Robotic delivery system for plasma cutting of the TMI-2 (Three Mile Island Unit 2) lower core support assembly
An effort is currently under way at Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) to provide equipment to defuel the region of the reactor vessel below the core. To access this area, a stainless steel structure called the lower core support assembly (LCSA) must be removed. Photographs of this region show it to be undamaged by the accident. As one of several options, the plasma arc cutting process has been selected as the primary method with which to section the LCSA to provide large openings for debris removal from the region. Sectioned pieces of the LCSA must be of a manageable size and must fit into debris canisters for ultimate removal from the vessel. Power Cutting, Inc., under contract to GPU Nuclear, has engineered, fabricated, and tested an automated cutting equipment system (ACES) to conduct the cutting of the LCSA. The cutting system will include plasma arc cutting, rotary grinding, and abrasive water jetting. It will be a system consisting of a support frame, movable carriage, and trolley for horizontal x,y direction control, and a movable vertical z axis robotic telescoping arm supported on the trolley/carriage arrangement. The support frame, carriage, trolley, and robotic arm will be set on and above the LCSA, submerged in /approx/35 ft of reactor coolant. It will be remotely operated and controlled.
- OSTI ID:
- 5636633
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8711195-
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 55; ISSN TANSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Plasma-Arc Cutting Equipment for TMI-2 Defueling
Disassembly and defueling of the TMI-2 (Three Mile Island Unit 2) reactor vessel lower core support assembly
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ACCIDENTS
CUTTING
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
MACHINING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR CORE RESTRAINTS
REACTOR PROTECTION SYSTEMS
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REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
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ROBOTS
THERMAL REACTORS
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
USES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS