INTERNATIONAL U.K. Atom Power Gets Complex Britain's newest experimental atomic power station at Dounreay uses fast neutron reactor JL HE Calder Hall reactors, and similar ones to follow in Britain's h u g e atomic power program, will produce plutonium as well as power. Efficient use of this fissionable material will be a big factor in making the program economical. Putting plutonium to work isn't a problem right now. Quantities available aren't that great. But at Dounreay, on the windswept, nearly treeless northern coast of Scotland, the U . K . Atomic Energy Authority is making sure it will be able to make good use of its plutonium when the time comes. Learning how to use plutonium will be one of the main objectives of the Dounreay fast reactor. A fast reactor is one of two possible means UKAEA foresees to use plutonium. T h e other is to enrich natural uranium. • P o w e r Source. Primarily experimental, the Dounreay fast reactor will also be used to operate a 15-megavvatt electric power station to feed the national grid. W h e n the reactor goes critical next April it will have an enriched uranium core. It will be replaced by plutonium eventually. Just when is difficult to predict. Sir Chris-
topher Hinton, who heads UKAEA's industrial group, says perhaps 1963— as a very rough guess. In the meantime, m u c h of the data collected will be equally useful for a plutonium reactor. • Three-Phase P l a n . T h e U. K.'s atomic power plan consists of three phases. The first is based on gascooled, graphite-moderated reactors of the Calder Rail type. The fuel is natural uranium. These will be followed by liquid-cooled thermal reactors, and then by reactors with "positive gain factor"; that is, breeder reactors which produce more fissionable materials than they use. The core of the Dounreay fast reactor will b e surrounded by a blanket of natural uranium. Part of the nonfissionable u 2 3 8 in the blanket will be converted into plutonium, which may be separated in a chemical fuel reprocessing plant. It would also be possible to use thorium in the blanket and obtain fissionable U 2 3 3 . T h e fast reactor, with its power station, is not the only unit going up at the new establishment at Dounreay. Also under construction:
General view of fast breeder reactor group buildings of Britain's newest atom power station at D o u n r e a y , Scotland. The huge sphere a n d the heat exchanger on its left dominate. O n the right is section of t h e active element store, under construction. It will be connected to sphere by an air lock t h a t gives only access to the power at sphere's equator 62
C&EN
JUNE
3.
1957
• Dounreay materials testing reactor is slated to go critical at about t h e same time as t h e fast reactor. I t will be devoted to applied research for UKAEA's industrial group. Similar testing reactors, Dido and Pluto, a r e used for longer term research at Harwell. • Two chemical separation plants are being set up—one for the fast reactor and one for the DMTR fuel elements. Uranium can b ë recovered from t h e irradiated fuel elements and refabricated into new elements at the site (see page 8 6 ) . Plutonium is separated and transferred to t h e UKAEA W i n d scale plant for conversion to metal. • Fuel element fabrication facilitiestwo separate lines—are also going u p . In one, enriched uranium metal is made
Neutrons from atomic fissions are slowed to thermal speeds by a moderator, such as graphite or heavy water, in most nuclear reactors. In a fast reactor, or in an atomic bomb, there is no moderator. T h e decreased chance of neutron capture of fissionable material is overcome by using uranium enriched with fissionable isotopes-U 2 : { r \ 233 U , or plutonium. The core i n a breeder reactor is surrounded b y a blanket of nonfissionable material which can b e converted into fissionable isotopes by neutrons from the core. The blanket acts also as a reflector t o send some neutrons that escape from the core back into the core. The Dounreay fast reactor has a core of vertical fuel rods closely packed as a hexagonal prism 2 1 inches high, 21 inches across. Dounreay's several hundred fuel elements, annular in cross section, are canned i n niobium. Each rod contains at either end a length of natural uranium that forms part of the blanket of breeder material. The blanket is completed by a b o u t 2000 natural uranium rods 8 feet long by about 1.25 inches in diameter. These are canned in stainless steel. Fuel elements will be uranium enriched in TJ235 at the start. Plutonium will b e used later. Blanket material will be natural uranium, from which plutonium, produced from t h e bombardment of TJ 23S , will be taken. Heat is removed from the reactor by a stream of liquid sodiumpotassium alloy that flows downward between t h e fuel elements, blanket elements, and through the center of the fuel elements.
BRIEFS for buyers of
Sulfide economics: A different molecule might save you money If y o u ' r e u s i n g source of sulfur, fur for a b o u t 5 J u s t switch sulfhydrate.
s o d i u m sulfide a s a y o u c a n g e t t h e sul cents a p o u n d less. to Hooker sodium
1. C o m p a r e d w i t h s o d i u m sulfide, sodium sulfhydrate h a s 6 2 . 6 % m o r e sulfur. I n 100 lbs. of N a 2 S t h e r e a r e a b o u t 60 lbs. of a n h y d r o u s Na2S. ,32 ( 6 0 x ^ = 2 4 . 6 lbs. of sulfur) 7o
B u t i n 100 lbs. of flake N a S H there are a b o u t 70 lbs. of a n h y d r o u s NaSH. ( 7 0 x | ? = 4 0 lbs. of sulfur) 5b 2. Therefore t h e sulfur i n sodium sulfhydrate costs less t h a n t h e sul fur i n s o d i u m sulfide. Sulfur in N a 2 S ( a t prevailing prices) costs a b o u t $.224 a p o u n d . Sulfur i n N a S H costs a b o u t $.169 a pound. 3 . A n d because H o o k e r s o d i u m sulf h y d r a t e c o n t a i n s less w a t e r of crystallization, i t costs less in freight charges. Y o u r H o o k e r salesman will be glad t o review these figures w i t h your specific r e q u i r e m e n t s i n m i n d . A talk w i t h hirn m i g h t a c h i e v e lowercost sulfidity i n your processing. C l i p t h e c o u p o n for technical d a t a .
HOOKER
HOOKER
Sodium Sulfides Alkyl Acid Ph.osph.ates Caustic S o d a Caustic Potash.
(RO)2 P(O) OH + ROP (O) (OH) 2 You can get quick delivery on seven of these phosphates
CAUSTIC SODA CAUSTIC POTASH Save time,streamline purchasing
W i t h t h e e x p e r i e n c e o u r OLDBURY*
D o y o u u s e b o t h these alkalis? Y o u c a n s a v e time, c u t paper w o r k w i t h one o r d e r , one billing, one responsibility, b y ordering b o t h from Hooker. T o k e e p y o u r file c u r r e n t o n forms, s t r e n g t h s , a n d specifications of liquid a n d d r y N I A L K ® caustic potash, send the c o u p o n for n e w d a t a sheets we've j u s t c o m p l e t e d . N I A L K caustic pot ash i s a v a i l a b l e i n these forms:
P r o d u c t s people h a v e h a d with phosphorus (since 1 8 9 6 ) , it was on ly n a t u r a l t h a t t h e y be a m o n g t h e first to develop these a l k y l acid p h o s p h a t e s for commercial u s e . S o far we a r e p r e p a r i n g seven in regular p r o d u c t i o n q u a n t i t i e s : meth yl, n-propyl, η-butyl, a m y l , 2-ethyl hexyl, lauryl, a n d stearyl. All a r e extremely light i n color. T h e y a r e strong acids b u t generally decompose a t t e m p e r a t u r e s above 100° C . A m o n g t h e m a n y uses o u r cus tomers have p u t t h e m t o , t h e follow ing a r e typical: C a t a l y s t s i n resin curing. Stabilizers for vinyl plastics a n d peroxides. Oil additives. A n t i o x i d a n t s i n fats. P i g m e n t dispersing agents. Rust-preventive coatings. L u b r i c a n t s a n d a n t i - s t a t i c agents for s y n t h e t i c fibers. Emulsifying agents a n d detergents. Degreasing a n d wetting a g e n t s for metals. If you'd like further information on these c o m p o u n d s , check t h e cou pon, or write u s direct.
ELECTROCHEMICAL
COMPANY
606-1 FORTY-SEVENTH STREET, NIAGARA FALLS, Ν . Υ. NIAGARA FALLS · TACOMA · M O N T A G U E .
Liquid: 45% to 52%, tank cars and drums. Flake and solid: 85% and 90%. Spacial 90% forms: granular, broken, crushed, powder, and walnut.
Y o u c a n get t h e s e forms of Hooker caustic soda: Liquid: 50% and 73%, tank cars·, 50% in tank wagons, drums, barges. Flake: regular, fine, crystal, granular. Solid
For m o r e information on item? mentioned here, cheek helow: Π Sodium Sulfhydrate Π Sodium Sulfide •
OLDBURY® Alkyl Acid
Phosphates Π Caustic Soda Π Caustic Potash F o r information on these other Hooker chemicals, check below: •
NIALK® Carbonate of Potash
Π Monochlorobenzene Π para-Dichlorobenzene • ori/io-Dichlorobenzene Π Trichlorobenzene Π 1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene Clip and mail to us with your name, title, a n d company address. W h e n requesting samples, please use business letterhead t o speed delivery.
M I C H . · N K W YORK « C H I C A G O · LOS A N G E L E S
JUNE
3,
1957 C & E N
63
for the chemist who can specify
You will have these extra S < & S Analytical
Fu.
Photograph of Squibb Laboratory, New Brunswick, N. J.—courtesy of E. R. Squibb & Sons, Division of Oiin Mathieson Chemical Corporation
For highest precision Specify t available
at your
S'S favorite
his or her brand of filter papers.
advantages with Filter Papers Lower Ash Content than any filter paper we have tested- -less than 0.007% for quantitative grades.
Higher Alpha
Cellulose
Content
than any filter paper we have tested —97-98% for quantitative and qualitative grades.
No Price
Premium.
Your company purchasing agent pays no more for the finest.
For the chemist who wants extras at no extra cost, S & S Analytical Filter Papers offer out standing advantages. This is possible because of the great care and precision that goes into the manufacture of these outstanding Ameri can-made analytical working tools—from selec tion of raws through t o the finished product. Every lot of S & S Filter Papers is actually pre-tested before it 5s released and a consider able sample portion of each lot is used in ex haustive tests by S & S quality control techni cians. This careful pre-testing assures that you receive the finest in analytical filter papers lot after lot, month after month, year after year. It is a constant challenge to S&S not only to maintain present high standards but t o strive continually t o improve them further. The accuracy of your work can depend upon the accuracy of our work in producing S & S Ana lytical Filter Papers. As a result, S & S specifications are repeatedly higher than those mentioned in procedure manuals where a brand name and grade is specified, "or equivalent." And, because of its high quality S & S is being named as the stand ard filter paper for many new experiments and in new procedure manuals. Be sure to specify S&S—the pre-tested ana lytical filter paper with the added advantages to you and your company—lower ash content, CARL.
S C H L E I C H E R
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supply
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higher alpha cellulose content, uniform filtering qualities—and at no price premium. Get the "margin of safety" in your analyses that conies with using what we sincerely believe to b e the finest analytical filter paper in the world. S & S Ultra Filters S & S U l t r a Filters a r e p o r o u s m e m b r a n e s w i t h e x t r e m e l y uniform m i c r o s t r u c l u r e a n d v e r y s m o o t h surface. A v a i l a b l e in four different t y p e s : S & S M e m b r a n e F i l t e r s (12 porosities: 1.0 μ t o 0.1 μ) a n d S & S U l t r a B n e F i l t e r s ( 5 porosities: 100 mjLC to 5 mju) a r e u s e d with a q u e o u s solu tions. S & S Cella F i l t e r s (4 porosities: 1.0 μ t o 0.1 μ) a n d S & S U l t r a cella F i l t e r s ( 5 porosities: 100 τημ t o 5 πιμ) m a y b e u s e d w i t h organic s o l u t i o n s . Microbiological a p p l i c a t i o n s i n c l u d e t e s t i n g of w a t e r , m i l k , foods, s a n i t a t i o n c o n t r o l a n d p a t h o g e n i c b a c teriology. Biochemical a p p l i c a t i o n s i n c l u d e e n r i c h m e n t of p r o t e i n , identification o r p r e p a r a t i o n o f h o r m o n e s , tissue e x t r a c t s a n d albumin-free filtrates. W r i t e for Bulletin # 7 6 . S & S Ultra F i l t e r s a r e also used i n a i r analysis. A s k for Bulletin # 7 7 .
F R E E to c h e m i s t s S&S
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Sampler
Try the finest in your own lab oratory at no cost or obligation. Also included with Sampler is S&S Filtration Chart, indicating relative values of r e t e n t i o n ; table of comparative filter pa per grades; valuableS&S "Quick Reference" Catalog; and Bul letin on Chromatography and Electrophoresis.
S C H U E L L
C O .
FILTER
KEENE,
N E W HAMPSHIRE
PAPERS
significant facts to know
GLYCOL ETHER
SOLVENTS
will one or m o r e of t h e s e solvents improve your process?
Boiling point at 760 mm— °C Flash point (open cup) °F
Poly-Solv EiVI
Poly-Solv EE
Poly-Solv EB
Pofy-Solv DM
Poly-Solv DE
Poly-Solv DB
1
ethylen e glycol monometthyl ether
ethylene glycol monoethyl ether
ethylene glycol monobutyl ether
diethylene glycol monomethyl ether
diethylene glycol monoethyl ether
diethylene glycol monobutyl ether
I 1
124.5
135.1
171.2
194.2
201.9
230.4
115.
130
165
200
205
240
Vapor pressure, 20°C Viscosity (absolute) 20°C—cp
6.-2
3.8
0.6
0.2
0.1
0.02
L.7
2.1
6.4
3.87
4.5
6.49
1
Matraieson* Poly-Solv's a r e c o m p l e t e l y s o l u b l e in
1
shipped ira 4,0OO, 6 , 0 0 0 ,
APHA of 1 5 m a x i m u m ; a r e
1
8 , 0 0 0 - g o Hon a n d c o m p a r t m e n t e d t a n k cars a s w e l l as in 5 5 - g a l l o n resin-lined drums.
w a t e r at 2 0 ° C ;
h a v e a color
1
Poly-Solv® is a tradema rk
For data sheets and other important information, get in touch with your Olin Mathieson representative.
MATHIESON
CHEMICALS
OLIN MATHIESON CHEMICAL CORPORATION I N D U S T R I A L C H E M I C A L S D I V I S I O N - B A L T I M O R E 3. M D .
Γ3
0RSANICS: Ethylene Oxide · Ethylene Glycols · Polyethylene Glycols • Glycol Ether Solvents · Ethylene Dichloride • DichSoroethylethcr * Formaldehyde · Methanol Sodium Methylate · Hexamine · Ethylene Diamine · Polyamines · Ethanolamines · Trichlorophenol · Surfactants
MATHIESON
66
C&EN
4725
INORGANICS: Ammonia * Bicarbonate of Soda · Carbon Dioxide · Caustic Potash · Caustic Soda · Chlorine · Hydrazine and Derivatives · Hypochlorite Products- Muriatic Acid · Nitrate of Soda · Nitric Acid · Soda Ash · Sodium Chlorite Products · Sulfate of Alumina · Sulfur (Processed) · Sulfuric Acid
JUNE
3, 1 9 5 7
INTERNATIONAL into fuel elements for t h e fast reactor. T h e other is for fuel elements for the D M T R , as well as other testing reactors at Harwell. Other reactors, such as the M E R L I N being built for a private firm in the U. K., another in Australia, and others of t h e same type which may b e sold overseas in t h e future, will all receive their fuel elements from this plant. • A submarine propulsion experimental reactor will also b e located at Doiinreay. It will be t h e responsibility of the naval authorities rather than the UKAEA. • Safety. T h e fast reactor, with its small, highly rated core, offers hazards of a type n o t met in reactors using thermal neutrons. Although every precaution has been taken in designing the reactor so t h a t it can't "run away,~ some slight possibility of accident remains. O n e of t h e worst things that could happen—and even precaution has been taken to prevent this—would b e a complete stoppage of the liquid metal coolant. This might result in a melt-down of the core. The molten fissionable material might, under certain conditions, run together a n d form a critical mass. "You would then get a \vhoof/ not a full-scale atomic explosion," according t o Sir Christopher. However, t h e reactor has been designed t o prevent a critical mass forming in the unlikely event of a melt-down. T h e reactor is mounted in a concrete biological shield. This, in turn, is enclosed b y a 135-foot diameter steel sphere. This huge pressure vessel is designed to contain any radioactive debris thrown off in case of a melt down o r a^· fire in t h e sodium-potassium coolant.
ASEÂ, U. S. Firm Cooperate Mutual assistance in nuclear e n e r g y f o r p o w e r , general research basis for p l a n A
SWEDISH
and
an American firm
have agreed on a technical a i d plan, providing for cooperation in the nuclear energy field. Allmanna Svenska Electriska Aktiebolaget, of Sweden, and Atomics International, a division of North American Aviation, will pool efforts to design, build, and install nuclear reactors for power, a n d for general research a n d development. ASEA, founded in 1883, is one of the oldest a n d largest electrical manufacturing a n d power industries in Europe; it has 34,700 workers, with representatives in 50 countries. It de-
signs and makes electrical equipment and appliances. Most of its business is making machinery and equipment to generate, transmit, and distribute electric power. ASEA also builds nuclear reactors. It is now designing a 75,000-kw. atomic reactor heating plant for the Swedish Atomic Energy C o . a n d the Swedish State Power Board. The reactor will use heavy water as a coolant and moderator and natural uranium as fuel.
O0O00ÔOÔ wiBl ι IG I H I I | N | G provides automatic batching
Panama to Get Refinery Panama will get its first oil refinery in less than two years. P a n a m a Refining and Petrochemical has contracted with Foster Wheeler, for design, procurement, a n d construction of the 55,000-barrel-a-dav facility at Colon. Work on the project is expected to begin in about two or three months. Cost will exceed $33 million. Panama Refining is owned jointly by Eugene du Pont III, of Wilmington, a n d John Shaheen, of New York. Shaheen says their firm has signed contracts with several major U. S. companies for a 10-year supply of crude oil. Other contracts ensure the sale of t h e refinery's entire output for the next 10 years. This output will be about 60 7r bunker fuel oil and marine Diesel oil for vessels using the canal. Most of the remainder will b e marketed in Central America. Panama's government has already issued a permit for the refinery's construction.
• British Petroleum's e x p l o r a t i o n subsidiary in Sicily is preparing t o drill a second deep test well in southeast Sicily. T h e firm's first test well, drilled near Victoria three years ago, uncovered some crude oil which has very heavy specific gravity. • Belgian Congo, Rhodesia, Belgium, a n d C a n a d a have issued patents to Metallurgical Resources, Newburgh, Ν. Υ., on the Sill process, a n e w method of treating cobalt concentrates. In other parts of the world, 10 more pat ents on the process are pending. From the Belgian Congo, cobalt is sent to Belgium where it is refined and shipped to the U. S. Rhodesian cobalt de posits are not fully developed but should sometime become a n important source for t h e world. Canada's supply of cobalt is of great economic impor tance to the U. S.
For sequence or continuous auto matic batch feeding, W-C offers preengineered. "building-block" systems to meet virtually all requirements. •
Batch-in or batch-out
•
Solids and liquids
• Single or multiple materials •
Ratio batch and proportioning
In a full range of sizes, you have your choice of weigh hoppers, feeders, weight transmitters, scales . . . semi automatic or fully automatic controls, either "on-the-spot" or remotely lo cated. You also have your choice of electric or pneumatic operation plus the overall flexibility and economy that only W-C UNITIZED WKIGIIING Systems
ofTer in fulfilling present and weight batching requirements.
future
Write for descriptive literature.
WEIGHING & CONTROL COMPONENTS, Inc. 206-E LINCOLN AVENUE, HATBORO, PA. JUNE
3,
1957 C & E N
67
