Fixed Radial Crane Gantry for Nuclear Reactor Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing nuclear power generation systems with rotating polar cranes are costly to install and maintain due to their large size and weight, pose a risk of damage to system components, and require frequent tool changes, leading to increased downtime during maintenance and refuelling operations.
Innovation Solution
The system employs fixed radial crane gantries for fuel rod and component paths, eliminating the need for a rotating polar crane, allowing components to be mounted closer to the reactor vessel, reducing the containment structure's size and weight, and enabling dedicated hoists for each operation, thus minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotating polar crane arrangement is used to perform maintenance and refuelling operations, then a single crane can service the entire reactor vessel, but the crane structure becomes large and heavy, increasing installation cost and seismic risk
Solution Approach 1:
The single rotating polar crane is segmented into multiple fixed radial crane gantries (first crane gantry for fuel rods, second crane gantry for components). Each gantry is stationary and radially oriented, eliminating the need for a large rotating structure while maintaining comprehensive servicing capability through distributed positioning around the reactor vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a vertical rotating crane system to a horizontal radial gantry system. By distributing multiple fixed gantries radially around the reactor vessel in the horizontal plane, the system achieves 360-degree coverage without requiring vertical elevation or rotational movement, reducing structural weight and seismic vulnerability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the polar crane is positioned high above the reactor vessel to avoid damaging components, then component damage risk is reduced, but the containment structure volume and construction cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crane system is segmented into multiple fixed radial gantries positioned at optimal heights for their specific functions. The first gantry services fuel rods while the second gantry services components, allowing each to be positioned independently to minimize damage risk without requiring excessive vertical clearance, thereby reducing containment structure volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Different gantries are positioned at different radial locations and heights optimized for their specific functions. The first crane gantry is positioned for fuel rod access while the second is positioned for component access, allowing localized optimization of component protection without uniformly increasing the entire containment structure volume.
3Device complexity
If a single polar crane performs all maintenance and refuelling operations, then equipment count is reduced, but tool attachment changes are required frequently, increasing system downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The single multi-purpose crane is segmented into specialized fixed gantries: the first crane gantry is dedicated to fuel rod operations and the second crane gantry is dedicated to component operations. Each gantry has its own hoist with tool attachments optimized for its specific function, eliminating the need for tool changes and reducing downtime while maintaining simplified equipment architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having a single crane that changes tools to perform different functions, the invention inverts the approach by having multiple fixed gantries where each gantry is permanently configured for its specific function. This eliminates tool attachment changes by making the tooling permanent and dedicated to each gantry's purpose.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If steam generators are radially spaced from the reactor vessel to protect them from crane tool attachments, then component damage risk is reduced, but duct length and containment structure diameter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crane system is segmented into fixed radial gantries with controlled tool attachment zones. By segmenting the overhead space into defined radial sectors served by specific gantries, tool attachments can be positioned precisely where needed without requiring excessive radial clearance, allowing steam generators to be placed closer to the reactor vessel and reducing duct length.
Data Source
AI summary
The nuclear power generation system of the present invention comprises a reactor vessel. It further comprises a first crane gantry defining a fuel rod path along which nuclear fuel rods can be moved to/from the reactor vessel and a second crane gantry defining a component path along which reactor vessel components can be moved to/from the reactor vessel. The the first and second crane gantries both have a fixed radial orientation relative to the reactor vessel.