IMI has supplied 31 nuclear-certified Maxseal solenoid valves to a nuclear power plant in Argentina, replacing obsolete equipment and supporting the facility’s continued safe operation. The replacement addresses a challenge facing nuclear power plants built before 1990. These older facilities account for around two-thirds of the world’s reactor fleet, and many operators are working to extend their service lives while replacing components that are no longer manufactured, supported or qualified under current nuclear industry standards.
At the Argentine plant, the existing Herion valve range had reached the point where replacement was required. IMI engineers worked with the plant’s team to develop an alternative based on the company’s Maxseal technology. The design included updates to polymeric and elastomeric materials to meet radiation resistance requirements for nuclear applications.
The replacement valves underwent qualification testing to demonstrate their ability to withstand seismic events, vibration, radiation ageing and loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCA). These tests addressed operating conditions and potential incidents relevant to nuclear plant safety.
The Maxseal nuclear range also holds certifications for nuclear applications under IEC/IEEE 60780-323:2016, IEEE 382:2019 and IEC/IEEE 60980-344:2020. The valves have additional industrial certifications, including ATEX and IECEx, for use in hazardous areas.
Marc Norris, Technical Director, Process Automation at IMI, said the challenges faced by the Argentine plant were common across the nuclear industry, where operators are seeking to extend reactor lifetimes while replacing obsolete equipment with products that meet modern safety requirements.
Mr Norris said IMI was able to draw on the existing Maxseal technology platform’s performance in demanding operating environments. Existing qualification evidence, field experience and engineering knowledge helped the company develop a long-term replacement for the discontinued valves.
The project highlights the importance of qualifying replacement components for use in ageing nuclear facilities. Equipment upgrades must account for the operating conditions of the plant as well as the safety and regulatory requirements that apply to nuclear systems.
IMI has a long history of supplying equipment to the nuclear sector. The company has provided valves for all current and planned European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) projects, including the Sizewell C nuclear power station under development in the United Kingdom. As nuclear operators continue to maintain older plants and prepare new facilities, the replacement of obsolete components with qualified equipment remains an important part of plant maintenance and long-term operation.
