Framatome’s experts are specialised in the design of the principal items of equipment making up nuclear steam supply systems, and that includes mechanics and metallurgy, neutronics, the scientific calculation work, fluid mechanics and risk and nuclear safety analysis. Framatome’s engineering services include the heart of the power plant, referred to as the “nuclear island”, and the main components of there actor’s primary circuit such as steam generators, pumps, pressurisers, as well as the nuclear reactor pressure vessel itself. Its specialists and technicians are actively involved in major new nuclear power plant construction projects such as the new EPR reactors.
Framatome components equip more than 100 power plants in 11 countries. At its plants in Le Creusot, Saint Marcel and Jeumont, in France, Framatome’s manufacturing plants produce the key equipment for nuclear steam supply systems for electrical utilities all over the world to equip new-build power plants or to replace items of equipment at power plants in operation. The company manufactures advanced technology heavy equipment (reactor pressure vessels, steam generators, etc.) and mobile components (reactor coolant pumps and control rod drive mechanisms). Since 1970, around 10,000 components have been produced at its manufacturing sites by Framatome’s forge workers, machinists, materials technicians, mechanical test technicians, boilermakers and welders. An arbitration procedure has been commenced with respect to the manufacturing discrepancy for the HS bottom casing on reactor no. 2 in Fessenheim and the HS top casing to be installed on reactor no. 5 in Gravelines.
In 2019, the company continued to ramp up production at its Le Creusot plant in Burgundy, specialising in the manufacture of heavy components for the nuclear industry, and received ISO/CEI 17025 accreditation for the Le Creusot and Saint Marcel mechanical test labs. The Le Creusot plant will also supply the main forged components for new construction projects abroad, in particular for the EPR reactor project of Hinkley Point C in the UK, as well as parts for replacement components intended for French reactors.
In summer 2019, Framatome detected non-compliance with temperature ranges during the application of certain local stress-relieving heat treatments (SRHT) carried out on welded steam generator and pressurizers seals in the summer of 2019(1). The causes of this discrepancy have been identified by Framatome, allowing a response to be put together to ensure that the integrity of those components concerned that are in service is not questioned (see section 2.2.5 “Risks specific to nuclear activities, risk factor 5A Failure to observe operating goals and/or extension of the nuclear fleet operating period"). Files with supporting evidence have been submitted to EDF and other operators that are Framatome clients; these are currently being investigated with the relevant safety authorities. An action plan was proposed to the ASN on 13 November 2019. Framatome has launched a programme to consolidate knowledge of the performance of other local SRHT processes used on equipments supplied by Framatome, both in plant and on the worksite. On completion, this programme is likely to result in the revision of some of the equipments in question.
Framatome designs, manufactures and installs safe nuclear instrumentation solutions and instrumentation & control systems for plants in operation or under construction. Its solutions range from safety instrumentation & control systems to operational instrumentation & control system, from nuclear instrumentation to maintenance in operational conditions solutions, from simulators to global I&C engineering expertise, from human-machine interface design to human factors engineering. Framatome has installed over 300 complete instrumentation and instrumentation & control systems on reactors of all types worldwide.
In September 2019, the new SPEC 200 plant was inaugurated in the Lynchburg operational excellence centre in Virginia, thus heralding the complete integration of the SPEC 200 product line (analog instrumentation & control system) in the solution portfolio. The plan was recently audited by the Nuclear Procurement Issues Corporation, receiving an unrestricted approval recommendation for the supply of the SPEC 200 platform.
Framatome designs, develops and manufactures fuel assemblies for pressurised water reactors, boiling water reactors and research reactors. The company’s know-how spans the entire process: from the design of the fuel assembly, to the production of zirconium and its alloys – zirconium being vitally important for fuel production – onto fuel fabrication and related services, right through to operations on the nuclear power plants. The company performs all relevant calculations from general fuel management up to dedicated licensing for the highest performance and safety. Over 226,000 Framatome fuel assemblies are loaded in more than 100 reactors in operation around the world.
After two and a half years of work, a new melting furnace (vacuum arc furnace) was inaugurated in April 2019 on the Ugine site, enabling different alloys to be melted using state-of-the-art equipment.
Framatome has substantial international experience working with nuclear safety authorities on all types of reactors currently in service around the world. The company also offers support for operators through relationships with their respective safety authority and in the application of existing regulations. In France, Framatome has expertise in the application of the Order relating to nuclear pressure equipment (arrêté relatif aux équipements sous pression nucléaire – ESPN). Technical centres and test facilities are available to the company’s customers to qualify equipment and to provide assistance in the preparation of the qualification studies and associated documentation.
Framatome offers innovative solutions and services to maintain and modernise existing nuclear power plants, and extend the lifetime of existing installations, while guaranteeing the safety, performance and availability of operations. Framatome has 60 years’ international experience of all types of technologies and maintenance of more than 300 reactors worldwide. Its teams have expertise and knowledge in maintenance, component replacement, inspections and checks, refuelling operations, and optimised management of reactor shutdowns for maintenance. More specifically, its activities cover supply of fuel assemblies and related services, management of equipment and spare parts, modernisation of I&C, and chemistry and radiochemistry services.
In the United States, a new system for inspecting partition screws inside reactor vessels using ultrasound was rolled out, complementing the SUSI underwater inspection robot. Framatome can now deploy either of these two solutions, depending on customer requirements.
In addition, US firm FoxGuard Solutions was bought out in October 2019. It provides further resources for the cyber security offering directed at the energy industry, including consultancy, the installation of managed solutions, specific safety hardware, and control system hardware.
Framatome’s participation in the construction of new-build nuclear reactor project spans across design, through procurement and supply, and onto commissioning. With Recognised expertise in the management of complex projects, its teams are tasked with delivering to the most stringent security standards and fulfil the requirements of its customers. In the case of new-build construction projects, the company proposes solutions for the nuclear island scope. Framatome is actively involved with EDF in the construction and commissioning of 5 EPR reactors worldwide: in France (Flamanville 3), in China (Taishan 1&2), and in the United Kingdom (Hinkley Point C, reactor 1 and 2). The commercial commissioning of Taishan 2, the second EPR in the world to enter service, took place on 7 September 2019.
In 2017, EDF and Framatome created Edvance, a joint engineering subsidiary for the construction of new nuclear power plants in France and in the world (see also section 1.2 “History and organisation of the Company”).
(1) See EDF’s press release of 10 September 2019 “Deviation in technical standards governing the manufacture of nuclear-reactor components by Framatome”.
