Bigge Crane & Rigging Co.
Nuclear Reactor Vessel Head Replacement
Plant:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
Farley Units #1 (924 MW)
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement Projects
Unit #1
Dothan, AL
Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
Westinghouse Electric Co.
2004 (October)
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement Projects
Unit #1
Dothan, AL
Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
Westinghouse Electric Co.
2004 (October)
Scope:
Bigge Power Constructors, as subcontractor to Westinghouse, performed the following nuclear reactor vessel head (RVH) replacement work involving heavy lift and heavy transportation.
- Engineered custom solutions for the plant’s head and Containment equipment hatch located at grade
- Fabricated lifting and skidding devices and runways to move the RVH heads
- Ensured devices account for RVH with CRDMs attached
- Ensured devices account for extremely tight clearances through equipment hatches
- Removed the existing RVH from Containment
- Installed specialized Bigge handling equipment in Containment including a through-hatch runway system
- Moved into Containment, upend, lift and set replacement RVH with CRDMs attached
- Packaged old RVH for disposal
Job Challenges:
Bigge Constructors successfully dealt with the following challenges on this project.
- Engineering unique solution to RVH accounting for CRDM’s, tight clearances and at grade equipment hatch
- Handling, skidding and rotating the RVH with CRDM’s attached
- Handling and lifting RV heads with CRDM’s attached approximately 150 tons
- Beat critical path schedule while achieving low dose and safe operations
Revised March 11, 2005
