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Laser-crystal sensor measures strong magnetic fields in challenging environments
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have patented a magneto-optical sensor, which uses a rare earth crystal and laser light to measure the strength of intense magnetic fields and electrical currents.
“We think this technology is a pretty major improvement in measuring magnetic fields,” said Israel Owens, a Sandia physicist and co-inventor of the sensor. “We think it’ll be essential especially for research in fusion, high-energy physics, and the power utilities industry. We’re really excited about where things are going.”
Peter H. Margen
Nuclear Technology | Volume 38 | Number 2 | April 1978 | Pages 192-203
Technical Paper | Low-Temperature Nuclear Heat / Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT78-A32012
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Conventional and newer types of hot-water pipes are applied to the bulk transport of reject heat from central nuclear power plants to the district heating network of cities or groups of cities. With conventional pipes, the transport of 300 to 2000 MW of heat over distances of 30 to 100 km can be justified, while with newer pipe types, even longer distances would often be economic. For medium-size district heating schemes, low-temperature heat transport from simple heat-only reactors suitable for closer location to cities is of interest. For daily storage of heat on district heating systems, steel heat accumulators are currently used in Sweden. The development of more advanced cheaper heat accumulators, such as lake storage schemes, could make even seasonal heat storage economic. Newer distribution technology extends the economic field of penetration of district heating even to suburban one-family house districts. With proper design and optimization, nuclear district heating can be competitive in a wide market and achieve very substantial fossil-fuel savings.