Special Purpose Tooling and Remote Equipment for the Nuclear Industry
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Abstract
In order to accommodate elongation of pressure tubes in Pickering NGS A reactors due to radiation enhanced creep effects, Ontario Hydro has
implemented a program for shifting the fuel channel assemblies on their
support bearings that makes maximum use of existing dimensional
allowances. This paper describes the design, manufacture and application of a special machine for completing the shifting program, The machine includes a bank of ten positioning ram-heads mounted on a carriage which is arranged to traverse along the top of the fuelling machine bridge. Together with the bridge's vertical motion, all lattice positions on the reactor face can be accessed by the machine, The equipment also includes a remote control system and a laser system for control and position indication of the shifted channels. The Fuel Channel Shifting Machine was designed by DSMA ATCON LTD., a consulting engineering firm, and built by ATCON Services Limited, a firm specializing in test equipment and assembly of precision components. It was designed, developed and delivered in twelve-and-a-half months. Using the machine, trained Pickering NGS personnel were able to relocate reactor fuel channels on Unit 1 at the rate of 10 per eight-hour shift. This rate improved with shifting program for Units 3 and 4. The concept employed in the design of this machine has since been extended for use in a similar fuel channel repositioning program on Bruce NGS A reactors (Units 1, 2, 3). W.L. Wardrop and Associates Limited has now succeeded the ATCON companies in the design and supply of such equipment.
implemented a program for shifting the fuel channel assemblies on their
support bearings that makes maximum use of existing dimensional
allowances. This paper describes the design, manufacture and application of a special machine for completing the shifting program, The machine includes a bank of ten positioning ram-heads mounted on a carriage which is arranged to traverse along the top of the fuelling machine bridge. Together with the bridge's vertical motion, all lattice positions on the reactor face can be accessed by the machine, The equipment also includes a remote control system and a laser system for control and position indication of the shifted channels. The Fuel Channel Shifting Machine was designed by DSMA ATCON LTD., a consulting engineering firm, and built by ATCON Services Limited, a firm specializing in test equipment and assembly of precision components. It was designed, developed and delivered in twelve-and-a-half months. Using the machine, trained Pickering NGS personnel were able to relocate reactor fuel channels on Unit 1 at the rate of 10 per eight-hour shift. This rate improved with shifting program for Units 3 and 4. The concept employed in the design of this machine has since been extended for use in a similar fuel channel repositioning program on Bruce NGS A reactors (Units 1, 2, 3). W.L. Wardrop and Associates Limited has now succeeded the ATCON companies in the design and supply of such equipment.
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