This paper reports on a laboratory study of erosion-corrosion on aluminum surfaces in high temperature water. It is essentially a continuation of a similar previous study with refinement in testing procedure and the addition of electrochemical measurements to study the phenomenon. The electrochemical procedures are of intrinsic worth, because such measurements have never before been conducted with such an unusual cell geometry as imposed by the erosion-corrosion testing apparatus.

This final report details production test-176, the primary purpose of which was to provide a quantitative comparison of fuel element 8001 aluminum alloy cladding corrosion in cooling water containing 0.5 and 1.0 ppm sodium dichromate inhibitor. Secondary purposes were to provide information on cladding corrosion as a function of temperature and as a function of time at both inhibitor concentrations. The primary purpose was well fulfilled: Equations were developed to describe and predict fuel element weight losses at both dichromate concentrations and the effect of dichromate concentration on localized corrosion was clearly established. Little effect of dichromate concentration on localized corrosion was observed when fuel cladding temperatures were below 115--120 C but above these temperatures the localized corrosion definitely was more severe in coolant containing 0.5 ppm inhibitor. The bottom rows of fuel element supports rapidly corroded away at the higher temperatures which caused a further increase in local temperatures due to flow imbalances and this in turn accelerated the localized corrosion. Because the higher dichromate concentration reduced the amount of support corrosion, 1.0 ppm dichromate should be employed to control localized corrosion whenever cladding temperatures are expected to be above 120 C for long periods of time. These tests …

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Two 90UC--10ZrC fueled converters, IC-13 of Mark VI configuration and IC- C3 of Mark VIIB configuration, were examined in hot cell after in-pile operation. IC-3 operated for 4395 hours at an average emitter temperature of 1675 deg C as a converter test and then for 2945 hours at an average emitter temperature of ~1500 deg C as a fuel irradiation test; the average fuel burnup achieved was 2.5 x 10/ sup 20/ fission/c.c. IC-C3 operated 5445 hours at an average emitter temperature of 1670 deg C as a converter test; the average fuel burnup achieved was 5 x 10/ sup 19/ fission/c.c. The carbide fuel contained 4 wt % tungsten and had a C/U atom ratio of 1.05. Other unique features for the converter components were fluoride tungsten claddings of controlled fluorine contents (18 ppM for IC-I3 and 19 ppM for IC-C3), and the presence of a high temperature seal and a graphite sorption cesium reservoir in IC-C3 converter. The results obtained on fuel swelling, emitter deformation, fuel-cladding interaction and microstructures of various converter components are presented. Solutions to the problem areas encountered are recommended. (auth)

The purpose of this report is to help achieve the overall program goals for the development of thermo-electric modules to be incorporated in reactor or isotope space-vehicle power systems, a series of design objectives was specified.

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The complete annual R & D report consists of this summary and two companion reports, one from DUN which covers reactors and another from ARHCO which covers separations. These companion reports are listed in the set of references in the back of this summary.

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The process specifications and standards for thorium processing operations in the Purex Plant are presented. These specifications represent currently known limits within which plant processing conditions must be maintained to meet defined product requirements safely and with minimum effect on equipment service life. These specifications cover the general areas of feed, essential materials, and chemical hazards. (LK)

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this report is a descriptive journey of the E-1 CAM Revision 4