Patents Assigned to Framatome ANP GmbH
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Patent number: 6857121Abstract: A responsive system for digital signal processing and a method for operation of the responsive system implement computer programs, which are dependent on a respective update status, in data processing units that communicate with one another through a data transmission unit, in order to make the responsive system particularly reliable, even when subject to frequent revision. During each communication, each data processing unit assigns a revision identity characterizing its update status to a signal produced by it. A data processing unit receiving the signal carries out a comparison to determine if the revision identity characterizing the signal matches a revision identity stored for that signal and, if the revision identities match, the signal is processed.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2000Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventor: Karl Wädt
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Patent number: 6843129Abstract: An ultra sonic sound measurement is used to determine the thickness of a partial layer in a multi-layered structure with reduced boundary surface reflections. A plurality of transmission pulses are produced on a predetermined point on the structure with the help of an ultra sonic probe head. The resulting echo signals associated with a transmission pulse are recorded digitally as an HP image. A plurality of wall thickness echo periods from different running periods are superimposed in a homologous manner with the aid of a computer program.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventor: Martin Dust
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Patent number: 6838622Abstract: An electrical lead-through bushing with an internal conductor surrounded by an external conductor, extending together through a flange element, is particularly suitable for a TDR (time domain reflectometry) measuring system in which the fill level in a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear installation is monitored. The bushing is particularly suitable for use on a vessel wherein comparatively high pressures and/or high temperatures may prevail. For this purpose, a first space region, formed on a first side of the flange element between the internal conductor and the external conductor surrounding it, is sealed off with respect to a second space region, formed on a second side of the flange element by the internal conductor and the external conductor surrounding it, by way of a number of sealing rings.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventor: Gerhard Zuch
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Patent number: 6823777Abstract: An apparatus for compressing objects includes a base plate, a frame and a ram head guided so as to be displaceable on the frame. Forces may occur in the peripheral direction of the ram head during the compression of bulky objects. The ram head is rotatable relative to the frame in order to reduce the forces introduced into the frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Klaus Blinn, Manfred Klapper, Viktor Gliha
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Patent number: 6808656Abstract: A nuclear fuel sintered body is produced from a powder which contains at least one fissile heavy metal oxide. During the further treatment of the powder over the course of the process preceding the sintering operation, a dopant that contains at least 100 ppm of an iron oxide compound is added to the powder. The powder is a UO2-containing powder obtained from a dry-chemical conversion process, and if appropriate, a powder which contains further fissile heavy metal oxide (U3O8, PuO2, inter alia). As a result, the sintered body is provided with high plasticity combined, at the same time, with a large grain size. This advantageously reduces an interaction between the nuclear fuel sintered body and a fuel rod cladding tube during an operation of the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Gerhard Gradel, Wolfgang Dörr
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Patent number: 6802339Abstract: The fitting, in particular a safety valve, operates according to the relief principle or according to the loading principle. The fitting is opened and closed by a plurality of control parts. The control parts are connected in series in the control line of the fitting and are each actuated by a control valve. The control parts open the fitting only when all the control parts are in a position which opens the fitting. The fitting closes as soon as even only one of the control parts is in a position which closes the fitting.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Hermann-Josef Conrads, Erwin Laurer, Jürgen Model
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Patent number: 6798428Abstract: Particularly simple selection of data in all of the operating phases for a technical installation is achieved according to the invention, in a method for processing data which are user-specifically stored in different data memories. The functional groups for process control and the functional groups for the installation are each assigned to a selection field of a common selection mask. When one of the selection fields is selected, the respective process data relevant to the process control of the installation or installation data relevant to the installation are selected and displayed in a further display level.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2000Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Michael Kleiner, Uwe Röben, Adolf Sturm
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Publication number: 20040140202Abstract: An electrolysis unit having a plurality of membrane electrolytic cells connected in series suitable for use in a service station for supplying a motor vehicle with hydrogen as fuel. Each of the membrane electrolytic cells has a membrane provided on both sides with an appertaining contacting disk, especially a support mat made up of a large number of metal wires laid over each other and pressed together. In a service station, a gas cleaning unit is installed on the inlet side upstream from such an electrolysis unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Applicant: FRAMATOME ANP GmbHInventor: Anwer Puthawala
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Patent number: 6744842Abstract: A fuel assembly for a pressurized-water reactor includes fuel rods held in cells of spacers, control rod guide tubes, and a headpiece and a foot piece, by which it is fixed to upper and lower core grids, respectively. A spacer having a first part, which lies on a radially outer side with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the fuel assembly, and a second part, which lies on a radially inner side and is completely surrounded by the first part are included to reduce the size of gaps between fuel assemblies. The second part is formed of Zircaloy. The first part is made of a metallic material, and when compared to the Zircaloy of the second part, has a lower growth in the radial direction, caused by neutron radiation and a higher coefficient of thermal expansion.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Norbert Schmidt, Peter Rau, Erika Herzog
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Patent number: 6699439Abstract: Spent fuel rods are stored in a container. In order to improve the retention capacity of the barriers for radioactive emitters (radionuclides), the spent fuel rods are embedded in a bulk fill of zeolite and/or activated charcoal.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1998Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Volker Dannert, Joachim Banck, Ernst W. Haas
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Patent number: 6687323Abstract: A safe start-up of a boiling water reactor is achieved when two conditions are adhered to and monitored when the control rods are being moved out of the core: First, the drive of a control rod should be activated only when the directly and diagonally adjacent control rods remain at rest simultaneously, and, second, when all the directly adjacent control rods are still in the fully moved-in initial position.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventor: Joachim Schulze
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Publication number: 20040017877Abstract: In order, in a pressure accumulator, to generate a required operating pressure of a fluid situated in the pressure accumulator, a heater device is provided, disposed in an upper region of the pressure accumulator. The device generates a vapor cushion and the required operating pressure. Where necessary, when the fluid flows out, the pressure in the pressure accumulator is automatically reduced after the level has fallen below a defined filling level, as a result of the vapor condensing at a cold insulating device with a high heat-accumulation capacity. The pressure accumulator is preferably used as an emergency shut-down tank or as an emergency accumulator in a nuclear power plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Werner Hartel, Johann Meseth
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Patent number: 6678345Abstract: A reactor pressure vessel with an upper support plate, in which an equalization opening is provided as a bypass is described. A process for temperature equalization between an upper dome chamber above a support plate and a lower chamber below it is described. It is proposed that the cross section of the equalization opening be variable as a function of the temperature, so that the flow of medium between the upper dome chamber and the lower chamber is varied as a function of the temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Heinz-Werner Hartmann, Jürgen Model
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Patent number: 6656338Abstract: For dosing lithium in cooling water containing cationic impurities or for reducing cationic impurities, the invention guides cooling water cycle through a first side of an electrodialysis unit and guides a concentration cycle through a second side of the electrodialysis unit. Cationic impurities are filtered out of the medium of the concentration cycle with a selective ion exchanger that is disposed in the concentration cycle.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignees: Framatome ANP GmbH, ENBW Kraftwerke AGInventors: Manfred Meintker, Michael Bolz, Günther Enkler, Wilfried Rühle
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Patent number: 6658077Abstract: An apparatus is described for catching and cooling a melt, in particular a core melt in a containment of a nuclear power plant. A porous body with which the melt comes into contact is provided. A pre-pressurized coolant is fed to the porous body so that the cavities in the porous body are filled with the coolant. After contact between the melt and the porous body, the pre-pressurized coolant penetrates into the melt and as a result leads to fragmentation, solidification and long-term cooling.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignees: Framatome ANP GmbH, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbHInventors: Hans Alsmeyer, Dietmar Bittermann, Manfred Fischer
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Patent number: 6644346Abstract: The fitting, in particular a safety valve, operates according to the relief principle or according to the loading principle. The fitting is opened and closed by a plurality of pilot parts. The pilot parts are connected in series in the control line of the fitting and are each actuated by a pilot valve. The pilot parts open the fitting only when all the pilot parts are in a position which opens the fitting. The fitting closes as soon as even only one of the pilot parts is in a position which closes the fitting.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Hermann-Josef Conrads, Erwin Laurer, Jürgen Model
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Patent number: 6630683Abstract: A first antiradiation concrete includes a metallic aggregate having a grain size of up to 7 mm, and at least 5.0% by weight, in particular at least 7.8%, of a boron-containing aggregate having a grain size of up to 1 mm and being finer-grained than the metallic aggregate. A second antiradiation concrete includes a boron-containing aggregate having a grain size of up to 1 mm, and between 80 and 90% by weight, in particular 85 to 89%, of a metallic aggregate having a grain size of up to 7 mm. For the second concrete, the boron-containing aggregate is between 1.0 and 1.5% by weight. To achieve a shielding action that absorbs as much heat and radiation as possible, an antiradiation shell (2) has a wall region (2a to 2z) formed from the first or second antiradiation concrete where each has a boron-containing aggregate with a grain size up to 1 mm and a metallic aggregate grain size up to 7 mm.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventor: Dieter Vanvor
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Patent number: 6617558Abstract: A furnace is provided for microwave sintering of nuclear fuel. A stationary wave is generated in an antenna cavity and used to extract microwaves through slots into a resonance chamber containing the nuclear fuel. A position of the slots is adjusted in such a way that a predetermined temperature profile is produced in the nuclear fuel.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Dörr, Thorsten Gerdes, Gerhard Gradel, Bruno Schmitt, Monika Willert-Porada
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Patent number: 6614868Abstract: A device for sealing a tube in an opening which is located in a component. The tube is in particular a lance shaft and the component is in particular a nozzle connected to a cover of a reactor pressure vessel. A pressure element is in operative connection with the tube. As a result, the tube is pressed against the component. Provision is made for the pressure element to be driven hydraulically.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventor: Gerhard Zuch
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Patent number: 6613153Abstract: The radioactivity of a metal part is reduced in the process. In the method, firstly a layer of oxide is removed from the metal part using a decontamination solution. Then, an agent which has an oxidizing action and is still present is removed from the decontamination solution. As a result, a layer of the metal is removed. Since radionuclides are to be found only in the layer of the metal part which is close to the surface, the remaining metal can be scrapped in the conventional way.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2000Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Framatome ANP GmbHInventors: Horst-Otto Bertholdt, Rainer Gassen, Franz Strohmer