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Engineering Services/Nuclear:

Nuclear Services

MPR's Nuclear Experience

Background
MPR Associates has extensive experience in the nuclear power industry. We have provided engineering services to government and utility clients over the thirty plus years of commercial nuclear power development. We have considerable first-hand experience in the design and analysis of nuclear power plant systems and components and are in the forefront of reactor development. Specific areas of expertise are discussed below.

Nuclear Systems and Equipment
MPR Associates has had considerable first-hand experience in the design and analysis of reactors, auxiliary and power conversion components, systems and structures. Design and analysis skills have been applied in such areas as reactor systems and internals; nuclear fuel and control elements; steam generators; reactor coolant pumps, seals, and motors; control rod drive elements; nuclear plant safety systems and components; containment systems and structures; high energy piping and supports; control, electrical power and alarm systems; turbines and generators; emergency diesel generators; valves; and other balance-of-plant equipment.

Nuclear Power Plant Safety Assessments
MPR has experience and expertise in the performance of safety assessments and safety reviews and in the application of U.S. NRC licensing, safety criteria and guidelines. We perform safety assessments on specific topics (ranging from core thermal performance to seismic assessments) and serve as technical coordinator for overall plant safety reviews. MPR has developed guidelines for conducting Safety System Functional Inspections (SSFIs) and has participated as a utility representative in reviews conducted by the NRC. MPR currently serves as Technical Coordinator for the Seismic Qualification Utility Group, a group of 40 utilities who are developing criteria for seismic qualification of equipment in older operating nuclear plants. Representatives of MPR have also served on nuclear plant safety review committees.

Advanced Reactor Development
MPR Associates is a lead contractor for the EPRI Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) program. This program is aimed at establishing the utility requirements for the next generation of commercial nuclear power plants, and includes the assimilation and evaluation of the lessons learned in the design, construction and performance of commercial nuclear plants over the past 30 years.

Safety Research
MPR Associates has had a long history of involvement in Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety research projects. In the late 1960's through the early 1970's, MPR provided both programmatic/management support and engineering design assistance to the DOE Loss-of-Fluid Test (LOFT) program. In addition, for over 14 years, MPR has provided engineering assistance to the NRC's Reactor Safety Research Division on a wide range of projects including design and evaluation of reactor tests, ECCS research in support of 10CFR50, Appendix K rules, and coordination of the U.S. participation in a Japanese-German-U.S. cooperative research program on core thermal-hydraulic performance.

Reactivation of a Deferred Plant
MPR Associates completed an in-depth assessment of completed and planned work to activate and complete a deferred nuclear plant. Specific work scopes, cost estimates, and schedules were developed to examine regulatory issues and to complete plant engineering, construction and licensing. Specific areas that were addressed include seismic design, fire protection, environmental qualification, station blackout, control room design review and Regulator Guide 1.97 compliance. Engineering reviews, plant walkdowns and inspections were part of the effort to assess the adequacy of existing structural, electrical, I&C and mechanical design and construction.

Human Factors Operations
MPR Associates has been active in the development and implementation of human factors reviews and upgrades of commercial nuclear facility alarm systems and control rooms. MPR is the author of industry guidelines for alarm system reviews and has performed alarm/control room reviews and upgrades for seven nuclear power plants. As part of this work, we conducted control room walkdowns, reviewed normal and emergency plant operating procedures, and conducted experimental human factors research on alarms using an MPR designed alarm simulator. We designed the changes needed to resolve problem areas and assisted the utilities in carrying them out.

Fuel Handling and Remote In-Reactor Projects
MPR Associates has been involved in the development of naval reactor refueling programs and in the development of spent fuel and cask handling designs for military and commercial applications. MPR has also been involved in numerous in-reactor tasks in commercial reactors, including repair of reactor internals and reactor pressure vessel components. We prepared the fuel handling and refueling system requirements for the EPRI Advanced Light Water Reactor Program. We played a leading role in the evaluation and defueling of the Three Mile Island-2 reactor, including the design and manufacture of special tools. MPR Associates developed special remote tooling for the successful removal of samples from the lower head of the reactor vessel.

Problem Solving and Repair Engineering
MPR Associates has performed problem solving tasks, root cause investigations and corrective action of specific problem areas/failures in essentially all areas of nuclear plant systems and equipment. Examples include repair of leaks in reactor vessel penetrations, design of modifications of reactor internals, and steam generator inspection and repair methodologies. These activities have led to the development of inspection and repair/refurbishment procedures and the design and implementation of modifications to correct root cause.

Plant Life Extension and Monitoring
MPR Associates has completed material condition, life extension and capital investment strategy studies for several nuclear plants. The results of these long term studies have been used to make long term investment and run/retire decisions and to develop and implement comprehensive monitoring programs to obtain baseline and period data on the condition of critical equipment.

Training
MPR Associates has developed and conducted technical training courses for government and utility clients, and for inhouse professional development needs. These courses have ranged from a few days to several months. Courses that we have developed cover such areas as hydraulic design, structural design (including seismic and ASME Code analysis), root cause analysis, the design process, design review techniques, power plant materials, power plant controls, and diesel generators.

Contact

For further information on Nuclear Power Engineering or other services provided by MPR Associates, contact: Douglas Chapin, Robert Coward or Larry Cundy.

More MPR Nuclear Experience

The following pages provide insight on our experience in a few of MPR's nuclear D&D projects:


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