Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

Padmanabha J Prabhu

Robert M Wepfer

A means of offsetting semi-circular tube support plates typically present in heat exchangers with cross flow baffles, such as axial flow economizers, utilizing the motive force of steam generator pressurization. The offset slightly flexes the tubes, thereby providing a preload which minimizes the potential for tube vibration and wear.

Anti-vibration tube support plate arrangement for steam generators

This invention relates to an in-situ cleaning fixture for mist removal separator vane assemblies. The cleaning fixture includes an injection chamber with an inlet and a perforated plate which extends horizontally, substantially over the length of the mist removal separator vane assembly. A cleaning fluid source is connected to the injection chamber during a cleaning process. The injection chamber is designed to receive the cleaning fluid, pass the cleaning fluid through the holes formed in the plate, downwardly along a plurality of vanes in the mist removal separator vane assembly and into the drain trough. The in-situ cleaning fixture facilitates removal of scale build-up from the mist removal separator vane assembly and thereby restores the efficacy of the vanes.

Demister vane in situ cleaning fixture

A loose parts collection weir that is a nearly cylindrical structure that is integrally attached to the lower deck plate or sludge collector top plate of a steam generator to retain loose parts along the feedwater and recirculation water transit path to the tube bundle. The weir is a near vertical structure built into the upper drum of the steam generator, near the periphery of the lower deck plate or sludge collector top plate in the vicinity of the downcomer annulus. The weir may contain a radially inwardly projecting lip which forms a pocket for loose parts to collect. As the feedwater flows toward the downcomer annulus, loose parts will tend to deposit onto the lower deck plate aided by gravity and be trapped by the loose parts collection weir.

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Monroeville, PA, United States of America

Padmanabha J Prabhu