Abstract: The new features of an accelerator driven subcritical reactor disclosed by this invention include the multiple intake ports connected to the reactor vessel for delivering protons from one or more accelerators to accommodate the full length LWR spent fuels for furnishing the desirable neutron distribution in a subcritical core to incinerate nuclear wastes. This is based on the notion of adopting the spent fuels in intact form to feed directly to the newly designed subcritical core. External modulators in the proton intake ports have the ability of splitting the fluxes and adjusting their energy from one or more accelerators to form multiple proton streams arriving at different axial locations in the spallation target for creating multiple neutron sources. The new design could combine the cycles of reprocessing spent fuels, manufacturing fuels for reuse, and incinerating minor actinides into one single cycle.

Abstract: This invention fundamentally changes the basic design principles adopted over the last 50 years that addresses the basic root cause for the station blackout threat faced by all nuclear power plants. The Fukushima nuclear accident that occurred in Japan in 2011 could have turned benign had the plant implemented this invention. It uniquely utilizes the decay heat directly from the reactor core through steam cycles to produce useable power onsite with one or a number of steam turbines of less capacities in combination with compatible electric generators. Such arrangement is reliable to be the onsite energy source. The electric power produced by generators attached to these steam turbines could support necessary all safety functions. The result is that during the first week of urgent threat to the nuclear reactor, there will always be electric power available to run the safety equipment, computers, lighting and other vital devices continuously.

Abstract: A shared memory packet switching device includes: a shared memory providing a shared memory space; an input logic unit associated with at least one receive port, and being operative to determine whether the associated receive port is saturated by determining whether a number of packets received via the associated receive port and currently stored in the shared memory exceeds a drop threshold value; a packet routing control unit operative to determine a destination one of the transmit ports for each of the received data packets; and an output logic unit associated with at least one of the transmit ports, the output logic unit being communicatively coupled with the packet routing control unit, and being operative to determine whether the associated transmit port is congested by determining whether a number of packets currently stored in the shared memory that are to be transmitted via the associated transit port exceeds a congestion threshold value, and also being operative to generate an associated output full

Abstract: A packet switching fabric includes means forming a data ring, means forming a control ring, and means forming a plurality of data communication network links each having at least one network node coupled thereto. The fabric further includes a plurality of output queuing controlled switching devices coupled together by the data ring means and the control ring means so that the network links can be selectively communicatively coupled. Each of the output queuing controlled switching devices includes control ring processing means operative to develop, transmit and receive control messages to and from adjacent ones of the devices via the control ring means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat transfer medium having high heat transfer rate, being useful in even wider fields, simple in structure, easy to made, environmentally sound, and capable of rapidly conducting heat and preserving heat in a highly efficient manner. Further disclosed are a heat transfer surface and a heat transfer element utilizing the heat transfer medium. Further disclosed are applications of the heat transfer element.

Abstract: A shared memory packet switching device includes: a shared memory providing a shared memory space; an input logic unit associated with at least one receive port, and being operative to determine whether the associated receive port is saturated by determining whether a number of packets received via the associated receive port and currently stored in the shared memory exceeds a drop threshold value; a packet routing control unit operative to determine a destination one of the transmit ports for each of the received data packets; and an output logic unit associated with at least one of the transmit ports, the output logic unit being communicatively coupled with the packet routing control unit, and being operative to determine whether the associated transmit port is congested by determining whether a number of packets currently stored in the shared memory that are to be transmitted via the associated transit port exceeds a congestion threshold value, and also being operative to generate an associated output full

Abstract: A shared memory packet switching device includes: a shared memory providing a shared memory space; an input logic unit associated with at least one receive port, and being operative to determine whether the associated receive port is saturated by determining whether a number of packets received via the associated receive port and currently stored in the shared memory exceeds a drop threshold value; a packet routing control unit operative to determine a destination one of the transmit ports for each of the received data packets; and an output logic unit associated with at least one of the transmit ports, the output logic unit being communicatively coupled with the packet routing control unit, and being operative to determine whether the associated transmit port is congested by determining whether a number of packets currently stored in the shared memory that are to be transmitted via the associated transit port exceeds a congestion threshold value, and also being operative to generate an associated output full

Abstract: A packet switching fabric includes means forming a data ring, means forming a control ring, and means forming a plurality of data communication network links each having at least one network node coupled thereto. The fabric further includes a plurality of output queuing controlled switching devices coupled together by the data ring means and the control ring means so that the network links can be selectively communicatively coupled. Each of the output queuing controlled switching devices includes control ring processing means operative to develop, transmit and receive control messages to and from adjacent ones of the devices via the control ring means.

Abstract: A packet switching fabric includes means forming a data ring, means forming a control ring, and means forming a plurality of data communication network links each having at least one network node coupled thereto. The fabric further includes a plurality of output queuing controlled switching devices coupled together by the data ring means and the control ring means so that the network links can be selectively communicatively coupled. Each of the output queuing controlled switching devices includes control ring processing means operative to develop, transmit and receive control messages to and from adjacent ones of the devices via the control ring means.

Abstract: A queue length arbiter system provides for selecting from a plurality of N queues requiring access to a resource. The system includes: an arbitration circuit; and a plurality of weight circuits each being associated with a corresponding one of the queues, and being operative to store a corresponding weight count value, and also being operative to initialize the corresponding weight count value to a corresponding initial weight value determined based on a length value indicative of a number of data portions enqueued at the corresponding queue at an initial time, and being further operative to decrease the corresponding weight count value in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of grant signals, and also being operative to generate a corresponding one of a plurality of weight count signals, the corresponding weight count signal carrying the corresponding weight count value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat transfer medium having high heat transfer rate, being useful in even wider fields, simple in structure, easy to made, environmentally sound, and capable of rapidly conducting heat and preserving heat in a highly efficient manner. Further disclosed are a heat transfer surface and a heat transfer element utilizing the heat transfer medium. Further disclosed are applications of the heat transfer element.

Abstract: A queue length arbiter system provides for selecting from a plurality of N queues requiring access to a resource. The system includes: an arbitration circuit; and a plurality of weight circuits each being associated with a corresponding one of the queues, and being operative to store a corresponding weight count value, and also being operative to initialize the corresponding weight count value to a corresponding initial weight value determined based on a length value indicative of a number of data portions enqueued at the corresponding queue at an initial time, and being further operative to decrease the corresponding weight count value in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of grant signals, and also being operative to generate a corresponding one of a plurality of weight count signals, the corresponding weight count signal carrying the corresponding weight count value.

Abstract: A queue length arbiter system provides for selecting from a plurality of N queues requiring access to a resource. The system includes: an arbitration circuit; and a plurality of weight circuits each being associated with a corresponding one of the queues, and being operative to store a corresponding weight count value, and also being operative to initialize the corresponding weight count value to a corresponding initial weight value determined based on a length value indicative of a number of data portions enqueued at the corresponding queue at an initial time, and being further operative to decrease the corresponding weight count value in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of grant signals, and also being operative to generate a corresponding one of a plurality of weight count signals, the corresponding weight count signal carrying the corresponding weight count value.

Abstract: A queue length arbiter system provides for selecting from a plurality of N queues requiring access to a resource. The system includes: an arbitration circuit; and a plurality of weight circuits each being associated with a corresponding one of the queues, and being operative to store a corresponding weight count value, and also being operative to initialize the corresponding weight count value to a corresponding initial weight value determined based on a length value indicative of a number of data portions enqueued at the corresponding queue at an initial time, and being further operative to decrease the corresponding weight count value in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of grant signals, and also being operative to generate a corresponding one of a plurality of weight count signals, the corresponding weight count signal carrying the corresponding weight count value.

Abstract: A packet switching fabric includes a data ring, a control ring, a plurality of network links each coupled to at least one network node, and a plurality of switching devices coupled together by the data ring and the control ring so that the network links can be selectively communicatively coupled.

Abstract: A queue length arbiter system provides for selecting from a plurality of N queues requiring access to a resource. The system includes: an arbitration circuit; and a plurality of weight circuits each being associated with a corresponding one of the queues, and being operative to store a corresponding weight count value, and also being operative to initialize the corresponding weight count value to a corresponding initial weight value determined based on a length value indicative of a number of data portions enqueued at the corresponding queue at an initial time, and being further operative to decrease the corresponding weight count value in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of grant signals, and also being operative to generate a corresponding one of a plurality of weight count signals, the corresponding weight count signal carrying the corresponding weight count value.