Challenge: The Traversing Bar Rake System (TBRS) is a trash rack raking system for the intake structure of a power plant. It consists of a monorail supported by several columns and a mechanized rake. The purpose of HEA's work was to establish the static seismic loads...

Challenge: Design and analyze a Transfer Cask (TC) Restraint Cup for safe fuel transfer operations. The TC Restraint Cup will hold the TC in its desired position during fuel loading and prevent impact of the TC with any adjacent fuel racks during a seismic event....

Challenge: Modify an existing Spent Fuel Handling Machine (SFHM) by raising its hoists approximately four feet to provide the lift range necessary to load the Dry Storage Canister/Transfer Cask with spent fuel assemblies. The existing system was modified once before...

Challenge: A nuclear power plant currently stores spent fuel in dry storage at an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the site. The ISFSI consists of Dry Shielded Canisters (DSC) loaded with spent fuel which is housed in concrete Horizontal Storage...

Challenge: Leakage of borated water from a Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) has lead to a hypothesized degradation of the slab and walls behind the liner up to a worst case calculated depth of 1.12 in. The purposes of our study were to evaluate the walls, slab, and stainless...

Challenge: Our firm was asked to calculate the stresses on two types of nuclear fuel rods due to a crushing load of an accidental side drop. The fuel rods are assembled in a basket containing several stacks of fuel rods. The fuel rods are separated by spacer grids,...

Challenge: To analyze the structural integrity of a nuclear fuel transfer cask lid and lid bolts during a hypothetical accidental drop. Special analysis considerations include ensuring the lid remains sealed during and after the event as well as verifying the...

Challenge: The cooling coils for a nuclear power plant need to be replaced. The new design must meet the facility and regulatory requirements for structural adequacy, deflections, frequency, and weight. Resolution: A combination of classical calculations and finite...

Challenge: Fans associated with a turbine room were found to be failing catastrophically after only short periods of operation. Remediations were taken with regard to the intake airflow and the angle of attack of the blades. With these changes in mind, the facility...

Challenge: A new De-Ionized Water Storage Tank and associated equipment, including an emergency diesel generator, are to be installed on a concrete mat and caisson foundation at the RE Ginna Nuclear Plant. Although the tank is designed to be exposed to the...