Patent Number: 050770004
Section: claims

1. A method of preparing a reactor coolant pump for vacuum degasification of a reactor coolant system, said preparing method comprising the steps of: (a) sealing a seal housing of the reactor coolant pump by, first, installing a boot support member about a portion of the seal housing and, then, installing a flexible longitudinally split boot member about the portion of the seal housing, over the boot support member, and about a shaft extending through the seal housing such that the boot support member is displosed within and entirely enclosed and covered by the boot member between the boot member and the seal housing with the boot support member internally supporting the boot member;  (b) reversing the pressure of the reactor coolant system at start of vacuum degasification of the reactor coolant system, said sealing of the pump seal housing preventing damage to sealing assemblies therein by said reversing of reactor coolant system pressure;  (c) terminating reversing of the reactor coolant system pressure at completion of vacuum degasification of the reactor coolant system; and  (d) unsealing the pump seal housing of the reactor coolant pump by removing the split boot member.  terminating operation of the pump before sealing its seal housing.  unsealing the pump seal housing before restarting operation of the pump. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said installing of said split boot member includes stretching the split boot member. 3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: 4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: