Abstract: An apparatus for supporting spent nuclear fuel. The apparatus may include a basket apparatus that is designed to be inserted into a cavity of a container or cask. The basket apparatus may be formed by arranging a plurality of slotted plates in an intersecting manner. The slotted plates may form fuel cells for storing fuel assemblies with spent nuclear fuel rods therein and flux trap spaces between adjacent ones of the fuel cells. Furthermore, the apparatus may include reinforcement members positioned in the flux traps to increase the structural strength of the basket apparatus.

Abstract: A system for removing thermal energy generated by radioactive materials comprising: an air-cooled shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising a shell and plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a substantially vertical orientation within the shell, the plurality of heat exchange tubes comprising interior cavities that collectively form a tube-side fluid path, the shell forming a shell-side fluid path that extends from an air inlet of the shell to an air outlet of the shell, the first air inlet located at a lower elevation than the air outlet; a heat rejection closed-loop fluid circuit comprising the tube-side fluid path of the air-cooled heat exchanger, a coolant fluid flowing through the heat rejection closed-loop fluid circuit, the heat rejection closed-loop fluid circuit thermally coupled to the radioactive materials so that thermal energy generated by the radioactive materials is transferred to the coolant fluid; and the air-cooled shell-and-tube heat exchanger transferring thermal energy from the coola

Abstract: A fuel rack for nuclear fuel assemblies includes a base plate and an array of cells for holding fuel assemblies. The array of cells includes: a plurality of first slotted plates slidably interlocked with one another to form a top portion of the array of cells, the plurality of first slotted plates formed of a first material; a plurality of second slotted plates slidably interlocked with one another to form a middle portion of the array of cells, the plurality of second slotted plates formed of a second material, the first and second materials being metallurgically incompatible; and a plurality of third slotted plates slidably interlocked with one another to form a bottom portion of the array of cells, the plurality of third slotted plates formed of the first material and connected to a top surface of the base plate.

Abstract: Described herein is a powder blend comprising a first component comprising a blend of a first metal particle and a first ceramic particle; and a second component comprising a reinforcing chip, the reinforcing chip comprising a second ceramic particle dispersed within a chip metal matrix.

Abstract: A seismic-resistant fuel storage system for a nuclear fuel pool includes a lined fuel pool and a fuel rack comprising tubular nuclear fuel storage cells attached to a common baseplate. Pedestals protrude downwardly from the baseplate supporting the rack on the pool base slab. Spaced embedment plates are fixedly anchored to the base slab to eliminate relative movement between the plates and pool liner. The embedment plates comprise upwardly open recessed receptacles each entrapping one of the rack pedestals therein. The receptacles are configured such that lateral movement of the fuel rack along the base slab in the event of a seismic event is constrained via engagement between receptacle walls and pedestals. Lateral seismic loads are not transferred to the pool liner. In some embodiments, the baseplates in the pool are coplanar and may be abutting engaged to mitigate rack movement during a seismic event.

Abstract: Materials and methods for producing localized hypothermia in a patient (e.g., for treatment of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer).

Abstract: A system for preparing a container holding radioactive waste for dry storage. In one aspect, the invention can be a system for preparing a container having a cavity loaded with radioactive elements for dry storage, the system comprising: a gas circulation system comprising a condenser module, a desiccant module, and a gas circulator module; the gas circulation system configured to form a hermetically sealed closed-loop path when operably connected to the cavity of the container; and means for adding and removing the desiccant module as part of the hermetically sealed closed-loop path.

Abstract: Free-solvent-free lithium sulfonimide salt compositions that are liquid at room temperature, and methods of making free-solvent-free liquid lithium sulfonimide salt compositions. In an embodiment, the methods include mixing one or more lithium sulfonimide salts with one or more ether-based solvents and then removing the free solvent(s) under suitable vacuum, temperature, and time conditions so as to obtain a free-solvent-free liquid lithium sulfonimide salt composition that is liquid at room temperature. In an embodiment, the only solvent molecules that remain in the liquid lithium sulfonimide salt composition are adducted with lithium sulfonimide salt molecules. An example automated processing system for making free-solvent-free liquid lithium sulfonimide salts is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for configuring a handover threshold for wireless devices in a wireless network. A plurality of wireless devices operating in a radio range of an access node (AN) are instructed to report an actual maximum allowable transmit power value at the AN. The plurality of wireless devices are classified based on the reported actual maximum allowable transmit power value. Handover thresholds for the plurality of wireless devices are configured based on the classification.

Abstract: Reactivity mapping methods are provided. A method may include: analyzing each of a group of inorganic particles to generate data about physical and/or chemical properties of the inorganic particles; and generating correlations between the properties of inorganic particles based on the data.

Abstract: Methods of wellbore cementing are provided. A method of cementing may comprise: calculating a lime to silica correlation for two or more cementitious components of a cement composition; and adjusting a concentration of at least one of the cementitious components such that the lime to silica correlation meets or exceeds a target.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and systems structured to provide an indication of the status of a cementing operation in a wellbore. Electromagnetic radiation from a source can be directed to a fluid region in or around a casing in a wellbore, where an electromagnetic response can be detected from interaction of the electromagnetic radiation in the fluid region. Presence or absence of cement in the fluid region can be determined based the electromagnetic response. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods can be implemented in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A method of forming a sealed canister and a method of storing radioactive materials is provided. The method of forming includes placing a top plate on a top opening of a side wall, a bottom of the side wall being sealed to a base plate. The top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with a channel set in from the top edge. Finally, a weld is formed between the beveled top edge and the top opening of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall.

Abstract: A method and system to help control CoMP service in a V-RAN arrangement. The load on a cell site's fronthaul network interface between the cell site's RRH and the cell site's BBU is determined. And in response to detecting that the fronthaul load is threshold high, a limit will be imposed on application of CoMP service involving the cell site. For example, in response to detecting that the cell site's fronthaul network interface is threshold highly loaded, (i) the cell site could be made to use decentralized joint processing rather than centralized joint processing, (ii) a lower coverage strength threshold could be imposed as a basis to trigger CoMP service involving the cell site, and/or (iii) the quantity of uplink communication that is subject to CoMP service involving the cell site could be limited.

Abstract: An air-cooled condenser system for steam condensing applications in a power plant Rankine cycle includes an air cooled condenser having a plurality of interconnected modular cooling cells. Each cell comprises a frame-supported fan, inlet steam headers, outlet condensate headers, and tube bundle assemblies having extending between the headers. The tube bundle assemblies may be arranged in a V-shaped tube structure. A plurality of deflection limiter beams are arranged coplanar with the tube bundles. Top ends of each deflection limiter beam are slideably inserted in an associated floating end cap affixed to an upper tubesheet which moves vertically relative to the beams via thermal expansion/contraction concomitantly with the tubes. The deflection limiter beams provides guided restraint system for expansion/contraction of the tube bundles which prevents out of plane tube bowing.

Abstract: A container and system for handling damaged nuclear fuel, and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the invention is a damaged fuel container having a specially designed top cap that can be detachably coupled to the elongated tubular wall by simply translating the top cap into proper position within the elongated tubular wall, wherein biased locking elements automatically lock the top cap to the elongated tubular wall. In another embodiment, the vent screens of the damaged fuel container are integrally formed rather than being separate components. In still other embodiments, the lower vent screens are arranged on an upstanding portion of the damaged fuel container. In an even further embodiment, the elongated tubular wall is formed by an extrusion process.

Abstract: Free-solvent-free lithium sulfonimide salt compositions that are liquid at room temperature, and methods of making free-solvent-free liquid lithium sulfonimide salt compositions. In an embodiment, the methods include mixing one or more lithium sulfonimide salts with one or more ether-based solvents and then removing the free solvent(s) under suitable vacuum, temperature, and time conditions so as to obtain a free-solvent-free liquid lithium sulfonimide salt composition that is liquid at room temperature. In an embodiment, the only solvent molecules that remain in the liquid lithium sulfonimide salt composition are adducted with lithium sulfonimide salt molecules. An example automated processing system for making free-solvent-free liquid lithium sulfonimide salts is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to substituted urea depsipeptide analogs, derivatives thereof, and related compounds, which are useful as activators the ClpP endopeptidease; synthesis methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating infectious disease using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of a downhole fluid at a particular location in a wellbore including pumping an activating fluid into a wellbore; contacting a flow controlling device in a pipe string casing with the activating fluid, the flow controlling device comprising at least one swellable element; activating the at least one swellable element in the flow controlling device; blocking fluids or controlling the flow of fluids entering or leaving the casing with the activated flow controlling device; allowing the pressure to change; and detecting the pressure change. An apparatus includes a pipe string in a wellbore and a flow controlling device in the pipe string casing, wherein the flow controlling device includes at least one swellable element, wherein upon activation, the at least one swellable element swells and fully or partially seals off the flow area of the flow controlling device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single-phase or homogeneous solution comprising a high concentration of a salt, in particular a lithium salt, in an organic solvent. Such a high salt content in organic solvent is useful in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, in electrical energy storage devices as well as other devices that can benefit from a low-volatility liquid electrolyte.