Areva Np Gmbh

Framatome Anp Gmbh

Marc Gely

Christophe Parize

Pascal Latreille

Philippe Jambon

The invention relates to a device () for operating in a water chamber () of a heat exchanger () comprising a wall () of substantially hemispherical shape and, at its upper portion, a tube plate () traversed by a plurality of vertical holes (). The device comprises at least one rail () furnished with members for attachment on the bottom face of the tube plate () and supporting at least one trolley () that can be moved along the said rail () and fitted with a pendular lifting means () and a robotic arm () comprising an attachment base () furnished with members for coupling on the bottom face of the tube plate () and a drive means interacting with the lifting means () to draw the attachment base () against the tube plate (). The invention applies more particularly to the steam generator of a pressurized water nuclear reactor.

Device and method for operating in a water chamber of a heat exchanger

The maintenance device comprises a robot () for carrying out maintenance work in a remote-controlled or programmed way in the maintenance region. The robot () comprises a supporting part () connected to a clamping support () secured to a means () of transporting the maintenance device () between an introductory region and the maintenance region. The clamping support () comprises clamping shoes () which can be moved in roughly parallel and opposite directions so as to clamp the maintenance device () in the maintenance region. The transport means () may be constructed in the form of a carriage comprising two motorized wheelsets. The device and the method of the invention make it possible in particular to carry out machining or inspection work inside primary pipes of a pressurized water nuclear reactor.

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Fontaines, France

Marc Gely