Nuclear reactor internals alignment configuration
View Patent ↗An alignment system that employs jacking block assemblies and alignment posts around the periphery of the top plate of a nuclear reactor lower internals core shroud to align an upper core plate with the lower internals and the core shroud with the core barrel. The distal ends of the alignment posts are chamfered and are closely received within notches machined in the upper core plate at spaced locations around the outer circumference of the upper core plate. The jacking block assemblies are used to center the core shroud in the core barrel and the alignment posts assure the proper orientation of the upper core plate. The alignment posts may alternately be formed in the upper core plate and the notches may be formed in top plate.
1. A nuclear reactor lower internals shroud comprising:
a top plate with a central axis and a peripheral end circumscribing the top plate;
a plurality of jacking blocks attached to a top surface of the top plate spaced around and proximate the peripheral end, each jacking block having a threaded recess facing the peripheral end of the top plate and extending radially inward toward the central axis;
a jacking screw for at least some of the jacking blocks, each jacking screw having a peripheral thread sized to mate with and be screwed within the threaded recess, with a distal end of the jacking screw extending radially outward over the peripheral end; and
a plurality of alignment posts attached to the top plate, spaced around and proximate the peripheral end and extending upwardly from the top plate, wherein at least some of the alignment posts are threadedly engaged with a bumper having a distal end extending radially outward over the peripheral end.
2. The nuclear reactor lower internals shroud of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the bumper is at least partially rounded.
3. The nuclear reactor lower internals shroud of claim 1 wherein an end of the bumper opposite the distal end is accessed for adjustment through an opening on the radially inward side of the alignment post.
4. The nuclear reactor lower internals shroud of claim 1 wherein the threaded recess extends radially completely through the jacking block.
5. The nuclear reactor lower internals shroud of claim 1 wherein an upper end of the alignment posts is chamfered.
6. The nuclear reactor lower internals shroud of claim 1 wherein at least some of the alignment posts have a front end facing the peripheral end, a rear end facing the central axis and two sides, wherein the sides extend upwardly at an acute angle to the upper surface of the top plate from the upper surface of the top plate to a height at least partially up the alignment post.
7. The nuclear reactor lower internals shroud of claim 1 wherein the alignment posts are circumferentially spaced from the jacking blocks.
8. A nuclear reactor comprising:
a pressure vessel;
an annular core barrel seated within and supported by the pressure vessel;
a core shroud supported within the core barrel, the core shroud comprising;
a top plate with a central axis and a peripheral edge circumscribing the top plate;
a plurality of jacking blocks attached to a top surface of the top plate spaced around and proximate the peripheral edge, each jacking block having a threaded recess facing the peripheral end of the top plate and extending radially inward toward the central axis;
a jacking screw for at least some of the jacking blocks, each jacking screw having a peripheral thread sized to mate with and be screwed within the threaded recess, with a distal end of the jacking screw extending radially outward over the peripheral edge;
an upper core plate having a peripheral edge that circumscribes the upper core plate;
a plurality of alignment posts attached to a one of the top plate or the upper core plate, spaced around and proximate the peripheral edge and extending toward another of the top plate and the upper core plate wherein at least some of the alignment posts are threadedly engaged with a bumper having a distal end extending radially outward over the peripheral end; and
a plurality of peripheral passageways in the other of the top plate or upper core plate, in or adjacent the peripheral edge, that align with the alignment posts on the one of the top plate or the upper core plate, the alignment posts being at least partially received within the peripheral passageways when the upper core plate is properly aligned in position within the pressure vessel.
9. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 wherein the distal end of the bumper is at least partially rounded.
10. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 wherein an end of the bumper opposite the distal end is accessed for adjustment through an opening on the radially inward side of the alignment post.
11. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 wherein the threaded recess extends radially completely through the jacking block.
12. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 wherein a distal end of at least some of the alignment posts is chamfered.
13. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 wherein at least some of the alignment posts have a front end facing the peripheral edge, a rear end facing the central axis and two sides, wherein the sides extend towards a distal end at an acute angle to a surface of the one of the top plate or the upper core plate from the surface to a length along the sides at least partially toward the distal end.
14. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 wherein the alignment posts are circumferentially spaced from the jacking blocks.
15. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 including inserts within the peripheral passageways to closely conform a contour of the peripheral passageways to an interfacing contour on the alignment posts.
16. The nuclear reactor of claim 15 wherein a receiving edge of the inserts is chamfered.
17. The nuclear reactor of claim 8 including a plurality of raised lands extending radially outward from the peripheral edge of the upper core plate, the raised lands being spaced around the peripheral edge and extending circumferentially for a distance that is significantly shorter than the circumferential distance between the raised lands.