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A Transport Calculation of the HFIR Beam Hole Currents
An estimate was made of the beam hole currents to be expected from both the radial and tangential beam holes in the present HFIR design. The angular fluxes required for these calculation were determined by an 18-group, S8 transport calculation (SNG reactor code). Both type beam holes produced thermal neutron currents of 7.5 x 10^10 neutrons/cm^2 sec. at a power level of 100 Mw. The nonthermal component of the beam current was 7.0 x 10^10 and 4.5 x 10^10 neutrons/cm^2 -sec for the radial and tangential holes, respectively.
Strontium Sorption Studies Using Naturally Occurring Ion Exchange Materials
Four naturally occurring materials, namely, vermiculite, variscite, Tennessee rock phosphate, and Florida pebble phosphate, were studied to determine the feasibility of their use in columns for the sorption of strontium from high pH, intermediate-level wastes produced at ORNL. Excepting vermiculite, all materials were found to be effective in strontium removal.
Temperature and Rate of Heat Removal of UO2 Test Elements
The method of calculation of various quantities relating the temperature and the rate of heat removal of UO2 test elements is presented. Graphs of the appropriate quantities as a function of the rate of heat removal are included.
Calculation of Transport Cross Sections
Many elements exhibit anisotropic scattering at energies of interest in reactor calculations. A method is presented for the calculation of transport cross sections including the observed anisotropy.
Chemical Development Section C Monthly Progress Report July 1959
Nitrate contained in raffinates from Canadian Blind River mills interferes seriously with thorium extraction by secondary amines. With primary amines, however, the effect is negligible and these compounds are the preferred process extractants.
A Review of the Mathematical Formulation of the Problem of Inelastic Neutron Scattering by Polycrystalline Material
A self-contained developmental or the formation of the problem of inelastic neutron scattering by crystals is presented. although nearly all of the methods and results used in the present discussion have appeared in a variety of previously published papers, additional mathematical details are given here which have been found by thee authors to aid in understanding the final results.
Nuclear and Economic Characteristics of several Two-Region Homogeneous Reactors
The nuclear characteristics and fuel costs of a number of aqueous homogeneous reactors have been estimated. Most of the reactors studied were cylindrical, two-region power-breeders variously having between 0 and 300 g/l of thorium in the core and between 500 and 1000 g/l of thorium in the blanket. The results of the calculations, including breeding ration, fuel inventories, doubling times, and net fuel costs, are summarized in this report.
Eurochemic Assistance Program: Status Report as of April 1, 1959
Considerable delay has occurred in getting ratification of the Eurochemic charter by 80% of the participating nations. The French, who were not expected to ratify the charter until an elected government was again established , actually ratified under de Gaulle late in 1958.
Gas Plated Coatings on Metals and Alloys : Progress Report No. 6 and Final Report
The object of the work performed under this contract was to investigate the possibility of gas plating copper base metal with (a) pure chromium metal from chromium hexacarbonyl vapor; (b) chromium-nickel plating from a mixture of chromium hexacarbonyl and nickel tetracarbonyl. The object of the work performed during the final month was to confirm the fact that the gas plating of chromium metal and chromium-nickel laminates free from nitrides, oxides and carbides was practical.
Operating Instructions for the UNIVAC Program OCUSOL-A : a Modification of the Eyewash Program
The Eyewash program, written by James H. Alexander and Nancy D. Given, provides solutions of reactor criticality problems in spherical geometry by means of the group diffusion method. It employs thirty lethargy groups (plus one thermal group) in nine regions. The input consists principally of specifying the geometrical scaling factor, boundaries and compositions of the various regions, and temperature level. The output includes the value of vc that would render the system critical, the relative fission density distribution, fissions, absorptions, and leakages in each lethargy group in each region, and, if desired, an edit of the flux at each space point, each lethargy, and an edit of the macroscopic cross sections for each lethargy, each region. OCUSOL-A is a minor modification and extension of Eyewash. It provides for the computation and editing, on the supervisory control typewriter, of the total absorptions in selected nuclides in the various regions. This information is useful in the computation of breeding ratios and the preparation of detailed neutron balances, and in the estimation of flux-averaged cross sections for use in estimating the rate of change of concentration of the various nuclides with burn-up. The program also provides for saving and transferring the final fission density distribution from one computation to the next. For reactors which are similar, especially those having the same similar geometry, this procedure greatly shortens the number of iterations required for the computation to converge on vc. With the flat source provided in Eyewash, from seven to nine iterations are frequently required, whereas by transferring the source, usually only two, and sometimes only one, calculations will suffice. The lethargy groups and the corresponding cross sections in OCUSOL-A have been modified from those used in Eyewash, in order to better treat intermediate reactors containing thorium. The latest cross section data were also …
Bellows Failure in Solids Separation Loop of the HRT Mockup
The failure of the valve bellows would appear to be due to a combination of stress corrosion and crevice corrosion. Stress corrosion occurred as evidenced by the transgranular branched cracking found in the bellows and in the base which which was joined to the bellows. It seems probable that chlorides were present, which, along with the residual stresses present in the bellows assembly, created the necessary conditions for stress corrosion to occur. Crevice corrosion occurred probably due to heavy deposits of solids at the base of the bellows, which created a condition of oxygen impoverishment. While the crater in the base may have been related to a galvanic effect created by the gold gasket, the contour of the crater would suggest that the cause of the crater was due more to crevice corrosion.
High Pressure Flange Studies
Twenty-five hundred psi ring-type flanges, ring gaskets, bolts, and special connectors were tested for adaptability to the aqueous homogenous reactor. High pressure line closures were studied to obtain empirical data pertinent to the selection or design of a connector capable of withstanding sustained thermal cycling and high pressures encountered in the aqueous homogenous reactor. Specialized stress-strain measurement techniques yielded information concerning flange deformation, ring type gaskets, bolts, and special connectors. The results indicated that no totally acceptable connector is currently available. Most promising of the combination of components tested during this period was a 2500 psi ring type flange with an accurately machined octagonal gasket and Grade B-7 bolts.
Fabrication of Zirconium Alloys For Specific Zirconium Alloy Design Program
The raw materials and fabrication procedures employed in preparing thirty two zirconium alloy compositions for evaluation as described in GEAP-3979 are reported. Considerations involved in the extension of reported laboratory procedures to larger scale production are discussed.
Program For the Development of Plutonium Recycle For Use in Light Water Moderated Reactors: Third Quarterly Report
This is a report of work completed during the period October 1, 1961, to December 31, 1961. The Program fuel element was completed and assembled. After extensive analysis, it was concluded that the fuel was satisfactory for use in the Program.
Operating Procedures and Emergency Plans for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station
The General Electric Company is designing and building a 180,000 kilowatt nuclear power plant for the Commonwealth Edison Company at a site 47 miles southwest of Chicago. The construction permit was issued on May 4, 1956 but is subject to submittal to the Commission of a final hazards summary report and a finding by the Commission that the final design provides reasonable assurances that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation of the reactor in accordance with the specified procedures.
Steam Slip and Burnout in Bulk Boiling Systems
In concurrent flow of two phase mixtures there exists a velocity difference between the vapor and liquid phases. This difference in velocity is known as the slip velocity. The prediction of slip is the subject of Part I. In boiling systems there is some heat transfer rate at which nucleste boiling becomes unstable. At this point the separate bubbles coalesce forming an insulating vapor film on the heat transfer surface resulting in the destruction, or burnout, of the heater. The prediction of the conditions causing burnout is the subject of Part II.
The Development of Fixed Screen Resin-In-Pulp Devices
A resin-in-pulp process was developed using a series of fixed-screen or Winchester cells. Various laboratory and pilot plant models were constructed and tested under simulated plant conditions. The fixed-screen device proved very effective in the recovery of uranium and/or vanadium by a continuous, resin-in-pulp process.
Preliminary Report on Recovery of Uranium From Low Grade Belgian Congo Ores
Leaching investigations on low grade Belgian Congo uranium ores and recovery of uranium from acid leach solutions by uranous phosphate precipitation, uranyl phosphate precipitation and by sodium carbonate retreatment of alkali precipitates are described.
A Physical Property Summary for Fluoride Mixtures
This report presents a summary of certain physical properties that have been determined experimentally on the fluoride mixture that have been formulated at ORNL (Rers. 1, 2). These properties include the density, enthalpy, heat capacity, heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, viscosity, Prandtl number, electrical conductivity and surface tension. In addition to the experimental data, values have been predicted for the heat capacity and density of the other mixtures from the correlations of these properties. Estimates of the viscosity have also been made for a number of the mixtures on which no experimental data were available.
Analytical Chemistry Division Semiannual Progress Report for Period Ending April 20, 1954
Progress report of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Analytical Chemistry Division providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work in ionic analyses, analytical instrumentation, radiochemical analyses, activation analyses, spectrochemical analyses, inorganic preparations, optical and electron microscopy.
Fabrication of Heat Exchangers and Radiators for High Temperature Reactor Applications
Two 500-kw fused-fluoride-to-Nak heat exchangers, two 500-kw NaK-to-air radiators, and a 20-tube high-velocity heat exchanger were fabricated for a heat-exchanger development program. A construction procedure, utilizing both inert-arc-welding and high temperature dry-hydrogen brazing, was used successfully on all of the units. The tube-to-header joints were welded and back-brazed; the manifold joints were inert-arc-welded with full penetration; and the tube-to-fin joints were brazed. A detailed description of the fabrication of each type of component is discussed and a cost analysis of the 500-kw units is presented.
Homogeneous Reactor Test Summary Report for the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
The Homogeneous Reactor Test (HRT) is the experimental reactor facility (Frontispiece) being designed and constructed at ORNL as the next step in homogeneous reactor development between the 1-Mv HRE and a "full-scale" power station. The HRT will provide an integrated test at 5 to 10 Mv for the flowsheet and equipment designs on which the full-scale effort will be based. Furthermore, its design is such that several homogeneous systems which require essentially the same operating equipment may be tested with comparatively minor modifications of the original reactor installation. The reactor will be assembled in the building which housed the HRE, located in the experimental reactor exclusion area approximately one mile south of the oak ridge laboratory. (See figure 1) / It is the purpose of this report to provide information with which the hazardous aspects of this reactor may be evaluated. Briefly, it will be shown after a statement of purpose and a general description of the reactor that: 1. The design characteristics and equipment requirements are such that escape of highly reactive material from the reactor piping is unlikely. 2. Should the entire core and blanket contents suddenly escape from the reactor system, a seal-welded steel tank surrounding the system will prevent the leakage of a significant quantity of activity into the building. The biological hazards resulting from the destruction of the reactor and shield by bombing or other remote causes are presented in detail.
Beam Current Integrator
The object of this report is to acquaint the operator with the operational and technical aspects of the beam current integrator as well as the theory of the system operation. The design and operation of a beam current integrator are described, and the theory of operation is discussed. The instrument has two channels. The console channel is designed to measure the accumulation of charge received by a target during a period of a day no matter what the range used in the experimenter's channel. An analysis indicated that this unit will measure the accumulation of charge by a target to an accuracy of 0.1215% assuming that the constant error due to shorting the integrating capacitor is accounted for. The instrument is ranged to handle from 0.5 to 500 mu a of beam current. (M.C.G.)
Efficiency pf Multiple Traversal Targets
The efficiency of multiple traversal targets is defined as the probability that a proton dies by making a nuclear collision in the target rather than by hitting the limit of the synchrotron aperture. The efficiencies of Be, Al, Cu, and Pb targets are shown for 15 and 30-Bev protons in the Brooknaven AGS. Beryllium was found to be the most efficient. (M.C.G.)
Absorption and Turnover Rates of Iron Measured by the Whole Body Counter
Human iron metabolism has been extensively studied in the past twenty-five years with the radioisotopes iron⁵⁵ and iron⁵⁹. Before the availability of the whole body counter, however, iron absorption studies were performed by the indirect methods of fecal assay of unabsorbed radioiron, and estimation of red cell incorporation of absorbed tracer. The few long-term excretion studies performed required numerous assumptions, since human iron excretion was less well understood. Whole body counting provides a simple and accurate method of measuring the total body retention of administrative tracer iron⁵⁹, thus making absorption and subsequent excretion determinations possible with a single radioiron study. The energetic gamma emissions of iron⁵⁹ permit ready external detection with small quantities of isotope, Normal radioiron distribution is uniform throughout the circulating red cell mass and thus minimize geometry influences on the counting efficiency, 0nly the 45.1 day half-life of iron⁵⁹ limits long term iron turnover studies. Measurements of iron⁵⁹ absorption and long-term body turnover have been under way at Brookhaven National Laboratory for over two years. The present paper outlines some of the results of these studies, and discusses some implications of the method.
A Study of the Wear and Galling of Autoclaved Zircaloy-2 By Various Materials
This is the third of a series of reports describing the phases of a study of the wear and galling of autoclavedZircaloy-2 by various bearing surface materials. The first report (1) showed that increasing contact area between the autoclaved Zircaloy-2 surfaces will not prevent scratching. It also showed that metals softer than Zircaloy-2 in general do not scratch it. The second report (2) described how eight metals and alloys were wear-tested on autoclaved Zircaloy-2 as prospects for fuel element support-bearing surface materials.
KAPL-120-8A Test Assembly Thermocouple Failure.
This document reports the circumstances surrounding the failure of sheathed thermocouples during a test being conducted in the KAPL-120 Loop. The report is prepared to provide a record of these events and to acquaint those who use these thermocouples for testing of other applications with the difficulties that are sometimes encountered.
Irradiation Effects on 2S Aluminum
As a result of unreported information, it was suspected by some people that a change in dimension was experienced by 2S Aluminum due to a sudden change in neutron flux impinging on it. This was thought to be of the order of 500 microinches per inch in magnitude. Such an effect, if present, could help explain some of the creep phenomena reported lately (i.e. change in creep rate due to cyclotron bombardment.)
Status of Radioactive Waste Processing and Accumulation in Presently Operating AEC Research and Productive Sites
It is the purpose of this report to present a quantitative picture of the overall waste problems at the presently operating major A.E.C. sites. Presented herewith are data on the volumes and radioactive concentrations of the wastes handled and effluents discharged, available tankage and processes flow sheets from each site.
Evaluation of Fretting Corrosion of ZR-2
Although the corrosion of resistance of Zircaloy--2 clad fuel elements in high temperature water is excellent, some concern has been expressed in regard to the resistance against fretting corrosion. Since this form of corrosion can proceed quite rapidly it could induce fuel element failure through penetration of the cladding. Fretting corrosion if it occurred, would take place either where the fuel element contacted the process tube or where portions of the fuel element contacted each other, e. g. wire-wrapping around a cluster of cylindrical fuel rods. This form of corrosion is defined as corrosion occurring at contact areas and as such, fretting of Zircaloy-2 could take place in many reactor concepts. This report details the results of testing performed to induce fretting corrosion of Zircaloy-2 and the direction of the future tests.
Evaluation of Aluminum for use in Reactors Cooled by High-Temperature Recirculating Water
aluminum has been considered as a material for cladding fuel elements to be used in reactors cooled by high-temperature recirculating water. Aluminum is abundant, chap, has a relatively low cross section for thermal neutrons, and is readily fabricated into complex shapes. For these reasons, it appears that the use of aluminum rather than steel, Zircaloy or other candidate materials for fuel element cladding, would result in considerable savings in operating expense. The actual economics will of course depend on specific factors such as core materials and design of the reactor/. Aluminum appears particularly attractive for cladding the cores of aluminum-plutonium alloy proposed for the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor since, in this case, the physical characteristics of the core and cladding would be practically identical.
A Closed Circuit Television System for In-Well Use -- Interim Report
Wells drilled to date on the Hanford project represent and initial investment of over one million dollars. These nearly six hundred wells have been used and will continue to be used for observation and monitoring purposes of direct interest to ground disposal of radioactive wastes. Through measurement of depth to the water table the changing gradients as a result of large volume waste disposal are determined and direction of ground water flow established. The extent of contamination in ground water is measured in samples dawn from these wells. Aquifer permeability is measured and ground water velocity predicted from pumping tests carried out out in these structure
Stability of Pressurized Tubes During Primary Creep
This note describes an analysis of the primary creep rates in thin-walled pressure tubing. The analysis accounts for the increase in tube radius and decrease of tube wall thickness. Both of these effects increase the stress; hence, they can affect the creep rate and cause unstable creep conditions.
Eurochemic Information Exchange- Answers to Specific Questions
A number of the questions which have been posed to us in the subject references are commented upon below. These have been reviewed by personanel of the Research and Engineering Operation and the Facilities Engineering Operation, Chemical Processing Department, and of the Chemical Research and Development Operation, Hanford Laboratories Operation. Particular acknowledment is given G. J Alkire, J. P. Duckworth, J. B. Fecht, R. G. Geier, E. R. Irish, H. M. Jones, G. C. Oberg, A. M. Platt, W. H. Reas, W. C. Schmidt, R. J. Sloat, W. H. Swift, M. T. Walling and L. L. Zahn of these organizations for assistance given assembling this information.
Properties of the φ Meson
In a continuation of the study of the properties of the φ meson we have roughly doubled the available data on the φ production via the reactions [equations were not transcribed]. The data discussed here was obtained in the Brookhaven National 20" Hydrogen Bubble Chamber exposed at a separated beam of K- of 2.24 Gev/c.
Separation of Iron and Cobalt on Synthetic Resin
Recent studies on the separation of cobalt and nickel and on the behavior of iron in hydrochloric acid on Dowex-1 resin in relation to the selective adsorption of chloride complexes of these elements have suggested the use of resin for the separation of iron and cobalt.
Summary of the Research Progress Meeting of June 12, 1952
Summary of the research progress meeting of June 12, 1952
Electrical Limitations To Energy Resolution In Semiconductor Particle Detectors
Based on the assumption that the noise contribution of a semiconductor detector is due solely to the bulk properties of the semiconductor, equations are presented which indicate the theoretical limits of noise in detector-amplifier combinations. These equations show that an optimum amplifier time constant and detector bias voltage exist for which condition the minimum noise is independent of the semiconductor resistivity. The optimum performance of a detector-amplifier system is shown to depend only upon detector area, input capacity (less detector capacity), semiconductor minority carrier lifetime, and the transconductance of the amplifier input tube. A new detector structure including a guard-ring electrode as an integral part of the detector structure is described which largely eliminates noise due to surface leakage. Experimental results for detector leakage and energy resolution are presented which agree well with theory.
Trip Report Consultation on Organic Reactor Coolants
There is a continuing high interest in the development of organic coolant technology for application to future Hanford reactors. In addition to the HAPO organic program, two other programs are being sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission. These include the Naval Reactor program, aimed at a reactor for ship propulsion, and the Civilian Power Reactor program. Because of the similarity of the technical efforts in the three programs, an attempt is being made to establish effective liaison among the programs. To this end, a visit was made to several sites actively engaged in organic development work. These sites and their primary functions are detailed in this report.
Chemistry of the "Silver Reactor"
The use of a reactor charged with silver nitrate coated packing for removal of radio-iodine from the waste gases of Hanford chemical processing plants has been successful in removing approximately 99.5 percent of this activity. Studies by the Radiological Sciences Department indicated the desirability of further reducing the amount of radio-iodine released to the atmosphere. Therefore, this study was undertaken with the objectives of better understanding the inherent limitations to iodine removal by reaction with silver nitrate, and improving the efficiency of removal of iodine.
Curves of the Excessive Absorption Term (E-1)
This document presents a set of machine-computed curves involving a wide range of Kb and Kc, from which both thermal and resonance values of (E-1) may be obtained.
Preferred Orientation in Uniskanned Zirconium
A knowledge of the preferred orientation of the crystal aggregates in pile structural materials is of basic importance in the attempt to understand their behavior under operating conditions. The effect of a preferential alignment of crystallites in enisotropic materials is to create a directional variation in physical and mechanical properties. In most applications directional effects are undesirable and efforts are usually made during fabrication to avoid the conditions which cause the orientation or, if possible, to alleviate the condition by proper heat treatments after the forming process if the orientation persists. Some of the variables that affect the type and degree of preferred orientation is metals during the forming process include working temperature, per cent reduction, the nature of the applied forces used, the crystal structure, and the inherent deformation mechanisms of the metal.
A Transistorized GM Survey Instrument
A portable GM survey instrument was designed and developed which consists of a single transistor blocking-oscillator high voltage supply, a dual transistor multivibrator count-rate meter and a standard 30 mg/cm² glass-wall GM tube.
Use of High-Density Prepacked Concrete in Reactor Construction
The erection of a concrete biological shield at Hanford, Washington presented several unique construction problems. This shield encloses the radioactive core of a reactor and is designed to protect operating personnel from the harmful effects of pile neutrons and associated gamma radiation. Permanent steel forms were erected to close tolerance around the reactor and filled with high density concrete by means of prepacked method. Prefabricated sections of the steel forms, or crates, were five to eight feet deep and weighed up to 18 tons each. During erection, the process holes through successive crates were kept within 0.012 in. of their nominal distance. The left side, top shield, and right side of this biological shield were constructed integrally to form a rigid frame. The front and rear crates, which contain numerous process holes, were keyed into the side and top shields so as to permit relative expansions of shield components and to provide for their lateral support. These massive steel and concrete walls provide considerable resistance to blast and earthquake forces, support numerous process facilities, contain pile gas, as well as protect personnel from nuclear radiation.
An Abrasive Cutoff Machine for Metallurgical Research on Radioactive Materials
An abrasive cutoff machine design, based upon a previous model, (1) was undertaken to provide for the sampling of radioactive material. the design objective was; first, to provide samples for metallographic examination, second, to provide samples for physical and mechanical property testing, and, third, to meet the following design requirements: 1. Remote operation. 2. Airborne contamination control. 3. Radioactive waste collection. 4. Remote maintenance.
High Pressure Pump Seal Development
"Test results indicated that graphite is not suitable for seal face material. A program to evaluate various materials and seal face geometries was initiated. A seal run using nucerite-bearium combination was carried on for six hours."
Neutron Distribution Around a black Sphere with a Gap
Abstract. Successive approximations ae obtained from transport theory for the neutron distribution around a black sphere surrounded by a spherical gap and a non-absorbing medium extending to infinity. Six cases are calculated numerically to show the difference between this treatment and simple diffusion theory. The extrapolation distance and a quantity that is essentially the thermal utilization are calculated in different approximations. It is found that the neutron density in the gap, instead of being a constant as predicted by the simple theory, may vary by a factor of one-third in cases of practical interest.
The Effect of Neutron Bombardment on the Specific Heat of Graphite at Low Temperatures
The work described in this technical report was undertaken as part of a larger program dealing with a systematic investigation of changes in the physical prosperities of artificial graphite due to neutron bombardment. Very pronounced among those changes is the increase in the elastic modulus. Since there is a general relationship between the elastic modulus of a given substance and its specific heat, it was expected that corresponding changes will occur in the specific heat. In conclusion, the experiments determined that it appears that the low temperature specific heat measurements of strongly bombarded samples will be helpful for the understanding of the nature and the mechanism of the changes produced by neutron bombardment and annealing.
Precipitation of Thorium Oxalate from Nitric Acid Solutions
Introduction. It has been known for a long time that thorium is precipitated by oxalic acid in acid solutions, but a survey of the literature showed no study of the limits of the acidity and oxalic acid excess which yield quantitative results. V. I. Spitzin reports on the solubility of thorium oxalate in varying concentrations of several acids, but the effect of an excess oxalic acid is not included. Since solutions are sometimes presented for analysis that contain more than the recommended two per cent mineral acid, it would be advantageous to be able to quantitatively remove the thorium without otherwise altering the solutions. This was especially of interest in solutions containing bismuth, since it was hoped that some amounts of thorium could be precipitated in nitric acid solutions containing large quantities of bismuth. In removing the bismuth, first by a bismuth oxychloride precipitation, thee is every opportunity for carrying of the thorium.
Analysis of Uranium-Manganese Alloys
Introduction. the conventional procedures of analysis for uranium and manganese can be employed in the analysis of alloys of these metals. The alloys are reacted with perchloric acid and hydrogen peroxide, fumed to remove any chloride ions, diluted to volume and aliquots analyzed by redoximetry.
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