DC Cook determined that their manual surveillance test for the reactor building ice condenser lower inlet doors produced inconsistent results. They asked Framatome ANP to develop a new test device to improve the accuracy, ease, and repeatability of the 40 degree hinge frictional force portion of the Technical Specification surveillance test for these doors.

The lower ice condenser door force measurement system measures and displays the holding, opening, and closing forces of the doors in a -10° C (15° F) ice condenser environment. The new test equipment features an integrated digital force gauge and distance measuring gauge that is connected to an industrial freeze-proof laptop PC. The laptop electronically converts the digital signals from the gauge to provide an immediate, accurate readout and logs the digital signals. In addition, Framatome ANP also created a full-scale mock-up of a pair of ice condenser lower inlet doors that DC Cook will use as a technician training platform.

Framatome ANP completed the design, procurement, mock-up, testing and qualification of the system within the given three-week timeframe.

Framatome ANP engineers check out their
mock-up integrated digital measuring device