At the Dukovany NPP in the Czech Republic, engineers have successfully tested a completely new method of automatic welding. It was used to replace part of the collector of one of the steam generators during the outage of unit 3. The device does not directly need human operation, its operation is safer and faster.
The replacement involved part of the steam generator. One special machine first cut out part of the collector, the welding machine then welded the new solid part in place with the required accuracy. “Using a welding machine is safer and more efficient,” said Bohdan Zronek, Director of the ČEZ Group’s Nuclear Energy Division.
“Although people can normally work in steam generators, it is a demanding environment with regard to radiation protection and safety. Of course, the use of new methods must always be preceded by thorough preparation, testing and qualifications before the work itself,” he noted.
The preparation itself took more than a year. Experts from several companies had to assemble the device, test and verify the results.
“It is an important milestone. The use of automatic systems confirms our ability to perform even relatively complex technical operations in demanding conditions,” said Dukovany NPP Director Roman Havlín. “This is one of the conditions enabling the 60-year, and I believe even longer, operation of our units.”
