Internals lifting device
The present disclosure provides a lifting and transport device for lifting upper internals from a reactor core of a nuclear power generation system in a deployment location and transporting them to a storage location. The lifting/transport device comprises a device body formed of radioactive shielding material, the device body defining a storage chamber having an open base. The device further comprises a movable sealing plate formed of radioactive shielding material, the sealing plate being movable between an open position in which the storage chamber is open and a closed position in which the storage chamber is sealed. There is also a lifting system mounted within the storage chamber having a lifting rig for releasable connection to the upper internals and configured to raise the upper internals to within the storage chamber when the device is in the deployment location and the plate is in the open position. The device comprises wheels for guiding movement of the lifting/transport device between the deployment location and the storage location.
1 . A nuclear power generation system comprising:
a reactor vessel comprising:
a reactor vessel body defining a cavity housing a reactor core containing a control rod assembly and upper internals for guiding the control rod assembly; and
a closure head configured to seal against the reactor vessel body to close an opening to the cavity;
a containment structure comprising:
a working floor which surrounds and is vertically aligned with the opening to the cavity of the reactor vessel, the working floor comprising at least one pathway comprising tracks or rails; and
a lifting and transport device adjacent the reactor vessel comprising:
a device body formed of radioactive shielding material, the device body defining a storage chamber having an open base;
a movable sealing plate formed of radioactive shielding material, the sealing plate being movable between an open position in which the storage chamber is open and a closed position in which the storage chamber is sealed;
a lifting system mounted within the storage chamber having a lifting rig for releasable connection to the upper internals and configured to raise the upper internals through the open base to within the storage chamber when the lifting and transport device is in a deployment location and the plate is in the open position; and
wheels for driving along the pathway comprising tracks or rails and thereby guiding movement of the lifting and transport device between the deployment location and a storage location.
2 . The nuclear power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the tracks or rails comprise a removable portion that extends vertically above the reactor vessel body.
3 . The nuclear power generation system according to claim 1 further comprising a control system for sending control signals for actuation of the movable sealing plate and/or the lifting system and/or for driving the wheels.