This is the monthly report for the Hanford Laboratories Operation. Metallurgy, reactor fuels, physics and instrumentation, reactor technology, chemistry, separation processes, biology, financial activities, employee relations, laboratories auxiliaries, radiation protection, operation research, inventions, visits, and personnel status are discussed. This report is for October 1956.

Experimental investigations were undertaken at Columbia University to determine the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of fuel elements for the Savannah River reactors. Primarily the tests simulated quatrefoil operation, but a number of tests directly applicable to the operation of extended surface fuel elements were performed. Data books were published in which the experimental data are tabulated.

This report discusses a meeting held on November 8, 1956 at BMI, Columbus, Ohio, for the following purposes: To determine the best method of electroplating uranium cores for extrusion cladding; to determine if there were any shortcomings in the SRL method of plating which could be the cause of the poor bonding experienced with internally extrusion-clad tubes; and to make what corrections and revisions were necessary in SRL plating procedure to assure the optimum quality of nickel electroplate on the basis of present information.

The October, 1956 monthly report for the Chemical Processing Department of the Hanford Atomic Products Operation includes information regarding research and engineering efforts with respect to the Purex and Redox process technology. Also discussed is the production operation, finished product operation, power and general maintenance, financial operation, engineering and research operations, and employee operation. (MB)

This test as detailed in this report is one of three parts of the initial testing program to demonstrate enriched usage at HAPO. It proposes to irradiate two twelve-tube blocks of enriched uranium and lithium-aluminum slugs to obtain conversion ratios and preliminary information concerning slug stability.

This report discusses production testing of dingot material. Advantages and disadvantages of uranium produced by the dingot process are noted.

The document presents powers to which the piles are predicted to be limited by slug ruptures and outlines two plans for raising power after 558. These plans are coordinated in the sense that results from one area are used to make operating plans for other areas.

This document details activities of the irradiation processing department during the month of October, 1956. A general summary is included at the start of the report, after which the report is divided into the following sections: Research and Engineering Operations; Production and Reactor Operations; Facilities Engineering Operation; Employee Relations Operation; and Financial Operation.

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

The electrolytic polishing of uranium-rich U-Nb and U-Zr alloys was investigated. The Disa-Electropol'' electrolytic polisher was used in the tests with the electrolyte being a mixture based on perchloric acid and alcohol. The effects of the polishing time and the potential used and the relationships between voltage and time and between current and voltnge were determined for U-Zr alloys. The results showed that the electrolyte used gave relatively goed results for U-Zr alloys. The same technique was applied to Nb-U alloys, but poor results were obtained. (J.S.R.)

The program presented is for use with the IBM-650 computer. (D. E.B.)