Abstract: A superconducting electrical conductor comprises a porous substrate of bonded fibers which are coated by ceramic oxide superconducting material of the perovskite type so that its critical temperature of superconductivity is at or above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. To form electrical cable, the conductor is encased within an inner tube. An outer tube surrounds the inner tube and defines an evacuated annular space therewith. This provides a thermal barrier between substrate, which will be bathed by liquid nitrogen, and the ambient. Electrical and heat insulation surrounds the outer tube.Joint connectors in the form of multiple rigid rods, each coated by superconducting material and held in a perforated frame, are used to connect facing ends of the substrate to form an electrical connection from one length of conductor to the next.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the flow of a packed bed of particles moving in a primary stream comprises positioning a feedpipe having an open end facing downstream in the primary stream and feeding a secondary stream of particles through the feedpipe to satisfy a void that would otherwise be formed downstream of the feedpipe due to the passage of the primary stream of particles. The flow of the primary stream is proportional to the flow of the secondary stream. The flow of the secondary stream can be measured either by measuring the amount of particles being metered into the feedpipe or by connecting a hopper to the feedpipe and measuring the rate at which a level of particles in the hopper falls.

Abstract: A monitoring system 10 for providing a display 38 of the margin between actual and saturation pressure as well as a display 68 between actual and saturation temperature for the cooling fluid of a nuclear reactor. The system 10 also has an alarm 46 which is set off whenever the pressure margin to saturation pressure reaches a predetermined limit as well as a temperature margin alarm 78 which sets off an alarm whenever the temperature margin to saturation temperature reaches a predetermined limit.