Reactor Decommissioning History
Yankee Rowe
revised 8/16/05

Overview

Yankee Rowe was a Westinghouse design commercial PWR power reactor. It had a generating capacity of 167 MWe and 600 MWt. It operated from 1961 to October 1991. Decommissioning of the reactor began late 1993 and the vessel shipped in April 1997.

Reactor Decommissioning Specifics

Internals Removal
All work was performed underwater. Thermal cutting (Plasma) was done underwater. When possible, the highly irradiated components were cut last. This was to reduce the chances of cross contamination and spread of high contamination. Plasma cutting produces small pieces of the irradiated metal that are "airlifted" up with the bubbles. Once to the surface the water flow will carry them randomly in the pool or they attach to the pool liner at the water level. This is considered the main reason why Abrasive Water Jet cutting replaced Plasma at CY and other sites.

Long handle tools were also used for mechanical work such as unbolting and manipulating. All work on the internals was done remotely and underwater.

Reactor Vessel Removal
The reactor pressure vessel was removed whole. This assembly was shipped off-site via track and train. It is not known which company cut the piping to free the reactor vessel.

Segmentation and Packaging Plan (S&P Plan)
Pre-site: PCI Energy Services; George Knetl, Steve Larson
At site: PCI Energy Services; Gregg Smith?

Key People
Jane Grant, Decommissioning Manager
Gregg Smith was the on-site Project Manager for PCI Energy Services.
Cedric Child was the on-site Project Manager for YAEC

Contractors
PCI Energy Services.
Duke Engineering Services.
Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co.
Bartlett Nuclear.

Comments
None.

Related Publications and Documents
"Segmentation of the Yankee Reactor Internals" by Cedric L. Child and Michael S. McGough published in the Nuclear Plant Journal, Sept-Oct 1995.

References
"Segmentation of the Yankee Reactor Internals" by Cedric L. Child, Michael S. McGough, and Gregg Smith.
PCI Energy Services' web page 8/12/05.
Steve Larson interview 8/12/05.

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