Project Scope:

• Design and build two shielded work platforms to protect workers during an optimized weld overlay repair to be performed on two core flood nozzles simultaneously.
• Access to the nozzles required a 3’ x 3’ cut-out to be made in the five foot thick bioshield adjacent to the core flood pipe.
• Platforms were designed to be installed through this cut-out and cantilevered into the 28” inch wide annulus space between the reactor and the bioshield.

Description:

• Numerous interferences, including nuclear instrumentation tubing, check valves, and primary piping supports had to be accommodated in the design. The cut-out size limitation, as well as a tortuous access path to the cut-outs, required that the shield package be hand carried and manually installed. These 4 ton structures were installed in eight hours, and removed in less than six hours. The shielded platforms provide a tenth value reduction in radiation levels.
• Structural design, including seismic, performed using FEA analysis.
• Generated 3D virtual models of plant systems and structures to prove concept.
• Collaborated with welding contractor to ensure clearance for welding tracks and machine, and to design extremity shields and FME barriers.
• Provide 4” lead shield on platform deck, and 1” on walls in three layers of wall sections.
• Components sized for man-handling and movement through plant to installation location.
• Built full scale mockup to perfect installation methods and sequence. Mock up later used for extensive installation and removal crew training.
• The project was performed in parallel with the outage critical path without impact.