Cavitation Treatment is a Special Technology for Protecting the Reactor Pressure Vessel

Framatome has been awarded a contract to implement a special technology to protect the reactor pressure vessel at four U.S. nuclear power plants. The cavitation treatment process extends the life of the reactor pressure vessel, protecting it from corrosion.

Cavitation treatment is a solution to reduce surface contamination, which can prevent corrosion cracks without damaging any components. Unlike other methods of surface protection, cavitation treatment allows implementing the process of strengthening without removing or modifying the thermal hoses.

This project will be the seventh Framatome development to strengthen the reactor pressure vessel bottom since 2016. Preventive bottom reinforcement projects allow nuclear power plants to be shut down for shorter terms compared to replacement or repair.

According to Framatome