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

APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASONIC ENERGY. Progress Report No. 15 Covering Period April 1, 1959 to May 31, 1959

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4180943
Further testing of ultrasonic multistage equipment for the agglomeration of dilute radioactive particulates has established a configuration generally suitable for field test work. Experimentation over a limited range of flow rates indicates removal of sodium chloride test aerosols to a level approaching the limit of flame photometric analysis. The ultrasonically activated tantalum crucible obtained for pyrometallurgical extraction has proven to be satisfactory when evaluated by a room-temperature simulant system--ultrasonic extraction of copper from a copper-- mercury alloy with dilute nitric acid. Experiments in the ultrasonic disintegration of fuel element cladding in mercury have shown that a direct-coupling technique is superior in effectiveness to close proximity treatment. The elevation of the treatment temperature to the boiling point of mercury has increased the erosion rate of Zircaloy-2 (2.5 mg/cm/sup 2// hr) by approximately 10-fold over that at temperatures up to 206 deg C. Work with two other types of ultrasonically activated ion-exchange columns indicates increased ultrasonic activity in the resin bed. This permits operation nearer equilibrium conditions and at higher flow rates than with non-ultrasonically activated columns. Both the breakthrough capacity and the apparent total capacity of the resin have been increased. Preliminary work has been initiated on the application of ultrasonic vibration to ceramic processing. (For preceding period see NYO-2568.) (auth)
Research Organization:
Aeroprojects, Inc., West Chester, Penna.
NSA Number:
NSA-14-008403
OSTI ID:
4180943
Report Number(s):
NYO-2569
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English