Abstract: A decontamination method for stripping radionuclides from the surface of stainless steel or aluminum material comprising the steps of contacting the metal with a moderately acidic carbonate/bicarbonate electrolyte solution containing sodium or potassium ions and thereafter electrolytically removing the radionuclides from the surface of the metal whereby radionuclides are caused to be stripped off of the material without corrosion or etching of the material surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2000
Date of Patent:
June 10, 2008
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
Abstract: A method of fabricating a heat exchanger includes brush electroplating plated layers for a brazing alloy onto a stainless steel tube in thin layers, over a nickel strike having a 1.3 ?m thickness. The resultant Au-18 In composition may be applied as a first layer of indium, 1.47 ?m thick, and a second layer of gold, 2.54 ?m thick. The order of plating helps control brazing erosion. Excessive amounts of brazing material are avoided by controlling the electroplating process. The reticulated copper foam rings are interference fit to the stainless steel tube, and in contact with the plated layers. The copper foam rings, the plated layers for brazing alloy, and the stainless steel tube are heated and cooled in a vacuum furnace at controlled rates, forming a bond of the copper foam rings to the stainless steel tube that improves heat transfer between the tube and the copper foam.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 27, 2008
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
Abstract: An integrated window design for optical transmission in combustion environments is described. The invention consists of an integrated optical window design that prevents and removes the accumulation of carbon-based particulate matter and gaseous hydrocarbons through a combination of heat and catalysis. These windows will enable established optical technologies to be applied to combustion environments and their exhaust systems.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 26, 2004
Date of Patent:
July 24, 2007
Assignee:
U.S. Department of Energy
Inventors:
Michael D. Kass, William P. Partridge, Jr.
Abstract: A gas bubbler device provides enhanced recirculation of molten glass within a glass melter apparatus. The bubbler device includes a tube member disposed within a pool of molten glass contained in the melter. The tube member includes a lower opening through which the molten glass enters and upper slots disposed close to (above or below) the upper surface of the pool of molten glass and from which the glass exits. A gas (air) line is disposed within the tube member and extends longitudinally thereof. A gas bubble distribution device, which is located adjacent to the lower end of the tube member and is connected to the lower end of the gas line, releases gas through openings therein so as to produce gas bubbles of a desired size in the molten glass and in a distributed pattern across the tube member.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 4, 2003
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2007
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
Abstract: A self-anchoring mast for deploying a high-speed submersible mixer in a tank includes operably connected first and second mast members (20, 22) and a foot member 46 operably connected to the second mast member for supporting the mast in a tank. The second mast member includes a track (36, 38) for slidably receiving a bearing of the mixer to change the orientation of the mixer in the tank.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 15, 2002
Date of Patent:
October 12, 2004
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United
States Department of Energy
Inventors:
Joseph E. Cato, Jr., Paul M. Shearer, Philip O. Rodwell
Abstract: A temperature controlled high voltage regulator for automatically adjusting the high voltage applied to a radiation detector is described. The regulator is a solid state device that is independent of the attached radiation detector, enabling the regulator to be used by various models of radiation detectors, such as gas flow proportional radiation detectors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 2002
Date of Patent:
April 20, 2004
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Department
of Energy
Inventors:
Peter J. Chiaro, Jr., Gerald K. Schulze
Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved mechanism for use in electrochemical machining cells for maintaining an essentially constant and uniform electrolyte flow gap around the tool during displacement of the tool into a workpiece to be electrochemically machined. The mechanism of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with tools having configured surfaces such as tapered sidewalls which would form gaps of nonuniform size with the workpiece during machining which would result in nonuniform flow of electrolyte and other deleterious operating conditions. The mechanism of the present invention is a movable plate arrangement disposed contiguous to the tool to provide an essentially constant and uniform-sized gap thereabout.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 8, 1983
Date of Patent:
May 13, 2003
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United
States Department of Energy
Inventors:
Jonathan S. Bullock, IV, Joseph T. Fisher, James D. Hensley