Abstract: A nuclear fuel rod cladding tube is described. The nuclear fuel cladding tube has an oxidation resistant coating of Chromium-Niobium Nitride (Cr—Nb—N). A method for manufacturing a nuclear fuel rod cladding tube is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bore hole drilling system and method. The system includes a mobile bore hole drilling platform including a mast disposed on the platform including a support for a drill string and a tube member for location within the collar region of a bore hole. The tube member includes an internal longitudinal passage for receiving a drill string therethrough and an external surface for facing outwardly against a wall of the bore hole. The system includes a coupling mechanism that is configured to couple and decouple the tube member and the drilling platform when the tube member is located coaxially within the collar region of the bore hole and substantially axially aligned with the drill string and/or the mast.

Abstract: A user-input system includes a force-measuring device, a cover member, and an elastic circuit board substrate interposed between the force-measuring device and the cover member and mechanically coupled to the cover member and to the force-measuring device. The force-measuring device includes a strain-sensing element. The force-measuring device is mounted to and electrically connected to the elastic circuit board substrate. The cover member undergoes a primary mechanical deformation in response to forces imparted at the cover member. The elastic circuit board substrate transmits a portion of the primary mechanical deformation to the force-measuring device resulting in a concurrent secondary mechanical deformation of the force-measuring device. The strain-sensing element is configured to output voltage signals in accordance with a time-varying strain at the strain-sensing element resulting from the secondary mechanical deformation.

Abstract: A method for quantifying oceanic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration is provided. The method includes obtaining a plurality of oceanic spatiotemporal carbon dioxide (CO2) measurements. A plurality of spatiotemporal chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and a plurality of oceanic temperature measurements are obtained. The obtained plurality of oceanic spatiotemporal CO2 measurements is mapped to the obtained plurality of spatiotemporal Chl-a and the plurality of oceanic temperature measurements in a multidimensional grid. At least one a priori oceanic spatiotemporal CO2 estimate is generated based on the multidimensional grid.

Abstract: A coating for protecting a Zirconium alloy based layer of a nuclear fuel rod cladding is provided. The coating comprises a primary layer. A microstructure of the primary layer is comprised of a number of grains and is randomized. The primary layer is configured with a density of about 94.5% or greater. A cladding for a nuclear fuel rod and a method for producing a cladding for a nuclear fuel rod are also provided.

Abstract: A solid-state switch for an external system includes a cover member, a first solid-state transducer, a second transducer, a microcontroller, a user feedback device, and a switching circuit. The first transducer is mechanically coupled to the cover member and configured to generate first signals in response to a perturbation at the cover member. The second transducer is configured to generate second signals in response to the perturbation. The microcontroller is configured to obtain first data from the first signals, second data from the second signals, and determine user inputs in accordance with at least the first data, the second data, and an operational state of the solid-state switch. The user feedback device is configured to provide feedback to a user of the switch in accordance with a switching behavior of the switching circuit.

Abstract: Nuclear fuel rods are disclosed. The nuclear fuel rods include a substrate and a chromium alloy coating layer applied to the substrate. The chromium alloy coating layer comprises chromium (Cr); a element or compound selected from the group consisting of yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), thorium (Th), zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti), hafnium (I-lf), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), vanadium (V), rhenium (Re), ruthenium (Ru), cobalt (Co), aluminum (Al), carbides, borides, intermetallics, and combinations thereof; and interstitial elements up to 1500 ppm, wherein carbon (C), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N) are each 500 ppm or less.

Abstract: A user-input system includes a force-measuring device, a cover member, and an elastic circuit board substrate interposed between the force-measuring device and the cover member and mechanically coupled to the cover member and to the force-measuring device. The force-measuring device includes a strain-sensing element. The force-measuring device is mounted to and electrically connected to the elastic circuit board substrate. The cover member undergoes a primary mechanical deformation in response to forces imparted at the cover member. The elastic circuit board substrate transmits a portion of the primary mechanical deformation to the force-measuring device resulting in a concurrent secondary mechanical deformation of the force-measuring device. The strain-sensing element is configured to output voltage signals in accordance with a time-varying strain at the strain-sensing element resulting from the secondary mechanical deformation.

Abstract: A solid-state switch for an external system includes a cover member, a first solid-state transducer, a second transducer, a microcontroller, a user feedback device, and a switching circuit. The first transducer is mechanically coupled to the cover member and configured to generate first signals in response to a perturbation at the cover member. The second transducer is configured to generate second signals in response to the perturbation. The microcontroller is configured to obtain first data from the first signals, second data from the second signals, and determine user inputs in accordance with at least the first data, the second data, and an operational state of the solid-state switch. The user feedback device is configured to provide feedback to a user of the switch in accordance with a switching behavior of the switching circuit.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized. The cooking appliance further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element. The cooking appliance further includes a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level based on the temperature or rate of temperature change of the cooking element. The at least one heating element will remain at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element.

Abstract: A cladding tube, a fuel rod and a fuel assembly are disclosed. The cladding tube comprises a tubular base component having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner space of the cladding tube housing a pile of fuel pellets. The tubular base component is made of a Zr-based alloy. A coating is applied onto the outer surface for protecting the tubular base component from mechanical wear, oxidation and hydriding. The Zr-based alloy has the following composition: Zr=balance, Al=0-2 wt %, Ti=0-20 wt %, Sn=0-6 wt %, Fe=0-0.4 wt %, Nb=0-0.4 wt %, O=200-1800 wtppm, C=0-200 wtppm, Si=0-200 wtppm, and S=0-200 wtppm. The total amount of Al+Ti+Sn>2.5 wt % and ?28 wt %.

Abstract: A user-input system includes a force-measuring device, a cover member, and an elastic circuit board substrate interposed between the force-measuring device and the cover member and mechanically coupled to the cover member and to the force-measuring device. The force-measuring device includes a strain-sensing element. The force-measuring device is mounted to and electrically connected to the elastic circuit board substrate. The cover member undergoes a primary mechanical deformation in response to forces imparted at the cover member. The elastic circuit board substrate transmits a portion of the primary mechanical deformation to the force-measuring device resulting in a concurrent secondary mechanical deformation of the force-measuring device. The strain-sensing element is configured to output voltage signals in accordance with a time-varying strain at the strain-sensing element resulting from the secondary mechanical deformation.

Abstract: A solid-state switch for an external system includes a cover member, a first solid-state transducer, a second transducer, a microcontroller, a user feedback device, and a switching circuit. The first transducer is mechanically coupled to the cover member and configured to generate first signals in response to a perturbation at the cover member. The second transducer is configured to generate second signals in response to the perturbation. The microcontroller is configured to obtain first data from the first signals, second data from the second signals, and determine user inputs in accordance with at least the first data, the second data, and an operational state of the solid-state switch. The user feedback device is configured to provide feedback to a user of the switch in accordance with a switching behavior of the switching circuit. The second transducer is configured as a proximity sensor for detecting proximity of an object to the cover member.

Abstract: A method of forming a water resistant boundary on a fissile material for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor is described. The method comprises mixing a powdered fissile material selected from the group consisting of UN and U3Si2 with an additive selected from oxidation resistant materials having a melting or softening point lower than the sintering temperature of the fissile material, pressing the mixed fissile and additive materials into a pellet, sintering the pellet to a temperature greater than the melting point of the additive. Alternatively, if the melting point of the oxidation resistant particles is greater than the sintering temperature of UN or U3Si2, then the oxidation resistant particles can have a particle size distribution less than that of the UN or U3Si2.

Abstract: A user-input system includes a force-measuring device, a cover member, and an elastic circuit board substrate interposed between the force-measuring device and the cover member and mechanically coupled to the cover member and to the force-measuring device. The force-measuring device includes a strain-sensing element. The force-measuring device is mounted to and electrically connected to the elastic circuit board substrate. The cover member undergoes a primary mechanical deformation in response to forces imparted at the cover member. The elastic circuit board substrate transmits a portion of the primary mechanical deformation to the force-measuring device resulting in a concurrent secondary mechanical deformation of the force-measuring device. The strain-sensing element is configured to output voltage signals in accordance with a time-varying strain at the strain-sensing element resulting from the secondary mechanical deformation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to methods, systems and devices for forming a randomized grain structure coating on a substrate of a component for use in a nuclear reactor to provide protection against corrosion and, more particularly, is directed to improved methods, systems and devices for forming a randomized grain structure coating on a zirconium alloy nuclear fuel cladding tube using a cathodic arc (CA) physical vapor deposition (PVD) process to provide protection against corrosion in both normal operation and in transient and accidents of the nuclear reactor.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel cladding tube is described herein that includes a zirconium alloy tube having an outer wear and oxidation resistant ceramic coating selected from the group consisting of CrN, Cr2N, CrWN, CrZrN, and combinations thereof. The cladding may have an intermediate layer formed between the tube and the outer ceramic coating. The intermediate layer may be selected from the group consisting of Ta, W, Mo, Nb, and combinations thereof. Both the intermediate layer and the outer ceramic coating may be deposited by physical vapor deposition.

Abstract: A solid-state switch for an external system includes a cover member, a first solid-state transducer, a microcontroller, a user feedback device, and a switching circuit. The first transducer is mechanically coupled to the cover member and configured to generate first signals in response to a perturbation at the cover member. The microcontroller is configured to obtain first data from the first signals and determine user inputs in accordance with at least the first data and an operational state of the solid-state switch. The user feedback device is configured to provide feedback to a user of the solid-state switch in accordance with a switching behavior of the switching circuit. The microcontroller is couplable to a master controller of the external system. The switching behavior of the switching circuit is determined in accordance with: (a) the commands from the master controller to the microcontroller, and/or (b) user inputs as determined by the microcontroller.

Abstract: A compensated elevator link is disclosed. In at least one aspect, the compensated elevator link comprises a plurality of cylinder housings and a rod having a plurality of ends, each end comprising a piston head adapted to be slideably received within one of the cylinder housings for defining first and second hydraulic cylinders. Each hydraulic cylinder has at least one annulus for receiving a non-compressible fluid. The rod comprises a passage for receiving a compressible fluid, wherein each piston head comprises at least one passage to allow selective displacement of the non-compressible fluid between the annulus of the cylinder housing and the passage within the rod during selective displacement of the hydraulic cylinders between a contracted condition to an extended condition for either compression or expansion of the compressible fluid by the non-compressible fluid.