This is the first time that a metallisation project of this type has been carried out in the French nuclear industry”

The Surface Treatment Services Division, headed by Fernando Lázaro, successfully completed the metallisation project at the Civaux Nuclear Power Plant, France, with pioneering success.

The project, carried out between 26 March and 12 April 2018, was commissioned by EDF as a solution to the erosion and corrosion of nozzles in a moisture separator reheater (MSR). GDES carried out surface preparation work using abrasive sponge blasting, and metallisation of the bases of these four nozzles in the MSR. This method prevented further corrosion and a costly outage for repair work that had become inevitable due to thickness loss.

This metallisation project was notable for its unique approach. This is the first time that a metallisation project of this type has been carried out in the French nuclear industry. In its development GDES carried out a prior phase of studies and tests, creating a scale model and seeking type-approval for the system to be employed. Once the system had been approved, the project required suitable response and adaptation through the construction phase taking into account the long list of quality and safety requirements of the client. The area to be coated was an immense challenge due to the narrow space and the highly variable geometries. A significant challenge for our client and for our human and technical team, due to the limited space for manoeuvre and the requirement for manual treatment of the surface.

The main achievements on this project were the technical solution and the safety and quality of the work, adapting to the needs and difficulties of the project. The public recognition of our client, EDF, bore testament to this fact.