Shutdown seal from Westinghouse proves efficacy

Westinghouse Electric Company recently demonstrated that its Generation III SHEILD Shutdown Seal for use at nuclear energy plants performed to its design specifications.

The seal is designed to be able to reduce the flow from nuclear reactor coolant pumps to approximately 1 gallon per minute during blackout conditions at a nuclear plant.

“This is great news for our customers and their plants,” David Howell, senior vice president, Operating Plants Business for Westinghouse, said. “The Generation III SHIELD Shutdown Seal offers additional levels of safety and reliability that will be valued by the nuclear industry. It is incumbent upon Westinghouse to provide such products as part of our mission to assist plants in demonstrating that they are built to last and continue delivering clean, safe and reliable electricity from nuclear energy for the next 60 years and beyond.”

The seal was used for an entire fuel cycle at the Beaver Valley Unit 2 in Pennsylvania for static activation testing. The test began last spring, and since then the seal has been successfully removed from the reactor.

With this seal, Westinghouse said that nuclear-generating companies will be able to simplify the process of meeting safety requirements established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Westinghouse Electric Company specializes in the development and manufacturing of nuclear reactor components and technology.