Bigge Crane & Rigging Co.
Nuclear Reactor Vessel Head Replacement
Plant:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
Ginna Nuclear Generating Station (495 MW)
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement Project
Single Unit Plant
Ontario, NY
Rochester Gas & Electric
Framatome ANP
2002-2003
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement Project
Single Unit Plant
Ontario, NY
Rochester Gas & Electric
Framatome ANP
2002-2003
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.
- Engineered and fabricated a lifting and skidding device to move the RV head with the CRDM’s attached
- Removed the existing RVH
- Installed specialized Bigge handing equipment in Containment including a though-hatch runway system for the ground-level equipment hatch
- Transported RVH and CRDM assembly on platform trailers
- Moved into Containment, rotated, lifted and set the approximately 150 ton replacement RVH assembly
Job Challenges:
Bigge Constructors successfully dealt with the following challenges on this project.
- Engineering unique solution to RVH with CRDM’s attached
- Device designed to hold CRDM’s in place during rotation and to handle assembly with tight clearances (1”) to the Containment equipment hatch
- Handling, skidding and rotating RVH with CRDM’s attached
Revised July 18, 2005
