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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 16-MAY 15, 1954

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4171699
Buckling measurements with 0.600-in. fuel reds in clean water were completed for U enrichments of 1.3, 1.15, and 1.0%. Water-to-U volume ratios of 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 to 1 were used. Values of B/sup 2/ = +0.26 plus or minus 19 x 10/sup -4//cm/sup 2/ and k = 1.0009 plus or minus 0.0006 were obtained from a lattice of natural U rods in H/sub 2/O at a volume ratio of 1.5: 1. A proposed shim control system for the LMFR is described which will maintain continuous control of the fuel concentration. In a test of the "torch" precess for removing Pa and U from ThF/sub 4/ blankets by the fluorination of contaminants in a H/sub 2/-- F/sub 2/ flame, 77% of the original feed lost 72% of its original activity. A method using fused salts was less successful. It was found that 92 to 95% of mixed fission prcduct activity in molten NaNO/sub 3/ was scavenged out by a suspension of metallic oxides such as Mn and Fe. Isothermal studies of Th/sub 3/Bi/sub 5/ in liquid Bi and a liquid Pb--Bi eutectic showed that after 2000 hr, the compound particles grow larger in Bi, but thermal cyc~g tests with the same dispersions indicated that the particles grow larger in Pb-- Bi. Static corrosion tests of B and W alloy 701 and chromized Croloy 2 1/4 showed no corrosion in Bi or U--Bi. Wetting experiments revealed that pure Fe can be wetted by heating to 1600 deg F under high vacuum and immersing in Bi at 725 C for 5 hr. Additional data are presented on the erosion of grapbite by Th--Bi, the solubility of Fe and Zr in Bi, the adsorption of Zr on Fe from liquid Bi, the radiation daraage of SiO/sub 2/, and the thermal cycling of U. The transmission of neutrons through an air slot was investigated as a function of slot dimensions. Parameters of several neutron reso- . nance levels in U/sup 238/ were obtatined. (For preceding pericd see BNL-285.) (C.J.G.)
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
NSA Number:
NSA-14-018613
OSTI ID:
4171699
Report Number(s):
BNL-297
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English