Advanced NuclearPower - AREVA

Advanced Nuclear PowerT H E M A G A Z I N E O F F R A M A T O M E A N PN O 3 January 2002FOCUSFuelCustomersBenefitFromMergerOTHER HIGHLIGHTSBeznau: Upgrading I&Cwith TELEPERM XSCombining Enhanced BWRFuel Economics with HighOperational FlexibilityCustomers OverwhelminglySelect Framatome ANPfor RV Head Inspectionsand RepairsSizewell B: An InnovativeService Contract for theLong Term

Enhancing Performanceof Nuclear FuelFramatome ANP is celebrating its first birthday. I am pleased thatour customers already are reaping the benefits of our new company.For instance, we recently received an order from Vattenfall to supply reloadfuel for both PWR and BWR plants in Sweden, and we are workingon a contract to provide lead assemblies with M5 cladding for a CombustionEngineering-designed plant in the US. As these examples demonstrate, theCOintegration of resources and practices has resulted in a vast arrayof innovative products and services for utilities worldwide.By its performance and price, nuclear fuel contributes directlyto the reduction of Kwh production cost. This is why utilities,particularly those challenged by electricity market deregulation,continuously seek to further increase burnup and decrease fuel prices.Framatome ANP has responded to these utility needs by improving theperformance of our fuel products. The merger between the Siemens and Framatometeams was a key factor in improving our ability to help utilities meet theireconomic and operational goals by enhancing our products and lowering costs.We have expanded our capabilities to provide fuel for BWRs and PWRssupplied by other vendors. To date, we have provided fuel and fuel-relatedservices to utilities in Europe, the US, China, Japan, Taiwan, SouthAmerica and South Africa, and are working to help even moreutilities meet their nuclear power generation goals.Bernard EstèveExecutive Vice PresidentNuclear FuelFramatome ANP

Projects & EngineeringBeznau: Upgrading I&C withTELEPERM XSFramatome ANP has upgraded the entire reactor protection system at a Westinghouse-built plant with digitalinstrumentation and control (I&C) equipment. The successful upgrading of both units of Switzerland’sBeznau nuclear power plant once again has impressively demonstrated why Framatome ANP is the world leaderin modernizing reactor I&C. In the last 10 years, the company has won well over half of all I&C modernizationcontracts awarded worldwide – an impressive customer vote of confidence – for the digital safety I&C platform,TELEPERM XS, that is currently in use or on order at 23 reactors, including PWRs, BWRs and VVERs,in seven countries.Fit for the Future withTELEPERM XSBy deciding to upgrade the I&Cequipment for reactor scram andengineered safety feature actuation, thecompany that operates Beznau –Nordostschweizerische KraftwerkeAG (NOK) – took an important steptowards ensuring that the plant reflectsthe latest state-of-the-art technologyand can operate economically formany years to come. Replacement ofthese systems had become necessaryas spare parts procurement and componentmaintenance were becomingincreasingly difficult. Anotheraim was to improve ease of testingequipment.In TELEPERM XS, Beznaunow has a digital safety I&C platformthat is fully qualified for nuclearapplications. Other key features includelow inspection and maintenance, andoptimized diagnostics capabilities.Scope of the ProjectThe contract for backfitting BeznauUnits 1 and 2 with new safety I&Cequipment was awarded by NOK in1998. The following enhancements weremade along with installing the newequipment:• Significantly better fault diagnosisin the safety I&C systems• Stricter physical separation ofredundant trains, andBeznau Units 1 and 2 each have an electric output of 380 MW. The first unitstarted commercial operation in 1969 and the second in 1971.• Functional improvements toclosed-loop controls.The former operating and monitoringconcept was retained, meaning thatoperating personnel were not facedwith significant changes.The new safety I&C equipmentis designed with quadruple redundancyand physical separation of all redundanttrains, with the individual safetyfunctions of each train being furtherdivided among two so-called DiversityGroups (A and B). Also, each trainhas two independent TELEPERM XScomputers: one for Diversity Group Aand another for Group B.The new closed-loop controls forthe reactor are of dual redundancy.Key Steps of the Project:From Designing to Installationand StartupIn accordance with Swiss regulatoryguides, the project was divided forboth plant units into four hierarchicallevels consisting of a basic design4 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Projects & Engineeringphase, a detailed design phase, anengineering phase, and an installationand startup phase.During the basic design phase,with NOK’s assistance, the scope ofI&C equipment requiring replacementwas determined and process requirementswere analyzed and classifiedaccording to their relevance to safety.They then were broken down intoindividual I&C functions for thevarious safety objectives.NOK personnel participated ina complete integral functional testthat was performed for both plant unitson the fully assembled equipment,using a simulator at a test facilityin Erlangen. This enabled the startuptests performed during the refuelingoutages to be restricted to only thosethat involved the plant periphery aswell as process-related tests.Integration of the new I&Cequipment at Beznau was performedduring the refueling outages scheduledfor each of the two units.Enhanced Plant OperationThe operating experience gained atUnit 1 has demonstrated that the newTELEPERM XS safety I&C equipmentfacilitates optimization of plantoperation. Improved control parameters,for example, enable systemsto be operated in such a waythat process components are notsubjected to unduly severestresses. Due to the intrinsicfeatures of the new I&Cequipment, more functions nowcan be performed with lesshardware, freeing cabinet spacefor other tasks.The heart of the new safetyI&C – the TELEPERM XSequipment – is automaticallycyclically tested during plantoperation. Thus the number ofin-service tests routinely requiredduring a plant outage has beenreduced to just those neededfor checking interfaces with theplant periphery.Dr. Urs Weidmann, Headof the Electrical Department atBeznau Nuclear Power Station,expressed his satisfaction asfollows: “Our experience so farhas confirmed that theTELEPERM XS safety I&Csystem meets all of the technicallydemanding goals set for the projectin full. We are convinced that, bychoosing TELEPERM XS, we haveopted for a state-of-the-art, trendsettingreactor protection system.”Beznau installation in processBasic Design PhaseRecording of scopeBasic designApproval of basic designDetailed Design PhaseClarification of interfacesSystem configurationDetailed designTime Schedule1998 19992000200102 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10Unit 1 Unit 2Engineering PhaseCabinet manufactureFactory testingIntegration planningInstallation and StartupCable run extension/cable layingRelease for installationDismantling/installation/startupRelease for operationAdvanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 5

Projects & EngineeringPOWERSEP Pre-separator on SecondarySide Increases Plant OutputThe moisture separator reheater(MSR) plays a key role in thesteam cycle of PWR and BWR plants.The MSR, usually located between thehigh-pressure (HP) and low-pressure(LP) sections of the steam turbine,dries the HP steam (with its initial watercontent of approx. 13%) and reheatsit prior to admission to the LP section.However, due to changes in processconditions or operating modes occurringduring a plant’s service life, the steamthat is fed to the MSR no longerconforms to the original design specifications.As a result, more heatingsteam is needed to evaporate theresidual moisture or wet steam isadmitted to the LP turbine. Both caseslead to a reduction in plant outputand erosion/corrosion problems.An Additional Pre-separator –POWERSEPThis situation can be reversed byinstalling an additional pre-separatorin the steam cycle to improve plantoutput and extend component servicelife. Framatome ANP now offers ahighly efficient and reliable highvelocitycentrifugal separator calledPOWERSEP, manufactured byBalcke-Dürr. The pre-separator is ofWet steama simple, robust and compact design.The pressure drop occurring across thecomponent is compensated for by thefact that single-phase flow conditionsnow prevail in the downstream piping.The POWERSEP is installedin the crossunder piping (cold reheatline) upstream of the MSR in ahorizontal, vertical or inclined position.It is therefore easy to retrofit intoany operating plant.Dry steamBenefits• Simple, compact and serviceprovendesign• Robust construction• Long-term references• Highly efficient moistureseparation• Erosion/corrosion indownstream piping and othercomponents eliminated• No additional motive steam(e.g. turbine extractionsteam) required• Economical solution(payback period less than2 years)• Plant output increased (e.g. 1%less moisture results inMWe gain of around 0.5%)Separated waterPOWERSEP: Design and Operating Principle A swirler consisting of stationary vanesin the inlet of the POWERSEP imparts a spin to the steam-water mixture. The resultingcentrifugal action causes the water droplets to spin outwards against the inner cylinderwall, separating them from the steam. The water is discharged via external collectingchambers. Separation efficiency can be improved even further by internally routing partof the steam back into the hub of the inlet swirler.Examples for Plant Output Gain:Nuclear Power Plant MWe Gain with Payback Period*POWERSEPStade (672-MWe PWR) 2.5 – 3.0 MWe 1.75 yearsBrokdorf (1,395-MWe PWR) 5.5 MWe 1.25 years*Calculation of payback period based on conservative revenue of 25 EUR/MWh andoperating period of 8,000 hrs/per year, without accounting for any additionallife-extension benefits or cost savings arising from elimination of erosion problems.6 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Nuclear FuelAdvanced Mark-BW LTAsComplete TestingIt also can be installed inturbine extraction steam lines, e.g.upstream of HP feedwater heaters,to provide piping and heat exchangerswith additional protectionagainst erosion.Very Short Payback PeriodPlant design features, such asaccessibility, primarily govern thecost of installing a POWERSEP.The payback period depends, to alarge degree, on the residual moisturecontent of the steam. In the caseof moisture contents greater than1.2%, cost savings are particularlylarge and the payback period isless than two years. This saving isfurther supplemented by reducedmaintenance costs.First Set of ReferencesThe centrifugal separation principleemployed in the POWERSEP isalready in use in MSRs installed atthe Argentinean Atucha nuclearpower plant as well as at Doodewardand Borssele in the Netherlandswhere they have seen many years oftrouble-free operation with separationefficiencies of 90 to 95%.Two new POWERSEPshave been in operation at theGerman Stade nuclear power plantsince February 2000 where theyare performing very well. Residualmoisture was reduced fromapproximately 1.3% to around0.3% and plant output increasedby about 3 MWe. Heating steamflow was reduced and reheater outlettemperature raised without anyincrease in pressure drop.Another four POWERSEPsalso were retrofitted at Germany’sBrokdorf plant in mid-2000.Four Advanced Mark-BW lead test assemblies (LTA) havesuccessfully completed three cycles ofirradiation at Dominion Generation’sNorth Anna Unit 1 plant in theUS, achieving a peak pin burnup near56 GWd/mtU. These 17x17 fuelassemblies are designed for operationin Westinghouse design reactors.The Advanced Mark-BW LTA program,a cooperative effort with DominionGeneration, features a fuel assemblydesign that is an evolutionaryimprovement on Framatome ANP’ssuccessful Mark-BW design currentlyoperating at the McGuire, Catawbaand Sequoyah plants in the US. TheLTA features resulted from a jointFramatome ANP French and USdesign team to provide a world-class fuelassembly with significant customerbenefits. In 2003, a further improvedversion debuts in batch quantitiesat North Anna with M5 alloyintermediate spacer grids.Testing SequenceDominion Generation wanted to testthe Advanced Mark-BW LTA designthoroughly, through operation for twocycles at very near peak core conditionsDesign Features and Benefitswith a third cycle on the core periphery.In the third cycle, the FramatomeANP LTAs were moved to the coreperiphery in a region where a competitorassembly design exhibited flow-inducedvibration fuel failures on severaloccasions. In-mast sipping during thefuel off-load confirmed that FramatomeANP’s assemblies were leak-free.“The Framatome ANP fuelassemblies operated defect-free in aproduction environment,” said KerryBasehore, Director, Nuclear Analysis& Fuel of Dominion Generation.“We are very satisfied with theirperformance to date.”One of the LTAs is being consideredfor a fourth cycle of operation totest performance above current licensedburnup limits. Operation for an additionalcycle would be subject to NuclearRegulatory Commission approval.Framatome ANP constantlyworks to improve its fuel assemblies toenable its customers to achieve maximumoutput safely and efficiently.Combining the latest technologieswith superior design and paying attentionto each detail results in reliabilityand performance that pays dividendsfor customers.• NRC-licensed, low corrosion, low-growth Alloy M5 material for fuelrod cladding and guide tubes to assure trouble-free, high burnup operation• Quick-disconnect top nozzle that provides flexibility and ease ofmodifications, if needed• Mid-span mixing grids with licensed DNB performance for enhanced operatingmargins supporting higher power operation or increased operating flexibility• An improved fuel rod design that reduces fuel cycle costs makingnuclear power an even more economic choice for customers• The TRAPPER bottom nozzle that virtually eliminates potentialfailures from loose debris in the coreAdvanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 7

Nuclear FuelCombining Enhanced BWR Fuel Economicswith High Operational FlexibilityWorldwide, nuclear plant operatorsand utilities expect three primaryqualities from the fuel that they loadinto their reactor cores: excellent fuelutilization, good operational flexibilityand a high degree of fuel reliability.The outstanding performance ofFramatome ANP’s fuel assemblies forBWRs is proof of the great progressmade in recent years in meeting allthree of these expectations. Thisapplies especially to our ATRIUM 10product line.Broad-Based OperatingExperienceBy August 2001, Framatome ANPhad supplied BWR fuel assemblies to atotal of 51 plants located in Europe,the US and Asia: 10 BWRs built bySiemens and 41 reactors supplied byother vendors. This BWR fuel operatingexperience encompasses over 46,000fuel assemblies with fuel rod arraysranging from 6x6 to 10x10.The frequent switch to moreadvanced fuel assembly designs withdifferent rod arrays – which always hasbeen a typical feature of BWR plants –has resulted in earlier fuel designs beingsuccessively replaced, with productcycles averaging around six years.This continuous development focusedon enhancing fuel economics throughincreased burnup potentials, largeoperating margins, and a high degreeof operational flexibility. Today’soptimum was achieved in the springof 2001, when four ATRIUM 10 leadfuel assemblies reached their targetassembly burnups of 71 MWd/kgUafter eight operating cycles at a Europeanplant – the current world record inassembly average burnup for lightwater reactor fuel.So far, ATRIUM 10 fuel assemblieshave been supplied to a total of 19plants in Europe, Asia, and the USgiving Framatome ANP operatingexperience with nearly 4,000 fuelassemblies of this type and, thanks toongoing supply contracts, the experiencewill continue to be enhanced. Thisapplies particularly to EuropeanBWRs that have been supplied almostexclusively with ATRIUM 10 fuelassemblies since 1998. In the US, allBWR reload fuel currently beingdelivered is of the ATRIUM 10 design.Continuous Increase inDischarge BurnupsTo cut down on fuel cycle costs, nuclearfuel development work focused onfinding ways to reduce the volume ofspent fuel requiring disposal. By optimizingthe key factors – fuel enrichmentand material reliability – the targetburnups for today’s fuel assembliescould be pushed as high as 65 MWd/kgU.In the US, the Nuclear RegulatoryCommission (NRC) to date hasrestricted burnups to 62 MWd/kgUpeak rod. Design modifications thataccompanied the transition from 8x8rod arrays to the ATRIUM 10 with its10x10 array served, on the one hand,to provide the design margins necessaryfor extended burnup and, on theother, to increase fuel utilization.The progress made is especiallyreflected by the figures for batchaverage discharge burnup. In thelast 20 years, average annual dischargeburnups have risen from less than30 MWd/kgU to 45 MWd/kgU.Further increases in burnupplanned for fuel assemblies now beingloaded into reactors are supported bythe wealth of experience that FramatomeANP has accumulated from fueloperation in the high-burnup range.Greater Operational FlexibilityPlants must have the flexibility torespond to the needs of the powermarket for nuclear power to remaineconomical. As far as the reactor core8 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Nuclear Fuelis concerned, this means that operatingmodes such as load following, frequencycontrol and stretchout operation mustbe possible. Flexibility also meansthat plants must be capable of alteringtheir in-core fuel management strategieson short notice. Framatome ANP’sATRIUM 10 fuel assemblies, withtheir large margins to operating limits,are ideal for meeting these requirements.Even Higher ReliabilityDespite the increasing demands beingplaced on nuclear fuel today, fuelassembly reliability nevertheless hascontinued to increase in recent years.Average annual fuel rod failure rates havebeen under 2x10 -5 since 1991, with theaverage for the period from 1993 to2000 even dropping as low as 0.7x10 -5 .(Note that these failure rates includefailures from all causes, includingdebris.) According to the data availableso far, 2001 can be expected to be yetanother year of excellent fuel reliability.Two major contributing factors inthis area have been the introduction ofnew cladding materials and improvementsin fuel pellet quality. Thanks tothese advances as well as the excellentcapabilities of today’s core monitoringsystems, the probability of fuel rod failuresbeing caused by pellet-clad interaction(PCI) has been further reduced.To prevent debris-induced fretting,Framatome ANP has developed variouskinds of debris filters. All ATRIUM 10fuel assemblies, for example, are nowequipped with a lower tie plate withintegral debris filter – either SmallHoleor FUELGUARD – to ensure maximumreliability.Further PerformanceImprovement With ATRIUM 10XPThe enhanced properties of the nextgeneration, ATRIUM 10XP, will furtherimprove economic performance. Whilethe greatly improved thermal-hydraulicstability provides more operatingflexibility, a higher fuel weight helpsoptimize fuel cycle costs. Lead assemblieswill be loaded in a European plant in2002.ATRIUM 10 – by achieving a burnupof 71 MWd/kgU for four fuel assemblies,this design has set a new world recordin BWR fuel utilization.Number of Fuel Assemblies1,4001,2001,0008006004002000Burnup distributionof Framatome ANPBWR fuel assembliesoperated to burnup levelsabove 40 MWd/kgU(Status: August 2001)4041424344454647484950515253545658627071Average Discharge Burnup, MWd/kgU5045403530Highest ReloadBatch BurnupMean Value for FuelAssemblies Dischargedin Each Year251982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 19982000Year of DischargeThe average discharge burnups ofFramatome ANP’s BWR fuel assemblieshave increased by around 50% in thelast 20 years.Assembly Burnup MWd/kgUTotal number of fuelassemblies: 4,138Maximum rod burnup:76 MWd/kgUAdvanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 9

F O C U SFuel CustomersBenefit From MergerAcomplete restructuring of the nuclearenergy industry has evolved in recent years.Utilities are merging to leverage their buyingpower and reduce costs; vendors are mergingto expand their product lines and markets.To secure their position at the forefront of theindustry, Framatome and Siemens merged theirnuclear activities in 2001 into Framatome ANP.This merger resulted in an extensive portfolioof products and services. In the nuclear fuelarea, the company offers a broad range of themost technologically advanced products for bothPWRs and BWRs on a worldwide basis.Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 11

F O C U SNew Market Structure, NewCustomer RequirementsNew requirements demand flexibilityand often a new organization. Thereorganization of the electric utilityindustry, to a large degree, has beencompleted, and the reduction in thenumber of players is now irreversible.Because their customers are now ina stronger bargaining position andhave higher expectations, particularlyfor lower fuel-cycle costs and for betterproduct reliability, suppliers to thismarket must adapt to these changes.The Solution: A New CompanyThe complementary nature ofFramatome’s and Siemens’ nuclearactivities – on the geographical,technological and product fronts – isparticularly apparent in FramatomeANP’s fuel business. The companyhas supplied more than 95,000 PWRand more than 46,000 BWR fuelassemblies to nuclear plants in Europe,Asia, the US, South America andSouth Africa. Framatome ANP today,is a world leader in both the PWRand BWR markets providing a widerange of high-performance fuels aswell as a variety of engineering andon-site services.Fuel designs like the ATRIUM 10for BWRs and the ALLIANCE for PWRs use advanced technologyto maximize burnup capability andextend fuel cycles. These fuel assembliesare noted for their high operationalreliability and excellent fuel utilizationto reduce fuel cycle costs. In addition,they can be manufactured withenriched natural uranium as well asenriched reprocessed uranium (ERU)or mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel.Technological innovations to improvefuel reliability and performance crossproduct lines; for instance, the M5 cladding material technology, developedby Framatome ANP and renownedfor its reduced corrosion rate andeffectiveness, will become the referenceproduct for all PWR fuel rods. Otheremerging technologies continuouslyare being investigated and developed tooffer customers the latest innovationsat the best value.Resources, including test facilities,have been pooled to create a researchand development program that addressesall aspects of fuel assembly design,manufacturing, and materials as wellas reactor core design, safety-parameteranalysis tools, and design code development.This global R&D programalso will help preserve key skills in thenuclear business. In addition, theextensive experience and capabilities ofSiemens and Framatome enableFramatome ANP to combine the bestpractices from both companies andapply economies of scale to helpreduce fuel-cycle costs. And last, butnot least, effective process managementand adherence to the guidelines of theEuropean Foundation for QualityManagement (EFQM) will optimizethe new company’s ability to listen andrespond to customer requirements.When a market restructures itself,as the nuclear energy market has, vendorsneed to restructure to meet and exceedtheir customers’ needs. FramatomeANP was created precisely for thatreason, and for that reason, utilitiesaround the globe can rely on FramatomeANP to meet all their fuel needs.A COMPLETE PORTFOLIO OF FUEL PRODUCTSFramatome ANP has the most complete product portfolio for the light waterreactor fuel market currently available in the world. It offers the ATRIUM familyof fuel assemblies for BWRs and the AFA 3G, HTP, FOCUS, Mark-B, Mark-BW,and ALLIANCE fuel for PWRs. ALLIANCE, the most recent fuel assembly designfor PWRs, was developed jointly by American and French teams. It can be usedin reactors currently in service as well as in the next generation of advanced reactors.It is designed to achieve a burnup rate of at least 70 MWd/kgU. Next generationBWR fuel design, ATRIUM 10XP, is an advanced version of the record-breakingATRIUM 10. Lead assemblies will be loaded for the first time in mid-2002.12 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

F O C U SGROUPING IN THE ENERGY SECTOR: A WORLD TRENDIn response to the increasingcompetition on deregulated energymarkets, most of the electric utilitiesregrouped themselves. Take, forexample, the new holdings of EDFin EnBW (Germany), LondonElectricity, Montedison (Italy) and inLatin American utilities; E.ON(Germany), formed by the merger ofPreussenelektra and Bayernwerk; thenew holdings of Vattenfall (Sweden)in HEW (Germany); and, in theUnited States, the creationof Exelon, formed by the merger ofPECO and Unicom; and creation ofthe Nuclear Management Companythat operates five nuclear powerplants in the Midwestern US. Theserecent restructurings have led tothe formation of even more powerfuland demanding user groups, whoare looking for a complete, andeconomical portfolio of fuel productsthat can extend fuel cycles reliablyand safely. This trend, finally led alsoto new formations of the main playerson the vendor’s side: in 1999, theBritish company BNFL acquired thenuclear activities of Westinghouseand shortly after, in 2000, it acquiredthe Swiss-Swedish company, ABB.At the same time, GE, Hitachi andToshiba were grouped togetherinto Global Nuclear Fuel. And, lastbut not least, in January 2001, themerger of the nuclear activities ofFramatome and Siemens resulted inFramatome ANP becoming theworld leader in products and services.FOCUS ON PERFORMANCEFramatome ANP will continue itsongoing work to improve fuelsin close collaboration with its customers.The objective to continuallyreduce fuel-cycle costs, and thusthe cost per kWh, can be achievedby improving irradiation performanceand fuel assembly reliability.One central target of thiswork is to increase fuel enrichmentup to 5% U235 isotope content(the current regulatory limit formanufacturing and transport)to achieve a fuel assembly burnupof approximately 70 MWd/kgU.Developing fuel assemblydesigns that can achieve such highperformance entails the use of testassemblies in rigorous qualificationprograms. Test assemblies alreadyare being irradiated in Europeanand American reactors, and theoperating feedback is completelysatisfactory. For example, ATRIUMtypeassemblies achieved a recordburnup rate of 71 MWd/kgU in aEuropean BWR in 2001.Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 13

Nuclear ServicesNew Inspection Equipment For SteamGenerator Tubes Reduces Outage DurationSteam generator tube inspection normally occurs during the critical path portion of an outage. Therefore, anyimprovements in inspection equipment that simplify implementation and increase productivity can reduceoutage duration. A breakthrough recently was made with a new generation of inspection equipment that,among other features, examines two tubes at a time. Intercontrôle, a wholly owned subsidiary of Framatome ANP,specializing in non-destructive testing, has completed qualification of new eddy current inspection equipmentfor steam generator (SG) tubes. The system builds on cutting-edge technology in electronics and networkcommunications.This new line of inspectionequipment reduces inspection durationby linking the various elementsinto a network and by multi-tasking.A reduction in electronic devicesand IT systems results in informationexchange reliability, significantlylowers failure rates and facilitatesmaintenance. Moreover, the overalloptimization of resources reducesradiation doses of inspection personnel,thus complying with on-goingAlara plans.The chosen technologies enablethe equipment to adapt to the specificrequirements of new inspections(travel, rotation speed of the probe,areas to be examined...). Therefore,it has paved the way for the implementationin 2002 of the STA, a newrotating probe designed to improvethe detection of circumferential cracksin the roll transition zone. Moreover,to enhance productivity, the equipmentcan move two probes in tandemand receive signals from two tubessimultaneously (dual probe examinationas already performed by the FramatomeANP American and German teams).The new inspection equipmentwas successfully put into serviceat Le Blayais in October 2001.Characteristics• A new eddy current instrument,the Harmonic 2000• A monitoring program for thedata acquisition system (SPVNT),developed in the Windows NTenvironment• The Ritmic manipulator• An annular gallery terminal(TGA), including the controlrack for the Ritmic• Aida, data acquisition andanalysis software for axial probes• Celeste, data acquisition andanalysis software for rotatingprobes, also developed inWindows NT environmentShelters for examination from outsideThe Ritmic manipulator for dualprobe examinationAdvantages• Higher inspection speed• Increased reliability andreduced maintenance• Flexibility to meet newinspection requirements• Reduced radiation exposure14 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Nuclear ServicesPhenix TV InspectionBrings Restart CloserAfter three years’ preparation, Novatome successfully completed its inspection of the Phenix Fast BreederReactor internals. Inspection results confirmed that the internals were in good condition, bringing the reactora step closer to a restart date. With the conclusion of an inspection of the primary circuit internals, Novatome,a division of Framatome ANP, completed an extensive non-destructive inspection (NDE) program requested bythe Phenix plant. Included in the program were the setting up of the TV inspection – which required the partialdraining of the primary-side sodium – supervision of the supply of various materials developed by Visionic andthe actual inspection. Justification studies for the inspection were performed at the same time focusing on thermalhydraulic, safety and radiation protection required by the lowering of the sodium level in the primary vessel.A Complex InspectionThe inspection required drainingthe 420 m 3 sodium in the reactoruntil it was level with the tops of thesubassemblies, performing the visualinspection of the reactor internals,core cover plug and the core instrumentationsupport grid using TV, andthen returning the sodium level inthe reactor to its normal level. Thetemperatures reached by the sodiumand the cover gas of argon (180°C and140°C respectively), and the increasein radiation due to reducing the levelof sodium, requires the use of highperformanceequipment, in particulara shielded, vacuum-shrouded periscope,to allow video equipment to be keptoutside the reactor. As well as beingtechnically complex, the inspection alsoinvolved managing numerous interfaceswith the inspection teams, reactorinternals and inspection equipment.A team of 28 qualified personnelfrom CTE-Nordtest, Intercontrôle,Visionic, a wholly owned subsidiary,and the Technical Center worked inthree 8-hour shifts, 7 days a week for26 days, with each member receivingthree weeks’ training beforehand.A Step Closer to a RestartDate for PhenixThe inspection met planned deadlinesand its scope was extended beyondthe initial objectives. It supported datafrom ultrasonic tests carried out byNovatome in 1999/2000 on the reactorsupport structures, internal coresupport structures and subassemblysodium-filled storage tank.A major step has been takento bring the restart date for Phenixcloser. Moreover, by harnessing thesynergies within Framatome ANP,Novatome has proven its ability tocarry out complex inspections.Phenix inspection confirmed good shape of internalsAdvanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 15

Nuclear ServicesCustomers OverwhelminglySelect Framatome ANP For RVHead Inspections and Repairramatome (ANP) did a good job and we are pleased with the results,” said Lew Myers, senior vice“F president of FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC) at the Beaver Valley nuclear powerplant in the US. He was referring to completion of the first visual inspection of reactor vessel (RV) headcontrol rod drive mechanism (CRDM) nozzle penetrations under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC)new Alloy 600 inspection guidelines, which in Beaver Valley’s case did not find any problems.BackgroundIn November 2000, discovery ofcracked and leaking Alloy 600 vesselhead penetration (VHP) nozzles atOconee Unit 1 followed by a similarsituation at Arkansas Nuclear One(ANO) Unit 1 in February 2001 raisedconcerns about potential safetyimplications and the prevalence of thistype of cracking in the US. This problemwas not completely new. Frenchreactors discovered cracking problemsseveral years ago but opted to replace thereactor vessel heads to solve the problem.The cracking discovered in France inthe early 1990’s was primarily nozzleinner surface initiated which differsfrom the outer surface initiated crackingfound at Oconee 1 and ANO-1.As a result of these and subsequentdiscoveries of similar cracking, theNRC in August 2001 issued Bulletin2001-01 requesting that many PWRplants in the US perform a qualifiedvisual inspection of the CRDM nozzlesand their welds. Each plant was assigneda susceptibility ranking, based uponthe plant operating time (effectivefull power years) and the reactor headtemperature. Those with the highestsusceptibility were requested to performthe inspection before December 31,2001 or provide the NRC with abasis for concluding that applicableregulatory requirements will continueto be met until the inspection isperformed. Those with a lowersusceptibility were requested to identifyfuture inspection plans and providea basis for concluding that applicableregulatory requirements will continueto be met until an inspection isperformed. Those of the lowestsusceptibility were not requested toperform any additional inspection.Detection and sizingof all crack orientations oninner and outer surfaces ofunsleeved CRDM nozzles16 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Nuclear ServicesFramatome ANP Beats theCompetition in Developingthe TechnologyBecause of Framatome ANP’sinvolvement with Oconee and ANOand because the company invested indeveloping both inspection and repairtechnologies, the company had moreexperience than anyone else when thisproblem surfaced.• Framatome ANP has ElectricPower Research Institute/MaterialReliability Program (EPRI/MRP)approved inspection and repairtechniques• The technology is applicableto all PWR RV head nozzles forCombustion Engineering (CE),Westinghouse (W), and Babcock& Wilcox (B&W) plants• The technology addresses all knownfailure modes at once, includingboth nozzle ID and OD defects plussignificantly degraded nozzles withmultiple axial and circumferentialindications• All repairs are fully qualifiedto the ASME code, are covered byFramatome ANP’s 10CFR50Appendix B QA program and havebeen accepted by the NRC.Framatome ANP’s ExperienceSought After by Many PlantsThe Beaver Valley 1 inspection wentso well that Framatome ANP wasasked to perform the same inspectionon Beaver Valley 2. Surry 1 and 2asked Framatome ANP to performtheir inspection, based upon thereported success at other plants as haveboth Three Mile Island (ultrasonicinspection and repair) and CrystalRiver. These will be followed by CalvertCliffs 1 (2002) and 2 (2003).Blade UT sensors detect and size axial and circumferential cracks in sleevedCRDM nozzlesRemote delivery system for blade inspection of CRDM nozzles reduces doseBenefits of Framatome ANP Approach• Balanced approach uses automation to reduce dose and minimizeimpact on outage schedules while remaining cost-effective• Design life maximized by remediating the heat-affected zone inthe repair area• The technology leaves no crevice. Framatome ANP offers replacementreactor vessel heads, if desired and promises on-time delivery.Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 17

Nuclear ServicesSizewell B: An Innovative ServiceContract for the Long TermAnew type of service contract was signed on October 2, 2001, between British Energy and “FMAServices”, a Consortium led by Framatome ANP with Mitsui Babcock and Alstec. It is a win-win contractwith transparent costs, equitable risks and rewards based on performance, incentives to meet station goals,and continuous improvement.The Sizewell B powerplant in Suffolk, Englandis committed toimproving operations.Sizewell B, a 1200 MWe NuclearPower Station in Suffolk, England, wasbuilt by Westinghouse and commissionedin 1995. Operated by BritishEnergy (BE), it is the only PWR in theUK. The well established relationshipbetween Sizewell B and FramatomeANP, based on the reactor vesselsupply, valve and pump maintenancefor the four first refueling outages, anda fuel supply contract for cycles fourto six (including an option for fouradditional reloads) now is enhanced bythis extensive service contract.A Wide ScopeThis new contract combines, in a“one stop shop” approach, refueling andmaintenance activities during outagesas well as year-round maintenance forfive outages (8 years) with an optionfor four additional ones (to 2014).The Consortium is responsible for thefull scope of work, including planningand health physics.This contract, truly a globalendeavor, combines the expertise andexperience of the global capabilitiesof Framatome ANP, Mitsui Babcockand Alstec. The Framatome ANPUS region provides refueling andsteam generator (SG) activities as wellas expertise in outage management,while the Framatome ANP Frenchregion provides experience in mechanicalwork and project management asdeveloped at Sizewell B since 1995.The UK partners in the FMA ServicesConsortium, Mitsui Babcock and Alstec,mainly will be involved in the yearroundmaintenance and Balance ofPlant work. They also bring experiencegained in the Dungeness plant (UK)18 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Nuclear Serviceswhere a similar type of alliancingcontract was successfully implemented afew years ago.It is anticipated that up to 400engineers, technicians and artisanswill perform the outage work with ateam of 30 to 50 permanently based atthe station for year-round routinemaintenance.Win-win CommercialArrangementsThe commercial arrangements of thiscontract are innovative and complex.The Consortium, in a risk/rewardsharingprogram, aligns its interestswith those of BE for an equal share ofboth risks and rewards. By jointlydefining work scopes and expectedcosts, if actual costs are less thanexpected, the Consortium shares thebenefit within pre-defined limits withBE. If actual costs are more, thenthe Consortium and BE share the loss.All account books for this projectwill be open to the customer.In addition, a risk/reward-sharingprogram is tailored to key performanceindicators (KPI) as identified by BE.The KPI includes schedule, quality,safety, and individual and cumulativedose. These provisions ensure thatperformance meets or exceeds BE’sexpectations by coupling compensationdirectly with performance.Teaming and Culture ChangeEntering into a long term partneringagreement requires a culture change.A joint approach to change managementwith BE has led to a teamingarrangement with a 3-tier changemanagement structure. This changemanagement structure is integratedinto the overall project managementstructure with the following objectives:The October 2, 2001 contract signing• Create a team with a collaborativeculture,• Develop a mutual understandingof each other’s business objectives,• Use innovation to improve Sizewell B’sperformance and availability.Safety and PerformanceEnhancement Projects (SPEP)As seen by BE, the deregulatedelectricity market in the UK togetherwith the new electricity tradingarrangement (NETA) since October2000, are increasing pressure onSizewell B to reduce costs at the sametime as increasing output and reliability.A dedicated project called The Safetyand Performance Enhancement Project(SPEP) has been set up at the Sizewell BPower Station. Key members, BE, theConsortium and Alstom (for theturbine), formed a team to assist thestation in achieving the following goals:• Outage length reduction,• Maintenance scope reduction,• Fuel utilization,• Life-time extension.Framatome ANP has already assignedan expert to participate to the SPEPprogram.A Response to NewMarketing ConditionsThe innovative arrangements of thiscontract with British Energy foreshadowthe new conditions of the nuclearservices business in the areas of costoptimization, performance improvementand risk sharing. These arrangementsdemonstrate the capability of bothBE and the Consortium, led byFramatome ANP, to respond to thenew market condition.Through transparency and risk/reward-sharing, as well as with thereduction of the number of contractingcompanies, the utility orchestrates itsown success through outage cost savingsand plant availability increase.Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 19

Nuke NotesBULGARIACHINAFRANCE/GERMANYElectrical EquipmentReplaced at KozloduyFramatome ANP has completedupgrades on electrical plant systemsand components at the VVER-1000Units 5 and 6 of Bulgaria’s KozloduyNuclear Power Station. The contractfor this work, in which FramatomeANP acted as main contractor, wasawarded in August 1998, with a basicdesign phase starting in September1998.Execution of the project involvedmore than 10 subcontractors fromboth Bulgaria and abroad. It includedthe replacement of rectifiers andconverters, the installation of 32 cabinetscontaining Siemens SIVACONswitchgear, upgrading the cable supportstructures and replacement of cabling.Since the equipment belonged to safety-relatedplant systems, replacementswere performed in just one redundantsubsystem at a time and only duringthe annual refueling outages.The entire scope of work –including planning, dismantling,installation, startup, acceptance testingby the customer and preparation ofa final documentation package – wascompleted in 2001. The Kozloduyplant management was so satisfied withFramatome ANP’s project managementand with the high quality of the newequipment that they awarded the ProjectManager a certificate in recognitionof Framatome ANP’s high level ofprofessionalism and good cooperation.Ling Ao Unit 1Commissioning on ScheduleWith technical assistance fromFramatome ANP, the Ling Ao NuclearCompany (LANPC) ran the HotFunctional Tests for Unit 1 frommid-September to October 25th.All tests were performed satisfactorilyand were completed ahead of theschedule established six years ago.The control room during the hotfunctional testsIn the meantime, the first loadof fuel arrived on site at the endof September and was placed in thefuel storage pool in October. The nextimportant milestone will be the coreloading scheduled for December 2001leading to commercial operationin July 2002.Unit 2 is scheduled eight monthsbehind. Most of the erection activitiesare now completed and Cold FunctionalTests are scheduled for January 2002.There are still more than 90 Framatomepeople on site providing technicalassistance and services.Framatome ANP Awarded EPRDesign ContractFramatome ANP has signed anagreement with Electricité de France(EDF) and five German utilities for anew EPR design contract, beginningOctober 1, 2001. This two-yearintermediate bridging contract, linkingthe basic and detailed design phasesof the project, includes engineeringwork in France and Germany fornuclear steam system supply (NSSS)design work and temporary transferof Framatome ANP engineers tothe Centre National d’EquipementNucléaire (CNEN), one of EDF’snuclear engineering units, for EPRBalance of Nuclear Island design work.The contract’s main objectiveis to update the Basic Design Report,taking into account the final versionof the Technical Guidelines thatwere approved by the French AdvisoryCommittee (“Groupe PermanentRéacteur”) at the end of 2000. Designspecifications for the main componentsalso will be updated to includemodifications that were approved sincethe completion of the Basic Design.20 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Nuke NotesSPAINSWEDENPilot Project for LicensingDigital Safety I&C SystemsA project to provide a methodologyfor qualifying and licensing digitalI&C systems for safety applications inthe Spanish nuclear power plants hasbeen completed recently. With closecooperation between representativesfrom various Spanish plants, theSpanish nuclear regulatory body,CSN, and Framatome ANP, two pilotapplications were executed to demonstratethe procedure involved inlicensing digital safety I&C equipment.The system functions of the pilotapplications – a diesel generator loadsequencer and a standby gas treatmentsystem – were implemented usingthe qualified I&C platform,TELEPERM XS.Typical documents for systemqualification and control of projectengineering were generated. In addition,requirement and design specificationswere drawn up for the two systemsthat formed the basis for the detailedsystem design using the TELEPERM XSengineering tool, SPACE. Correctimplementation of the specifiedfunctions in a maintenance and trainingsystem was validated by means of anacceptance test.The procedures and technicaldocumentation generated during theproject serve not only as a reference forfuture Spanish guidelines for qualifyingand licensing digital safety I&Csystems but also as an instrument forfamiliarizing plant operators andlicensing authorities with the individualsteps involved.Piping Replacement and RPVNozzle Weld Repairs Completedat Forsmark 3Following the success of piping andnozzle repairs performed at Sweden’sForsmark 1 and 2 BWR units in 2000,Framatome ANP was asked to performan extensive repair and replacementproject to eliminate damage caused byintergranular stress corrosion cracking(IGSCC) and to prevent its recurrencein the future. During the unit’srefueling outage in August 2001, theinside surfaces of the Inconel-600nozzle-to-safe-end welds at nine of thereactor pressure vessel (RPV) nozzleswere removed by milling and thesurfaces then built up again by weldingusing a corrosion-resistant filler metal.All of the work was performed by remotecontrol using tools and equipmentpreviously qualified on a mock-up.Major Order from Vattenfallfor 24 Fuel ReloadsThe Swedish utility Vattenfall hasselected Framatome ANP to supplythe reload fuel for no less than six oftheir eight nuclear power plants.This major order further consolidatesFramatome ANP’s position as worldleader in the supply of fuel assembliesfor nuclear power plants.Between 2003 and 2007Framatome ANP will be deliveringfour batches of reload fuel to each ofthe BWR units of Ringhals 1 andForsmark 1 and 3 as well as the PWRIn addition, the original austeniticpipe fittings and elbows inside thecontainment were replaced.These upgrades warranted anextension of the mandatory intervals forin-service inspections by the Swedishlicensing authority. The benefitsfor the plant operator include notonly a reduction in the scope of weldinspections but also shorter refuelingoutages and lower radiation exposurefor personnel.Framatome ANP succeeded incompleting the work in just 29 days –six days less than specified in thecontract. At the end of the outage, thecustomer commented: “The contributionfrom your company has beenpart of a complex mosaic from whichan outage consists and we can nowsummarize the result with: Well doneand welcome back next time!”FramatomeANP’s millingmanipulatormounted insidea process pipeunits of Ringhals 2, 3 and 4. The ordercovers a total of 24 reload batchesof ATRIUM 10 TM , AFA 3G and HTPfuel assemblies, plus options for thesupply of another six reloads.Bertil Dihné, President ofVattenfall Fuel, described the selectionprocess by saying: “More than thirtyexperts were involved in the importanttask of finding the best fuel assembliesfor Ringhals, Barsebäck and Forsmark.The overall goal for the project wasto choose problem-free fuel that resultsin the lowest total generating costsfor the produced electricity.”Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 21

Nuke NotesTAIWANUSAGuide Tube Split PinReplacement at MaanshanFramatome ANP recently won acontract from the Taiwan PowerCompany for the replacement of the114 split pins at both units of theMaanshan power plant. Some of theon-site operations were completedin November 2001 with the remainderscheduled for the end of April 2002.Framatome ANP proposed areplacement based on the so-called“hot cell” technique that allows workingdirectly on the guide tube, through arotative biological shielding.After disconnecting the guidetubes from the upper internal structureand temporarily storing them insidestorage racks, each guide tube istransferred to the hot cell. There,the old split pins are removed, thenthe guide tubes are locally machinedto receive a new pin of a slightlydifferent design using Inconel 750.These new pins are mounted, torquetightenedand finally locked after atack weld on a locking bar that crossesthe nut is performed.Framatome ANP has replacedsuch split pins throughout the worldusing this technique, however it isthe first time such operation will beperformed in Taiwan.Maanshan Power PlantEl Segundo-3 CondenserTube SleevingDuring the March 2001 maintenanceoutage at NRG Energy’s El SegundoUnit 3 power plant located near LosAngeles, Framatome ANP installed610 full-length sleeves into the station’scondenser. This sleeving was performedon 1 inch (2.5cm) diameter coppernickeltubing to repair degraded tubeswhich had been in service for over45 years. The sleeves, which spannedthe entire 30 ft-2 3 ⁄8 in. (9.2m) tubelength, were the longest sleeves everinstalled by Framatome ANP.The full-length sleeve repair atEl Segundo will extend the operatinglife of the condenser many yearswithout the costly alternative ofretubing. Furthermore, the impact ofsleeving to the outage schedule isminimal, requiring only less thanthree weeks to implement.Maine Yankee ThanksFramatome ANPFramatome ANP recently completedsegmenting the reactor vessel internalsat the Maine Yankee facility, ownedby a consortium of New Englandutilities, that is being decommissioned.The consortium was so pleasedwith Framatome ANP’s technicalperformance that it sent a letter withan accompanying photo of the“Cherenkov effect” in a lovely cherryframe with a plaque commemoratingThe Cherenkov Effectthe event. This photo is displayedprominently in Framatome ANP’soffices.The letter, signed by Bill Jones,Project Engineer; Jim Connell,Project Manager; and Wayne Norton,President, Maine Yankee, stated inpart “ … This picture of the MaineYankee core shroud was taken aftersegmentation of the remaining reactorinternals and just prior to segmentationof the shroud by Framatome in Mayof 2001. Its successful segmentationwas a clear demonstration of technicalexcellence by Framatome.”Davis-Besse ChoosesFramatome ANP for MaximumValue ProgramThe US’ FirstEnergy NuclearOperating Company’s (FENOC)Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Stationawarded Framatome ANP, in partnershipwith Duke Engineering &Services and Entergy Nuclear, Inc., acontract to improve the plant’sperformance and overall MWe outputunder the umbrella of the MaximumValue Program.This comprehensive package ofimprovements is designed to enhancethe long-term performance of theplant, modernize the facility andincrease the asset value of the unit.It includes a thermal power uprate, acomplete steam path (turbine) replacement(provided by General Electric),and increasing the efficiency of thesecondary side to maximize generatingcapability. License renewal will bepursued to extend the life of the plantpast 2017. An enhanced summer22 Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002

Nuke NotesLeft to right: Guy Campbell, James Suciu(FENOC), and Tom Christopher(Framatome ANP) sign the Davis-BesseMVP contractoperations study has already beenconducted to identify potential areasfor improvement. For instance, themoisture separator reheaters weredetermined to be operating belowdesired efficiency. The reheaters willbe enhanced or upgraded as needed.As part of the a separate power uprate,Framatome ANP participated in afeedwater flow measurement improvementwhich is predicted to result in a1.6% uprate for this PWR facility.“Davis-Besse is among the bestperformers in the country, thanks tothe efforts of our employees… and weintend to continue to be safe, reliable,and efficient,” said Howard Bergendahl,the station’s General Manager. Toensure optimum execution of theseefforts, Framatome ANP maintains aproject manager on site to coordinateall activities and work.Framatome ANP Helps HopeCreek Achieve Outage RecordPSEG Nuclear LLC set a site recordwith a 24-day refueling outage at itsHope Creek facility when they closedthe breaker on November 3, 2001.PSEG Nuclear operates three units atthe southern New Jersey facility;Salem Units 1 and 2 and Hope Creek.This “best-ever” outage performancebroke their earlier site record of 32days, achieved during Hope Creek’sprevious outage. In addition, sitewidesafety records also were achievedfor outage radiological dose (93.4person-rem), lost time accidents (zero),human performance events (zero),unplanned risk changes (zero), scopegrowth (1.2%), and schedule adherence(95%), placing Hope Creek in the topquartile for outage performance.Contributing to the record werea detailed and thorough schedule,improved training, and a shared commitmentamong plant management,union, and contractors. FramatomeANP’s contribution included refuelingservices, several modifications andrepair work.“While duration records are asign of our improved performance, thereal indicator is our stellar safetyperformance,” said Harry Keiser, PSEGNuclear President and Chief NuclearOfficer.Editorial Staff of Advanced Nuclear Power magazine:Annie Wallet – PublisherSusan Hess – Editor-in-ChiefMartha Wiese – Managing EditorBill Warner – Creative DirectorRegional Editors – Christine Fischer, Vincent Join-Lambert, Martha WieseGraphic Design – O’Connor GroupContributing Writers:Francis Bodson, François Bouteille, Wolfgang Dreves, Bernard Estève, Hans-Joachim Frank, Ernst Gell, Dennis Gottuso,Gilles Goyau, Jean-Marie Hamy, Heinz-Peter Holley, Michel Jaubert, Wolfgang Klinger, Dominique Lanchet, Joachim Lauer,Géraldine Pascaud, Thierry Piérard, Ara Pogosian, Wolfgang Schramm, Wilfried Stoll, Stefan vom ScheidtFramatome ANP-Worldwide OfficesTour Framatome92084 Paris La Défense CedexFranceTel.: +33 1 47 96 00 00Fax: +33 1 47 96 36 36info@framatome-anp.com3315 Old Forest RoadLynchburg, VA 24501USATel.: +1 434 832 3000Fax: +1 434 832 0622info@framatech.comFreyeslebenstr.1D-91058 ErlangenGermanyTel.: +49 9131 18 95374Fax: +49 9131 18 94927info@framatome-anp.deThe following are trademarks of Framatome ANP: ALLIANCE, ATRIUM, M5, Mark-BW, and TRAPPER. TELEPERM is a trademark of Siemens.Advanced Nuclear Power N O 3 January 2002 23

Enhancing YourCompetitiveness.Steam Generator Replacementin the US to Extend Plant LifeAt Framatome ANP, we’re constantly working tohelp your nuclear plant operate more efficiently, safely,and economically. With a worldwide team of nearly13,000, we deliver advanced technology and responsiveservices to improve your performance and profitability.From comprehensive outage services managementto the most innovative tooling and technology, we offerthe expertise to reduce your outage times. Our highburnup fuel for both BWR and PWR plants providesincreased margins and extreme reliability. And you cancount on our field proven digital I&C, replacementcomponents and vast engineering know-how to delivercompetitive solutions for successful plant modernizationand uprates. So whatever your plant needs are, let usput the power of experience to work enhancingyour competitiveness.U-3-V1-02-ENGYOU’RE RIGHT TO ASK FOR MORE.www.framatome-anp.com