Self-consistent model of nuclear power development and fuel cycle

The use of a high-boiling heat-transfer metal (lead) deterministically ensures sufficient nuclear, engineering, and ecological safety in design and hypothetical accidents. The transmutation nuclear fuel cycle makes global environmental safety closer, when the equivalent activity of the long-lived components of hot waste is lower than, or close to, that of the raw material used. When such equality is reached, nuclear power can be considered to be waste-free, in a sense. A conceptual model envisaging a large-scale, long-term nuclear energy industry is proposed as a solution to the aforementioned problems. Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation. NIKIéT (Scientific Research and Design Institute for Power Engineering). Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 86, No. 5, pp. 361–370, May, 1999.     

Numerical simulation of the thermohydraulics of reactor fuel assemblies with blockages

Computer codes for analyzing the thermohydraulics of fuel assemblies with blocked coolant flow cross sections are examined. The computational results obtained with these codes are analyzed, and a conclusion is drawn on the basis of this analysis about the most important computational codes in this field. The results of the analysis are illustrated. An extensive literature from the worldwide practice of the thermohydraulics of blocked fuel assemblies is presented. Further work required to improve the computer codes is indicated. 7 figures. 2 tables, 65 references. State Science Center of the Russian Federation—A. I. Leipunskii Physics and Power Engineering Institute. Translated from Atomanya énergiya, Vol. 87, No. 5, pp. 342–356, November, 1999.     

Economics of nuclear power stations in Russia: Increasing the market competitiveness of producers of electrical power

An analysis is made of the role and the place of Russian nuclear power stations on the federal (all-Russia) wholesale market for electrical energy and power, the structure of the costs of producing electricity at these stations, the competitiveness of nuclear energy sources with other producers of electricity. Possible ways are discussed for reducing the cost of producing electricity at nuclear power stations. Journal version of the plenary paper “From the first nuclear power station in the world to the power engineering of the twenty first century” (Annual Conference of Nuclear Society, Obninsk, June 28 to July 2, 1999). Rosénergoatm Concern. Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 87, No. 2, pp. 92–101, August, 1999.     

Buckling of braced monosymmetric cantilevers

The paper examines the elastic lateral buckling of monosymmetric cantilevers with a discrete intermediate brace. On the basis of the Timoshenko energy approach, the buckling capacities are determined by direct minimization of the ‘generalized Rayleigh quotient’. Solutions are expressed in terms of the easily calculated beam parameter, , and the degree of beam monosymmetry parameter, , which indicate readily the form of the monosymmetric section. The influences of lateral brace at different levels, of rotational brace and of full brace on the buckling capacities for varying brace locations, height of load application above the shear centre and the degrees of beam monosymmetry are investigated.     

Accurate and reliable image classification by using conformal predictors in the TJ-II Thomson scattering

The charge-coupled device camera of the TJ-II Thomson scattering (TS) can capture five different classes of images. Typically, different data processing is performed depending on the kind of image that is acquired. The procedure can be automated to recognize the type of image. To this end, machine learning methods (MLM) are applied. However, usually, MLM classify without confidence estimates. An image classifier based on conformal predictors has been developed for the TJ-II TS. It provides a couple of indicators (confidence and credibility) for each classification that measures the accuracy and reliability of the prediction. Results achieve success rates of about 97%. The implemented classifier is valid for any kind of images.     

The effect of nitrogen and sulphur compounds on extreme pressure lubrication

This paper reports the synthesis of hydroxyheptadecyl-substituted-1,3,4-thiadiazoles and mercapto-1,2,4-triazoles and the evaluation of extreme pressure activity of their admixtures (0.5% and 1% w/ v) with a paraffinic oil in a four-ball test. Alloy steel bearing balls of 12.7 mm diameter were used as test specimens. All the additives exhibited good activity in reducing wear and increasing the values of mean Hertz load (MHL) and flash temperature parameter (FTP) as compared to the base fluid. The presence of p-methoxy- and p-chloro- groups in the thiadiazole and mercapto triazole rings has been found to enhance the activity of these additives. Scanning Auger Electron Spectroscopy surface studies were conducted to analyse the additive-metal interaction.     

Automation of Hand-Operated Ellipsometers

A phase-modulation attachment to hand-operated ellipsometers for their automation has been developed. An automated spectral ellipsometer with direct digital detection of the photodetector signal based on an L-119XUV (Gaertner) hand-operated ellipsometer was used in the contactless monitoring of thin inhomogeneous layers growing on the surfaces of metals and alloys. The accuracy of the instrument is about 0.05°, its spectral range is 0.35–0.8 m, and the response speed is determined by the type of the spectrum analyzer, ADC, and computer employed.     

Internal Demagnetization Factor for Porous Ferromagnets in Remagnetization Process

Computational and experimental methods of determining the internal demagnetization factor of porous ferromagnetic materials are compared. The effect of the porosity, the shape of pores, and the magnetizing field strength on the demagnetization factor of model porous materials are considered. It is established experimentally that the internal demagnetization factor is subjected to hysteresis when the porous materials are remagnetized along the magnetic hysteresis loop.     

Corrosion Properties of NdFeB Magnets Coated by a Ni/Cu/Ni Layer in Chloride and Sulfide Environments

In this study, the corrosion behavior of a permanent magnetic alloy, Nd-Fe-B, coated by a triple layer of nickel-copper-nickel was studied. The corrosion resistance was investigated by (i) flux tests, carried out at 90 °C in an atmosphere containing chlorides or at 70 °C containing sulfides, (ii) electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and (iii) potentiodynamic polarization tests, carried out in solution at different temperatures (0-90 °C) containing chlorides or sulfides. The morphology and the composition of the samples and the corrosion products were analysed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray detector. The magnetic properties were characterized by magnetic flow measurements. The flux tests indicated that the triple layer of coating provided a greater corrosion resistance in atmosphere containing chlorides than the one with sulfides. The potentiodynamic and the EIS tests showed that the corrosion rate increased with temperature. The magnetic properties of the sample remained unchanged after exposure to the aggressive environment.     

Improving the Quality of Thermocouple Wire Made of Platinum-rhodium Alloys

For the manufacture of S-type thermocouple the so-called thermocouple wire of platinum and platinum-rhodium alloy is used.One of the main technical requirements for the quality of the wire,according to State Standard of Russia(GOST 10821),is the uniformity of its largest thermoelectric force(Thermo-emf) in the length different sections.It was found that a determining impact on the uniformity of the wire thermo-emf is the distribution of rhodium along the length of the wire.The impact of platinum-rhodium melt crystallization conditions on the inhomogeneity of wire manufactured from it.It was suggested that the chemical inhomogeneity of the wire is related to the liquation phase of platinum-rhodium alloy.