Abstract: An inspection apparatus is suspended from a robotic positioning arm and is operable to inspect the surface of a boiling water reactor core shroud. The apparatus includes an attachment bracket connected to the robotic positioning arm. A guide is connected to the attachment bracket and receives an arcuate rail having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion. A motor assembly drives the rail within the guide to position the rail at a desired location along the core shroud surface relating to the guide. The rail carries a transducer assembly which is moved along the rail by a chain and sprocket assembly. As the motor assembly drives the rail, the chain and sprocket assembly simultaneously moves the transducer assembly along the rail to inspect the core shroud surface.

Abstract: Convective cooling of turbine hot parts using a closed loop system is disclosed. Preferably, the present invention is applied to cooling the hot parts of combustion turbine power plants, and the cooling provided permits an increase in the inlet temperature and the concomitant benefits of increased efficiency and output. In preferred embodiments, methods and apparatus are disclosed wherein air is removed from the combustion turbine compressor and delivered to passages internal to one or more of a combustor and turbine hot parts. The air cools the combustor and turbine hot parts via convection and heat is transferred through the surfaces of the combustor and turbine hot parts.

Abstract: Prompt Gamma Neuteon Activation Analysis (PGNAA) is employed to determined in situ the content of nickel, copper, or other embrittlement-enhancing elements within the weld metal joints of nuclear reactor pressure vessels.

Abstract: A power plant that combusts hydrogen with oxygen in a high pressure combustor to produce steam, which is mixed with cooling steam before being sent to a high pressure expander, which expands the steam and generates rotating shaft power. The expanded steam is mixed with steam from the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen in an intermediate pressure combustor and expanded in an intermediate pressure turbine, thus generating more rotating shaft power. The steam from the intermediate pressure turbine is fed into a heat recovery steam generator that cools the steam and heats water streams to form cooling steam for at least one of the turbines and the combustors. The now cooled steam exits the steam generator and passes through a low pressure turbine, thereby generating more rotating shaft power, and is condensed into the water streams for heating into cooling steam in the steam generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing symbol timing for a QPSK demodulator. A matched filter pair outputs respective "early-punctual-late" signals. The early and late signals are input to a symbol synchronizing estimator that produces an interpolation control signal used by the filters to synchronize the symbol timing to the sample timing. The punctual signal is output as an information bearing signal representing the received inphase and quadrature signals. The matched filters are interpolating matched filters. The symbol synchronizing estimator normalizes the early and late signals in a manner that allow the demodulator to "flywheel" over signals having a low signal to noise ratio below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A fluted stator frame for an electric generator is provided. The fluted stator frame has a frame shell, a plurality of flat plates, a plurality of inner frame rings and a plurality of revised axial spring bars. A stator core is connected to the inner frame rings by means of the revised axial spring bars. The inner frame rings are connected to the frame shell by means of the flat plates. Each flat plate is slanted so that the plurality of flat plates are arranged in a truss formation. The spaces between the flat plates and the frame shell define gas flow ducts. The gas flow ducts provide a path for a flow of cooling gas to remove heat from the stator core of the generator.

Abstract: Hydrogen is used as the fuel source in a gas turbine combined cycle power plant. The hydrogen may be combusted in either a mixture of compressed air and steam or a mixture of pure oxygen and steam. In either case, the work of compression associated with pressurizing the oxidant for the combustion process is considerably reduced since steam, rather than excess air, is used to moderate combustion temperature, as well as to cool the turbine components. The steam is produced by transferring heat from the turbine exhaust gas to feed water. Since no hydrocarbon fuel is used, fuel bound NOx is eliminated. Moreover, if pure oxygen is used, rather than air, for the combustion of the hydrogen, then the only emission from the power plant is water vapor, which may be condensed and returned to the cycle.

Abstract: A method and system for improved ion exchange chromatographic elemental separations of zirconium and hafnium elements and also, if desired, separations of the isotopes thereof from crude zirconium minerals by using improved crude aqueous zirconium (also containing hafnium) chloride feedstock solutions, aqueous chloride eluant solutions, cationic or anionic exchange resins, and reduced ion exchange chromatographic operating temperatures. The method and system of the invention provides improved crude aqueous zirconium chloride feedstock solutions by carbochlorinating zircon sand and hydrolyzing and dissolving the chlorination products under controlled conditions to substantially eliminate cross-polymerization of the carbochlorination products, which undesirably yield inseparable zirconium and hafnium co-polymers during hydrolysis, by inhibiting the hydrolysis exotherm and/or the free acid generation during hydrolysis.

Abstract: An improved method for removing scale, sludge, corrosion and other debris and deposits from the interior of a heat exchanger vessel such as a nuclear steam generator, includes generating pressure pulses in a non-corrosive, strongly basic, amine-containing chemical cleaning agent in aqueous solution after the agent has been introduced into the interior of the vessel to create shock waves in the liquid for dislodging, dissolving and fluidizing sludge and corrosion products. The chemical cleaning agent is an aqueous solution containing at least one of the group of lower alkyl amines, e.g., dimethylamine, ethylamine, 1,2-diaminoethane, or diaminopropane, lower alkanol amines, e.g., ethanolamine, 2-methyl-2-amino-1-propanol, and 5-aminopentanol, lower alkoxy alkyl amines, e.g., 3-methoxypropylamine, and cyclic diimines, e.g., 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-bipyridine, and 4,4'-bipyridine, and terpyridine, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A passive blade vibration monitor sensor for determining an arrival time of a blade of a combustion turbine during operation, the sensor includes an optical lens which receives infrared radiation generated by the blade of the turbine and generates a sensor signal from the received infrared radiation, the sensor signal indicating an arrival time of the blade of the combustion turbine. Target material having an emissivity lower than the emissivity of the blade may be placed on the blade to enhance sensor sensitivity especially in shrouded blade environments.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for repairing leaks in turbine generators that have water cooled stator coils with hollow conductor strands. Such generators have a tendency to leak where the stator coil joins a header. Once a leak is detected the repair is accomplished by following the steps off the invention. First, the header is cut into an outboard section, and into an inboard section that remains attached to the conductor strands. Second, the exposed lead ends of the conductor strands and the attached inboard section are cleaned to remove oxidation. Third, a water-tight braze seal is applied over the lead ends of the conductor strands. And finally, the stator coil and the inboard section are joined to a new outboard section.

Abstract: A real-time parameter margin monitoring system, for a pressurized vessel of an operating nuclear power plant, includes a data acquisition subsystem for acquiring a plurality of real-time parameters associated with the pressurized vessel; a first subsystem for determining a plurality of characteristic parameters from the real-time parameters; a second subsystem for determining a normal operating envelope associated with the pressurized vessel, with the normal operating envelope having a plurality of dimensions each of which corresponds to one of the characteristic parameters, and with each of the dimensions having at least one limit associated with the corresponding one of the characteristic parameters; and a display subsystem for displaying at least one representation of at least some of the characteristic parameters and displaying representations of at least some of the limits of the normal operating envelope, with the representation of some of the characteristic parameters being associated with some of the

Abstract: A gas turbine rotor has an essentially closed loop cooling air scheme in which cooling air drawn from the compressor discharge air that is supplied to the combustion chamber is further compressed, cooled, and then directed to the aft end of the turbine rotor. Downstream seal rings attached to the downstream face of each rotor disc direct the cooling air over the downstream disc face, thereby cooling it, and then to cooling air passages formed in the rotating blades. Upstream seal rings attached to the upstream face of each disc direct the heated cooling air away from the blade root while keeping the disc thermally isolated from the heated cooling air. From each upstream seal ring, the heated cooling air flows through passages in the upstream discs and is then combined and returned to the combustion chamber from which it was drawn.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus for separating particulate matter from a gas stream. The filtering apparatus has a pressure vessel defining an interior chamber having a dirty gas inlet opening and a clean gas exit opening. A tubesheet is coupled within the pressure vessel thereby dividing said pressure vessel into a dirty gas side and a clean gas side. A support pipe for supporting a plenum chamber within the pressure vessel dirty gas side is securely coupled with the tubesheet. The plenum chamber for supporting a plurality of filter elements is coupled to the support pipe. The plenum chamber has a side wall having at least one dirty gas port and clean gas exit formed therein. The side wall further defines a clean gas chamber. A plurality of filter element guides are securely coupled within the clean gas chamber for supporting at least one filter element and preventing filter elements from moving laterally.

Abstract: An efficiently radiating helical antenna includes a conductive helix receiving signals to be radiated at a first end of the conductive helix device for capacitively pulling fields generated by the signals towards a second end of the conductive helix opposite the first end. The device may be a conductive tube inserted into the second end of the conductive helix or a disjointed conductive helix surrounding the conductive helix. This scheme works especially well for a conductive helix having a circumference on the order of one wavelength.

Abstract: An airfoil for use in a turbomachine such as a stationary vane in a gas turbine. The airfoil has a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs in its trailing edge region that form first cooling fluid passages extending from the airfoil cavity to the trailing edge of the airfoil. The first cooling fluid passages are tapered so that their height and width decrease as they extend toward the trailing edge. Turbulating fins are spaced along the length of each passage to increase the heat transfer. The ribs have a plurality of radially extending passages spaced along their length so as to form an array of interconnected longitudinal and radial passages. The airfoil is formed by a casting process using a core that has longitudinal and radial fingers that correspond to the longitudinal and radial passages of the airfoil.

Abstract: Power flow in a transmission line carrying alternating current is controlled by injecting into the transmission line in series a compensating voltage which is either in phase or 180.degree. out of phase with a reactive component of the transmission line voltage. The compensating voltage is generated by a voltage source converter operated by a controller which determines the angle of the transmission line voltage from voltage measurements taken at spaced apart points on the transmission line. Operation of the inverter in this voltage control mode results in an increase in power flow when the compensating voltage is injected at 180.degree. out of phase with the voltage across the transmission line effective reactance.

Abstract: Method for expanding tubular members, such as U-shaped heat transfer tubes having ends thereof located in the confined space adjacent the curved sides of the bowl-shaped lower plenum of a typical nuclear steam generator. The apparatus includes an elongate mandrel having a flow channel therethrough in communication with a resilient tubular bladder surrounding the mandrel. The bladder is flexible about its longitudinal axis due to the ribbed construction of the wall thereof. The mandrel includes a plurality of segments, adjacent ones of the segments interconnected by a ball-and-socket joint therebetween, so that the segments swivel about respective ones of the ball-and-socket joints. Thus, the mandrel and the expandable bladder connected thereto are flexible rather than rigid in order to be easily inserted into the tube ends located adjacent the curved sides of the bowl-shaped plenum and in order to easily traverse the upper U-bend portion of the tube.

Abstract: Method of restricting transverse displacement of a nuclear heat exchanger tube support plate during a transient event, the support plate having a plurality of holes therethrough for passage of respective ones of a plurality of heat transfer tubes. The method includes radially expanding the tube adjacent the first side of the support plate to define a first expanded region thereat, the tube being expanded to a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole formed through the support plate. The method further includes radially expanding the tube adjacent the second side of the support plate to define a second expanded region thereat, the tube being expanded to a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole formed through the support plate. The first expanded region and the second expanded region coact to restrict transverse displacement of the support plate because the support plate is firmly captured between the first expanded region and the second expanded region.

Abstract: A mono-container fuel cell generator (10) contains a layer of interior insulation (14), a layer of exterior insulation (16) and a single housing (20) between the insulation layers, where fuel cells, containing electrodes and electrolyte, are surrounded by the interior insulation (14) in the interior (12) of the generator, and the generator is capable of operating at temperatures over about 650.degree. C., where the combination of interior and exterior insulation layers have the ability to control the temperature in the housing (20) below the degradation temperature of the housing material. The housing can also contain integral cooling ducts, and a plurality of these generators can be positioned next to each other to provide a power block array with interior cooling.