摘要 |
A method and an apparatus for repairing a core plate having a cracked support structure. The method entails the step of providing a vertical compression load path between the core plate and one or more control rod guide tubes. This is accomplished by installing a plurality of load-bearing elements between the core plate and the flanges of the guide tubes. Each load-bearing element is placed between the core plate and a guide tube flange so that core plate pressure loads are reacted by the weight of the fuel rather than the core plate support structure. The load-bearing element may take the form of a solid ring, a C-shaped spring collar or a hinged collar.
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