Methods and apparatuses for operating and repairing nuclear reactors
View Patent ↗Method of repairing nuclear reactors that include one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets may include: removing a damaged section of one of the one or more submerged lines; and replacing the damaged section of the one of the one or more submerged lines without welding. Methods of operating nuclear reactors that include one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets may include: shutting down the nuclear reactor; repairing damage to at least one of the one or more submerged lines without welding; and starting up the nuclear reactor. Methods of operating nuclear reactors that include one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets may include: cooling down the nuclear reactor; repairing damage to at least one of the one or more submerged lines without welding; and heating up the nuclear reactor.
1. An apparatus for repairing a nuclear reactor that comprises one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets, the apparatus comprising:
a body, comprising:
a portion configured to connect to one of the one or more support brackets using a shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics; and
another portion that includes a site configured to fix a spool piece to the body using another shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, connects by the shrink fitting acting on the portion or acting on the portion and the one of the one or more support brackets.
3. A kit for repairing a nuclear reactor that comprises one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets, the kit comprising the apparatus of claim 1 .
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the another shrink fitting acts on the site or on the spool piece and the site.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the site comprises a collet.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the spool piece is threaded through the collet.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the another shrink fitting acts on the collet through which the spool piece is threaded or on the spool piece and the collet through which the spool piece is threaded.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the collet comprises kerf cuts.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more couplings;
wherein the one or more couplings are sized so as to slide on the spool piece, and
wherein the one or more couplings are designed to join one or more ends of the spool piece to corresponding ends of one of the one or more submerged lines.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each coupling comprises:
a sleeve; and
a pair of additional shrink fittings;
wherein the sleeve is sized so as to slide on the spool piece, and
wherein the pair of additional shrink fittings fix the sleeve to the spool piece and to the corresponding ends of one of the one or more submerged lines.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, comprises inner surfaces that facilitate connecting the portion to at least one of the one or more support brackets.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises outer surfaces that facilitate connecting the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, to the one of the one or more support brackets.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, approximates the shape of the letter “U” in one dimension.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, flexes open to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets.
15. An apparatus for repairing a nuclear reactor that comprises one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets, the apparatus comprising:
a spool piece; and
a body;
wherein the body comprises:
a portion configured to connect to one of the one or more support brackets using a shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics; and
another portion that includes a site configured to fix the spool piece to the body using another shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, connects by the shrink fitting acting on the portion or acting on the portion and the one of the one or more support brackets.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the another shrink fitting acts on the site or on the spool piece and the site.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the site comprises a collet.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the spool piece is threaded through the collet.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the another shrink fitting acts on the collet through which the spool piece is threaded or on the spool piece and the collet through which the spool piece is threaded.
21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the collet comprises kerf cuts.
22. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
one or more couplings;
wherein the one or more couplings are sized so as to slide on the spool piece, and
wherein the one or more couplings are designed to join one or more ends of the spool piece to corresponding ends of one of the one or more submerged lines.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein each coupling comprises:
a sleeve; and
a pair of additional shrink fittings;
wherein the sleeve is sized so as to slide on the spool piece, and
wherein the pair of additional shrink fittings fix the sleeve to the spool piece and to the corresponding ends of one of the one or more submerged lines.
24. A kit for repairing a nuclear reactor that comprises one or more submerged lines welded to one or more support brackets, the kit comprising the apparatus of claim 15 .
25. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, comprises inner surfaces that facilitate connecting the portion to at least one of the one or more support brackets.
26. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the body further comprises outer surfaces that facilitate connecting the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, to the one of the one or more support brackets.
27. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, approximates the shape of the letter “U” in one dimension.
28. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the portion, configured to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets using the shrink fitting that includes one or more materials having shape-memory characteristics, flexes open to connect to the one of the one or more support brackets.