Nuclear Reactor Pressure Vessel Decommissioning via Mounting Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for decommissioning nuclear facilities face challenges in easily separating and cutting the nuclear reactor pressure vessel from the bio-protective concrete, leading to inefficiencies in the decommissioning process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving floating the nuclear reactor pressure vessel above a cavity using a crane, positioning a mounting device with a curved or step-like surface on the bio-protective concrete, and cutting the vessel while it is mounted, allowing for safe and efficient separation and cutting of the vessel from the concrete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the nuclear reactor pressure vessel is directly cut from the bio-protective concrete, then the decommissioning process is simplified, but the operation becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first separating the pressure vessel from the concrete and positioning it on a support structure before performing the cutting operation. This preliminary positioning step enables easier and faster cutting by providing stable access to the vessel, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary support structure (mounting device) between the concrete and the pressure vessel during the cutting process. This intermediary device facilitates the cutting operation by providing stable support and positioning, making the cutting process easier and more efficient without requiring direct cutting from the concrete embedding.
2Ease of manufacture
If the nuclear reactor pressure vessel is separated from the bio-protective concrete, then the cutting operation becomes easier, but the complexity of the decommissioning process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the decommissioning process into distinct phases: separation phase, positioning phase, and cutting phase. By segmenting the process and using a modular support structure, the patent simplifies each individual step while managing overall complexity through systematic organization of operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure serves as an intermediary device that temporarily supports the pressure vessel during the decommissioning process. This intermediary solution enables easier cutting operations while containing the increase in process complexity to a specific, manageable component rather than complicating the entire decommissioning system.
3Reliability
If a mounting device is used to support the pressure vessel during cutting, then the cutting operation becomes easier and safer, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device applies local quality by providing support and stability specifically at the cutting operation location, rather than requiring complex support systems throughout the entire decommissioning process. The device is designed with specific local features (curved surfaces, steps) that match the pressure vessel geometry, enhancing safety at the critical cutting point while keeping overall device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting device incorporates curved surfaces and step-like structures that conform to the pressure vessel's geometry. This curvature design enhances the reliability and safety of the cutting operation by providing stable, conformal contact points, while the design remains relatively simple by using basic geometric shapes rather than complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for decommissioning a nuclear facility includes: floating a nuclear reactor pressure vessel above a cavity; positioning a mounting device on bio-protective concrete to cover the cavity with the mounting device; mounting a lower portion of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel on the mounting device; and cutting and decommissioning the nuclear reactor pressure vessel mounted on the mounting device.