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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

Hanford Works Monthly Report June 1950 (Deleted)

Dated
Jul 20, 1950
Document type
Report
Length
369 pages
Open the original scanArchive record OSTI ID 16368109 · public domain

Document text

Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.

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i3iz term cea i vision...................... 67 Project Ecgineering Divisi ms.................... 80 Seperntions Techlofogy Division ................... 110 Heelth In st ruz ent Division ........................ 157 Gsnerrl Accounting Divisicn ....................... 184. Purchasing and Stores Divisions 235* Commercinl F z c ili ties......................... 299 Com unity Patrol.......................... 311 Project and Reh ted Personnel ..................... 368

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A total of 93 tons of metal was discharged atthe goal concentration. The pile operating efficiency was 84.1 percent. the eff i cie ney was 88.9 percent.) caused the. pile to be shut down until June 29 (a total of u8 hours) while suitable steps were taken t o allow its startup. ruptured slug encountered in an operating pile at Hanford. and 400 b1.W. at Hpile. circulating gas a t month end was 97, 97, 80, and 93 percent, respectively. Approximately 44 percent of the H-10 loading was completed a tH pile A ruptured slug a tD pile or. June 22 This is t h e second The nominal C02 concentration in the pile B total of 5ltons of acceptable slugs VBS canned at a yield of 92.9 The Melt Plant produced 13 tons of billets at a yield of 80,O percent. A total of 70 batches was started in the Canyon Buildings, 69 were processed through t h e Concentration Buildings, and 77 were conpleted through the Isolation Building. The machicing yield was 78.0 percent, The average purity of com7lsted batches The electrical peak demand for the month was 72,700 KW, slightly higher than seasonal expectations. A critical power condition, Grade 2, the first complete loss of power occurred on June 6, 1950 due t o a fault on t h e newly energized Coulee line, caushg a complete loss of 7ouer for three minutes. The Richland Class if ice tion Yzrd was formally activated on Iky 29, 1950 acd hmCled the major portion of inbound commercial ton-= for the Special tools and equipment were devised t o discharge t h e ruptured slug mentioned above into a spec i zl cask which was removed from the building without incident.

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The first 271 tubes of the H-10 loading charged into9Pile are performing satisfactorily from a reactivity and power output standp0b.t. However, increased graphite temperatures i n the H-10 region increase the incentive for early removal of the vertical thimbles from the Hpile. Six plutocium solution critical mass determinations were mda, estcblishing the minim uncritical masses i n ten 2nd eleven inch cylinders. It was also established tn at the critical mass increases with increesing temperatme of t h e solutions. Vertical bowing measurements of the top c ez tr al tubes at the E and D piles during the past month give further evidence that as light annealing of previous expansion of the graphite near the front face i s occurring with t h e 100 percent carbon dioxide atmosphere. meesurements at the H pile indicate that significant vertical expansion of the filler blocks i s occurring. The vertical pile expansion t o date i s 0.34" at five feet from the front edge of the packing and 0.23" a t the center of the pile. Offsite rolling of uranium from threc inch diameter rod t o standard size rod w s accomplished a t 300OC only by the use of a 6OO0C armed cftcr during the 3OO0C rolling as compared t o 30 time tolerance for 40O0C Air directly over the rolls WLS below tolcrzllce Processing of the first betches of 525 MWD/ton metel was started at T Plant during the month and the higher waste losses expected from the increased higher isotope content are being studied. being cer ried out to measure product hold-up points more accurately end to effect further shortening of process cycle times. has continued t o improve i n Bldg. 234-5 with nll production commitments to date hsving been exceeded during the month o f June. Plant tests are I n Redox and Metal Waste Recovery, 131 additional solvent extrection column runs were mede during the month, a l l on TBP process studies. runs have essentially completed plant-scale studies of the TBP process i n pscked columns end have carried pulse column studies up through 8-inch continuing satisfactorily in test under closely simulated plant conditions. Stainless steel tr rn snit ting rotameters, waste evaporators, and protective coating tests are elso still continuing. The 16-Inch pulse column i s scheduled t o be ready for Five different Redox uhotn pump assemblies are Inthe resezrch laboratory the specific effects of LL number of process materiels o r impurities on the delay of ruth enim removal during Redox ozonization have been measured. refined to a single 20 g./l. shot of Fil tro l giving ca. 95 percent removzl The Redox scavenging step has been

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favoreblo plutonim distribution data obtained at high product concentraout on the properties and extraction behavior of various diluects for the urvlium metal sam?les by the "Electroless" method. developed wnich satisfactorily separate americium and curium from dissolved urenim solutions. The Redox IIA colunn design hes been substantiatsd by A series of analytical and pulse column studies is being carried Nickel platings up to 6 mils thick have been coated on Procedures have been In the 234-5 procsss development laboratory, continued study of the peroxide process a s a possible substitute for oxalate purification has produced further data through Iiry Chemistry and Reduction. A sizable batch of plutonium has been experimentally recovered by dissolving skulls from the Comparative life-tests have been carried out on models of the plant sand filter and various types of "Fiberglas" filters. earlier predictions that a composite Fiberglas filter c m soon be designed that will, for the same pressure drop, have higher particle removal efficiency and much longer life in a considerably smaller size than the present send filters. tion air are being carriod out. A new type of Fiberglas (NO. 1 1 5 4 ) has been proved to be as good as the No. 55, while possessing greater chemical and physical stability, for use in the projected dissolver off-gas filters. Data obtained corfirn Studies of the dust loading of the h y o n ventilaTechnical Services Division A literature survey of possible methods for the assay of P-10 product led to the Analytical Section recommendation that mass spectrometric procedures are most suitable. gaining experience with these procedures at Los Alamos in preparation for operation of a mass spectrograph at Hanford. One analyticrl research chemist currently is Geslgn progress continued on the Hanford korks Lzboratory Area. lunp-sum design contract for the Radiochemistry Building was awarded to the Leland S . Rosensr Conmany of San Francisco, California. features of Radiometallurgy B l d g . design remain to be completed by the Technical Divisions prior to architect-engineer contract negotiations, md arrangements a r e being made to borrow I) & C designdrafting personnel for this work, The Design Project Proposal for the Plot Plm and Utilities was submitted to the A & B Committee. preFaration of the Design Project Proposal covering the Mechanical Development Building, the shell of which is to serve IS temporary construction developed in cooperation with the Pile Technology Division. AEC approval was received f o r Preliminary designs for the Pile Technology Buildiq a r e beirg The revised Construction Project Proposal for the Redox Analytical and Plant Assistance Laboratory (Bldg. 22243) was received from D&C and is being forwarded to the A & B Committee. Project C-187-E includes the waste disposal facilities requircd f o r this This supplemental proposel for

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The Glass Shop in Building 3706 was moved into the larger room vacated by the recent consolidrtion of mchine shop equip mt into the Technical trainees in addition t o the three regder glass blowers, and the first of these tx in ees wc s selacted and assigned. This enlarged glass shop affor2s space for three Anz1:rticnl Section and Statistics Grou? personnel spent considcmSle t b oration p aq low hare surveying this subject for the 4. E. C. Por sm nel of this Ijivision were active in two imporbnt tcchniccl see tir gs held i n Richland &,ring the month. served as co-hosts with the local A. E. C. office for the first Hmford June 9-10, eleven papers on analytical,statistical, and laboratory design topics were presented a t the Pacific Northwest Regional Meeting of the kmericm Ch mice l Society. On June 5-7 the Infomation Group The force increased by nine. of ?-lo oxide in t h e body. Three Special Hazards Incidents were investiOne of these involved over-exposure z rising from the acc mul ation With the above exceptions, surveys by the Operrtionz.1 Division showed zcceptable hazard control. timination levels in the canyon buildings. Notable inprovement w s nade i n reducing conSurveys of activity deposition and distribution in the environs by the Development and Biology Division Control Groups showed no major d,?viations from normal activity pztterns. Occupation of t h e new Biology Lsborztory began though some minor construction work is still in progress. PWthJT SECURITY AND SERVICES DIVISIONS There were no mjor injuries during the nonth of June. frequency rat2 for the year t o date is 0.27. rzte fora siziilsr period in the history of the Works. The major injury This is the lowest injury There vere 12 rdnor industrial fires with a loss of $15. Work volume in the Clerical Services Divisions, i.s. Mail, Printing, Office Equipment, and Stenographic Services, renained cbout the s mo as &zing May. There were 380 cartons of records received, processed, and stored. Records inventory i s coxplete except f o r Health Instrument and Technics1 Divisions. Installation of a uniform filing nethod will begin i n July. Responsibility for establishing, maintaining, and coordinating blaekout procedures for Hanford Works was assumed by Security P a t r o l Division on June 14.

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Air maneuvers were held over the manufacturing areas during the afternoon axxi evening of June 19. Room 102-8, 761 Buildi,ng, 709 Area, was designated as a 'Top Secret' draft ips area, Access will be controlled by draft kg room personnel. The nun5er of bppii.-.tints interviewed decreased from 1,643 during i@.y t o in divi daal s wko ar-,;ied fx employment with the General Z lect ric Comnany for atthe beginning of June t o 147 atthe end of the month, 1.25% t o 1.31%. ktthe end of June there were 56 nonbnrgaining unit e@oyees in lack of work status and 147 bergaining unit emnloyees. new requests for trmsfer t o other type of work were received by the Employment Office from employees during t h e month. requests, 26 transfers were effected. Office i n Pasco wes contacted by representatives of t h e Ehploynent Group, a t which time the technique and value of aptitude tests for prospective enployees was discussed. As the result of the extensive advertising program for instrument nechcnics conducted during June throughout the &st, Middle West end West Coast, 628 people responded, 45 of which a r e now i n Three hundrPd and fcrty-eight of thesc zpplicants were I n addition, 641 new applications were received through Cpen, non-exempt, nontechnical requisitions decreased from 248 Turn-over rate increased during June from Total plant roll As a result of these The Washington State & ? lope nt Visits were made tothe hones of three of our retired employees by the Engloyee Services Group, of retired exqloyees who no longer are residing in the vicinity of Richland. One hundred employees who were ill in the hospital were visited during the month, and five employee% off work because of illoess were visited at home. Seventy-eight salary checks wore delivered t o employees confined either at the hospital or at their homes due ta illness. Considerable the was spent by the Eh?loyee Services Group in assisting in the securing of tax waivers for survivors of deceesed enplogees. tkt the stock bonus of the Employee S ~ ving sand Stock Bonus Plan paid tothe survivors. made during June. News during the past month. D zing the weeks of June 16 and 26, 48 meetings were held throughout the Works for supervisors t o discuss the proper handling of employee's problems by the supervisor. Between the dates of June 6 and 16, inclusive, the Training and Program Developxzent Staff received spec id assistance and training on the proper presentation of the Principles and Methods of Supervision Course produced by the S,.iles dist rib J ted to nu exempt personnel on June 28, I n addition, 58 letters were forwarded t o the hones These tax waivers are required in order Thirty-swen suggestion awards, totaling $690, were Suggestion System publicity appeared i n each issue of the kiorks These suggestions resulted in an est hated savirgs of A total cf 667 supervisors pnrticipeted. The first issue of the Henford k'orks SAGE was

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An objective of Ccm mit y and ,Public Relations - to afford businesmer. ac &hna,oW-snt- was realized 6uring the month. Imitations were sent t o all ovners or zar x ers of local businesses and on Jw.e 29 the lwchoon meeting operation of the plant and the town, and the Nucleonics Departsent General h nags r who described steps being taken by the CoEpany i n acccmplishing theA.T.C.4 E. ob'.?:tives of making Richland a ncrmal zown as rtipicily es The !Jccleonir;s Gepcrtnent Ncws Bureau turned out 105 releases of int'crrmation during t h e month of June. sp2aki.q engagements filled by Hanford Works personnel afforded the News Eureau an excellent opportunity t o conduct public relations activities during t h e month of June. participation has increased appreciably during recent mor,ths. Participation in coinmupity activities, and Theso are areas of activity in which Nucleonics Deportnent In addition, press re let ions of the Itucleonics Le para ent have shown marked im?rovenent, cul mim tir g 6uring June in two very favorably stories published Manager adthe Assistent General i4anager atthe Richland Busicesmen! s lux he on, and the other contained an accurate factual statement conccrr,ing General Electric ' s recre c tion progrm for the town of Rich lad. One of these related the canments of the General Bp use of a letter rddressed tothe rosidents of an are" affected bj ccw pcrking restrictions,the matter wzs explained and the objections slininatcd, thus de non strat i rg the effectiveness of pinpointing the comunicntion of information about cormunity matters, a new project beirg conducted by t h e Cornunity Divisions Tublic Infomation Supervisor. Duririg June, Public Functions and Services prepared and recorded a t o t 2 1 of nine in divi duz l radio proereas on project e qu iF ent which, in turn, was broadcsst by me or more of the three radio stations in the tri - city arec. HrrZord Works Photo House filled two unusual requests for their scrvices during the month, one being e five-hour gastronony operation by aKaec Hospital surgeon and the other Q series of progress photogrcphs of classified proccsses for the Reactor Eivision of the Design Divisions. ccnductcd ia rd …

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