Seeing more, repairing smarter: How advanced NDE and repair technologies are changing nuclear asset

[Marlin]

Seeing more, repairing smarter: How advanced NDE and repair technologies are changing nuclear asset management

https://www.ans.org/news/article-8411/seeing-more-repairing-smarter-how-advanced-nde-and-repair-technologies-are-changing-nuclear-asset-management/

[Core Content]

Vattenfall Nuclear deployed an artificial intelligence tool at Sweden's Ringhals plant to analyze reactor vessel inspection data. The software automatically filters irrelevant signals from ultrasonic testing results. This process reduces analyst review workloads by up to ninety-five percent during refueling outages.

Nuclear utilities generate large volumes of examination data that require extensive manual review. Adopting automated analysis and advanced testing techniques helps operators manage aging assets more efficiently. These technologies streamline outage execution while maintaining rigorous safety and regulatory standards for structural components.

A single ultrasonic inspection of reactor vessel upper head penetrations can generate more than 7 kilometers of inspection data. Historically, analysts have spent days—even weeks—reviewing those results to identify the few indications that might require further evaluation. In 2025, Vattenfall Nuclear in Sweden demonstrated a different approach. By...

A user participates in a demo of the HOLO FAC software, a virtual reality tool that projects a digital grid onto piping to support flow-accelerated corrosion inspections. By eliminating the need to physically mark components and recording grid locations for future use, the technology can reduce inspection time while improving consistency and repeatability. (Photos: EPRI)

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/article-8411/seeing-more-repairing-smarter-how-advanced-nde-and-repair-technologies-are-changing-nuclear-asset-management/