The intent of this study is to establish more completely the justifications for constructing a decontamination plant as outlined in Budget Item B 5720, ``Containmented Equipment Renovation Shop,`` FY 1957, Plant and Equipment Projects. In particular, the economic incentives have been explored. The question or idea has been investigated of assigning a dollar value to engineering information which might be obtained from examining contaminated equipment which has failed from unknown causes. Heretofore it has not been possible to examine such equipment because suitable decontamination facilities have not been available. An effort has been made to uncover all possible uses for the proposed facility in order that the estimated capital and operating costs might be evaluated in terms of all the functions which the proposed plant might perform.

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This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for December 1954. The report is divided into sections by department. A plant wide general summary is included at the beginning of the report, after which the departmental summaries begin. The Manufacturing Department reports plant statistics, and summaries for the Metal Preparation, Reactor and Separation sections. The Engineering Department`s section summarizes work for the Technical, Design, and Project Sections. Costs for the various departments are presented in the Financial Department`s summary. The Medical, Radiological Sciences, Utilities and General Services, Employee and Public Relations, and Community Real Estate and Services departments have sections presenting their monthly statistics, work, progress, and summaries.

Construction of proposed facilities to be operated under Technical Division supervision for research with plutonium is discussed. An attempt is made in this memorandum to visualize the research program for such a facility for the next five years, to aid in determining whether the cost of providing such facilities is justified.

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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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The purpose of these investigations is to determine, grossly and simply, if a shock hazard exists from an explosive failure of the pressurizer vessel within the vapor container. Because of the geographical location of the reactor, an explosive failure which ruptured the vapor container might release radioactive contamination from the reactor to nearby inhabited communities. The study is considered more as a generic problem than of a specific design and is concerned with the shock hydrodynamics of an exploding steam vessel. (auth)

This report summarizes the effect of irradiation on the properties of fissionable and non-fissionable materials. General property changes, irradiation of zirconium, zirconium-tin alloys, the irradiation of aluminium, irradiation of thorium and uranium, are a few of the topics discussed.

Nickel-plated uranium corrosion samples, 1 inch dia. X 0.180 inch thick, press-clad with 30-mil aluminum at both 10 and 15 thousand psi, show improved corrosion resistance over samples press-clad at 6 thousand psi with the same time-temperature conditions. Design of equipment for the internal cladding of uranium tubes is progressing. The basic tools will be applicable to several variations of the proposed method of {open_quotes}inverse die sinking.{close_quotes} Analyses of double and triple melted Horizons` electrolytic thorium show a significant increase of H{sub 2} and O{sub 2}, upon remelting with a corresponding increase in the hardness of the metal.

The preparation, pre-irradiation testing, and encapsulation of stainless- U cored, plate-type fuel elements for irradiation in;tagnant sodium are discussed The eight specimens for Experiment PW-5-1 are examined. (auth)