Abstract: A spacer bar, or system of spacer bars, interposed between coil layers of a coil structure. The spacer bar comprises a block of electrical insulating material adapted to be arranged between adjacent layers of a coil. The spacer bar may comprise several spacer bar sections segmented axially and provided with flexible joints (e.g., Belleville washers) between sections to permit each section to move with the adjacent coil layers (the coil layers between which the section is interposed). The sections of the spacer bar are held together by passing a rod through holes provided through each section. Between each pair of spacer sections, a Belleville washer is installed to assure that under continued cycling (e.g., expansion and contraction of the coil), the spacer sections return to their original location. To maintain an adequate creep path at the ends of the blocks or sections, notches can be cut into a face of each block or section.

Abstract: A system for determining the cross sectional profile of an object (24) having two opposed surfaces (26,28), includes:an ultrasonic transducer (16) having a reference surface (20) and arranged to emit and receive ultrasonic energy via the reference surface (20);a thickness determining unit (60) connected to the transducer (16) for causing the transducer (16) to emit ultrasonic energy via the reference surface (20) and for detecting reflected ultrasonic energy received by the transducer (16) via the reference surface (20) in order to derive indications of the distance between the reference surface (20) and an ultrasonic energy reflecting surface facing the reference surface (20);a carriage (2) supporting the transducer (16);a guide member (4) defining a linear travel path having a reference point and supporting the carriage (2) for movement along the travel path;a position determining unit (12,44,62) operatively associated with the carriage (2) for deriving an indication of the location of the carriage (2) alon

Abstract: Boiler operations are fine tuned to minimize thermodynamic losses and pressure losses across throttle valves at the output of a boiler. Whenever the boiler is operating outside of desired operating levels, the first action considered is to reduce spray flows into steam supplied into a reheater or superheater outputting steam at too low of a temperature. The second consideration is to reduce the use of auxiliary electrical power, such as fans supplying tempering air to the primary air used to carry fuel to the burners. The next consideration is selective soot blowing and damper adjustments to redistribute heat in combustion product exhaust gas in the boiler. Then, if possible, the quantity of flue (combustion product) as recycled is adjusted to modify the gas temperature and the heat transferred in the radiant (furnace and superheat) sections and the convective (reheat and economizer) sections of the boiler.

Abstract: A reactor core for a gas-cooled reactor, which core is composed of a plurality of prismatic bodies (2) of graphite containing nuclear fuel and having a top wall, a bottom wall and a plurality of vertically extending side walls, each graphite body (2) being provided with a plurality of first coolant flow channels (4) extending vertically between the top wall and the bottom wall, and with a plurality of second coolant flow channels (6) extending transversely to the first channels (4) and each interconnecting a plurality of the first channels (4).

Abstract: The present invention is a component monitoring system which includes all sensor and plant component monitoring at distributed plant locations close to the sensors which are the source of the signals to be analyzed. Minimally preconditioned analog sensor signals are multiplexed and further conditioned by a sensor signal preprocessor that adjusts the gain and filters the sensor signals before being applied to an analog-to-digital converter controlled by a data acquisition computer. The analog sensor signals are converted into digital samples and stored in a data memory of a digital signal processor using a direct memory access technique. The data acquisition computer also controls the selection of sensors, gain, etc., based on commands from a controller. The digital signal processor, once sufficient sensor data has been collected, performs appropriate processing using known digital signal processing techniques.

Abstract: Triaxial connector adapters for connecting triaxial cables. Triaxial connector adapters provided in accordance with the present invention allow connection of triaxial cables having different bend radii, thereby ensuring that monitoring instruments in, for example, the nuclear power industry, can be sealed in accordance with federal regulations. Furthermore, triaxial connector adapters disclosed herein provide quick, efficient and safe retrofitting of existing monitoring instruments which use standard large bend radius triaxial cables.

Abstract: A cryogenically coolable inductive coil including: a multicomponent conductor comprising a plurality of components, each component including a cable of conductive material having a longitudinal axis about which the cable is twisted, the cable being wrapped helically and being compacted, after wrapping, to minimize voids in the cable and to give the component a polygonal profile, the components being disposed parallel, and adjacent, to one another with mutually facing sides of adjacent components being in contact with one another; and an electrical insulating and support structure at least partially surrounding the conductor for supporting stresses induced in the conductor due to magnetic fields created by the flow of current through the conductor, the conductor and the structure being wound to form the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a superconducting cable comprising a support structure having grooves and a slot that receives the cable. The apparatus is also comprised of at least one cable retaining clip. The clip is fitted into the grooves and held thereby such that the clip retains the cable in the slot and in contact with the support structure. In a preferred embodiment, the clip and the support structure are made out of different materials with the clip made of a material that has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion that the material of which the support structure is made.

Abstract: A biased securement system for end winding conductors of a turbine generator stator has a support ring and a biased wedge system that compresses the end windings in both a radial and circumferential direction. The biased wedge system includes a pair of spacer blocks with confronting angular surfaces and a triangular shaped wedge that is biased towards the support ring by use of a belleville spring washer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for thermally balancing the rotor of a dynamo-electric machine by adjusting the flow of coolant through the rotor. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooling flow is adjusted by inserted baffles into the axial coolant flow passages in the body portion of the rotor. According to another embodiment of the invention the cooling flow is adjusted by inserting adjustable orifices into the radial cooling passages in the body portion of the rotor.

Abstract: In an electrical generator, a connector for connecting stator coil sections and the method of making that connection, each coil section ending in a header cap of a predetermined geometry, and the connector being provided with openings of complementary geometry and spaced and aligned so as to receive the header caps. A recording tool is used for recording the spacing and alignment of a pair of header caps to be connected, the recorder being used in conjunction with a drill rig for drilling the openings in accordance with the recorded spacing and alignment information. The solid connector bar is placed over the header caps which are received within the drilled openings, and the bar is clamped onto the header caps with nuts.

Abstract: An annular seal ring between a reactor pressure vessel and a containment wall is disposed in an annular expansion gap therebetween, having a support ring and inner and outer upwardly extending cylindrical sections. The inner cylindrical section is disposed below a flange on the reactor and has a flexible seal therebetween, while the outer cylindrical section terminates substantially parallel and spaced from a shelf in the containment wall with a flexible seal therebetween. The annular seal ring is supported by radial support beams, while support rods depending from the support ring position neutron shielding material in the annular expansion gap. Manways and ports provide access to the gap and thermal insulation is provided below the neutron shielding material to direct cooling air from the annular gap up through opened manway and port.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor containment arrangement has a permanent cavity ring seal extending across an annular expansion gap between a reactor pressure vessel and a containment wall to provide a water tight seal therebetween. The annular ring seal has a support ring with an inner downwardly extending cylindrical section resting on the reactor flange and an outer downwardly extending cylindrical section resting on a shelf in the containment wall. A vertically extending, L-shaped, seal extends between an inner end of the support ring while a vertically extending, L-shaped, seal extends between the outer cylindrical section and the containment wall shelf. Neutron shielding material is suspended, by support rods, within the annular expansion gap while thermal insulation is provided therebelow. Manways and ports in the support ring are sealed by hatches and provide access to the annular expansion gap and, while open, provide for flow of cooling air from the annular expansion gap through the support ring.

Abstract: A pole face slot filler (26,28) for insertion into a pole face slot formed in a pole region (18) of a generator rotor, the filler (26,28) having a U-shaped cross section and being composed of a base portion (36) and two leg portions (38) extending from the base portion (36) and forming the legs of the U-shaped cross section, wherein the filler (26,28) is configured and dimensioned to achieve a press fit in the pole face slot.

Abstract: In a generator exciter composed of a stator (12) for producing a dc field and a rotor (16, 18) mounted to rotate relative to the stator (12) and including armature windings (18) connected to generate ac output currents, the rotor (16, 18) is mounted radially outwardly of the stator (12), and is insulated from its support.

Abstract: An electrical generator connection, to connect coil ends, and a method of making the same. A header cap having a spherically shaped portion is brazed to each coil end to be connected. A pair of connector bars, each having a pair of similarly sized spherical seats, receives the spherical portion of each coil end header cap. Electrical and mechanical connection is provided by bolting the two connector bars together.

Abstract: A spring support system for supporting a stator core (2) in a frame of an electrical machine, the core (2) having a longitudinal axis and an outer periphery provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending dovetail grooves (6), and the frame including a plurality of circular flanges (32) which surround the core (2) when the core (2) is installed in the frame, the system including:a plurality of key bars (8) each having a portion formed to mate with a respective dovetail groove (6) and each seated in a respective groove (6) of the core (2);a plurality of spring bars (34) each extending parallel to a respective key bar (8) and each secured to the flanges (32);a plurality of key blocks (20) for securing the key bars (8) to the spring bars (34); andfastening elements (26,40) mechanically fastening each key block (20) to a respective key bar (8) and to a respective spring bar (34) at a location between two axially adjacent flanges (32).

Abstract: A standard, predetermined phase sequence of the three-phase voltage output of an electrical power generator, as produced through conventional main leads in the generator lead box which interconnect three (3) generally, axially aligned pairs of connectors of first and second sets, is selectively reversible by the utilization of crossed main leads between two adjacent pairs of the connectors of the first and second sets. Each of the crossed main leads includes opposite end portions aligned with the diagonally-related and interconnected pair of connectors of the first and second sets, the end portions having corresponding bends therein for smoothly contouring and integrally joining the central portions thereof, and the central portions have complementary outward bends in at least the mutual crossing portions thereof to maintain a predetermined, minimum distance therebetween so as to satisfy voltage strike requirements.

Abstract: A method for limiting movement of a thermal shield of a nuclear reactor, and a thermal shield displacement limiter therefor, is provided where at least four and preferably six or more key-way inserts are positioned in pockets machined in the upper portion of a thermal shield, and bolted and doweled to the thermal shield. Each key-way insert is engaged by a limiter key that is bolted and doweled to the core barrel to tangentially restrain movement of the thermal shield relative to the core barrel, while allowing radial and axial movement to the thermal shield relative to the core barrel. Preferably, lock pins extend diametrically through the bolts and dial pins and engage the key-way insert and limiter key, respectively, to lock the bolts and dowels in position, and the engaging surfaces between the key-way inserts and the limiter keys are wear hardened.

Abstract: A thimble which resists vibrations caused by turbulence in the coolant flow of a nuclear reactor includes a portion of preselected length with an increased outside diameter. The conventionally-sized thimble is sheathed with a tubing adapted for insertion within the reactor, the tubing at a leading end thereof being fixed to the conventionally-sized thimble and at a trailing end thereof being slidingly coupled to the conventionally-sized thimble. A bullet shaped member seals the leading end and facilitates its insertion.