Babcock & Wilcox announced Thursday that a new robot it developed with INETEC received approvals allowing its use in reactor pressure vessel component inspections.
The qualifications followed a demonstration program through the Electric Power Research Institute to qualify the tool's use in accordance with federal regulations. The Archer robot designed by INETEC (the Institute for Nuclear Technology) can provide eddy-current and ultrasonic examination of reactor vessel closure head nozzles and J-groove welds. It can also perform J-groove weld and control rod drive mechanism outside surface repairs typically done by manual grinding. Remote operation allows operators to conduct the work as far as 650 feet away, according to B&W sales literature.
“The speed at which this robot performs enables us to reduce critical path inspection time while still providing a high quality service,” Joe Zwetolitz, B&W Nuclear Energy president, said in a release.