Jet pump assembly for recirculating coolant through a recirculation loop of a boiling water reactor vessel
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsBruce W. Bevilacqua, Robert E. Meuschke, Edward J. Rusnica, Sr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A jet pump assembly for recirculating coolant through a recirculation loop of a boiling water reactor vessel, the jet pump assembly comprises a jet pump in operative association with the recirculation loop for forcing the coolant through the recirculation loop. A beam is positioned adjacent and in operative association with the jet pump for assisting in maintaining the positional relationship of the jet pump. A bolt is inserted in the beam for resisting the hydraulic forces generated in the jet pump, and an insert is disposed in said beam for receiving and surrounding the bolt which, in turn, reduces stress on the beam.
Claims19
A jet pump assembly for recirculating coolant through a recirculation loop of a boiling water reactor vessel, the jet pump assembly comprising:
- (a) a jet pump for forcing the coolant through the recirculation loop;
- (b) a beam positioned in operative association with said jet pump for assisting in maintaining the positional relationship of said jet pump, said beam having a hole;
- (c) a bolt inserted in said hole of said beam for connecting said beam to said jet pump;
- and
- (d) an insert disposed in said hole in said beam for receiving and surrounding said bolt which, in turn, reduces stress on said beam induced by the hydraulic forces generated in said jet pump, said insert maintained in compression between said bolt and said beam.
A jet pump assembly for recirculating coolant through a recirculation loop of a boiling water reactor vessel, the jet pump assembly comprising:
- (a) a core shroud disposed in the interior of the boiling water reactor vessel for defining an annulus between said core shroud and the boiling water reactor vessel;
- (b) a jet pump positioned in the annulus for forcing the coolant through the recirculation loop;
- (c) a pair of arms in a spaced apart relationship with each other disposed adjacent and in operative association with said jet pump for assisting in maintaining the positional relationship of said jet pump;
- (d) a beam disposed between said pair of arms for assisting in maintaining the positional relationship of said jet pump;
- (e) a bolt inserted in said beam for, in cooperation with said beam and said pair of arms, resisting the hydraulic forces generated in said jet pump;
- (f) a lock cup adapted to receive said bolt for assisting in preventing rotational movement of said bolt;
- and
- (g) a housing attached to said beam and mated with said lock cup so that said housing receives said lock cup in its interior portion for, in cooperation with said lock cup, preventing rotational movement of said bolt.
A method for retrofitting a jet pump assembly for reducing stress in the jet pump assembly, comprising the steps of:
- (a) reaming a beam positioned adjacent and in operative communication with a jet pump for enlarging a hole in the beam;
- and
- (b) positioning an insert in the beam for receiving and surrounding a bolt disposed in the beam which, in turn, reduces stress in the beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.