Bigge Crane & Rigging Co.
Nuclear Reactor Vessel Head Replacement
Plant:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
D.C. Cook (1,020 MW)
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement
Unit #1
Bridgman, MI
American Electric Power, Inc.
Framatome ANP
Fall 2006
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement
Unit #1
Bridgman, MI
American Electric Power, Inc.
Framatome ANP
Fall 2006
Scope:
Bigge Power Constructors, as subcontractor to Framatome ANP, performed the following nuclear reactor vessel head (RVH) replacement work involving heavy lift and heavy transportation.
- Engineer and furnish a lifting and skidding device to move the RV head with the CRDM’s attached in a horizontal configuration from the truck bay, past the Fuel Pool, to the containment hatch runway
- Engineer, furnish and install specialized Bigge lifting equipment in Containment including a through-hatch runway system
- Transport RVH /CRDM assembly on platform trailers to / from truck bay
- Remove the existing RV head in bag from Containment
- Move into Containment, rotate, lift and set the new RV head assembly
Job Challenges:
Bigge Constructors successfully deal with the following challenges on this project.
- Engineered a unique solution to horizontal transfer of RVH with CRDM’s attached
- Handled, skidded and rotated RVH with CRDM’s attached with containment hatch location inside the Auxiliary Building and the lift near the Spent Fuel Pool
- Containment hatch opening with tight clearances to the RV head
Revised March 5, 2007
