steps are in much more serious need of improvement.
However, y-33_th
separation is not on a satisfactory basis yet, and solvent extraction,
volatility, and ion exchange methods are being investigated.
Separations
for the HRE solution also pose special problems because of its very high
activity.
Continuous processing methods are being worked on.
There was also discussion of the cooperation between ORNL and K-25
and X-10.
Dr. Larson said that the groups are in close touch, that trans—
fers of groups of personnel have helped foster close cooperation,
Dr.
Weinberg remarked that ORNL does not consider the diffusion process its
major business, but that possible desirability of series operation of
reactors with diffusion plants may lead to greater mutual interest.
Aircraft
Dr. Briant discussed the ARE program, He described the fawored design
Reactor,
Design for the aircraft reactor as a cylindrical structure of BeO bricks with holes
(parallel to the axis) containing flowing sodium coolant, the fuel ccnsist~
ing of a static UF,-NaF-KF melt contained in hairpin tubes inserted into
the holes,
The fuel tubes are extended through an upper section of BAC.
The use of this "black curtain" and liquid fuel has the advantage of
self-regulation and elimination of the need for control rods. The experimental reactor, designed for 3 megawatts is scheduled to operate in the
,
summer of 1952; the prototype for the actual aircraft reactor, to operate
at 200 megawatts , could not be constructed bythen or at the Oak Ridge site.
Questions —
cern to Committee members.
One was the mechanical stability of the fluid.
system, which in present thinking depends essentially on gravity.
It was
brought out that this may not be as troublesome as it first appears, since
“9
only very large (low g) airframes could carry such a power plant (shield
ae
AE
In the discussion on the ARE project, a number of points were of con-