METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING TUBES IN A STEAM GENERATOR AGAINST VIBRATION

摘要

A method of and apparatus for securing tubes within a steam generator against vibration with a metallic anti-vibration bar in a tube bundle. The tube bundle has a plurality of tubes, arranged in rows and columns, with lanes between the tube columns. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the anti-vibration bar in the tube bundle; plastically expanding the wall of the anti-vibration bar from an unexpanded position to an expanded position. In the unexpanded position there are a plurality of gaps between the anti-vibration bar and the tubes of the tube bundle. The gaps decrease in size as the wall of the anti-vibration bar moves from the unexpanded position to the expanded position.