Robot operated systems for in-service inspection of components in VVER nuclear power plants

The demands for shorter components inspection times in nuclear power plants, along with the need to reduce the dose absorbed by the personnel participating in in-service inspections and to examine the most critical components, require the development of new robot-operated equipments. The equipments here presented have been developed and validated specifically for Russian-designed WER Plants. They have been qualified on WER mock-ups and later applied on field. The components suitable of being inspected with these systems are vessels, piping, studs and nuts. (Author)