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Richland Operations Office Submitted herewith isthe final report of Hanford-developed technological advances that have been p u t t o use by private industry. l i s t is somewhat reorganized from the preliminary one (Ref. 2 ) submitted i n response t o your request (Ref. 1). items and ident l fles items with dates wherever possible. It includes several new "he mechanisms for disseminating this type of information, with one addition, are repeated here i n approximate order of effectiveness: Articles i n professional and trade journals. Formal Haaford reports. Attendance by technical personnel at professional society meetings and other technical gatherings. News releases t o press, radio and television (new). Work with subcontractors and ven3oi.s. Representation on standards committees and other formal industrial bodies.
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W e wish t o confirm our previously-stated belief that it does not seem advisable t o designate a single individual t o be responsible f o r the reporting of technological advances. strongly that this i s the responsibility of supervision and of the technical people themselves. separate publication for this purpose would not be worthwhile. The length of the attached list i s evidence that existing mechanisms are adequate and amply used. Our people feel Furthermore, we believe thata Very truly yours,
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Nuclear Physics Research..... Reactor Systems Analysis ..... Instrument Research and Development Earth sciences Research...... Reactor Systems Research..... Materials and Processes......
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Nuclear Physics Research 1. In the critical mass physics field, Hanford Laboratories has generated essentially all the experimental criticality data which is available on plutonium solutions, All AEC installations which handle plutonium solutions base their safe handling procedures on o u r data. The EUROCHEMIC PLANT a t Mol, Belgium, used anHL scientist as a consultant in the design of their chemical plant for processing spent reactor fuels. This scientist also served as a consultant on criticality i n the design of EUREX CHEMICAL PROCESSING PLANT which was designed for an Italian concern by Vitro Engineering. to industry has been our participation i n the formulation of standards for the handling of fissionable materials outside reac - in the final stages of processing by the American Standards The latest contribution H L personnel have worked on these standards which are 2 . In the reactor physics field we have used the PCTR to provide the physics information required for the design of the EXPERIMENTAL GAS COOLED REACTOR now under const ruc - tion a t Oak Ridge. The data which Hanford Laboratories supplied was useful i n the design of the reactor and in the evaluation of the safety of the reactor operation. By using the PCTR itwas possible to avoid constructing a physics mockup of the EGCR which . might have cost several million dollars. 3 . At l e a s t 80% of the existing data in the United States on graphite moderated lattices has been generated a t Hanford Laboratories using the exponential piles and the PCTR. Whenever design of graphite moderated reactors is considered, ultimately use will be made of our data as the basis of the designs. The development of the PCTR techniques for measuring the physics properties of reactors has met with considerable success. HLhas the world ' s leading authority on the application of this tool to reactor problems. Two industrial organizations have adopted the PCTR technique. UNITED NUCLEAR CORP. has applied the techniques to the study of heavy water moderated niques in studying the spectral-shift reactor concept. 5.The contributions of Hanford Laboratories to thermal neutron cross section measurements have been substantial. Measure - ments on the fission c r o s s sections of plutonium isotopes have been standards for reactor physics calculations for several BABCOCK AND WILCOX personnel have used the techHanford Laboratories w o r k is routinely cited by people
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who are doing calculations for reactor design, fuel lifetime, and schemes for producing exotic isotopes for use in power packages UNITED NUCLEAR COMPANY has built a D 2 0 version of the PCTR which they call the PLATR. us credit for the basic idea and have used our work on D20systems as a standard against which they have evaluated their own results. This appears in the ANS Transactions in 1962. Our data are currently being used in design 6 . They have regularly given Reactor Systems Analysis Physics methods for the analysis of reactor systems are developed at Hanford and in many instances adapted to the electronic computer f o r a t considerable savings in development costs to the recipients. An example of this is the Hanford S-X Transport Theory Program. cost of developing t h s program is estimated to have been $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 . It has been distributed to approximately 2 3 companies and laboratories in the United States and to 3 organizations in foreign countries. Other programs costing $25,000 to $250,000 have been and w i l l continue to be developed and distributed to off-site organizations by Hanford LaboraInstrument Research and Development These computer programs a r e widely distributed off-site Nuc le onic Ins trum en t s 1. A portable Geiger counter beta-gamma survey meter, developed a t Hanford in 1954, has been built and marketed by INSTRUMENT A portable beta-gamma dose rate measu-ring instrument employing an air equivalent wall ionization chamber and a single electro - meter tube circuit to provide dose rate measurements up to 5 r / hrwas built and marketed by the TECHNICAL ASSOCIATES, Seattle, Washington, fora number of customers. Transistor i zed scintillation alpha poppy meters have been built and sold in large numbers by the EBERLINE INSTRUMENT COMPANY, mostly to the AirForce. 4 . The H A P 0 dose totalizer, used by monitoring personnel to record accumulated dose to individuals, has been built and sold to various customers by the ATOMIC POWER EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT, GENERAL ELECTRIC. Model I and model I1 Scintrans (used with cable connected radiation detection probes of the scintillation alpha, GM betabeen made and sold by both INSTRUMENT LABORA%ORY and APED, GENERAL ELECTRIC.
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6.The Sentinel, a portable, battery-operated scintillation dose rate meter with ranges to about 5 r / h r and with a n adjustable-level alarm signalling circuit, has been manufactured and sold by the EBERLINE INSTRUMENT COMPANY. In addition, a n alpha-beta-gamma hand and shoe counter is currently being manufactured by a n English firm, and INSTRUMENT LABORATORY , INC. , has indicated i t plans to build and market a hand and shoe counter developed b y Hanford Laboratories. Industry utilization of Hanford Laboratories I leadership in heat transfer testing is evidenced by three individual requests.The X-RAY DEPARTMENT, GENERAL ELECTRIC, has requested consultation i n the application of infrared testing of aircraft tires. LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT has applied Hanford Laboratories developed emissitivity compensating techniques to the inspection of aircraft components. T h e KNOLLS ATOMIC POWER LABORATORY is using Hanford Laboratories developed heat transfer methods i n the inspection of nuclear fuel plates. An eddy current technique of discriminating against interfering test variables has been incorporated in instmmentation manufactured and sold by the BUDD COMPANY. Information regarding a HL-developed method of measuring the annular spacing between reactor process tubes and surrounding shroud tubes has been requested bya U. S. instrument maker, MAGNAFLUX CORPORATION, and by ENGLAND , INDIA, and A tubing manufacturer, GREENVILLE TUBES, INC. , has re qa este d that Hanford Laboratories fabricate for its use a multi parameter eddy current test instrument now Tinder development. Hanfordrs pioneering and intensive research into the use of ultra - sonic Lamb waves h a s received wide acceptance by industry and other institutions, such as BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, STANFORD RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY O F DENVER, and many others.Foreign contacts have been established with AUSTRALIA, ENGLAND, JAPAN and ITALY, among others. In addition, nearly all AEC nondestructive groups now have active Lamb wave research programs underway. Commercial interest has been expressed by FORD, BECHTEL, MAGNAFLUX, SPERRY PRODUCTS CORPORATION, and AUTOMATION INDUSTRIES, INC. Measurement of metallic grain st ruch re, developed a t Hanford; has brought requests for additional information and / o r consultation f r o m ALCAR INSTRUMENT COMPANY, CHASE BRASS AND COPPER TEXAS INSTRUMENT COMPANY. Hanford Laboratories development of broadband eddy current applications has aroused inquiries from ITALY, GERMANY, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, MAGNAFLUX CORPORATION, the RESEARCH LABORATORY, GENERAL ELECTRIC, and the BUDD COMP A ii Y.
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Atmospheric Tracer Technology Equipment for automatic analysis of tracer material was developed for use with the Hanford perfected fluorescent tracer technique for atmospheric dispersion studies. total through-put, sensitivity and calibration. The filter sample of zinc sulfide tracer material is exposed to a known source of alpha radiation and the scintillations are measured against a mass calibration. One operator can process about 300 samples in eight hours, making large scale field studies practical. The technique replaces the tedious method of visual counting. Several companies, including TRAVELERS RESEARCH, INC. and the RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. , have included this technique in their proposals for diffusion studies for the government and for private industry. Atmospheric Diffusion Studies Extensive studies have been m a d e to better understand the ways that radioactive and toxic materials are transported through the atmosphere and deposited on the ground. pheric diffusion experiments a t HANFORD, CAPE CANAVERAL, and VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE. yielded the largest collection of quality dispersion data i n existence. T h e wide range of meteorological, climatological, and topographic conditions studies clarified the importance of these regional variables on the atmospheric dispersion processes. Results of these studies were used by the AIR FORCE to establish safety criteria and range operation control for fuel handling and firing of advanced missile systems at both the ATLANTIC and PACIFIC MISSILE RANGES. results were used in establishing design criteria for safety sur - veillance of solid propellant rocket engine tests and some of the sampling techniques are used in their continuing programs. Numerous instances of application of these results to power reactor siting problems a r e known, including BIG ROCK POINT, HUMBOLT BAY, and BODEGA BAY. Hanford developed diffusion data w e r e used in developing ASA REACTOR SITING PROCEDURAL GUIDES and in preparation of the second edition of "METEOROLOGY AND Primary improvements were in The sensitivity achieved is 5 x 10-9 g . Since the summer of 1959, Hanford personnel have conducted more than 300 atmos - J' The experiments have At EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, 1. Investigation of moderated slow neutron detectors led t o the development of a device called a. double-moderator- In one mode of operation this device measures neutron fllix density; in another, neutron dose r a t e . Combining these bits of information gives information on neutron energy. The docble moderator was adopted for routine monitoring a t Hanford and was the basis f o r the Hanford criticality dosimeter. been high a s evidenced by the approximately 150 requests f o r reprints of the article describing the device. ln te rest elsewhere has
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2. Another development of moderated slow neutron detectors led to the Precision Long Counter, a device for precise, laboratory intercomparisons of fast neutron fluxes. The interest in this device can be judged by the fact that there are some 30 standing requests for information on the status of its development, including requests f r o m 6 foreign countries, even though no formal report on the device has yet been issued. The Precision Long Counter was featured i n the 1962 report of the INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL UNITS. 3. Hanford competance in radiation calorimetry was recognized scientists to calibrate the source strength of a C060 source that they had previously calibrated by another method. also led to preparation of a paper describing a consequent deter - mination of a constant concerning ionization in air. Studies in radiation dosimetry theory led to a paper on Radiation Research which was then later stated to be the main basis for the section of the 1962 INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL UNITS report dealing with the fundamentals of radiation dosimetry. C hemic a 1 Pr oc e s sing Anion Exchange Technology Anion exchange was developed and initially applied f o r the purification and concentration of plutonium a t Hanford. Similar technology was developed and applied to final purification and concentration of neptunium. Off-site application of these developments includes purification and concentration of P u - 238 by SAVANNAH RIVER (DUPONT) and the planned application of anion exchange on the plutonium product to be produced in the EUROCHEMIC plant a t Mol, Belgium. that the FRENCH have replaced their cation exchange concentration with the anion exchange process. It is reported S olven t Ext racti on Hanford is recognized as a pioneer in the development of solvent extraction processes and contacting equipment. equipment area, the pulse column w a s introduced and developed to its high state of refinement as a chemical process tool largely through Hanford research and development. now widely employed a t Hanford in primary and fission product processing plants as well as at OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY, IDAHO CHEMICAL PROCESSING PLANT, and by such comp a - ies as NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES, UNITED NUCLEAR CORPORATION, MALLINCKRODT, and NATURAL LEAD i n the uranium processing industry. Overseas, pulse columns have been applied in the TJNITED KINGDOM, and based on Hanford designs, they w i l l be installed in the EUROCHEMIC fuel processing plant at Mol, Belgium. In the contacting Pulse columns are
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Continuing progress is being made in these areas at the Laboratories. At the present time, only a limited number of pilot plant runs are needed to establish design parameters. Significant developments include waste -end interface control, nozzle plate cartridges and "zebra" cartridges. Pulse generation equipment has been greatiy simplified by the use of compressed-air-driven pulse generators. Off-site use of these developments have already been made by m o s t of the above named companies. Reprocessing of Power Reactor Fuels The technology developed in this program h a s been widely disseminated through unclassified reports and papers and is available to private as well as government organizations, both foreign and domestic. The Sulflex and Zirflex processes will be used in the EUROCHEMIC plant. The Zirflex process has been used a t Hanford for decladding PRTR fuels and will be used for processing N Reactor fuels. FTJELS SERVICES will employ a chop-leach fuel dissolution process --one which was developed a t Hanford Laboratories. Earth Sciences Research Earth Sciences Technology for Waste Disposal T h e disciplines of geology, hydrology, mineralogy and meteorology have been integrated into a research effort to provide understanding of the problems relative to disposal of radioactive wastes to the of radioactive materials in the Hanford environs and has been used in evaluation of other sites. For example, recommendations were made a t the request of the AEC in a n evaluation of the Amargosa Desert site selected for waste storage by the NUCLEAR ENGIXEERING COMPANY, Pleasanton, California. Turbulent Deposition …
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