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Products-BWX Technologies' Nuclear Security

Enhancing Nuclear Security: Assessment of In-Service Degradation by BWX Technologies

Overview of In-Service Degradation Assessment

In nuclear power plants, numerous components are prone to degradation during operation or due to abnormal operating conditions. These degradation processes need to be evaluated to ensure continued safe operation, determine necessary repairs before reentering service, or decide on component replacement. Ideally, anticipating in-service degradation through a component's assessment or a comprehensive Life Cycle Management plan allows for the development of generic dispositions or Flaw Handbooks in advance to provide justification during inspections. However, when unexpected degradation occurs, time becomes a critical factor, necessitating a rapid and robust technical justification. BWX Technologies possesses a range of proven capabilities to conduct assessments of various in-service degradations during outage scenarios, often with minimal impact on the overall outage window.

Applications and Analyses

An essential aspect of condition assessment and life extension for existing vessels and tubing in nuclear facilities involves the evaluation of crack-like defects. BWX Technologies can provide analyses to determine the maximum allowable crack size, along with structural limits. These analyses address the findings of typical In-Service Inspection (ISI) pressure vessel inspections and specific inspections mandated by industry guidelines like EPRI MRP-139. While flaw evaluations can be conducted on a case-by-case basis, developing a component-specific Flaw Handbook allows for the advanced analysis of assumed flaws, enabling swift disposition of flaws during outages. Additionally, BWX Technologies can analyze various forms of in-service degradation such as general corrosion, Flow Accelerated Corrosion (FAC), wastage, or pitting of pressure vessels, tubing, or piping to determine necessary repairs or disposition as-found conditions.

Capabilities and Tools Offered by BWX Technologies

BWXT offers comprehensive engineering capabilities for conducting fracture mechanics-related analyses and testing on nuclear components and pressure vessels. Their fracture mechanics capabilities include finite element modeling of intricate geometries to determine stress intensity factors, welding and fabrication residual stress analyses, FE crack growth analysis, failure assessment diagrams, KIc, KIR, JIc, JIR testing, and developing crack growth rate curves. They are adept at ASME Section III Appendix-G analysis, ASME Section XI crack growth analysis, US NRC Regulatory Guide 1.121-based tube flaw analysis for steam generators, and utilizing finite element software like ANSYS®, ABAQUSTM, and ABACUSTM with VFD. BWX Technologies has extensive experience in applying ASME Code Section III and Section XI, US NRC Regulatory Guide 1.121, British Standards 7910, and R6 flaw assessment procedures. For tubing flaw evaluation, they adhere to EPRI Steam Generator Integrity Assessment Guidelines and the Flaw Handbook as per NEI 97-06. Moreover, BWX Technologies can analyze similar and dissimilar metal welded joints while considering residual stress effects in flaw analysis.

Empowering Transparency in Coverage for Medical Plans with BWX Technologies

Introduction to Transparency in Coverage for Medical Plans

As part of their commitment to transparency, BWX Technologies provides access to machine-readable files in compliance with the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule. These files contain negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers, enabling researchers, regulators, and application developers to easily analyze and access this critical data.

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Elastic-Plastic Analysis by BWXT Technologies: Enhancing Pressure Vessel Component Design

Efficient Design with Elastic-Plastic Analysis

BWXT Technologies showcases extensive experience in the inelastic design of pressure vessel components, utilizing Elastic-Plastic Analysis. This approach includes Limit Analysis design according to ASME Code Section III, NB-3228.1/Section VIII, Div. 2, 5.2.3, Plastic Analysis according to Section III, NB-3228.3/ Section VIII, Div. 2, 5.2.4, and other non-code design considerations. By isolating primary stresses, elastic-plastic analysis optimizes the available load carrying capacity of a structure without compromising safety against failure due to excessive deformation.

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Enhancing Nuclear Power Plant Safety with BWX Technologies' RELAP5 Analysis

Overview of RELAP5 Analysis

BWXT offers transient analysis of nuclear power plants utilizing the RELAP5TM/MOD3.3. This code has been meticulously validated and refined to deliver precise predictions of thermal hydraulic systems' normal operation and dynamic responses. RELAP5TM, developed by Idaho National Labs and endorsed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), focuses on the thermal-hydraulic analysis of transients and accidents in light-water nuclear power plants. It leverages a one-dimensional, two-fluid model comprising steam and water. With its extensive expertise, BWXT assists customers in anticipating thermal hydraulic performance and structural loads on components and internals using RELAP5TM.

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Revolutionizing Nuclear Security: BWX Technologies' PHWR Steam Generator Tube Inspection Solution

Innovative Solution for Steam Generator Inspections

BWXT has introduced a groundbreaking solution for steam generator inspections with the development of the PRIMA™ SG robotic manipulator. This state-of-the-art manipulator offers enhanced speed, accuracy, and durability, leading to significant reductions in both time and operator exposure during inspection campaigns. The PRIMA™ SG system was meticulously designed, assembled, and tested in-house by BWXT in collaboration with Intech, ensuring the highest quality and performance standards.

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Enhancing Nuclear Security with BWX Technologies Software Engineering Solutions

Innovative Software Engineering for Nuclear Power Stations

BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada (BWXT) has a rich history of over 50 years in designing and manufacturing advanced nuclear power station equipment. Their expertise ranges from fuel handling equipment to on/in-reactor tooling and refurbishment/maintenance tooling. Within BWXT, the Software Engineering department comprises top minds in the Canadian nuclear industry, specializing in software engineering and control systems technology.

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