PROJECT EXPERIENCE
BRUCE POWER UNIT 3 MCR CHEMICAL DECONTAMINATION – MECHANICAL FILTRATION SKID
I was tasked with testing, commissioning, and operating a mechanical filtration skid used to remove particulate created during chemical decontamination. The system integrated with Framatome’s Canadian Automated Mobile Decontamination Apparatus (CAMDA) and unit 3’s primary heat transport system to reduce dose in the feeder cabinets by more than 80%. Prior to going to site I attended and helped execute factory acceptance training to verify that the design requirements of the system have been met. I worked in accordance with Bruce Power’s high safety standards to verify proper installation of all components. During the commissioning process, I wrote a troubleshooting plan to help determine the flows and pressures at which the CAMDA system worked well with the mechanical filtration skid as these two system had never been integrated prior to installation and commissioning at site. During the operation period I worked with the authorized nuclear operator (ANO) on duty to tune various system parameter for ideal system performance and provided continuous use guidance through out the process. When CAMDA trips occurred I worked with the ANO to transition the filtration skid back to its operating state.
BWXT Tc-99m GENERATOR HOT CELL AUTOMATION
Our team was tasked with designing, installing, and testing automation that would process the Mo-99 targets into material that could be packaged into Tc-99m generators. Molybdenum targets come from BWXT’s facility in Peterborough and will be irradiated in unit 2 at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station resulting in the production of Mo-99 targets. The Kanata facility will then process the Mo-99 and manufacture Tc-99m generators which will then be delivered to hospitals and radiopharmacies across North America. I expedited the installation of the equipment through managing our daily and weekly task logs and ensuring we had all the necessary tools, parts, permits, and personnel to execute the work. I executed site acceptance test plans to verify that the equipment is functioning as it should. I trained BWXT staff on how to operate the equipment and troubleshoot common mistakes and errors. I also provided round the clock technical support if the system was not behaving as they expected.
OPG – FAST ACTING PLATFORM
The Fast Acting Platform is a folding maintenance platform that sits on the vertical bulkheads and creates a working surface to perform reactor face work. It was designed to replace the need to build scaffolding from the bottom fueling duct which was time, labour, and dose intensive. The platform collapses down so that it can fit into the freight elevator, steam door, and through the airlock. I worked on designing various components, producing detailed production drawings, selecting surface finishes, verifying tolerances, and implementing feedback from the assembly and manufacturing teams.
BRUCE POWER – POST INSTALLATION FUEL CHANNEL REPLACEMENT (PIFCR)
The PIFCR toolset is a series of tools designed to execute single fuel channel replacements on CANDU reactors. The toolset consists of about 160 tools which were designed and built under the N299.2/N299.3 quality program. Working with the assembly, quality, and engineering teams I expedited the assembly and executed the factory acceptance test execution for 15 tools in the toolset. I lead the troubleshooting effort for the Leak Test Tool (LTT) which measured the vacuum decay rate of the CTI joint. The tool had vacuum leaks due to the lack of vacuum grease, non-vacuum rated components being selected, and poorly designed inboard and outboard seals.
BRUCE POWER – PERMANENT START-UP INSTRUMENTATION (PSUI) FOR VERTICAL FLUX DETECTORS
PSUI is a mechanism that raises and lowers fission chambers to precise positions within the reactor. One of my roles was to modify and test an SMA right angle connector. The team determined the solder joint within the original connector had failed using a CT scans and had to develop a mechanism to prevent this failure from reoccurring. I prototyped a strain relief mechanism using radiation resistant components that prevents the pin within the connector from carrying any load when raising and lowering the mechanism. The testing was both destructive and non-destructive to determine the conditions and loads at which the connector would experience failure. My second role was to develop a method to strip and recoat zirconium oxide to repair the coating on components. I worked to develop a process that allowed the coating to be removed without damaging the component and verified that when the coating was reapplied it met all the material specifications that were required.
OPG – CONNECTERIZED UMBILICAL CABLE ASSEMBLY (CUCA)
The CUCA Tools are being manufactured for the Darlington Nuclear Generation Station the Connectorized Umbilical Cable carries the necessary electrical power and inspection signals required for various maintenance and inspection tooling for the CANDU reactor fuel channels. I worked on developing the internal assembly procedure and verifying that it covers all of the technical specifications provided by OPG. I’ve also designed multiple assembly jigs and tools to execute factory acceptance testing.