Framatome was awarded a contract to mitigate buried condenser feed pipes at a three-unit operating nuclear plant in the U.S. Using its spray-in-place structural pipe liner solution, Framatome will address over one mile of large diameter piping running underground to plant condenser boxes. The project will occur during nine outages over eight years, starting in Fall 2025.
"Framatome's teams innovated to adapt an industrial solution and apply it to the nuclear industry in support of our customer's long-term operational needs and competitiveness," said Catherine Cornand, senior executive vice president for the Installed Base BU at Framatome. "Now utility customers have access to an innovative, technically advanced, turnkey rehabilitation solution that includes in-depth engineering, manufacturing, application, project management, technical support and OEM experience."
Buried pipes and underground components for nuclear power plant operations vary in size. Aging and degradation of buried piping is an industry challenge with costly repairs and inspections. Framatome's spray-in-place liner provides a safe solution that rehabilitates pipe internals and overcomes cost, safety, and outage duration challenges.
Framatome, with industry partners, developed a spray-in-place liner system to rehabilitate safety-related piping beyond its original 50-year design life and through to the end of plant life. Delivered remotely using in-pipe robotic crawlers, the liner is sprayed evenly onto the inside of the pipe, fully rehabilitating the pipe. The system does not require excavation, thus minimizing safety risks, reducing outage durations, and costs.
