Abstract: A nozzle between the nuclear steam generator and nuclear reactor vessel has a dam, plug, or barrier mounted on the tapering internal wall of the conduit. A seating ring is mounted on the tapered internal surface of the nozzle through screws which will ensure release of the ring after pressure on the dam is removed, and the screws are backed away from engagement with the tapered surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a process stream (1) via supercritical fluid chromatography including container means (10), extraction means (50) for drawing a known sample volume from the process stream and injecting the sample volume into a known volume of supercritical fluid to form a dilute mix (5), analyzer means (70) for analyzing the dilute mix via supercritical fluid chromatography, sample inlet valve means (60) for receiving the dilute mix from the extraction means (50) and supplying a portion of the dilute mix to the analyzer means (70), pneumatically driven piston-type pump means (30) for drawing the substance from the container means (10) and delivering same under pressure either to the extraction means (50) or to the analyzer means (70) as desired, and control means (40) for supplying low pressure air to the pump means (30) in a controlled manner so as to draw the substance from the container means (10) and maintain the substance at a desired pressure above the supercritical pressure for delivery to t

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed reactor (10) is disclosed wherein a non-cyclonic particulate separator (18) is integrally disposed in the gas flow path between the reactor gas outlet (14) and the gas duct (16). The separator (18) comprises an arculate duct (20) having a curvilinear floor (24), the portion thereof which is disposed atop the gas duct (16) having a plurality of openings (28) therein which provide a flow area through which a portion of the gas pass into the gas duct (16). Gas/solids separation is accomplished as the gas is turned sharply from its arcuate path to pass through the openings (28) in the floor (24). The momentum of the particulate solids prevent them sharply turning and cause the solids to continue on their arcuate flow path through the duct (20) in the remaining gas to a solids collection means (40) opening to the solids outlet (26) of the arcuate duct (20).

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator (26) for removing a plug (14) from a tube (12) including tube gripping means (28, 32), the actuator having a double piston arrangement (38, 52), which when energized quickly and efficiently first causes the gripping means to positively grip the plug, and then thereafter remove the plug from the tube, all in one continuous motion.

Abstract: An entrained flow coal gasifier having a combustor zone (16) and a reductor zone (18) separated by a centrally located baffle (14). The baffle (14) covers the projected plan area of a slag tap (44) whereby cool slag falling from the reductor (18) will be heated before flowing through the slag tap.

Abstract: A fluid-filled network of connected conduits and valves receives an acoustic signal in the form of waves of predetermined frequency, amplitude, and time sequence. At a second location, an acoustic receiver senses the form of the waves in frequency, amplitude, and time sequence arriving from the transmitter. The comparison between the acoustic signal introduced into the network and the signal received from the network represents whether the valve settings are satisfactory for using the network as a unit.

Abstract: An alloy characterized by its highly abrasive resistant qualities which render it particularly suitable for use as the material from which to fabricate the external surface of a grinding, i.e., pulverizer, roll (18) of the type that is designed to be employed in a bowl mill (10) so as to be operative therein for purposes of effecting the pulverization of a material such as coal through the coaction of the grinding roll (18) with another surface (14) with which the bowl mill (10) is provided for this purpose. The subject alloy which is capable of being cast or applied to the grinding roll (18) in the form of a weld overlay comprises, by weight percentages, 4.0-6.0% Carbon; 3.0-14.0% Manganese; 1.0-2.5% Silicon; 15.0-30.0% Chromium; and 4.0-6.0% Molybdenum; with 0.5-2.0% Boron being added thereto, the balance being iron and incidental impurities.

Abstract: A clamp for use with a quick-disconnect cable connector for joining a cable connector having a plug assembly and matching receptacle. A coupling sleeve is axially passed over the plug assembly. A mating coupling sleeve is secured to the coupling nut portion of the plug assembly with an axial force transmitting device therebetween. The axial force transmitting means transmits an axial force developed when the two coupling sleeves are torqued to the plug assembly. The axial force transmitted means may be cylindrical sectors for a slotted annular ring with the result that the axial force is distributed uniformly around the plug assembly such that the plug assembly is seated against the receptacle maintaining a seal therebetween and preventing misalignment.

Abstract: A laminar diaphragm (16) for use in a pressure transducer (10) comprised of two or more layers (50, 52, 54). The pressure boundary membrane (50) free of machining defects is supported by one or more support members (52, 54) having a fluid passage therethrough (56, 58). The support members (52, 54) are hermetically sealed around the periphery of fluid passages (56, 58) to the pressure boundary membrane (50) such that when the laminar diaphragm (16) is sealed in the pressure transducer (10) deflection of the pressure boundary membrane (50) within the regions of fluid passage (56, 58) in support members (50, 52) accurately indicates pressure.

Abstract: A tangentially-fired furnace is disclosed in enough detail to illustrate the location of injection ports for excess air above the fireball of the combustion chamber to eliminate the swirl of the flue gases as the flue gases flow into the convection section, in order to produce a uniform mass flow and temperature pattern of the flue gases over the cross section of the furnace exit.

Abstract: A distributed control system controlling a plurality of subprocesses wherein each of the process control computers (44, 46, 48) executes a preprogrammed set of instructions (50-62) identical to the preprogrammed set of instructions (50-62) in the other process control computers (44, 46, 48) in the distributed control system. Inputs from field devices (76, 78, 80) are connected between each subprocess and the process control computer (44, 46, 48) providing control therefor as well as between each subprocess and the process control computer (44, 46, 48) providing redundant safety backup of the operational safety. One or more of the process control computer (44, 46, 48) in the distributed control system executes some preprogrammed set of instructions (50-62) as part of the preprogrammed set of instructions for which there are no inputs from field devices (76, 78, 80) or output control signals to field devices (76, 78, 80).

Abstract: A control rod testing apparatus with a testing subassembly (30) floatingly secured in a guide structure (20, 48, 50). Two centering means (64, 76) center the subassembly (30) around the rod being tested. Pancake coils (72) sense the proximity of sensing fingers (82) which side against the periphery of the rod being tested for the purpose of determining the geometry of the rod.

Abstract: A mounting and traversing assembly (10) particularly suited for employment with an in situ particle size measuring device.

Abstract: A shell and tube heat exchanger (2) having a vertical dam (50) surrounding one of the steam-water separators (26a), so as to create a low flow velocity or quiescent area where solids will settle out. The dam encircles an area seven times greater than the average area per-separator throughout the rest of separating deck, so that there is a low flow velocity. Also, an orifice (52) is positioned in the inlet to the dammed in separator, to further reduce the flow velocity. The settled out solids are removed from the steam generator through a blowdown pipe (60).

Abstract: A furnace burns coal where the coal is decreased to a fine size to expand the surface of the carbon in the coal to a predetermined amount of free oxygen from air to militate against reduction of alkali compounds in the coal. Further, the temperature of the combustion is controlled to a predetermined maximum by recirculation of cooled flue gas to complete the control over the alkali compounds in the coal and prevent the formation of tube-fouling silicates.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for continually generating data values (M) indicative of the time dependent waveform of the current (I.sub.C) in a control rod latch actuation circuit (28), during application of a pulsed drive voltage (30). A data value is selected that represents a value limit (M.sub.min) characteristic of the waveform during the time before the latch (14) has reached a critical position of interest. The most recently generated data value (M.sub.N) is compared to the value limit (M.sub.min), and a control signal (e.g., 74, 52, LH) is generated when the most recently generated data value (M.sub.N) exceeds the value limit (M.sub.min). The data values (M) preferably indicate the time derivative of the waveform (I.sub.C) at a plurality of predetermined times during application of the drive voltage.

Abstract: A motorized transporter is placed at the periphery of the tube bundle which extends up from the tube sheet within a nuclear steam generator shell. The transporter can be separated into parts as required to move it into and out of the limited space between the tube bundle and inside wall of the generator. A control station external the generator is connected by flexible cables to the transporter and its equipment in order to move the transporter, observe the transporter path for foreign objects, and retrieve such objects.

Abstract: A grid structure (42) is mounted within the upper portion (24) of a tapered canister (24), for receiving a relatively loosely packed rectangular array of rods (22) and rearranging the rods into a relatively tightly packed rectangular array at the lower end of the grid. The grid structure comprises a multiplicity of flat, vertically oriented trapezoidal segments (78, 80) interconnected to form a plurality of vertically overlapping grid layers (74, 76). The layers alternate between a row orientation and a column orientation, and thus form a substantially continuous honeycomb of longitudinal cells (64) for guiding individual rods. The cross-sectional area of each cell decreases from the uppermost layer (74a) to the lowermost layer (74i) such that the rods are funneled by the cells to form the tightly packed array.

Abstract: An non-destructive testing method employs an ultrasound generator which provides a beam having an axis which intersects the outer surface of an object to be tested at an angle relative to a line normal to the surface which is in the range of 23.degree. to 28.degree.. A longitudinal mode wave and a shear mode wave are propogated within the object and the shear wave is converted into longitudinal mode waves by reflection from an opposite surface of the object. The propogated and mode converted waves are reflected from different portions of a defect and the echos arrive serially in time at a receiver transducer. The ultrasound generator and receiver transducer are sonically isolated. The received signals have a favorable signal-to-noise ratio and the times of receipt thereof are employed to determine the dimensions of a detected defect.

Abstract: Emissions of sulfur oxides produced during combustion of a sulfur-bearing fossil fuel in a furnace chamber 10 are reduced by injecting a sulfur oxide absorbing particulate into the product gases in an upper region 60 of the furnace chamber. The sulfur oxide absorbing material is dispersed into a quantity of air which is introduced in the furnace chamber through a plurality of nozzles 80, 82 and 84 disposed at different elevations. The air streams with entrained absorbent are introduced at each elevation tangent to an imaginary circle, with the radii of the circles of the elevations being different, thereby distributing the sulfur oxide absorbent over a wide volume of the furnace chamber.