Bigge Crane & Rigging Co.
Nuclear Reactor Vessel Head Replacement
Plant:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
Project:
Unit:
Location:
Owner:
Contractor:
Year:
Salem Nuclear Generating Station
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement
Unit #2
Salem, NJ
PSE&G
Framatome ANP
2005 (April)
Reactor Vessel Closure Head Replacement
Unit #2
Salem, NJ
PSE&G
Framatome ANP
2005 (April)
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
- Designed devices needed to hold the CRDM’s in place while rotation of the RV head occurs
- Designed devices needed to handle an RV head with tight clearances to the elevated (approx. +40’) Containment equipment hatch
- Installed specialized Bigge lifting equipment in Containment including a through-hatch runway system and an in containment gantry lifting system
- Transported RVH and CRDM assembly on platform trailers
- Removed the existing RV head from Containment
- Moved into Containment, rotated, lifted and set the new RV head assembly
Job Challenges:
Bigge Constructors will successfully deal with the following challenges on this project.
- Engineering unique solution to RVH with CRDM’s attached
- Handling, skidding, and rotating RVH with CRDM’s attached
- Containment hatch opening elevated approximately +40’ above grade
- Containment hatch opening with only tight clearances to the RV head
Revised November 11, 2005
