Servicing a nuclear reactor module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9697917-B2
Application number	US-201214350689-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2012
Priority date	Mar 2, 2012
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for servicing a nuclear reactor module are provided. Such systems include a crane that couples to the reactor module. The crane includes a conduit for routing signals from sensors of the reactor module to sensor receivers. The crane includes a drive mechanism to move the reactor module from a reactor bay to a servicing area. The drive mechanism moves the reactor module in a first direction and a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. The crane includes a support bracket for mounting sensor signal receivers that receive the signals from the sensors within the nuclear reactor module. The system includes a display to display representations of the signals from the sensors of the nuclear reactor module in a servicing area. Another display displays representations of the signals from the sensors of the nuclear reactor module in an operator area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a fastener operable to couple to a nuclear reactor module within a reactor bay, wherein the nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel and a reactor core positioned within the reactor vessel;
a reactor bay interface panel positioned proximate the reactor bay;
a cable operable to couple to each of the reactor bay interface panel and one or more sensors located within the nuclear reactor module such that the reactor bay interface panel is operable for accepting one or more signals from the one or more sensors within the nuclear reactor module, wherein the one or more signals are conveyed from the one or more sensors to the reactor bay interface panel by the cable, the cable further having a connector for removable attachment to the reactor bay interface panel; and
a device operable to move at least the reactor vessel and the reactor core of the nuclear reactor module in a lateral direction, a crane interface panel being connected to the device, wherein the crane interface panel and the connector move with the device when the device moves the reactor vessel, and further wherein the cable and connector, when removed from the reactor bay interface panel, are attachable to the crane interface panel whereby the one or more signals are conveyed from the one or more sensors to the crane interface panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device operable to move at least the reactor vessel and the reactor core of the nuclear reactor module in the lateral direction operates to move the reactor vessel of the nuclear reactor module in a first direction and a second direction approximately orthogonal to the first direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a track for maintaining a minimum bend radius of at least one other cable that conveys the one or more signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for assisting and relocating the nuclear reactor module to a lower containment vessel removal fixture located in a servicing area.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a conduit operable to hold a receiver that receives the one or more signals from the one or more sensors located within the nuclear reactor module.

6. An apparatus comprising:
a crane having a fastener, the fastener being operable to couple to a nuclear reactor module, wherein the nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel and a reactor core positioned within the reactor vessel, the crane being operable to move the nuclear reactor module in a lateral direction with respect to a reactor bay;
a reactor bay interface panel positioned proximate the reactor bay;
a crane interface panel attached to the crane for movement together with the crane;
a cable operable to couple to each of the reactor bay interface panel and one or more sensors located within the nuclear reactor module such that the reactor bay interface panel is operable to accept one or more signals from the one or more sensors within the nuclear reactor module, wherein the one or more signals are conveyed from the one or more sensors to the reactor bay interface panel by the cable, the cable further having a connector for removable attachment to the reactor bay interface panel, wherein the cable and the connector are detachable from the reactor bay interface panel and attachable to the crane interface panel such that when the connector is attached to the crane interface panel the crane interface panel is operable to accept one or more signals from the one or more sensors within the nuclear reactor module; and
wherein the connector and the crane interface panel move together with the crane when the crane is operating to move the nuclear reactor module.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a conduit operable to hold a receiver that receives the one or more signals from the interface panels and conveys the one or more signals to a receptacle.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a crane having a fastener, the fastener being operable to couple to a nuclear reactor module within a reactor bay, wherein the nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel and a reactor core positioned within the reactor vessel, the crane being operable to move the nuclear reactor module in a lateral direction;
a reactor bay interface panel positioned proximate the reactor bay;
a cable having a connector at an end of the cable external to the nuclear reactor module, the cable operable to convey signals from one or more sensors located within the nuclear reactor module, the cable further being selectively attachable to and detachable from the reactor bay interface panel; and
a crane interface panel attached to the crane for movement together with the crane, the crane interface panel being adapted for removable attachment of the connector of the cable, the crane interface panel being operable to accept the one or more signals from the one or more sensors within the nuclear reactor module when the cable is detached from the reactor bay interface panel and attached to the crane interface panel;
wherein, when the cable is detached from the reactor bay interface panel and attached to the crane interface panel, the connector and the crane interface panel move together with the crane when the crane is operating to move the nuclear reactor module.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the crane interface panel further comprises a sensor receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an operator display coupled to the sensor receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a servicing area display coupled to the sensor receiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the crane is operable to move the reactor vessel of the nuclear reactor module in a first direction and a second direction approximately orthogonal to the first direction.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a track for maintaining a minimum bend radius of at least one other cable that conveys the one or more signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a controller for assisting and relocating the nuclear reactor module to a lower containment vessel removal fixture located in a servicing area.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a conduit operable to hold a receiver that receives the one or more signals from the one or more sensors located within the nuclear reactor module.

Assignees

• Snuggerud Ross
• Nuscale Power Llc

Inventors

• Snuggerud Ross

Classifications

• G21C1/32

  Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core (G21C1/02 - G21C1/30 take precedence) · CPC title

• G21C19/207

  Assembling, maintenance or repair of reactor components (G21C3/334 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G21C17/10 Primary

  Structural combination of fuel element, control rod, reactor core, or moderator structure with sensitive instruments, e.g. for measuring radioactivity, strain · CPC title

• G21C21/02 Primary

  Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings · CPC title

• Y10T29/49721

  with disassembling · CPC title