Steam generator upper support having thermal displacement compensation

A support assembly providing for a direct load path for seismic and postulated accident forces between a steam generator and a housing generally surrounding the steam generator, the support assembly allowing for free thermal expansion and contraction of the steam generator, said steam generator support assembly comprising:

• a generally circular ring girder encircling an upper portion of the steam generator to be supported;
• a plurality of rigid support blocks secured to the housing and radially spaced about the steam generator;
• and
• a pair of bumpers having an inclined face said inclined bumpers disposed on the housing and oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the load path, the ring girder having a correspondingly slanted surface adjacent said inclined bumpers such that a nominal gap is substantially maintained between the ring girder and said inclined bumpers.

A support assembly providing for a direct load path for seismic and postulated accident forces between a steam generator and a housing generally surrounding the steam generator, the support assembly allowing for free thermal expansion and contraction of the steam generator, said steam generator support assembly comprising:

• a generally octagonal shaped ring girder encircling an upper portion of the steam generator to be supported;
• a plurality of rigid support blocks secured to the housing and radially spaced about the steam generator;
• and
• a plurality of cams rotatably mounted on the housing in a side-by-side relationship oriented generally perpendicular to the load path, a pair of bumper rods rotatably mounted on the ring girder opposite said cams, and a pivoted linkage having its ends operably connected between the steam generator and said cams such that a nominal gap is substantially maintained between said cams and bumper rods.

A support assembly providing for a direct load path for seismic and postulated accident forces between a steam generator and a housing generally surrounding the steam generator, the support assembly allowing for free thermal expansion and contraction of the steam generator, said steam generator support assembly comprising:

• a generally octagonal shaped ring girder encircling an upper portion of the steam generator to be supported;
• a plurality of rigid support blocks secured to the housing and radially spaced about the steam generator;
• and
• an opposed pair of pivoted links arranged in a V-shaped manner and having their respective ends pivotally secured between the ring girder and the housing such that their respective apexes are opposed, and a snubber connected between said apexes and oriented generally perpendicular to the load path for absorbing loading forces.

A support assembly providing for a direct load path for seismic and postulated accident forces between a steam generator and a housing generally surrounding the steam generator, the support assembly allowing for free thermal expansion and contraction of the steam generator, said steam generator support assembly comprising:

• a generally octagonal shaped ring girder encircling an upper portion of the steam generator to be supported;
• a plurality of rigid support blocks secured to the housing and radially spaced about the steam generator;
• and
• a vertical drive shaft having its lower end pivotally connected to the steam generator, and the upper end thereof pivotally connected to a pair of opposed, wedge-shaped sliding shims, said sliding shims cooperatively associated with a pair of correspondingly slanted support members, one of each of said support members being secured to the ring girder and the housing so as to form a pair of tapered openings into which said sliding shims are received, such that the drive shaft is rotated during thermal movement of the steam generator so as to translate said sliding shims within said tapered openings whereby a nominal gap is maintained between said sliding shims and said support members.

A steam generator having a radial support assembly associated with its upper portion providing for a direct load path for loading forces between it and a concrete housing generally surrounding the steam generator, the radial support assembly allowing for free thermal expansion and contraction of the steam generator, said steam generator upper support comprising:

• a ring girder generally encircling the upper portion of the steam generator;
• a plurality of rigid support blocks secured to the concrete housing and each spaced about the steam generator at predetermined locations with respect to the load path;
• and
• compensating support means operably associated with the concrete housing and the ring girder and disposed proximate to the load path, said compensating support means responsive to said thermal expansion and contraction whereby a nominal gap is substantially maintained between said rigid support blocks of the radial support assembly and the ring girder such that said loading forces are resisted by the steam generator upper support assembly.