Fuel Storage Pool Services

Stevensville, MI

Essex, CT

Water Temperature:

UCC has developed a cool water suit which enables a diver to stay in water for prolonged periods in temperatures as high as 105° F (40° C), however occasionally the water temperature may be in excess of 105 ° F (40° C). In the event the water temperature is over 105 ° F (40° C), and water temperature can not be lowered, UCC may approach the project remotely.

Quantity of fuel:

The quantity of fuel in the fuel storage pool would be a determining factor when considering using divers. The limit for the divers distance to fuel is from five (5) to seven (7) feet. In the planning stages, proper shuffling of fuel assemblies, and placement of lower radioactive materials in the FSR’s adjacent to the divers work area, could allow diver access, however, that may not always be feasible.

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Underwater Construction Corporation

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Underwater Construction Corporation (UCC), is the most experienced installer of Fuel Storage Racks (FSR’s) in the world, having completed over sixty five (65) FSR installation projects in the United States and abroad. UCC was the first company in the world to perform nuclear diving, as well as the first company in the world to perform diving FSR installations. UCC’s wide range of capabilities, include underwater plasma arc cutting, underwater welding, tooling design and development, fuel pool cleaning, volume reduction, leak detection, and temporary crane installation. Typically, there are two main methodologies to performing FSR installations, Diving and Remote tooling. The following summarizes UCC’s two (2) different approaches.

DIVING

The advantage in using divers for FSR installations are savings in time, radiation exposure, and money. The divers access enables the removal, placement and leveling of FSR’s to be performed with a timely, hands on approach. Underwater plasma arc cutting is used to quickly remove obstructions such as CRD Brackets, Swing Bolts, and various other obstructions. Leak detection is available to check the existing pool liner areas under the existing FSR’s which are usually inaccessible. Underwater welders can be utilized for any welding requirements such as cooling system piping modifications, Bracket installations, or liner repair. Liner weld seams can also be ground down to facilitate rack installations, performed by divers using hand held tooling. Volume reduction of the existing FSR’s is also performed using plasma cutting in HEPA ventilated tents. Fuel pool cleaning is normally performed during a FSR installation, and UCC has developed a high volume vacuum system, and developed tools to process such highly radioactive materials as LPRM rods and Stelite products. On many projects, divers can be used to perform the installation, however there are instances in which divers can not be used during a FSR installation project. The determining factors for performing FSR installations using divers rather than remotely are as follows:

Contact UCC
1-800-USA-DIVE

Fuel
Storage
Pool
Services

In instances where diver access was restricted, UCC had performed FSR installations remotely. The following summarizes the remote capabilities of UCC.

REMOTE FUEL STORAGE RACK INSTALLATION:

Any FSR activities performed with divers, can also be done by UCC remotely, although schedule and upfront planning could add time to the schedule, and the associated costs are higher. UCC has performed remote FSR installations on several occasions. As every FSR installation project and criteria is different, UCC designs and manufactures job specific tooling to meet the installation requirements. UCC has erected temporary cranes, developed remote tooling to remove weld seams, obstructions, FSR’s, and developed the tooling required for remote installation of FSR’s. Some of the tooling and processes that UCC has utilized are Remote plasma arc cutting, EDM (Electronic Disintegration Machining), MDM (Mechanical Disintegration Machining), as well as Automated Welding.

Whether our customer requires diving or remote Fuel Pool services, UCC has the experience, highly qualified staff, and full capabilities to complete any FSR installation. For a complete listing of UCC’s FSR installation projects to date, please reference the attached completed projects list, which is specific to fuel pool services.

Capabilities
Remote Tool Systems, Design and Fabrication (Pneumatic, Hydraulic, EDM, MDM)
Decommissioning Services-Underwater Plasma Arc Cutting
Underwater Leak Detection, and Repair
Stainless Steel Underwater Welding (ASME Section IX/N-516 Code Case and AWS D3.6)
Underwater Plasma Arc Cutting - Hand held or Remote Operation
Transfer System Inspection and Repair-Upenders-Limit Switches- Drive Mechanism Repair, (Experienced with both Chain and Cable Driven Systems)
Underwater Inspections - (UT, VT, PT, MT, Video and Still Photography)

Indian Harbor Beach, FL

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