Atomic Energy of Canada Limited / Energie Atomique Du Canada Limitee

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

David A Scott

Bernard A Majarais

Norman Korell

Frank Kamler

Narinder Bains

Ramesh J Bachan

An apparatus for cleaning heat exchanger tubes and in particular an improved collection system for nuclear generator cleaning and blasting media and deposit material. A suction line having a downwardly directed suction inlet is effective to vacuum airborne media and debris in said chamber and vacuum media and debris deposited on the bottom of said chamber below said suction inlet. A hopper, air jet and shaker means are provided to transport deposited media and debris toward the suction inlet. Breaker and partition means are provided to reduce back-streaming of debris into heat exchanger tubes.

Collection system for the mechanical cleaning of heat exchanger tubes

An apparatus and method for removing a pressure tube from a nuclear reactor end fitting. A series of grooves are milled in the inside surface of the pressure tube in the area of the roll fitting by means of an elongated milling tool inserted in the pressure tube. The milling tool has a rotary cutter bit that can be controlled for longitudinal and rotational position and depth of cut from the proximal end of the tool. Once the grooves are milled, the milling tool is withdrawn and replaced with an elongated collapsing tool. The collapsing tool has a pair of jaws that engage the milled grooves and draw the wall of the pressure tube inward thereby releasing it from the end fitting. The use of the present invention avoids the requirement to remove both end fittings to replace a pressure tube.

Apparatus for removing pressure tubes

A spacer for maintaining a pressure tube in spaced relation with a caland tube of a nuclear reactor. The spacer comprising a split ring adapted to be disposed about the outer surface of said pressure tube. The ring has a central annular body portion with a raised bearing surface thereon adapted to contact the inner surface of said calandria tube and prevent contact between said outer surface and said inner surface. An annular land projecting from each side of said central body portion is adapted to receive a collar thereon effective create an interference fit between said ring and said pressure tube and thereby constrain axial movement of said spacer on said pressure tube. The spacer of the present invention maintains its location on the pressure tube and does not suffer the axial movement which characterizes some conventional spacers. The bearing surface can have a coating to reduce wear and heat transfer.

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Mississauga, Canada

David A Scott