Topic: Gaseous Diffusion Anybody?

[gerhed]

I recently acquired a piece of history.
At an electronic surplus warehouse in Dayton Ohio I picked up a
Taylor Instruments Fulscope pneumatic controller.
This machine heralded the beginning fully automatic P.I.D. functionality.
More to the point they were instrumental in the successfull operation of the
gaseous diffusion plant along the Clinch River in Oakridge, Tenn.
The plant was 11 miles long and contained 200,000 instruments.-
40,000 of which were controllers.
The end result was a few pounds of U-235, enough to build one bomb.

[kirkn]

Very interesting, but I always thought that the Bailey Meter Company pioneered that PID technology.

The powerplant I worked at up until a few years ago still used 'em in boiler control!!

Kirk

[gerhed]

Very interesting, but I always thought that the Bailey Meter Company pioneered that PID technology.
The powerplant I worked at up until a few years ago still used 'em in boiler control!!

Kirk

Kirk,
 You're right--there does seem to be some differences of opinion on this.
The "Ziegler-Nichols" method of tuning controllers (1941 or so) brought about the
the introduction of the Taylor Fulscope 100 (Ziegler and Nichols worked at Taylor Instruments) which some folks claim to be the first
3 response (ie PID) controller.
My controller is one of the final iterations of the Fulscope 100--(late 40's)
The "Ziegler and Nichols" method of tuning is still used today in various digital forms.

Phil

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I used to be an Operator at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant operated by Union Carbide at the time back around 74-77. I operated the equipment in the Power and Utilities department throughout the plant that keeps the processes up and running including the "dry" compressed air necessary for just such an apparatus. I read and operated MANY gauges such as you've shown. Even got to play with a "simulated" A bomb. There are 3 power plants along the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers that are necessary to sustain the continued output of just that one plant. Surprised I don't glow in the dark.