A combined blade guide and exchange tool, include a blade guide tool having a lower end and an upper end and a plurality of frame rails supporting a pair of lower collet housings at a lower end of the blade guide tool. A pair of fuel support grapple actuating rods are supported between the plurality of frame rails and have a first end engaging a pair of collets within the pair of lower collet housings and a second end disposed at the upper end of the blade guide tool. A blade exchange tool is releasably mounted to the upper end of the blade guide tool and includes a pair of upper collets for engaging the pair of fuel support grapple actuating rods. The blade exchange tool further including a slider and hook assembly attached to a cable guided by the blade exchange tool and adapted for engaging a control rod.

A combined blade guide and exchange tool, include a blade guide tool having a lower end and an upper end and a plurality of frame rails supporting a pair of lower collet housings at a lower end of the blade guide tool. A pair of fuel support grapple actuating rods are supported between the plurality of frame rails and have a first end engaging a pair of collets within the pair of lower collet housings and a second end disposed at the upper end of the blade guide tool. A blade exchange tool is releasably mounted to the upper end of the blade guide tool and includes a pair of upper collets for engaging the pair of fuel support grapple actuating rods. The blade exchange tool further including a slider and hook assembly attached to a cable guided by the blade exchange tool and adapted for engaging a control rod.

A combined blade guide and exchange tool, include a blade guide tool having a lower end and an upper end and a plurality of frame rails supporting a pair of lower collet housings at a lower end of the blade guide tool. A pair of fuel support grapple actuating rods are supported between the plurality of frame rails and have a first end engaging a pair of collets within the pair of lower collet housings and a second end disposed at the upper end of the blade guide tool. A blade exchange tool is releasably mounted to the upper end of the blade guide tool and includes a pair of upper collets for engaging the pair of fuel support grapple actuating rods. The blade exchange tool further including a slider and hook assembly attached to a cable guided by the blade exchange tool and adapted for engaging a control rod.

An unlatching tool configured for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft in a pressurized water reactor includes a base; a gripper assembly configured for gripping the movable section of the control rod drive shaft; a rod movably connecting the gripper assembly to the base; and a mechanical actuator fixed to the base and configured for rotating the rod to raise and lower the gripper assembly. A method for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft includes installing an unlatching tool on the control rod drive shaft; latching the unlatching tool to a stationary section of the control rod drive shaft; and raising a rod connected to a gripper assembly to cause the gripper assembly to grip the movable section and move the movable section upward.

An unlatching tool configured for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft in a pressurized water reactor includes a base; a gripper assembly configured for gripping the movable section of the control rod drive shaft; a rod movably connecting the gripper assembly to the base; and a mechanical actuator fixed to the base and configured for rotating the rod to raise and lower the gripper assembly. A method for actuating a movable section of a control rod drive shaft includes installing an unlatching tool on the control rod drive shaft; latching the unlatching tool to a stationary section of the control rod drive shaft; and raising a rod connected to a gripper assembly to cause the gripper assembly to grip the movable section and move the movable section upward.

Described herein are methods and systems for improved inspection, measurements, monitoring, and tracking of equipment installed underwater. They include structures or equipment installed in a nuclear reactor and fuel storage pools. This includes, but is not limited to an entire nuclear reactor pool, an entire nuclear reactor, fuel assemblies, fuel assembly identification numbers, core barrels, core plates, lower internals, upper internals, fuel transfer systems, alignment pins, baffle walls, former baffle assemblies, vessels, instrument ports, coolant tubes, spent fuel pools, dry cask storage areas, weir gates, steam dryers, steam separators, top guides, jet pumps, inside and outside of pipes, and weld seams. The described methods and devices increase the performance and integrity of the inspection and measurements during nuclear refuel, inspection or outage activities. The described methods and devices utilize one or more non-touch underwater optical system (including laser systems) for underwater equipment inspection, measurements, maintenance, monitoring, tracking and servicing.

A handling device for a nuclear fuel assembly includes a body; gripping means capable of cooperating with a fuel assembly so as to grasp or release the assembly; control means for controlling the gripping means capable of controlling the gripping means between a grasping position and a releasing position of the assembly, and vice versa; suction means capable of generating a suction of a cooling gas through the handling device and through the assembly when it is grasped by the device. A handling assembly for a nuclear fuel assembly, comprising: a handling device, a receiving support capable of receiving a fuel assembly and capable of cooperating with the handling device.

A handling device for a nuclear fuel assembly includes a body; gripping means capable of cooperating with a fuel assembly so as to grasp or release the assembly; control means for controlling the gripping means capable of controlling the gripping means between a grasping position and a releasing position of the assembly, and vice versa; suction means capable of generating a suction of a cooling gas through the handling device and through the assembly when it is grasped by the device. A handling assembly for a nuclear fuel assembly, comprising: a handling device, a receiving support capable of receiving a fuel assembly and capable of cooperating with the handling device.

A system and method for consolidating used nuclear fuel rods using tools operably suspendable in a recess containing the used nuclear fuel rods. The systems and methods safely consolidate the used nuclear fuel rods in containers.

A system and method for consolidating used nuclear fuel rods using tools operably suspendable in a recess containing the used nuclear fuel rods. The systems and methods safely consolidate the used nuclear fuel rods in containers.