Method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor

• US 20070140403A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Satoshi, Adachi, Hiroyuki, Yuguchi, Yasuhiro, Nakagawa, Tetsuro, Amanai, Hidefumi, Okuda, Ken
• Application Number:
  US11/504,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20070140403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 376/249
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/01 Inspection of the inner surfaces of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 19/02 Details of handling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 19/207 Assembling, maintenance or repair of reactor components G21C3/334 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor is provided, which can perform positioning of a remote operated vehicle relative to an inspection target surface in a nuclear power reactor in a short period of time with high accuracy, and enhance the positioning repeatability for the remote operated vehicle, thereby enabling performance of the inspection and maintenance for the inspection target surface securely and satisfactorily. For the inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface 1a in a nuclear power reactor by using the remote operated vehicle 30, a detection mark 3 is formed in advance by providing a notching, marking, punching or engraving process to the inspection target surface 1a before performing inspection or maintenance of the inside of the nuclear power reactor by using the remote operated vehicle 30. Then, the remote operated vehicle 30 is driven to move in the nuclear power reactor filled with water. During the movement, the detection mark 3 formed in the inspection target surface 1a is detected by using the remote operated vehicle 30 so as to determine the position of the remote operated vehicle 30.

Claims

1. A method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor, for performing inspection and maintenance for an inspection target surface in a nuclear power reactor, by using a remote operated vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a detection mark in advance by providing a notching, marking, punching or engraving process to the inspection target surface before performing inspection or maintenance of the inside of the nuclear power reactor by using the remote operated vehicle;

driving the remote operated vehicle to move in the nuclear power reactor filled with water; and

during the driving step of the remote operated vehicle, detecting the detection mark formed in the inspection target surface by using the remote operated vehicle so as to determine the position of the remote operated vehicle.

2. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of forming the detection mark in advance, the notching, marking, punching or engraving process is provided to the inspection target surface by using an electric discharging machine, cutting machine, grinding machine, laser processing machine, electrolytic processing machine, carving machine or vibrating pen;

and the method further comprising the step of collecting secondary products to be produced during the above process.

5. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of forming the detection mark in advance, the detection mark is formed such that it extends linearly along the direction in which the remote operated vehicle is to be moved when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface.

7. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 5, wherein the linearly extending detection mark has also a function to guide the remote operated vehicle when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface in the nuclear power reactor.

9. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

after the step of forming the detection mark in advance, providing surface finish and/or remaining stress reduction in advance to the detection mark formed in the inspection target surface.

11. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 1, wherein

a detection sensor, composed of any one or combination of ones selected from the group consisting of a photographic device, an ultrasound distance sensor, a laser distance sensor, a ferrite scope, an ultrasonic testing equipments, an eddy current instrument and a mechanical contact switch, is provided in the remote operated vehicle;

and

wherein the detection mark is detected by the detection sensor.

13. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 1, wherein the position of the remote operated vehicle is determined by:

forming the detection mark, in the step of forming the detection mark in advance, the detection mark comprising a first detection mark portion extending along the direction in which the remote operated vehicle is to be moved when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface, and a second detection mark portion which is different in shape and extending direction from those of the first detection mark portion; and

detecting the second detection mark portion by using the remote operated vehicle moving in the direction in which the first detection mark portion extends when the remote operated vehicle performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface.

15. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 11, wherein the detection sensor is provided in large numbers to be arranged in directions different from the direction in which the remote operated vehicle is to be moved when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface.

3. A method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor, for performing inspection and maintenance for an inspection target surface in a nuclear power reactor, by using a remote operated vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a detection mark in advance by attaching an attachment member to the inspection target surface before performing inspection or maintenance of the inside of the nuclear power reactor by using the remote operated vehicle;

driving the remote operated vehicle to move in the nuclear power reactor filled with water; and

during the driving step of the remote operated vehicle, detecting the detection mark formed in the inspection target surface by using the remote operated vehicle so as to determine the position of the remote operated vehicle.

4. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 3, wherein, in the step of forming the detection mark in advance, a welded bead is formed as the detection mark.

6. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 3, wherein, in the step of forming the detection mark in advance, the detection mark is formed such that it extends linearly along the direction in which the remote operated vehicle is to be moved when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface.

8. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 6, wherein the linearly extending detection mark has also a function to guide the remote operated vehicle when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface in the nuclear power reactor.

10. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

after the step of forming the detection mark in advance, providing surface finish and/or remaining stress reduction in advance to the detection mark formed in the inspection target surface.

12. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 3, wherein

a detection sensor, composed of any one or combination of ones selected from the group consisting of a photographic device, an ultrasound distance sensor, a laser distance sensor, a ferrite scope, an ultrasonic testing equipments, an eddy current instrument and a mechanical contact switch, is provided in the remote operated vehicle;

and

wherein the detection mark is detected by the detection sensor.

14. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 3, wherein the position of the remote operated vehicle is determined by:

forming the detection mark, in the step of forming the detection mark in advance, the detection mark comprising a first detection mark portion extending along the direction in which the remote operated vehicle is to be moved when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface, and a second detection mark portion which is different in shape and extending direction from those of the first detection mark portion; and

detecting the second detection mark portion by using the remote operated vehicle moving in the direction in which the first detection mark portion extends when the remote operated vehicle performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface.

16. The method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor according to claim 12, wherein the detection sensor is provided in large numbers to be arranged in directions different from the direction in which the remote operated vehicle is to be moved when it performs inspection or maintenance for the inspection target surface.

17. A method for inspection and maintenance of an inside of a nuclear power reactor, for performing inspection and maintenance for an inspection target surface in a nuclear power reactor, by using a remote operated vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a detection mark in advance by providing a notching, marking, punching or engraving process to the inspection target surface before performing inspection or maintenance of the inside of the nuclear power reactor by using the remote operated vehicle;

driving the remote operated vehicle to move in the nuclear power reactor filled with water; and

during the driving step of the remote operated vehicle, detecting the detection mark formed in the inspection target surface by using a photographic device provided separately from the remote operated vehicle so as to determine the position of the remote operated vehicle.