Abstract: An improved system and method for testing the free fall time of nuclear reactor control rods. The system employs a plurality of sensor coils which are arranged in tandem along the control rod drive rod housing, having a plurality of the sensors energized by a single transformer. During the rod drop test, the transformers' primary windings are shorted.

Abstract: Processes for constructing complex turbine structures by the assembly of less complex sub-structures. The component sub-structures are bonded together at opposed mating surfaces by transient liquid bond phase techniques. The sub-structure mating surfaces are machined prior to application of the bonding material to remove oxide from the mating surfaces and ensure dimensional tolerances. Bonding material is applied to the mating surfaces by sputter deposition. Masks can be applied to the mating surfaces prior to application of the bond material so as to selectively apply bond material at only predetermined locations on the mating surface, thus eliminating excessive use of bond material for bonding the component sub-structures.

Abstract: A welding process of repairing a ferrous NiMoV low alloy steel turbine component. A first and a second layer of weld material are welded to the turbine component at electrical current levels chosen so as to prevent a substantial decrease and a substantial increase in the hardness of the component. This method involves selecting these electrical current levels. Additionally, this invention relates to selecting appropriate electrical current levels that minimizes the difference between a maximum and a minimum level of hardness while welding a first and a second layer of weld material. This invention also includes a method for preventing a substantial decrease in the hardness of the component as a result of the welding process.

Abstract: A gas turbine that has turbine vanes that can be cooled with either steam or air includes a compressor that compresses air, a combustor enclosed within a shell and in flow communication with the compressor, a turbine in flow communication with the combustor and receiving hot gas from the combustor and turbine vanes. The turbine vanes having an airfoil, a shroud and a cooling circuit that cools the airfoil and the shrouds with either steam or air.

Abstract: A passive safety system for a nuclear reactor coolant system including a water storage tank, a heat exchanger positioned within the water storage tank and connected to the hot leg, and a core make-up tank having a tank inlet connected to the heat exchanger and a tank outlet connected to a selected location of the nuclear reactor coolant system. Upon the occurrence of an abnormal condition, water flows by natural circulation from the hot leg through the heat exchanger so that heat may be transferred to the water in the water storage tank, and thereafter flows through the core make-up tank and into a selected location of the nuclear reactor coolant system to provide cooling for the reactor core.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides for a more efficient combined cycle turbine system by using heated coolant returning from the gas turbine engine to pre-heat fuel before that fuel is injected into the combustor. Coolant, such as steam, that is used to cool gas turbine combustors and/or transitions carries high grade heat energy that was removed from the top cycle. By returning the heat energy to the incoming fuel, energy is recovered at a more efficient rate than would result from recovering that heat energy in the bottom cycle.

Abstract: Rotary combustor and seal assembly therefor. A rotary combustor includes a shroud ring encircling an inlet opening of a rotatable kiln in which municipal waste is burned, the waste heat being used to generate electricity. The kiln includes a plurality of parallel heat transfer tubes arranged in spaced parallel circular array. The end portions of the tubes terminate in a ring header or plenum that surrounds the shroud ring, so as to define an annular gap between the ring header and shroud ring. A plurality of blocking members are connected to the kiln and interposed between the plenum and the shroud. The shroud and the blocking members cooperate to seal the gap. Moreover, a portion of each blocking member extends over a predetermined portion of a respective one of the tubes and over a predetermined portion of the plenum to protect the plenum and the pipes from impact damage by the municipal waste.

Abstract: A simulator for a distributed process control system utilizes a simulator station as an interface between a plant modeling computer and an instrumentation and control system which uses actual distributed processing units (DPUs) running actual process control software. The simulator station memory maps sensor signals received from the plant modeling computer through reflective memory directly to a memory-mapped input/output (I/O) interface of each DPU at the scan rate, or a multiple of the scan rate, of the DPU, and provides the control signals generated by the DPUs to the plant modeling computer at the same rates. A data highway such as in the actual system provides communications between the DPUs and between the DPUs and operator stations, (and potentially other man-machine interface stations) which provide operator signals used by the DPUs.

Abstract: A cooling manifold assembly for cooling combustion turbine components is provided. The manifold assembly comprises at least a first and second connector box. Each one of the first and second two connector boxes comprises a housing. A fluid supply conduit and return conduit are securely coupled with the housing. The fluid supply conduit is adapted to be in fluid communication with a cooling fluid for cooling a hot turbine part. The return conduit is adapted to be in fluid communication with a cooling fluid that has extracted heat from a turbine hot part. A cooling fluid supply pipe for supplying a cooling fluid to the first and second connector boxes is provided. The supply pipe comprises a side wall that defines a coolant flow channel with a first opening at a first end, and a second opening at a second end. The first end of the fluid supply pipe is mechanically coupled in fluid communication with the fluid supply conduit of the first connector box.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling the trailing edge portion of a gas turbine vane. Two radially extending passages connected to the outer shroud direct cooling fluid to a plenum formed about mid-span adjacent the trailing edge. Two arrays of cooling fluid passages extend from the plenum. One array extends radially outward toward the outer shroud while the other array extends radially inward toward the inner shroud. The plenum distributes the cooling fluid to the two arrays of passages so that it flows radially inward and outward to manifolds formed in the inner and outer shrouds. The manifolds direct the spent cooling fluid to a discharge passage.

Abstract: An Inverter-Controller Series Compensator (ICSC) has a reactive impedance element connected in series with the line of an ac transmission system and an inverter connected in parallel with the reactive impedance element to control the voltage across, and therefore the current through, the reactive impedance element to provide a continuously adjustable series reactance for power flow control, series voltage regulation, oscillation damping and stability enhancement, as needed. By providing the inverter with a source/sink of real power, the ICSC is further capable of adjusting series impedance. The reactive impedance element can be either a capacitive element or an inductive element depending upon whether there is a need for capacitive or inductive compensation.

Abstract: A shot peening system for peening the tubes of a steam generator continuously generates a shot stream and withdraws the shot stream dispensing nozzle into a vacuum chamber in an end effector while repositioning the nozzle for peening the next tube. A load tank forms an air lock for recycling shot recovered and cleaned by the vacuum system to a pressurized peen tank which feeds the recycled shot to a feed valve for mixing with a flow of compressed air to generate the shot stream. The pressure on the shot in the feed tank and the pressure of the compressed gas supplied to the feed valve are independently regulated to adjust the concentration of shot in the shot stream. The feed valve is constructed for ease of assembly and repair, and directs flow of a purge gas across the shot feed orifice and into a purge line which cycles shot and debris purged from the feed valve to the shot cleaning equipment on the vacuum side.

Abstract: A multi-swirl combustor plate is disclosed. The multi-swirl combustor plate contains a plurality of swirlers arranged around an interior section of the combustor plate, and a plurality of non-swirled holes arranged around an exterior section of the plate that had been cast as a solid section. The swirlers are preferably arranged in concentric circles, and the non-swirled holes are also preferably created in concentric circles disposed outside of the swirlers. In accordance with the present invention, each of the swirlers also preferably comprises an outer wall having a thickness greater than that of the multi-swirl plate and is an extension of the multi-swirl plate disposed in the downstream direction. Similarly, the swirler hub also has a thickness greater than that of the plate is an extension disposed in the downstream direction.

Abstract: A vibrational control system for the coils of a stator includes a coil support bracket affixed to the stator, a coil support brace mounted on the coil support bracket with a shim arranged between the coil support brace and the coil support bracket, a push block arranged between the coils and the coil support brace, and control structure for controlling the vibrations of the stator coils.

Abstract: A system diagnoses the operability of a rotating electrical apparatus such as a reactor coolant pump (RCP) motor. The RCP motor includes a rotatable shaft, a stator, a bearing assembly and a bearing insulator. The bearing assembly electrically contacts the rotatable shaft and the bearing insulator at least partially electrically insulates the rotatable shaft and the bearing assembly from the stator. The system includes a shaft transformer and voltage source for inducing a voltage in the rotatable shaft; a variable resistor in parallel with the bearing insulator having first and second resistances; an analog-to-digital converter for sensing a first voltage associated with the first resistance and a second voltage associated with the second resistance; and means for determining the operability or the impedance of the bearing insulator from the first and second voltages and the second resistance.

Abstract: An integrated data management system for compiling information concerning a plurality of nuclear power plant components includes a distributed database for maintaining the information over a lifetime of each of the nuclear power plant components, data entry terminals for entering the information in the distributed database, and data retrieval terminals for retrieving the information from the distributed database. The database is distributed by a wide-area network interconnecting the data entry and data retrieval terminals with distributed workstations which access the information.

Abstract: The wall of a pressure vessel tube having cracks or other discontinuities is repaired by localized melting with the addition of an alloying material. The melting reforms or eliminates the discontinuity while the alloying material improves the physical and chemical properties of the reformed tube wall. The alloying material may be added as an insert or as a weld wire. The insert may be melted in only its center section to ensure that the entire weld is properly alloyed. Sections of the insert which are not melted may be expanded to be in intimate contact with the tube. The weld wire feed means may be integral with the welding head. A post-weld stress relief process may be applied to the welded area to reduce residual stress generated by the welding operation.

Abstract: A method of magnetically fabricating a particle filled polymer having improved mechanical, electrical, or thermal surface characteristics. Finely divided ferrite particles are first mixed into a hardenable, liquid polymeric material. Next, the particles are magnetically oriented within the material along a selected pattern characterized by a gradient of increasing particle density toward a surface of the material. The polymeric material is then cured into a hardened state in order to affix the pattern of particles therein. The particles may be coated with a hardening material, such as diamond, and attracted to the surface of the material in order to impart desired wear and erosion resistance to the resulting composite. Alternatively, the particles may be coated with a electrically or thermally conducting material, such as silver, and magnetically pulled into intimate contact with one another to impart a high level of electrical or thermal conductivity to the resulting composite.

Abstract: Hydrogen coolers are provided with a cooler frame; cooling tubes positioned within the cooler frame; a tube bundle: an inlet chamber adjacent to an inlet end of the tube bundle; a reverse chamber adjacent to the reverse end of the tube bundle; and a support bracket adapted to be mounted on a frame of an electric generator. The support bracket defines an opening sized to receive inlet and outlet connections to the inlet chamber. The support bracket includes a shoulder for supporting the inlet chamber. This invention also encompasses the method of assembling these coolers in an electric generator.

Abstract: A stem load determining system comprises a method and apparatus for determining the load developed on a threaded stem, including a valve stem driven by a valve operator. An integral component of the apparatus is a stem strain transducer uniquely designed to girp a threaded stem to define a guage length on the threaded stem and to detect and measure deformation of the stem at the guage length when subjected to a compressive or tensile load.