Energy consulting company Enercon has received patents for a filter medium for strainers used in nuclear reactor emergency core cooling systems. According to the company's press release, the product was developed in response to one of the current major safety issues in the U.S. nuclear power industry, the NRC's Generic Safety Issue, GSI-191, "Assessment of Debris Accumulation on PWR Sump Performance," established last year.
Results of the NRC's research on BWR ECCS suction strainer blockage "identified new phenomena and failure modes that were not considered in the resolution of Issue A-43. In addition, operating experience identified new contributors to debris and possible blockage of PWR sumps, such as degraded or failed containment paint coatings," according to the commision's website. Enercon's product - called the Debris Bypass Eliminator - is a secondary filter system that takes care of this issue.
"Our product responds to a loss of coolant accident," Enercon president John Richardson said. "During long-term recirculation, cooling of the reactor core fibrous debris material could bypass through the ECCS sump strainer and potentially block cooling water flow paths in the reactor core."
So far, 11 nuclear power plants have installed the product.
"Enercon is currently working with other nuclear plants to explore how the Debris Bypass Eliminator may enhance the performance of their current ECCS sump strainers," patent inventor and engineering manager Aaron Smith said. "We are also assessing the ability of this product to help other electric and industrial plants address cooling water issues associated with their facilities.”
Meanwhile, the NRC is conducting detailed plant audits to ensure companies are fully cooperating with the newly set safety resolutions.
Enercon is a multi-disciplined company, offering power generation services, environmental and industrial services, technical and business support services, new plant services, and process and industrial services. The company also was one of the three primary design teams in the U.S. that developed the new generation BWR strainers for ECCS strainer blockage resolution. Enercon has led the world industry in resolution of GSI-191 for the PWR units for the last six years, according to the company's website.