Production Test No. 105-565-A: Horizontal rod conversion---old piles

摘要

In numerous instances the graphite growth in the older piles has deformed the horizontal control rod holes with a resultant jamming of the rods and overstressing of the rods and thimbles. In addition, special operating procedures to maintain very low differential pressures are required with the present allowed maximum graphite temperatures to prevent collapse of the thimbles because of loss of strength at this temperature. This is currently a limit to the power level of the H Pile. This report discusses a new rod tip and seal which have been developed to allow the removal of the thimble and permit sealing at the pile face. This will allow advantage to be taken of any future increases in maximum graphite temperature with proportional increases in allowable power.