MTA PROJECT. TARGET AND PROCESS SECTION QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT FOR APRIL THROUGH JUNE 1953

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1954

OSTI ID:4355089

Nuclear chemistry studies of production characteristics of MTA-type targets were extended to NaK-cooled configurations. In the cases of target mockups composed of (a) Be primary-U secondary and (b) U primary-U secondary, it was found that the neutron yields internal to the targets were reduced by 30% as a result of the presence of the NaK that would be used for cooling. An analysis of highenergy nuclear events was completed for a solid uranium target bombarded by deuterons. The neutron yield with this target is about 33 neutrons per 500- Mev deuteron. Preliminary results with deuteron bombardment of Be, C, and NaK- primary targets-U secondary targets predict the smaller yields of 26, 23, and 21 neutrons per 500-Mev deuteron, respectively. Further studies were made on the feasibility of an MTA target using fuel in the form of a slurry suspended in liquid metal. Samples of various grades and treatments of Al alloys have been inserted in the MTR for an irradiation of approximately six months to determine the effect of neutron bombardment of potential cladding materials for target elements. Further work was done on the corrosion of Al and Zr by water. Corrosion tests of Al alloys coupled to stainless steel in water at 350 deg F showed essentially no difference in corrosion rates obtained with the Al alone. When coupled with Zr, a slight reduction in corrosion was observed. Studies continued on the chemical problems resulting from the use of the Purex process for separation of irradiated Zr-clad U target elements. A miniature mixer- settler was built, tested, and used successfully to simulate chemical behavior of Purex separations processes adapted to unique MTA fuel features. (auth)

• Research Organization: California Research and Development Co., Livermore Research Lab., Livermore, Calif.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-74
• NSA Number: NSA-12-001122
• OSTI ID: 4355089
• Report Number(s): LRL-82(Del.)
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Decl. with deletions Mar. 19, 1957. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

PHYSICS
ACCELERATORS
ALUMINUM
ALUMINUM ALLOYS
BERYLLIUM
CARBON
CONFIGURATION
CORROSION
DEUTERON BEAMS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY RANGE
IRRADIATION
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LIQUID METAL COOLANT
MIXING
MOCKUP
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PLANNING
POTASSIUM
PRODUCTION
PUREX PROCESS
RADIOCHEMISTRY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLURRIES
SODIUM
STAINLESS STEELS
TARGETS
TESTING
URANIUM
WATER
ZIRCONIUM