Seminar: Non-Destructive Evaluation Techniques for Detecting and Isolating Fuel Defects in Light Water Reactors

Robert Borland, First Energy

All dates for this event occur in the past.

E141 Scott Lab
E141 Scott Lab
201 W. 19th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
United States

The nuclear power industry has been dealing with fuel defects (perforations in fuel cladding) since the dawn of commercial nuclear power.  In recent years, the industry has made significant strides in identifying the causes of fuel defects and eliminating them, so much so that the presence of a fuel defect in a reactor core is now the exception rather than the norm.  However, industry standard practice has long been that a utility will never knowingly load a defective fuel rod into a reactor core.  For new fuel rods, the onus is on the manufacturer to ensure that a quality product is delivered to the plant.  However, once irradiated, the ability to detect, locate, and isolate fuel defects (remove them from the reactor core) is crucial to meeting this goal.  This presentation will discuss the various techniques used in the industry to perform these functions, including detection in an operating reactor, isolating the defect once the fuel assembly is discharged from the reactor core, and finally determining the precise location and cause of the fuel defect.

About the Speaker

Robb Borland is Director of Nuclear Fuel & Analysis for the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC).  Robb’s organization is responsible for all aspects of nuclear fuel management for the Beaver Valley, Davis-Besse, and Perry nuclear power plants, including nuclear fuel procurement, fuel and core design, reactor physics support calculations, and spent fuel management.  Robb joined the Davis-Besse plant staff in 1985 and worked in various capacities at the plant.  In 2000, he formed FENOC’s first fleet-wide fuel and core design organization, and moved to the corporate offices in Akron in 2003.  Robb was promoted to Manager of Fleet Fuel Management in 2004, and Director of Nuclear Fuel & Analysis in 2014.  Prior to 1985, Robb was a core design engineer for Consumers Power Company in Michigan, working on the Big Rock Point, Palisades, and Midland plants.  Robb has a BS and MS in nuclear engineering from Iowa State University, is a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio, and is a member of the American Nuclear Society.  Robb lives with his wife Jeannie in Kent, Ohio, and both are avid competitive curlers.

Hosted by Professor Marat Khafizov