13ft Emergency Hatch Door for Nuclear Containment Structures

Bulkhead shown during welding construction. Special adjustable rollers were utilized to roll over uneven surfaces on the way to the installation entrance. Site certified ladders and access equipment was provided by MRD, Inc. for quick access to the adjustable bearing restraint pads.

Side view of the restraint pads and installed inflatable seals shown. The SEALFAST® design inflatable seals allows for high expansion reliable sealing in critical nuclear containment scenarios.

Bulkhead shown at actual site installation and commissioning. Fork-lift compatible lifting points were included into the plug for ultra-fast installation capabilities.

13ft Emergency Hatch Door for Nuclear Containment Structures

THE CHALLENGE

A nuclear power plant operator came to MRD with the design challenge of providing a quick install emergency bulkhead into the reactor containment vessel missile wall to be used during outages in the event the reactor showed signs of instability or boiling. The containment vessel opening was roughly 13 feet in diameter and was not completely round as the top and bottom were flat to allow for supply vehicles to move critical maintenance components into the vessel.

We also had to devise a quick restraint system to account for back-pressure loading the bulkhead could see while installed (pressure due to reactor instability) and to prevent the uncontrolled release of radioactive elements after installation.

RAPID AND RELIABLE INSTALLATION TOOLING!

Tools can be designed to be installed, fully restrained and sealing in less than 10-15 minutes, less than most nominal minimal reactor boiling times during an outage.

THE SOLUTION

MRD utilized their experienced engineering team and extensive design tool portfolio of SolidWorks® CAD, proficient weld designers, and FEA to put together a working model specification. MRD worked with the plant operators and their engineers to determine a suitable and allowable installation procedure, kicking off fabrication.

MRD designed a quick adjustable restraint frame that eventually would bear on existing infrastructure around the reactor vessel entrance. Angle pads were used to bear on entrance corners to transmit pressure bearing load to the structure.

MRD utilized its resources to machine and weld the bulkhead out of aluminum plate and bar. In-stock high strength SEALFAST® Inflatable seals were chosen to conform to the rough concrete wall surfaces and carbon steel base frame.

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