Abstract: A method for chemically stabilizing polishing slurries in aqueous suspension to prevent their agglomeration while maintaining their surface activity is disclosed. The method prevents the formation of irreversible particle agglomerates during drying and permits the subsequent re-suspension of dried particles with no impact on the particle size distribution. The stabilization method can be customized based on knowledge of the colloid surface charge at suspension pH conditions, addition of a charged species having like charge to the colloid at the suspension conditions, and control of the concentrations of the charged species and other ions in suspension.

Abstract: A method of making large ultrathin free-standing polymer films without use of a sacrificial layer includes the steps of providing a substrate, applying a polyelectrolyte material to said substrate, applying a polymer material onto said substrate and onto said polyelectrolyte material, and directly delaminating said polymer material from said substrate and said polyelectrolyte to produce the ultrathin free-standing polymer film.

Abstract: A method for chemically stabilizing polishing slurries in aqueous suspension to prevent their agglomeration while maintaining their surface activity is disclosed. The method prevents the formation of irreversible particle agglomerates during drying and permits the subsequent re-suspension of dried particles with no impact on the particle size distribution. The stabilization method can be customized based on knowledge of the colloid surface charge at suspension pH conditions, addition of a charged species having like charge to the colloid at the suspension conditions, and control of the concentrations of the charged species and other ions in suspension.

Abstract: In a method of decontaminating a primary loop of a pressurized water reactor, including a steam generator, reactor coolant pump and hot and cold legs in the loop, the primary loop is isolated from a nuclear reactor vessel by closing hot leg and cold leg loop stop valves. Decontamination process water is circulated from one side of the steam generator channel head to the other side of the channel head via a bypass pipe extending between the cold leg and the hot leg without bypassing the water through steam generator tubes extending between the sides of the channel head. The level of the decontamination water in the steam generator is maintained at two to three feet in the tubes.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor having a chemical decontamination clean-up system is provided in which every component of the chemical decontamination clean-up equipment which processes radioactive fluids is located within a shielded room of an existing on-site support building. Those components of the clean-up system not in direct contact with radioactive fluids are housed in portable trailers. The decontamination clean-up system is designed to provide for adequate shielding to minimize personnel exposure and also incorporates a modular design for component transportation and storage.

Abstract: A tank is disclosed for containing a liquid in which control rod drive shafts of a nuclear power plant are stored. The tank comprises a lower tank portion having a bottom and a tank wall extending outwardly from the bottom for defining a lower storage cavity of the tank. An upper tank portion having walls is removably attached to the lower tank portion for defining an upper storage cavity of the tank. A plurality of tubes are arranged in the lower tank portion for adaptably receiving the shafts for storage.

Abstract: A chemical decontamination clean-up system for use on-line in a nuclear reactor primary system includes a pump arrangement within the nuclear reactor primary system for pumping primary system fluids to a cleaning system located directly downstream from the pump assembly. The cleaning system includes a plurality of first demineralizer banks arranged in a predetermined flow pattern for receiving the primary system fluids. Each of the first demineralizer banks comprises at least two individual, resin-filled demineralizers arranged in parallel wherein primary system fluids are demineralized. Each of the demineralizer banks includes valving for selectively directing the primary system fluids from the pump arrangement to selected demineralizer banks in the plurality of the first demineralizer banks. A second demineralizer bank receives the primary system fluids from the plurality of first demineralizer banks.

Abstract: A unique resin processing system for providing and removing resin to large demineralizer vessels during chemical decontamination of nuclear reactor primary systems is disclosed. Resin is premeasured in a batching tank for accurate filling of demineralilzer resin bed while minimizing personnel radioactivity exposure. Sluice water transfers spent resin to a storage tank and, thereafter, is recycled for subsequent sluicing operations. Spent resin from the storage tank is periodically delivered to high integrity containers for ultimate disposal.

Abstract: A unique clean-up sub-system for chemical decontamination of nuclear reactor primary systems is disclosed. Chemically-processed fluids containing suspended and dissolved solids are directed through a back-flushable filter and, thereafter, through one or more cartridge filters. After this initial filtering of suspended solids, the process fluid is directed to one or more demineralizer banks for removal of dissolved solids, followed by additional cartridge filtering to remove any resin fines carried out of the demineralizer banks. After final filtering, the process fluids are returned to the primary system, with or without chemical injection.

Abstract: A temperature monitoring device for measuring the temperature at a surface of a body, composed of: at least one first thermocouple and a second thermocouple; support members supporting the thermocouples for placing the first thermocouple in contact with the body surface and for maintaining the second thermocouple at a defined spacing from the body surface; and a calculating circuit connected to the thermocouples for receiving individual signals each representative of the temperature reading produced by a respective one of the first and second thermocouples and for producing a corrected temperature signal having a value which represents the temperature of the body surface and is a function of the difference between the temperature reading produced by the first thermocouple and a selected fraction of the temperature reading provided by the second thermocouple.

Abstract: A shipping device for a heater unit assembly (23), the heater unit assembly (23) including a cylindrical wall (25) and a top plate (31) secured to the cylindrical wall (25) and having a flange portion which projects radially beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical wall (25), and the shipping device including: a cylindrical container (3) having a closed bottom (13); a support member (47) secured to the container (3) and having an inwardly directed flange for supporting the flange portion of the top plate (31); a supplemental supporting system (1) for positioning the heater unit assembly (23) in the container (3) at a spaced relation from the inner surface and bottom wall (13) of the container (3); a cover (15) for closing the top of the container (3); and a container supporting structure (5,7,8) supporting the container (3) in a manner to permit the container (3) to be moved, relative to the supporting structure (5,7,8 ), between a vertical position for loading and unloading the assembly (23) and a horizon

Abstract: System and method for abrading radioactive contaminants from the inside surface of a pipe. The system includes a nozzle block capable of mixing a liquid and an abrasive grit into a suitable liquid-abrasive grit cleaning composition and impinging the cleaning composition against the inside surface of the pipe. The system further includes an inflatable torus-shaped seal for confining the liquid-abrasive grit cleaning composition to a predetermined portion of the inside surface of the pipe so that substantially all of the contaminants and cleaning composition can be suitably vacuumed from the surface.

Abstract: A system for annealing a vessel (14) in situ by heating the vessel (14) to a defined temperature, composed of: an electrically operated heater assembly (10) insertable into the vessel (14) for heating the vessel (14) to the defined temperature; temperature monitoring components positioned relative to the heater assembly (10) for monitoring the temperature of the vessel (14); a controllable electric power supply unit (32-60) for supplying electric power required by the heater assembly (10); a control unit (80-86) for controlling the power supplied by the power supply unit (32-60); a first vehicle (2) containing the power supply unit (32-60); a second vehicle (4) containing the control unit (80-86); power conductors (18,22) connectable between the power supply unit (32-60) and the heater unit (10) for delivering the power supplied by the power supply unit (32-60) to the heater assembly (10); signal conductors (20,24) connectable between the temperature monitoring components and the control unit (80-86) for deli

Abstract: Two sets of heater support members angularly distributed around a central vertical member are radially extendable individually or in groups to position heater elements within a preset distance of the cylindrical walls of any one of a series of pressure vessels having a range of diameters. A convex bottom heater support member is provided for each diameter vessel and is axially telescoped into the central vertical member so that an additional set of heater support members can be installed between the first mentioned two sets of heater support members and the bottom heater support member to accommodate for varying depths of the vessels in the series. Thermocouples are extended from the annealing device by actuators which use a spring or pneumatic pressure to press the thermocouple against the vessel wall with a preset constant force for accurate temperature measurements.

Abstract: Two sets of heater support members angularly distributed around a central vertical member are radially extendable individually or in groups to position heater elements within a preset distance of the cylindrical walls of any one of a series of pressure vessels having a range of diameters. A convex bottom heater support member is provided for each diameter vessel and is axially telescoped into the central vertical member so that an additional set of heater support members can be installed between the first mentioned two sets of heater support members and the bottom heater support member to accommodate for varying depths of the vessels in the series. Thermocouples are extended from the annealing device by actuators which use a spring or pneumatic pressure to press the thermocouple against the vessel wall with a preset constant force for accurate temperature measurements.