron density at the surface of a medium. Formulas for the effect of finite tampers are derived by its aid, and their accuracy is discussed.

This report addresses the biological effects of radiation on man.

Activities for the month of February are as follows: (1) calculations of reactivity and temperature limits; (2) calculations of operating levels of D pile if reduced in size; (3) symposium on power coefficients; (4) test of new vertical (safety) rods; (4) metal quality studies; (5) status of process tube ionization chamber failures; (6) reactivity balance of each of operating piles; (7) graphite testing; (8) water activity calculations; (9) pile shielding; (10) radioactivity of titanium; and (11) critical mass experiments.

Activities covered in this report for the month of January are as follows: (1) power coefficient test of the F Pile; (2) control rod calibration; (3) investigations into reactivity gains possible by zoning the pile for metal charging; (4) polonium production under emergency conditions: (5) analysis of process tube ion chamber failures; (6) measurements of the thermal neutron flux in various pockets of the E Test Hole of the F Pile; (7) reactivity balance of each of the operating piles at beginning and end of this report period; (8) graphite studies; (9) pile shielding; (10) radiation measurements on a simulated D-R rod guide and rod; and (11) calculation of radioactive isotopes expected in cooling water.

Experimental results on the adsorption of U from solutions by activated C indicate that low pH values reduce the adsorption and that a marked change occurs in the adsorption of U(VI) at pH2. Under a given set of conditions the adsorption of U follows a typical Freundlich isotherm. The particle size of the charcoal affects the rate of adsorption but not the amount of U adsorbed at equilibrium. The temperature coefficient of adsorption is negligible, and the adsorption of U from uranyl solutions is a reversible process. (BJH)

This site description of the Hanford Reservation from February 1943 gives size, topography, geology, population, water supply, railroad, highway, power, meteorological, and valuation information. Maps are included.

The heaviest of the known elements is curium, which was recently discovered by Seaborg and his associates. This new element can be produced by the alpha particle transmutation of plutonium by the following reaction: {sub 94}Pu{sup 239} + {sub 2}He{sup 4} {yields} {sub 96}Cm{sup 242} + {sub 0}N{sup 1} This isotope of curium is radioactive and decays by the emission of an alpha particle to form plutonium 238 which, in turn, is also radioactive. Curium 242 has a half-life of 150 days, and its radioactive daughter, plutonium 238, has a half-life of 50 years. This isotope of plutonium decays by the emission of an alpha particle to form uranium 234 which has a half-life of 233,000 years. Shortly after the organization of the Atomic Energy Project, it became apparent that formidable problems would be presented as the result of the release of nuclear energy. One of the most urgent of these was the hazard presented by the production of large quantities of the radio-elements created by the fission of uranium and the coincidental formation of neptunium and plutonium. In an attempt to evaluate the potential danger presented by these radio-elements from the chain reacting pile, a large series of metabolic …

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This report gives the weekly status for the B, D, and F piles. Also given is the reactivity status at the end of the week for each pile. Process water control and pressure drop studies are discussed. Finally a brief discussion is given of the graphite expansion problem.

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The meetings divided into two parts, with reviews of work being done in radiobiology at the University of California by various members of their staff as part one, and, as part two, a meeting conducted by Dr. Shields Warren for Laboratory Directors and their representatives. For the most part papers which were reviewed were summarized material which has appeared in the literature and gave progress to date. Since the purpose of the meeting itself was more for the informal directors meetings, results of the latter are here abstracted.

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