Rigging and Bracing Stability Considerations For Moving, Lifting and Placing a Non-Building Structural Module

The Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactor is the safest and most economical commercially available nuclear power plant in the marketplace today. In order for the plant’s design to provide an unequaled level of safety, economic competitiveness and more efficient and improved plant operations, the use of modularization during construction for both major structural portions of the Nuclear Island as well as for major mechanical systems and components has been employed. One of the major advantages of the AP1000 plant is that it uses modern, modular-construction techniques. The design incorporates vendor-designed skids and equipment packages, as well as large, multi-ton structural modules and special-equipment modules. Modularization has allowed construction tasks that were traditionally performed in sequence to be completed in parallel. The modular design promotes efficient site construction, including a shortened construction schedule; reduced field manpower, yielding reduced site congestion and increased site safety; and improved quality through off-site pre-testing and inspection, yielding less rework. This paper describes the challenges with the construction, rigging, and lifting stability of one of these large structural modules that will become the exterior wall of the In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank.

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