Recommandations de Conception issues du Contrôle Non Destructif (RCC-MRx)

National audienceUne réflexion a été initiée en 2008 par les concepteurs de centrales nucléaires RNRrefroidies au sodium, avec l’aide de spécialistes du LCND (Université Aix-Marseille).L’objectif était d’insuffler une culture CND, un réflexe pour les besoinsd’inspectabilité/réparabilité. Le constat qui a motivé cette réflexion était que toutes les règlesrelatives aux CND présentes dans le code RCC-MR (édition 2007) étaient spécifiquementdévolues aux contrôles de fabrication. Un Groupe de Travail Thématique (GTT) a produit fin2012 une révision de l’Annexe A20 «Dispositions constructives associées aux visites desurveillance en exploitation» du code RCC-MRx, résultant de la fusion des codes RCC-MRet RCC-MX dédié aux réacteurs expérimentaux. Cette révision est volontairement peuprescriptive car le GTT a montré que, vis-à-vis de la complexité des problèmes posés, ledialogue entre concepteur, fabricant et contrôleur semble être le meilleur moyen pour trouverun compromis entre conception, fabrication et besoin d’inspection en service. Le GTT aconsidéré indispensable d’accompagner cette Annexe d’un document qui fournisse lesfondements des recommandations (criteria), et qui permette de comprendre et justifier lessolutions apportées avec les moyens techniques de contrôles actuels. Certaines mises enperspective sont également indiquées. La présente communication montre le principe de larévision retenue, et présente quelques exemples extraits des criteria

Funcionament dels esfigmomanòmetres en l'assistència primària

Es revisa el funcionament de 102 esfigmomanòmetres localitzats en diferents zones d'assistència primària de Barcelona i comarques circumdants. 44 dels aparells eren de mercuri i 58 aneroides. Un 13,63% dels esfigmomanòmetres de mercuri i un 67,24% dels aparells aneroides funcionaven incorrectament considerant funcionament incorrecte un error igual o superior a 4 mm Hg en la lectura respecte un esfigmomanòmetre control, per excés o per defecte. Únicament en una petita fracció dels aparells l'error es podia justificar pel mal estat de les gomes

Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars: The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports—among others—the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit

Development of lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite composite cathodes for intermediate- to low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer high energy conversion, low noise, low pollutant emission, and low processing cost. Despite many advantages, SOFCs face a major challenge in competing with other types of fuel cells because of their high operating temperature. The necessity to reduce the operational temperature of SOFCs has led to the development of research into the materials and fabrication technology of fuel cells. The use of composite cathodes significantly reduces the cathode polarization resistance and expands the triple phase boundary area available for oxygen reduction. Powder preparation and composite cathode fabrication also affect the overall performance of composite cathodes and fuel cells. Among many types of cathode materials, lanthanum-based materials such as lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (La1-xSrxCo1-yFeyO3-δ) have recently been discovered to offer great compatibility with ceria-based electrolytes in performing as composite cathode materials for intermediate- to low-temperature SOFCs (IT-LTSOFCs). This paper reviews various ceria-based composite cathodes for IT-LTSOFCs and focuses on the aspects of progress and challenges in materials technology

BIOLEX – The Biology and Lunar experiment and the LOGOS Cubes

BIOLEX is a concept designed for in situ science on the Moon or in its orbit. As heritage of the polar and space experiment BIOMEX (Biology and Mars Experiment) on the ISS it is a more developed concept. Measurement operations on an exposure platform as well as within a micro-greenhouse device are part of this concept. The goal is to investigate the use of lunar resources as well as to analyse the stability of biomolecules as potential biosignatures serving as reference for future space exploration missions to Mars and the icy ocean moons in the outer solar system. Astrobiological exploration of the solar system is a priority research area such as emphasized by the European Astrobiology Roadmap (AstRoMap). It is focusing on several research topics, such as "Habitability" and on "Biomarkers for the detection of life". Therefore, "space platforms and laboratories", such as the EXPOSE setup installed outside the ISS, are essential to gain more knowledge on space- and planetary environments, which might be an essential basis for improvement of the robotic and human interplanetary exploration (Moon, Mars, Encedalus, Titan and Europa). In reference to these exposure platforms a new generation of hardware is needed to be installed in the lunar orbit or directly on the Moon. The BIOLEX is representing by its LOGOS (Lunar Organisms, Geo-microbiology and Organics Space Experiment) cubes such a concept combining the life detection topics with topics relevant to autonomous life supporting systems. A combination of a sample exposure device and a microhabitat for plants and microorganisms could address a tremendous number of questions from astrobiology and life sciences. The main scientific objectives for the use of BIOLEX-LOGOS cubes are: (i) in situ measurements by spectroscopy methods (such as Raman, IR, UV/VISspectroscopy) for analysis of biosignatures and their stability what is relevant for support of future life detection missions on Mars and the icy moons in the outer solar system); (ii) in situ measurements of environmental conditions (radiation, pressure/vacuum, temperature, pH, humidity) in micro-modules or compartments in reference to planned micro-habitat experiments placed on the Moon or incorporated on an exposure facility in orbit; (iii) in situ measurements of microorganisms’ activity in micro-modules / compartments in reference to planned microhabitat experiments placed on the moon or incorporated in the exposure facility in orbit. In reference to these scientific ideas the Moon is an excellent platform to operate different space experiments which will be of relevance for astrobiology, life sciences and human space missions. BIOLEX tries to fulfil a large number of scientific investigations in reference to these disciplines. The lunar environment is much harsher compared to Mars; and tests on biomolecules in this environment could provide information on their stability and therefore on the value to be used as reference for future space missions to Mars or the icy ocean moons in the outer solar system. Resources of the Moon such as the regolith or the freely available radiation on the surface could be tested by using them in a micro-greenhouse. Within this greenhouse different filters could test the optimal spectra range of the radiation

Passive structural monitoring based on data-driven matched field processing

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Sensitivity enhancement of the topological imaging method: Application to weld inspection

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