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.

Abstract: A guide thimble plug for a nuclear fuel assembly is provided, in which an internal threaded hole is formed through a main body so that the main body is coupled to a bottom nozzle by a screw coupling. An upper insert part is formed in the upper end of the main body. The upper insert part is inserted into a shock absorption tube. A thermal deformation prevention part is formed on the main body below the upper insert part and is recessed inward from the outer surface of the main body such that, when the main body is coupled to the guide thimble, a gap is defined between the thermal deformation prevention part and the guide thimble. The guide thimble and the shock absorption tube can be reliably fastened to the bottom nozzle, and thermal deformation of the guide thimble can be minimized.

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: A system and method of estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor attached to the tire for measuring a tire cavity inflation pressure level; and one or more piezofilm deformation measuring sensors mounted to one or both of the tire sidewalls. The deformation measuring sensor generates within the tire footprint a deformation signal having signal power level indicative of a level of sidewall deformation within the footprint contact patch. Power-to-load maps adjusted for tire inflation pressure are generated and stored for the tire, the maps correlating a range of load levels to a range of signal power levels whereby operatively enabling a load level to be identified for each signal power level on an inflation pressure adjusted basis.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor attached to the tire for measuring a tire cavity inflation pressure level; and one or more piezofilm deformation measuring sensors mounted to one or both of the tire sidewalls. The deformation measuring sensor generates within the tire footprint a deformation signal having signal power level indicative of a level of sidewall deformation within the footprint contact patch. Power-to-load maps adjusted for tire inflation pressure are generated and stored for the tire, the maps correlating a range of load levels to a range of signal power levels whereby operatively enabling a load level to be identified for each signal power level on an inflation pressure adjusted basis.

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 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: 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 hold-down spring unit for a top nozzle of a nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit is coupled to the upper end of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit includes a first spring which provides a hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions of a nuclear reactor, and a second spring which provides an additional hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions of the nuclear reactor. The hold-down margin under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions is reduced, thus enhancing the mechanical and structural stability of the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: A hold-down spring unit for a top nozzle of a nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit is coupled to the upper end of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit includes a first spring which provides a hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions and hot full power conditions of a nuclear reactor, and a second spring which provides an additional hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions of the nuclear reactor. The hold-down margin under start-up conditions and hot full power conditions is reduced, thus enhancing the mechanical and structural stability of the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing U3O8 powder, the apparatus has an oxidation reactor including an interior space, a scrap box loaded with UO2 sintered pellets to be oxidized and introduced into the interior space of the oxidation reactor, an impact generating unit applying an impact to the scrap box to dissipate heat generated by the oxidation of the UO2 sintered pellets in the oxidation reactor, and a control unit controlling an oxidation process. The apparatus for producing U3O8 powder allows the heat generated by the oxidation of the UO2 sintered pellets in the oxidation reactor to be uniformly dissipated by the impact generating unit, thus producing U3O8 powder having a larger specific surface area which can be used to obtain a sintered UO2 pellet with a larger and more stable grain size of increased quality.

Abstract: A hold-down spring unit for a top nozzle of a nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit is coupled to the upper end of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit includes a first spring which provides a hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions of a nuclear reactor, and a second spring which provides an additional hold-down force upon the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions of the nuclear reactor. The hold-down margin under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions is reduced, thus enhancing the mechanical and structural stability of the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spacer grid assembly with mixing vanes supporting fuel rods of nuclear fuel assemblies and mixing coolant that flows around the fuel rods, and more particularly, a spacer grid equipped with mixing vanes that mix coolant flowing around fuel rods. The spacer grid with hydraulically balanced mixing vane patterns, in the spacer grid equipped with a strip dividing a plurality of unit grid cells and a plurality of springs, protruded in uniform directions of vertical and horizontal directions on a grid surface of the strip and supporting nuclear fuel rods, which includes: a plurality of mixing vanes protruded to the downstream of coolant on an upper end of the inner grid surface, wherein positions and directions of the mixing vanes are formed in regular patterns on the spacer grid. Thus, it can minimize coolant flow induced vibration of the spacer grid by balancing hydraulic load generated by the mixing vanes, around the center of the spacer grids.

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: The present invention relates to a top nozzle for a nuclear fuel assembly that has a two-stage elastic section such that a pushing force against the axial movement of the nuclear fuel assembly under normal conditions is optimized and at the same time a suppressing force against a drastic uplifting force of the nuclear fuel assembly under transient conditions is strengthened, and that lowers the elastic coefficients of the springs operating under normal conditions more than those of existing coil springs, thereby providing an optimal pushing force against the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing U3O8 powder, the apparatus has an oxidation reactor including an interior space, a scrap box loaded with UO2 sintered pellets to be oxidized and introduced into the interior space of the oxidation reactor, an impact generating unit applying an impact to the scrap box to dissipate heat generated by the oxidation of the UO2 sintered pellets in the oxidation reactor, and a control unit controlling an oxidation process. The apparatus for producing U3O8 powder allows the heat generated by the oxidation of the UO2 sintered pellets in the oxidation reactor to be uniformly dissipated by the impact generating unit, thus producing U3O8 powder having a larger specific surface area which can be used to obtain a sintered UO2 pellet with a larger and more stable grain size of increased quality.

Abstract: A method of providing safety and maintenance vehicular service includes the steps: capturing information indicative of a vehicle status parameter electronically by means of a vehicle monitoring system; transmitting captured information through at least one vehicle connectivity system; transmitting captured information from the vehicle connectivity system to at least one portable device such as a cell phone and/or GPS unit; activating the portable device; activating analytical software utilized by the portable device; analyzing the captured information by the analytical software of the portable device; and conveying by sensory means useful processed information based upon captured information analysis to a user located within the vehicle. Advance communication of the processed information (e.g.

Abstract: A guide thimble plug for a nuclear fuel assembly is provided, in which an internal threaded hole is formed through a main body so that the main body is coupled to a bottom nozzle by a screw coupling. An upper insert part is formed in the upper end of the main body. The upper insert part is inserted into a shock absorption tube. A thermal deformation prevention part is formed on the main body below the upper insert part and is recessed inward from the outer surface of the main body such that, when the main body is coupled to the guide thimble, a gap is defined between the thermal deformation prevention part and the guide thimble. The guide thimble and the shock absorption tube can be reliably fastened to the bottom nozzle, and thermal deformation of the guide thimble can be minimized.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hold-down spring unit for a top nozzle of a nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit is coupled to the upper end of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly. The hold-down spring unit includes a first spring which acts against a hold-down force with respect to the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions of a nuclear reactor, and a second spring which acts against a hold-down force with respect to the nuclear fuel assembly under start-up conditions of the nuclear reactor. The present invention reduces the hold-down margin under start-up conditions or hot full power conditions, thus enhancing the mechanical and structural stability of the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: A top nozzle for a nuclear fuel assembly and a method of manufacturing the top nozzle are 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.