All Success Story

Nuclear Feeder tube inspection

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has spent the last 20 years perfecting what is often referred to as “life extension” or “refurbishment” projects on CANDU reactors. Metalogic has supported all refurbishment teams to date, focusing on the replacement of radiography with phased array (MetaPhase™).

 

The Challenges: RADIOGRAPHY

Due to typical hurdles associated with radiography including production interruptions, lengthy inspection times, and radiation exposure from both the inspection technique and the reactor, an alternative inspection solution was required. With the new ASME Nuclear Code Case N-659-2 recently approved, it was determined phased-array ultrasonics was the best available technique.

 

However, given that this project would set precedent and the highest level of safety and quality was expected, it was quickly concluded that the ASME code case by itself would not satisfy the owner(s) or regulatory bodies in terms of personnel qualifications, training, technique demonstrations and quality of inspection results.

 

The Solution: METAPHASE™

In conjunction with AECL, Metalogic took the lead in developing a detailed step-by-step guide on how to qualify MetaPhase™ relative to all stakeholders including the stringent requirements specified by AECL, The Owner Operator and the CNSC.

  • Procedure Qualification/Demonstrations
  • Personnel Qualifications/Demonstrations
  • Final C.I.Q.B. certification
  • Regulatory, Client and Contractor Phased Array
  • Auditor Training
  • Technician Application Training
  • Technology Development

 

Project Impacts

The primary objectives in the implementation of MetaPhase™ were achieved including A.L.A.R.A., enhanced welding productivity, the highest quality weld and reduce project costs. The following K.P.I.’s were identified across all projects, with varying levels of success directly related to each project’s unique process and requirements.

Welding

  • Increased productivity by eliminating “radiography windows”. Reduced repairs through real time inspection results.
  • Reduced repair time and cut-outs through precise defect-depth reporting.
  • Reduced equipment and manpower movement through real time inspection.

Risk/Safety

  • Increased weld quality through a higher P.O.D. on critical defects.
  • Reduced radiation exposure for all trades.
  • Eliminated additional radioactive sources.

Inspection

    • Increased productivity utilizing multiple inspection crews in the
    • same area.
    • Faster inspection times increasing productivity.
    • Less “re inspections” due to real time inspection results.

 

CAPITAL POWER KEEPHILLS 3 SUPERCRITICAL BOILER

The Project

Metalogic was awarded the Primary NDT Contract for Capital Power’s construction of Hitachi’s 450 Megawatt Supercritical coal-fired boiler, Keephills 3 (K3). In addition to requiring a turnkey service provider, the primary reason for the award was based on “Metalogic’s track record of reducing construction schedule bottlenecks and increasing asset reliability”.

 

Metalogic provided the following NDT services:

 

  • Radiography
  • Positive Material Identification
  • Magnetic Particle Testing
  • Liquid Penetrant Testing
  • Hardness testing
  • Q.A., Q.C.
  • Data Management

 

In addition to conventional NDT services, Metalogic’s proprietary ultrasonic technology MetaPhase™ was applied to the following assets:

  • Boiler Tubing
  • High-Energy Piping
  • Process Piping
  • Structural Steel
  • Storage Tanks
  • Mine Equipment

Project Highlights

Project Firsts:

  • Replaced x-ray as the primary weld inspection technique.
  • High temperature (400deg) phased-array inspection on High-Energy Piping.
  • Inspection of rifled tubing with phased-array.
  • Inspected Water Wall Tubes 100% (tangent) with phased-array.

 

Project Impacts:

  • Eliminated construction trade bottlenecks by removing x-ray windows.
  • Reduced risk of failure through increased P.O.D. on critical defects (cracks and non-fusion).
  • Reduced repair rates through real-time inspection feedback to welders and innovative E.C.A.
  • Significant overall reduction in construction costs.
  • NDT services came in under budget.