EQUIPMENT The L&N Simulator assemblies are available at prices ranging from approximateV $11,000 to $17,000 de pending upon the specific requirements of the individual user. T h e assembly can simulate a number of types of ther mal reactors such as the swimming pool type—light water, moderated enriched; graphite moderated natural uranium; heterogeneous heavy water moderated; U233 thermal reactor; and PTJ239 ther mal reactor. C1
• Dust collectors, of both t h e cabinet and cyclone type of Torit Mfg., are n o w available with casters as optional equip ment. « 2
Trainees use this L&N Simulator to learn nuclear reactor operation. In the re actor model (behind window at panel center) the pile rods begin t o rise. Record ers and meters register operating values a s calculated by unit's analog computer
Simulating Nuclear Reactors Small scale-models expedite training of reactor personnel; controls ape those of large-scale units H ow can nuclear reactor theory and practical operation b e taught when costly reactors are not readily available for instructional purposes? The answer to this question may be found in Leeds & Northrup's new Nuclear Reactor Simulator Assembly. This device pro vides a plastic scale-model of a reactor core, approximately 2 ft. high, mounted on a pedestal-type bench and a full size control panel, complete with in struments and controls. The reactor model is o£ the swimming pool type, similar to the one which the U. S. Gov ernment exhibited at Geneva. · The scale-model is equipped with mechanisms to drive the reactor rods up and down. It also has lights with regulated voltage to simulate the Cerenkov effect. Mounted on the panel console is a Simulator unit—an electronic analog computer, a servo amplifier, logarithmic amplifier, power supply, related switches, meters, and signal lights. The analog computer continuously calculates differential equations representing the kinetic op eration of t h e reactor. Τ θ start up the reactor, a trainee op erates the same sort of controls as h e would if h e were at an atomic energy installation, according to company. As 3726
C&EN
SEPT.
5,
1955
the rods of the reactor begin rising in the scale-model of the core, a rod-po sition meter indicates this movement and a log Ν meter shows the counts per second. At the same time, says L&N, Speedomax recording instruments draw continuous records of pile periods and linear flux. When the reactor-model reaches the critical operating range, this is recorded on the Simulator. Then the trainee carries the reactor xrp to the desired power level. As the pile rods rise still higher and the indi cating instruments keep the trainee posted on operating conditions, a char acteristic blue light begins to stream upward in the reactor lattice ( Cerenkov effect). Once the reactor model is up to the desired power level, servomechanical controls take over. If the trainee fails to judge correctly the various factors and reactor operation threatens to go beyond safe limits, the recording instru ments automatically drop the rods, the blue glow disappears and the equip ment becomes inoperative. Or, says company, if the student realizes that reactor operation is threatening to get out of hand, he can hit an emergency button on the console with the same results.
• Lift-turn valve, by Aquamatic, changes the 4-way or 3-way circuits by lifting the handle and turning i t to drop into the proper slot. Unit is available only in 3 / 4 -in. size. While this valve is designed primarily for topsalting domestic water softeners, it is also applicable to any other piping systems or applications requiring 2position or 3-position control of 3-way and 4-way circuits. Ε3 • High resistance ( 2 0 , 0 0 0 ohms) t e m perature probes when used with Γ Μ Ε bridge network, provide 5-volt output signals (without amplification) for as little as 150° temperature change. Prohes are available in varied configura tions for measuring fluids, surface, structure, air, hydraulic line, cylinder, head, and subminiature component temperatures. Ε4 • Pulverizer, a vertical hammer mill with built-in air classifier, has been de veloped by Metals Disintegrating. Company says unit, called Mikro-Bud, is unique in its ability to shift from one particle size to another in grinding op erations. Tests on certain friable mate rials show a consistent 4 0 to 75 lb. per horsepower hour depending upon the fineness of the grind. The new unit will handle a large range of dry, reason ably nonabrasive materials (mineral, chemical, and vegetable) for a large number of applications in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, drug, cosmetic, plastic, and allied industries. Ε5 • Portable
package
dust
collecting
system, by Schmieg Industries, is for use in small installations or o n isolated machines in large plants. Dust-Pak extracts dust and other particles from the air by a combination centrifugal separation and filtration. It has a re placeable standard "throw-a-way" t y p e filter. The manufacturers point out that the centrifugal action minimizes the dus'c load transmitted t o the filter adbung to the length of its serviceabil-
FÂiviOUS L Î 6 H T H O . U S E S
OF AMERICA
STANNARD ROCK LIGHTHOUSE, Lake Superior, Michigan, is located about 23 miles southeast of Manitou Island. Completed in 1883, the stone tower is built on a base of concrete and stone which stands on solid rock in 11 feet of water. The .lights 102 feet above water and visible for 18 miles, protects shipping in a dangerous area on the heavily traveled trade route between Durtuth and the lower lakes.
Protection for
the quality of your products and the efficiency
o f your processes is provided by the uniformly high standards of
NIAGARA
Niagara A l k a l i Company products. Depend on t h e purity and
ALKALI
uniformity of Nialk® Liquid Chlorine, Nialk Caustic Potash, Nialk Carbonate of Potash, Nialk
Paradichlorobenzene, Nialk Caustic
Soda, Nialk TRICHLORethylene, Niagathal® (Tetrachloro Phthalic Anhydride).
COMPANY 60 East 42nd Street New York 17, N.Y.
EQUIPMENT t Slide r u l e , by California Foundation for Biochemical Research, determines the suitability of any buffer in terms of • Plastic n o s e sections, by F. J. Stokes its ability to resist change in p H . T h e Machine, for guided missiles are now device, called Bufferule, contains a list being made airtight by impregnation of the buffers commonly used in bio with polyester resins, under vacuum chemistry together with their ρ Κ values, and pressure, in special equipment built molecular weights, and temperature for this application by company. The factors. Bufferule i s based on the for special vacuum impregnating equip mulations of D. D. Van Slyke and indi ment developed for this purpose com cates directly the number of milliprises an impregnating chamber in the equivalents of acid or base required to form of a long, relatively narrow tube, change 1 liter of 1 molar buffer b y 6 ft. long and 7.5-in. inside diameter. 0.1 pHunit. Ε 10 This tube, which is pivoted at its mid point, is made of carbon steel and is • Slope reader for data reduction, b y capable of withstanding 5 0 0 p.s.i. in Gerber Scientific, is designed t o obtain ternal pressure and full vacuum. Ε 7 the derivative or slope of a plotted • Magnetic null indicator, by Minnea curve. T h e instrument is claimed to polis-Honeywell Regulator, performs yield the normal as well as t h e slope both d.c. null detection and linear de directly without computation, accord Ell flection measurement. Chief features ing t o company. are l o w noise level, less than 2 micro volts, and high stability, a zero drift • Direct reading flow rate meter, by of less than one division per hour. Ε 8 Revere Corp. of JVmerica, is said to provide visual flow rate indication in • Heated hot air sterilizers, b y Lab- circulating, lubricating, and fueling sys line, are for sterilizing glassware, in tems. The 1.5 pound-unit is designed struments, packagings, bandages, wax to cover a flow range of 7 to 7 0 g.p.h. powders. They can also b e used for and to operate a t temperatures of —65° routine laboratory evaporation and dry to + 1 6 0 ° F . Company says unit is ing tests in all types of industrial lab accurate to within 2.% o f the specified oratories. Temp, ranges up to 270° C . flow rate and has a low pressure drop. Ε 12 E9 ity. Dust-Pak is available in sizes from 400 t o 1000 c.f.m. Εό
LOWER COST? DRYMET-«». hydrous s o d i u m metasili cate,provides more deter gent power.
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DETERGENT COMPOUNDING PRDBLEIVl?
pH CONTROL? D R Y M E T buff ers alkali. P e g s thepH where you
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CHEMICAL
7014 Euclid Aver»we
3728
C&EN
SEPT. 5, 1955
• Power-driven dust collector a n d fractîonator has been developed by Majac. The collector discharges incoming dust-laden air or gas against rotating deflector plates which are mounted on a power-driven shaft. This reverses direction of air flow, dropping out heavier particles. The air or gas then continues upward through a series of rotating separator blades and additional material is thrown out. T h e machine can be operated either as a dry or a "wet collector. In dry collecting, company says, it will remove particles down to 0.5 micron, with 1O09& collection i n many operations. In w e t collecting, it will remove particles 10O% down to 0.1 micron. Thirteen capacities, from 3 0 0 to 30,000 c.f.m. of gas throughout, are available with total horsepower of only 1 5 being used on largest machine. Ε 13 • Stepless temperature controller, b y West Instrument, has been im proved. T h e new model will vary power input to load between 3 % and 90% automatically according to de mand. € 14 • Portable constant temperature cir culating system, by Precision Scientific, features a Micro-Set thermoregulator whicH is coupled with an electronic re lay. Company says this gives unit a more accurate response to temperature change; temperature control is accurate to 0.05° F. Other features of the rede signed apparatus include a wide tem perature range, from ambient to 210° F., and a built-in cooling coil for operation below room temperature. A. submerged pump provides circulation of up to 5 gal. per rnin. a t zero head. Ε IS • Thermistor detectors, by Barnes E n gineering, can sense radiation in as little as two milliseconds. The sensi tive elements of the infrared detectors are 10-micron-thick (.01 mm.) rec tangular flakes of thermistor material. Ε 1CV
• Sile>ncer, by Burgess-Manning, is said to eliminate over 959© of noise energy from pressure reduction in natural gas distribution and steam systems. Manu facturer says noise reduction at critical outdoor locations in gas distribution systems is from 18 to 25 d b . Ε 17 • Repeat cycle timer, by G . C. Wilson & Co., is said to be suitable for design (Continued on page 373Θ) I ι
COMPANY Cleveland, Ohio
Further useful information on equipment mentioned is readi * available · · Use handy coupon on page 3730
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