Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump three point slip joint clamp to mitigate sleep joint leakage flow induced vibration of a BWR jet pump assembly. A collar, provided as one seamless component or in separate portions, is installed on the upper crown of a diffuser. The collar includes a lower set of fasteners and an upper set of fasteners that contact the inlet mixer and diffuser, respectively, to horizontally stabilize the inlet mixer in a fixed position inside of the diffuser. The upper fasteners may be anchored by bosses that ensure a light-weight design of the collar. An optional cantilevered seal (including a cantilevered overhang and a lip) may mitigate leakage from the slip joint interface.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for supporting the lower riser assembly of a jet pump in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a nuclear reactor are described. In one embodiment of the apparatus, the clamp apparatus facilitates applying compression force on the elbow. The clamp apparatus includes a lower elbow clamp, a riser clamp, and a bridge. The lower elbow clamp is positioned adjacent an interface between the elbow and the thermal sleeve of the jet pump riser pipe assembly. The riser clamp is secured to the riser pipe of the jet pump riser pipe assembly at a location adjacent an interface between the riser pipe and the elbow. The bridge rigidly couples the lower elbow clamp and the lower clamp so that as the respective clamps are secured to the lower riser assembly, a compression clamping force is placed on the piping and welds at each clamp.
Abstract:
Repair apparatus and a method of repair utilized for securing pressure sensing lines to jet pump diffusers in boiling water nuclear reactors is disclosed. Conventional access is made to the reactor with removal of the jet pump inlet mixer to expose the upwardly disposed frustum-shaped diffuser. The diffuser includes a pressure sensing line mounted by a stand off block. It has been found that this pressure sensing line becomes separated from the diffuser due to vibration and accompanying metal fatigue. A repair is effected by introduction of an arcuate beam configured for live support at each end. This pressure sensing line and stand off block is bracketed by the upper end of a beam to register the line to the stand off block. The lower end of the beam brackets the line and stands off from the diffuser at a second introduced stand off block. The line is provided with two points of support to prevent further dislodging vibration. The beam is in turn captured by an elliptical ring clamp encircling the essentially circular section of the diffuser between the beam and its captured line. A saddle on the elliptical ring opposite the clamped beam tensions the ring diameter. The ring clamp fits in a preformed notch on the beam and is disposed normally to the surface of the diffuser from the saddle. This disposition of the ring urges the beam upwardly in latched engagement with the stand off block so as to position the line at the upper end of the beam to the stand off block. A universal beam holder for the remote clamping and release of the beam as well as universal manipulation of the beam in pitch, yaw and azimuth is disclosed. This universal beam holder enables positioning of the beam in the submerged radio-active environment of the reactor. The clamp also enables the beam to be maintained in position with the line and stand off block while the ring clamp captures the beam. When the ring clamp is fastened to the beam by securing of a wedge fitting at the saddle, the universal beam holder releases the beam and is withdrawn. Clamping of the pressure sensing line at two spaced apart points secures against both initial detachment and further vibration damage.
Abstract:
The invention provides a tool for closing off the jet nozzles of jet pumps located in an almost inaccessible location inside the shell of a boiling water reactor. The tool suspended on a cord is lowered down through a narrow gap extending down along the major part of the shell of the reactor, a distance of approximately 30 feet. The tool is lowered onto a stationary projection--namely, a lug or ear--which provides a gauge point for height and lateral position and an anchorage for torque in a horizontal plane. With these two controls for the tool of the invention, a closure for the jet nozzle may be applied to each of the jet nozzles to close them off against outflow of the water contained in the shell of the reactor thereby avoiding the bleak alternative of taking the reactor completely out of service, which includes removing the fuel bundles and draining the shell.
Abstract:
Piping loops can carry either forced or natural circulation coolant flow from and back to a reactor depending on reactor and coolant state, and can transition between the two. The loop flows into a heat exchanger that significantly cools the coolant and may even condense the coolant. The heat exchanger can drive natural circulation coolant flow, and a pump on the loop can drive forced circulation. Coolant direction may be reversed through the heat exchanger in different modes. Loops may be installed directly on existing ICSs, come off of a primary loop generating electricity commercially, or be their own loop around and penetrations to the reactor. Actuation valves may isolate and actuate the system merely by disallowing or allowing coolant flow. Different flow modes and coolant direction may be similarly achieved by pump actuation and/or valve opening/closing. Beyond the pump and simple valve actuation, loops may be entirely passive.
Abstract:
Clamps can be secured to a slip joint and limit flow through the same by seating on a diffuser axially regardless of wear and damage in the slip joint. An extension from the clamp seats to the inlet mixer. These extensions can be adjusted from outside the clamp to achieve an individual preload or flow limitation through the slip joint. The extension may be an O-ring or other shape. A biasing drive may connect to and move the extension from an outside surface of the clamp. The biasing drive may include a threaded cap in an outer groove that is linked to a plunger via a spring. Clamps are fabricated of materials that maintain their physical properties when exposed to an operating nuclear reactor environment and may be relatively rigid and resilient metals.
Abstract:
An ultrasonic phased array transducer assembly having a single housing in which a plurality of phased array transducer subassemblies are mounted at a skewed angle relative to a leading face of the housing and to each other, with each transducer mounted on composite wedge(s) at different orientations within the housing.
Abstract:
A method of cleaning a jet pump assembly of a nuclear reactor may comprise inserting a cleaning tool into the jet pump assembly such that a front face of the cleaning tool is adjacent to an inner surface of the jet pump assembly and below a level of a first liquid in the jet pump assembly. The method may additionally comprise directing a plurality of front jets of a second liquid from a plurality of front orifices on the front face of the cleaning tool such that the plurality of front jets of the second liquid strikes the inner surface of the jet pump assembly. The method may further comprise maintaining a standoff distance between the front face of the cleaning tool and the inner surface of the jet pump assembly during the cleaning of the jet pump assembly.
Abstract:
A jet pump measuring pipe repair method that repairs a ruptured part of a measuring pipe horizontally installed to a lower portion of a jet pump provided in reactor water inside a reactor pressure vessel. The repair method includes: fixing a support member to the jet pump near the measuring pipe left remained; mounting, after the support member fixing, a measuring pipe connector provided with a pipe-repairing pipe having both ends over which connecting pipes are fitted, respectively, to the support member; connecting, after the connector mounting, the remaining measuring pipe and connecting pipe using the measuring pipe connector.