Some construction aspects of the Hartlepool reactor liners

The fabrication of the Hartlepool reactor liner and hot box structures is considered with emphasis on the method of construction adopted to achieve the extremely tight tolerances required. The main theme is the site construction of the reactor liner barrel, including lifting and positioning into the reactor vault. The fabrication of the hot box, the stress relief operations, nozzle machining and attachment of nozzle flanges are also described. In addition the construction of the upper liner barrel and machining of standpipe holes in the top cap plate relative to the hot box nozzles, is covered in detail as is the subsequent erection, setting and welding of standpipes resulting in the achievement of the fuelling route tolerances. (author)