This document is the April 1955 Monthly Report of the Process Section/Manufacturing Division at the Savannah River Plant. It contains information on activities in each of the SRP areas (100-400 areas), as well as on utilities and general services.

Vitro Corporation of America entered into a contract with the US Atomic Energy Commission on July 2, 1952 to furnish architect-engineering services in connection with the design and construction of a new chemical plant facility located in the 200 Area of the Hanford Works, Richland, Washington. This contract provided for engineering of facilities utilizing the Purex process to separate and decontaminate uranium and plutonium contained in slugs irradiated in Hanford reactors. Later, Vitro was requested to provide architect-engineering services for an expansion of the previously constructed Redox separation facility. This work, designated as ``Redox Phase II Expansion,`` was authorized by Modification No. 1 to the above contract and was executed April 17, 1953. This completion report has been prepared at the request of the AEC and is intended to provide a convenient source of information concerning the administrative history and engineering features of the Purex plant and the Redox Phase II Expansion.

The purpose of this series of experiments was to test methods available to the field army for tactical determination of atomic burst location and yield over enemy-held terrain. Preliminary analysis indicated that the systems that should be tested were sound ranging, seismic height of burst determination, photographic flash ranging, and Bhangmeter type systems for yield determination. Sound ranging was accomplished using standard equipment with modified techniques. Microphone arrays of dimensions which were small compared to the range were used to eliminate hyperbolic curvature corrections and to simplify meteorological corrections. A new system of meteorological corrections was employed. This system was based on approximating the maximum height reached "by the sound vhich ultimately passes across the microphone array. It was determined that this technique gave far greater accuracy than conventional techniques at these long ranges. Most accurate locations were obtained on air bursts. For air bursts at ranges from 20,000 to 60,000 meters, angular standard deviations of 13.8 minutes of arc were obtained. For air bursts, the average radial location error expressed as per cent of range was 0.61 per cent. It was estimated that in a tactical situation these locations could he computed in less than 30 minutes. Seismic height …

Conditions of time, temperature, and pressure for hotpress bonding of aluminum-nickel and uranium-nickel disks were determined experimentally. A process for jacketing Hanford four-inch slugs, coated with nonporous nickel electroplates, in aluminum cans by cold-sizing and hot-pressing was developed and conditions of time, temperature, and pressure required for the actual canning process were determined. (auth)

The theory and results of chemical exchange experiments for separation of Pu and U isotopes are presented. Solvent extraction systems were studied in both aqueous and organic media. Chemical exchange systems are proposed which could yield high separation factors. (W.L.H.)

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The reactivity of uranium, thorium, aluminum, copper, iron, magnesium, zirconium, and Fluorothene with bromine trifluoride, bromine pentafluoride, chlorine trifluoride, and fluorine was investigated at tempertures ranging from 25 to 410 deg C. The reactivity of platinum with bromine trifluoride was also studied. (auth)

A continuous belt drier capable of handling 1000 lbs of oxycarbonate per day was completed, installed, and operated to produce a satisfactory product for chlorination. An experimental chlorinator was also completed. All necessary pants were completed for the fabrication of Horizons' Mark VI continuous electrolytic cell. Evaluations of oxycarbonate materials for chlorination wiih varying chlorinating agents were made, and many of the variables such as water content and CO/sub 2/ values were established. Extremely ductile rods were obtained from the direct extrusion of Th metal powder. Plans were completed for the Mark VI electrolytic cell. Work was continued toward the development of a semi-continuous operating electrolytic cell of 7500-a rated capacity. (D.E.B.)

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A world-wide network of gummed film stations was established to monitor fall-out following Operation Castle. Although meteorological data were poor, a general connection of tropospheric flow patterns with observed fall-out was evident. There was a tendency for debris to remain in tropical latitudes, with incursions into the temperate regions associated with meteorological disturbances of the predominantly zonal flow. As the season advanced, such incursions became more evident. Outside of the tropics, the southwestern United States received the greatest total fall-out, about five times that received in Japan. The maximum fall-out on any day at an individual station in the United States, correeted to sampling day, was 200,000 d/m/ft/sup 2/. It is concluded that the probability of early fall-out in inhabited regions would be reduced by holding Pacific test series in the winter months. (auth)

A pulsed eddy current technique for measuring the cladding thicknesses of reactor fuel elements is described. Special emphasis has been put on the measurement of zirconium cladding. In this technique an electromagnetic field is applied at the surface of the clad fuel element by means of a probe coil. Whenever the waves enco nter a sudden discontinuity, such as an interface,''echoes'' are produced. The same probe coil is used for sending the electromagnetic radiation and receiving the echces. The echo received from the front surface of the specimen is balanced out by means of a bridge circuit. The echo from the clad core interface contains formation concerning the thickness of the clad. The echo has a positive peak followed by a small negative peak. The ''crossing point'' between the positive and negative peak or the amplitude of the echo can be used to determine clad thickness. One of the difficult problems with this technique is the extreme sensitivity to variations in probe-to-metal spacing. Methods for eliminating or minimizing this effect have been tried, with some success. (auth)

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A conceptional design study was made of a lowpower ''package'' reactor plant for the production of 100 kw of electrical power and 400 kw of heat at remote Arctic installations. The power plant steam generator is proposed to be an unmanned, heterogeneous, boilingtype reactor capable of continuous operation for extended periods. The design is based on data derived from experiments with boiling-type reactors conducted by Argorne at the Reactor Testing Station, Arco, Idaho.