Nuclear Division FME
Nuclear power plants in the United States adhere to scheduled routine maintenance for their nuclear reactors. They conduct planned shutdowns, known as outages, every 12-18 months during the Fall or Spring seasons. During these maintenance periods, Foreign Material Exclusion (FME) programs are employed to prevent debris infiltration and foreign objects into critical components. Preventing foreign material intrusion in nuclear power plants is crucial. EDMs are used to create holes in pipes within nuclear power plants, allowing proper ventilation, relieving gas accumulation, and preventing an interruption of water flow through the pipes.
Advanced EDM Services for Foreign Material Exclusion in Nuclear Power Plants
Traditional nuclear processes use power drill hole saws to create holes, which must be subsequently vacuumed to remove burrs and metal debris that can harm nuclear fuel rods. In contrast, McWilliams' one-of-a-kind portable nuclear EDMs provide a clean, burr-free solution that delivers precise drilling with efficient, water-based cleanup. McWilliams' nuclear EDMs are portable, compact, and unique, providing efficient and compliant nuclear division machining services in accordance with FME nuclear programs.
FME Nuclear Machining Applications & Benefits
McWilliams nuclear EDMs are used in diesel rooms, air systems, feed water systems, pump & valve rooms, reactor coolants, ECCS systems, containment, and many other locations in various nuclear power plants nationwide. Benefits of our FME nuclear EDMs include:- Burr-free holes without foreign material (FME)
- Features small & lightweight heads, power supplies, pumps, and other components, allowing the machines to be transported by hand and used anywhere in a nuclear power plant
- Creates both vertical or horizontal (FME) holes, or anywhere in between
- Can be used in Cold Taps, Wet Taps, or Hot Taps
- Uses 120VAC single phase 25-amp single phase power available in a Nuclear Power Plant
Nuclear Foreign Material Exclusion EDM Process & Specifications
Our state-of-the-art FME nuclear EDM can create burr-free holes ranging from 0.25 to 3.8 inches in diameter by vaporizing a hole through the pipe wall using a copper, brass, or graphite electrode. During the EDM process, deionized water flushes out the vaporized particles. Our system ensures the particles are captured by a catch basin connected to Tygon hosing that flows into a local floor drain. Our EDM machining process is efficient and environmentally friendly, providing superior service for nuclear power plants.Nuclear Division EDM Services & Routine Maintenance for Nationwide FME Customers
Launched in 2008, McWilliams’ Nuclear Division is dedicated to providing EDM machining services to nuclear power plants nationwide. We perform contracted work for USA utility companies at nuclear power plants throughout the United States, including:- Florida Power & Light
- Turkey Point (Homestead, FL) - 5 outages
- Point Beach (Two Rivers, WI) - 2 outages
- Duke Power
- Catawba (York, SC) - 7 outages
- McGuire (Huntersville, NC) - 16 outages and innages
- Exelon Corporation
- Clinton (Clinton, IL) - 1 outage
- R. E. Ginna (Ontario, NY) - 1 outage
- Peach Bottom (Delta, PA) - 2 outages
