Memorandum from A. C. Menius, Jr., and Raymond L. Murray to Dr. Clifford K. Beck

%MurNBgraphite073151; ]> Memorandum from A. C. Menius, Jr., and Raymond L. Murray to Dr. Clifford K. Beck Machine readable transcription Murray, Raymond L. Menius, A. C., Jr. Creation of machine-readable version: Russell S. Koonts Creation of digital images: Russell S. Koonts Conversion to TEI.2-conformant markup: Russell S. Koonts ca. 9 kilobytes NCSU Libraries Raleigh, NC Modern English, MurNBgraphite073151

Available from: NC State University Archives

Publicly-accessible

URL: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/archives/etext/engineering/reactor/murray/

20 October, 2000

Nuclear Reactor Digitization Project

Raymond L. Murray Reactor Project Notebook

Illustrations have been included from the print version. Scanned by Russell Koonts with Photoshop 5.0 software. Memorandum from A. C. Menius, Jr., and Raymond L. Murray to Dr. Clifford K. Beck Raymond L. Murray A. C. Menius, Jr.

1 p. Manuscript copy consulted UA 105.16

Prepared for the North Carolina State University Science and Technology Electronic Text Center

The lineation of the manuscript has been maintained and all end-of-line hyphens have been preserved.

Keywords in the header are a local Science and Technology Electronic Text Center scheme to aid in establishing analytical groupings.

Library of Congress Subject Headings July 31, 1951 English LCSH manuscript 24-bit color: 400 dpi Memorandum from A. C. Menius, Jr., and Raymond L. Murray to Dr. Clifford K. Beck Typescript 1 p. July 31, 1951 MurNBgraphite073151

NCSC-28July 31, 1951 TO: Dr. Clifford K. Beck FROM: A. C. Menius, Jr. and Raymond L. Murray SUBJECT: Graphite and Lead Requirements CC: L. H. Robinson, Newton Underwood, and A. W. Waltner

GRAPHITE:

The requirements on reflector and thermal column graphite were given to the Atomic Energy Commission in a letter of May 23 as follows: NumberSize (in.)Volume per block(in.3/ft.3)Weight perblock (lb.)Total Weight (lb.) 4854 3/8 x 4 3/16 x 44806.1/0.46646.622,600 2604 3/8 x 4 3/16 x 40732.8/0.42442.411,020 504 x 4 x 12192.0/0.11111.1550 (Assume the graphite density is 1.61x62.4 lb/ft3 = 100 lb.ft3)34,170 or 17 tons

The basic design calls for a 5' x 5' x 5' reflector and a 5' x 5' x 5' thermal column (neglecting the core and the lead shielding.). The volume is thus only 250 ft.3, the weight 25,000 lb. or 12.5 tons. The excess of 4.5 tons will take care of machining and breakage. An estimate of needs can be made to include only machining losses.

Assuming that the units of construction are 4" x 4" x 41" (cut from the 44" pieces), and 4"x 4" x 19" (two cut from the 41" pieces), that each 5' x 5' x 5' cube is formed by 15 courses, each consisting of 15 "longs" and 15 "shorts", then 225 of the 40" and 450 of the 44" are needed. The specifications to Oak Ridge incorporate 35 extras of each of the 40" and 44" and 50 twelve inch pieces.

LEAD:

It is assumed that bricks 2" x 4" x 8" are used. Each has a volume of 1/27 ft.3, with a specific gravity of 11.3. The specific weight is 705 lb./ft.3. Each brick weighs 1/27 x 705 = 26.1 lb. The agreed locations and dimensions of lead are: Top and two sides2" Back4" Thermal column8"

The total thickness is thus 18". With an area of 5' x 5', this gives 37.5 ft.3, or 705 x 37.5 = 26,400 lb.; or 13.2 tons. Considering the saving at corners and unavailable space at the top, 13 tons is adequate.