EnergySolutions has successfully completed the first large commercial reactor vessel segmentation in the United States.

ZionSolutions, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EnergySolutions, completed the segmentation of the Unit 2 Reactor Vessel in late June. The cutting process started on May 26, 2015, with the first of 17 segments of the Reactor Vessel cut with an oxy-propone torch connected to a robotic fixture external to the vessel. The final cut was completed on June 26, 2015.

"A first-of-its-kind application for the U.S. nuclear industry requiring specialized rigging and lifting equipment were utilized safely without incident," said John Sauger, Executive Vice President for ZionSolutions. "Extensive design, analysis, mockup testing and planning resulted in a fast cutting sequence with no release of radiation to the environment," added Sauger.

"We are very pleased to have completed three major milestones of the Zion Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Project in 2015, including the spent fuel transfer, B&C waste removal and vessel segmentation," said David Lockwood, CEO and President of EnergySolutions. "These major milestones are a complement to our world-class workforce."

Tags: EnergySolutions