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.
