Abstract: A pressure compensator for a sub-sea pumping system for pumping an effluent from a deep-sea wellhead comprising a topside module, a sub-sea module, and an umbilical connection between the topside and sub-sea modules. Hydraulic fluid is circulated through the sub-sea module for cooling and lubricating the motor and the pump. The hydraulic cooling and lubricating fluid is preferably a single hydraulic fluid that is compatible with the effluent being pumped. The hydraulic fluid is circulated through a submerged pressure compensator which may include a bellows assembly. The pressure compensator is responsive to the pressure of the effluent being pumped and pressurizes the hydraulic cooling and lubricating fluid to a pressure above the pressure of the effluent. The pressure compensator also responds when the volume of hydraulic cooling and lubricating fluid in the system is reduced or increased, such as by leakage or thermal expansion, in order to maintain the pressure of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A pump powered by a canned motor has a removable stator cartridge. One end of a generally hollow pressure housing is secured to a pump housing. An annular stator cartridge is removably secured in the pressure housing. An annular gap between the inner surface of the pressure housing and the outer surface of the stator cartridge defines a flow path for cooling fluid to permit the stator cartridge to be surrounded by cooling fluid. A rotor is operatively positioned inside the stator cartridge to form an electric motor when the stator cartridge is energized. The output shaft of the rotor is connected to an impeller in the pump housing. The rotor is rotatably supported by bearings. An end cap is removably secured to the other end of the pressure housing. Removal of the end cap permits access to and removal of the stator cartridge without requiting removal of the motor from the pump housing.

Abstract: A method for compensating a rod position indication system for non-linearity comprises the steps of applying an excitation current to a primary of a sensor for inducing a generally linear voltage that is representative of the position of a control rod on a secondary of the sensor. The excitation current includes a first frequency which is sufficient to provide the generally linear output for the sensor. The excitation current is then modified to include a second frequency which is sufficient for providing the generally linear output when the first frequency is insufficient to provide the generally linear output.

Abstract: A protection circuit for a brushless excitation system is provided which directly monitors the output voltage of the diode bridge rectifier of the system. The protection circuit includes a reference signal generator subcircuit which provides a reference signal which tracks the dc output voltage of the diode bridge. The reference signal can vary as the system voltage is varied under certain circumstances. The protection circuit also provides for the calculation of a predetermined percentage of the reference signal voltage to create a tolerance band for testing the actual output voltage of the diode bridge rectifier. The percentage represents an acceptable limit of the ratio of a peak-to-peak ripple of the reference signal to the dc voltage of the reference signal. Using the reference signal and the percentage value to create a tolerance band, a comparator is used to test the actual output voltage of the diode bridge to determine if the output voltage is within the tolerance band.

Abstract: An information display system for representing the condition of an industrial process is dynamically convertible via a control input from presenting information in a first form of output to one or more additional forms of output that are different but equivalent to the first. The system can thereby convert the presentation to display terms and labels in a second language or to use a different diagrammatic representation for process flow conditions and the like. The system has a processor with encoded definitions that may be data type groups or point groups, text groups, symbol groups and the like. A memory stores the different but equivalent definitions applicable to the two forms of output, preferably in one-for-one corresponding lists in memory. A control input such as a pointing device or touch sensitive screen triggers the processor to change from one set of definitions to another.

Abstract: Loose parts are sensed moving in a conduit carrying a flowing material, such as the cooling circuit of a pressurized water nuclear reactor. An acoustic pickup produces an electrical signal with vibration of the conduit due to impact of the loose part, and background noise. A signal processor encodes the values of distinct parameters of the electrical signal such as amplitude, amplitude at particular frequencies, etc., in an ongoing manner, producing discrete output values. These outputs are coupled as inputs to a neural network with physical or logical neuron cells loaded with weighting factors affecting the strength and polarity of neural interconnections. The factors represent the acoustic signature of the loose part. Products of the input values and the weighting factors are summed to produce one or more neural network outputs, compared to a threshold. The sum normally varies randomly, but has a strong swing when the pattern is encountered, due to the factors emphasizing the pattern over background noise.

Abstract: A process for extracting uranium from uranium-containing waste residues. The process dissolves the residue in hot nitric acid, and precipitates the resulting solution with sodium carbonate/sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the laser marking of a bar code label which has been laser marked onto the end of a nuclear fuel tube for unacceptable depth penetration of the heat affected zone. The average gray level value of the bar code label positioned on the end of the nuclear fuel tube is compared with a predetermined standard. In the method disclosed, a bar code label positioned on the surface of the nuclear fuel tube is optically sensed and a set of discrete digital values representative of the depth penetration of the heat affected zone is generated. The average digital value representative of the bar code label is calculated and the average digital value compared to a predetermined standard.

Abstract: A pressure relief diaphragm is associated with a turbine housing and is operable to relieve excessive pressure within the turbine housing to prevent damage to turbine blades. The pressure relief diaphragm includes a safety housing having a mounting flange thereon arranged to mate with a turbine flange so that the safety housing is positioned over a relief opening in the turbine housing. A first solid, frangible solid disc covers the relief opening in the turbine housing and has a peripheral portion interposed between the mounting flange on the safety housing and the turbine flange. A second solid disc is positioned in the relief opening in the turbine flange in abutting contact with the first solid disc. A first plurality of bolts secures the mounting flange on the safety housing to the turbine flange. Spring washers associated with the first plurality of bolts maintain the positional relationship between the safety housing and the turbine flange.

Abstract: A spectral shift-producing subassembly is composed of a plurality of sealed empty water displacement rodlets incorporating a spectral shift-producing capability. Each of the rodlets includes an elongated tube sealed at its opposite ends and having an axially-extending annular wall section of reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the wall of the remainder of the rodlet. The respective reduced thicknesses of the axial wall sections of the rodlets can be varied to adapt the rodlets to rupture at different times and permit water to enter the rodlets to produce an increase in the water/fuel ratio and thereby an increase in reactivity. The rodlets can also have different levels of pressurization to initiate rupture at different times.

Abstract: Updated images of messages are passed between asynchronous digital processors using dual port shared memory. In the basic form of the invention, three buffers in shared memory are assigned to each message. Where one of the processors is a controller for a data link channel carrying n messages, 2n+1 buffers are provided in free shared memory space with 2 buffers assigned to each message at all times and a common buffer serving as the third buffer for all of the messages. Where linked buffers in local memory of a controller processor receive message updates from a data highway, two buffers in shared memory are assigned to each message and a linked buffer in the controller local memory serves as the third buffer. The buffers containing the message updates are passed between processors by use of a buffer status array in shared memory. A semaphore lock in the array permits only one processor at a time to assign or release buffers.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealingly enclosing a primary seal of check valves in which a housing is placed over a portion of the check valve for preventing seepage from the check valve. The valve includes a tubular extension having an open end, a cap closing the tubular extension open end, and a housing enclosing and surrounding the tubular extension to sealingly enclose a portion of the tubular extension.

Abstract: A hand-actuated insertion tool includes a handle assembly, an elongated hollow tubular outer support tube, an elongated inner pull rod, and a coupling arrangement. The handle assembly has a first handle member and a second handle member pivotally mounted to the first handle member for movement between unactuated and actuated positions. The outer support tube is attached in a fixed relation to the first handle member. The inner pull rod is mounted within the outer support tube for sliding movement relative thereto between home and retracted positions. The coupling arrangement pivotally connects the inner pull rod to the second handle member such that the inner pull rod will undergo sliding movement from the home position to the retracted positions relative to the outer support tube as the second handle member is moved from the unactuated position to the actuated position relative to the first handle member.

Abstract: An pellet diameter inspection system has a laser scanning apparatus for measuring and detecting the outside diameter of the pellets and an apparatus for transferring pellets past the laser scanning apparatus. A stationary support track aligns and guides pellets in a row along a linear path past the laser scanning apparatus with the pellets being advances along the path by the transfer apparatus operating through forward and reverse strokes. The laser scanning apparatus includes a laser beam light source and receiver disposed on opposite sides of the linear path in a non-orthogonal orientation to the common axis of the aligned pellets and operable for respectively emitting and receiving a laser beam directed across the pellets along a directional path extending in a non-orthogonal orientation to common axis of the pellets which will eliminate detection of adjacent ends of the pellets in the row.

Abstract: A double dam seal in a reactor coolant pump includes an internal mechanism in the seal to pressurize its annulus. In one form, the mechanism is an inclined flow passage incorporated in the rotating runner of the seal having an outlet in communication with the seal annulus and an inlet in communication with reactor coolant water flow within the pump housing and being located on a smaller radius of rotation that the passage outlet. Rotation of the runner causes rotational movement of the passage and any water therein, turning the passage and rotating runner into a centrifugal pump, causing a pressure differential along the passage due to centrifugal effects, and feeding water via the passage outlet to the seal annulus at a pressure above that at the passage inlet. In another form, the mechanism is a tube projecting at an angle from the rotating runner, or a recessed scoop defined in the runner at an angle to, and communicating with a passage having an inlet and outlet at generally the same radius of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting the quality of both ends of nuclear fuel rods includes a housing with longitudinally separated slots for receiving X-rays downwardly therethrough to define first and second operating positions so that the forward ends of nuclear fuel rods can be aligned below the first operating position and the rear ends of nuclear fuel rods can be aligned below the second operating position. An endless conveyor belt system, having at least three longitudinally spaced apart cleats mounted thereon to define first and second film cartridge receptacles, is adapted to advance X-ray film cartridges longitudinally through the housing. A table is included for selectively lifting the film cartridges from the belt system to maintain the film cartridges stationary while the conveyor belt system is advanced.

Abstract: A reactor coolant pump has an outer casing with an internal cavity holding a coolant and a rotor rotatably mounted in the cavity within the coolant. An assembly for permitting inservice inspection of the pump rotor without first draining the coolant from the casing cavity is attached to an end of the pump. A cylindrical bore is defined through the casing in axial alignment with an end of pump rotor and opening into the internal cavity. An extension attached on the rotor end and rotatable therewith has a cylindrical coupler member extending into the bore. An outer end of the coupler member has an element configured to receive a tool for performance of inservice rotor inspection. A hollow cylindrical member is disposed in the bore and surrounds the coupler member.

Abstract: An electrolytic etching apparatus employs a continuous stencil imprinted with a sequence of identification numbers and includes spaced spools and upper and lower electrodes defining an etching station located between the spools. The stencil extends between the spools and is moved by rotatably indexing the spools to position successive ones of the identification numbers over the lower electrode for etching on a successive one of the metal tubes. A wicking pad is draped over the lower electrode below the stencil and has one end extending into a reservoir of electrolyte also located below the stencil. The wicking pad draws up electrolyte by capillary action to provide a steady flow of the electrolyte to the portion of the wicking pad located directly below a portion of the stencil located at the etching station. The upper electrode is mounted for movement toward and away from the lower electrode and the wicking pad and stencil portions.

Abstract: A MHD turbomachine includes a rotary ferromagnetic rotor, a stationary ferromagnetic stator surrounding the rotor and defining axially-spaced annular cavities which extend circumferentially about and radially from the rotor, and axially-spaced annular ferromagnetic disks surrounding the rotor and mounted for rotation with the rotor. The disks are disposed in the stator cavities so as to define a pair of annular passages on opposite sides of each disk which are connected in flow communication with one another at inner and outer peripheries of the disk. An electrically conductive fluid occupies the passages and is capable of flowing along an endless path through the passages. A pair of electrodes mounted to the stator radially conduct a flow of electrical current through the fluid between the outer and inner peripheries of the disk. A field coil mounted to the stator generates a magnetic field in axial relation to the stator and disk and transversely across the fluid within the passages.

Abstract: An end plug is welded to a nuclear fuel rod tube by a girth weld having a melt-zone arcuately extending through the tube wall and into the plug, wherein the melt-zone and the end of the tube are separated by a predetermined distance. The distance is chosen such that heat is dissipated from the weld-zone to prevent damage to the rod and to prevent damage to the weld end stop. This weld enables the use of a substantially solid cylindrical end plug having a first end disposed inside the tube, a second end, and a hollow cavity extending to the second end for axially aligning the cylinder and fuel rod with a frictionally engaging weld stop during formation of the girth weld.