Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for the at least partial dissolution, disruption and/or removal of deposit, such as scale and other deposit, from heat exchanger components. The heat exchanger components can include pressurized water reactor steam generators. In accordance with the invention, elemental metal is added locally to the surface of the deposit and/or anodic or cathodic current is applied locally to the deposit surface to destabilize or weaken the deposit. Subsequently, mechanical stress is applied to the weakened deposit to disrupt and remove the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating a tool within the secondary side of a steam generator having a tube sheet with a tube bundle having a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending from the tube sheet in rows with an annulus extending around the heat exchange tubes on a periphery of the tube bundle, between the tubes and a wrapper which surrounds the tube bundle. A robot is introduced into the annulus and extends a probe with a tool across selected lanes between the rows of tubes. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for cleaning sludge from the top of a tube sheet that includes introducing a moveable suction apparatus having attached vacuum inlets into either the no tube lane or the circumferential annulus and sludge vacuuming the top of the tube sheet.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for the at least partial dissolution, disruption and/or removal of deposit, such as scale and other deposit, from heat exchanger components. The heat exchanger components can include pressurized water reactor steam generators. In accordance with the invention, elemental metal is added locally to the surface of the deposit and/or anodic or cathodic current is applied locally to the deposit surface to destabilize or weaken the deposit. Subsequently, mechanical stress is applied to the weakened deposit to disrupt and remove the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger component.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for the at least partial dissolution, disruption and/or removal of deposit, such as scale and other deposit, from heat exchanger components. The heat exchanger components can include pressurized water reactor steam generators. In accordance with the invention, elemental metal is added locally to the surface of the deposit and/or anodic or cathodic current is applied locally to the deposit surface to destabilize or weaken the deposit. Subsequently, mechanical stress is applied to the weakened deposit to disrupt and remove the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger component.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for the at least partial dissolution, disruption and/or removal of deposit, such as scale and other deposit, from heat exchanger components. The heat exchanger components can include pressurized water reactor steam generators. In accordance with the invention, elemental metal is added locally to the surface of the deposit and/or anodic or cathodic current is applied locally to the deposit surface to destabilize or weaken the deposit. Subsequently, mechanical stress is applied to the weakened deposit to disrupt and remove the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating a tool within the secondary side of a steam generator having a tube sheet with a tube bundle having a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending from the tube sheet in rows with an annulus extending around the heat exchange tubes on a periphery of the tube bundle, between the tubes and a wrapper which surrounds the tube bundle. A robot is introduced into the annulus and extends a probe with a tool across selected lanes between the rows of tubes. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for cleaning sludge from the top of a tube sheet that includes introducing a moveable suction apparatus having attached vacuum inlets into either the no tube lane or the circumferential annulus and sludge vacuuming the top of the tube sheet.

Abstract: A method of cleaning sludge from the top of tube sheet (34?) of a nuclear steam generator (10) includes introducing a moveable suction apparatus (120) having attached vacuum inlets (148), said moveable suction apparatus introduced through handholes (62) in the side of the generator and into either the no tube lane (60) or the circumferential annulus, and sludge vacuuming the top of the tube sheet (34?).