Abstract: An apparatus for the making and breaking of a plug and socket connection within a hazardous environment by remote handling means includes at least one receiving bracket adapted to receive a positioning and retaining plate. The positioning and retaining plate has one of a plug and a socket fixed thereto in a predetermined orientation to permit making or breaking of a connection with the other of a plug and a socket. The at least one receiving bracket and the fixed plug or socket are movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the fixed plug or socket on slider means. The apparatus includes means for moving the at least one receiving bracket and the fixed plug or socket relative to the other of a plug and a socket which is fixed in a co-operating axial and rotational orientation thereto so as to make or break the connection. The at least one receiving bracket has means to permit the fixed plug or socket to be placed in or removed from the at least one receiving bracket by the remote handling means.

Abstract: An energy storage and conversion apparatus (1) comprising a containment (5) defining a vacuum chamber (7), a substantially vertical shaft within the vacuum chamber (7), a stator (11) on the shaft (9), and a cylindrical rotor (13) which, in use, is driven by the stator (11) to store energy as kinetic energy of the rotor (13) and acts with the stator (11) as a generator to release energy, wherein the rotor (13) is supported by the shaft (9) via an end cap (29), positioned at the upper end of the cylindrical rotor (13), which engages the shaft (9). The rotor (13) is suspended from a pin bearing (31) which is attached to an end cap (29). The pin bearing (31) sits in a bearing cup (37) mounted in a damper (39) at the end of the shaft (9). A magnet bearing (43) is provided at the lower end of the rotor (13) to assist in positioning the rotor (13) relative to the stator (11).

Abstract: Rotaxanes and pseudorotaxanes, methods of making them, intermediates in their formation and methods of using them in sensors are provided based upon changes in color absorption upon cation contact.

Abstract: Radioactively contaminated material is cleaned by placing the material in a permeable container, such as a bag, and inserting the container into an apertured, rotatable vessel. The material is then subjected within the rotating vessel to a leaching cycle, using nitric acid, and a washing cycle, using fresh water. Preferably, at least one further washing cycle is employed. After discharging the washing liquid, the material is subjected to a spin-drying operation. The material undergoing cleaning is a filter medium which includes a glass component.

Abstract: A spent fuel reprocessing method includes at least the formation of an aqueous solution and at least one solvent extraction step. Formohydroxarmic acid is used to reduce any Np(VI) to Np(V) and/or to form a complex with Np(IV). As a result, substantially all the neptunium present is retained in the aqueous phase during solvent extraction.

Abstract: A gamma detection and modeling system in which the energy deposition and incident locations on two detectors are used to calculate the source. The detector assembly and processing means are provided as distinct units allowing the detectors' use in radioactive and other inaccessible areas. The gamma radiation image can be superimposed on an optical image of the monitored location. Various detector arrays from a simple pair of detectors through single first and multiple second detectors to combinations of such detector pairs are disclosed together with a method for their use.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the extraction of a solute from an aqueous feed solution into an aqueous stripping solution are described.

Abstract: Apparatus for the solidification by desublimation of a sublimed gaseous substance and the subsequent trapping and liquidation of the desublimed substance is described.

Abstract: A containment, such as a glovebox (4), has an air extract system comprising suction means which extracts air from the containment through a vortex amplifier (1) mounted in a containment wall opening (2). The amplifier (1) serves to control the extent of suction extracted from the containment. Air exiting from the amplifier is drawn through a filter (32) removably arranged within a filter tube (31), which extends substantially parallel to the containment wall (3). A transfer passage (29), having a cross-sectional area less than that of the wall opening (2), provides a communication between an outlet side of the amplifier (1) and the filter tube (31). At least an initial portion of the transfer passage (29) extends perpendicularly to the wall. The filter tube (31) has open ends normally closed by covers (40, 41). Removal of the covers (40, 41) enables a clean filter to be installed in the filter tube while ejecting the used filter.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell and method of production are provided. The cell may have a layer of electrolyte material and a first and second electrode on either side thereof. The electrodes are separated from electrolyte by separator layers which are a mixed conductor. The fuel sell may be used in a stack.

Abstract: An arrangement for inspecting the surface of a rotating object (1) which includes object retaining means for retaining whilst rotating the object, means (3) for irradiating the surface of an object when retained and rotated by the object retaining means with a first beam of optical radiation, means (5) for irradiating the surface of an object when retained and rotated by the object retaining means with a second beam of optical radiation detectable as distinct from the first beam, detector means (7) for detecting radiation reflected by the surface of the object from the first beam and for detecting radiation reflected by the surface of the object from the second beam and a signal processor (15) for receiving signals produced by the detector means and for analysing such signals wherein the first beam and the second beam are of different wavelengths or in different wavelength bands and the detector means is capable of simultaneously receiving and detecting radiation received from the same irradiated area of the

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a liquid (2) containing suspendible solid matter from a tank (1) comprises a plurality of nozzles (47) located at the lower region of the tank. A pump (10) removes the liquid and ejects it through the nozzles (47) to cause resuspension of settled solid matter. When sufficient resuspension has occurred, the tank (1) is emptied by opening a valve to remove a portion of the liquid being transferred to the nozzles (47). The nozzles (47) are arranged as oppositely facing pairs ofjet nozzles at the lower end of a rotatable vertical pipe (46). The pump (10) is suspended by a cable (13) connected to a drum (19) which can be rotated to raise or lower the pump. A pump outlet (12) is connected to a flexible hose (27) which is wound around the drum (19) or around a separate drum (110). A movable containment flask (14) houses the drum (19) and accommodates the pump (10) when withdrawn from the tank (1).

Abstract: A transducer is disclosed which provides distance or position information about a target relative to the transducer. The transducer has first resistor and a first electrode for forming a first capacitive coupling with a target, a second resistor and a second electrode for forming a second capacitive coupling with the target. Signals of opposite phase or polarity are applied to the respective resistor electrode combinations. By applying signals of opposite phase or polarity, no net signal is applied to the target, thereby avoiding problems with cross talk between adjacent transducers.

Abstract: A method of isotope separation includes vaporisation and atomising in an evacuated chamber a supply of the element whose isotopes are to be separated to form a stream of atoms of the element in the chamber. The supply which is vaporized includes an involitile compound of the element which is decomposed in the vaporisation process to provide the stream of atoms.

Abstract: An energy storage and conversion apparatus (1) comprising a containment (5) defining a vacuum chamber (7), a support shaft (9) within the vacuum chamber (7), a stator (11) on the shaft (9) and a cylindrical rotor (13) which, in use, is driven by the stator (11) to store energy as kinetic energy of the rotor (13) and acts with the stator (11) as a generator to release energy, wherein the rotor (13) is supported by the shaft (9) via an end cap (29) which, as the rotor (13) speed increases, deflects from a conical shape towards a planar shape. As a result, failure of the apparatus (1) does not occur when the rotor (13) expands due to centrifugal forces. Further, the position of the rotor (13) relative to the stator (11) and magnetic bearing on the shaft (9) is kept essentially constant, even if the length of the rotor (13) decreases due to Poisson effects.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the position of a primary beam of electromagnetic radiation, the apparatus including a leaky mirror for reflecting the primary beam and for extracting from the primary beam a secondary beam and a position sensitive detector for detecting the spatial position of the secondary beam, wherein the leaky mirror comprises a material which has a transmissivity of less than 0.2 for the radiation of the primary beam and the position sensitive detector is arranged in the path of the secondary beam after transmission by the leaky mirror, the position of the secondary beam providing a measure of the position of the primary beam.

Abstract: In a solvent extraction method a contactor comprises a forward extraction section comprising sub-sections thereof and a back extraction section comprising sub-sections thereof. To enable higher concentrations of solute to be obtained in the backwash liquor, the contactor is operated with recycle of partially-loaded solvent, via a line from a back extraction sub-section to a forward extraction sub-section.

Abstract: Apparatus for rectifying the tendency of a fuel assembly (1) to incline from the perpendicular has a top nozzle support (19) and a base assembly (18) for supporting, respectively, a top nozzle (7) and a bottom nozzle (2) of the fuel assembly. Incorporated in the base assembly is an elevating device (78, 79) which is operable to raise the fuel assembly. When raised, a grinding assembly (62) in the base assembly is able to remove material from the lower surfaces of the bottom nozzle so that they lie in a horizontal plane. The elevating device comprises a gimbal mounting arrangement which includes a gimbal (94) movably supported on a gimbal mount (88) by means of cooperating male and female spherically-shaped bearing surfaces. The grinding assembly includes a grinding wheel (66) which is mounted on a rotor (43) arranged for rotation about an axis along which the elevating device raises the fuel assembly so that material can be removed from each of the lower surfaces during one revolution of the rotor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic article includes the steps of: forming a body of particulate ceramic material having two end portions, a length and a middle portion, wherein a bulk particle density of each of the two end portions is less than a bulk particle density of the middle portion; compressing the body at opposing ends of the body; and thereafter sintering the body to form the ceramic article. The invention may be adapted for production of nuclear fuel pellets.

Abstract: An energy storage and conversion apparatus (1) comprising a containment (5) defining a vacuum chamber (7), a substantially vertical shaft within the vacuum chamber (7), a stator (11) on the shaft (9), and a cylindrical rotor (13) which, in is driven by the stator (11) to store energy as kinetic energy of the rotor (13) and acts with the stator (11) as a generator to release energy, wherein the rotor (13) is supported by the shaft (9) via an end cap (29), positioned at the upper end of the cylindrical rotor (13), which engages the shaft (9). The rotor (13) is suspended from a pin bearing (31) which is attached to an end cap (29). The pin bearing (31) sits in a bearing cup (37) mounted in a damper (39) at the end of the shaft (9). A magnet bearing (43) is provided at the lower end of the rotor (13) to assist in positioning the rotor (13) relative to the stator (11).