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Mechanical Engineering inspection

  • Site: Hartlepool
  • IR number: 21-091
  • Date: October 2021
  • LC numbers: 30

Executive summary

Purpose of Intervention

This mechanical engineering intervention was undertaken to gather evidence in support of Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) permissioning decision to issue a consent under Licence Condition (LC) 30: Periodic Shutdown for Start-up of Hartlepool Reactor 1 (R1).

Interventions Carried Out by ONR

LC 30, paragraph (1) states that for the purposes of enabling Examination, Inspection, Maintenance and Testing (EIMT) work, a Nuclear Site licensee shall shut down plant in accordance with requirements set out in the plant Maintenance Schedule (MS) established under LC 28: EIMT.  The scope and regulatory objectives of this mechanical engineering intervention were to determine whether:

  • periodic shutdown EIMT requirements for mechanical systems inspected complied with Station’s periodic shutdown MS requirements;
  • EIMT work was carried out by Suitably Qualified and Experienced Persons with the appropriate level of supervision and quality standards commensurate with safety significance of systems;
  • any safety issues identified by EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited (NGL) during R1 2021 periodic shutdown work were identified to ONR and supported with suitable justification to allow a regulatory permissioning decision to be reached regarding start-up of R1.

Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate

No system-based intervention was undertaken, this section is not applicable.

Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made

In carrying out this mechanical engineering intervention, the following mechanical aspects of systems identified below were targeted in evaluating NGL’s Hartlepool Power Station compliance with requirements of LC 30(1), for its R1’s 2021 periodic shutdown:

  • Gas Circulator Refurbishment and Installation,
  • Refurbishment of R1 reactor vessel CO2 Safety Relief Valves,
  • Nitrogen Secondary Hold Down System Maintenance,
  • Mechanical Evaluation of Control Rods.

Based on my inspection findings I consider Hartlepool Power Station has complied with its periodic shutdown MS requirements for R1 in respect to mechanical engineering aspects of systems inspected.

I consider the maintenance work I inspected was carried out in line with Station’s procedures by SQEP personnel, with the appropriate level of supervision and compliance with quality requirements.

I did not identify any matters that I consider would challenge start-up of R1 or its safe operation until its next periodic shutdown in October 2024.

Conclusion of Intervention

I support ONR’s permissioning decision to give consent for the start-up of Hartlepool Power Station’s R1 following completion of work set out in MS for its 2021 periodic shutdown.