During the discussion
of the status of the E!3R 1
at Argonne National Laboratory,
Mr. Libby requested
that he be furnished with available
reports on the problem
of bowing of the fuei elements in reactors.
Mr. Davis reported that a design study arid
evaluation of the British Calder Hall me
of reactors
was being made in terms of American
constx’uction
costs and operating conditions by the Atomic International
Division of North American
Aviation,
He added that the
November
22, 1956, British Symposium
on gas-cooled
reactors
may be the source of more information
on this
type of reactor.
In response to Mr. Murray’s
inquiry concerning
the General Dynamics contract, Mr. Davis responded
that they were undertaking a study of a lithium-cooled
reactor which would produce both tritium and power.
He added, however, that the development
of this type
of reactor had not yet been authorized and that the
technology of handling liquid lithium is a limiting
factor.
Mr. Davis then mentioned the visit oi Sir Roger
Makins and Lord Harcourt to the MTR and other
facilities
at Idaho Falls and added that their main
concern was the type of program which Great
Britain
should follow in developing nuclear power.
With reference
to the nuclear-powered
merchant
ship, Mr. Davis reported that a public announcement
had been made of the AiZC -Maritime
Administration
agreement
providing fo= a combination passengercargo ship with a pressurized
water type reactor.
He
added that an attempt would be made to keep all data
unclassified.
Mr. Davis informed the Commissioners
that design and specification
work would be initiated
by the Maritime
Administration
during October 1956,
and that Babcock & Wilcox is begting
studies which
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