CUSTOMER: Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP), Romania

PROBLEM: The discovery of a material fatigue problem on a 90° tee connection on a 24 inch recirculation cooling water line in the Romanian Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP), identified following a comprehensive inspection, caused major concern – the plant produces 11% of the power for Romania, and shutdown would have had a significant impact on the national power supply. 

SOLUTION: A permanent, reliable, on-line strengthening solution was urgently required to avoid potential fracturing and, ultimately, rupture. Conventional methods of permanently solving this position were out of the question as the line would either have to be drained and replaced – something that could not be done given its critical function  – or a bypass would have been created around the damaged section using hot-tapping, to enable removal and replacement, impossible in this instance since vibration in the pipe due to its proximity to the pump precluded any degree of accuracy.  The solution came in the form of advanced composites technology from Furmanite.  Using carbon fibre and epoxy resin allowed the necessary work to be undertaken on-line, required no hotwork, and was able to accommodate the complex geometries and overcome the potential difficulties of restricted access.

OUTCOME: Use of composites repairs at  Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant meant that shutdown had been entirely avoided, with no loss of production .A technological first in an industry with such specific requirements and demanding standards.