The Requirement
Sheffield Forgemasters was contracted by plant operator AXPO to investigate the origin of ultrasonic indications which were detected in the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) of Unit 1 of the Beznau nuclear power plant (KKB) in Switzerland.
As a result of the findings of the ultrasonic indications the reactor was taken offline for two years until it could be confirmed to be safe by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI).
The Beznau nuclear power plant is a Westinghouse designed Pressurised Water Reactor operated by the Swiss energy utility Axpo, located on an artificial island in the Aar river in Döttingen, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland. It has produced energy since September 1969 and is the world’s oldest nuclear power plant still in commercial operation.