Abstract: A typical embodiment of the resinous foam sandwich construction that characterizes the invention has face sheets of fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin laminates. The foam core is a mixture of hollow glass spheres and resin, in which the resin in the core is the same as the resin used to form the face sheets.

Abstract: A typical embodiment of the invention provides a structural support for large pressure vessels. Illustratively, the lower surface of a forging on the bottom of the pressure vessel has a keyway slot. A support plate with a mating key that is received within the slot is bolted to the bottom forging. The lower surface of the support plate, moreover, has an arcuate surface that presses against a matching lubricated surface to transmit the entire vertical load to a concrete pedestal that has a means for cooling the concrete structure.

Abstract: A furnace draft control for a fossil fuel fired steam generator wherein the rates of flow of fuel, air and flue gas are adjusted in parallel in accordance with changes in power demand and the forced and induced drafts are adjusted in opposite directions as required to maintain furnace draft at set point.

Abstract: A hollow tapered tubular shaft formed of layers of carbonaceous fibers embedded in a resinous binder wherein each layer is oriented in different angles relative to an adjoining layer to provide a preferred physical characteristic to the tubular shaft.

Abstract: A grid or lattice structure for a nuclear reactor fuel element support in accordance with the invention includes two components that are successively joined by electron beam welding. Extruded cruciform bars which provide the lattice nodes and flat plates which interconnect these nodes, are for example, typical components. Electron beam welding these components together avoids the need for a filler metal, and the welding sequence avoids distortion, thereby obviating the need for post machining operations. Consequently, the plates and bars can be provided with machined positioning or fastening fittings before the lattice is assembled. Illustratively, studs on the cruciform bars are used to join these bars to the elementary plates that form the individual components of a reactor coolant flow distribution plate.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of the invention has a feedwater inlet conduit disposed withn a steam discharge nozzle for use in a power reactor system. Typically, the conduit and nozzle combination penetrate the wall of a reactor pressure vessel and support a heat exchanger within the pressure vessel structure.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor core stabilizing arrangement wherein a plurality of actuators, disposed in a pattern laterally surrounding a group of elongated fuel assemblies, press against respective contiguous fuel assemblies on the periphery of the group to reduce the clearance between adjacent fuel assemblies thereby forming a more compacted, vibration resistant core structure.

Abstract: A typical embodiment of the invention permits defective fuel rods to be identified with the fuel rods arrayed in a fuel element. A bell jacket is placed over the submerged plenum ends of the fuel rods in the fuel element and gas pressure is admitted to the jacket interior to expel water from the enclosed volume and expose the plenum ends of the fuel rods to the gas stream. The cooling effect of the flowing gas on steam rising within the interior of a defective fuel rod causes the steam to condense within the plenum and increase the temperature of the exposed end of the defective rod relative to the ends of the sound rods. An infra red or other suitable temperature detector identifies the higher temperature end of the defective rod for individual removal from the fuel element and replacement, as appropriate.

Abstract: A typical embodiment of the invention provides a means for selectively inserting and withdrawing one or more fuel rods from a fuel element cellular grid structure. The transverse stubs on one side of a long, thin bar are turned through 90.degree. to extend across the gap between mutually perpendicular grid structure plates. The extreme ends of these stubs engage the adjacent portions of the associated plates that form part of the grid cells. Pressing the stubs against the plate portions through the application of appropriate force in a longitudinal direction relative to the bar deflects the engaged plates through a sufficient distance to enable fuel rods to be inserted into, or withdrawn from, respective cells. After rod insertion, the force applied to the bar is released to enable the plates to relax and engage the fuel rods. The bars are rotated once more through 90.degree. and withdrawn from the grid structure. A similar procedure is employed to withdraw fuel rods from the grid structure.

Abstract: A process for treating the aqueous effluents that are produced in converting gaseous UF.sub.6 (uranium hexafluoride) into solid UO.sub.2 (uranium dioxide) by way of an intermediate (NH.sub.4).sub.4 UO.sub.2 (CO.sub.3) .sub.3 ("AUC" Compound) is disclosed. These effluents, which contain large amounts of NH.sub. 4.sup.+ (ammonium), CO.sub.3.sup.-.sup.- (carbonate), F.sup.- (fluoride), and a small amount of U (uranium), are mixed with H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 (sulfuric acid) in order to expel CO.sub.2 (carbon dioxide) and thereby reduce the carbonate concentration. The uranium is precipitated through treatment with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 (hydrogen peroxide) and the fluoride is easily recovered in the form of CaF.sub.2 (calcium fluoride) by contacting the process liquid with CaO (calcium oxide). The presence of SO.sub.4.sup.-.sup.- (sulfate) in the process liquid during CaO contacting seems to prevent the development of a difficult-to-filter colloid. The process also provides for NH.sub.3 (ammonia) recovery and recycling.

Abstract: A bottom supported vapor generator having tubular platens communicating with upper and lower headers and including rigid members fixedly connecting the lower headers to a grid slidably supported on concrete pedestals.

Abstract: A conveyor for removing pulverized fuel ash disposed within an ash extractor having two chains or belts interconnected by a plurality of cross members, each chain having an independently adjustable tensioning device which establishes a desired tension in each of the flexible chains or belts in order to eliminate any inherent slack or slack build-up as a result of frictional wear.

Abstract: A pulsed flow process for the reduction of UF.sub.6 where the process may be continuous or batch starting without a seed bed. The initial amplitude and frequency of the pulsed flow is altered as a bed of particle-form material is formed and thereafter the particle-form product of the reaction is removed from the reaction zone.

Abstract: A bottom supported vapor generator including rigid means supporting the drums and generating tube banks, and resilient means supporting the furnace tube walls and headers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device adapted to be inserted within a heat exchanger header of restricted transverse dimensions, for locating tools in operative relationship to each of the apertures in the heat exchanger's tube plate, said device having gripping means to fixedly mount the device within the heat exchanger, means rotatably mounting a portion of the device, a first carriage moveably mounted on said rotatable portion in a direction along the axis of the device, a second carriage mounted on said first carriage and transversely moveable thereto and means on said second carriage for mounting the tools on said second carriage.

Abstract: A patient support of an X-ray unit fabricated from a generally radiolucent graphite fiber reinforced epoxy outer shell and an inner foam core.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved system of providing power having a unique generating means of the nuclear reactor variety adapted with a plurality of steam generators in the form of replaceable modular units of the expendable type for the attainment of the optimum in effective and efficient vaporization of fluid during the process of generating power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preburned ceramic refractory covering for a water cooled metallic pipe forming a structural portion of a furnace. The pipe is covered by a layer of fibrous insulating material where the refractory covering is formed by interlocking shapes which are interlocked and maintained in assembled position by pins welded to the pipe and positioned along edge surfaces of the shapes.

Abstract: A grid structure for holding a plurality of nuclear fuel rods. The grid structure is of the type having wall means, including rigidly interconnected generally rectangular metal strips, forming a plurality of passageways and adapted to support nuclear fuel rods within some of the passageways. The improvement comprises providing elongated slots intermediate and normal to the longitudinal edges of each of the strips at each intersection of the strips whereby the slots form openings in each corner of each passageway.