Abstract: An integrated tire sensor and reader system includes at least one sensor unit mounted a tire or a wheel. A reader is disposed remotely from the sensor unit. The sensor unit includes at least one sensor for measuring a parameter of the tire or wheel and an antenna for communicating with the reader. The sensor unit is configured to receive a radio frequency power signal from the reader and to transmit data to the receiver. The reader includes an antenna for transmitting the radio frequency power signal to the sensor unit to actuate the one sensor unit. Upon actuation of the sensor unit, the sensor measures the parameter of the tire or wheel, and data from the sensor is transmitted from the sensor unit to the reader.

Abstract: A standalone tire identification tag and standalone sensor module are mounted to a tire and configured to share and store tire identification and tire parameter-measuring sensor data through a common data sharing interface.

Abstract: A combination of a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: A tire tracking system and method for tracking travel mileage experienced by a vehicle tire includes multiple tire-based sensors affixed to the tire generating identified tire-specific operating condition measurements. The tire-specific operating condition measurements include tire temperature, tire air inflation pressure, a tire wear state measurement and a tire load measurement. A rolling radius estimation model generates a tire rolling radius estimation compensated by the tire-specific operating condition measurements and a vehicle speed estimator generates a vehicle speed estimation based on the compensated tire rolling radius.

Abstract: A standalone tire identification tag and standalone sensor module are mounted to a tire and configured to share and store tire identification and tire parameter-measuring sensor data through a common data sharing interface.

Abstract: A tire tracking system and method for tracking travel mileage experienced by a vehicle tire includes multiple tire-based sensors affixed to the tire generating identified tire-specific operating condition measurements. The tire-specific operating condition measurements include tire temperature, tire air inflation pressure, a tire wear state measurement and a tire load measurement. A rolling radius estimation model generates a tire rolling radius estimation compensated by the tire-specific operating condition measurements and a vehicle speed estimator generates a vehicle speed estimation based on the compensated tire rolling radius.

Abstract: A combination of a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: A joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: A tire tracking system and method for tracking travel mileage experienced by a vehicle tire includes a tire-affixed identification transponder operative to generate tire-specific identification data; a vehicle-based incremental vehicle travel distance estimator for generating a synchronous stream of incremental vehicle travel distance estimations; and a timestamp synchronization and distance traveled estimator operative to generate a continuous synchronous stream of incremental tire travel distance estimations from the incremental vehicle travel distance estimations. A mobile network uploads the incremental tire travel distance estimations and the tire-specific identification data to a remote server that generates an aggregate of the tire travel distance estimations in a form accessible by the tire-specific identification data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are zirconium alloy compositions having a low hydrogen pick-up rate and high hydrogen embrittlement resistance. This zirconium alloy composition can be usefully used as a nuclear fuel components in a nuclear power plant because it has a very low hydrogen pick-up rate and high hydrogen embrittlement resistance under operation environments of nuclear power plant.

Abstract: A joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble. The joint structure includes an outer guide post, an inner-extension tube head, an inner-extension tube body, a wedge and the guide thimble. The outer guide post is provided with an external thread formed on a lower end thereof. The inner-extension tube head includes an annular retaining part formed on an upper end thereof. An internal thread is formed on a medial portion of the inner-extension tube head. An external thread is formed on each of upper and lower ends of the inner-extension tube body. A stop protrusion is provided under a lower end of the wedge. The wedge is welded to the inner-extension tube body after the top nozzle has been joined with the guide thimble. A stop protrusion receiving depression is formed in the guide thimble.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble. The joint structure includes an outer guide post, an inner-extension tube head, an inner-extension tube body, a wedge and the guide thimble. The outer guide post is provided with an external thread formed on a lower end thereof. The inner-extension tube head includes an annular retaining part formed on an upper end thereof. An internal thread is formed on a medial portion of the inner-extension tube head. An external thread is formed on each of upper and lower ends of the inner-extension tube body. A stop protrusion is provided under a lower end of the wedge. The wedge is welded to the inner-extension tube body after the top nozzle has been joined with the guide thimble. A stop protrusion receiving depression is formed in the guide thimble.

Abstract: A load estimation system and method for estimating vehicle load includes a tire rotation counter for generating a rotation count from rotation of a tire; apparatus for measuring distance travelled by the vehicle; an effective radius calculator for calculating effective radius of the tire from the distance travelled and the rotation count; and a load estimation calculator for calculating the load carried by the vehicle tire from the effective radius of the tire. A center of gravity height estimation may be made from an estimated total load carried by the tires supporting the vehicle pursuant to an estimation of effective radius for each tire and a calculated load carried by each tire from respective effective radii.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly which is formed from grid strips of an improved structure, thus reducing flow-induced high-frequency vibration. The spacer grid has dimples or grid springs for supporting fuel rods and is formed from a plurality of grid strips assembled in a lattice shape to form lattice cells. Each of the grid strips has at least one slot formed in a planar portion of the grid strip separately from the dimple or grid spring. Therefore, characteristics of the vibration of the spacer grid can be set in a variety of different manners so that flow-induced high-frequency vibration can be reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly. The spacer grid has dimples for supporting fuel rods and is formed from grid strips which are assembled in a lattice shape to form lattice cells. Each grid strip has at least one hole which is formed separately from the dimples. Therefore, when coolant is drawn into the fuel assembly, a pressure difference between opposite sides of the holes is reduced, and friction generated between cut edges of the holes and the coolant reduces the magnitude of the vibration and causes a damping effect, thus reducing flow-induced vibration. The hole formed in the grid strip function to widen the range of the frequency of the flow-induced vibration caused by vortex sheddings formed around the edges of the grid strip, thus reducing the possibility of the generation of resonance with the natural frequency of the spacer grid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are zirconium alloy compositions having a low hydrogen pick-up rate and high hydrogen embrittlement resistance. This zirconium alloy composition can be usefully used as a nuclear fuel components in a nuclear power plant because it has a very low hydrogen pick-up rate and high hydrogen embrittlement resistance under operation environments of nuclear power plant.

Abstract: Estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor for measuring tire inflation pressure and generating a measured tire inflation pressure signal; a deformation measuring sensor mounted in a tire region of the vehicle tire, the deformation measuring sensor in the form of a piezoelectric bending sensor generating a deformation signal estimating a length of a tire contact patch length as the senor rolls through a tire footprint. Tire rolling speed is estimated from the deformation signal and a peak to peak amplitude variation within the deformation signal is detected and measured. An artificial neural network receives the tire rolling speed estimation, the contact patch length estimation, the amplitude variation within the deformation signal, and the measured inflation pressure of the tire. The artificial neural network adaptively interprets the input data and generates an output load estimation based thereon.

Abstract: A top nozzle is provided. The top nozzle can include a coupling plate, a perimeter wall and a hold-down spring unit. The coupling plate can be coupled to a guide thimble of the nuclear fuel assembly. The perimeter wall can protrude upwards from the perimeter of the coupling plate. A spring clamp can be provided on the upper surface of the perimeter wall. The hold-down spring unit can be mounted to the upper surface of the perimeter wall in such a way to couple a corresponding end of the hold-down spring unit to the spring clamp. A fastening pin hole can be vertically formed through an upper surface of the spring clamp. A spring insert hole into which the hold-down spring unit can be inserted and formed by electro-discharge machining in an insert direction of the hold-down spring.

Abstract: A dynamic load estimation system is provided including: a vehicle load bearing tire; at least one tire sensor mounted to the tire, the sensor operable to measure a tire deformation of the one tire and generate a raw load-indicating signal conveying measured deformation data; road roughness estimation means for determining a road roughness estimation; filtering means for filtering the measured deformation data by the road roughness estimation; and load estimation means for estimating an estimated load on the one tire from filtered measured deformation data. A road profile estimate is fused with the static load estimate in order to obtain an instantaneous tire load estimate.