Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Ray A Shirey

James W Everett

David E Murray

George D Fulmer

Mark M Stickel

Eugene P Ciferno

Roy D Hosley

A process and system for removing sludge deposits from a tube sheet of a steam generator having at least one handhole provided adjacent the tube sheet is disclosed. The process includes the steps of inserting a suction device through the handhole and into an interior region of the steam generator, inserting a reciprocable fluid injection device supporting structure having a reciprocable carriage positioned thereon through the handhole and into a tube lane, within the steam generator adjacent a first side of a plurality of stay rods positioned in the tube lane, securing the supporting structure to at least one of the stay rods, positioning an end of a reciprocable fluid injection device in the carriage, inserting a peripheral fluid injection device through the handhole and into the tube land adjacent an opposing side of the plurality of stay rods to a position diametrically opposed to the handhole, and reciprocating the reciprocable fluid injection device along the tube land while injecting high pressure fluid towards the tube sheet with the reciprocable fluid injection device, injecting high pressure fluid through the peripheral fluid injection device and drawing dislodged sludge deposits from the interior of the steam generator by the suction device.

Nuclear steam generator sludge lance method and apparatus

A method for removing metallic plugs from conduits such as the heat exchanger tubes in a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. In such tubes, plugs formed from a cylindrical shell of Inconel are radially expanded in sealing engagement with the open end of an Inconel tube mounted in a tubesheet by pulling down a cork-shaped expander element disposed in wedging engagement with the shell. The method of the invention removes such plugs by pushing the expander element from the open end back to the closed end of the shell, and then heating the shell to a temperature which substantially lessens its tensile yield while applying a tensile force along the longitudinal axis of the plug shell sufficient to elongate it. In the method, an electrically conductive push-rod is utilized which simultaneously conducts a substantial current of electricity through the plug shell while pushing against the closed end thereof.

Method for removing a metallic plug from a tube by simultaneously

Apparatus for coating selected portions of the troughs of a corrugated pipe within an adhesive includes a support disposed within the pipe with a reservoir containing the adhesive disposed on the support. A pump, including a spout, is utilized for supplying the adhesive from the reservoir to a trough of the pipe. A rotatable applicator is supported on the support and contacts the trough of the pipe. The applicator itself is sized so as to fit within the trough, and contacts the adhesive in the trough and spreads the adhesive in the trough upon rotation. A trough shield, supported by the support and disposed in the path of rotation of the applicator, is utilized to prevent the applicator from contacting selected portions of the trough. A locator head is also disposed on the support and provides a way for aligning the spout, the applicator, and the trough shield with the trough.

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New Stanton, PA, United States of America

Ray A Shirey