General Electric Company

Ge-hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC

James Edgar Burner

John Frederick Ackerman

Benedict Kazirskis

Catherine Procik Dulka

James Cassidy Donohue

Mark William Broaddus

Gail E Dunning

Richard Oran Kilgo

C Alan Peet

Edwin R Baker

Edward L Chaney

William L Goldsworth

Bangalore P Mallikarjuna

Veronica Salazar

An apparatus for removing a dry tube assembly includes a mounting structure configured to mount the apparatus to a top guide of a reactor vessel, a clamping assembly configured to engage the dry tube assembly, and a positioning assembly that is configured to position and rotate the clamping assembly relative to the dry tube assembly. The dry tube assembly is buckled and removed without exercising a joint.

Apparatus and method for removing a dry tube assembly from a nuclear reactor pressure vessel

A system for exchanging a control rod drive of a nuclear reactor is provided. The system may include an integrated drive exchange assembly system (IDEAS). The IDEAS may include a trunnion cart attached to a tower assembly. The tower assembly may include an integrated extension carriage assembly. The IDEAS may also include a control rod drive adapter; and a lead cart connected to the trunnion cart assembly.

System for exchanging a control rod drive

A positioning apparatus for a CRD handling assembly for a nuclear reactor. The positioning apparatus includes at least one linear slide rail, a drive screw coupled to the at least one slide rail, an elevator movably coupled to the drive screw, and at least one linear bearing attached to the elevator. The linear bearing is slidably coupled to the at least one slide rail.

Control rod drive handling assembly for a nuclear reactor

Method of treating a surface of a steam line plug grip wherein the surface is subjected to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) treatment to introduce a hard oxide material into pores and cracks in the surface.

CVD treatment of hard friction coated steam line plug grips

A bottom open sled system for exchanging control rod drives in a nuclear reactor is described. The system, in one form, includes a tower forming a control rod drive receiving area, at least one acme screw extends substantially the length of the tower and is mounted within the receiving area. An elevator is coupled to the acme screw and is movable relative to the acme screw. The elevator is configured to engage a portion of the control rod drive and to substantially support the control rod drive. The system further includes a trunnion cart engaged to the tower so that the tower is rotatable relative thereto.

Bottom open sled system

An apparatus for cleaning of a reactor pressure vessel head closure stud. The surface of the stud is cleaned by power vacuum brushing. The stud is hung vertically in a cabinet which supports a vertically elevatable spinner housing. The stud is cleaned in a single process using a rotating wire brush system which is rotatably mounted in the spinner housing and has a central opening for passage of the stud. A plurality of wire bushes are arranged in a circular array surrounding the stud. While the wire brushes are rotating in contact with the stud external surface, the spinner housing and wire brush assembly are displaced vertically by an elevator so that the rotating brushes travel along the full length of the stud. The rotating brushes remove accumulated material on the stud surface. The resulting contaminated debris is contained in a volume enclosed by a brush canister and a bellows. The bellows expands or contracts as the elevator travels. The contaminated debris is drawn into a high-efficiency particulate absolute filter by a vacuum pump.

Apparatus for automated cleaning of reactor pressure vessel closure studs

A nut runner tool is used to engage, turn, capture and lift the RPV head closure nuts from the RPV studs. The tool is also used to capture, lift and transport the nuts from the storage tray to the RPV head closure studs. The nut runner system enables a single operator to remove and install head closure nuts quickly and safely. The nut runner is powered by a remotely operated air driver. The reaction torque is transferred safely through the tool into the top of the closure stud. The air driver unthreads the nut, then a nut holding device is actuated, and the nut and tool are lifted from the top of the stud with a hoist attached to a trolley. The nut and tool are moved radially from the stud location to the storage position in the nut rack. When positioned over the storage location, the lowering of the nut into the rack is performed by the hoist, eliminating the need to manhandle the nuts into and out of the storage rack. After lowering the nut into the nut rack, the nut holding device is released and the nut runner is moved to the next location. The reverse of this process reinstalls the nuts.

Nut runner for removing and installing reactor pressure vessel head

A pole storage caddy system includes a pole storage caddy for storing a set of service poles, a pole assembly work station, a motorized monorail pole hoist and a detachable auxiliary personnel work platform, all mounted on a rail truck-mounted rigid frame. The hoist is used to convey the pole sections between the storage caddy and work station during assembly and to support the weight of the pole assembly for in-vessel work. The pole assembly work station includes a two-position slotted keyway plate, the first position providing lateral restraint during torquing operations and the second position providing vertical support during pole assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Downington, PA, United States of America

James Edgar Burner