Abstract:
A portable system for measuring airborne radionuclides from a target environment can include a primary gas flowpath including a cartridge dock. At least a first filter cartridge may be connectable to the cartridge dock and may include a cartridge gas inlet sealingly connectable to the sample supply port, a cartridge gas outlet sealingly connectable to the exhaust port; and a cartridge flowpath extending therebetween. The cartridge can include first and second filter chambers housing first and second filters. A gamma detector apparatus may be positionable adjacent the first filter cartridge when the first filter cartridge is connected to the cartridge dock and is configured to detect radiation emitted from the first filter and to detect radiation emitted from the second filter, and to generate a sensor output signal in based on the detected radiation.
Abstract:
A process for preparing synthetic hydrocarbons from a biomass feedstock is provided. The process involves electrolysis of steam and/or CO2, optionally along with a refinery gas in a high temperature co-electrolyzer (HTCE) to produce oxygen and hydrogen and/or enhanced hydrogen rich syngas. The oxygen generated via the electrolysis process is used for partial oxidation of a biomass feedstock in a gasifier to generate a hydrogen lean syngas. The hydrogen lean syngas is mixed with at least a portion of the hydrogen and/or enhanced hydrogen rich syngas generated via the high temperature electrolysis/co-electrolysis to formulate a hydrogen rich syngas. The hydrogen rich syngas is then reacted in a Fischer Tropsch (FT) reactor to produce synthetic hydrocarbons and refinery gas.
Abstract:
An apparatus for and a method of analyzing a sample. A laser section may include a laser arranged to direct a laser beam in a first direction towards the sample. The laser beam ablating and ionizing at least a portion of the sample to generate ions. An ion source section may include a sample holder for holding the sample. At least one component is arranged to apply an electric field for extracting at least a portion of the ions to form an ion beam traveling in a second direction. A time-of-flight section may include a detector arranged to receive the ion beam.
Abstract:
A method of detecting a material with a high atomic number, including positioning a test object in a muon detection apparatus; gathering a set of test data; reconstructing a set of test muon tracks; identifying a set of outlier muon tracks having large scattering events; identifying an outlier spatial domain region; determining outlier region scattering density estimates; determining if the outlier region scattering density estimates are indicative of the presence of the material with the high atomic number; generating a detector notification, when the outlier region scattering density estimates are indicative of the presence of the material with the high atomic number; and providing the detector notification to a user. A system for detecting a material with a high atomic number may include a muon detection apparatus and a processing system communicatively coupled to the muon detection apparatus and including at least one processor operable to generate a detector notification.
Abstract:
A method of detecting alpha particles may include providing a layer of a scintillating slurry comprising a granular scintillating material in water onto a measurement surface of a sample; positioning the sample having the scintillating slurry within a detection chamber of detection apparatus; detecting photons produced by the granular scintillating material in the scintillating slurry when the granular scintillating material is excited by ionizing alpha radiation emitted by alpha particles within the sample using a photon detector and generating a corresponding output signal; and removing the sample and the scintillating slurry from the detection chamber.
Abstract:
A nuclear fuel element for use in a nuclear reactor may include a plurality of metal fuel sheaths extending along a longitudinal fuel element axis and spaced apart from each other, the plurality of fuel sheaths comprising a first fuel sheath having an inner surface, an opposing outer surface and a hollow interior configured to receive nuclear fuel material. A carbon coating may be on the inner surface of the first fuel sheath. The carbon coating may include more than 99.0%wt of a carbon material including more than 20%wt of carbon nanotubes and less than about 0.01 %wt of organic contaminants.
Abstract:
In one aspect, a method of preconditioning stem cells comprising exposing stem cells to low dose radiation (LDR) is provided. In another aspect, a population of preconditioned stem cells is provided, wherein the population of 5 preconditioned stem cells is obtained by exposing stem cells to LDR. Uses of the preconditioned stem cells are also provided. In other aspects, the stem cells are muscle stem cells.
Abstract:
An article formed of a metal alloy is covered at least partially with a metal hydride and a shell metal to form an assembly. Load is applied to the assembly and the assembly is heated. The shell metal deforms around the article and the metal hydride and forms a gas proof seal. The metal hydride thermally decomposes to form hydrogen gas. At least a portion of the hydrogen gas dissociates and moves as monoatomic hydrogen into the article. The metal alloy can be a zirconium metal alloy, the metal hydride can be a zirconium metal hydride, and the shell metal can be substantially copper.
Abstract:
A system for monitoring ionizing radiation in a target area, the system may include a first plurality of consumable nodes deployable within the target area to be exposed to the ionizing radiation. Each consumable node may be progressively damageable over a monitoring time as a result of exposure to the ionizing radiation. A base station may be operable to detect an amount of radiation damage sustained by the consumable nodes and to determine a dosage of ionizing radiation received by any one of the consumable nodes based on a pre- determined correlation between the dosage of ionizing radiation and the amount of radiation damage sustained by the consumable node.
Abstract:
A method for hydriding a material, such as a metallic or metal alloy, using coulometric titration. The method comprises placing the material to be hydrided inside a reaction furnace; introducing a flow of a gas mixture comprising hydrogen and optionally an inert gasto a first coulometric titration cell upstream of the furnace, through the reaction furnace, and into a second coulometric titration cell downstream of said furnace; heating the upstream and downstream coulometric titration cells; applying a current of oxygen ions to the gas mixture flow of the downstream coulometric titration cell under conditions effective to convert H 2 in the downstream coulometric titration cell to H 2 O ; and monitoring the current of oxygen, allowing the material to absorb a desired amount of H 2 . The reduction in the current of oxygen can be monitored in real time to quantify the amount of hydrogen absorbed.