Abstract: Valve leakage is quantified by measuring a variable that is commensurate with a heat transfer characteristic of the pipe wall (30) and comparing the measurements to data stored in a database (84) which embodies a quantitive relationship between an index commensurate with the heat transfer characteristic variable and a range of valve leakage rates that could occur for the given valve. In a straight forward implementation of the invention, a thermal hydraulic analysis of the specific valve and associated piping are performed a priori to establish a database of pipe wall temperature downstream of the valve as a function of steam flow rate. The wall temperature is simply measured and compared with the database. In another embodiment, an air cooled sleeve (54) is installed around the pipe (48) downstream of the valve (50) and a controlled flow of air is passed through the annulus (62) between the pipe and the sleeve.

Abstract: The magnet filter (10,100) has a frame for supporting a plurality of elongated, non-magnetic tubes (20, 108) in a regular, spaced-apart array. A plurality of magnetic bodies (38,112), which can take a variety of forms, are situated in the spaces between the tubes of the array, for imposing a magnetic field within each tube over substantially the full length of each tube. The upstream end of each tube is adapted for receiving a fluid to be magnetically filtered and the downstream end is adapted for discharging such fluid. As the fluid passes through each tube, the magnetic field imparts a force to the magnetizable particulates, which are drawn toward the magnetized internal structure within the tube where they are deposited, thus filtering the fluid. The magnetic bodies may produce a field that is oriented either substantially parallel to the tube, or transverse to the tube.

Abstract: A permanent magnetic filter is provided in a form that includes a closed vessel having an inlet plenum, a central filtering region, and an exit plenum. The central filtering region includes a plurality of magnet filter tubes arranged in a substantially uniform array that is supported in a manner which achieves satisfactory filtering, minimizes fluid pressure drop, and permits easy cleaning.

Abstract: Wet stream is extracted isokinetically through a steam sampling nozzle and is directed, preferably vertically, through a moisture separating and divider unit (24) having a center tube (84) coaxially disposed in a substantially cylindrical shell (20), and a helical swirling device (98) coaxially located within the tube, which imparts centrifugal motion to the wet steam. As the steam passes through the helical device, the separated moisture droplets are drawn off from the vapor through holes (92, 94) in the periphery of the tube and fall to a liquid accumulator volume (26) in the shell. The extracted vapor is passed out of the shell to a measurement station including an orifice plate or venturi. Sensors (48, 50) are provided in the shell accumulator volume, to measure directly or indirectly, the mass of water extracted from the moisture separator. Similarly, the orifice plate and associated sensors (36, 38), measure the mass of vapor in the steam from which the liquid was extracted.

Abstract: The wet steam flow distribution section (20) of the moisture separator reheater (10) includes a multiplicity of side-by-side spaced-apart channel bars (52,54,56) extending transversely to the direction of steam flow from the distribution section to the moisture separator section (24). The bars are preferably substantially U-shaped in section, whereby the two leg portions (60,62) of each bar may be angled and slightly spaced apart from confronting leg portions of adjacent bars, thereby defining respective diffuser nozzles (64). Each nozzle has a discharge end cross-section elongated in the direction parallel to the bars, for directing wet steam toward the separator section. The spacing (Y) and other design variables associated with the bars, permit optimization and uniformity of flow over the full axial extent of the moisture separator reheater unit with minimum pressure drop across the steam distribution apparatus.

Abstract: A nuclear steam generator having anti-vibration bars for limiting the motion of spaced heat exchanging tubes is provided with a shim located between every n.sup.th tube where n is greater than 1. The shims have a thickness equal to n times the dimensional difference (x-y) of the distance x between a pair of tubes and the width y of an anti-vibration bar between the tubes. The shim is of channel-shape and is put in position by cutting and removing the wrap-around bars from the outside of the tube bundle, inserting and expanding a bladder to spread the pair of tubes in the bundle on opposite sides of an anti-vibration bar, moving the anti-vibration bar between the pair of tubes to one side of the opening created by the bladder, inserting a shim of modular links between the anti-vibration bar and one tube of the pair of tubes and repeating the bladder inserting, expanding and anti-vibration bar moving steps to insert shims at intervals n along the bundle.

Abstract: A moisture separator reheater (12) comprising a wet steam region (32) for containing moisture laden water vapor and a dry steam region (36) containing dry water vapor. An entrance tube (74, 118, 152, 174) is fluidly connected to the wet steam region. Swirlers (76, 134, 178) or similar deflection structure (170, 172) are provided for separating the flow of steam through the entrance tube into liquid and vapor streams. A concentric exit tube (86, 136, 176), or similar structure (158), directs the flow of the vapor stream into the dry steam region while bypassing the liquid stream. The tubes and associated structure are preferably arranged in a steam dryer assembly bundle (54) having a lower plate (128), a plurality of entrance tubes secured to the lower plate, and an upper plate (126) through which the exit tubes pass.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tubular metal cart combining ease of manufacture, economy of space and money and utility, particularly for accommodating a plurality of bins designated to contain different types of recyclable trash which are filled in one location and then transported to another location where the trash is picked up for disposal. The trash bin cart has an upper handle portion swept backwardly, a central vertical portion and a floor portion for bearing most of the weight of the individual trash bins. Attached to the upper part of the vertical central portion is a common lid which accommodates the plurality of bins at the collection site. The bin is braced at the rear vertical central portion and side bracing is also provided to connect the lower part of the vertical central portion with the horizontal part of the floor portion. Vertical foot portions, each of which can be provided with a rubber or plastic toe, extend from the horizontal floor portions of the bin.

Abstract: A moisture separator reheater (10) tube support where the tubes are resiliently supported on curve-shaped metal spring members (46 or 58-64) in a manner permitting differential thermal radial and axial growth between the tube runs (26) and the support and spacer plate (30). The moisture separator reheater (10) units are used in nuclear pressurized water reactor systems.

Abstract: In a shell and tube type heat exchanger, flattened tubes (50) are inserted between each layer of tubes (36) in the tube bend region thereof. The flattened tubes are then pressurized, to expand them in the region below the tube bends (60), so that they lock the batwing support plates (41) into place, thus preventing them from vibrating and causing damage to the tubes in the first few rows of the tube bundle.

Abstract: A nuclear steam generator including a vessel, means to introduce vaporizable fluid into the bottom portion of the vessel, an outlet near the top through which vapor is discharged, a horizontal tube sheet extending across the vessel, a plurality of U-shaped tubes, having each end secured to and extending through the tube sheet, means for introducing heating fluid to one end of each of the U-shaped tubes, means for removing heating fluid from the other end of each of the U-shaped tubes, tube support means positioned within the vessel for preventing tube vibration, the tube support means including horizontally positioned means closely surrounding, but slightly spaced from each tube, means through which access can be had to the vessel interior beneath the tube sheet when the steam generator is not in operation, and testing means for determining whether or not a tube is locked into a tube support means including a longitudinal member, with a first end located inside the tube to be tested, and a second end located