摘要:
System and method for evaporating moisture from a gap defined between a heat transfer tube surrounding a repair sleeve in a nuclear steam generator. The nuclear steam generator has a heat transfer tube surrounding a repair sleeve that has been hydraulically expanded into engagement with the tube. The tube and the sleeve define a gap therebetween having moisture residing therein. The system includes an air compressor in communication with the gap for supplying air to the gap and a dryer in communication with the air compressor for drying the gas supplied to the gap. A heater in communication with the air compressor may also be provided for heating the air supplied to the gap, so that the moisture residing in the gap evaporates into the heated air. A vacuum pump in communication with the gap may be provided for decreasing the pressure of the heated air in the gap, so that substantially all the moisture evaporates from the gap and into the heated air.
摘要:
Apparatus for expanding tubular members, such as U-shaped heat transfer tubes having ends thereof located in the confined space adjacent the curved sides of the bowl-shaped lower plenum of a typical nuclear steam generator. The apparatus includes an elongate mandrel having a flow channel therethrough in communication with a resilient tubular bladder surrounding the mandrel. The bladder is flexible about its longitudinal axis due to the ribbed construction of the wall thereof. The mandrel includes a plurality of segments, adjacent ones of the segments interconnected by a ball-and-socket joint therebetween, so that the segments swivel about respective ones of the ball-and-socket joints. In this manner, the mandrel flexes as it is inserted into the tube end located in the confined space defined by the sides of the bowl-shaped lower plenum of the steam generator. The mandrel also flexes as it traverses the upper U-bend portion of the tube. Thus, the mandrel and the expandable bladder connected thereto are flexible rather than rigid in order to be easily inserted into the tube ends located adjacent the curved sides of the bowl-shaped plenum and in order to easily traverse the upper U-bend portion of the tube. A pressurizer supplies pressurized fluid to the channel to controllably expand the bladder into intimate engagement with the tube in order to radially expand the tube. The mandrel is also capable of similarly expanding repair sleeves disposed concentrically in the tube.
摘要:
Tube plug and method for plugging a heat exchanger tube having an inner wall, which tube plug has a reduced susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking. The tube plug includes a shell having a closed end, an open end and an outer wall, the shell defining a chamber therein in communication with the open end of the shell. Disposed in the chamber is an expander member for expanding the outer wall of the shell into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the tube. A sealing member engages the expander member and is disposed across the open end of the shell for sealing the chamber defined by the shell so that fluid can not enter the chamber to corrosively attack the shell.
摘要:
A plugging device, such as a tube plug, and method for plugging a tubular member, such as a nuclear steam generator tube, comprises a locking cup for securing together the plurality of members comprising the tube plug. The plugging device may comprise a first member, such as a shell of a tube plug, a second member, such as bolt means of a tube plug and an annular locking cup disposed in a bore of the first member and having outside diameter threads. The outside diameter threads of the locking cup have a deformed portion with a wave-like pattern for providing resistance during threading and unthreading of the locking cup into and out of the first member. At least one of the second member and the locking cup has at least one recess for receiving a deformable portion of the other of the second member and the locking cup for securing the first member, the second member, and the locking cup together. The metal-to-metal abutment of an outside diameter surface of the locking cup and a plug face of the shell and the metal-to-metal abutment of a taper of the bolt means and a taper of the locking cup may seal a chamber within the shell to prevent fluid flow through the tube plug.
摘要:
An apparatus and process for positioning and for simultaneously oscillating a plurality of heater probes within a plurality of heat exchanger tubes mounted in a tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The apparatus generally comprises a frame, a plurality of probe drivers mounted onto the frame, wherein each driver includes a pneumatically operated, bladder-type gripper for selectively gripping and ungripping the push-cable of one of the heater probes, as well as an oscillating mechanism powered by a variable voltage d.c. motor. A controller connected between the d.c. motor and a power source separately controls the frequency and the amplitude of the cycle that the oscillating mechanism moves the gripper in, and further controls the alignment between the midpoint of the oscillatory cycle and a selected point along the longitudinal axis of the tube. The apparatus is movable to a selected position on the tubesheet by means of a robotic arm, and includes a coupling for remotely attaching and detaching the arm from the frame of the apparatus. The frame of the apparatus includes a pair of opposing cam-locks for detachably securing the apparatus at a selected position on the tubesheet, thereby advantageously freeing the robotic arm that delivered the apparatus. Finally, the frame is contoured to the shape of the inner walls of the steam generator so that the apparatus can service heat exchanger tubes located on the periphery of the tubesheet.
摘要:
An apparatus and process for positioning and for simultaneously oscillating a plurality of heater probes within a plurality of heat exchanger tubes mounted in a tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The apparatus generally comprises a frame, a plurality of probe drivers mounted onto the frame, wherein each driver includes a pneumatically operated, bladder-type gripper for selectively gripping and ungripping the push-cable of one of the heater probes, as well as an oscillating mechanism powered by a variable voltage d.c. motor. A controller connected between the d.c. motor and a power source separately controls the frequency and the amplitude of the cycle that the oscillating mechanism moves the gripper in, and further controls the alignment between the midpoint of the oscillatory cycle and a selected point along the longitudinal axis of the tube. The apparatus is movable to a selected position on the tubesheet by means of a robotic arm, and includes a coupling for remotely attaching and detaching the arm from the frame of the apparatus. The frame of the apparatus includes a pair of opposing cam-locks for detachably securing the apparatus at a selected position on the tubesheet, thereby advantageously freeing the robotic arm that delivered the apparatus. Finally, the frame is contoured to the shape of the inner walls of the steam generator so that the apparatus can service heat exchanger tubes located on the periphery of the tubesheet.
摘要:
The in-place tensioning washer apparatus mounts about a stud to be tensioned. The apparatus has an upper portion, a lower portion, and an expanding torus positioned therebetween. With the stud threaded into the workpiece, the washer is slid onto the stud and a nut is threaded hand tight onto the stud. Pressurization of the torus then forces the upper portion of the apparatus away from the lower portion, putting the stud in tension. Shims are inserted into the gap between the upper and lower portions caused by pressurization of the torus. The torus is then depressurized and the shims maintain the gap between the upper and lower portions, thereby maintaining the stud in tension. To relax the stress in the stud, the torus is repressurized to force the upper and lower portions of the washer apart, freeing the shims for removal. Depressurization of the torus then relaxes the stress in the stud.
摘要:
A transceiver is adapted for communication with another transceiver over a common channel by a technique that allows both transceivers to be identical in manufacture and use. The technique avoids designating one transceiver the "master" and the other the "slave", by relying on random time differences between transmissions during a start-up period that initially establishes communications. The transmissions are typically in multi-bit packets. An example using an optical transceiver having a light emitting diode used for both optical transmission and optical detection is given, wherein the channel is an optical fiber.
摘要:
Apparatus for processing the damaged tubes of a steam generator either to prepare the tubes for insertion of a sleeve, or to insert a sleeve or to treat the sleeve after it is inserted. This apparatus includes a drilling tool for drilling out plugs, a sleeving tool for inserting sleeves in the tubes, a high-roller tool for rolling the sleeves at their upper ends where they have been expanded, and a low-roller tool for rolling the sleeves at their lower ends in the tube sheet. The sleeves are inserted in the tubes and are rolled by rolls driven by a hydraulic motor. For drilling, for sleeve insertion and for high and low rolling, the motor is controlled by a servo control valve.