[Approx. Read Time: 1.5 minutes]
Professionals in nuclear industry across the globe continue to develop innovative technology to enhance the efficiency of nuclear power plants. I recently blogged on development of “Smart” Polymers which can significantly reduce the radioactive waste and further help decrease the cleanup costs in nuclear power plants. The research was done by scientists in India and Germany.
In the US, usage of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping is the latest award winning cutting-edge technology which eliminates the need for system cleaning that increases cost and decreases system availability.
Recently, two US plants, Catawba nuclear station in South Carolina and Callaway nuclear plant in Missouri won Materials and Services Process Top Industry Practice Award for implementing high-density polyethylene piping (HDPE) for their plant water systems.
The Catawba power station was the first U.S. nuclear plant to use polyethylene piping for the replacement of a cooling water system. Unlike carbon steel pipe which the new pipe replaced, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is not subject to corrosion, and it eliminates the need for system cleaning that increases cost and decreases system availability.
Callaway was honored with award for being the first U.S. nuclear plant to use high-density polyethylene piping in a safety-related system. The Callaway project involved replacing the original 30-inch diameter carbon steel buried piping in the Essential Service Water system with approximately 1,600 feet of new 36-inch-diamater HDPE piping. The system consists of two redundant sets of piping that supply water to certain safety-related equipment. Callaway completed the installation of one set in December 2008 and completed the other set in April 2009.
Special safety review and approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was required in order to use the HDPE material.
Both Duke Energy and AmerenUE have shared information and technology with the nuclear industry for the use of polyethylene piping as a safe and cost-effective alternative for replacement of service water piping systems. Their achievements can yield benefits to the entire U.S. nuclear energy industry, including new nuclear energy facilities.
Check out the NEI video news below:
View the related article here.
