Exemplary nuclear power plant maintenance

摘要

Nuclear power plant maintenance has evolved over the years to encompass new ways of performing tasks, methods for avoiding problems that have occurred in the past, and innovative products for reducing dose to workers from exposure during maintenance procedures. This issue of Nuclear News includes several stories covering a variety of developments that have earned utilities in the United States and Europe accolades for their money-, dose-, and time-saving features. STP Nuclear Operating Company experienced an unprecedented occurrence of leakage of reactor coolant water from the bottom of its South Texas Project-1 reactor vessel and, within a week, developed a plan to address the problem. This included collecting advice and recommendations from a number of organizations, utilities, and other nuclear power plants. STP has said that it is willing to share its experience— including the techniques, tools, and procedures developed and used during the project—with other utilities and plants. Read about STP's first-of-a-kind reactor vessel bottom leakage repair project, starting on page 32.