Abstract: A neutron dosimeter and a method for neutron dosimetry involving a two-layer structure, one layer being a fissile material, and the other being a material which changes its conductivity in accordance with a density of implanted ions. Neutrons striking the fissile material result in the production of energetic ions, a determinable number of which implant themselves in the second layer and so alter its conductivity. Measurements of the conductivity of the second layer provide information from which neutron dose may be inferred.

Abstract: A pressurized water reactor of an advanced design comprises, in vertically spaced relationship, a lower barrel assembly having lower and upper core plates, an inner barrel assembly and an axially removable calandria assembly having a lower calandria plate. A plurality of rod guides are cantilever-mounted in parallel axial relationship within the inner barrel assembly by rigidly mounting the lower ends thereof to the upper core plate. Axially extending sleeves affixed to the upper ends of the rod guides and telescopingly receive therein generally cylindrical supports which are affixed to and depend downwardly from the lower calandria plate and define alignment axes for the respectively associated rod guides. Axially extending leaf springs in each sleeve are normally biased radially inwardly and, in the assembled relationship of the calandria and inner barrel assemblies, resiliently and frictionally engage the respective cylindrical supports to maintain alignment and react both lateral and axial loads.

Abstract: A filler material for supporting the coil end portions at the diamond area of a dynamoelectric machine comprises a resin filler disposed in the vent areas defined between opposed sides of spaced coil end portions at the diamond area, and an elongated, transversely corrugated, longitudinally flexible, sheet-like spacer element disposed within the filler at each vent area. The spacer element is positioned to extend along the respective vent area, with opposite faces thereof facing the sides of the coil end portions on either side of the vent area. The spacer element has a sufficient surface area in contact with the filler as a result of the corrugations of the spacer element, to retard sagging of the filler during installation and curing. The corrugations of the spacer element are generally rectangular in shape so that the element comprises a series of panels disposed in general parallelism to the sides of the corresponding coil end portions.

Abstract: A method for nondestructively electronically detecting a short circuit in a conductor system which is composed of two parallel inductor groups connected together to form a selected current path when no short circuit exists, by the steps of: disposing a current probe at a selected location of the current path for sensing changes in the current flowing in the path at the selected location; and injecting a fast rate-of-rise current pulse into the path; and monitoring the response of the current probe to provide an indication of the existence of a short circuit.

Abstract: A plurality of connector members are provided, each of which is shaped to fit between two adjacent strands in a column of strands on a stator winding (i.e., by manual insertion). Each connector member has a first side provided with an electrically conductive material and a second side provided with an electrically insulating material. An electrically conductive lead is electrically connected to the electrically conductive material on an associated connector member. In this manner, a plurality of electrically conductive leads are connected to an associated plurality of connector members. A plug or receptacle is provided at the opposite end of the electrically conductive leads with respect to the end connected to the connector members. Securing means are provided for pressing the strands against the connector members interposed therebetween in order to insure a conductive connection between each strand and the conductive material of a connector member.

Abstract: A method of providing a nuclear steam supply system that is constructed to include a barge or flotation base as an integrated portion thereof. The system is tested for operability and safety at the factory and then towed along navigable coastal or inland waterways, or overseas to foreign locations, to a prepared foundation site at its point of use. The overall unit is so constructed and arranged as to permit the removal of top and side portions to permit passage under low bridges and through narrow locks without requiring disassembly of safety class piping and wiring. The method further provides for a complete nuclear power plant constructed on multiple barges at a separate factory site in parallel with plant site preparation, i.e., in estuaries or caves.

Abstract: A device for measuring cycles of random reciprocal motion of an object, such as a control valve which moves in discrete movements of varying length between an opened and closed position, includes a cylindrical travel translator member biased within a housing by a coil spring to maintain tension on a cable connecting the travel translator member to the object, so that the travel translator member moves in a direction corresponding to and a distance proportional to that of the object. An elastomeric wheel frictionally engages the travel translator member to rotate a shaft which operates a mechanical counter, and through a cam, a limit switch which generates pulses representative of the random cycles of the object.

Abstract: A thermally self-adjusting mount for a proximity sensor for detecting movement of a turbine blade tip within a turbine housing includes an elongated chamber in an interior wall of the turbine housing adjacent the path of travel of the turbine blade tip. The chamber is configured to receive a blade tip sensor therein and accommodate relative movement of the sensor toward and away from the path of travel of the blade tip. A thermally expansive element is operable coupled with the sensor for moving the latter in the chamber toward the path of travel of the blade tip upon heating of the sensor. A spring is provided for maintaining the sensor in contact with the thermally expansive element during both expansion and contraction of the latter.

Abstract: The mechanical spectral shift reactor comprises a reactive core having fuel assemblies accommodating both water displacer elements and control rods for selectively changing the volume of water-moderator in the core. The fuel assemblies are arranged in alternating fashion so that one drive mechanism may move displacer elements in more than one fuel assembly without interfering with the movement of control rods or the corresponding control rod drive mechanisms.

Abstract: A test tool for a reactor vessel level instrumentation system which simulates and verifies the values of input signals applied to the instrumentation system. The test tool includes potentiometers for simulating the signals produced by resistance temperature detectors, switches for simulating pump status and isolator overrange limit signals, a power supply, resistors and potentiometers for simulating temperature hot sensors and a pressure wide range sensor, and potentiometers and resistors for simulating differential pressure cell signals. The invention also includes a switchable meter for verifying the values of the various input signals simulated.

Abstract: A sleeve-like sealing unit, particularly a thimble guide extender is adapted to be installed on and coaxially with a thimble guide mounted on a lower core plate of a nuclear reaction vessel and projects toward and terminates at a distance from an underface of a bottom nozzle forming part of a fuel assembly and supported on a top face of the lower core plate. The extender has a lower fitting adapted to surround the thimble guide at a bottom length portion thereof adjacent the top face of the lower core plate; and an upper fitting being axially displaceable relative to the lower fitting and being adapted to surround the thimble guide at a top length portion thereof. The upper fitting has an axial passage and a terminal opening defined by an outer annular radial face adapted to be in a face-to-face engagement with the underside of the bottom nozzle.

Abstract: Method for monitoring changes in contaminant concentration levels between a feedwater inlet and a steam outlet in a steam generating system and system for detecting sources of contaminants in a steam generating system. The method includes a reliable means for detecting organic contaminants, chlorides, sulfides and nitrides. The invention also includes a method for determining whether the organic compounds are chlorinated, sulfinated or nitrogenated. The method is based on monitoring of ion concentration levels and cation exchanged conductivities in samples of feedwater and steam.

Abstract: A hybrid parallel/serial alarm management system in which sensor signals are intelligently processed to produce abnormality indication signals. The abnormality indication signals are divided into groups defined by functions of the system being monitored and are used to generate abnormality messages according to goal violation, process disturbance and process unavailability requirements for each function. Within each goal, process and support category the messages are ranked according to a predetermined local priority and chronologically within the same priority. Each function includes a spatially dedicated parallel display location which displays the highest priority portion of each category of messages associated with each function. The messages not displayed on the parallel display are displayed on a serial display unit in ranked order by category within function.

Abstract: Apparatus for the controlled venting of gases from the containment housing of a chemical or nuclear reactor. The vent path is configured as a manometer filled with a low melting point metal. Gases passing through the manometer are exhausted to a tank of scrubbing solution where toxic materials are removed prior to venting the gases from the containment housing.

Abstract: A computer based system aids an operator in proceeding step-by-step through procedures for a complex process facility. At each step, monitored plant parameter values are used to evaluate relevant plant status and recommend action to be taken. The status and recommended action are presented to the operator on a display device together with prompts for generating appropriate responses. The step logic is carried out repetitively to provide the operator with feedback and to verify operator actions. The complete display picture including operator responses, and other plant conditions monitored in parallel with the current step, is logged for later review. An online review feature permits review of plant conditions and operator actions while the operator continues to execute the procedure. High-level textual statements of all steps of a current procedure can be reviewed and prior steps can be executed or re-executed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the insulation between a conductor and ground by means of a device having two input terminals for measuring the resistance between the conductor and ground, by: connecting one terminal of the device to ground; testing the continuity of the connection established between the one terminal of the device and ground; connecting the other terminal of the device to the conductor; applying a voltage between the conductor and ground and measuring the impedance therebetween while the voltage is being applied; and after the step of testing, conductively connecting the conductor to ground for discharging any charge capacitively stored in the conductor.

Abstract: In a robotic assembly system including a robotic device composed of a base member, a plurality of movable members and joint mechanisms coupling the members in a sequence extending from the base member such that a first one of the movable members is supported by the base member and is rotatable relative to the base member about a respective axis and each of the other movable members is supported by, and rotatable about a respective axis relative to, a respective preceding movable member in the sequence, with the last movable member in the sequence being an end member for supporting a workpiece which is to be brought to a selected position relative to a fixed body by movement along a reference plane associated with the body, the selected position corresponding to a set of reference angular positions each of which defines an angular position of a respective movable member about the respective axis thereof, the joint mechanisms are controlled by a computer system coupled thereto in such a manner that one of the m

Abstract: A filler material for supporting the coil end portions at the diamond area of a dynamoelectric machine consists of a resin filler disposed in the vent areas between adjacent coil end portions and a plurality of spacer blocks disposed in the filler. The spacer blocks have a sufficient volume and coefficient of thermal expansion to prevent excessive build up of temperature during curing of the resin and to decrease the overall coefficient of thermal expansion of the filler material and adjust the thermal expansion characteristics of the filler material so that such characteristics more closely match the thermal expansion characteristics of the coils themselves. The resin filler comprises an epoxy resin and the blocks, which have a generally orthogonal shape, are constructed of a laminated fiber glass material. A bead of resinous material is provided at the edges of the planar surfaces of the orthogonally shaped blocks to prevent abrasive contact between the blocks and the adjacent coil end portions.

Abstract: A method for producing ultralow-mass fissionable deposits for nuclear reactor dosimetry is described, including the steps of holding a radioactive parent until the radioactive parent reaches secular equilibrium with a daughter isotope, chemically separating the daughter from the parent, electroplating the daughter on a suitable substrate, and holding the electroplated daughter until the daughter decays to the fissionable deposit.

Abstract: In an electrical generator, a connector for connecting stator coil sections and the method of making that connection, each coil section ending in a header cap of a predetermined geometry, and the connector being provided with openings of complementary geometry and spaced and aligned so as to receive the header caps. A recording tool is used for recording the spacing and alignment of a pair of header caps to be connected, the recorder being used in conjunction with a drill rig for drilling the openings in accordance with the recorded spacing and alignment information. The solid connector bar is placed over the header caps which are received within the drilled openings, and the bar is clamped onto the header caps with nuts.