AREVA steam generator inspection tools approved by EPRI

Three automated inspection tools from AREVA Inc. have received U.S. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) certification as qualified tools to examine steam generators in nuclear reactors, the company announced Thursday.

“Using AREVA’s automated tools for quick and consistent data analysis means that utilities can maintain their steam generators in a safer, more efficient and economical way,” Rob Smith, vice president of non-destructive examination solutions at AREVA's Installed Base Services, said. “Paired on a single platform, our AIDA3, MIRA3 and WTT tools improve the quality of results and raise the bar on degradation detection.”

According to the company, the three approved systems use nontraditional techniques that combine data mining and neural networks. As a result, they are able to accelerate the inspection process to computing speeds with the competence of human analysis capabilities.

With EPRI's Automated Analysis Performance Demonstration Database qualification, all three systems are now available and approved for use in the U.S. nuclear market.

Based in France and active globally, AREVA specializes in multiple areas of the nuclear generation industry. Among its services and offerings the company manufactures and designs nuclear reactors, components, testing systems and engineering and support services.