Abstract: An underwater decommissioning method of a nuclear facility including a nuclear reactor pressure vessel and bio-protective concrete comprising a cavity in which the nuclear reactor pressure vessel is positioned is disclosed. The method includes: (a) lifting the nuclear reactor pressure vessel above the cavity; (b) forming an insertion part in the bio-protective concrete adjacent to the cavity, filling the insertion part with water, and installing a support part on a bottom surface of the insertion part; (c) inserting the nuclear reactor pressure vessel in the insertion part and mounting a lower portion of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel on the support part; and (d) repeatedly cutting portions of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel mounted on the support part by using a cutting device in an underwater position. The method allows performing cutting operations in the water, and thus, it is possible to prevent radiation exposure due to occurrence of dust.

Abstract: A radioactive structure dismantling method of a heavy water reactor facility that includes a calandria including a main shell and a sub shell, a calandria vault that receives the calandria therein, and a cover assembly that covers the calandria according to an embodiment, includes: preparing dismantling of the calandria; dismantling a reactor pipe installed in the calandria; dismantling the cover assembly that covers the calandria; dismantling the calandria; and dismantling the calandria vault.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for tracking the basis of an abnormal state determination by using a neural network model, comprising: an abnormality type classification unit for classifying an abnormal state into a plurality of failures in an abnormal operation scenario in which a plurality of scenarios related to the abnormal state are stored; an operation variable deriving unit for deriving operation variables affecting an abnormal state determination result for each of the plurality of classified failures; a power plant operation variable weighting unit for weighting the variable related to the abnormal state from among the operation variables; and an abnormal state determination basis generation unit for tracking the basis of an abnormal state determination from the abnormal state determination result generated through the weighted power plant operation variable.

Abstract: A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes a CAN-Bus network, a plurality of controllers, a pair of electric transaxles controlled by the plurality of controllers, and one or more steering and drive input devices coupled to respective sensor(s) for sensing user steering and drive inputs. The plurality of controllers communicate with one or more vehicle sensors via the CAN-Bus network. The plurality of controllers receive the user's steering and drive inputs and posts on the CAN-Bus network and generate drive signals to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor.

Abstract: A sluice gate for a hydropower station, a method of operating a sluice gate and a hydropower station. The sluice gate includes rollers via which the sluice gate can be movably mounted on rails and a sealing surface having a seal with which an upstream water can be sealed off from a downstream water. Lubricant lines are provided through which lubricant can be fed to the rollers and lubricant return lines are connected to the rollers. Via the lubricant return lines, used lubricant can be guided from the rollers to one or more collection locations in order to be able to collect and properly dispose of used lubricant.

Abstract: A device for separating a shielding slab for a heavy water reactor according to an embodiment includes: a body; a circular rail installed on at least one side of the body; and a decommissioner for decommissioning a shielding slab installed on the circular rail and installed on an inner wall of a heavy water reactor, wherein the decommissioner includes a decommission head moving on the circular rail, a separator installed in the decommission head and separating and desalinizing the shielding slab, and a gripper installed in the decommission head and gripping the separated shielding slab.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radioactivity measurement method and a radioactivity measurement system. A radioactivity measurement method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: measuring radioactivity while performing energy scanning and temporal scanning; preparing a database from a time-energy-related data set obtained in result of the scanning; and obtaining a radioactivity measurement value of desired time from the database.

Abstract: A method for complex-decommissioning a nuclear facility is disclosed. The method for complex-decommissioning the nuclear facility includes: cutting and expanding an inner wall of the cavity; installing a cutting device that cuts and decommissions the nuclear reactor pressure vessel inside the cavity; fixing the nuclear reactor pressure vessel inside the cavity by using a fixture; and cutting and decommissioning the nuclear reactor pressure vessel fixed inside the cavity by using a cutting device.

Abstract: A method for decommissioning a heavy water reactor facility includes: opening an upper part of the calandria vault; inserting a support device into an inner part of the calandria vault through the upper part of the calandria vault to support the main shell of the calandria; cutting between the main shell and the sub-shell of the calandria by inserting a cutting device into the inner part of the calandria vault through the upper part of the calandria vault; and drawing out the main shell of the calandria to the outside of the calandria vault by moving the support device from the inner part of the calandria vault to the outside through the upper part.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor dismantlement system according to an embodiment includes bio-protective concrete including a first space into which a reactor is inserted and a second space that is connected to the first space and is expanded in the first space, a moving device that is positioned in the second space and moves the reactor, and a cutting device that is positioned in the second space and cuts the reactor.

Abstract: A VIVACE converter to harness energy from currents as well as from waves— that is, the present teachings provide a method and apparatus to collect energy from both currents and waves—using the same physical components. The present teachings are particularly useful in that either currents and/or waves may exist on their own nearly everywhere in the oceans and frequently coexist.

Abstract: The present technology relates to self-standing electrodes, their use in electrochemical cells, and their production processes using a water-based filtration process. For example, the self-standing electrodes may be used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Particularly, the self-standing electrodes comprise a first electronically conductive material serving as a current collector, the surface of the first electronically conductive material being grafted with a hydrophilic group, a binder comprising cellulose fibres, an electrochemically active material, and optionally a second electronically conductive material. A process for the preparation of the self-standing electrodes is also described.

Abstract: A system for monitoring polarization and conduction of a thyristor includes a transformer configured to generate a secondary current from a triggering current waveform applied to a gate of the thyristor; a converter configured to convert the secondary current into a monitored voltage; a first hysteresis comparator configured to generate a first voltage pulse based on the monitored voltage when the triggering current waveform includes a first current pulse; a second hysteresis comparator configured to generate one or more second voltage pulses based on the monitored voltage when the triggering current waveform includes one or more second current pulses; a monitoring unit configured to receive the first and the one or more second voltage pulses, and determine whether the triggering current waveform satisfies pre-defined characteristics, and to determine whether a current flowing between the anode and cathode of the thyristor satisfies additional pre-defined characteristics.

Abstract: A vehicle drive and control system includes an input shaft driven by a prime mover and extending into a housing to drive a generator. An electric motor powered by the generator drives an output axle, which may be a single axle extending out one side of the housing, or a through shaft extending through the electric motor and out both sides of the housing. The input shaft may be parallel to the axle. A power controller is configured to back-drive the generator when certain predetermined conditions are met. A motor controller may control an output of the motor based on input received via an operator control device, and the motor controller is configured to operate the motor as a generator under certain operating conditions. The transaxle includes a common housing in which the power generator, the motor, and controllers for the generator and electric motor are disposed.

Abstract: The method of repairing a manhole begins with assembling concrete forms above ground to correspond to the shape of the manhole wall. Then, a plastic liner sheet is wrapped around the assembled forms and the seams are welded. The forming sections are then removed, and the liner is placed in the manhole. An annular space exists between the liner and the manhole wall. The forming sections are re-assembled inside the liner. Concrete is then poured into the annular space and allowed to cure. The forming sections are removed, leaving the liner anchored in a new monolithic concrete wall fully engaging the old manhole wall.

Abstract: A control system including a drive system and a blade system; a collision sensor; a main board having a main processor and in communication with the collision sensor, the drive system, and the blade system; the collision sensor, upon sensing a collision, capable of transmitting a collision signal to the main processor; the main board capable of transmitting an adjustment command to the drive system or the blade system; a vision sensor; a vision processor in communication with the vision sensor and the main processor, and capable of determining whether the image data represent an obstacle; the vision sensor capable of transmitting image data to the vision processor; when the vision processor determines the image data represent an obstacle, the vision processor capable of transmitting a collision-replicating signal to the main processor, prompting the main board to transmit the adjustment command to the drive system and/or the blade system.

Abstract: A process for purifying raw carbon nanotubes to obtain a content in metallic impurities of between 5 ppm and 200 ppm. The process includes an increase in the bulk density of the raw carbon nanotubes via compacting to produce compacted carbon nanotubes. The process further includes sintering the compacted carbon nanotubes by undergoing thermal treatment under gaseous atmosphere in order to remove at least a portion of the metallic impurities contained in the raw carbon nanotubes, and consequently producing purified carbon nanotubes. These purified carbon nanotubes are directly usable as electronic conductors serving as basis additive to an electrode material without requiring any subsequent purification step. The electrode material can then be used to manufacture an electrode destined to a lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a pivot arm for controlling output of the vehicle includes a bracket, a yoke attached to the pivot arm, and a shaft engaged to the yoke and extending into the bracket. The pivot arm is rotatable about a first axis of rotation between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also rotate about a second axis of rotation between an operative position and a stopped position, and a switch may be engaged when the pivot arm is rotated to the stopped position. A return to neutral assembly may provide a return force to the pivot arm when it is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the neutral position.

Abstract: A strut including an elongated beam portion and a connecting end portion. The elongated beam portion is a tubular structure having an external circumference, the connecting end portion is integral with the elongated beam portion, has a folded and flattened end portion of the tubular structure, and where diametrically opposite inward fold lines meet between flattened parts the end portion of the tubular structure. The resulting connecting end portion includes four material layers and the connecting end portion has a width transverse to a longitudinal centerline of the connecting end portion.

Abstract: A vehicle control assembly having a control lever for controlling output of a traction drive. An operator control mechanism of the control assembly has an arm pivotable about a first pivot axis between a neutral position and a range of both forward and reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the arm can pivot about a second pivot axis between an operative and stopped position, and a switch is engaged when the arm is in the stopped position. A linkage connects the operator control mechanism to a return to neutral (RTN) module that provides a return force to the arm when it is pivoted away from the neutral position. The RTN module includes a shaft pivotable about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis and placing a magnet proximate to a magnetic field sensor chip mounted on a circuit board comprising CAN Bus and switch terminals.