Abstract: A method for forming small-orifices 20 in the face plate 10 of an injector 12, especially a liquid propellant injector for a rocket engine. A stainless steel base plate is given a first layer 28 of electrodeposited Ni and fuel feed passages 24 and 26, respectively, are formed therethrough for fuel and oxidizer transfer. The feed passages 24 and 36 are filled with wax and silver is worked into the surface of the wax to permit electrodeposition of face plate 10. Connecting bores 42 to the perforations are made through the face plate nickel layer 40. Plastic mandrels 44 are fabricated, having legs 46 with support sections 48 and orifice-forming sections 50 and coupling tabs 54 for tying the legs 46 together. The support legs 48 of the mandrels 44 are inserted in the connecting bores for support and another layer 60 of Ni is electrodeposited to enclose the orifice-forming sections 50 of the mandrel legs 46.

Abstract: The volume of low-level radioactive wastes containing free water is reduced by introducing the waste as a finely atomized spray into a zone heated by means of a hot gas. Contact of the spray particles with the hot gas results in the production of a dry, flowable radioactive solid product and a gaseous non-radioactive product which contains substantially no NO.sub.x or SO.sub.x and no volatile radionuclides, which are retained in the solid product.

Abstract: Bead ion exchange resin wastes are disposed of by a process which involves spray-drying a bead ion exchange resin waste in order to remove substantially all of the water present in such waste, including the water on the surface of the ion exchange resin beads and the water inside the ion exchange resin beads. The resulting dried ion exchange resin beads can then be solidified in a suitable solid matrix-forming material, such as a polymer, which solidifies to contain the dried ion exchange resin beads in a solid monolith suitable for disposal by burial or other conventional means.

Abstract: A process for the removal of sulfur oxides from two gas streams containing the same. One gas stream is introduced into a spray dryer zone and contacted with a finely dispersed spray of an aqueous medium containing an absorbent for sulfur oxides. The aqueous medium is introduced at a controlled rate so as to provide water to the gas in an amount to produce a cooled product gas having a temperature at least 7.degree. C. above its adiabatic saturation temperature and from about 125-300% of the stoichiometric amount of absorbent required to react with the sulfur oxides to be removed from the gas stream. The effluent from the spray dryer zone comprises a gas stream of reduced sulfur oxide content and contains entrained dry particulate reaction products including unreacted absorbent. This gas stream is then introduced into a particulate removal zone from which is withdrawn a gas stream substantially free of particles and having a reduced sulfur oxide content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for calibrating an ultrasonic inspection system having a plurality of transducers (12a, 12b, 12c) coupled by a common amplifier (16) to a distance-amplitude correction (D-AC) circuit comprised of a multiplying digital-to-analog converter (26') which receives, as a function of the transit time of an ultrasonic signal measured by a clock counter (34), a D-AC correction stored in a look-up table in a random access memory (24'). The D-AC correction function stored in the look-up table for each transducer is the inverse of a return signal response curve determined by measuring the peak amplitude of return signals from calibration holes at known depths in a test block (10) while in a calibrate mode, i.e., with a switch (SW) in a state to bypass the MDAC.

Abstract: A system for the remote visual inspection of an annulus defined between two vessels. A conduit member is disposed in the annulus having one end adjacent an upper portion of the vessel and the other end terminating adjacent an area to be inspected. The conduit member is provided with at least one aperture adjacent the area to be inspected and sized to receive a housing containing a camera and a light source. The housing and light source are introduced into the conduit member by a support means which includes at least a first hollow, flexible hose member having a first end connected to the housing and a second end terminating adjacent an upper portion of the vessels. The flexible hose member is made sufficiently rigid for introducing the housing through the conduit member by pressurization with a fluid. The system further includes a source of electrical power for the camera, a light, and display means for receiving signals from the camera as well as means for maintaining the camera at a desired temperature.

Abstract: A gas turbine in which hot gas is directed only over a portion or preselected number of the turbine blades and means are provided for directing a flow of a cooling gas over another portion or different preselected number of blades. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the means for providing cooling gas comprises a compressor means located adjacent the turbine. Preferably the gas turbine comprises a plurality of alternating compressor means and turbine stages wherein the direction of flow of cooling gas is countercurrent to that of the hot gas flowing through the turbine stages.

Abstract: A system for the remote visual inspection of a structure including two vessels, one disposed within the otherand defining an annulus therebetween. A guide member is provided circumferentially about an upper periphery of the two vessels. Mounted on the guide member are two motor-driven, diametrically opposed trolleys which support a flexible track member which extends downwardly through the annulus from one of the trolleys and back up the other side of the annulus to the other trolley. At least one motor-driven carrige is mounted on the track member and carries a camera and light source. By appropriate positioning of the trolleys and the carriage, all the surfaces of the vessels defining the annulus are accessible for visual inspection by the camera. In accordance with a particular preferred embodiment, markers are placed at preselected points in the annulus on one of the vessels to permit verification of the location of the camera and carriage.

Abstract: A method for substantially reducing emissions of nitrogenous compounds such as NO.sub.x formed during fuel combustion. The fuel is combusted with an oxygen-containing gas in an amount from about 45 to 75% of the total stoichiometric amount of oxygen required for complete combustion of the fuel. The resulting mixture of fuel and combustion products, including NO.sub.x, is maintained at a temperature of at least 1800.degree. K. for a time sufficient to reduce the NO.sub.x content of the mixture to a desired level. Thereafter, combustion may be completed in one or more additional zones at a temperature within the range of about 1600.degree. to 2000.degree. K. Alternatively, the mixture of combustion products and fuel having a reduced NO.sub.x content may be used for other applications without further combustion. For certain embodiments of the invention, various particulates may be added to the combustion zone so as to enhance the rate at which the NO.sub.x is destroyed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material in the presence of a molten salt in a manner which reduces the requirements for expensive ceramic materials to withstand the corrosive nature of the salt. A molten salt containing carbon is introduced into a heat generation zone which is located in a lower portion of an upwardly extending elongated reactor. Oxygen is introduced into the heat generation zone in an amount sufficient to react with substantially all of the carbon and to heat the molten salt to a desired temperature. The heated molten salt together with the gaseous reaction products of the carbon-oxygen reaction flows upwardly through the reactor to a hydrocarbon material reaction zone which is located within the reactor and above the heat generation zone. The hydrocarbon material to be treated is introduced into the reaction zone and into the molten salt where it produces gaseous reaction products and unreacted carbon entrained in the flowing molten salt.

Abstract: A liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor sealing system. The nuclear reactor includes a vessel sealed at its upper end by a closure head. The closure head comprises at least two components, one of which is rotatable; and the two components define an annulus therebetween. The sealing system includes at least a first and second inflatable seal disposed in series in an upper portion of the annulus. The system further includes a dip seal extending into a body of insulation located adjacent a bottom portion of the closure head. The dip seal comprises a trough formed by a lower portion of one of the components, and a seal blade pendently supported from the other component and extending downwardly into the trough. A body of liquid metal is contained in the trough which submerges a portion of the seal blade.

Abstract: A thermal receiver assembly comprising a base member and a support structure affixed to said base member and extending vertically therefrom. The thermal receiver assembly further includes at least one thermal heat collecting assembly which is supported by the base member. The heat collecting assembly comprises a plurality of vertically extending, parallel, spaced-apart conduit members having inlet and outlet ends. The inlet ends terminate in an inlet manifold for receiving a coolant, and the outlet ends terminate in an outlet manifold for removal of heated coolant. The heat collecting assembly further includes a plurality of substantially horizontally extending and vertically flexible attachment members having an end affixed to the support structure and another end affixed to individual conduit members to permit vertical movement of individual conduit members while restraining said conduit members from any substantial horizontal movement.

Abstract: A process for treating a metal recovery byproduct which contains solid ash constituents entrained in a melt comprising a major amount of a molten salt and a minor amount of molten metal in which the melt is filtered through a high-temperature filter apparatus containing a cylindrical rotating filter element to separately and continuously recover a filter cake containing the solid ash constituents and a molten filtrate containing the molten salt and molten metal. This molten filtrate may be directly recycled to the metal recovery process. The filter cake may be treated in an aqueous process to recover the salt therefrom for recycle to the metal recovery process. The invention is particularly applicable to the recovery of aluminum from its dross while removing ecologically damaging materials present in the ash.

Abstract: A method and an optical sensing apparatus (1) are disclosed for measuring the polarization properties of light being scattered in the sky to obtain an accurate indication of visibility. The intensities (I.sub.1 and I.sub.2) of two linearly polarized components of the daylight are measured, so that a polarization ratio (P) can be calculated to provide a visibility index by which visual quality and visual range can be determined. The present method and apparatus may be extended to determine plume blight by comparing the polarization properties of light scattered by the plume with the polarization properties of the background sky, whereby theoretical visibility models may be validated. In an alternate embodiment, another apparatus (30) may be utilized with a sensing system (46) that employs polarization modulation techniques, so that the polarization properties of the entire sky can be measured in the ultraviolet and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage system and method for storing substantial quantities of heat for extended periods of time. The system includes a heat collecting fluid which is in a heat-exchange relationship with a source of heat or thermal energy, a housing containing a large volume of particulate material such as rocks for the storage of thermal energy, a heat transfer gas in a heat-exchange relationship with the rocks and means for causing the heat collecting fluid and the heat transfer gas to flow in counter-current, indirect heat-exchange relationship with one another, the means further includes provisions for reversing the direction of flow of the heat collecting fluid and gas for the introduction and removal of heat from a portion of the body of rock.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing particulate contaminants from a gaseous stream. Broadly, the apparatus comprises a housing containing a substantially vertical granular material retention member having upstream and downstream faces, a substantially vertical microporous gas filter element, said member and element being spaced apart to provide a zone for the passage of granular material therethrough. The housing further comprises a gas inlet means, a gas outlet means and means for moving a body of granular material through said zone. In operation, a gaseous stream containing particulate contaminants passes through the gas inlet means and upstream face of the granular material retention member, passing through said member, said body of granular material, the microporous gas filter element and then out the gas outlet means. The particulates carried in the gaseous stream pass into the granular material and are retained in the body of granular material and upon the upstream face of the gas filter element.

Abstract: A method of treating a nuclear reactor fuel pellet which has been irradiated and is at least partially depleted of its initial fissile material content to substantially reduce the amount of fuel which would have to be reprocessed before it could be reused. The pellet is pulverized to a median particle size of less than about 300 microns and thereafter is separated into two fractions by size. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that one of said fractions will contain a significantly greater proportion of the fissile content of the pellet than the other of said fractions. The fissile-rich fraction is suitable for reforming into pellets for use in a nuclear reactor with little or no further enrichment required. The method of the present invention is applicable to the metallic, oxide, and carboxide forms of nuclear reactor fuels such as uranium and thorium, which have been in service in a light water reactor or a fast breeder reactor.

Abstract: A system for plugging holes in vessels which comprises the combination of a storage and delivery system for a foam-forming material, and a hole-plugging assembly. The hole-plugging assembly includes a flexible nonelastic bag member which is inserted in a folded position into the hole to be plugged and properly positioned with an associated locating means. Thereafter, a unitary foamable material is injected into the bag member to expand it and seal the hole. The locating means further assists in maintaining the inflated bag member in proper orientation and sealing engagement while the foam is curing.

Abstract: An apparatus for reacting carbonaceous material such as pulverized coal with heated hydrogen to form hydrocarbon gases and liquids suitable for conversion to fuels wherein the reaction involves injection of pulverized coal entrained in a minimum amount of gas and mixing the entrained coal at ambient temperature with a separate source of heated hydrogen. The heated hydrogen and entrained coal are injected through a rocket engine type injector device. The coal particles are reacted with hydrogen in a reaction chamber downstream of the injector. The products of reaction are rapidly quenched as they exit the reacting chamber and are subsequently collected.

Abstract: A method of decladding an assembly comprising an element selected from the group consisting of uranium, thorium and mixtures thereof, clad in stainless steel, zirconium, or an alloy consisting essentially of zirconium and containing minor amounts of nickel, chromium, tin, iron or combinations thereof. In a first step the cladding is scored or perforated to expose the selected element. Thereafter, the assembly is exposed to a hydrogen atmosphere at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient for the hydrogen and selected element to react and form a hydride. The temperature then is further increased to decompose the hydride back to gaseous hydrogen and the selected element. The hydriding-dehydriding preferably are repeated at least two additional times to ensure complete release of any volatile gases present.