G21F1/125

Imaging apparatus not easily affected by radiation, and image display apparatus
11726194 · 2023-08-15 · ·

The present invention is capable of determining the location(s) of waste (e.g. nuclear fuel debris, obstacles, contaminated or otherwise radioactive materials), monitoring and inspecting their surroundings, and transporting them, as well as use in repair, construction, and reactor decommissioning work in high radiation environment. Ultrasound (or sound) waves are not subject to interference from radiation. This modality is utilized in the present invention to detect and image waste and/or objects of interest. The system combines the resulting ultrasound (or sound) wave images for detecting waste and/or objects of interest with radiation information acquired by a radiation detector, to generate and adjust new composite images to display. For example, the image in the direction of strong radiation is red and the image in the direction of weak radiation is blue. Additionally, the constituent imaging apparatus may be fitted on a drone or robotic system for repair and construction work.

FUNCTIONAL FOOTWEAR UNIT

The invention relates to a functional footwear unit, in particular in the form of knit-of-parts, which has preferably a particularly modular protective function against chemical and/or biological toxic and/or harmful substances, especially warfare agents. The invention also relates to the uses thereof.

Cryogenic radiation enhancement of superconductors

Disclosed are a superconductor having improved critical current density when exposed to high-energy neutron radiation and high magnetic fields, such as found in a compact nuclear fusion reactor, and a method of making the same. The method includes, prior to deployment in the exposure environment, irradiating a polycrystalline (e.g. cuprate) superconductor with ionic matter or neutrons at a cryogenic temperature to create “weak” magnetic flux pinning sites, such as point defects or small defect clusters. Irradiation temperature is chosen, for example as a function of the superconducting material, so that irradiation creates the beneficial flux pinning sites while avoiding detrimental widening of the boundaries of the crystalline grains caused by diffusion of the displaced atoms. Such a superconductor in a coated-conductor tape is expected to be beneficial when used, for example, as a toroidal field coil in a fusion reactor when cooled well below its critical temperature.

ANTI-RADIATION VIEWING PORT
20230335306 · 2023-10-19 ·

Disclosed is an anti-radiation viewing port intended to be fitted to a wall opening provided in a wall which separates a space subjected to ionising radiation, the space being called a hot space, and a space which is not subjected to ionising radiation, the space being called a cold space. This anti-radiation viewing port includes a screen which is made from transparent radio-protective material and which is associated with a peripheral attachment frame. A joint structure is positioned between a rebate periphery wing of the peripheral attachment frame, and a peripheral screen edge; and the front screen face of the screen made of transparent radio-protective material, the front joint face of the joint structure and at least a portion of the outer face of an attachment wing which extends in continuation of the front joint face are located in the same plane or substantially in the same plane.

Radiation shielded enclosure for spent nuclear fuel cask
11798699 · 2023-10-24 · ·

A containment enclosure for shielding an outer cask containing an inner canister loaded with nuclear waste such as spent fuel rods. The enclosure includes a lower base portion at least partially embedded in a concrete pad and an upper radiation shielding portion defined by a shield jacket coupled to and supported by the lower base portion at a circumferential joint. Cavities of the base and shielding portions collectively define a contiguous containment space for the cask. A portion of the cask resides in each of the base and shielding portions which completely enclose and shield the cask to minimize radiation dosage of personnel in the environment surrounding the cask. The cask is cooled by a natural convectively-driven ambient cooling air ventilation system including air inlets at the circumferential joint of the enclosure. The concrete pad may be part of a spent nuclear fuel storage installation comprising plural cask containment enclosures.

System and methods for mitigating effects of radiation on composite structures

Systems (100) and methods (600) for providing a product with a radiation mitigation feature. The methods comprise: obtaining a composite base layer formed of a fiber-reinforced material; and performing a deposition process to dispose a first coating layer on the composite base layer so as to form the product with a radiation barrier, the first coating layer comprising 35% by mass or less of a metal constituent, at least 65% by mass of a germanium constituent, a zero or substantially zero coating stress, and/or an overall thickness between 2 microns and 8 microns.

Electronic enclosure with neutron shield for nuclear in-core applications

An enclosure for non-organic electronic components is provided which includes an inner cavity for housing non-organic electronic components and a neutron shielding barrier surrounding the inner cavity and the electronic components housed within the cavity. The barrier is formed from a neutron reflecting material in solid or powdered form and a neutron absorbing material in solid or powdered form. An optional structural support is provided in certain aspects of the enclosure design.

COATED MICROFIBROUS WEB AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
20220243053 · 2022-08-04 ·

A coated microfibrous web, a method for producing the same, the use thereof as a covering of a radiation protection material, and a radiation protection device are described. The coated microfibrous web contains: (i) a microfibrous web containing one or more polyesters and/or one or more polyamides and/or one or more polyamide-polyester copolymers and having an impregnation composition containing (a) an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, the dicarboxylic groups of which are each esterified with a diol, and/or (b) one or more oligomers, each containing 2 to 10 repeat units consisting of a monoester of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid impregnated with a diol; and (ii) a layer comprising polyurethane which is present only on one side of the microfibrous web.

Radiation resistant high-entropy alloy having FCC structure and preparation method thereof

A radiation resistant high-entropy alloy is provided, having an FCC structure, defined by general formula of FeCoNiVMoTi.sub.xCr.sub.y, where 0.05≤x≤0.2, 0.05≤y≤0.3, x and y are molar ratios. The radiation resistant high-entropy alloy has excellent irradiation resistance and is subject to radiation hardening saturation at high temperature (600° C.) in a condition of a high dose (1-3×10.sup.16 ions/cm.sup.2) of helium ion irradiation. A lattice constant of the high-entropy alloy decreases abnormally after irradiation. The high-entropy alloy has a radiation resistance far higher than that of a conventional alloy and has an excellent plasticity and specific strength. In an as-cast condition and at room temperature, a tensile break strength of the high-entropy alloy is higher than 580 MPa, an engineering strain (a tensile elongation) of the high-entropy alloy is greater than 30%.

Method of Making Atomic Number (Z) Grade Small Sat Radiation Shielding Vault
20220076855 · 2022-03-10 ·

A radiation shielded vault structure includes a rigid outer structure comprising a plurality of rigid structural components that are interconnected at elongated joints to define an interior space. The structural components include a layer of lower atomic number (Z) material such as aluminum alloy and one or more layers of higher atomic number (Z) material titanium and/or tantalum. The vault structure may include radiation shield members extending along the elongated joints to provide radiation shielding at the elongated joints. The shield members comprise a higher atomic number (Z) material such as titanium or tantalum. The rigid structural components may comprise plate members that are interconnected along side edges thereof. End plates may be attached to the plate members to close off the interior space.