With more than 25 years of experience in the development of reactor vessel internals segmentation and packaging technology, Westinghouse has accumulated significant know-how in the reactor dismantling market. Building on tooling concepts and cutting methodologies developed decades ago for the successful removal of nuclear fuel from the damaged Three Mile Island Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2), Westinghouse has continuously improved its approach to internals segmentation and packaging by incorporating lessons learned and best practices into each successive project. Westinghouse has developed several concepts to dismantle reactor internals based on safe and reliable techniques, including plasma arc cutting (PAC), abrasive waterjet cutting (AWJC), metal disintegration machining (MDM), or mechanical cutting. Westinghouse has applied its technology to all types of reactors covering Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR’s), Boiling Water Reactors (BWR’s), Gas Cooled Reactors (GCR’s) and sodium reactors. The primary challenges of a segmentation and packaging project are to separate the highly activated materials from the less-activated materials and package them into appropriate containers for disposal. Since space is almost always a limiting factor it is therefore important to plan and optimize the available room in the segmentation areas. The choice of the optimum cutting technology is important for a successful project implementation and depends on some specific constraints like disposal costs, project schedule, available areas or safety. Detailed 3-D modeling is the basis for tooling design and provides invaluable support in determining the optimum strategy for component cutting and disposal in waste containers, taking account of the radiological and packaging constraints. Westinghouse has also developed a variety of special handling tools, support fixtures, service bridges, water filtration systems, video-monitoring systems and customized rigging, all of which are required for a successful reactor vessel internals segmentation and packaging project. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the Westinghouse reactor internals segmentation experience by illustrating projects related to various types of reactors and providing feedback from project execution.
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ASME 2011 14th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management
September 25–29, 2011
Reims, France
Conference Sponsors:
- Nuclear Engineering Division and Environmental Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5498-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Feedback From Westinghouse Experience on Segmentation of Reactor Vessel Internals Available to Purchase
Paul J. Kreitman,
Paul J. Kreitman
Westinghouse Electric Company, Lake Bluff, IL
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Joseph Boucau,
Joseph Boucau
Westinghouse Electric Belgium, Nivelles, Belgium
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Per Segerud,
Per Segerud
Westinghouse Electric Sweden, Va¨stera˚s, Sweden
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Stefan Fallstro¨m
Stefan Fallstro¨m
Westinghouse Electric Sweden, Va¨stera˚s, Sweden
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Paul J. Kreitman
Westinghouse Electric Company, Lake Bluff, IL
Joseph Boucau
Westinghouse Electric Belgium, Nivelles, Belgium
Per Segerud
Westinghouse Electric Sweden, Va¨stera˚s, Sweden
Stefan Fallstro¨m
Westinghouse Electric Sweden, Va¨stera˚s, Sweden
Paper No:
ICEM2011-59013, pp. 151-155; 5 pages
Published Online:
August 17, 2012
Citation
Kreitman, PJ, Boucau, J, Segerud, P, & Fallstro¨m, S. "Feedback From Westinghouse Experience on Segmentation of Reactor Vessel Internals." Proceedings of the ASME 2011 14th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management. ASME 2011 14th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management, Parts A and B. Reims, France. September 25–29, 2011. pp. 151-155. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICEM2011-59013
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