Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine having primary and secondary combustion zones. The combustor has a centrally disposed dual fuel nozzle that can supply a fuel rich mixture of either liquid or gaseous fuel to the primary combustion zone. The combustor also has primary gas fuel spray pegs for supplying a lean mixture of gaseous fuel to the primary combustion zone via a first annular pre-mixing passage and secondary dual fuel spray bars for supplying a lean mixture of either gaseous or liquid fuel to the secondary combustion zone via a second annular pre-mixing passage. The dual fuel spray bars are aerodynamically shaped and have passages for distributing gas and liquid fuel to a number of fuel discharge ports. The gas fuel discharge ports are formed in two rows on either side of the spray bar. The liquid fuel discharge ports are formed by a row of spray nozzles arranged along the downstream edge of the spray bar.

Abstract: A transfer pump used in a waste tank for transferring high-level radioactive liquid waste from a waste tank and having a column assembly, a canned electric motor means, and an impeller assembly with an upper impeller and a lower impeller connected to a shaft of a rotor assembly. The column assembly locates a motor housing with the electric motor means adjacent to the impeller assembly which creates an hydraulic head, and which forces the liquid waste, into the motor housing to cool the electric motor means and to cool and/or lubricate the radial and thrust bearing assemblies. Hard-on-hard bearing surfaces of the bearing assemblies and a ring assembly between the upper impeller and electric motor means grind large particles in the liquid waste flow.

Abstract: A component maintenance system having a network linked to a data acquisition system, a data analysis system, a historical file of component design and inspection information, and a diagnostic system having the capability to perform structural analysis of discontinuities identified by the data acquisition system. The network nodes may be located apart from each other; for example in the maintenance of a nuclear power plant steam generator, the data acquisition system may be located in a high radiation area while the data analysis system is safely located away from the radiation areas. Furthermore, the diagnostic system and the file of component design and inspection history information may be centrally located and shared to support component evaluations being conducted in numerous geographic locations. Network communication facilitates the rapid evaluation of discontinuities, thereby permitting the inspection plan to be modified as the inspection results are obtained.

Abstract: The gas from combustion or gasification of fossil fuel contains flyash and other particulate. The flyash is separated from the gas in a plurality of standleg moving granular-bed filter modules. Each module includes a dipleg through which the bed media flows into the standleg. The bed media forms a first filter bed having an upper mass having a first frusto-conical surface in a frusto-conical member at the entrance to the standleg and a lower mass having a second frusto-conical surface of substantially greater area than the first surface after it passes through the standleg. A second filter media bed may be formed above the first filter media bed. The gas is fed tangentially into the module above the first surface. The flyash is captured on the first frusto-conical surface and within the bed mass. The processed gas flows out through the second frusto-conical surface and then through the second filter bed, if present.

Abstract: A steam generator originally having hydraulic snubbers damping lateral thermal movement of the steam generator is backfit to laterally support the steam generator without hydraulic damping. Hydraulic fluid is emptied from piston cylinders of all snubbers extending from a steam generator; and then stops are placed around piston rods extending into the piston cylinders of empty snubbers extending from the back side of the steam generator to stop the thermal growth of the steam generator in the operation of the nuclear reactor vessel to generate power. Thus, the costs associated with maintaining, inspecting and testing hydraulic snubbers are entirely eliminated. Also, the backside empty snubbers are used as bumpers and do not incur disposal costs.

Abstract: An assay device for detecting the presence of analytes in an unknown sample includes a reaction system wherein resilient storage reservoirs containing reagents are fluidly connected to a track containing the sample. An actuation mechanism forces the reagent from each of the reservoirs into the track where the reagents mix together and with the sample. The mechanism produces a first flow rate and the mechanism is operable to reverse the pressure applied to the reservoirs to reverse the direction of flow of the fluids in the track for a predetermined period of time after which the flow is again reversed. The mechanism then reduces the force applied to allow a second flow rate less than the first flow rate so that reaction can occur whereby a determination may be made as to whether the target analyte is present in the sample.

Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine having primary and secondary combustion zones. The combustor has primary gas fuel spray pegs for supplying a lean mixture of gaseous fuel to the primary combustion zone via a first annular pre-mixing passage and secondary fuel spray bars for supplying a lean mixture of fuel to the secondary combustion zone via a second annular pre-mixing passage. The fuel spray bars are aerodynamically shaped and a row of fuel discharge ports are formed on opposing sides of the spray bar. A pair of mixing fins project outwardly from the spray bar sides. The fins create turbulence in the air flow that ensures adequate mixing of the fuel and air. The fins have sufficient height and are displaced sufficiently far from the fuel discharge ports so that although the turbulence has not dissipated by the time the air flow reaches the fuel discharge ports, the zone of recirculation located downstream from the fins does not extend to the fuel discharge ports.

Abstract: A superframe lock subsystem includes a correlator which searches for and identifies a first unique word indicative of a frame boundary within a received bit stream during an initial acquisition state. A controller subsequently predicts frame boundaries in accordance with the first unique word. In a tentative frame lock state, the correlator searches for and determines if a second unique word exists at the frame boundary subsequent the frame boundary which corresponds to the first unique word. If the second unique word is determined to exist at the corresponding frame boundary and if a single frame duration separates the first and second unique words, the superframe lock subsystem enters a frame lock state. During the frame lock state, information of the corresponding frames is processed.

Abstract: A semi-closed steam turbine power system and method of operation which employs a combustor which injects and combusts hydrogen fuel and oxygen oxidant in a stoichiometric ratio so that the primary by-product of the combustion process is H.sub.2 O. The system also includes a recuperator, fuel preheater, fuel heater, and condenser which enable a substantial portion of the steam in the system to be recycled.

Abstract: A recuperative steam cooled gas turbine in which steam used to cool the turbine section is subsequently introduced into the combustors, thereby recuperating the heat absorbed by the steam during cooling. The steam is generated in a heat recovery steam generator and then directed to a manifold within the turbine shell. From the manifold, the steam flows through passages formed within the interior of the vane by a baffle, thereby cooling the vane and heating the steam. The steam is then discharged from the vane into a chamber that collects the compressed air from the compressor. In the chamber, the heated steam mixes with the compressed air and the air/steam mixture then flows into the combustors, where it serves to reduce NOx generation from the combustors and increase power output from the turbine.

Abstract: A series compensator for damping power oscillations in an electric power transmission system includes a switching power converter which injects a voltage into the transmission line having a phase angle relative to transmission line current which is controlled to provide reactive compensation and to inject virtual real impedance into the line. The switching power converter is a dc to ac converter which is capable of injecting virtual real impedance into the transmission line by virtue of the fact that it has a power exchange device connected to its dc terminals. Where the power exchange device is a resistor, the switching power converter is capable of absorbing real power during surges in power on the line. Alternatively, the power exchange device is a storage device such as a battery bank or a super conducting magnet, in which case the switching power converter can provide both virtual positive and negative real impedance.

Abstract: Soil comprising small soil particles, clay and silt particles, humus, fine vegetation, and contaminated with soluble or insoluble radioactive species is treated by first introducing an aqueous extracting solution comprising a mixture of sodium and potassium carbonate (or bicarbonate), or ammonium carbonate (or bicarbonate) into the soil to solubilize and disperse the radioactive species into solution. The extracting solution has a pH greater than or equal to about 7.5. Contaminated fine vegetation then is separated from the soil and extracting solution. Next, an acid like hydrochloric acid is introduced into the soil. The acid is added in an amount sufficient to lower the pH of the extracting solution at which point desirable organic material will substantially precipitate or coagulate from the extracting solution. The cleansed soil particles, including organic matter, is separated from the contaminated extracting solution.

Abstract: A turbine blade has a cooling air flow path specifically directed toward cooling the platform portion of the blade root. Two cooling air passages are formed in the blade root platform just below its upper surface. Each passage extends radially outward from an inlet that receives a flow of cooling air and then extend axially along almost the entire length of the platform. Each passage also has an outlet formed in the downstream face of the platform that allows the cooling air to exit the platform and enter the hot gas flow path. The passages are formed in portions of the platform that overhang the shank portion of root.

Abstract: This invention provides a process wherein hazardous or radioactive wastes in the form of liquids, slurries, or finely divided solids are mixed with finely divided glassformers (silica, alumina, soda, etc.) and injected directly into the plume of a non-transferred arc plasma torch. The extremely high temperatures and heat transfer rates makes it possible to convert the waste-glassformer mixture into a fully vitrified molten glass product in a matter of milliseconds. The molten product may then be collected in a crucible for casting into final wasteform geometry, quenching in water, or further holding time to improve homogeneity and eliminate bubbles.

Abstract: A combustor for burning a mixture of fuel and air in a rich combustion zone, in which the fuel bound nitrogen in converted to molecular nitrogen. The fuel rich combustion is followed by lean combustion. The products of combustion from the lean combustion are rapidly quenched so as to convert the fuel bound nitrogen to molecular nitrogen without forming NOx. The combustor has an air radial swirler that directs the air radially inward while swirling it in the circumferential direction and a radial fuel swirler that directs the fuel radially outward while swirling it in the same circumferential direction, thereby promoting vigorous mixing of the fuel and air. The air inlet has a variable flow area that is responsive to variations in the heating value of the fuel, which may be a coal-derived fuel gas. A diverging passage in the combustor in front of a bluff body causes the fuel/air mixture to recirculate with the rich combustion zone.

Abstract: A variable area restrictor is disclosed that is preferably used in a turbine engine to provide improved matching between the pressure required for aerofoil cooling and the somewhat lower pressure requirement for supplying air to the interstage seals and disc cavities. In a preferred embodiment, the valve of the present invention comprises a spring loaded valve assembly with a fixed minimum flow area controlled by pre-setting a minimum dimension for the opening between an inlet and the housing or body of the valve. A pre-loaded spring maintains the lift at this minimum dimension until the pressure drop across the flow area exceeds a certain value. Above this critical pressure drop, the valve lifts, causing the flow area to increase, and thereby reducing the supply pressure that would be otherwise necessary to achieve a disc cavity flow adequate to maintain the temperatures within specifications.

Abstract: Narrow groove welding is accomplished with a welding apparatus containing an improved gas lens made of a sintered bronze material. The sintered bronze material requires the use of a higher gas supply pressure than is commonly used, but it results in a higher volume of laminar gas flow, thereby facilitating deep narrow groove welds. The sintered gas lens does not require the use of a skirt below the lens to maintain a column of laminar gas flow, thereby making it possible to mount a light source below the lens directly within the flow of cover gas and away from the line of view of the operator.

Abstract: A ground detector brush which includes at least one metal leaf spring in addition to a metal conductor to which a brush is attached, where the metal conductor is not pre-bent to provide forces when in an active state to electrically engage a surface. The metal leaf spring serves the function of providing forces to electrically engage the brush against the surface and the metal conductor serves only the function of providing a ground or providing an electrical path to monitor a current level of a system.

Abstract: A resin-rich electrically conductive felt material is described. The described conductive felt can be used to suppress corona discharge in high voltage generator coils. The conductive felt is prepared by treatment with electrically conducting polymers, such as polyaniline and polypyrrole, and resistivity values ranging from 4,000 to 100,000 ohms may be obtained. This treated felt can be readily impregnated with thermoset resins, such as epoxies, to provide flexible prepregs suitable for coil bonding applications in turbine generators.