Abstract: An electro-technical device, includes an input electrical connection supplied with an input signal and electrically isolated from an output electrical connection. A bar magnet is pivotally mounted on a pedicel between the input electrical connection and the output electrical connection. A pair of coils disposed on opposite sides of the bar magnet and each being supplied with an electronic signal from a sensor, the bar magnet being responsive to an electromagnetic filed generated by the pair of coils to cause the bar magnet to contact the input electrical connection and the output electrical connection and complete a circuit and send out a control signal.

Abstract: An electro-technical device includes a first housing portion electrically isolated from a second housing portion with a point source being disposed within the first housing portion. A movable conductor is connected to the first portion and is responsive to an electric field generated by the point source to cause the movable conductor to contact the second housing portion to complete a circuit and send out a control signal.

Abstract: Devices work as both area lighting and ionizing radiation detectors. The lighting is adjustable in response to radiation detection, warning nearby users about radiation. Multiple devices can be plugged into electrical outlets throughout a plant or building to replace conventional lighting like lightbulbs or CFLs. Each device can transmit alerts to notify nearby users and transmit data to processors for aggregation and analysis. The data can be sent wirelessly, over fiber optic cable, as power line communications or otherwise. The data can be multiplexed along a single line. The devices may be in known locations or located based on an ID in the data. This data can be used to locate radiation sources and facilitate analysis and alerting at the location. Operators may respond to the radiation detection by issuing commands to the devices to change lighting output, adjust radiation detection parameters, and take corrective or ameliorative action in the facility.

Abstract: An electro-technical device includes a circuit including a coil connected to a voltage source for receiving a predetermined current therefrom and connected to an output device. The circuit includes a breakable junction and a photodiode for receiving a light signal from a fiber optic cable. The photodiode receives a light signal from a sensor. A permanent magnet includes a pole end opposing a common pole end of the coil, wherein when the coil receives an increased current from the photodiode, the coil creates an magnetic flux that repels against the common pole of the permanent magnet in order to cause the breakable junction to break and disrupt a connection between the voltage source and the output device.

Abstract: An electro-technical device includes a first coil connected to a first sensor for receiving a current therefrom representative of a sensed condition, the first coil being anchored at first and second ends. A second coil is connected to a second sensor for receiving a current therefrom representative of a sensed condition, the second coil being anchored at first and second ends and being adjacent to the first coil. When the first and second coils receive an increased current from the first and second sensors, the first and second coils each create a magnetic flux that repel one another in order to cause at least one of the coils to break so that a shutdown signal can be sent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled reactor includes a channel, a nose assembly secured to a lower end of the channel, and a plurality of fuel rods disposed within the channel. At least one of the fuel rods has at least one guard ring surround the fuel rod and spacing the fuel rod from adjacent fuel rods.

Abstract: An electro-technical device includes a first coil connected to a first sensor for receiving a current therefrom representative of a sensed condition, the first coil being anchored at first and second ends. A second coil is connected to a second sensor for receiving a current therefrom representative of a sensed condition, the second coil being anchored at first and second ends and being adjacent to the first coil. When the first and second coils receive an increased current from the first and second sensors, the first and second coils each create a magnetic flux that repel one another in order to cause at least one of the coils to break so that a shutdown signal can be sent.

Abstract: An electro-technical device includes a first housing portion electrically isolated from a second housing portion with a point source being disposed within the first housing portion. A movable conductor is connected to the first portion and is responsive to an electric field generated by the point source to cause the movable conductor to contact the second housing portion to complete a circuit and send out a control signal.

Abstract: An electro-technical device, includes an input electrical connection supplied with an input signal and electrically isolated from an output electrical connection. A bar magnet is pivotally mounted on a pedicel between the input electrical connection and the output electrical connection. A pair of coils disposed on opposite sides of the bar magnet and each being supplied with an electronic signal from a sensor, the bar magnet being responsive to an electromagnetic filed generated by the pair of coils to cause the bar magnet to contact the input electrical connection and the output electrical connection and complete a circuit and send out a control signal.

Abstract: An electro-technical device includes a circuit including a coil connected to a voltage source for receiving a predetermined current therefrom and connected to an output device. The circuit includes a breakable junction and a photodiode for receiving a light signal from a fiber optic cable. The photodiode receives a light signal from a sensor. A permanent magnet includes a pole end opposing a common pole end of the coil, wherein when the coil receives an increased current from the photodiode, the coil creates an magnetic flux that repels against the common pole of the permanent magnet in order to cause the breakable junction to break and disrupt a connection between the voltage source and the output device.

Abstract: Devices work as both area lighting and ionizing radiation detectors. The lighting is adjustable in response to radiation detection, warning nearby users about radiation. Multiple devices can be plugged into electrical outlets throughout a plant or building to replace conventional lighting like lightbulbs or CFLs. Each device can transmit alerts to notify nearby users and transmit data to processors for aggregation and analysis. The data can be sent wirelessly, over fiber optic cable, as powerline communications or otherwise. The data can be multiplexed along a single line. The devices may be in known locations or located based on an ID in the data. This data can be used to locate radiation sources and facilitate analysis and alerting at the location. Operators may respond to the radiation detection by issuing commands to the devices to change lighting output, adjust radiation detection parameters, and take corrective or ameliorative action in the facility.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled reactor includes a channel, a nose assembly secured to a lower end of the channel, and a plurality of fuel rods disposed within the channel. At least one of the fuel rods has at least one guard ring surround the fuel rod and spacing the fuel rod from adjacent fuel rods.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled reactor includes a channel, a nose assembly secured to a lower end of the channel, and a plurality of fuel rods disposed within the channel. At least one of the fuel rods has at least one guard ring surround the fuel rod and spacing the fuel rod from adjacent fuel rods.

Abstract: A method for storing nuclear fuel includes transferring a fuel assembly from a long term storage vault to a nuclear reactor core, removing the fuel assembly from the nuclear reactor core, determining a heat generation rate of the irradiated fuel assembly, and transferring the irradiated fuel assembly to one of an interim storage vault and a long term storage vault based on the determined heat generation rate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled reactor includes a channel, a nose assembly secured to a lower end of the channel, a plurality of fuel rods disposed within the channel, and an internal mixer disposed within the channel above the plurality of fuel rods. The internal mixer includes peripheral flow control members and interior flow control members. The peripheral flow control members are located near walls of the channel, and the interior flow control members are located towards a longitudinal center of the housing. At least one of the peripheral flow control members is configured to direct liquid metal flowing through the channel towards an interior of the channel, and at least one of the interior flow control members is configured to direct liquid metal flowing through the channel away from the interior of the channel.

Abstract: A seismic slip joint may include a fixed sealing surface, a moveable sealing surface, and a solenoid device. The moveable sealing surface is configured to engage the fixed sealing surface to form a sealing interface during a deactivated state. The sealing interface may be a juncture that precludes passage of a fluid therethrough. The solenoid device is configured to switch between the deactivated state and an activated state. The solenoid device may include a piston and a spring structure. The piston is connected to the moveable sealing surface. The spring structure exerts a force on the piston so as to press the moveable sealing surface against the fixed sealing surface to form the sealing interface during the deactivated state. The piston may be configured to compress the spring structure and retract during the activated state so as to separate the moveable sealing surface from the fixed sealing surface.

Abstract: A method for storing nuclear fuel includes transferring a fuel assembly from a long term storage vault to a nuclear reactor core, removing the fuel assembly from the nuclear reactor core, determining a heat generation rate of the irradiated fuel assembly, and transferring the irradiated fuel assembly to one of an interim storage vault and a long term storage vault based on the determined heat generation rate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled reactor includes a channel, a nose assembly secured to a lower end of the channel, a plurality of fuel rods disposed within the channel, and an internal mixer disposed within the channel above the plurality of fuel rods. The internal mixer includes peripheral flow control members and interior flow control members. The peripheral flow control members are located near walls of the channel, and the interior flow control members are located towards a longitudinal center of the housing. At least one of the peripheral flow control members is configured to direct liquid metal flowing through the channel towards an interior of the channel, and at least one of the interior flow control members is configured to direct liquid metal flowing through the channel away from the interior of the channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled reactor includes a channel, a nose assembly secured to a lower end of the channel, and a plurality of fuel rods disposed within the channel. At least one of the fuel rods has at least one guard ring surround the fuel rod and spacing the fuel rod from adjacent fuel rods.