“

CHAPTER 4

SUMMARY OF TASK UNIT ACTIVITIES
4.1

TASK UNIT 1, SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS

TU 1 was organized to design and carry out the experiments required for weapons development and for the measurementof field variables. This included the responsibility for program preparation and conduct in coordination with agencies or contractors of the AEC and DOD.
Chapter 2 of this report presents a summaryof the experimental programs. The Turquoise Book gives an account of the purpose and method of each project planned for Operation
Ivy. The Mike and King Shot cursory reports on the experimental programs give preliminary
data on the results of many of the projects.
4.2

TASK UNIT 2, PRODUCTION

TU 2 had as its primary mission the production and supply of liquified gases in the
amounts and at the times required by the various users, The Mike Shot experiment required
large amountsof liquid hydrogen, liquid deuterium, and liquid nitrogen. From time to time
smaller amounts of compressed pure hydrogen and dry nitrogen were required for various
purposes. In order to have the capability for providing these large amounts and varieties of
liquified gases, it was necessary to greatly expand the Greenhouse cryogenicsfacility. The
Greenhouse plant was therefore completely rebuilt and expanded go that it could be used for
the liquefaction of deuterium on a continuous basis at the rateof
. _. this compares
with an average continuous-production capability of about!
_for Greenhouse. The
old nitrogen-liquefaction plant was overhauled and used as a standby in case of inoperation of
the new pliant. The capability of this plant was approximately!
The newly built
hydrogen andnitrogen plants had capabilities of continuous operation at the rates of, _

respectively. In order to operate the above-mentioned plants a new 3000-kw
power plant was installed in the cryogenics area.
The fabrication and repair of units for the Greenhouse liquefaction plant began in November 1951 in Columbus, Ohio. A training program for operators started at the Ohio State
University Cryogenics Laboratory, followed by visits to Air Products, Inc., and then to the
cryogenics installation at the NBS Laboratory in Boulder, Colo., for observation of installations and tests of equipment similar to that planned for the Forward Area installation,
The first group of TU 2 personnel departed from Columbus, Ohio, on 17 January 1962 for
the Forward Area to begin the repair and installation of equipment for the old liquefaction
plants in Building 330. A second group arrived in the Forward Area about 1 May 1952 to .
complete the installation for Building 330 and to begin the assembly and erection of the new
liquefaction plants in Building 344. The remainder of the personnel arrived prior to 15 July

1983, by which time the installations were completed and ready for test and training

purposes,

55

Select target paragraph3