A recent deployment of Westinghouse Electric Co.’s Zephyr Advanced Acquisition System allowed the Byron Unit 1 to save 22 hours of path time during its latest steam generator inspection, Westinghouse announced on Thursday.
The company reported the Zephyr system has the capability to reduce acquisition time by approximately 35 percent and to reduce the probe consumption and doses by approximately 50 percent. According to the company, improvements that the system provides are able to increase result accuracy and the safety of inspection personnel.
“We’re proud of the extraordinary improvements to the steam generator inspection process, safety for inspection personnel, and accuracy of the results that we’re delivering to our nuclear industry customers,” David Howell, senior vice president of operating plants business for Westinghouse, said. “These plants were built to last, and our revolutionary technologies for steam generator inspection, service and maintenance are helping to protect our customers’ investments and extend plant licenses while supporting the industry’s unified mission to continually improve its exemplary record for worker safety.”
During an outage this fall, Westinghouse technology was reported to have shortened the amount of outage time needed by 50 hours for a work scope of 26,000 inspections. They also report that no staff contamination occurred and personnel doses fell to 40 percent below the facilities stretch objectives in this area.
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