Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an irradiated nuclear fuel assembly includes a housing adapted to engage a nuclear fuel assembly. A set of ultrasonic transducers is positioned on the housing to supply radially emanating omnidirectional ultrasonic energy to remove deposits from the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: Compact microwave clothes dryer and method in which the dryer is small enough to be placed on a countertop, and air is circulated past microwave generator and power supply components to the drying chamber to transfer heat from the components to clothes in the chamber to supplement the microwave drying.

Abstract: A circuit that includes a silicon-controlled rectifier and a silicon-controlled rectifier gate trigger circuit connected to the silicon-controlled rectifier. A snubber capacitor is connected to the silicon-controlled rectifier and the silicon-controlled rectifier gate trigger circuit. The snubber capacitor generates a snubber capacitor voltage during an off state of the silicon-controlled rectifier. The snubber capacitor voltage thus developed is then used to power the silicon-controlled rectifier gate trigger circuit. The circuit also includes a resister-zener diode circuit connected to the snubber capacitor and an auxiliary capacitor. The auxiliary capacitor is charged through the resister-zener diode circuit by the snubber capacitor voltage. A voltage regulator is connected between the auxiliary capacitor and the silicon-controlled rectifier gate trigger circuit for providing a regulated voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of treating, fly ash having an unacceptably high concentration of carbon, with ozone produced in situ by corona discharge. This method will allow high carbon-content fly ash to be used with air entrainment agents as an additive to cement. The corona discharge can be produced in the exhaust pipe of various combustion systems. The device of this invention can be used in conjunction with a triboelectric carbon-fly ash separation system or in a conventional combustion system. The corona discharge is produced off of sharp-tipped metal devices.

Abstract: There is described a method of monitoring the fault gases in the headspace of a transformer and providing an indication of transformer conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus to establish bi-directional digital communication over a power line network includes a signal launching circuit to impose a digital communication signal onto a power signal carried by a power line network and thereby form a digital communication power signal at a first point in the power line network. The signal launching circuit is configured to position a pulse of the digital communication signal at any phase location of each half cycle of the power signal. A receiver reads the digital communication power signal at a second point in the power line network. A signal processor is connected to the receiver to recover the digital communication signal from the digital communication power signal.

Abstract: A method of reducing NOX within a gas stream includes the step of placing a NOX reducing catalyst within a flue gas stream. The NOX reducing catalyst activity is enhanced by applying a separate activating source that significantly improves removal of NOX from the flue gas stream. The NOX reducing catalyst may be a stationary NOX reducing catalyst structure positioned in the flue gas stream. Alternately, the NOX reducing catalyst may be injected into the flue gas stream as a NOX reducing catalyst powder. The NOX reducing catalyst powder may be subsequently gathered in a particulate collection device. The NOX reducing catalyst may be further activated in the particulate collection device.

Abstract: A high temperature superconducting cable comprises a cryogenic core, with a superconducting material either inside the cryogenic core or wrapped around the core. A space maintained at a vacuum and functioning as a cryostat surrounds the core; within this space are a separator and superinsulation. A conventional dielectric at room temperature surrounds the superinsulation, and a conventional ground shield surrounds the conventional dielectric. This cable does not require a cryogenic dielectric and is of suitable size and nature to be used in retrofitting conventional cable pipes.

Abstract: A pressurized leaking flange joint is sealed with a ¼ circle load support structure, a jacking bolt extending therethrough and applying a radial load to a sealing plug between the flange gap. The sealing plug is a graphite packing ring placed into the flange gap on either side of a gasket centering ring, and a carbon steel compression ring (two ⅛ circles placed end-to-end) placed on top of the packing ring on either side of the gasket centering ring. The load support structure is installed such that the jacking bolt is centered over the flange gap. The jacking bolt is torqued and subsequently applies a radial load to the compression ring, which radial load is transferred to the load support structure and then to two flange bolts against which the load support structure bares. The radial load on the compression rings compresses the packing material into the pathway of the leak, thereby sealing the same.

Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged area of a thermal barrier coating on a component which is subjected to a hostile thermal environment, which comprises cleaning the damaged area, applying a partially stabilized zirconium sol-gel to the area, and pyrolizing the sol-gel to form a TBC repair layer.

Abstract: The present invention monitors and removes contaminants from dielectric fluids by utilizing an apparatus having a chamber and tube configuration. The chamber encloses a plurality of tubes which include porous hollow fibers with an inert polymer coating. Conduits route the dielectric fluid to and from operative equipment. An atmosphere control device creates an atmospheric condition within the chamber that causes contaminants within the dielectric fluid to migrate through the tubes into the chamber, thereby producing refined dielectric fluid. The method of the present invention removes contaminants from a dielectric fluid. The dielectric fluid is routed from operative equipment and passes through tubes enclosed within a chamber. An atmospheric condition is created within the chamber to cause contaminants within the dielectric fluid to migrate into the chamber. A refined dielectric fluid is produced which is directed back to the operative equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically examining a weld in a nuclear steam supply system includes an elongated guide rod for positioning within a pipe of the nuclear steam supply system. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned at an end of the elongated guide rod. A collapsible shoe encloses the ultrasonic transducer. The collapsible shoe includes a biasing mechanism to allow the collapsible shoe to pass through the pipe while the pipe is at a first circumference and while the pipe is at a second circumference. The collapsible shoe continuously contacts the pipe to establish ultrasonic coupling for the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A method of repairing a substrate includes the step of excavating a well in the substrate with an electrical discharge machining operation. A wire is then delivered to the well. Simultaneously, laser energy is routed to the well such that the laser energy intersects with the wire to produce a reconstruction weld in the well. A tool delivery system with an electrical discharge machining tool head and a reconstruction welding tool head is used to perform the excavation and welding operations.

Abstract: A system and method for field fluid sampling and analyzing dissolved gases in electrical equipment fluids is described. The system includes a disposable vial which is sealed with a self-sealing stopper. Fluid to be analyzed is inserted into the vial by a hollow needle. Also described is apparatus for evacuating and sealing the vial and apparatus for introducing fluid from electrical equipment into the vial.

Abstract: A laser communication system includes a first laser to generate a laser signal with femtosecond pulses. A first grating spectrally disperses the femtosecond pulses of the laser signal. A modulator converts the femtosecond pulses of the laser signal into coded words. A second grating spectrally recombines the coded words of the laser signal. A first telescope launches the laser signal. A second telescope receives the laser signal. A second laser generates a set of reference pulses. A non-linear crystal combines the set of reference pulses and the laser signal so as to create an output signal only when the laser signal and the reference pulses temporally coincide. A detector records the output.

Abstract: The invention provides a method which includes the step of locating a burner of a low NOx boiler that produces a disproportionately high quantity of unburned carbon. The air-to-fuel ratio at the burner is then increased to decrease the percentage of unburned carbon attributable to the burner. The air-to-fuel ratio at a second burner of the low NOx boiler is reduced to maintain a substantially constant total air-to-fuel ratio in the low NOx boiler.

Abstract: A method for repairing a shrink-fitted turbine disc without removing the disc from the shaft. The method is composed of two basic steps: (1) depositing one or more weld layers in a vicinity of a defective region of the disc using a temperbead welding process and (2) heat treating the disc using an induction heating process. In a first embodiment of the method, the heat treating step includes heating a heat-affected zone of the disc in a vicinity of the one or more weld layers to a temperature T.sub.h, heating a rim region of the disc to a temperature T.sub.r and heating a bore region of the disc to a temperature T.sub.b, where T.sub.h, T.sub.r >T.sub.b. In a second embodiment of the method, the heat treating step includes heating a region of the disc in a vicinity of the one or more weld layers using the induction heating process and concurrently cooling a bore region of the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for removing vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream by placing a porous element having a sorbent material into ductwork through which the gas stream passes. In a first mode of operation, vapor phase contaminants are adsorbed by the sorbent. In a second mode of operation, the porous element is cleaned of any accumulated deposits, for example fly ash, while in place without having to stop the gas flow. In a third mode of operation, the sorbent can be regenerated in place and without having to stop the gas flow by heating and collecting the desorbed contaminants. This invention is particularly suited for the removal of vapor phase mercury from flue gas generated by a combustion process.

Abstract: Austenitic steel intended for use in radiation areas of nuclear reactors is largely resistant to irradiation-induced stress corrosion cracking if its silicon, phosphorus and sulfur contents are reduced in relation to standard commercial steel quantities and its grain structure has finely dispersed carbide precipitation, particularly of niobium carbide. The finely dispersed distribution can be induced in that larger niobium precipitation takes place at annealing temperatures between 1100 and 1150.degree. C., and carbide is precipitated through the corresponding annealing at temperatures of approximately 750.degree. C.

Abstract: There is described a fiber optic probe and associated system for measuring light extinction due to forward scattering by steam droplets. A system is also described for analyzing the light transmissibility to produce a measure of steam wetness.