PETTEN, HOLLAND, 19 February 2010 – This morning at 08:00 the High Flux Reactor in Petten was taken out of service and the first activities to repair the reactor’s cooling water pipework were started. The planned restart of the reactor is in the second half of August 2010.
The repair of the aluminium cooling water pipework, which is situated within concrete, is directed towards the renewal of a number of parts of the pipework. Local deformations due to corrosion were observed in this and in 2008 a stream of bubbles was discovered. For the repair, the part of the pipework concerned will be released by removing concrete, after which new pipework will be fitted by means of welding. After this, a corrosion-resistant layer will be applied to the pipework. Before the new pipework is once again cast into concrete, an extensive inspection and test programme will occur. The competent authorities will be present when these tests are assessed. During the repair work, the safety and health of all the employees involved will be the first consideration.
In recent months, NRG has put in maximum effort to limit the consequences of the HFR shutdown to a minimum. NRG is holding intensive discussions with government bodies, associated isotope producers and customers, in order to safeguard as far as possible the availability of medical isotopes for health care and nuclear research for energy supply.
During the repairs, NRG will publish a monthly newsletter in Dutch and English about the progress and activities. A special page has been set up on NRG’s website with background information and images of the repair project: www.nrg.eu/hfr-reparatie.