FORGING FOR THE NUCLEAR SECTOR

The manufacturing of forging products for the nuclear sector is one of the areas in which Forge Fedriga has extensive experience. Over the years, this allowed big international companies to choose the Company as a partner and STRATEGIC supplier of critical-level components (Safety Level 1)

The range of forged products for the nuclear industry that can be manufactured from special steels is vast, ranging from various components for pumps, valve blocks, and piping used in the reactors. Among the products with medium and low reactivity are prismatic steel containers, transportation casks for spent fuel and nuclear fuel, and storage casks for HLR high-level waste. Casks are containers that can be used to transport nuclear fuel thanks to their state-of-the-art technology.

H2 What does “nuclear sector” mean?

The nuclear sector is an industrial sector focused on producing nuclear energy. This is achieved in industrial plants known as nuclear power plants, where nuclear energy is converted into electricity and heat. Nuclear power plants have nuclear reactors where using the energy released by nuclear reactions heats up a transfer fluid.
It is in the reactors that nuclear fission reactions occur. The fuel used usually consists of plutonium, uranium oxides, and carbides. The fuel can sometimes be alloyed with steel, aluminum, or zirconium.

H2: The importance of steel in the nuclear sector

Forged products for the nuclear sector represent one of the steel applications in this industry. Nuclear industries, as one can easily guess, require specific security and safety care involving ad hoc materials. This is the case, for example, with special steels. Special steels in the nuclear sector can be used to produce safety valve components and pumps, supports, piping, casks, etc.

All structures, systems, and components critical for the security and safety of nuclear plants must be designed, manufactured, and tested to quality standards adequate to the importance of the safety functions. There are four safety classes based on the severity of the consequences deriving from potential accidents caused by component failure or manufacturing defects.

• safety class 1: the primary circuit components, such as small-diameter pipes and accessories connected directly to the nuclear reactor;
• safety class 2: some primary circuit components not classified as class 1, such as the valves and components part of the emergency cooling system and steam condenser;
• safety class 3: the cooling, ventilation, and radiation protection system components;
• safety class 4: the components and parts not directly involved in the nuclear process that do not fall under the previous three classes but still need to ensure safety standards. For example, firefighting and electrical system components.

The business of forged components for the nuclear sector is one that most industry insiders and experts predict will experience considerable growth over the next two to three decades.

H2 The safety culture in the supply chain of suppliers for forged products for the nuclear industry.

A fundamental role is undoubtedly that of nuclear safety in the supply chain of suppliers, including suppliers of forged components for the nuclear industry. This means, among other things, that worker health and safety goals must be pursued with the same commitment and attention required to achieve management and financial goals. It is a matter of giving rise to a new, safety-focused mindset that combines the need to pander to customers’ demands for quality with the need to respect the environment.

Forge Fedriga manufactures forged steel components for nuclear plants; our Company holds HAF 604 certification for the Chinese nuclear industry for safety level 1 products. The HAF 604 certification is required to register products related to nuclear plant safety to import them into China legally. NNSA, the Nuclear Safety Administration of China, performs this certification, which is the authority responsible for registering nuclear plant parts that are produced. The purpose is to supervise the nuclear safety of machinery and equipment effectively.

In addition, Forge Fedriga is certified by the major companies in the nuclear sector as a Qualified Material Organization (QMO) in accordance with ASME III and manufactures according to the standards set by Asme III and RCC-M.

The reference standard is 19443: this standard covers the specific requirements to be met by external organizations that make available services or products for nuclear safety in the nuclear energy sector. Companies certified according to ISO 19443, among other things, show that they can consistently provide services and products that comply with laws and customer requirements.

If you would like to learn more about Forge Fedriga’s solutions for steel forging for the nuclear sector, please contact us: you will find all the information you are looking for.

NUCLEAR

FLAMANVILLE 3 (France)

TIHANGE (Belgium)

OLKILUOTO 1-2-3 (Finland)

LOVIISA (Finland)

WOLF CREEK (USA)

VANDELLOS (Spain)

OSKARSHAMN 2 (Sweden)

FORSMARK (Sweden)

LING AO (China)

YANGJIANG (China)

FUQING (China)

LIAO NING (China)

FUJIAN (China)

TIANWAN (China)

QINSHAN (China)

ZHANGZHOU (China)

TAISHAN (China)

SHIDAOWAN (China)

SANMEN (China)

HONGYANHE (China)

CHANGJIANG (China)

SHIN-ULCHIN (South Korea)

HANUL (South Korea)

FANGCHENGGANG (China)

HINKLEY POINT (UK)