Framatome has signed an agreement with NNB* to perform post weld heat treatments on the welds of the main secondary coolant systems for the two EPR reactors being built at Hinkley Point C in the UK. This new scope of work strengthens the partnership between Framatome and NNB on the Hinkley Point C (HPC) project.
Post weld heat treatment is an important step in on-site assembly operations, ensuring a high level of safety and quality for the welds. To carry out these complex heat treatments, Framatome will call upon its subsidiary CETh, which specializes in pre/post-weld heat treatment, and Framatome Limited, its British subsidiary, to coordinate local teams. Each main secondary coolant system has about 160 welds, requiring over 40 people on site for 36 months.
“We are proud of NNB's continued trust. This agreement expands our scope of activity and strengthens our role in building the two EPR units at Hinkley Point,” said Guirec Maugat, Senior Executive Vice President of Framatome's Installed Base Business Unit. “We will draw on our expertise in post weld heat treatment and our experience in building new nuclear reactors to deliver the highest standards of quality for the secondary coolant systems of both units of Hinkley Point C. The experience and expertise of the teams involved will also help keep the project on schedule.”
“Local Post Weld Heat Treatment (LPWHT) is a critical scope for the HPC project in support of the NSSS secondary circuits and will take the learning from previous EPR projects. Collaboration with Framatome and its supply chain has been strong from the start to ensure readiness for a focused effort on quality delivery to meet the HPC schedule. HPC is confident of successful delivery of the LPWHT scope as an addition to Framatome's already extensive scope on the project for the Primary Circuit,” underline Laurent Reber, HPC Project Director, and Martyn Brocklesby, HPC Procurement Director.
The Hinkley Point nuclear power plant is in the west of England on the Somerset coast. Upon completion of the project, the two EPR units at the HPC nuclear power station will generate 3,200 MWe of low-carbon electricity, supplying over than six million British households.
[*] NNB is the entity created by EDF Energy, EDF's UK subsidiary for the Hinkley Point project, in partnership with the Chinese nuclear group CGNC (China General Nuclear Corporation).