Human Factors Engineering Aspects of Instrumentation and Control System Design INTRODUCTION The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published an Energy Series document entitled “Human Factors Engineering Aspects of Instrumentation and Control System Design” (NR-T-2.12). The document was written with the aim of considering different aspects of Human Factors Engineering (HFE) in the design of … Read more
Nuclear power plants are designed to operate for a nominal design period of some 40 years, which may be extended in response to a favourable technical assessment by the regulatory authority of each individual country. For example, in the United States, the vast majority of the plants are licensed to operate for 60 years and … Read more
The companies ANAV and CNAT, the operators of the Ascó-Vandellós II and Almaraz-Trillo nuclear power plants respectively, have selected Tecnatom to undertake training, inspection and testing services from now until the end of the operating lifetime of these facilities. With the signing of the corresponding framework contracts, Tecnatom consolidates the rendering of these services for … Read more
What are HVAC systems? HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems are designed with a dual purpose: on the one hand they filter particles from the air in a given enclosed area and, on the other, they are able to achieve selected conditions of pressure, temperature and humidity, i.e., they produce a sensation of suitable … Read more
Have you heard of ITER? ITER is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by mankind, not only because it constitutes a challenge in terms of complexity and cost, but also because it involves the coordination of more than 35 countries across the world. This said, what is it about? The aim of … Read more
Visual inspection consists of observing the external or accessible surfaces of parts, components or materials, either with the naked eye or using optical instruments. It is the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technique par excellence and its physical agent – light – does not cause any damage to the vast majority of materials. Changes in the properties … Read more
As of 2020 there are more than 100 nuclear power plants in the world whose reactors have been in operation for more than 40 years. It is now necessary to check that the vessel materials, subjected to high levels of irradiation and temperatures for several decades, have not become degraded and that they maintain their … Read more
The company Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A. (NASA), the owner of Atucha nuclear power plant, has awarded Tecnatom a new contract for the supply of valves and spares. This is the second contract for the supply of Walthon Weir Pacific components to the Argentinean nuclear programme. This order arises in the wake of an in-depth review of … Read more
As is described in our article “Ultrasonics. Beyond the coupling medium” , dry inspection makes it possible to address the evaluation of components under extreme working conditions, the inspection of complex geometry elements, the reduction of surface contamination on parts and the avoidance of the need to install water circuits in productive machines, also facilitating … Read more
Recent simulation tools allow us to anticipate and increase our knowledge of responses to complex scenarios. In the field of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), simulation takes on special importance through its use in various critical areas such as the aeronautical, nuclear, industrial, healthcare and military sectors, where the levels of safety and quality involved require particularly … Read more
