The testing and evaluation of three types of mechanical joints in a circulating molten fluoride salt system, at temperatures up to 1600 F, were accomplished. The feasibility of these joints for use in a large scale molten salt system is discussed. Design criteria and operating techniques are described. Measurements were made of the leakage rates of helium through the Joints. The effects of thermal cycling, atmospheric oxidation, salt corrosion, and thermal stresses were noted. Disassembly and reassembly procedures are described. ( auth)

High heat flux electrical cartridge heaters were tested with direct air cooling under simulated ORR Loop conditions. The cartridges and the heater design were found to be satisfactory. A gas cooler of concentric pipe design utilizing air, water, and air-water mixtures as the coolant was also evaluated and found to be satisfactory. Heat transfer calculations are compared with the experimental data and found to correlate within 10%. (auth)

High-Temperatare Metallurgy. A series of Inconel loops were operated to study the variation with time of depth of corrosion, effect of flow rate on corrosion, and effect of temperature drop on corrosion using fused salts. The corrosive effects of fused salts on Hastelloy B and Ni--Mo alloys are discussed. A series of Inconel--Na and Inconel-NaK forced circulation loops was operated to study the mass transfer in the systems. The mass transfer between Na and forced circulation loop of stainless steel, Incoloy, and Hastelloys B and W is discussed. Thermal convection loop corrosion resistance studies of Ni--Mo alloy, Inconel castings, and Nb in various systems are presented. Nondestructive testing methods and equipment are discussed. Methods and equipmeat used in the inspection of materials for reactor service are presented. A distillation apparatus is described for the purification of Na. To determine the effect of concentration on the diffusion coefficients, study on the rate of diffusion of NI in liquid Pb was initiated. A study is reported to determine why the protective oxide layer of Nl, Ta, and Zr becomes disrupted. A brief survey was made of the microtopography of sulfide films formed on Nb, Ta, and Zr. A research program was undertaken …

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A summary of operating experience and observations obtained during approximately 5OO hrs of running time on the PuP lead-bismuth forced circulation system is given. (auth)

An apparatus designed to tsst aerosol filter efficiency at pressures equal to or less than atmospheric and at linear face velocities of 5 to 1000 ft/ min is described. Aerosol collection efficiency studies were completed for IPC paper at 20,000 and 40,000 ft. Data developed in these studies indicate that ia the impaction and diffusion regions collection efficiency increases with altitude for all linear face velocities less than 800 ft/min. A propeller-type flowmeter, calibrated to measure the volume of air moved by a blower in a balloon-borne system, was flown on five separate flights to obtain air flow data. These data sre presented. Flowmeter air flow measurement data were approximately 10% lower than telemetered data. (auth)

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Graphite was prepared by means of hydraulic extrusion, with densities as high as 1.90 gm/cc, in rods of up to 9/4-in. in diam. Densities higher than 1.90 gm/cc can be obtained by impregnating the graphite. It may be possible, by properly controlling the particle size distribution in the feed material, to achieve higher densities without impregnation. Variables studied included die temperature, mixing technique, binder material, baking procedures, some lubricants and additives, and preliminary work on the investigation of the effect of particle size. (auth)

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This program, using the lBM 650 electronic data processing machine, is used primarily as a tool in order to prepare input data for an lBM 704 code ATBAC. The code calculates steady state thermal characteris tics of a plate type fuel element for both a nominal and adverse chanael. (auth)

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The work on the hydraulic collapse or instability of flat plates was extended by considering flow redistribution and the effect of unequal friction drops in the deflected region of the channels. A general formula for the pressure distribution over a plate as a function of the plate deflection is derived. From this general formula, linearized formulas for small deflections are derived for the pressure distribution and the critical velocity. Graphs of pressure distribution for various assumed deflection curves are presented. Formulas and curves are given for the magnification of initial deflections as a function of approach to the critical velocity. (auth)

Disposal of wastes from the processing of solid fuel elements and from solid blanket elements is discussed. The subjects considered include extraction of uranium by several methods, the removal of element jackets, the treatment of uraxium -zirconium fuel elements, disposal into deep wells, the hydraulics of wells, thermal considerations of disposal aquifers regional hydrology, potential deep-well disposal areas in the U. S., aud the cost of disposal. (J.R.D.)

The requirements of an atmosphere for the brazing of Al bronze to Inconel were considered on a thermodynamic basis. It was demonstrated that brazing was not possible in a vacuum or inert gas and is improbable in dry H/sub 2/. Attempts to braze in dry H/sub 2/ prove unsuccessful as predicted, except at isolated spots where filler metal had been preplaced. Modification of the plastic binder for holding the filler metal so as to remove Oi and introduce halogen gave no improvement. Negative results were also obtained when solid halide or halogen was incorporated. Satisfactory brazing was achieved with various solid fiuxes. Consideration was given as to what must be the properties of such a flux so that it should not have deleterious affects in s ervice. (auth)

Current operation of the Redox plant dissolvers results in evolution of ammonia during the slug jacket removal step. Staggering the schedules of the dissolving cycles of the three dissolvers is being practiced at present to prevent the formation of ammonium nitrate crystals in the stack gases, but this procedure limits the dissolver capacity. Steps are being taken to provide ammonia scrubbers for the dissolvers to eliminate this need for close scheduling of dissolving operations. It has been proposed (HW-30838) that mercury-catalyzed nitric acid dissolving of the jackets be adapted to the Redox plant. Such a process would eliminate ammonia from the off-gases and would offer several other advantages as well. A flowsheet was proposed based on work in the Process Chemistry laboratory and developed by runs in the 321 Building 1/20-scale dissolver. However, the off-gases resulting from this flowsheet were found to contain hydrogen, and further laboratory work was thus undertaken to provide a solution to this problem. It is the purpose of this paper to summarize the recent development work on the mercury-catalyzed nitric acid slug de- jacketing and dissolving procedure, and to show how these findings may be applied to the Redox operation by the use of alternate …

The abundances of the elements in nature, meteorites, and the Universe are reviewed. (DLC)

The Redox ruthenium contamination problem has two distinct phases; the environs contamination as a result of stack emissions, and the in-canyon contamination which controls time and cost factors for plant maintenance. On stack emissions, the probability of serious environs contamination exists so long as the batch-type, permanganate headend ruthenium volatilization process is used. Knowledge of the characteristics of volatilized ruthenium is not adequate today to give complete assurance that the off-gas treatment facilities will satisfactorily remove the particulate and gaseous forms of ruthenium on every headend batch. Until the required knowledge of ruthenium reaction rates is developed, the filtering and scrubbing efficiencies are determined, and the requirements to guarantee 100 percent reliability of equipment operation are solved, the prediction of frequency and amounts of ruthenium emission must be based on the experience factor gained in actual plant operation.

A study of the design of the DR Water Plant made for the purpose of estimating the feasibility of effecting an expansion of capacity has shown the following: (1) The Charles T. Main Company design has incorporated spare spaces and other provisions to permit a relatively simple increase in capacity to 42,000 GPM without undue additional design or procurement being required. (2) An increase in capacity to 44,000 GPM would require considerable re-design of the 183-DR, 190-DR and interconnecting pipe lines and would incur costs which may be out of proportion to the small increase in flow attained. In view of the urgency for the completion of the design and construction of this Water Plant, further consideration of an expansion to 44,000 GPM is not recommended.