Organic reactor technology is critically evaluated and areas of research and development work now lacking or inadequate for the successful development of this reactor concept are indicated. The development programs for present organic and heavy water moderated concepts appear generally adequate to reach specific goals. However, the narrow scope of the organic reactor program should be broadened to assure coverage of areas where the application of novel principles might result in marked economic benefits. Further work, principally of a basic nature, is recommended in the fields of chemistry, processing, management, and thermodynamic properties of coolants, in fuel development, and in concept evaluation. (N.W.R.)

None

Measurements of material bucklings for graphite uranium systems are summarized. A comprehensive listing and guide to the original data sources is provided. Complete information on physical and nuclear properties of the lattice and the geometry of the exponential assembly is included, along with some of the auxiliary data taken. The fuel sizes vary from 0.925 to 2.5 in. in diameter for five different fuel geometries. The lattice spacings vary from 4 3/16 to 15 in. Over 300 measurements of material buckling are included. (auth)

Separate abstracts were prepared for 43 sections of this report. (C.H.)

Strontium recovery from Purex 1WW was investigated with simulated feeds and tracer activities. Initial experiments demonstrated recovery of over 70% of the strontium by sulfate precipitation from partially neutralized 1WW by either increasing the sulfate concentration to about 3 M or by adding carriers such as lead. Precipitation of iron was avoided by addition of one or more moles of tartrate per two moles of iron. Precipitation at elevated temperatures and addition of lead after pH adjustment were shown to be beneficial. Strontium recoveries of over 95% were achieved by precipitation at about 80 deg C at pH values of 0.4 to 4.0 with sulfate concentrations of 0.67 to 3 M and over 0.02 M lead carrier added. High sulfate concentrations were required at low pH, but the sulfate concentration is not critical above pH 1. Some separation of strontium from cerium was observed at pH 2 to 4, with the degree of separation being dependent on both tartrate concentration and pH. Recovery of strontium from the sulfate precipitate by leaching with nitric acid, sodium acetate, or oxalic acid was unsatisfactory because of the large volumes required. Metathesis with sodium hydroxide removed most of the lead as plumbite and converted …

Critical studies were made with a simulated, large, dilute power reactor having uranium carbide as fuel. The uranium in the core was 30.7% enriched, and the atomic ratio of uranium to carbon was 0.946. The critical mass was 503.01 kg U/sup 235/ and the critical volume 574.47 liters. Central reactivity coefficients, effective fission crosssection ratios, heterogeneity effects, reactivity worth of distributed materials, foil irradiations, and the average prompt neutron lifetime were measured. Multigroup calculations using the Yiftah, Okrent, and Moldauer crosssection set overestimated k for the critical configuration by 4.7%. (auth)

Liquid radioactive wastes are converted into solids, with volume reduction factors of 3 to 8, by flash drying on finely screened, porous, inert solid particles (e.g. alumina) in a fluidized bed at 320 to 550 deg C. The wastes may be either aluminum nitrate-containing wastes from the processing of MTR-type fuel elements, or Purex Process wastes. Ruthenium is found to be the only volatile fission product in this temperature range. Methods are described for its removal from the fluidizing gas. (T.F.H.)

The development of apparatus and laboratory techniques for the study of materials compatibility with 1500 to 2200 deg F potassium was attempted. Techniques for corrosion tab preparation, dry box capsule filling and sampling, and vacuum filling and sampling are described. Apparatus for rotating capsule testing to 2000 F, rotating capsule testing to 2400 deg F, and anisothermal see-saw'' capsule testing is also described. (auth)

Tests were performed to obtain station performance data at various steady-state generator loads. The station 0 was operated for four-hour periods at steady state conditions and levels of 5, 21, 42, and 61 Mw gross generator output. The various readings are presented in tabular form. A list is given of equipment in service during the test. All plant components operated satisfactorily during the test. (M.C.G.)

None

The High Flux Beam Reactor, HFBR, is cooled, moderated, and reflected by heavy water and designed to produce 40 Mw with a total epithermal flux of ~1.6 X 10/sup 15/cm/sup -2/ sec/sup -1/ and a flector thermal maximum flux of 7 X 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -2/ sec/sup -1/, using a core formed by ETR plate-type fuel elements in a close-packed array. The hazards summary is given in terms of site description, reactor design, building design, plant operation, disposal of radioactive wastes and effluents, and safety analysis. (B.O.G.)

A test was performed on June 19, 1959 to determine the capacity of the Core Removal Cooling System for removing reactor decay heat under split-flow'' conditions. The system operated satisfactorily during this test; the pumps developed a flow of approximates 73 gpm at a total head of 254 ft water, as compared with their rated capacity of 75 gpm at a total head of 250 ft water. (D.L.C.)

A program is described which is devoted to heat transfer and pressure drop measurements on single tube sections with coolant flow only on the inside. The tests were conducted on simulated PM-1 fuel elements. Data are included and data reduction methods are discussed. (J.R.D.)

BS>Critical studies of a fast reactor core containing a simulated oxide fuel having an oxygen-uranium atomic ratio of 1: 1 are described. Calculated and experimental critical masses are compared. Experimental results are given for fission ratio, central reactivity coefficient, fuel bunching, and distributed worth measurements. (auth)

tems were cast and cured. Results of chemical tests on aa epoxy curlang exudate are included. Comparison of solvent effects on retention of radioelements by stainless steel was started and data are tabulated for Ac/sup 227/, Th/sup 227/, a nd Ra/sup 22//sub 3/. Work on protactinium was resumed after suspension of this project in 1960. Methods for preparation of small quantities of highly enriched U isotopes are being examined. Included in the survey are chemical exchange, electromagnetic separation, gaseous and liquid thermal diffusion, gas centrifugation, and photochemical techniques. Continued investigation of viscosities of La and Pr for use in Pu alcontinued along with studies of Pu bearing glass fibers. (J.R.D.)

The basic objectives of this program were the determination of the thermal stability of various fission product oxides and nitrates, and an investigation of the gas phase decomposition of ruthenium tetroxide. To accomplish these objectives, a literature survey was flrst made of available physical and chemical data for the oxides and nitrates of Cs, Sr, Ru, Zr, Nb, and Ce. The data were supplemented by a calculation of thermodynamic functions for RuO/sub 4/ vapor from the experimentally determined infrared spectrum and the theoretically calculated raman-active fundamentals. Data are presented graphically. (C.H.)

Calculations are presented which show that the reactivity effect of flooding and unflooding the fast superheating section of the Mixed Spectrum Superheater can be made small by the addition of epithermal poisons to the superheater. The reactivity effects of flooding superheater sections ranging in size from 1.25 to 3.5 ft cubes and containing U/sup 23/5/sup >/oxide or Pu/sup 239/ oxide fuel and various amounts o f the epithermal poison europium were calculated. Reactivity changes during several postulated flooding processes are given. Methods for deterthination of fissile and fertile material and poison cross sections in the resonance- region are discussed. (auth)

Recently a T = 1 resonance in the {Lambda}-{pi} system called Y{sub 1} has been observed with a mass of 1385 MeV. Two types of resonances have been predicted that might relate this observation to other elementary-particle interactions: (1) P 3/2 resonances in the {Lambda}-{pi} and {Sigma}-{pi} systems predicted by global symmetry, corresponding to the (3,2/ 3/2) resonance of the {pi}-N system, (2) a spin-1/2 Y-{pi} resonance resulting from a bound state in the {bar K}-N system. The position and the width of the observed Y{sub 1} resonance agree with both theories, but since the spin and parity have not yet been determined, they cannot distinguish between the two theoretical interpretations.

The rail shipment of large quantities of radiocesium involves a potential accidental release of this material in a readily available form to the biosphere. The magnitude of the associated potential damage to man and his environment is evaluated in this report. The evaluation of the consequences of an accidental release of Cs-137 from the Shielded Transfer Tank, Model II (STT) assumes loss of Cs-137 to the atmosphere or to surface-water. Release to the atmosphere could result from a collision followed by fire or explosion. In the event of a fire, a small fraction of the Cs-137 vould be volatilized. An explosion would disperse the Cs-137 still adsorbed to Decalso as particulates. In either case, the material is assumed to be dispersed by atmospheric mechanisms which can be described by modified Sutton equations. The accident involving a fire or explosion assumes that 1 percent or 10 percent, respectively, of 90,000 curies of Cs-137 is dispersed in a metropolitan area. Contamination of the surrounding suburban area is also involved. Damage estimates amount to about 60 million dollars and 400 million dollars, corresponding to a 1 percent and a 10 percent release respectively. Another possible type of accident involves the release of the …

The effect of the many parameters which may influence the failure behavior of coextruded fuel material are being evaluated by Reactor & Fuels Research & Development Operation. This knowledge will be helpful in the design, fabrication, and operation of fuel elements so that the hazards and time involved at failure may be minimized. Many of the various tests performed on unirradiated coextruded fuel material have been in isothermal systems. The tests reported here were performed on power generating coextruded fuel rods. One of the purposes of these tests was to assess the effect of simulated in-reactor power generation and associated thermal gradients and thermal stresses on the defect-test behavior. Another purpose of these tests was to determine the degree of damage that might result to fuel components as a result of interaction (e.g., touching produced by warping or distortion of a failing rod) while at operating powers.

C Reactor horizontal control rods were originally designed to have 32 feet of poison, made of 64 six inch ``cans`` each consisting of two concentric cylinders sealed at each end and the annular space between them filled with boron carbide powder. It was discovered before startup that under irradiation the neutron, alpha reaction in the boron could cause a pressure buildup and rupture of the sealed section. As an expediency cylinders wrapped with 72 miles thick cadmium metal were substituted for the boron ``cans`` and the pressure buildup problem was eliminated. However, since for a unit volume, natural cadmium contains fewer high cross-section nuclei than natural boron, the lifetime of one of these cadmium rods in Hanford flux levels is limited. Five of the original 15 cadmium rods were replaced in 1957 with boron rods of improved design. The primary purpose of this document is to present the results of a study to evaluate the extent of burnout in the remaining ten cadmium rods and their present rate of burnout so that replacement can be scheduled before these rods start losing significant reactivity poisoning effectiveness.

The original test authorized the discharge of three columns of irradiated fuel elements from KE Reactor as a first step in an Operational Recharging program. Purpose of this supplement is to authorize discharge of any number of columns of irradiated fuel elements after shutdown, and to continue in force Supplement A, with changed timing of operational discharge.

The projection welded brazed closure is being studied as a possible alternate method of closing coextruded Zircaloy-2 clad uranium fuel elements for the NPR. This closure consists essentially of projection welding the Zircaloy-2 cap to the element cladding followed by a fast resistance heating of the cap and exposed uranium face under pressure to braze the cap to the uranium face. The work to date has been entirely on 0.593 inch OD rods and 1.050 inch OD by 0.500 inch ID tubular elements. This closure has the advantage that the entire closure is completed in less than 5 seconds on one machine and consequently the element is at a temperature which would be detrimental to the Zircaloy-2 cladding and uranium bond for a very short time. The amount of uranium removed for this closure is reduced by a factor of 10 over conventional braze closure methods with a substantial savings in uranium and acid milling time. A braze material which is not toxic can be used to bond the cap to the uranium.

The purpose of this report is to present steady state hydraulic demand data for BDF type process assembly with specific enlarged outlet fittings and to compare these data with previous correlations of hydraulic demand for a BDF assembly with standard outlet fittings.