Development of measurement system for RVI modularization

An RV mockup and a CSB mockup were also manufactured to evaluate and verify the reliability and applicability in construction sites of the developed remote measurement system. This part explains the development of the remote measurement system, including its design, fabrication and related experiments (Ko & Lee, 2010).

1.3 Development of a remote measurement system for gap measurements

1.3.1 Design

The purpose of this remote measurement design is to measure the gaps of between the RV core-stabilizing lug and the CSB snubber lug for RVI-modularization. The reason for the measurement of gaps is to set a permissible range of 0.381 — 0.508 mm between the RV core — stabilizing lug and the CSB snubber lug. The permissible range, when a nuclear reactor operates, ensures a margin by thermal expansion. This is identical to that used in current power water reactors.

For these gaps, adjustment of the shims was machined at the construction site and assembled in the RV after measurement of the gaps of the RV core-stabilizing lugs and the CSB snubber lugs.

Fig. 4 shows the placement of the six gap-measurement locations between the RV core- stabilizing lug and the CSB snubber lug. The RV core-stabilizing lugs located inside the RV and the CSB snubber lugs located outside the CSB are set at angles of 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300°. The angular positions correspond to locations 1 through 6, respectively (see Fig. 4). Also, each of six RV core-stabilizing lugs corresponds to a pair of (left and right) the CSB snubber lugs, as shown in Fig. 4. One side of the CSB snubber lug has six holes for hand — measurements in the current RVI-installation method. Therefore, one CSB snubber lug has twelve holes, and six CSB snubber lugs have a total of 72 holes, which are from the external RVI; the lengths of which should be measurable simultaneously, as shown in Fig. 13.

Many essential factors were studied before selecting the measurement sensors used for RVI- modularization.

Specifically, the measurement environment, the measured object, the size of the sensor, the weight of the sensor, the measurement range, the driving force of the sensor, the accuracy, and the resolution were investigated. Finally, the SOLARTRON (UK) sensor (DT/20/P) was selected for the remote measurement system (Ko et al., 2009).

The DT/20/P sensor was tested to confirm its performance and application conditions in a reliability test using gauge blocks. A consistency test was also done to check the connection jig, and an accuracy test was done for the zero-point adjustment device. Finally, a stability test was done to check the switching noise environment and the EMI (electromagnetic interference) using a reduced-scale model system. All test results were satisfactory for a sensor of a remote measurement system (Ko et al., 2009).