Advanced inspection systems for BWR- and PWR-reactor pressure vessels reducing critical path outage time

In-service inspection of reactor pressure vessels is frequently a critical-path event during refueling outages. However, inspection time can be drastically shortened by using innovative inspection devices and manipulators, and by optimizing the inspection processes. These two procedures alone made it possible to reduce the time-critical reactor well dwell time to between three and four days in German nuclear power plants equipped with PWRs - roughly half the amount of time required during previous inspections. (author)