Abstract: A rotary regenerative air heater or heat exchanger in which a series of parallel adjacent plates contained in a plurality of sectorial baskets make up the heat transfer surface. A plurality of bolts permit quick and easy periodic tightening of the heating plates when they become loose within the basket, thereby preventing abrasion and vibratory failure of such plates.

Abstract: Burner means for maintaining a weld in a large metal member at a predetermined temperature for extended periods of time regardless of the position of the weld, including two independent burners, and two independent control arrangements for the two burners, such that they maintain the entire weld at substantially the same predetermined temperature, in spite of the unbalancing effect of heat from the other burner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for orienting a probe or the like in a predetermined angular orientation within a long, curved conduit at selected longitudinal positions therewithin. A steam generator tube may comprise all or part of the curved conduit. Curved extension members may be added to an end or ends of the tube to form curved lengths of conduit including the tube.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel assembly having an easily dissassembled threaded connection between the end fitting and the control rod guide tubes. More specifically, the threaded connection is formed between the upper and/or lower alignment posts and the guide tubes and clamps the fuel assembly end plate therebetween. The sizing and arrangement of the connections is such that the assembled joint may be subjected to thermal cycling without incurring excessive stresses or deformations.

Abstract: A flow meter in the form of a turbine meter with a pick-up producing voltage signals related to fluid flow through the meter is connected to an electric circuit. The circuit includes a clock oscillator which is started and stopped to produce trains of voltage pulses upon demand by the flow meter signals. The predetermined number of train pulses are matched with the register of fluid quantity so a whole number of the train pulses will equal the smallest quantity unit of the register.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a hollow tube from a tube sheet in which the tube is held by expansive forces in the tube. A GTA arc is established between an electrode and the interior tube wall. The arc parameters are such that it melts partially through the tube wall and the arc is then translated in a desired pattern of movement along the length of the tube contained in the tube sheet. Upon re-solidfication of the melted part of the tube the compressive forces of solidification shrinkage and thermal contraction result in a reduction of the tube diameter. Apparatus is disclosed for carrying out the method which, through a dual drive arrangement, is capable of producing a variety of weld head translation paths.

Abstract: A gas handling and cleaning system for the combustion gases of a coal-fired steam generator comprises an electrostatic precipitator which receives the combustion gases from the steam generator, a preheater downstream of the electrostatic precipitator and a wet scrubber intermediately positioned between the preheater and the stack. The temperature and humidity of the gases entering the stack are controlled by conveying regulated quantities of the gases from the exit of both the precipitator and the preheater to a location intermediate the scrubber and the stack.

Abstract: A reactor trip on turbine trip inhibit control system for a nuclear power generating system which utilizes steam bypass valves. The control system inhibits a normally automatic reactor trip on turbine trip when the bypass valves have the capability of bypassing enough steam to prevent reactor trip limits from being reached and/or to prevent opening of the secondary safety pressure valves. The control system generates a bypass valve capability signal which is continuously compared with the reactor power. If the capability is greater than the reactor power, then an inhibit signal is generated which prevents a turbine trip signal from tripping the nuclear reactor.

Abstract: A multiple orifice assembly for increasing the flow resistance in a conduit for conducting fluid flow. The multiple orifice assembly comprises a plurality of orifices spacedly supported in the conduit and a diffuser which is supported intermediate adjacent orifices. The diffuser is spaced from the upstream orifice a distance less than that distance required for fluid issuing from the upstream orifice to fully expand back to the constraints of the conduit.

Abstract: A process for making an adjustable split door frame is disclosed, the process comprising the steps of cladding the front surface of the board with vinyl, grooving a plurality of parallel grooves of various shapes in the back surface of the board down to but not through the vinyl, folding and gluing the board along the grooves, inserting a support member and attaching a hard board to the back surface of the resulting door frame. In addition, a second board is clad, grooved and folded in a similar manner to provide the other half of the split adjustable door frame.

Abstract: Gases containing SO.sub.2 from a furnace are contacted in the scrubbing zone of a scrubber with an aqueous scrubbing medium containing solid alkaline earth metal carbonate, seed crystals of alkaline earth metal sulfate and dissolved alkaline earth metal carbonate and sulfate and having a pH of from 6.0 to 6.5. The SO.sub.2 reacts to form sulfites and bisulfites. The scrubbing medium is then withdrawn from the scrubbing zone and discharged to a reaction tank. Air is blown through the scrubbing medium in the reaction tank and then up into and through the scrubber and scrubbing zone. The oxygen reacts with sulfite to form sulfate in both the reaction tank and the scrubbing zone. The amount of oxygen is controlled so that the pH in the scrubber will not drop below about 4.5 and so as to oxidize not more than about 30 to 50% of the sulfite.

Abstract: A method for operating a nuclear reactor or any other machine or industrial process where it is of importance to terminate operation when a given parameter deviates from a variable operating value by more than a given amount regardless of the rate at which the deviation occurs. A variable setpoint is continuously generated from the past history of the operating parameter by adding the current value to a predetermined excursion margin whenever this causes the variable setpoint to decrease. The setpoint remains constant whenever the operating parameter is increasing so that a system trip is initiated whenever the setpoint is exceeded. The variable setpoint is permitted to increase to within the excursion margin of the operating parameter only when independent authorization is given indicating that the increase is legitimate.

Abstract: A diagrammatic representation of a single tube is housed to form a gravity separation chamber for the liquid separated from gas by the tube, and the tube is shown to be in several axially aligned sections spaced from each other to provide the exits and reentry paths between the tube and chamber for the separating fluids.

Abstract: An emergency core cooling system for a nuclear reactor in which an emergency cooling injection manifold is integrally formed with the guide structure which guides control elements into the reactor core. The guide structure comprises two vertically spaced plates each of which substantially overlies the entire core and which are interconnected by a control element guidance means. A third plate is supported in vertical spaced relationship from one of the plates of the guide structure to define the manifold therebetween. Means are provided for substantially sealing the plenum from the main coolant flow path of the reactor. Means are also provided for introducing emergency coolant into the injection manifold and for dispersing coolant fluid therein into the core in the event of a loss of coolant accident.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for a nuclear stream supply system for adequately controlling the chemistry of the secondary coolant. The invention includes means for the addition of volatile chemicals, a full flow condensate demineralizer, continuous blowdown capability, radiation detection means, a condensate demineralizer bypass line, and an auxiliary demineralizer sized to handle full blowdown flow. The auxiliary demineralizer is cut into the system and the steam generator feedwater flow is bypassed around the full flow condensate demineralizer whenever radioactivity is detected in the secondary coolant.

Abstract: The concentration of hydrogen in a fluid mixture is controlled to a desired concentration by flowing the fluid through one chamber of a diffusion cell separated into two chambers by a hydrogen permeable membrane. A gradient of hydrogen partial pressure is maintained across the membrane to cause diffusion of hydrogen through the membrane to maintain the concentration of hydrogen in the fluid mixture at the predetermined level. The invention has particular utility for the purpose of injecting into and/or separating hydrogen from the reactor coolant of a nuclear reactor system.

Abstract: A releasable locking device for urging limited relative rotation about a longitudinal axis between a first and second object threadably coupled together so as to maintain a tight connection of the coupled objects. The locking device comprises a brake plate which is supported with respect to the second object so as not to move rotationally relative thereto, a locking plate supported with respect to the first object so as not to move rotationally relative thereto, and a biasing means. The brake plate and locking plate are each positioned laterally adjacent to the first object and each have longitudinally extending complimentary ratchet teeth having inclined surfaces on their mutually facing, surfaces, the inclined surfaces of ratchet teeth of the brake plate being adapted to mate with the inclined surfaces of ratchet teeth of the locking plate.

Abstract: A spent fuel assembly handling tube closure valve is provided which assures minimal or zero leakage of trapped liquid metal coolant from the handling tube. One sealing surface of the closure valve is spherical while the other is conical. The spherical-conical combination enables an adequate seal even when the valve cap is misaligned. A further safeguard against leakage is made possible by a sacrificial inert gas system utilizing the diving bell principle. A metered gas supply system supplies additional sacrificial gas should a leak develop. A high-low level mutual inductance probe operates as a leak detector allowing the timely addition of greater quantities of sacrificial gas.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is adhered to and electrically and ultrasonically coupled with a surface by means of a room temperature vulcanizing material which is stable when subjected to high temperature and radiation levels. The RTV material is formed from either a vinylmethyl or polyphenyl siloxane matrix containing an iron oxide filler-binder, a cross-linking agent and a finely divided, uniformly dispersed conductive powder. The conductive powder for use in radiation environments is either palladium or graphite and it is homogeneously dispersed by using a temporary dispersing agent.

Abstract: A number of oil wells each have a crude oil processing unit located at close to the wellhead. The clean oil produced from each processing unit is connected to supply the clean oil as hydraulic power oil and to sales. The sales output conduits are manifolded. The control system normally creates clean oil, which is excess over that required for pumping, to sales. The control system alternatively withdraws clean oil from the manifold if a well temporarily does not produce enough clean oil for pumping.