Operation of the Cave for Augmenting the Pilot Plant.

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The accepted eight curies of actinium per month operating level of the pilot plant can he reached as much as eight months earlier if the Hanf ord V f^" Irradiated radium on hand is processed in the cave and irradiated in the tfTR. The cave operation will also provide more actinium for research, testing of scane pilot plant equipneat and a check of the chemistry and physics of the irradiation and eepaa^tion procesa. Procesaing Hanford cans in Pilot Plant On hand are 11 cans of irradiated radium, five of vhlch are Saaford cana from vhlch the actinium has not yet been separated. In additlen^ there are three cans of radium from which about hetlf of the actinium has been separated. Also, there are two cans containing actinium-free radiizm and one can in which the radium was irradiated for only one month in the fJTR, t These cans represent a total of about 8-9 curies of actinium which are available for use in the pilot plant. Furthermore, this would be the entire amount of actinium available during the first six to eight months of "hot" operation of the pilot plant unless some radium is prepared for irradiation in the IfTH prior to pilot plant operation. The accocipanylng '" schedule (Figure l) bears this out. It would be September, 1955 before the accepted level of el^t curies of actinium per month could be met in the "hot" operation of the pilot plant if the "hot" operation started in Processing Hanford Cans in Cave If the Hanford cans are processed in the cave, and the radium promptly 8«i8 to the MTR for irradiation, sufficient material would be available by January, 1955 for the accepted operating level (8 curies of actinium per month) of tbe pilot plant. Juch a plan is shoim in the accompanying schedule (Figure 2 ) . Thla is perhaps the greatest advantage of this plan. However, tbere are some other advantages to this plan. At present there are approziaiately five curies of actinium available for research purposes, approximately half of which must be recovered from waste solutiooa and parts before it can be used. By processing the Hanford cans an additional 8-9 curies could be accumulated during the period of January through June of 195^ for research work.

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Another advantage can again te tied in with the pilot plant. Tovarda the end of this year many «f the aajor pieces of the separation process equlpoaent to be used in the pilot plant should be eoatpleted, or at least the first models. Processing the Haufoord cans would afford a good oppoirtxmlty ^•' ' to test this equipment in the cave under the eomdltlons of actual "hot" Finally, this plan woulA provide additional means for checking the chemistry of the separation proeaas and the physics of the irradiation process. 13x1s would include such things as cross section of the actinium, and yields and efficiency of the separation process to be eaepected In the pilot plant operation. Also by pjrocesslng the slug Irradiated in the MIB values for tb»„' '^. Bino\mt of actinium and thorium produced could be obtained, ^, Chances of Success Before this plan can be pot into effect, the cave must be decontaminated. We believe that the present condition of the cave is the worst poasible condition we een run into. If we have any degree of sxiecess here we have then crossed the biggest hurdle. So far, the method for protecting the Individual against airborne contamination in the '*R" Building high-risk corridors has been successful. We believe that the same results will be achieved in the cave area. Success in this operation should strengthen the • plan for processing the Hanford cans in the cave. In past cave operations, most of our problems did not occur during operation but rather during the removal and disposal of contaminated equipment. If the method to be used for disposing of contaminated eqaljment during the decontamination operation Is succesaful, tlwi a good deal of the problem has been solved. To make the operation succeed we believe It la also Isiportant that when a i problem arises It be solved before proceeding. A look at the schedule (Figure 2) will reveal that It is quite flexible. While three batches of four cans would be available for processing by Janxaary, 1955, actually only one batch would be required at that time. Finally, future operations in the cave would be greatly l^protad through more rigid checks by Health Hiysics as to the radiation aad eontaalnatlon levels in the cave area. Health Physics has been a weak point In the past operations due solely to lack of Information and experience. A good deal of experience is now being -._ ,-., gained from the present decontamination work. The information obtalzMd during the decontamination work can be used in any cave operation.

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Coat of m w Procese Equipment The coat for replacing all of the equipment In the cave plus a few addlticoM would be small In eomparison to the total cost of the pilot plant. An Itemised list of the new equipment needed Is sho«m below. Press and Dies Leak Testing Equipment Cpecial Hood for Leak Drying Train and Traps Remote Hand Tools Electrical Connector Panels Installation of Refrigeratloa It may be poasible to salvage the balance, valder, calorimeter, aad manipulator jaws. This would reduce tbe cost by ^ , 5 0 0 . Also much of the daalgn cost will be borne by the pilot plant, and in sooie eaaea It may be possible to use acme of the equlpnant that has been designed and building for the pilot plant as There Is one major problem with which we will be faced. T^ie Machine Shop and Glass Ghcrp may be quite heavily loeided fabricating the equlpoient for the pilot plant. A seheine will have to be worked out to meet this piroblem. In conclusion, if we should meet an Impasse somewhere along the line we will still have gained much mo3re than we stand to lose. We are so lacking in experience in this type of "hot" operation that any additional experience we gain can be used to Improve the operation of the pilot plant. With sufflcleat caution it need not be at the expense of any individual.

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In at all at loi i at -^ -' Cold Testing ocf Copy 10. - Central Piles Copy 11. - Central Files