Design innovation for the 1990's

Statement of responsibility on title-page reads: Richard K. Lester, Michael J. Driscoll, Michael W. Golay, David D. Lanning, Lawrence M. Lidsky, Norman C. Rasmussen and Neil E. Todreas"September 1983."Includes bibliographical reference

Applications of aerospace technology in the electric power industry

An overview of the electric power industry, selected NASA contributions to progress in the industry, linkages affecting the transfer and diffusion of technology, and, finally, a perspective on technology transfer issues are presented

Space benefits: The secondary application of aerospace technology in other sectors of the economy

Benefit cases of aerospace technology utilization are presented for manufacturing, transportation, utilities, and health. General, organization, geographic, and field center indexes are included

Density determination of tristructural-isotropic nuclear fuel using multiple projection x-ray radiography

Effective methods of enhancing the safety and efficiency of the nuclear power industry embolden its perception and economic viability. Fuel reliability is an essential component of the prosperity of next generation high temperature reactors; as such, an equally dependable quality control method is mandatory. Tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel, the fuel developed for use in these reactors, utilizes density measurement of coating layers as a standard for quality control. Common methods of measuring density, such as sink-float and ceramography are destructive, and as such generate radioactive waste, take a relatively long time to prepare samples, rely on a low sampling rate to be economical, and destroy otherwise usable samples. An alternative method which is non-destructive, quick, robust, and potentially automated has been developed by utilizing typical x-ray radiography. Simulated images and actual radiographs were used to test the method. The simulated results indicated that the method has high tolerance for image noise. Additional tests were performed for voltage fluctuations, errors in the photon energy distribution, and radii measurement perturbations. Experiments were performed with a TRISO fuel phantom and the calculated density results were found to be in agreement with actual values. Implications of the developed testing method include more stringent quality control of fuel at a rapid inspection rate, minimization of fission product release from fuel, and ultimately, increased reactor efficiency --Abstract, page iii