Execution of the project involved more than 10 subcontractors from both Bulgaria and abroad. It included the replacement of rectifiers and converters, the installation of 32 cabinets containing Siemens SIVACON switchgear, upgrading the cable support structures and replacement of cabling. Since the equipment belonged to safety-related plant systems, replacements were performed in just one redundant subsystem at a time and only during the annual refueling outages.

The entire scope of work Ðincluding planning, dismantling, installation, startup, acceptance testing by the customer and preparation of a final documentation package - was completed in 2001. The Kozloduy plant management was so satisfied with Framatome ANP's project management and with the high quality of the new equipment that they awarded the Project Manager a certificate in recognition of Framatome ANP's high level of professionalism and good cooperation.

The control room during the hot functional tests

In the meantime, the first load of fuel arrived on site at the end of September and was placed in the fuel storage pool in October. The next important milestone was the core loading scheduled for December 2001 leading to commercial operation in July 2002.

Unit 2 is scheduled eight months behind. Most of the erection activities are now completed and Cold Functional Tests are scheduled for January 2002. There are still more than 90 Framatome people on site providing technical assistance and services.

The contract's main objective is to update the Basic Design Report, taking into account the final version of the Technical Guidelines that were approved by the French Advisory Committee ("Groupe Permanent Réacteur") at the end of 2000. Design specifications for the main components also will be updated to include modifications that were approved since the completion of the Basic Design.

Typical documents for system qualification and control of project engineering were generated. In addition, requirement and design specifications were drawn up for the two systems that formed the basis for the detailed system design using the TELEPERM XS engineering tool, SPACE. Correct implementation of the specified functions in a maintenance and training system was validated by means of an acceptance test.

The procedures and technical documentation generated during the project serve not only as a reference for future Spanish guidelines for qualifying and licensing digital safety I&C systems but also as an instrument for familiarizing plant operators and licensing authorities with the individual steps involved.

In addition, the original austenitic pipe fittings and elbows inside the containment were replaced. These upgrades warranted an extension of the mandatory intervals for in-service inspections by the Swedish licensing authority. The benefits for the plant operator include not only a reduction in the scope of weld inspections but also shorter refueling outages and lower radiation exposure for personnel.

Framatome ANP succeeded in completing the work in just 29 days - six days less than specified in the contract. At the end of the outage, the customer commented: "The contribution from your company has been part of a complex mosaic from which an outage consists and we can now summarize the result with: Well done and welcome back next time!"

Framatome ANP's milling manipulator mounted inside a process pipe

Between 2003 and 2007 Framatome ANP will be delivering four batches of reload fuel to each of the BWR units of Ringhals 1 and Forsmark 1 and 3 as well as the PWR units of Ringhals 2, 3 and 4. The order covers a total of 24 reload batches of ATRIUM 10TM, AFA 3G and HTP fuel assemblies, plus options for the supply of another six reloads.

Bertil Dihné, President of Vattenfall Fuel, described the selection process by saying: "More than thirty experts were involved in the important task of finding the best fuel assemblies for Ringhals, BarsebŠck and Forsmark. The overall goal for the project was to choose problem-free fuel that results in the lowest total generating costs for the produced electricity."

Framatome ANP proposed a replacement based on the so-called "hot cell" technique that allows working directly on the guide tube, through a rotative biological shielding.

Maanshan Power Plant

After disconnecting the guide tubes from the upper internal structure and temporarily storing them inside storage racks, each guide tube is transferred to the hot cell. There, the old split pins are removed, then the guide tubes are locally machined to receive a new pin of a slightly different design using Inconel 750. These new pins are mounted, torque-tightened and finally locked after a tack weld is performed on a locking bar that crosses the nut.

Framatome ANP has replaced such split pins throughout the world using this technique, however it is the first time such operation will be performed in Taiwan.

The full-length sleeve repair at El Segundo will extend the operating life of the condenser many years without the costly alternative of retubing. Furthermore, the impact of sleeving to the outage schedule is minimal, requiring less than three weeks to implement.

The Cherenkov Effect

The letter, signed by Bill Jones, Project Engineer; Jim Connell, Project Manager; and Wayne Norton, President, Maine Yankee, stated in part "...This picture of the Maine Yankee core shroud was taken after segmentation of the remaining reactor internals and just prior to segmentation of the shroud by Framatome in May of 2001. Its successful segmentation was a clear demonstration of technical excellence by Framatome."

Left to right: Guy Campbell, James Suciu (FENOC), and Tom Christopher (Framatome ANP) sign the Davis-Besse MVP contract

This comprehensive package of improvements is designed to enhance the long-term performance of the plant, modernize the facility and increase the asset value of the unit. It includes a thermal power uprate, a complete steam path (turbine) replacement (provided by General Electric), and increasing the efficiency of the secondary side to maximize generating capability. License renewal will be pursued to extend the life of the plant past 2017. An enhanced summer operations study was conducted to identify potential areas for improvement. For instance, the moisture separator reheaters were determined to be operating below desired efficiency. The reheaters will be enhanced or upgraded as needed. As part of the a separate power uprate, Framatome ANP participated in a feedwater flow measurement improvement which is predicted to result in a 1.6% uprate for this PWR facility.

"Davis-Besse is among the best performers in the country, thanks to the efforts of our employees... and we intend to continue to be safe, reliable, and efficient," said Howard Bergendahl, the station's General Manager. To ensure optimum execution of these efforts, Framatome ANP maintains a project manager on site to coordinate all activities and work.

Framatome ANP Helps Hope Creek Achieve Outage Record

PSEG Nuclear LLC set a site record with a 24-day refueling outage at its Hope Creek facility when they closed the breaker on November 3, 2001. PSEG Nuclear operates three units at the southern New Jersey facility; Salem Units 1 and 2 and Hope Creek. This "best-ever" outage performance broke their earlier site record of 32 days, achieved during Hope Creek's previous outage. In addition, site-wide safety records also were achieved for outage radiological dose (93.4 person-rem), lost-time accidents (zero), human performance events (zero), unplanned risk changes (zero), scope growth (1.2%), and schedule adherence (95%), placing Hope Creek in the top quartile for outage performance.

Contributing to the record were a detailed and thorough schedule, improved training, and a shared commitment among plant management, union, and contractors. Framatome ANP's contribution included refueling services, several modifications and repair work.

"While duration records are a sign of our improved performance, the real indicator is our stellar safety performance," said Harry Keiser, PSEG Nuclear President and Chief Nuclear Officer.