Abstract: The invention comprises methods and apparatus for conducting a stream of electrolyte solution with an electrical potential applied between the nozzle of the apparatus and the piece of equipment to be decontaminated. The apparatus provides a nozzle that is capable of conducting the electrolyte to the component to be decontaminated in an effective manner without short circuiting the electrical system. Moreover, the method provides a means by which the exposure time of the component to the electrolyte is controlled such that corrosion of the component is minimized while the component is effectively decontaminated.

Abstract: A fluid circulation system for heat exchangers having two groups of tubes through which primary and secondary fluids flow, the tubes of one group being interdigitated with the tubes of the other group, and a heat transfer material interposed between the two groups of tubes, whereby heat is transferred from the primary fluid through the heat transfer material to the secondary fluid. A shell forms a closure around the tubes and the heat transfer material, and the shell has tertiary fluid inlet and outlet means. Openings in the heat transfer material form passageways through which the tertiary fluid can flow from the inlet means, through the heat exchanger, to the outlet means. Piping connects the tertiary fluid outlet means to the tertiary fluid inlet means, forming a complete cycle. Installed in this piping is a heat removal system. If the secondary fluid flow is interrupted, the tertiary fluid provides a redundant means by which the heat of the primary fluid can be removed from the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A refueling machine for inserting and removing fuel assemblies from a nuclear reactor including a pair of concentrically disposed stationary masts mounted on a movable bridge which spans the containment walls of the reactor. The bridge supports a trolley movable transversely to bridge movement thus providing an arrangement wherein the masts can be precisely positioned over a fuel assembly in the reactor core. A hoist mounted on the outer of the masts supports a vertically movable inner mast of a size sufficient to enclose a fuel assembly. An actuator tube inside the inner mast moves gripper fingers on the bottom thereof into engagement with the top nozzle of a fuel assembly prior to lifting it upwardly out of the reactor core.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing ash formed within, and accumulated at the lower portion of, a fluidized bed coal gasification reactor vessel. A supplemental fluidizing gas, at a temperature substantially less than the average fluidized bed combustion operating temperature, is injected into the vessel and upwardly through the ash so as to form a discrete thermal interface region between the fluidized bed and the ash. The elevation of the interface region, which rises with ash accumulation, is monitored by a thermocouple and interrelated with a motor controlled outlet valve. When the interface rises above the temperature indicator, the valve opens to allow removal of some of the ash, and the valve is closed, or positioned at a minimum setting, when the interface drops to an elevation below that of the thermocouple.

Abstract: An inherent shutdown system for a nuclear reactor having neutron absorbing rods affixed to an armature which is held in an upper position by a magnetic flux flowing through a Curie temperature material. The Curie temperature material is fixedly positioned about the exterior of an inner duct in an annular region through which reactor coolant flows. Elongated fuel rods extending from within the core upwardly toward the Curie temperature material are preferably disposed within the annular region. Upon abnormal conditions which result in high neutron flux and coolant temperature, the Curie material loses its magnetic permeability, breaking the magnetic flux path and allowing the armature and absorber rods to drop into the core, thus shutting down the fissioning reaction. The armature and absorber rods are retrieved by lowering the housing for the electromagnet forming coils which create a magnetic flux path which includes the inner duct wall. The coil housing then is raised, resetting the armature.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding nuclear fuel pellets at a uniform, predetermined rate between pellet centering and grinding apparatus and a tray used for loading pellets into a nuclear fuel rod. Pellets discharged from the grinder are conveyed by a woven wire belt to a drive wheel which develops a force available to be applied to pellets preceding it on the belt. The pellets pass under the drive wheel which adds additional weight acting vertically on each pellet. This total weight of pellet and drive wheel coupled with wire belt linear movement acts to push a line of about 36 pellets onto a pellet dumping mechanism. As the dumping mechanism is actuated to dump the pellets on to a loading tray, the pellets moving toward the mechanism are clamped in a stationary position and the drive wheel simultaneously is lifted from its pellet contacting position until the pellet dumping process is completed.

Abstract: The inspection probe for inspecting tubular members comprises a plurality of axially oriented plastic strips which form the circumference of the probe with each plastic strip having mounted thereon an eddy current coil. A rubber tube is disposed on the interior of the plastic strips so that when the rubber tube is inflated, the plastic strips and coils are forced outward into close contact with the tubular member so that the eddy current coils can detect flaws in the tubular member. The eddy current coils are held against the tube wall even when the tube has been deformed into an irregular configuration.

Abstract: The remote docking apparatus comprises a support plate with locking devices mounted thereon. The locking devices are capable of being inserted into tubular members for suspending the support plate therefrom. A vertical member is attached to the support plate with an attachment mechanism attached to the vertical member. A remote access manipulator is capable of being attached to the attachment mechanism so that the vertical member can position the remote access manipulator so that the remote access manipulator can be initially attached to the tubular members in a well defined manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing connection between two members movable in a horizontal plane with respect to each other in a rotary or linear fashion. The apparatus includes a set of horizontal shelves affixed to each of the two members, vertically aligned across a selected gap. A number of cables or hoses, for electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic connection are arranged on the aligned shelves in a U-shaped loop, connected through their extremities to the two members, so that through a sliding motion portions of the cable are transferred from one shelf to the other, across the gap, upon relative motion of the members. The apparatus is particularly adaptable to the rotating plugs of the reactor vessel head of a nuclear reactor.

Abstract: A fuel rod puller in the form of a collet for pulling fuel rods from a storage area into grids of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly. The rod puller moves longitudinally through the grids to a storage area where projections on the end of leaf springs grasp onto an end plug in a fuel rod. Drive apparatus then pulls the rod puller and connected fuel rod from the storage area into the fuel assembly grids. The rod puller includes an outer tube having leaf springs on one end thereof in one modification, mounted within the outer tube is a movable plunger which acts to urge the leaf springs outwardly to a position to permit passing or with the end of a end plug. Upon withdrawal of the plunger, the leaf springs move into a groove formed in the end of a fuel rod end plug, and the fuel rod subsequently is pulled into the fuel assembly grids.

Abstract: The radial cold trap comprises a housing having a plurality of mesh bands disposed therein. The mesh bands comprise concentrically arranged bands of mesh with the mesh specific surface area of each band increasing from the outermost mesh band to the innermost mesh band. An inlet nozzle is attached to the outside section of the housing while an outlet nozzle is attached to the inner portion of the housing so as to be concentrically connected to the innermost mesh band. An inlet baffle having orifices therein may be disposed around the outermost mesh band and within the housing for directing the flow of the fluid from the inlet nozzle to the outermost mesh band in a uniform manner. The flow of fluid passes through each consecutive mesh band and into the outlet nozzle. The circular pattern of the symmetrically arranged mesh packing allows for better utilization of the entire cold trap volume.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing connection between two members having relative movement in a horizontal plane in a rotary or linear fashion. The apparatus includes a set of vertical surfaces affixed to each of the members, laterally aligned across a selected vertical gap. A number of cables or hoses, for electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic connection are arranged between consecutive surfaces in a C-shaped traveling loop, connected through their end portions to the two respective members, so that through a sliding motion portions of the cable are transferred from between one set of surfaces to the other aligned set, across the gap, upon relative motion of the members. A number of flexible devices are affixed to the upper set of surfaces for supporting the upper portion of each looped cable.

Abstract: The irradiation specimen installation apparatus comprises a gripper mechanism capable of being disposed through a hole in the nuclear reactor core barrel flange and capable of gripping the irradiation specimen. The apparatus is also capable of transporting the irradiation specimen so that the irradiation specimen can be deposited in the specimen container. The apparatus also comprises a visual verification mechanism for positively determining if the irradiation specimen has been properly located in the specimen container. A second instrument may be used in conjunction with this apparatus for seating the irradiation specimen in the specimen container once visual verification of its location has been made.

Abstract: A fast flux nuclear core of a plurality of rodded, open-lattice assemblies having a rod pattern rotated relative to a rod support structure pattern. Elongated fuel rods are oriented on a triangular array and laterally supported by grid structures positioned along the length of the assembly. Initial inter-assembly contact is through strongbacks at the corners of the support pattern and peripheral fuel rods between adjacent assemblies are nested so as to maintain a triangular pitch across a clearance gap between the other portions of adjacent assemblies. The rod pattern is rotated relative to the strongback support pattern by an angle .alpha. equal to sin .sup.-1 (p/2c), where p is the intra-assembly rod pitch and c is the center-to-center spacing among adjacent assemblies.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a two layered composite with an internal core of zirconium or zirconium alloy which retains tritium, and an adherent nickel outer layer which acts as a protective and selective window for passage of the tritium.

Abstract: A neutron activation probe comprises a pulsed neutron source in series with a plurality of delayed neutron detectors for measuring radioactivity in a well borehole. The neutron source emits neutrons which produce fission in uranium in the ore body and the delayed neutron detectors measure the delayed neutrons produced from such fission while the probe is moved through the borehole. The signal from each neutron detector is delayed in time so that the activity measured by each neutron detector from a particular ore zone may be added thereby increasing the accuracy of the reading corresponding to that ore zone.

Abstract: A method for removing sludge that may be deposited on a tubesheet of a steam generator comprises placement of fluid headers at the elevation of the sludge to be removed establishing a circumferential fluid stream at that elevation. A fluid lance is moved along the line between the headers emitting a pulsating fluid jet perpendicular to a line of movement of the fluid lance at an elevation substantially corresponding to the level of sludge deposits. The fluid jet forces the sludge to the periphery of the tubesheet where the sludge is entrained in and carried away by the circumferential fluid stream.

Abstract: A homopolar machine designed to operate as a generator and motor in reversibly storing and transferring energy between the machine and a magnetic load coil for a thermo-nuclear reactor. The machine rotor comprises hollow thin-walled cylinders or sleeves which form the basis of the system by utilizing substantially all of the rotor mass as a conductor thus making it possible to transfer substantially all the rotor kinetic energy electrically to the load coil in a highly economical and efficient manner. The rotor is divided into multiple separate cylinders or sleeves of modular design, connected in series and arranged to rotate in opposite directions but maintain the supply of current in a single direction to the machine terminals. A stator concentrically disposed around the sleeves consists of a hollow cylinder having a number of excitation coils each located radially outward from the ends of adjacent sleeves.

Abstract: A face type shaft seal for liquid metal pumps comprises a non-contacting seal in which at least one seal face has spiral grooves therein. The seal faces are gold plated and designed so that the liquid metal wets the seal faces and creates a thin layer of liquid metal between the two seal faces during both rotation of the pump shaft and non-rotation of the pump shaft. The thin layer of liquid metal prevents contact of the two seal faces during initial rotation of the pump shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for remote inspection of annular curved ridge welds securing plugs in heat transfer tubes in a nuclear steam generator. Included in such apparatus is a small sized television camera, an annular image transformation lens of greater size than the observed weld for presenting a flattened expanded image of such weld to the camera, a circular array of work-illumination lamps at the input end of the camera, and a hollow cylindrical light conductive member mounted at its one end on the input end of the camera in exposure to the lamps and mounting the image transformation lens on its opposite end for proximity to the annular weld being inspected.