Maintaining operational safety is the No.1 priority at the 8 stations forming EDF Energy’s UK reactor fleet. Structural graphite fuel bricks form cylindrical channels in the reactor core into which fuel rods are inserted. Internal inspection of these channels is a critical part of the nuclear safety regime and is achieved by inserting a camera inside the fuel channels.
Amnitec’s UFBX hose forms a key part of this safety inspection system. A 47m long UFBX hose serves as an umbilical with a three-fold purpose;
1) as the mechanical flexible link to lower the inspection camera into the core,
2) as a conduit to contain and protect the 55-core camera cable and
3) as a hose to convey gaseous nitrogen to cool the cable and camera.
During the manufacturing and testing phase, the hose was subjected to a proof end-load of ¾ of a tonne, many times greater than would be experienced by the hose during the most extreme operating cycle. Amnitec recently worked with EDF’s engineers to replace another Amnitec UFBX hose that was approaching its planned retirement after 25 years of trouble-free service.
