Abstract: A base portion for use in a bottom nozzle of a fuel assembly in a nuclear reactor includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of vertical wall portions arranged in a generally squared grid-like pattern which extend between the bottom surface and the top surface and which define a plurality of non-circular passages passing between the bottom surface and the top surface through the base portion.

Abstract: A base portion for use in a bottom nozzle of a fuel assembly in a nuclear reactor includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of vertical wall portions arranged in a generally squared grid-like pattern which extend between the bottom surface and the top surface and which define a plurality of non-circular passages passing between the bottom surface and the top surface through the base portion.

Abstract: A discrete element method for modelling granular or particulate material, the method including a multiple grid search method wherein the multiple grid search method is a hierarchical grid search method, and wherein entities, such as particles and boundary elements, are allocated to cells of respective grids based on size. The search method further includes: (a) performing a search of cells in a first of the grid levels to determine pairs of entities which satisfy predetermined criteria to be included in a neighbor list for which both entities belong to the first grid level; (b) mapping each nonempty cell in the first grid level to each of the other grid levels, determining neighboring cells in each of the other grid levels and determining all pairs of entities belonging to pair of levels that satisfy the predetermined criteria for inclusion in the neighbor list; and (c) repeating (a) and (b) for all grid levels.

Abstract: A discrete element method for modelling granular or particulate material, the method including a multiple grid search method wherein the multiple grid search method is a hierarchical grid search method, and wherein entities, such as particles and boundary elements, are allocated to cells of respective grids based on size. The search method further includes: (a) performing a search of cells in a first of the grid levels to determine pairs of entities which satisfy predetermined criteria to be included in a neighbor list for which both entities belong to the first grid level; (b) mapping each nonempty cell in the first grid level to each of the other grid levels, determining neighboring cells in each of the other grid levels and determining all pairs of entities belonging to a pair of levels that satisfy the predetermined criteria for inclusion in the neighbor list; and (c) repeating (a) and (b) for all grid levels.

Abstract: A discrete element method for modelling granular or particulate material, the method including a multiple grid search method wherein the multiple grid search method is a hierarchical grid search method, and wherein entities, such as particles and boundary elements, are allocated to cells of respective grids based on size. The search method further includes: (a) performing a search of cells in a first of the grid levels to determine pairs of entities which satisfy predetermined criteria to be included in a neighbour list for which both entities belong to the first grid level; (b) mapping each nonempty cell in the first grid level to each of the other grid levels, determining neighbouring cells in each of the other grid levels and determining all pairs of entities belonging to pair of levels that satisfy the predetermined criteria for inclusion in the neighbour list; and (c) repeating (a) and (b) for all grid levels.

Abstract: A discrete element method for modelling granular or particulate material, the method including a multiple grid search method wherein the multiple grid search method is a hierarchical grid search method, and wherein entities, such as particles and boundary elements, are allocated to cells of respective grids based on size. The search method further includes: (a) performing a search of cells in a first of the grid levels to determine pairs of entities which satisfy predetermined criteria to be included in a neighbor list for which both entities belong to the first grid level; (b) mapping each nonempty cell in the first grid level to each of the other grid levels, determining neighboring cells in each of the other grid levels and determining all pairs of entities belonging to a pair of levels that satisfy the predetermined criteria for inclusion in the neighbor list; and (c) repeating (a) and (b) for all grid levels.

Abstract: A composite manufacturing system has a tool having a substantially planar first portion and a substantially planar second portion, a first carriage configured to carry a first roller that is configured to selectively apply pressure to the first portion, a second carriage configured to carry a second roller that is configured to selectively apply pressure to the second portion, and the first carriage and the second carriage are movable relative to the tool.

Abstract: A microgrid comprising a utility interconnect connecting the microgrid to an electric utility power distribution system; an underground power distribution system wherein the underground power distribution system is configured to have a feature selected from redundant power distribution capabilities and being wired as a loop distribution system with sectionalizing switches; a first set of loads comprising all nonresilient mission critical loads in the microgrid; a second set of loads comprising all resilient mission critical loads in the microgrid not contained in the first set of loads; a combined mission critical load comprising the first set of loads and the second set of loads; a first power generation source; and a second power generation source wherein the second power generation source is a renewable energy power generation source is disclosed herein. Also disclosed herein are methods of protecting microgrids by implementing similar features.

Abstract: A discrete element method for modelling granular or particulate material, the method including a multiple grid search method wherein the multiple grid search method is a hierarchical grid search method, and wherein entities, such as particles and boundary elements, are allocated to cells of respective grids based on size. The search method further includes: (a) performing a search of cells in a first of the grid levels to determine pairs of entities which satisfy predetermined criteria to be included in a neighbour list for which both entities belong to the first grid level; (b) mapping each nonempty cell in the first grid level to each of the other grid levels, determining neighbouring cells in each of the other grid levels and determining all pairs of entities belonging to a pair of levels that satisfy the predetermined criteria for inclusion in the neighbour list; and (c) repeating (a) and (b) for all grid levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to computer simulation and animation of visual sequences of a physics based system, such as visual sequences of fluids, for use in motion pictures, video games and the like. Simulation branching is effected by making a record of the system state of a first simulation as it exists at a point in time. If the director wishes to change the manner in which the simulated event progresses, a second simulation can be executed using the recorded system state as input conditions for a second simulation. This allows rapid re-execution of a portion of a simulation without requiring lengthy re-simulation of the initial portion of the simulated event which is already thought to be satisfactory. Such branching can also be used to control high resolution of a focus region being a smaller portion of a wider simulated event.

Abstract: A firefighting bomblet includes a container having rigid supportive walls that together define a faceted-sphere shape, a cavity disposed inside the container and defined by the walls, and an opening in one of the walls for filling the cavity with a fire retardant. The bomblet can further include a weak seam formed in one of the walls, the weak seam being adapted to be more easily ruptured than the remainder of the walls. A method for aerial firefighting includes the step of dropping at least one of the containers enclosing a fire retardant from an aircraft over a fire.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling containers with articles.A feed conveyor of slats having article receiving apertures is supplied with articles from a chute or a vibratory hopper. A tray below the slats prevents articles falling through until a discharge point is reached where the tray terminates, allowing articles to fall into a transverse line of hoppers below the conveyor.A gate prevents the articles from leaving the hoppers until a line of empty cans on a second transverse conveyor are in position therebelow.A stop across the end of the hopper prevents excess articles entering the feed conveyor.A rotary brush or roller clears any surplus articles from the feed conveyor.