Technical development and its application on steam generator replacement

Twenty-two PWR nuclear power plants are now under commercial operation in Japan. Eight of these plants are scheduled to have their steam generators replaced by up-graded units as a social responsibility for improved reliability, economy and easier maintenance. To carry out steam generator replacement, main coolant pipe cutting and restoration techniques, remote controlled welding machines and other remote controlled equipment, templating techniques with which the new steam generator primary nozzles will fit the existing primary pipes correctly were developed. An adequate training program was carried out to establish these techniques and they were then applied in replacement work on site. The steam generators of the three plants were replaced completely in 1994. These newly developed techniques are to be applied in upcoming plants and replaced plants will be much reliable. (author)