NUCLEAR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PROGRESS REPORT FOR APRIL 1-JUNE 30, 1958

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4252606

Maslan, F ed

Reactor Physics Division, Monte Carlo calculations of the resonance escape probability in U--H/sub 2/O lattices were analyzed in some detail. Studies have continued of the calculation of the effective resonance integral for lattices according to the narrow resonance and first flight collision approximations. The initial construction of the neutron source reactor was completed, and thc reactor was loaded to critical size. All initial experiments on neutron slowing down and diffusion of graphite -Bi mixtures have been completed. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Equilibration experiments were conducted to determine to what extent Po is extracted from Bi by the standard ternary salt. Additianal activity coefficients for U in dilute Bi solutions have been measured by the electrochemical cell technique. Similar electrochemical measurements have been made on two salt mixtures over complete concentration ranges. They are MgCl/sub 2/-NaCl and CeCl/sub 3/-KCl, By use of thc falling- drop method, further data have been obtained on the extraction rates of Sm from BiMg--Sm alloys, The salt corrosion work has continued on a moderate scale. Methods for removing fission products from Bi fuels are being investigated. Several loops were either undergoing construction or in operation during this report period. Metallurgy. Fine platelets of thorium bismuthide can be produced by gas atomization of the molten alloy. Stirring particles of ThO/sub 2/ into Bi- Zr-Mg produces a more satisfactory slurry under vacuum than under He at 600 C. A Cr-Mo steel pumped loop has operated for 6000 hrs with a bulk temperature differential of 75 C with no apparent corrosion, Thermal convection loop data continue to show no attack on RH1081 carbon steel, nitrated Cr-Mo steel, Cr-Mo steel, Cr-Mo steel loop, or a Be insert in a loop. Oxidation of U from Bi melts appears to be autocatalytic. Repeated contact of Cr-Mo steels to Zr-Bi melts at 780 C with periodic film removal has shown some formation of ZrC along with ZrN after the first 1200 hr. Mechanical Engineering. The construction of the 4- in. Utility Test Loop continues. With the exception of auxiliary systems, work has been completed on Radiation Loop 1. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Exploratory studies on the dissolution of Zircaloy-2 in nonaqueous fluoride solutions showed that the dissolution rates varied considerably depending on the type and amount of halide salt added to BrF/sub 3/-HF solutions. Studies are continuing to determine conditions under which an explosive reaction can be produced between natural U and BrF/sub 3/ solutions. Hot Laboratory. A careful search for O/sup 20/ via the O/sup 18/ (t,p)O/sup 20/ reaction was unsuccessful. Development of a system for milking As/sup 72/ from Se/sup 72/ parent was continued. Optimum conditions werc studied for the chromatographic separation of carrier-free Mo /sup 99/. Work continued on the development of a reeovery process for pure Sm/sup 151/. A study of the analysis of trace amounts of Th in the presence of large amounts of Bi was continued. The study of the polarographic method ior the determination of U in Bi was continued. (For preceding period see BNL-506.) U.L.H.)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-013699
• OSTI ID: 4252606
• Report Number(s): BNL-516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AEROSOLS- - ALLOYS-- BISMUTH COMPOUNDS-- CARBON-- CARBON STEELS-- CATALYSIS-- CHROMIUM-- CONVECTION-- CORROSION-- FILMS-- GASES-- HELIUM-- IN PILE LOOPS-- MAGNESIUM-- MELTING-- MOLYBDENUM-- NITROGEN-- OXIDATION-- PARTICLES-- PLATES-- PREPARATION-- PRODUCTION-- PUMPS-- SLURRIES-- STEELS-- THORIUM COMPOUNDS-- THORIUM OXIDES-- URANIUM-- VACUUM-- ZIRCONIUM-- ZIRCONIUM CARBIDES-- ZIRCONIUM NITRIDES
ARSENIC 72-- BISMUTH-- CHROMATOGRAPHY-- MOLYBDENUM 99-- NUCLEAR REACTIONS-- OXYGEN 18-- OXYGEN 20-- POLAROGRAPHY-- PROTONS-- QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS-- SAMARIUM 151-- SELENIUM 72-- SEPARATION PROCESSES-- THORIUM-- TRACE AMOUNTS-- TRITONS-- URANIUM
BISMUT
PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS