Evening star., 1953-07-29
6 Of 80 Atom Reuctors
Are Seen as PROMISING
Numerous Problems Delay
Application to Industry
By Thomas R. Henry

4ueIe are approximately SU KINDS or
reactors for the possible production Of
atomic energy for use in industry.
Of these, six seem to offer some prac-
tical approach.
This is the opinion of DR.. Walter H.
Zinn. director of the Argonne National
Laboratory of the Atomic Energy Com
mission at the University of Chicago.
First is an atomic furnace cooled by
helium gas using as a fuel natural
uranium slightly enriched with the
radioactive U-235 imbedded in graphite.
There are no inSurmountable obstacles
to the construction of such q reactor,
DR.. Zinn says. Because of it's large
size and relatively poor heat removal.
however, it would generate electricity
at cost several times that pos
Sible with coal-f1red plants. This
is the type with which the British now
are experimenting. The cost of coal is
much higher in England than in the
United States.
Second is the sodium cooled reactor,
in which also partially enriched ura-
mum is used as fuel. It has the ad-
vantage Of being operated at a very
high temperature. Quite specialized
metals are required. No efforts have
been made to construct such a reactor
on a large scale. Cost estimates are
largely gueSSes.
Heavy Water ReactOr.
The third is a water-cooled reactor
using heavy water in the place of
graphite. 1t also will require partially
enriched natural uranium.
Fourth is reactor cooled with heavy
water onH olcn TcinO haoUU atANs IN
the place of graphite. Under any cir
cumstances heavy water is extremely
expensive. It must be used in the form
of steam, which involves considerable
waste.
Fifth is reactor cooled with ordi-
nary water. also using enriched ura-
mum. This type experimentally has
shown considerable promise, but many
problems remain and when complete
success can be attained is quite ques-
tionable.
Sixth is fast neutron reactor which
will breed the artificial fashionable
element plutonium from the ordinary
uranium used as fuel. This is the type
most favored by industrial engineers
who have studied the problem. The
engineering problems. DR.. Zinn said.
are truly formidable. If they can b0
solved reactor of superior perform
ance can be attained, but when success
can be reached is not predictable.
The annual race between small grain
crops-wheat, oats and barley-and the
deadly fungus stem rust now is under
way.
The fungus wintered in the Mexican
states of Sonora and Monterey, only
$50 miles south of the Mexican border.
BY March IS, according to Donald G..
Fletcher, president of the Stem Rust
Prevention Association. wheat just north
of the border showed infections of from
10 to IS per cent severity. BY April
Is. the rust had advanced as far north
as San Antonio. One or more spore
showers appear to have fallen on north
Texas and Oklahoma late in April.
Primary infections from these spores
were found in wheat in this area by
late May.
Bad InfestatiOn.
In one Oklahoma area. Mr.. Fletcher
says, II found every one of 19 varie-
ties of wheat infected.
"The spring wheat areas Of the United
States and Canada missed having a
widespread rust epidemic by q narrow
margin last year. No prediction can
be made as to the probable damage in
1853. The fact remains, however. that
much more stem rust Is present in
North Central Texas and Southern
Oklahoma than was the case last year.
With recent rains the wheat in
Northern States is in condition to be-
come infected If south winds or local
barberrieS provide the rust spores"
Several other pests, however, seem
to have been brought under control
this year. Among these is the Southern
pine beetle which did severe damage
to Mississippi forests last year. Another
is the black turpentine beetle whose
march northward through Florida ap-
parently has been interrupted.
The spruce budworm in Oregon
and Washington forests, present In
epidemic numbers for the past three
years, apparently still Is on the In
crease in the northern Rocky Noun
tainS.
Last year the Douglas fir beetle
reached epidemic proportions on almost
million acres Of forest land in WASH
ington and oregon. 1t apparently still
is on a rampage and relatively little
can be done about it until it runs its
course. If nothing is done it probably
will destroy between 2 and 5 million
board feet this year. Much OF this
timber can be salvaged, however, II
harvested in time.
.