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Chemical Processing of Pu238
Technical report. From Abstract : "Plutonium (principally Pu238) was separated from neptunium, and both the plutonium and neptunium were purified from fission products and cations by a three-cycle anion exchange process."
Determination of Neptunium by Extraction With Tri-n-Octylamine
Technical report. From Abstract : "An analytical method was developed for the determination of Np237 in solutions that contain plutonium and fission products. Np (IV) was extracted into tri-n-octylamine. A quantitative recovery of a Np237 standard was obtained with a coefficient of variation of 1.0% (n=10). A coefficient of variation of 3% was obtained for seven analyses of a process sample."
Determination of Neptunium in High Activity Waste
Technical report. From Abstract : "An existing ion exchange method was adapted for use in a shielded facility to separate Np237 from highly radioactive solutions. The subsequent determination of neptunium was made by alpha counting and alpha pulse height analysis. The coefficient of variation was $.8% (n=10) for a synthetic sample and 5.9% (n=23) for plant samples."
Formation of Hydrazoic Acid From Hydrazine in Nitric Acid Solutions
Technical report. From Abstract : "A study was made of the kinetics and stoichiometry of the formation of hydrazoic acid in nitric acid solutions containing hydrazine and ferrous sulfamate. The data were used to establish safe limits for the use of hydrazine in process solutions."
A Facility for Chemical Separation of Pu238
Technical report. From Abstract : "A facility for separation of Pu238 and Np237 from irradiated neptunium dioxide target slugs was designed, constructed, and operated at the Savannah River Laboratory. This report describes the facility and includes design details of equipment." From Summary : "The main problems encountered during the design of the facility were: (1) to provide adequate containment and shielding of the radioactive materials, (2) to select chemical- and radiator-resistant materials, and (3) to provide for remote operation and maintenance of process equipment. ... This report contains a discussion of the major design problems and a detailed description of the facility and equipment."
Separation of Neptunium and Plutonium by Anion Exchange
Technical report. From Abstract : "The separation of neptunium and plutonium by anion exchange in nitrate solutions was studied under a wide variety of experimental conditions. A method of separation was developed that is adaptable to remote operation in the plant. In the method, Np(IV) and Pu(IV) are absorbed on an anion exchange resin from 8M nitrate solution. The column is washed with 8M HNO3 to remove contaminants; then the Pu is removed as Pu(III) by washing the column with HNO3 containing ferrous sulfamate and hydrazine. Finally, the Np is eluted with dilute HNO3."
Fabrication of UO2 Fuel Elements by Vibrational Compaction
Technical report. From Abstract : "Arc-fused UO2 was vibrationally compacted to as high as 93.4% of theoretical density inside a stainless steel sheath tube. Selected particle sizes were used, and the assembly was vibrated axially in the frequency range of 300 to 1500 cycles per second. The same blend of UO2 particle sizes was vibrationally compacted to 87.5% of theoretical density within the annulus between two concentric stainless steel sheath tubes. The effects of particle size distribution, vibrational compaction procedure, sheath thickness, and fuel element shape on the maximum obtainable density were investigated."
Zircaloy Cladding Thickness Testers
Technical report. From Abstract : "A number of similar eddy current instruments were developed to measure the thickness of Zircaloy over uranium metal in the range of 5 to 25 mils, Zircaloy over UO2 in the range of 20 to 40 mils, and the wall thickness of Zircaloy tubes in the range of 20 to 40 mils. The instruments were designed for use with hand-held probes or with feeder-mounted probes to measure the inside and outside cladding thickness of tubular elements and the wall thickness of Zircaloy sheaths. The instruments have a sensitivity of 3 microamps per mil change in Zircaloy thickness and an accuracy of +/- mil."
Alpha Particle Radiolysis of Anion Exchange Resins
Technical report. From Abstract : "Irradiation of 'Dowex' 1, 'Permutit' S-1, and 'Permutit' SK anion exchange resins with alpha particles results in losses in ion exchange capacity and in 'apparent per cent crosslinkage'. The order of decreasing radiolytic stability for these properties in 'Permutit" SX > 'Permutit' S-1 > 'Dowex' 1."
Identification of Curium-242 in Irradiated Neptunium
Technical report. From Abstract : "Curium-242 was experimentally identified as a minor product of the irradiation of neptunium-237 in a nuclear reactor." From Introduction : "Determinations of the half-life, alpha energy, and daughter product of the purified curium nuclide were made in this study to confirm the identity as curium-242."
Extrusion of Uranium Tubes
Technical report. From Abstract : "Several hundred long, thin-walled uranium tubes were extruded to close dimensional tolerance by a potentially low cost fabrication process in commercial facilities. The principal process steps were; forging uranium ingots, machining the forged ingots into billets, and extruding the billets into tubes. Some 750 tubes (maximum dimensions: 3.5 inches in diameter and 15 feet long) were fabricated by this process. Dimensional control was excellent in that 88% of the tubes were within +/- 0.010 inch of average dimensions over their entire length."
Precipitation of Neptunium Peroxide
Technical report. From Abstract : "Optimum conditions were determined for the precipitation of neptunium (IV) peroxide from nitric acid solutions. The results indicate that the precipitation could be applied successfully on a plant scale. ... Two crystalline modifications of the peroxide were prepared; these two crystalline structures were similar to structures previously reported for plutonium peroxide."
Flow Characteristics of a Circular Weir in a Centrifugal Field
Technical report outlining the use of circular weirs in solvent extraction between liquid phases of nuclear fuel elements. From Abstract : "A correlation of the experimental coefficients was developed to allow calculation of general weir performance."
Recovery of Plutonium From Metallurgical Reduction Residues
Technical report. From Abstract : "A semicontinuous process was developed for dissolving the solid residues that are produced in the calcium reduction process for converting plutonium fluoride to plutonium metal. The slag and crucible residues are charged to a column-type dissolver, and are there exposed to a flowing solution of hot nitric acid followed by a nitric acid - aluminum nitrate solution. The resultant solution is suitable as feed for an ion exchange process for recovering plutonium."
Application of Amides as Extractants
Technical report. From Abstract : "Laboratory data are given and discussed that outline the potential application of N, N-distributed amides to the separation of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium from fission products."
Anion Exchange of Neptunium in Nitrate Solutions
Technical report. From Abstract : "The absorption and elution of the anionic nitrate complex of neptunium (IV) were studied with several anion exchange resins and under a wide variety of conditions." From Introduction : "The objective of this study was to provide a technical basis for selecting process conditions for the recovery of Np."
Spectrophotometric Determination of Mixtures of Neptunium(Iv) and Neptunium(v) in Nitric Acid Solutions
Technical report. From Abstract : "The concentrations of Np(IV) and Np(V) ions in nitric acid solutions were determined quantitatively by a spectrophotometric method."
Neutron Spark Counter
Technical report. From Abstract : "Spark counters of the wire plate type are rugged and simple, and their sensitivity is directly proportional to the specific ionization of incident particles. Spark counters are insensitive to beta and gamma radiation but readily respond to alpha particles. With a suitable converter, the spark counter can also be employed as a neutron counter. Spark counters thus appear to be very good candidates for the measurement of neutron flux at reactor startup, where the high background of gamma radiation can be troublesome to other types of counters. A spark counter of cylindrical geometry was built and shown to have adequate sensitivity and stability for such duty."
Swaging of Uranium Dioxide Tubes - [Part] I
Technical report. From Abstract: "A method was developed for fabricating tubular fuel elements of uranium dioxide by swage compaction of crushed, fused UO2. The elements were 5 to 10 feet long and were clad with stainless steel. UO2 densities up to 91% of theoretical were obtained in tubes about 2.1 inches in outside diameter and 0.3 inch in wall thickness."
Automatic Dose Computer for Radiation Film Badges
Technical report. From Abstract: "A combination densitometer and analog computer is described which determines radiation exposure of photographic film used in personnel badges. The range of the instrument is 0 to 300 mr gamma and 0 to 300 mrad beta plus gamma. A novel phototube circuit is used to obtain logarithms directly."
Coextrusion of Powder-Compact Slugs
Technical report. From Abstract: "A process was developed for manufacturing aluminum-clad slugs containing UO2 or ThO2 dispersed in an aluminum matrix. In this process a mixture of the oxide and aluminum powder is cold compacted to form the billet core, which is then coextruded with an aluminum sheath to produce the clad slug."
Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum-Lithium Alloys Containing Up to 8% Lithium
Technical report. From Abstract: "The thermal conductivities of aluminum-lithium alloys containing up to * wt % lithium were determined at temperatures between 125 and 260ºC. The addition of lithium to aluminum sharply reduces the conductivity from 0.60 cal/(sec)(ºC)(cm) for pure aluminum to 0.22 cal/(sec)(ºC)(cm) for 2 wt % alloys; further addition linearly and more gradually decreases the conductivity to 0.16 cal/(sec)(ºC)(cm) for a 7.9 wt % alloy."
Anion Exchange Recovery of Plutonium From Reduction Residues
Technical report. From Abstract: "An anion exchange process was demonstrated for the recovery of plutonium from waste produced in the reduction of plutonium salts to the metal. Plutonium in a highly salted 6M nitric acid solution derived from the dissolution of slag and crucible waste was separated from impurities by absorbing the Pu (IV) nitrate complex on the anion exchange resin and subsequently eluting with nitric acid. A flowsheet for plant operation is presented."
Physics Data From a Mockup of the HWCTR Lattice in the PDP
Technical report. From Abstract: "Experiments were performed in the Process Development Pile (PDP) with a critical mockup of the Heavy Water Components Test Reactor (HWCTR) lattice. Reactivity measurements served to determine control rod worths, the temperature coefficient of the reactor at low temperatures, the dependence of keff on concentrations of U235 and poisons in the "driver" region of the reactor, and the changes in keff that occur in certain conceivable accidents in the HWCTR. Flux distribution measurements were made to determine over-all flux shapes, local flux variations around individual components, azimuthal flux variations due to asymmetrical combinations of control rods, and vertical flux variations obtainable through the use of control rods of partial length. Sufficiently detailed flux measurements were made to permit the calculation of neutron economy tables and to determine the neutron leakage from the reactor. Suitable adjustments in the input parameters made it possible to fit the experimental results with a two-group calculation."
Recovery of Neptunium From Purex Waste by an Agitated Bed of Anion Exchange Resin
Technical report. From Abstract: "Data are presented for the absorption of thorium and neptunium from synthetic waste concentrate of the "Purex" process by a miniature agitated bed of anion exchange resin. The behavior of neptunium indicated that efficient recovery should be obtained from Purex high activity waste concentrate by this technique. A method was developed for calculating absorption losses from agitation beds of resin. The predicted losses were in excellent agreement with experimental results."
Mounting Thermocouples on SPERT Test Assemblies
Technical report. From Abstract: "A method of fastening thermocouples to 0.030-inch-thick aluminum cladding on test fuel elements was developed. The installation does not lead to hot spots by the addition of extra metal of the distortion of the cooling water channels. Fuel element temperatures were faithfully followed in SPERT tests up to the melting point. The method has been useful for fastening thermocouples to aluminum sections in general."
Oxidation of Neptunium(V) by Vanadium(V)
Technical report. From Abstract: "Rate data are presented for the oxidation of neptunium (V) by vanadium (V) in nitric acid." From Summary: "Rates of oxidation of neptunium (V) were determined by a solvent extraction technique based on the difference in distribution coefficients for neptunium (V) and neptunium (VI)."
Recovery of Np237 and Pu238 From Irradiated Neptunium Oxide
Technical report. From Abstract: "An ion exchange process was demonstrated for the recovery of Pu238 from irradiated neptunium oxide. Three cycles of anion exchange proved adequate for the removal of fission products and for the separation of the neptunium and plutonium from each other."
Ultrasonic Energy Applied to Aluminum Extrusion Cladding of Tubes
Technical report. From Abstract: "Ultrasonic energy appropriately applied to the die or container of a laboratory-type direct extrusion press effected a marked increase in the free extrusion rate of lead and aluminum billets at a constant extrusion rate. the same results were obtained in extrusion cladding steel tubes with aluminum. Rate increases were generally 100 per cent or greater, and decreases in force were usually within the range of 10 to 20 per cent. Furthermore, the shape and slope of the extrusion curves were altered. The effect appeared to be attributable to a reduction of both die friction and container wall friction under ultrasonic influence."
Nonlinear Analogue to Digital Converter
Technical report. From Abstract: "An electromagnetical instrument is described which produces a shaft rotation which is a linear function of the quantity being measured from a non-linear input signal. The instrument was used to convert the output function of the Nuclear Test Gage (NTG) which is nonlinear with respect to fuel concentration to a form that will directly drive an automatic production recorder (APR). The output shaft is also geared to a Veeder Root counter so that the value of the independent variable is given to the NTG operator in digital form. A rate-of-change detector automatically trips the APR when the reading has come sufficiently close to equilibrium."
Behavior of Technetium in the Purex Process
Technical report. From Abstract : "Predictions of the behavior of technetium in the Purex process and details of the chemistry of technetium for Purex process conditions are given."
Concentration of Plutonium by Cation Exchange -- Stabilization of Pu(Ill) in Nitric Acid
Technical report. From Abstract : "Ascorbic and isoascorbic acids, used in conjunction with sulfamic acid, reduced Pu(IV) rapidly and completely to Pu(III) in solutions of nitric acid. The solutions of Pu(III) were stable. Aminoguanidine sulfate also retarded the oxidation of Pu(III) but did not reduce Pu(IV)."
Manganese Dioxide Precipitation in Uranium - Aluminum Nitrate Solutions
Technical report. From Abstract: "Precipitation of manganese dioxide in solutions of uranium-aluminum alloy effected maximum removal of fission products when the alloy solutions were acid deficient. Minimum adsorption of uranium and minimum volume of centrifuged MnO2 were obtained by precipitation in acidic solutions with vigorous agitation."
A Synopsis of Studies Related to Tritium Monitoring and Personnel Protective Techniques
Technical report issued by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. From Abstract: "Information obtained from investigations pertinent to tritium monitoring and protective measures at the Savannah River Plant are given. These findings were used to establish realistic protective techniques and consequently, to insure the safety of workers exposed to this hazard. Topics included are: contamination, permeation of plastics and rubber, instrumentation, and biological and physical aspects."
Aging of Al-Li Alloys - Part I
Technical report outlining experiments on aluminum-lithium alloys. From Abstract: "Aluminum-lithium alloys are subject to precipitation from solid solution, and may be age hardened by the same techniques used for more common aluminum alloys. Spherical particles of precipitate were observed with the electron microscope in 1.5% and 2.8% Al-Li alloys after aging for times comparable to those required to produce maximum hardness. Rod-shaped particles that were oriented parallel to either the (110) or the (111) planes of the aluminum matrix were observed in overaged specimens."
Fuel Meltdown Experiments
From Abstract: "Fuel tubes of enriched uranium-aluminum alloy were melted to various degrees of severity in the SPERT I reactor as a part of a program to evaluate reactor operating hazards. The heat flux encountered during the tests ranged from 200,000 to 650,000 pcu/(hr)(ft^2). The time required for the metal temperature to reach the melting point from the time when burnout began varied from 1.3 to 4.9 seconds. During these tests, pressure pulses were produced at a frequency of about one per second with peaks of about 150 psi."
Radiation Bursts in U235 Solutions
From abstract: "Calculations are made of the magnitude of the radiation bursts that can occur in a mixer-settler and in a large tank containing U235 solution if the concentration gets out of control. Various rates of increase in concentration are studied and various restraints are imposed on the expansion of the systems. The neutron kinetics equations, with five groups of delayed neutrons, and the equations relating the neutron flux to the pressure and volume of the gas formed by fission fragments are combined into a single first-order nonlinear differential matrix equation which is solved numerically on the IBM 650. In a mixer-settler containing 9.7 kg of U235 the magnitude of the burst was calculated to be about 10^17 fissions, both for low rates of increase in reactivity (<[or equal to]0.01% per sec) regardless of the confinement, and for an unconfined system regardless of the rate of increase reactivity. In a tank containing 88.9 kg of U235 successive bursts of about 10^19 fissions were calculated to occur about 0.5 second apart when the rate of increase in reactivity was about 0.1% per second."
Ultrasonic Fusion Joining of Sintered Aluminum Powder Materials to Aluminum Alloys
From abstract: "Essentially void-free fusion-type joints of high strength were produced between small specimens of Type M-276 sintered aluminum powder plate and 1100 Hl4 wrought plate, using a technique consisting of controlled and brief exposure of the ends of both materials to an ultrasonically active coupler face in a bath of molten 1100 aluminum, followed immediately by butt joining and fast cooling. With further development, the process should be adaptable to other types of sintered aluminum powder materials and to other joint geometries."
Summary Report on Thorium Metal Quality for Production Reactor Use
From abstract: "Background material leading to the development of the metal quality of reactor-grade thorium is given. The metal should be sound and of uniform hardness, free of internal cracks and inclusions, and corrosion resistant. It should contain only small amounts of natural uranium, thorium oxide, and elements that act as reactor poisons. Because of their effect upon metal quality, various methods for the production of thorium are discussed. Use of consumable electrode arc melting as the final step has contributed much to the production of thorium of excellent quality for reactor use."
Scavenging of Ruthenium From Purex Uranyl Nitrate Solution
From introduction: "In previous work on the ion exchange adsorption of ruthenium, it was observed that when certain compounds of sulfur were added to dilute uranyl nitrate solutions, precipitates formed which carried ruthenium. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a similar method for scavenging ruthenium from concentrated uranyl nitrate solutions. Such a method, combined with the silica gel treatment for removing zirconium and niobium, might provide an integrated process to remove all three contaminants."
Effect of Solvent Degradation on the Purex Process
From abstract: "The combined attack of HNO3 and HNO2 on tributyl phosphate - kerosene solvent used in the Purex process produces degradation products that cause abnormal quantities of zirconium to be extracted along with the plutonium and uranium and thus limits the decontamination."
Isotopic Purification of Tritium by Electrolysis
From abstract: "An electrolytic refining process was developed to produce tritium of high isotopic purity with negligible loss. The operation is semicontinuous, with multiple stages in cascade. All tritium oxide is handled within the confines of a hermetically sealed enclosure. The mechanical operability of the process was demonstrated in a five-stage prototype line designed to process 15 gram-mols of feed per day. An average separation factor per stage of 5.3 was obtained with a feed of tracer-level tritium. The equipment is described in detail."
Distribution of Uranyl Nitrate Between Al(NO3)3 and Tributyl Phosphate
From abstract: "The distribution of uranyl nitrate was measured from aluminum nitrate and nitric acid solutions into diluted tri-n-butyl phosphate. This information is useful for designing solvent extraction processes for recovery of uranium from aluminum nitrate or nitric acid solutions."
Eddy Current Detection of Al-Si Penetrations in Canned Slugs
From abstract: "An instrument for detecting aluminum-silicon alloy penetrations in the aluminum jacket of fuel slugs is described. The instrument is of the eddy current type and the sensing element is a small probe that does not touch the specimen under inspection. Al-Si inclusions 0.020 inch in diameter that penetrate to within 0.005 inch of the can surface can be detected. The response of the circuits is such that a slug 8 inches long can be scanned in 45 seconds."
An X-Ray Method for Predicting the Stability of Natural Uranium at Low Burnup
From abstract: "A 'Growth Index' for predicting the dimensional behavior of natural uranium at low burnup was developed from X-ray diffraction measurements of preferred orientation."
Kinetics of the Beta Transformation of Uranium
From abstract: "When uranium is heat treated at low beta-phase temperatures and air cooled, the rate of loss of preferred orientation is markedly less than the rate of coarsening of the grain structure. A coarse-grained structure cannot therefore be taken as an infallible indication of satisfactory heat treatment. The final grain size of incompletely transformed metal is essentially equal to or larger than the starting grain size. Large-grained specimens can not be refined by interruption of the transformation at an intermediate stage."
Adsorption of Zirconium-Niobium on Silica Gel
From abstract: "Adsorption of radioactive zirconium-niobium from uranyl nitrate solutions by silica gel was increased by increasing the temperature and time the solution contacts silica gel, and decreased by "aging" the solutions before contacting the silica gel."
Irradiation of Wrought Uranium Plate
From abstract: "Wrought uranium plate, clad in 1100 aluminum with a nickel bonding layer, was irradiated to a maximum exposure of 1600 MWD/T in the MTR and was demonstrated to be suitable as a fuel element material. Beta-transformed plate, or beta-transformed plate that was cold stretched 2-1/4 per cent, did not change appreciably in dimensions but roughened on the surface. As-rolled plate increased in length, but did not roughen. Irradiation reduced the strength and virtually eliminated the ductility of the plate. Abrasion of the cladding caused corrosion pitting. The strength of the nickel diffusion bond between core and cladding was unimpaired by the irradiation."
Shearing Irradiated Uranium Plates - Part II
From abstract: "Radioactive contamination was confined and controlled in an isolation tank when irradiated plates of natural uranium were cut under water."
Extraction of Uranium and Other Actinides From Nitric Acid by Di-N-Butyl N-Butylphosphonate
From abstract: "Equilibrium data are presented for the distribution of uranium, other actinides, zirconium, and nitric acid between aqueous solutions and di-n-butyl n-butylphosphonate diluted with n-dodecane. Data for the physical properties and chemical stability of the phosphonate are also given."
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