Fitness-For-Service & Advanced Methodologies

Reliable Results from an Experienced Team

Energy production economics are becoming ever more constrained. Operators need to maximize and optimize their assets to not only safely and reliably produce energy but demonstrate a return on their investments to their shareholders. We are capable of responding quickly to emergent issues to limit downtime and support the extended life of components. Our clients often face operational challenges due to discovery issues that cannot be readily resolved with currently available assessment methodologies, examination processes, or repair techniques. These types of challenges are where our breadth of knowledge and experience enables us to excel and to quickly develop innovative and practical solutions that have lasting benefits.

Our team of specialists:

• Come from a broad range of disciplines (materials, fabrication, degradation mechanisms, non-destructive examination, stress analysis, fitness-for-service, modeling, mathematics, and statistical analysis)
• Take on leadership roles when it comes to material degradation and aging analysis and strategies
• Include recognized experts in industry forums that are setting the standards
• Provide leadership to develop codes and standards
• Hold the keys to knowledge in plant design, licensing, operation, inspection, and maintenance

Solving Complex Problems Through Integration of Knowledge

Integration of knowledge balances both knowing and doing to gain a deeper understanding and an ability to solve complex problems. It’s also about our focus on you, our clients. Our proven record demonstrates our ability to effectively integrate knowledge to elevate end-to-end visibility, streamline processes, optimize assets and processes, and reduce costs.

We collaborate with or provide assistance to:

• Experimental R&D groups to better understand the materials and material behavior
• Operators to design appropriate test programs, and to develop enhanced analysis and better interpretation of test results
• Inspection personnel to better understand the specification of inspection requirements and better use of inspection data
• Inspection personnel to develop improved inspection methods for evaluation of the component condition
• Licensing groups to ensure licensing needs and requirements are met

Removing the Uncertainty

There can be uncertainty and variability with any structural integrity analysis arising from a lack of knowledge, modeling approximations, or differences between as-manufactured components and as-operated components. This uncertainty may impact the ability to operate over a full range of reactor power levels or limit the remaining operational life. We help take the uncertainty out of the equation.

With a proven technical capability, we perform a wide range of analytical and computational analyses for advanced structural integrity assessment. Our expertise and extensive experience in integrating core principles in structural analysis, heat transfer, thermal analysis, fatigue analysis, fracture mechanics, and fitness-for-service give you the tools you need to ensure reliable operation and peace of mind.

We routinely perform advanced fracture analysis supplemented by detailed finite element modeling to justify the continued operation of components with detected flaws in support of the safe and economic operation of reactors.

Degradation Modeling

To assure the continued safe operations of aging nuclear facilities, we utilize degradation modeling to inform component replacement and maintenance strategies and to extend the life of plants.

We support the continued operation of aging CANDU reactor components by developing and validating predictive structural integrity degradation models based on in-service examination, periodic mechanical testing, and materials examination of irradiated ex-service components. Finite-element modeling is also used to demonstrate a detailed understanding of the in-service loading conditions. Results from these comprehensive models help inform inspection and maintenance requirements and outage schedules, identify plant design and operational improvements, and justify extended operation by providing confidence in safety performance.

Strategic Planning and Regulatory Support

Our experience puts us in the best-of-class position to support you with strategic planning and regulatory support. We help you demonstrate that your plants will not only continue to operate safely and reliably now but that you have the plans, processes, and strategies in place to sustain this performance for the future life of the plant.

Our services include:

• Strategies for lifecycle management planning and regulatory compliance
• Development of strategic plans and roadmaps to define the direction for R&D Programs and plant upgrades
• Gap analyses and compliance plans for CSA N285.4, N285.5, N285.7 and CSA N285.8 standards
• Development of fuel channel periodic inspection program (PIP) plans, fuel channel lifecycle management plans, fuel channel condition assessments, and integrated material surveillance program basis documents

Fitness-for-Service Assessments

We apply our expertise, experience, and leading-edge technical capabilities to:

• Assess flaws that cannot be dispositioned by traditional means
• Define system operating guidelines to maintain component integrity during normal operation, transients, and maintenance operations
• Develop models that are based on experimental results
• Provide assessments based on outage inspection data or models
• Support evaluation of reactor transients