Garter Spring Repositioning In Pickering and Bruce Reactors

Abstract

Several garter springs are strategically located in each fuel channel of a CANDU reactor to prevent the hot pressure tube from contacting the surrounding colder calandria tube. Many of the garter springs, though, are not in their design locations. This paper discusses the result of Ontario Hydro investigations into the movement of garter springs in CANDU reactors and presents the strategies the utility has adopted to reposition the springs in its Bruce and Pickering reactors.