To recognize the innovation and commitment associated with implementing EPRI products and research results, the Nuclear Sector will present 11 technology transfer awards at its advisory meetings in late January. EPRI will confer the awards to representatives from eight nuclear utilities, including three non-U.S. nuclear plant operators. Each award nomination was reviewed according to the magnitude of the impact or benefit realized and the nominees’ demonstrated leadership and innovation. A small committee comprising several members of the Nuclear Power Council also reviewed the nominations and provided their input.
The awards recognize a wide array of technology transfer activities, from the adoption of EPRI steam generator guidelines in South Korea and the use of EPRI probabilistic risk assessment guidelines in France to a first-of-its-kind reactor internals aging management program and the demonstration of a volumetric examination procedure for small-bore piping. Award details and recipients are listed below. For more information, contact Susan Rodgers at 704-595-2572 or srodgers@epri.com.
| Award Title |
Benefit |
Company |
Recipients |
| First-of-a-Kind Reactor Internals Aging Management Program |
Aging management program will ensure the long-term integrity and functionality of the reactor internal components at the San Onofre Generating Station Units 2 and 3. |
Southern California Edison |
Mike McDevitt |
| Successful Adoption of Steam Generator Management Guidelines in South Korea |
Use of steam generator guidelines enabled KHNP to resolve chronic secondary water oscillation problems at Kori Unit 4, enabling the plant to return power to a normal level. |
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Company, Ltd. |
Yong-Seok Kang, Han-Chul Lee, Nam-Cheoul Cho, Dong-Man Shin, Wang-Bae Kim |
| Taiwanese Regulatory Approval for Reduced Piping Inspections |
Taiwan Power obtained regulatory approval for a reduction in piping inspections, resulting in significant savings in inspector man-power, radiation dose and inspection equipment set-up. |
Taiwan Power Company |
David W.C. Lin, Wen-Hwa Lee, Chung-Hsien Wang, Roger Ho-Nein Chang, Chien-Kuo Wang, John Jong-Chang Wang |
| Flaw Characterization of Nozzle-to-Safe-End Dissimilar Metal Welds |
Identification and timely evaluation of the mid-wall flaws in advance of Perry Nuclear Plant's refueling outage confirmed the safe operating condition of the plant and facilitated preparation weld examinations, which were a near critical path activity. |
First Energy Nuclear Operating Company |
Sean Franklin |
| Volumetric Examination Procedure for Small-Bore Piping Welds |
The volumetric examination procedure distinguished relevant from non-relevant indications, enabling PSEG to characterize the type of defect and whether it was a fabrication or in-service crack. |
PSEG Nuclear LLC |
Tony Oliveri |
| Assessment of Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques for Inaccessible Piping |
Evaluation of six NDE methods for examining underground pipe, including four guided wave techniques, phased array techniques, and a zero degree electromagnetic acoustic transducer technique. |
Exelon Corporation |
Harry L. Smith, Vinod Aggarwal, Kevin Leonard |
| Optimized Weld Overlay on Large-Bore Dissimilar Metal Weld |
Demonstration of optimized weld overlay permits a thinner overall weld thickness to be applied, reducing the required time to apply an overlay. In addition, minimizing overlay thickness reduces the volume of weld deposit, improving the ability to inspect the weld. |
First Energy Nuclear Operating Company |
Dan Patten |
| Development of the Industry's First Fire Probability Risk Assessment |
Industry’s first full implementation of EPRI methodology for fire PRAs. These individuals also obtained NRC approval for first use of an incipient fire detection system for in-cabinet applications to reduce fire risk. |
Progress Energy |
David Miskiewicz, Ricardo Davis-Zapata, Scott Brinkman |
| Treatment of Uncertainties in Risk-Informed Applications |
The French nuclear safety authority requires EDF to evaluate parametric and model uncertainties when updating probabilistic risk assessments. The EPRI guidelines enabled EDF to systematically address these uncertainties and satisfy the regulatory requirements. |
EDF |
Anne-Marie Bonnevialle, Dominique Vasseur, Philippe Nonclercq |
| Treatment of Uncertainties in Risk-Informed Applications |
These guidelines helped Exelon obtain regulatory approval of a license amendment request for Limerick to extend the allowed outage time associated with common pipe repairs. No requests for additional information were received from the regulatory related to the identification of key sources of uncertainty. |
Exelon Corporation |
Greg Krueger |
| Customized Application of EPRI's Modular Accident Analysis Program |
EDF customized MAAP to support the probabilistic safety assessments required for licensing the European Pressurized Reactor and for EDF’s third periodic safety review at its 1300 MW plants. |
EDF |
Jean-Sylvestre Lamy, Guillaume Niessen, Armelle Bretault |
