Abstract: A quick disconnect for a control rod drive mechanism seismic support tie rod system that is remotely operable from a nuclear power plant's operating deck. A wall mounted anchor in the reactor cavity contains one half of a disconnect coupling that interfaces with the other half of the disconnect coupling on the ends of the tie rods employing a remote winching system that is actuated from the top of the reactor head assembly. A latching mechanism is then actuated from the refueling cavity operating deck to lock the tie rod in place and prevent displacement during a seismic or pipe break event. The tie rod may similarly be unlocked from the wall anchor and raised above the reactor head assembly as part of a reactor head disassembly operation to gain access to the core of the reactor vessel for refueling.

Abstract: A quick disconnect for a control rod drive mechanism seismic support tie rod system that is remotely operable from a nuclear power plant's operating deck. A wall mounted anchor in the reactor cavity contains one half of a disconnect coupling that interfaces with the other half of the disconnect coupling on the ends of the tie rods employing a remote winching system that is actuated from the top of the reactor head assembly. A latching mechanism is then actuated from the refueling cavity operating deck to lock the tie rod in place and prevent displacement during a seismic or pipe break event. The tie rod may similarly be unlocked from the wall anchor and raised above the reactor head assembly as part of a reactor head disassembly operation to gain access to the core of the reactor vessel for refueling.

Abstract: Spent nuclear fuel assemblies are stacked in a spent nuclear fuel assembly pool by structurally supporting a second tier nuclear fuel assembly storage rack in the spent nuclear fuel assembly pool over and independently of previously installed first nuclear fuel assembly racks. The spent fuel assemblies then are introduced into the second tier fuel assembly storage racks while vertically oriented. The spent nuclear fuel assemblies in some spent fuel pools are at least partially raised out of the spent nuclear fuel assembly pool before being introduced into in the storage racks. In zone loading practices, spent nuclear fuel assemblies from the lower tier nuclear fuel assembly racks are at least partially raised out of the pool and then introduced into in the second tier storage racks.