Patent · US Expired

Flexible lance for steam generator secondary side sludge removable

US4827953A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
10References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 18, 1987
Grant dateMay 9, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 18, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF22B37/483
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system (10) for lancing sludge deposits (12) from within a bundle (14) of vertically extending steam generator tubes (16) of a PWR steam generator secondary side assembly (18) has a flexible lance (28) mounted in a lance guide/housing transporter (30). The transporter (30) is movable along blowdown (20) to position end (32) of the flexible lance opposite one of the inter-tube lanes (26) so that the flexible lance (28) may be inserted along the selected inter-tube lane (26). A rigid lance guide (34) on the transporter (30) has a curved end (36) configured to turn the flexible lance (28) at a chosen angle, such as 90.degree., so that the flexible lance (28) will be fed into the selected inter-tube lane (26). The transporter has a drive (37) for advancing the flexible lance (28) through end (36) of the lance guide (34) and into the inter-tube lane (26). The flexible lance (28) includes a flexible plastic extrusion (38) with a plurality of hollow, flexible metal conduits (40) within the plastic extrusion (38) to extend lengthwise along the lance (28). The nozzle block (44) has nozzles b 48, 50 and 52 so that all portions of the sludge deposits (12) adjacent to the selected inter-tube…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.