Watts Bar sees the replacement of the Unit 2 steam generator completed through cooperation between Framatome and United.
Joint expertise
The Watts Bar nuclear power plant is located in East Tennessee, USA. The plant produces 1150MW of electricity continuously. Thus, the entire plant provides enough electricity for 1.3 million homes per day.
Indeed, the plant was in the process of replacing the steam generators. The Steam Generating Team (SGT), the joint venture between Framatome and United, announced that the operation was completed without incident. Art Lembo, President of SGT, states:
“This project, like many others performed by SGT, utilized our experienced team and proven processes customized for steam generator replacement. I am particularly proud of our team for completing this outage with zero recordable incidents and personnel exposure below ALARA goals, an accomplishment that speaks to SGT’s vigilance in industrial and radiological safety.”
A sensitive operation
Major component replacements are engineering and operational projects. The replacement of the 67-foot, 360-ton steam generators required extensive work. Temporary openings in the reactor building dome, containment and steam generator enclosures were required.
During the replacement at Watts Bar Framatome brought its expertise in decontamination, metrology, machining and welding. The company was also introducing innovative technology that provides essential precision welding capabilities. Thus, the objective was to connect the replacement steam generator to the reactor primary piping.
Scott Reeder, United’s chief executive officer, says:
“We are very pleased to have played an important role in extending the life of the Watts Bar plant and its role in providing reliable, carbon-free energy to the Tennessee Valley.
United helps its customers by providing an innovative infrastructure. The company continues to support nuclear technology.
For example, steam generators are used as heat exchangers in pressurized water reactors. These components use the heat generated by the reactor to create steam. Nuclear technology is taking its place in carbon-free power, according to the company.
