Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for storing or transporting spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, a container for storing spent nuclear fuel comprises a plurality of elongated tubes that receives spent nuclear fuel rods. Each tube has four sidewalls and four corners defining a rectangular cross section. The plurality of tubes is arranged in an alternating pattern. An attachment means attaches together the plurality of tubes at the corners so that two adjacent sidewalls of adjacent tubes are substantially aligned.

Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber, a first in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a first substance including at least gasoline directly to the combustion chamber at a first pressure; and a second in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a second substance including at least an alcohol directly to the combustion chamber at a second pressure less than the first pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed are the apparatus and methods for closing a canister that stores and transports spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, the canister includes a canister shell that includes an open end. A closure lid is inserted within the open end of the canister shell. The closure lid engages the open end of the canister shell to provide a weld area that is substantially on the outer circumference of the closure lid. The weld area includes a first weld layer and a second weld layer. The first weld layer welds the closure lid to the canister shell at the weld area and closes the canister. The second weld layer also welds the closure lid to the canister shell at the weld area, providing a redundant closure seal, and is disposed substantially on top of the first weld layer. The method for closing the canister is provided herein.

Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber, a first in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a first substance including at least gasoline directly to the combustion chamber at a first pressure; and a second in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a second substance including at least an alcohol directly to the combustion chamber at a second pressure less than the first pressure.

Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber, a first in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a first substance including at least gasoline directly to the combustion chamber at a first pressure; and a second in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a second substance including at least an alcohol directly to the combustion chamber at a second pressure less than the first pressure.

Abstract: A system and a method of facilitating fuel vaporization in a directly injected internal combustion engine are provided. As one example, the method comprises: closing an exhaust valve of the cylinder; opening an intake valve after the exhaust valve has closed; moving a piston of the cylinder away from top dead center between the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the intake valve to expand the cylinder volume and reduce a pressure within the cylinder to below a pressure of an air intake manifold of the cylinder; and initiating an injection of fuel directly into the cylinder via an in-cylinder injector after the exhaust valve has closed.

Abstract: A system and a method of facilitating fuel vaporization in a directly injected internal combustion engine are provided. As one example, the method comprises: closing an exhaust valve of the cylinder; opening an intake valve after the exhaust valve has closed; moving a piston of the cylinder away from top dead center between the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the intake valve to expand the cylinder volume and reduce a pressure within the cylinder to below a pressure of an air intake manifold of the cylinder; and initiating an injection of fuel directly into the cylinder via an in-cylinder injector after the exhaust valve has closed.

Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber, a first in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a first substance including at least gasoline directly to the combustion chamber at a first pressure; and a second in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a second substance including at least an alcohol directly to the combustion chamber at a second pressure less than the first pressure.

Abstract: A system and a method of facilitating fuel vaporization in a directly injected internal combustion engine are provided. As one example, vaporization may be improved by coordinating the timing of the directly injected fuel with intake valve opening while also utilizing negative valve overlap between the intake and exhaust valves to generate reduced pressures within the cylinder.

Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber, a first in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a first substance including at least gasoline directly to the combustion chamber at a first pressure; and a second in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a second substance including at least an alcohol directly to the combustion chamber at a second pressure less than the first pressure.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a multiple cylinder direct injection internal combustion engine include injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber during the exhaust stroke at high engine speeds and loads to reduce the effect of intake airflow on the injection spray and improve fuel-air mixture homogeneity.

Abstract: An engine system for a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber, a first in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a first substance including at least gasoline directly to the combustion chamber at a first pressure; and a second in-cylinder direct injector configured to deliver a second substance including at least an alcohol directly to the combustion chamber at a second pressure less than the first pressure.

Abstract: A system and a method of facilitating fuel vaporization in a directly injected internal combustion engine are provided. As one example, the method comprises: closing an exhaust valve of the cylinder; opening an intake valve after the exhaust valve has closed; moving a piston of the cylinder away from top dead center between the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the intake valve to expand the cylinder volume and reduce a pressure within the cylinder to below a pressure of an air intake manifold of the cylinder; and initiating an injection of fuel directly into the cylinder via an in-cylinder injector after the exhaust valve has closed.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a multiple cylinder direct injection internal combustion engine include injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber during the exhaust stroke at high engine speeds and loads to reduce the effect of intake airflow on the injection spray and improve fuel-air mixture homogeneity.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for loading and transferring spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, among others, the system comprises a transfer cask that contains spent nuclear fuel and shields radioactivity of the spent nuclear fuel, and an immersion tank that receives transfer casks within. The immersion tank has fluid that is circulated in the immersion tank, thereby cooling and providing shielding for the received transfer cask containing the spent nuclear fuel.

Abstract: A transport or storage cask comprises a cask body, a modular thermal conducting and shielding system and a mechanical attachment. The modular thermal conducting and shielding system includes a modular fin and a modular neutron shield. The mechanical attachment retains the modular thermal conducting and shielding system to the cask body. The modular fin is disposed between the modular neutron shield and the cask body. The modular fin is capable of dissipating thermal energy from the cask body.

Abstract: A transport or storage cask comprises a cask body, a modular thermal conducting and shielding system and a mechanical attachment. The modular thermal conducting and shielding system includes a modular fin and a modular neutron shield. The mechanical attachment retains the modular thermal conducting and shielding system to the cask body. The modular fin is disposed between the modular neutron shield and the cask body. The modular fin is capable of dissipating thermal energy from the cask body.

Abstract: Disclosed are the apparatus and methods for closing a canister that stores and transports spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, the canister includes a canister shell that includes an open end. A closure lid is inserted within the open end of the canister shell. The closure lid engages the open end of the canister shell to provide a weld area that is substantially on the outer circumference of the closure lid. The weld area includes a first weld layer and a second weld layer. The first weld layer welds the closure lid to the canister shell at the weld area and closes the canister. The second weld layer also welds the closure lid to the canister shell at the weld area, providing a redundant closure seal, and is disposed substantially on top of the first weld layer. The method for closing the canister is provided herein.

Abstract: This invention provides an automatic paper folder with the adjustable distance between a retarder and a feeding wheel assuring the consistency of the automatic feed for most types of paper. The automatic paper folder includes a paper feed assembly that combines the functions of a retractable retarder and a retractable tension block, assuring the automatic feed of a stack of paper, and a bypass for the manual feed of the stapled sets.

Abstract: A versatile paper folder provides the folding of paper of any size within the pre-determined range into half-fold, letter fold, z-fold, double parallel fold, and brochure fold. There are two paper stop drive assemblies of similar construction, each providing for the automatic positioning of the respective paper stops. In both paper stop drive assemblies, a potentiometer provides an electronic feedback to a microprocessor on the current position of a belt with the paper stop. The microprocessor then activates a motor that moves the belt with the paper stop to a new position defined by the user input. The automatically-adjustable paper stops require the input from a user on the type of fold and paper, but not the user's intervention in the adjustment of the paper stops.