Areva expands services to US utilities
Areva is expanding its service capabilities to US customers by forming a joint venture focused on balance of plant (BOP) services. It has also opened a new research facility which will analyse corrosion issues at US nuclear power plants.
Areva is expanding its service capabilities to US customers by forming a joint venture focused on balance of plant (BOP) services. It has also opened a new research facility which will analyse corrosion issues at US nuclear power plants.
The company has formed a joint venture with Day & Zimmermann to offer engineering, construction and maintenance services to US nuclear utilities. The joint venture - to be known as Areva DZ - will primarily focus on the balance of plant (BOP), implementing both major and minor nuclear plant modifications.
Major BOP systems include thermal systems and equipment directly involved in converting energy in the steam into electrical power, the process service systems and equipment required to achieve proper performance of the conversion system, and the electrical power systems and equipment that supply the electrical energy to the various plant auxiliaries and also transport the electrical power to the grid.
Areva DZ's services include design/build BOP projects, standard plant modifications, BOP major component replacements, decommissioning, power uprates, plant upgrades, and other large and complex projects. The new company will be based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will have offices in Lynchburg, Virginia; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Tackling corrosion
Meanwhile, Areva has opened a new $6.5 million chemistry and materials centre (CMC) in Lynchburg. The company said that the facility will house several laboratories and provide "a key service to Areva customers in their ongoing efforts to reduce corrosion damage to plant components and fuel."
The CMC will provide general and specialised chemistry, corrosion and metallurgical testing and analysis support for operating nuclear power plants. The facility will also support the design and deployment of the US EPR reactor.
Areva said that the CMC will analyse radioactive and non-radioactive samples of solids, liquids and gases from all locations in pressurised water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs), including reactor coolant, secondary plant water, cooling water and consumable materials.
