Westinghouse To Support Vattenfall In Dismantling Ringhals Reactors

Westinghouse Electric Company and Vattenfall (both ENS Corporate Members) are extending their long-standing nuclear energy partnership into decommissioning activities through a new agreement.

As part of the arrangement, Westinghouse will segment and dispose of the reactor internals and pressure vessels at Ringhals 1, a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), and Ringhals 2, a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR).

Decommissioning of these two units will begin next year and reach the stage of executing this project by April 2023.

The two reactors were built by Westinghouse and have delivered carbon-free energy to Sweden and northern Europe for more than four decades.

Westinghouse engineers will start the dismantling process digitally with 3D modeling of all the cutting and packaging that will be performed onsite.

For the reactor internals, they will use mechanical underwater remote-controlled equipment to ensure the highest degree of safety and efficiency.

For the reactor pressure vessels, dry thermal cutting technologies will be used for most of the parts.

Read the full Westinghouse Press Release.