FTI Successfully Applies Electrosleeve™ At Callaway

Framatome Technologies has successfully completed the first U.S. application of an innovative nuclear power steam generator tube sleeving process, repairing degraded and damaged tubes, allowing those tubes to remain in service.

The sleeving process, called Electrosleeve™, was applied in October 1999 to steam generator tubing at AmerenUE's Callaway Nuclear Plant. The Electrosleeve technology was originally developed by Ontario Power Technologies, a business unit of Ontario Power Generation, Inc. FTI has partnered with Babcock & Wilcox Canada to provide Electrosleeve services in their respective markets.

The process eliminates the risks associated with other steam generator tube repair technologies by neither inducing nor leaving stresses in the parent tube, the sleeve itself or the tube/sleeve combination. Electrosleeved tubes have been in operation in Canada at OPG's Pickering Unit 5 since 1994.

At Callaway, FTI successfully installed Electrosleeves in 57 steam generator tubes. In addition to installing the sleeves, FTI provided licensing support to AmerenUE during the NRC licensing process.

"The Electrosleeve process worked as intended, and tubes that otherwise would have been plugged were left in service," said FTI President Lyle Bohn. "We now will continue to build on this first application, and continue to improve the process that provides a cost-effective option to plants facing steam generator tube problems."

According to Tim Herrmann of Callaway, "The application was successful in demonstrating Electrosleeve as an option for steam generator tube repair."

"There was much learned, as expected, in the first time application of a product," Callaway's Herrmann added, "and now we need to take the experience and lessons learned to enhance production and ensure that Electrosleeve can be the economical tube repair choice."

The Electrosleeve process is intended as a complete pressure boundary repair for steam generator tubing, and can be a cost-effective alternative to steam generator replacement. The process uses a series of low-temperature electrochemical operations to result in a sleeve that has an integrated metallurgical bond to the steam generator tube. The process provides a combination of strength and ductility at operating temperatures, high fatigue resistance, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, while minimizing tube flow loss.