Available knowledge of precision limits in S.S. accountability measurements and/or calculations by reactor and chemical processing groups is surveyed and summarized. Experienee in comparisons of reactor (production and research) calculations vs. chemical plant accountability measurements is also reported. A general tentative conclusion is that available precisions ( plus or minus 0.54 to plus or minus 0.78%) in chemical plant measurements (bulk and analytical) for fissionable material accountability is superior to the variable precision ( plus or minus 1.0 to 1l.0%) possible by calculations (nuclear and/or engineering) of power reactor systems; however, with operation and empirical experience (e.g., after two or three core loadings), it is believed that calculations for given reactors can attain acceptable precisions, e,g., less than plus or minus 1.0%. It may be proposed that fuel payments be made as follows: 90% of fuel value based on reactor calculations, an additional 5% based on dissolver analyses, and final settlement based on chemical plant material balance (product plus loss analyses). (auth)

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Considerable production gains might be attained if each reactor discharged its entire flattened region during one scheduled outage instead of utilizing several outages for this purpose. Several of the older reactors are now discharging a high percentage of their flattened zones in a single outage and could be put into this type of operation with relatively little difficulty. Production gains may be possible through better flattening efficiency, a more favorable rupture rate effect, fewer non-equilibrium losses, higher conversion ratio, and more efficient usage of outage work. Since this document is written Primarily from the Operational Physics standpoint, some gains and pitfalls which must be evaluated by other affected groups will only be mentioned here as possibilities. The purpose of this document is simply to point out the potential gains in flattening efficiency from this method. Potential gains from improved fuel performance have been described in another document.

The construction and operation of the plasma injector, Toy Top, used ia the magnetic high compression experements in progess at the Lawrence Radiation Jab. at Livemore are described The essential part of the injector consists of a stack of deuterated titanium washers 3/4 in. O.D. and/2 in. I.D. Details of the construction are sbown (W.D.M.)

The demand plot has a 5-set, modified pump decay curve; it shows that 20,000 gpm emergency flow would be required within 80 seconds of complete pump power failure. Bases for the demand curve are constant bulk inlet temperature of 2 C, constant bulk outlet temperature of 95 C, K-3 I&E fuel elements, and initial reactor flow of 188,000 gpm.

The defueling of the S2G Reactor which was conducted at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corporation Groton Connecticut during January 1959, is reported from the viewpoint of the participating personnel from Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. The sequence of events is outlined, difficulties encountered during the operation are described, and conclusions of possible interest to other naval nuclear reactors are given (auth)

Volatility Pilot Plant Mark III Fluorinator is a doublechamber type vessel, each chamber 2 1/2 ft by 16 in. outside diameter separated by a 5-in. pipe 15 in. long. ASME flanged and dished heads are used for the chamber tops and conical sections with a 60 deg apex angle for the chamber bottoms. A new furnace designed to maintain the complete lower chamber (molten salt+ freeboard) above melt temperature is to eliminate past experiences of salt solidification on the wall, heads, and in or on the internal process lines. External pipe runs are autoresistance heated to allow melting and drain back of salt plugs. The upper chamber serves as a gas de-entrainment and solids precipitation device to retain most of the entrained salt and condensable fluorides in the 100 to 400 deg C range. (auth)