Materion supplies beryllium for retrofit of Belgium’s nuclear test reactor
October 13, 2016
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Materion Corp., Mayfield Heights, Ohio, reports that beryllium components supplied by Materion Performance Alloys and Composites are helping Belgium's BR2 nuclear test reactor to continue operation and contribute to the world's supply of radiopharmaceuticals. The BR2 reactor plays an important role in producing materials for nuclear medicine and accounts for nearly one quarter of the world's production of radiopharmaceuticals used for medical nuclear imaging.
Materion's beryllium rods and reflectors were needed to refurbish critical components in Belgium's BR2 nuclear test reactor. These components are used in many test reactors because beryllium, with its low atomic number and weight, is the most efficient neutron donor of any metallic element. In order to function, nuclear reactors need a concentration of neutrons in the core. These neutrons are created by the uranium in the nuclear fuel, but at an energy not useful for the reactor. Beryllium is capable of reducing the neutron energy and multiplying the neutrons so the compact reactor core keeps running. These unique properties make beryllium the material of choice for nuclear test components at the heart of research reactors.
In 2013, operators of Belgium's nuclear research center (SCK-CEN), asked Materion to facilitate the production and fabrication of beryllium irradiation channels required for the 55-year-old reactor's retrofit project. Launched in 2014, the successful two-year project was completed on June 1, 2016, as the reactor became fully operational once again.
"BR2 is a major supplier of radioisotopes, and the global medical community relies heavily on its production to diagnose and treat cancer as well as many other medical conditions," said W. Glenn Maxwell, President, Materion Performance Alloys and Composites. "It was essential for us to produce high quality materials and deliver them on time to SCK-CEN so they could keep supply available to meet demand."
The photo shows beryllium reflector rods made by Materion shining through the center of the partly assembled mock-up for the BR2 matrix refurbishment.
Beyond SCK-CEN, Materion supplies a number of nuclear test reactors, for both materials research and medical isotope production. New applications, refurbishments, and upgrades to other reactors are scheduled over this year and into 2017, including the RP-10 Reactor in Peru.
http://www.Materion.com
Materion Corp., Mayfield Heights, Ohio, reports that beryllium components supplied by Materion Performance Alloys and Composites are helping Belgium’s BR2 nuclear test reactor to continue operation and contribute to the world’s supply of radiopharmaceuticals.
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CERN heat treating furnace to process niobium-tin superconducting magnets
August 24, 2016
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The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, announces that it has received a 105-foot-long furnace for the heat treatment of niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) superconducting coils that will be installed in the Future Circular Collider. The furnace completes the equipment required for the production of superconducting coils, which are needed for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) upgrade and future circular colliders.
Superconducting accelerator magnets are key for reaching higher energies and luminosities in particle accelerators.
The HL-LHC upgrade aims for magnetic fields up to 11 Tesla for the dipole magnets, while the Future Circular Collider study explores using magnets with a field of 16 Tesla, almost double the 8.3 Tesla of the superconducting magnets used in the LHC.
To reach these goals new superconducting materials are needed.
"Nb3Sn has been chosen for the next generation of superconducting magnets," says Friedrich Lackner, a project engineer who supervises the coil production for HL-LHC. "The field achieved with this material can reach up to 16 Tesla. The production of such coils is complex, as we must first wind the coils and then carry out the heat treatment that allows the tin and niobium to react and convert to the superconducting Nb3Sn compound."
After the material has undergone this heat treatment, it becomes very brittle, which is why this process is implemented after the winding process—the opposite to magnets in the LHC.
Called GL010000, the furnace will allow the heat treatment of coils up to 36 feet long, and can reach temperatures up to 1650°F, providing a sufficient margin for future challenges.
This treatment involves a two-week process during which the coils are raised to different temperature plateaus up to 1230°F. A special feature is that it is able to raise the coils to such high temperatures completely uniformly throughout the entire furnace, making sure one part does not heat more or less than another.
http://cds.cern.ch/record/2203181
The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, announces that it has received a 105-foot-long furnace for the heat treatment of niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) superconducting coils that will be installed in the Future Circular Collider.
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H.C. Starck joins WPI Center for Heat Treating Excellence
April 13, 2016
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H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., announces that it has joined the team at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Center for Heat Treating Excellence, an alliance between the industrial sector and university researchers that addresses short- and long-term needs in the heat treating and thermal processing industry. Membership in CHTE is unique because members have a voice in selecting quality research projects that help them solve today's business challenges globally.
With close to 100 years of metallurgy experience in the technology metals molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, and tungsten, H.C. Starck has a wealth of research, technical knowledge, and experience to share.
"With our commitment to quality and technological expertise, we work side by side with our customers to ensure they have the highest quality product," says Dmitry Shashkov, Member of H.C. Starck's Executive Board and Head of the Fabricated Products Division. "We are also rapidly growing our business to match the demands of the global marketplace, working with OEM and aftermarket furnace manufacturers on their new designs. To match this growth, H.C. Starck has made significant investments in our fabrication capabilities, and we are leading the development of new materials for high-temperature applications to improve cost and performance for our customers."
H.C. Starck supplies fabricated products to OEMs, end-users, and aftermarket furnace manufacturers for heat treating medical, aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, nuclear fuel, crystal growth, and waste treatment products.
www.hcstarck.com
H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., announces that it has joined the team at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Center for Heat Treating Excellence, an alliance between the industrial sector and university researchers that addresses short- and long-term needs in the heat treating and thermal processing industry.
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Solar Atmospheres builds home for world’s largest vacuum furnace
February 3, 2016
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Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, Hermitage, announces that the construction project to house the largest commercial vacuum furnace in the world is progressing on time. Aided by an unseasonably warm winter, the new 18,000 square foot building was fully enclosed by the end of January, within a short period of 2½ months from breaking ground.
Once the 20-ton crane is installed and the floor is poured, the building will be ready to accept delivery of the massive chambers in mid-February from Youngberg Industries located in Belvidere, Illinois. Due to the magnitude of the project, the vacuum furnace will be cooperatively built on site by both Solar Manufacturing and Solar Atmospheres of Western PA employees.
According to Bob Hill, President of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, "We are all anxiously waiting to roll up our sleeves to build this one of a kind furnace. We continue to accept deliveries of all of the major components from our sister company Solar Manufacturing. Our warehouse next door is filling up fast with these critical items. It will be extremely exciting to assemble and ultimately place into production this one of a kind vacuum furnace which is primarily earmarked to serve the needs of the aerospace and nuclear markets around the world."
www.Solaratm.com
Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, Hermitage, announces that the construction project to house the largest commercial vacuum furnace in the world is progressing on time.
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Harper to supply Australia with thermal processing system for nuclear waste
February 2, 2016
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Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y, has been awarded a contract to supply a hot cell Rotary thermal processing system to treat waste from nuclear medicine production at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Synroc technology has been developed to provide a safe, secure matrix for the immobilization and final disposal of radioactive waste.
It will be utilized to encase radioactive wastes from the production of the radioisotope Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the isotope used for 80% of nuclear medicine procedures. This includes the diagnosis of cancers, heart disease, and muscular and skeletal conditions.
The Rotary thermal processing system includes an advanced heating element design for increased robustness and ease of remote operation, and an enhanced modular design of components for ease of remote maintenance in a hot cell.
"In addition to waste from nuclear medicine production, we foresee that this new technology can also benefit other applications in the future, such as processing spent fuel waste from other international power generating nuclear reactors," commented Dr. Prasad Apte, Director of Technology at Harper International.
Along with waste remediation, Harper offers technology solutions such as Pusher and Rotary furnaces for nuclear materials processing applications, including sintering UO2 pellets for reactor fuel rods, oxidation of UO2 pellets, swarf, and powder to U3O8, denitration of uranyl nitrate, and hydrofluorination of UO2 pellets.
ANSTO is one of Australia's largest public research organizations and is the center of Australia's nuclear science capabilities and expertise - operating the nation's only nuclear reactor, OPAL. Australian Mo-99 is produced with low enriched uranium (LEU) target plates in the LEU fueled OPAL reactor, leading the global push toward nuclear nonproliferation.
www.harperintl.com
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y, has been awarded a contract to supply a hot cell Rotary thermal processing system to treat waste from nuclear medicine production at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
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Harper awarded contract for nuclear material processing equipment
January 26, 2016
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Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., was recently awarded a contract for a pusher furnace line with Kepco Nuclear Fuel (KNF), which is currently producing nuclear fuel for its pressurized heavy water reactors.
Over the past two years, Harper's Applications, Engineering, & Technology Groups have carefully developed an advanced heating system for KNF's pressurized heavy water reactors.
With this sixth furnace for KNF and all furnace iterations, Harper continuously aims to advance equipment performance. In addition to the advanced heating element that allows for higher temperature operation, an enhanced furnace shell cooling design has been developed, and both yield longer uniform operational life cycles. Additionally, advances have been made in exit water cooling design, insulation designs that reduce ambient heat release, and energy usage.
Harper is compliant with nuclear-specific control systems for mandated upgrades for increased security and reliability.
"Harper's global leadership in nuclear fuel production system technology continues to be validated by clients, who place their trust in our staff to conceive and implement the world's most advanced, efficient and reliable sintering thermal processing systems," commented Tom O'Connor, Sales Manager at Harper International. "Further, Harper is pleased to partner with KNF on this project which will play a role in providing reliable energy without greenhouse gas emissions."
In addition to nuclear material processing, Harper is a market leader in advanced Pusher systems for a wide range of materials, including metal oxides, powders, technical ceramics and energy device materials. Learn more about Harper Pusher furnaces here.
KNF is a group company of Kepco (Korea Electric Power Corporation) founded in 1982. KNF provides nuclear fuel, equipment and related services to all nuclear power plants in Korea and customers in the global nuclear energy industry.
www.harperintl.com
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., was recently awarded a contract for a pusher furnace line with Kepco Nuclear Fuel, which is currently producing nuclear fuel for its pressurized heavy water reactors.
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Solar Atmospheres breaks ground to house 48-foot vacuum furnace
November 17, 2015
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Solar Atmospheres of Western Pa., Hermitage, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a facility to house its newest addition, a 48-ft long vacuum furnace with a diameter of 6.5 ft. and a load capacity up to 150,000 lb. In the beginning of the new year, the behemoth furnace will be assembled within the newly constructed 18,000 sq. ft. building. The furnace temperature will be uniform to within +/- 10°F (per AMS 2750 E) between the production temperature ranges of 300 and 2250°F with a maximum operating temperature of 2400°F. Rapid vacuum pump down to the low 10-6 Torr range will be attained by utilizing three Edwards booster pumps, three Stokes roughing pumps, and three 35-in. Varian diffusion pumps. Fast and uniform cooling will be achieved by three 300 HP variable speed drive blower motors. Finally, a unique insulation pack will be installed into both load cars, to help reduce normal atmospheric (dew point) contamination.
This $10 million dollar plus project will complement the other large U.S. patented dual bottom load car vacuum furnaces (one 36 ft. vacuum furnace, three 24 ft. vacuum furnaces, and one 12 ft. vacuum furnace) that are currently in production, along with ten mid-size vacuum furnaces.
According to Bob Hill, President of Solar Atmospheres of Western Pa., "It is truly hard to believe that only 15 years ago we bought an empty 16,000 square foot building with a vision to expand Solar's customer base into western Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio. After three building expansions, extensive investment, and hiring 50 extremely talented and dedicated employees, Solar will soon be operating within an 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. The markets served will continue to be primarily quality aerospace and nuclear vacuum heat treating and brazing of large components."
www.solaratm.com
Solar Atmospheres of Western Pa., Hermitage, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a facility to house its newest addition, a 48-ft long vacuum furnace with a diameter of 6.5 ft. and a load capacity up to 150,000 pounds.
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White House Energy Summit focuses on advancing technology safety and low-cost energy
November 12, 2015
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Speaking at the White House Summit on Nuclear Energy on November 6, physicist Christina Back of General Atomics (GA), San Diego, highlighted the urgency of developing next-generation fast-gas reactors with new materials to enhance safety and ensure energy security.
As GA's Director of Nuclear Technologies and Materials, Back specializes in developing new heat-resistant ceramics to enable delivery of cost-competitive clean energy with unprecedented safety via the innovative gas-cooled reactor, the Energy Multiplier Module or EM2.
She participated as one of five expert panelists at a forum spotlighting the Obama Administration's commitment to advanced nuclear energy and maintaining U.S. technology leadership in the industry. Back emphasized during her remarks that nuclear energy is the dominant energy source that is sustainable, compatible with 21st century power grids and free of greenhouse gases.
Panelists featured nuclear energy industry leaders including John Kotek, Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy. The invited audience included leaders in academia, government, labor, environmental organizations, the nuclear industry, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and the investment community.
The panel focused on innovations in nuclear energy, with Back explaining that the design of EM2 draws on GA's 60 years of experience in designing and building safe reactors and aims to solve four big challenges: safety, waste, economics, and nonproliferation.
"Nuclear energy is important for the security of our country," says Back, noting that to turn new technology innovation into clean-energy reality, "We need investment and support from the DOE and Congress and the nation to understand what the challenges are, but also to understand what the huge payoff and benefits are for our country."
EM2 is a gas-cooled fast reactor designed to deliver low-cost nuclear energy by using a high-efficiency system, a "convert-and-burn" fuel cycle able to produce 265 megawatts-electric, in a compact modular design. It incorporates industry-leading safety and nonproliferation features and can run on nuclear waste.
The White House Summit on Nuclear Energy was billed by officials as a forum for highlighting the Administration's commitment to nuclear energy as a clean energy solution and "for maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear energy to realize economic competitiveness, national security and nonproliferation objectives."
GA continues to be a leader in fission and fusion focused on a wide range of energy solutions. The DIII-D National Fusion Facility, operated by GA for the U.S. Department of Energy, is the largest magnetic fusion device in the nation and one of the largest in the world. GA is also a leading manufacturer of precision technology for inertial confinement fusion.
Image caption — EM2 waste-to-energy fast-gas reactor being developed by General Atomics with unprecedented safety innovations.
Speaking at the White House Summit on Nuclear Energy physicist Christina Back of General Atomics highlighted the urgency of developing next-generation fast-gas reactors with new materials to enhance safety and ensure energy security.
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Plansee’s new cold rolling mill produces thin moly sheets up to 1000 mm wide
July 8, 2015
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Plansee, Austria, recently invested in an ultramodern cold rolling mill to produce thin and medium-thickness molybdenum sheets up to 1000 mm wide, and to ensure increased capacity. Plansee also operates the world's largest hot rolling mill for molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and niobium sheets. With a rolling force of 50,000 kilonewtons, this produces sheets up to 2000 mm wide and several meters long.
Whether smooth or etched, for punching or in deep-drawing quality, a wide range of sheets is now available at a reduced price. Plansee also makes rods, wire, and ribbon of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and niobium. These materials withstand high temperatures, have long service lives, and retain their shape even when exposed to frequent changes of temperature. Aside from semi-finished products, Plansee also develops and manufactures custom components from refractory metals.
The Plansee High Performance Materials division has expertise in the field of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, and chromium components. Alloys and composite materials from Plansee are in electronics, coating technology, and high-temperature furnaces, wherever traditional materials are stretched beyond their limits.
www.plansee.com
Plansee, Austria, recently invested in an ultramodern cold rolling mill to produce thin and medium-thickness molybdenum sheets up to 1000 mm wide, and to ensure increased capacity.
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IHEA announces 2013-2014 board and officers
December 4, 2013
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The Industrial Heating Equipment Association, Taylor Mill, Ky., recently announced its 2013-14 Board of Directors and Officers. Serving as president (shown in the photo) is Tim Lee of Maxon, a division of Honeywell. Bob Green of Bloom Engineering was named IHEA Vice-President, and B.J. Bernard of Surface Combustion was elected Treasurer. Outgoing president Mike Shay of Elster Kromschröder, assumes the role of Past President.
IHEA is very pleased to re-elect Jay Cherry, Wellman Furnaces, and Doug Glenn, BNP Media, each to serve another three-year term. Continuing their service on the Board of Directors for 2013-2014 are Keith Boeckenhauer, Seco/Warwick; David Bovenizer, Selas Heat Technology Co.; Mike Chapman, Vulcan Catalytic Systems; Daniel Llaguno, Nutec Bickley; John Podach, Fostoria Process Equip. - a Division of TPI; John Searle, Eclipse, Inc.; and John Stanley, Karl Dungs, Inc.
IHEA's new president Tim Lee states, "It is an honor and privilege to serve as President of the Industrial Heating Equipment Association's Board of Directors, which consists of so many highly respected leaders in our industry. I believe the ongoing quality and expertise of our board members positions IHEA for continued success and future growth potential. I look forward to continuing on the path carved by my predecessors which has established IHEA as the entity where all manufacturers of process heating equipment and associated service providers work together for the benefit of the industry. IHEA continues to follow the bold mission statement of 'Driving Members Success by Providing the Knowledge Base and Authoritative Voice for Industrial Process Heating Worldwide.' We look forward to another successful year of providing valuable benefits and services to our industry."
www.ihea.org
The Industrial Heating Equipment Association, Taylor Mill, Ky., recently announced its 2013-14 Board of Directors and Officers. Serving as president (shown in the photo) is Tim Lee of Maxon, a division of Honeywell. Bob Green of Bloom Engineering was named IHEA Vice-President, and B.J. Bernard of Surface Combustion was elected Treasurer. Outgoing president Mike Shay of Elster Kromschröder, assumes the role of Past President.
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