Plant operation assistance
Ansaldo Nucleare delivers cutting-edge engineering services and solutions to operational nuclear power plants, optimising their systems, enhancing their performance and making them safer.
Implementing safety upgrades and extending the life of operational nuclear power plants is vital to supporting the demands for a safe and secure energy supply.
With this in mind, Ansaldo Nucleare has provided a range of plant operation support to nuclear power plants across the globe. Our experience working on a variety of different plant designs has provided us with unrivalled insight when it comes to optimising and enhancing the performance of a power plant.
Safety checks and upgrades
Ansaldo Nucleare is capable of upgrading a plant according to the most stringent safety requirements. Whether it’s a routine operation or a targeted solution, we can provide:
- Accident management & emergency procedures
- Seismic assessment & qualification
- Instrumentation & control
- Emergency power systems
- Ultimate heat sinks
- Stress test analyses
- Post-Fukushima interventions
Operational services
Ansaldo Nucleare can manage the entire improvement program, from the design and development of viable solutions all the way through to commissioning. Our refurbishment and modification services include:
- Balance of Plant (BOP) systems optimisation and power uprating
- Fatigue & leak-before-break (LBB) analysis
- Fuel handling equipment & tools
- OEM equipment maintenance and spares provisioning
- Thermal, hydraulic and computational fluid dynamics analysis
- Automation systems
- Overhauling of main equipment
- Configuration changes along plant life
- BOP systems ageing assessment and residual life evaluation (RLE)
- Plant life extension (PLEX)
Our successes in plant operation assistance
Numerous nuclear power plants across the globe trust Ansaldo Nucleare to provide ongoing services and support, on account of our broad experience and strategic relationships.
Safety upgrades at Krško NPP (Slovenia)
From 2017 to 2021, Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. completed the Krško Power Plant Safety Upgrade Program (SUP), implementing two safety systems for alternate emergency injection and auxiliary feedwater. This included a successful outage under extreme time pressures, as well as managing a team of 50+ local subcontractors.
Extending the life of Cernavodă (Romania)
From 2019, Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. has been working on Condition Assessment and Design Modification Studies to support the PLEX refurbishment program at Cernavoda Unit 1. With plant uprate and the replacement of pre-heaters, pumps and valves all in scope, the works will extend the expected life of the plant for another 30 years.
Modernising Embalse NPP (Argentina)
Between 2013 and 2019, Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. refurbished the stand-by Diesel power generation station at the Embalse nuclear plant. The total power of the 4 genset was increased from 2660 to 5200 kW, while the number of fuel oil weekly tanks, fuel oil pump houses, electric and control rooms, and UPS battery banks was doubled.
Enabling a successful at Tianwan NPP
(China)
In 2019, Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. provided the Fuel Handling Machine Control Systems for a successful refuelling operation at Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. Our engineers were present during the refuel to offer assistance and advice in relation to the functionality of the Control System.
Keeping Sellafield safe (UK)
In 2022, Ansaldo Nuclear Ltd was contracted to plan a series of trials that will test and inform the design of key connections that will ‘tie’ SIXEP (Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant) and SCP (SIXEP Continuity Plant) together. SCP will continue to filter Sellafield’s liquid effluents and keep the site safe for at least another 50 years.