Abstract: A direct vessel injection-type pressurized light water reactor (DVI-PLWR), in which an emergency core cooling water (ECC) is directly injected into a downcomer of a reactor vessel, is disclosed. In order to reduce the ratio of ECC bypass from the downcomer to a broken area of a cold leg in the case of a cold leg guillotine break (CLGB), such as a double-ended guillo4tine break (DEGB), a plurality of corrugations, having a V-shaped cross-section, are vertically arranged around each of the inner surface of a pressure vessel and the outer surface of a core barrel at regular intervals, with a vertical groove formed between two neighboring corrugations. The grooves phase-separate the ECC from a high-speed lateral flow of fluid running in the downcomer, and the separated ECC stagnates in the form of vortexes in the grooves, prior to flowing down to the lower section of the downcomer due to gravity.

Abstract: A fireworks artillery shell for use as a consumer firework which may be propelled by the use of a mortar is provided which includes a casing, a lift charge, an effects charge, a timing fuse and an ignition fuse, and seals. The seals are provided within the casing above and below the effects charge to increase the burst effect of the effects charge. The lift charge is positioned within the casing and below the lower seal, and upon ignition, lifts the fireworks artillery shell into the air. The seals promote a harder break and more explosive effect from the effects charge without interfering with the lifting charge.

Abstract: An improved method of increasing the power output of an existing nuclear power plant includes increasing the thermal power output of the plant's nuclear island and constructing of an auxiliary BOP to handle the increased thermal power. The thermal power of the nuclear island can be increased such as by increasing the thermal power of the plant's reactor, by replacing the plant's steam generator with one that is more efficient, and by increasing the flow rate and/or change in temperature of a coolant in a secondary cooling loop of the plant. The thermal power of the reactor can be increased such as by replacing existing cylindrical fuel rods with fuel rods having a relatively greater surface area to volume ratio and/or by increasing the flow rate and/or the change in temperature of a coolant of a primary cooling loop. The auxiliary BOP can be constructed while the plant is in operation, and can then be connected with the nuclear island during a maintenance operation on the reactor.

Abstract: A sabot for a muzzleloading firearm has a cylindrical body aligned with a bore axis. The body has a sleeve portion extending in a first direction adapted to receive a bullet. A post extends from the body in a second direction opposite the first direction. The post may have a cross sectional profile that has articulated surfaces, and which may define channels along the post. A powder pellet defining a bore may be closely received on the post, with an interference fit retaining the pellet on the post. The sabot may be employed to extract a pellet from a storage container, by inserting the post in the pellet bore to extract the pellet from the container. The sabot may be part of an assembly including a bullet and a pellet, which may be loaded into the muzzle of a rifle as a single unit.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.

Abstract: A spallation device for production of neutrons includes a spallation target that produces neutrons by interaction with a hollow particle beam propagating within a first chamber, a second chamber containing the spallation target, and a leak tight partition separating the first and second chambers. The spallation device is particularly applicable to basic physics, medicine, and transmutation.

Abstract: A smoke shell (10) which includes a shell casing (12), an ogive (14) fixed to the shell casing (12) and a base (22) releasably connected to the shell casing (12). The ogive (14) has a time fuse (18) operatively connected to an ejection charge (20). A number of smoke pots (26) are provided in the shell casing (12) adjoining each other and the base (22) and an ejection plate (28). An ignitor charge (30) is mounted to the ejection plate (28) in the proximity of the ejection charge (20).

Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.

Abstract: The apparatus for positioning a fuel assembly (10) comprises, on a respective side of the core support plate (19) and the upper core plate (9) directed towards an endpiece (15, 14) of the fuel assembly (10) at least two projecting positioning pins (16, 22) adapted to engage in openings in the lower endpiece (15) or upper endpiece (14). Each of the positioning pins (16, 22) is fixed in a blind opening (24) comprising a threaded bore and a support surface perpendicular to the axis of the blind opening (24) and comprises a flange adapted to come into contact with the support surface when the positioning pin (16, 22) is screwed into the threaded bore. A gudgeon enables the positioning pin to be locked to secure it against unscrewing. The invention also relates to a process and apparatus for replacing damaged positioning pins on the core support plate (19) or on the upper core plate (9).

Abstract: A method for grouting a decommissioned nuclear reactor containing residual water. A first, water-absorbent grout is used to grout the bottom portion of the reactor vessel. The water-absorbent grout is formed of cement and a water-absorbent particulate material, such as expanded perlite, exfoliated vermiculite or granulated bentonite. Excess water is absorbed by the particulate material, so that the residual water is incorporated in the fill material when it sets. A set retarder may be included to extend the time for uptake of residual water by the particulate material. Foam may also be included to reduce density and increase pumpability. The remaining, upper portion of the reactor vessel is grouted using lightweight cellular cement grout, lacking the water-absorbent particulate material, so that total weight of the fill remains low enough that the grouted vessel can be removed using the facility's installed crane system.

Abstract: An incendiary 10 includes a plurality of containers 12 each containing a volume of a first substance such as potassium permanganate which, when mixed with a second substance such as glycol which is injected at a later time, reacts exothermically to generate a flame. Frangible couplings in the form of tabs 16 couple or connect adjacent containers 12 together. Thus the incendiary 10 is in the form of a flexible belt having a plurality of containers 12 which are mutually held together until separated by a dispensing/initiating machine. Each container 12 includes a flat surface 22 and a receptacle 18 having an opening 20 which opens onto the flat surface 22. A seal 24 extends across and closes the opening 20.

Abstract: A filter for separating particles from cooling water in a nuclear plant of light water model. The filter has an inlet end (2) and an outlet end (3) and allow flowing through of the cooling water in a flow direction z from the inlet end to the outlet end. The filter comprises a plurality of channels (5) extending mainly in the flow from the inlet end to the outlet end. Each of the channels comprise a first (6) channel section provided closer to the inlet end, a second (8) channel section arranged closer to the outlet end, and an intermediate section (7) provided between the first and the second channel section. The intermediate section (7) has an extension d2 in a direction x transversely to the flow direction, which is essentially larger than the extension d1, d3 of the first and the second channel section. The filter further comprises a separating member (9) arranged in the intermediate section.

Abstract: A device for storing heat-generating hazardous material, particularly radio-active fuel for nuclear reactors, comprises a substantially cylindrical, reinforced concrete body (11) with a cylindrical through center passage (13) and a plurality of axially elongate, substantially cylindrical storage spaces for accommodating the hazardous material which are disposed around and parallel to and radially spaced spaced from the center passage. The storage spaces are formed by sealed storage vessels (21) containing a fluid coolant and made of a heat-conducting material and being encapsulated in the concrete body (11). Heat transferred inwardly from the storage vessels (21) is carried away from the device by air or other fluid coolant flowing upwardly in the center passage (13).

Abstract: A single stage kinetic energy warhead using multiple explosively formed projectile (EFP) liners in a stacked configuration is capable of breaching intermediate barriers and defeating a primary target. The main explosive charge is detonated and the subsequent shockwave causes the front liner to be shaped to breach an intermediate barrier. The main liner is formed into a more compact rod-shaped projectile designed to defeat the main target. The weight and volume of the stacked liner configuration of the present system is significantly lower than the weight and volume of current systems. The present system requires a single firing explosive train eliminating developmental cost and complex fusing. The present system utilizes explosive detonation, simplifying the delivery of a projectile and eliminating the need for a missile delivery system. The size and simplicity of the present system allows for portability and use by an individual.

Abstract: After a nuclear reactor has been stopped and allowed to cool down following a period of operation, action is taken in a pool of the nuclear reactor on at least one guide tube of the activated upper internal equipment of the nuclear reactor to enlarge (21b, 21c) guide channels (16b, 16c) of the guide tube (8) in at least one continuous guidance zone. The enlargement is preferably performed by machining discontinuous cavities along the length of the guide channel (16b, 16c). Enlargement is preferably performed on the guide tube (8) in place within the upper internal equipment that has been placed on a storage stand in the reactor pool.

Abstract: A reactor core cooling structure of the present invention comprises cooling gas flow-in slits for making a cooling gas flow in a circular reactor core, which slits are provided at an outer graphite cylinder for covering an outside of the circular reactor core; cooling gas flow-out slits for making the cooling gas flow in a circular reactor core, which slits are provided at an inner graphite cylinder for covering an inside of the circular reactor core; a circular cooling gas flow path that is provided at an outside of the outer graphite cylinder, and is connected to an inlet piping of the cooling gas at a foot of the outer graphite cylinder; and an inner cooling gas flow path that is provided at an inside of the inner graphite cylinder, and is connected to an outlet piping of the cooling gas at a foot of the inner graphite cylinder.

Abstract: A combined laser and infra red sensing camera is located beneath the reactor head in the vicinity of the closure head tube welds by manipulating known robotic device handling the laser which is used to heat a line along the surface thereby generating a thermal wave that propagates over the one to two square inch test area where the increased thermal resistance of cracks and anomalies makes the surface temperature profile gradient greater at a crack or anomaly. An IR camera captures the test area image of interest as the thermal wave propagates across the target inspection area and the image is processed and enhanced to show cracks and other anomalies as a sharp drop in the thermal scan at the point of the crack using known Photo Thermal NDE technology to convert the scan into a pictorial representation of the scanned surface clearly showing any cracks therein. This process is repeated sequentially until the entire circumference of the weld is scanned.

Abstract: A projectile and corresponding method of manufacture comprising a body comprising a structural material and a nose cap comprising a primary nose cap material attached to and having a different composition from the body structural material and a secondary nose cap material attached to the primary nose cap material and comprising the tip of the nose cap and having a different composition from both the body structural material and the primary nose cap material.

Abstract: On-Board Power Generation System for a Guided Projectile eliminates the need for batteries as a power source to power the guiding mechanism residing inside the projectile. Instead, an electrical generator and a wind-driven turbine to drive the generator are utilized to produce power. In this way, a small portion of the projectile's kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy. The power thusly produced is, then, coupled to the guiding means. The projectile is appropriately configured to accommodate therein the power generaion system and air inlets and exhaust ports that are necessary to enable the system to operate.

Abstract: Biological agents in solution within an underwater treatment zone are transferred by infusion to living cells under an acoustic energy field of limited duration and certain accompanying water flow and temperature conditions to maximize processing efficiency.