Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements inventions 08/06

20060193420 - Method for cavitating fluids within a cavitation chamber using a hydraulically actuated driver: A method for forming and imploding cavities within a cavitation chamber is provided. A hydraulically actuated piston is withdrawn to form the desired cavities and then extended to implode the cavities. The cavitation fluid is degassed prior to hydraulically driving cavitation within the chamber. Degassing can be performed within the...

20060193421 - Monitoring: The method includes providing the volume of waste in a monitoring space; providing a support, the support being provided with a plurality of detectors for radioactive material; monitoring the volume of waste for radioactive material, in one or more parts, to give a monitoring result; and correcting the monitoring result...

20060193422 - Fuel channel characterization method and device: An apparatus to measure external dimensions of a fuel channel of a boiling water reactor, having a rigid frame which has a lower seat to accept a nozzle of a nuclear fuel assembly, the rigid frame extending an entire length of the nuclear fuel assembly, an inspection arrangement including ultrasonic...

20060193424 - Clamp for feedwater sparger end bracket assemblies and method of preventing separation of feedwater sparger end bracket assemblies: A constrained feedwater sparger end bracket assembly comprises a boiling water reactor vessel, a feedwater sparger including a conduit within the vessel, a feedwater sparger end bracket assembly connected to an end of the conduit at a sparger/bracket junction, and a clamp secured on the feedwater sparger end bracket assembly....

20060193423 - Method of preventing separation of feedwater sparger end bracket assemblies: A method of preventing separation of a feedwater sparger end bracket assembly comprises installing first and second clamp members of a clamp over a feedwater sparger end bracket assembly in opposition to one another, and leaving the clamp in place to constrain the feedwater sparger end bracket assembly against separation...

20060193425 - Apparatus and method for limiting and analyzing stress corrosion cracking in pressurized water reactors: A method to assess and predict pressurized water stress corrosion cracking in operational nuclear power plants and the effect of adding zinc compounds into a reactor coolant system of the nuclear power plant....

20060193426 - Multi-core fuel rod for research reactor and manufacturing method thereof: The present invention relates to a multi-core fuel rod for research reactor and a manufacturing method thereof and, more particularly, to a multi-core fuel rod for research reactor in which monolithic fuel cores made of uranium-molybdenum alloy are disposed in an aluminum matrix in a multi-core form, and a manufacturing...

20060193427 - Fuel assembly for a pressurized water nuclear reactor: A fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor has a plurality of fuel rods that are guided inside a plurality of axially spaced-apart spacers that are composed of grid webs. Each grid web forms a grid with a multitude of grid cells disposed in rows and columns. The grid webs...

20060188053 - Method and device for loading nuclear fuel pellets: Method and device for loading nuclear fuel pellets into a cladding provided with its first plug, by means of an introduction element and using limited forces....

20060188054 - Methods for transporting and canistering nuclear spent fuel: Disclosed are methods for transporting and canistering nuclear spent fuel. In one embodiment, the method for transporting and canistering nuclear spent fuel comprises providing a canister that includes a mechanical closure for a lid on a container. The canister containing the nuclear spent fuel is loaded into a transport cask,...

20060188055 - Nuclear plant and method for the pressure relief in a nuclear plant: A nuclear installation has a reactor containment which is connected to a pressure relief line. A Venturi scrubber, which is arranged in a vessel containing a washing liquid, and a throttle device are connected in series in the pressure relief line. The novel system restrains, with particularly high reliability, fine...

20060188056 - Method for forming coatings on structural components with corrosion-mitigating materials: A method for mitigating crack initiation and propagation on a surface of a metal component due to susceptibility to corrosion comprises depositing a metallic material on the surface of the component to form a coating, and then converting at least an outer layer of the coating to an electrically insulating...

20060176995 - Control arrangement for use with nuclear fuel: A control arrangement for use with nuclear fuel is configured as a control rod (32) for insertion into a guide tube (24) of a nuclear fuel assembly (20). The control rod (32) includes a housing (34) and solid ellipsoidal elements (44) of neutron absorber material loaded into a leading end...

20060171498 - Reactor tray vertical geometry with vitrified waste control: A nuclear-powered plant for systems of up to about 100 MWs with a confinement section where the reaction takes place in a core having a reactive thorium/uranium-233 composition, and where an external neutron source is used as a modulated neutron multiplier for the reactor core output. The core is housed...

20060171499 - Protection of reactor cores from unstable density wave oscillations: The present invention provides a method of operating a Boiling Water Reactor, having the steps of analyzing LPRM signals for oscilliatory behavior indicative of neutron-flux-coupled density wave oscillations, determining if oscilliatory behavior is present in the signals; initiating a reactor protective corrective action if the oscilliatory behavior is determined, and...

20060171500 - Apparatus and methods for achieving redundant confinement sealing of a spent nuclear fuel canister: Disclosed are the apparatus and methods for closing a canister that stores and transports spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, the canister includes a canister shell that includes an open end. A closure lid is inserted within the open end of the canister shell. The closure lid engages the open...