Underwater plasma arc cutting in Three Mile Island's reactor
- PCI Energy Services (US)
- GPU Nuclear, Parsippany, NJ (US)
On March 28, 1979, the Pennsylvania Three Mile Island nuclear power plant Unit 2 (TMI-2) suffered a partial fuel-melt accident. During this accident, over 20,000 lb of molten fuel flowed through holes melted through the baffle plates and through the lower-core support assembly (LCSA). The molten fuel subsequently resolidified in the bottom of the reactor vessel. The lower-core support assembly of the TMI-2 reactor was not structurally damaged during the accident. In order to permit defueling of that region of the core, the LCSA was cut to permit access. A five-axis teleoperator was developed to deliver plasma arc cutting, rotary grinding and abrasive waterjet cutting of end effectors to the LCSA. Complex geometry sectioning was completed in a mock-up facility at chemistry and pressure conditions simulating those of the vessel, prior to actual in-vessel operations. In-vessel activities began in early May 1988 and were completed on April 11, 1989. This paper presents the details of the in-vessel cutting efforts.
- OSTI ID:
- 5273434
- Journal Information:
- Welding Journal (Miami); (USA), Journal Name: Welding Journal (Miami); (USA) Vol. 68:7; ISSN 0043-2296; ISSN WEJUA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Disassembly and defueling of the TMI-2 (Three Mile Island Unit 2) reactor vessel lower core support assembly
Robotic delivery system for plasma cutting of the TMI-2 (Three Mile Island Unit 2) lower core support assembly
Related Subjects
220200 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
220400* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Control Systems
220900 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
ANALOG SYSTEMS
ARC WELDING
AUTOMATION
CONTAINERS
CUTTING TOOLS
DESIGN
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FABRICATION
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
IMPLEMENTATION
JOINING
LOSS OF COOLANT
PLASMA ARC WELDING
PLATES
POWER REACTORS
PRESSURE VESSELS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR MONITORING SYSTEMS
REACTOR SIMULATORS
REACTORS
SIMULATORS
THERMAL REACTORS
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
TOOLS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WELDING