Pile primer

摘要

For several years, in war and peace, a remarkable manufacturing process has been carried on at the Hanford Works in Richland, Washington. In huge structures called atomic piles, one element is changed to another; not as a laboratory experiment, but on the same scale that any other factory turns out its product.The basic principle in this achievement is the chain reaction which takes place when a sufficient amount of uranium is assembled under the proper conditions. This process is used in a few other places in this country, principally for research and isotope preparation, but at Hanford, its primary purpose is the large scale production of plutonium -- a metal which does not even exist in nature. As time passes, the piles become increasingly difficult to operate and maintain, presenting a constant challenge to the operating personnel. This group, known at Hanford as the ''P'' Division, has responded by creating methods, terms, and a unique brand of ''know-how.'' These are the things which this book attempts to describe. The subject matter has been compiled primarily as a training aid for new supervisory personnel, but it will also provide a convenient source of review for the old timer. Technical discussions and detailed descriptions have been held to a minimum, but the reader may expect a first hand, if somewhat broad, account of atom splitting -- Hanford Style. Paralleling the major activities of the ''P'' Division, the book has been divided into four main sections. The first deals with the chief elements of pile operation and control; the second outlines the problems, and the third discusses the repair program. The final section describes the operating organization.