Out with the old and in with the new. It’s a familiar adage, but one that has profound connection to today’s “throw-away” society. From electronics to automobiles to appliances, we are focused on obtaining new rather than fixing old. However, in a highly regulated industry, that doesn’t always apply.
Nuclear plants consist of many components, which are thoroughly tested and inspected to ensure they can perform required functions. As nuclear power plants are reaching 50-year milestones on their way to lifespans of 80 years, components that are no long manufactured or qualified to the current regulated standards or are no longer available from the original manufacturers need to be replaced. Testing new parts can be done, but sometimes at a significant cost.
Obsolescence and the ability to obtain qualified replacement and spare parts are primary concerns in the nuclear industry. As your partner, Westinghouse would like to make you aware of an imminent obsolescence challenge that could impact your plant. Click here for more information.
Obsolescence and the ability to obtain qualified replacement and spare parts are primary concerns in the nuclear industry.
At Westinghouse, Nuclear Parts Operations (NPO) plays a vital role in maintaining the critical assets of our customers and in helping to ensure safety and reliability through the high-quality spare and replacement parts, component repair services and equipment upgrades we provide.
A leading innovator in the nuclear industry since its inception, Westinghouse NPO merges the past and the present to create a reliable future for customers. Bringing a historical knowledge of each part and its function, Westinghouse replacement parts and design engineering organizations employ the appropriate technology to maintain and, when appropriate, improve upon installed equipment, while helping to ensure compliance and compatibility with the existing design basis. As an example, a recent modernization of a Solid State Protection System (SSPS) served as an alternative to retrofitting existing cabinets with replacement printed circuit cards in the same form, fit and function as the original cards.
This practice completely restored the system to the original requirements with today’s technology. A system refresh can save nuclear plant operators tens of millions of dollars over a complete system replacement, while delivering enhancements for reliability, maintenance and performance and to meet system qualifications and licensing basis.
Backed by highly-trained and experienced Westinghouse engineers and employees at our central location outside of Pittsburgh, PA, NPO supplies qualified repair services and equipment to meet the design and licensing basis of nuclear power plants around the world. We ship more than 100,000 NPO products around the world annually and stock more than $50 million in components to meet emergent customer needs.
For more than 40 years, utilities have partnered with Westinghouse to improve plant operations with high quality replacement parts and repair services. Learn more about Westinghouse’s high quality replacement parts and repair services here.