Abstract: The bases of modular units of an I/O system are connected serially by two-way electrical and mechanical connectors so that units can be inserted into and removed from lines of units connected to a controller without removal or movement of any other unit. By two-way connector is meant that confronting connectors on adjacent units disengage by movement in the same or opposite direction from that in which they engaged. The electrical connectors distribute a communication bus and power to the modular units. In addition, plug-in electronics modules and personality modules, with the latter providing selective interfaces between the electronics modules and banks of terminals for landing field wiring, have a common locking mechanism for locking both in sockets in the bases. The locking mechanism includes at least one locking assembly having a shaft rotatable from a free end of the electronics module for rotating a paddle into and out of engagement with a catch in the base.

Abstract: A control rod guide tube mounting pin for engaging a hole in an upper core plate of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel has a resilient tubular portion with one or more axial crimps which flex allowing for resiliently fitting into a hole in an upper core plate without needing to enlarge or other machine the existing holes or drilling additional holes. Stainless steel mounting pins may be backfit into existing two pin mounting systems of control rod guide tubes adjacent to the outlet nozzles of the pressure vessels by removing the pins mounting the guide tubes adjacent the outlet nozzles to the upper core support plate; and then replacing the removed pins with stainless steel replacement pins.

Abstract: A natural gas detection system is provided for use with a vehicle. A natural gas detector apparatus is mounted to the vehicle so that the vehicle transports the detector apparatus over an are of interest at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. The detector apparatus includes a transmitter section and a receiver section displaced a preselected distance from each other. The transmitter section has a light source transmitting a light beam to the receiver section forming a beam path therebetween. The apparatus is arranged such that natural gas intercepts the beam path and absorbs representative wavelengths of the light beam. The receiver section receives a portion of the light beam onto an electro-optical etalon for detecting the gas. A method of detecting natural gas is also provided. The method has the steps of providing a vehicle and mounting a natural gas detector apparatus to the vehicle. The detector apparatus has a transmitter section and a receiver section displaced a preselected distance from each other.

Abstract: An ultra-low NOx gas turbine combustor having a dual fuel capability. The combustor has a plurality of venturis in flow communication with a corresponding number of fuel lances such that fuel injected from each lance into a corresponding venturi is mixed with high velocity air also flowing into the venturis. A vee-gutter flame holder is positioned downstream of the array of venturis for holding a combustion flame within the combustor at stable conditions. Due to the high velocities of the air-fuel mixture in the vicinity of the flame-holder, as a result of the fuel-air mixing in the venturis, destructive flash back conditions are obviated. A stable flame within the combustor provides for minimum acoustic disturbance and low overall pressure losses within the combustor provide for high operating efficiency levels of the turbine apparatus. Burning of the fuel in air at lean mixtures allows for minimal operation of a conventional pilot nozzle assembly so as to reduce the undesirable formation of NOx.

Abstract: An automated system for identifying nuclear power plant components includes a camera which provides an input signal from an image of the nuclear power plant components. A digitizer generates a digitized image of the nuclear power plant components from the input signal. A workstation locator routine locates the component identifier of the nuclear power plant components from pixel elements of the digitized image and a workstation determining routine determines the component identifier. The determining routine includes plural recognizer routines each having an output providing an intermediate recognition of the component identifier, and a combining routine combining the outputs of the recognizer routines to recognize the component identifier. Each of the outputs includes an intermediate identifier and a corresponding confidence value.

Abstract: A dual fuel nozzle for a combustion turbine having a swirl cap that is adapted to securely mount with an atomizing cylinder proximate its discharge end. A nozzle tip that is adapted to removably mount with a liquid fuel pipe is provided. The atomizing cylinder comprises an outer wall having an inlet end and opposing discharge end, and flange portion formed proximate the inlet end. The flange portion is adapted to be securely coupled with the liquid fuel pipe to the combustion turbine. The outer wall and flange portion define a receptacle that extends from the inlet end and substantially downstream to the discharge end. The receptacle is adapted to removably receive the liquid fuel pipe and the nozzle tip. The liquid fuel pipe has an inlet end and discharge end with the discharge end adapted to removably receive the nozzle tip. The liquid fuel pipe defines a liquid fuel flow passage that extends from the inlet end and substantially downstream of the flange portion proximate the discharge end.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for replacing the existing lower internal components in a nuclear reactor vessel with new components. The alignment of the new lower internals to the pressure vessel and the existing upper internals is achieved by customizing the new lower internals on-site based on alignment measurements obtained by gages installed on the new core barrel and the existing upper core plate. The gages allow the custom machining of radial support keys on the lower portion of the new core barrel and the custom drilling of upper core plate alignment pin holes in the new core barrel.

Abstract: A computer network system repetitively distributes messages including uniquely identified blocks of real time data containing a current data image over a broadcast communications network to all real time stations for storage of each repetition of each entire block of data directly in station memory at a unique address space assigned to that uniquely identified block of data. The real time stations receive the blocks of data and alternatively receive other messages from the real time stations. The other messages have a recognized standard protocol, such as the TCP/IP or UDP/IP protocol of the Internet Protocol Suite.

Abstract: A generator rotor that reduces friction force transmitted to rotor teeth by a retaining ring is disclosed. The friction force is caused by end windings pushing longitudinally outward against the retaining ring when the windings heat up during operation of the rotor. A ring key diminishes the friction force transmitted to a rotor teeth region by transmitting more of the friction force to a rotor pole region. The present invention accomplishes this reduction in transmission by either forming a gap between the ring key and the teeth regions, by producing only light contact between the ring key and the teeth regions, by the ring key being formed of a lower stiffness material in the areas in which it contacts the teeth regions, or by a combination of the above.

Abstract: A combustor with a flashback arresting system for producing a hot gas by burning premixed fuel and compressed air having fuel/air premixing passages, each of the passages having an inlet end and a discharge end. Disposed immediately upstream of the inlet ends of the fuel/air premixing passages is a fuel manifold for delivering fuel to the passages. Fuel lines with fuel flow control valves connect the fuel manifold with a fuel supply. The flashback arresting system has one or more optical flame detectors with a light receiving portion located upstream of the discharge ends of the fuel/air premixing passages and oriented toward at least a portion of at least one of the fuel/air passages. The flame detectors are responsive to receiving light from a flashback by its light receiving portion by transmitting an output signal to a control system. The control system controls the fuel flow control valves and responds to the output signal by adjusting the fuel flow control valves to eliminate the flashback.

Abstract: An electrical circuit backfits into different instrumentation and control (I&C) system hardware configurations as a replacement or upgrade. The circuit has a multiple signal path processing circuit including a multi-functional ASIC. A fixedly configured, multiple signal path connector such as a hardwired multi-pin package removably connected with a pin socket in the processing circuit connects the ASIC with the I&C system for coupling inputs to and outputs from the ASIC and for selecting operative signal paths of the ASIC.

Abstract: An oxide ceramic composite suitable for fabricating components of combustion turbines and similar high temperature environments. The composite is fabricated by dispersing metal particles in a fiber preform and infiltrating the fiber preform with sol-gel matrix precursor material. Alternatively, the metal particles are mixed into the sol-gel matrix precursor material and the preform is infiltrated with the mixture. Later in the fabrication process, the metal particles oxidize and become oxidized metal when the sol-gel matrix precursor material is sintered. The oxidized metal has more volume and mass than the metal particles. As a result, the oxidized metal contributes to increasing the density of the composite so that it is suitable for use in combustion turbines and similar high temperature environments.

Abstract: Sets of phase shifting interphase transformers are used to combine the outputs of six-pulse static inverter stages to generate harmonic neutralized outputs with higher pulse counts. The phase shifting interphase transformers have a primary winding and at least one secondary winding. For phase shifting interphase transformers having a single secondary winding, a tap on the primary winding is connected through the secondary windings on one of the other phase shifting interphase transformers to produce a combined output having a displacement factor which preserves the displacement factors of the inputs. When the phase shifting interphase transformer has two secondary windings, the tap on the primary is a center tap which is routed through secondary windings on each of the other two phases. Higher pulse count inverters are constructed by combining outputs of the phase shifting interphase transformers with additional shifting interphase transformers to generate a combined output.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor vessel has a nozzle plug in its cold leg and hot leg nozzles for isolating the reactor vessel from the balance of the reactor coolant loop. The nozzle plug is mechanically compression fitted with the nozzle without the need for hydraulic or pneumatic actuation. The plug has a primary seal ring compressed against the inner wall of the nozzle and a secondary seal ring compressed against the end wall of the nozzle for withstanding a pressure differential of about 34 feet of water.

Abstract: A rotary combustor is disclosed in which a plurality of tubes connect a first header to a second header, and in which the first and second headers have a plurality of baffles dividing them into a plurality of chambers. In accordance with the invention, a branch pipe is located at the extreme end of a first of the chambers for admitting fluid to the first chamber, such that the fluid flows through a first set of tubes to a second chamber and then through a second set of tubes and is returned to another chamber and exits through a second branch pipe disposed at an extreme end of the chamber. The structure made in accordance with the present invention exhibits a relative flow pattern between the chambers that is a counterflow, thereby improving the performance of the combustor. preferably, the tubes are grouped in plurality of pairs of tubes, and the chambers include relatively smaller chambers and relatively larger chambers.

Abstract: The combustion turbine system comprises a fuel line connected to the combustor with a portion of the fuel line being disposed in heat transfer relationship with the exhaust gas from the combustion turbine so that the fuel may be heated by the exhaust gas prior to being introduced into the combustor. The system may also comprise a fuel by-pass control system for mixing unheated fuel with the heated fuel to control the temperature of the fuel being introduced into the combustor.

Abstract: An axial tensioned bolt and nut for bolting together a turbine or similar piece of equipment. The bolt has parallel threads and the nut has a coil insert. The bolt is stretched and tensioned by a hydraulic tensioner. In one embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic tensioner rests on a bridge element which in turn rests on the surface of the turbine around the nut. The hydraulic tensioner is then attached to the threads of the bolt. The bolt is stretched by the hydraulic tensioner pulling on the bolt while pushing against the bridge. In another embodiment of the invention, a stool with a wide top face rests on the surface of the equipment and the bolt extends through the stool and engages the nut. The bridge element rests on the top face of the stool while the hydraulic tensioner stretches the bolt. In a third embodiment of the invention, a parallel action hydraulic tensioner is attached to both ends of the bolt and pulls the bolt to stretch it.

Abstract: A method and a system for creating an improved cutting tool having a helical shaped cutting surface includes a computer, a computer numerically controlled milling machine and an electric discharge machine. The computer can be programmed to form the female shape of a helical spline of a cutting tool that extends longitudinally from the back of the tool to the front of the tool so that it is not parallel to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tool. Disposed along the spline may be a plurality of cutting teeth that each extend outward from the curved spline and have a cutting face that is curved in both a radial direction and in an axial direction with respect to the cutting tool. After forming the female shape of this spline, the computer can develop a cutting path for a tool of a numerically controlled milling machine and operate the milling machine to create an electrode having the female shape of the spline of the cutting tool.

Abstract: A method for dislodging and dislocating scale, sludge, corrosion and other deposits from heat transfer equipment surfaces, such as boiler and heat exchanger surfaces in steam generation systems, which are in contact with aqueous systems. This invention relates to the introduction of an aqueous chemical cleaning solution into the heat exchanger vessel. The aqueous chemical cleaning solution contains a non-corrosive carrier agent and/or a non-corrosive intercalation agent. The carrier agent has the ability to penetrate the matrix of the sludge, scale and other deposits, and the intercalation agent causes the sludge, scale and other deposits to fracture and break apart. This invention relates to generating a series of pressure pulses within the non-corrosive aqueous chemical cleaning solution to create shock waves for dislodging, dissolving and fluidizing sludge and corrosion products.