Custom Equipment & Process Development

Independent Design Review: Laser peening has been used extensively in other industries to mitigate stress corrosion cracking in susceptible components. DEI has supported EPRI, utilities and laser peening service providers during the development and qualification of laser peening for nuclear components. Example technical support includes:

• Independent design reviews of equipment used to deliver laser peening to nuclear plant components
• Re-design of system components which proved to be challenging during qualification of laser peening tooling and processes, and development of equipment for remote deployment to bottom-mounted nozzles
• Independent technical analysis of the postulated benefits of laser peening, such as deeper compressive stress than traditional peening approaches
• Development of appropriate inspection credit attributable to laser peening, including associated technical basis

DEI’s technical support contributed to acceptance of laser peening for nuclear components and successful deployment for stress mitigation of bottom-mounted nozzles. The technology has since been applied to spent nuclear fuel canisters and application to control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) nozzles is planned.

Independent Technology Downselection: During inspections, Bruce Power identified stress corrosion cracking in the calandria relief ducts at Bruce B Unit 7. This was a unique challenge for which there was no “off-the-shelf” repair solution. After development of tooling to support limited repair and full-length inspection, Bruce Power determined that cracking was more substantial than expected such that the planned repair equipment and strategy was not viable. DEI was subsequently contracted to assist in evaluating and developing alternate repair strategies and equipment. Specific DEI services provided included:

• Evaluation and downselection of mitigation options and permanent repair options (including surface preparation, equipment access, delivery, application and retrieval)
• Development and qualification of repair techniques, including independent testing of candidate repair processes and equipment

DEI technical support has assisted Bruce Power in objectively evaluating and narrowing down repair strategies and technologies to consider for this unique challenge, and to select and develop custom deployment tooling to implement the needed repairs.

Adaptation of NU-DEC^TM System for Novel Application: Cement solidification systems are used to encapsulate a variety of nuclear waste streams. By nature, these systems are prone to performance degradation due to fouling with cementitious deposits. In a recent project, DEI assisted a customer in adapting its NU-DEC^TM product line to restore the performance of a degraded cement solidification system. DEI technical support included:

• Design and fabrication of modified NU-DEC^TM ultrasonic cleaning equipment to match the diameter and geometry of components of interest
• Qualification testing to optimize cleaning parameters to promote effective cleaning without damaging underlying surfaces
• Analysis of ultrasonic cleaning-induced loads, stresses and displacements to ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Class 1 (e.g., NB-3200)
• Deployment of modified NU-DEC^TM system to clean cement solidification system components at a commercial nuclear facility

The adapted NU-DEC^TM system and process were effective in cleaning cementitious deposits and restoring the performance of the cement solidification system without the need to open or enter system components.

Conceptual Design Study: Generation IV nuclear reactors operate at much higher temperatures than currently operating reactors. Thus, process heat can be used directly for efficient production of hydrogen and other carbon-neutral fuels. Under contract for Idaho National Lab, DEI developed a conceptual design for a nuclear hydrogen production plant. DEI technical support included:

• Technology downselection of candidate hydrogen production pathways, including: high temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE), sulfur-iodine process and hybrid-sulfur process
• Mass and energy balances, material and technical feasibility studies, and cost estimation for a nuclear HTSE plant
• Scale-up and incorporation of solid-oxide electrode cell (SOEC) modules developed by Idaho National Laboratory into conceptual HTSE vessels suitable for commercial deployment
• Design and material selection for HTSE vessels and other critical plant components, and development of an overall plant layout

DEI’s contributions were helpful in advancing scientific research of high temperature steam electrolysis technology toward industrial feasibility and concepts for integration with a Generation IV nuclear reactor.