21 July 2010
Hydratight’s new Biach SCT tensioner is a self-contained reactor pressure vessel stud tensioner, which needs only a power source, no hydraulic connections or remote pump-control unit or operator is required. In live tests, the SCT has reduced typical tensioning time from up to four hours to under an hour, with 40% less manpower, meaning lower potential RAD exposure time and greatly-reduced reactor downtime. The new system eliminates the separate control unit: each of the tensioners has its own 10,000psi pump unit and can be moved into position by two men. Each SCT networks to the other units, and each one displays the readings of the others in use. This means one operator can control all devices in a typical setup.