Framatome ANP, ADVENT Engineering Services Team to Offer Integrated Head Assembly.

Business Editors/Energy Writers

LYNCHBURG, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2001

Framatome ANP, Inc. and ADVENT Engineering Services have teamed together to offer the Integrated Head Assembly (IHA), a unit that integrates all upper reactor head components together to improve refueling schedule performance.

"The IHA cuts right to the heart of refueling efficiency by cutting the time and manpower needed for reactor head removal by up to 50 percent," said Tom Christopher, President and CEO of Framatome ANP, Inc. "And in turn that reduces the outage duration, which is the goal of every nuclear plant manager."

The Integrated Head Assembly (IHA) reduces critical path time, maintenance costs and manpower by combining the reactor vessel head and the majority of its supporting systems into a single removable unit.

By easing access to vital reactor vessel head components, maintenance time is lowered. The CRDM cooling system, head area cable system, reactor head vent piping and integral radiation shielding, work platforms, ladders and removable access panels are incorporated into the IHA.

The IHA substantially reduces the number of steps required to remove the reactor vessel head. The number of work steps needed prior to detensioning the reactor vessel studs can be cut in half when using an IHA. The IHA design is customized for each installation to meet the operational needs and geometric constraints of every customer and can be used on virtually any NSSS design - including Combustion Engineering, Westinghouse and B&W plants.

"The IHA is a one-of-a-kind customized design to upgrade the existing reactor vessel closure head service structure with zero impact on the nuclear steam supply system," said Ravi Baliga, CEO of ADVENT Engineering Services.

"The adaptability of the IHA makes it very attractive to the industry," said Gary Mignogna, Framatome ANP Inc., Vice President of Component Replacement and Repair. "The assembly's utility goes beyond simply speeding reactor vessel head assembly and disassembly.

The IHA also contains numerous features that reduce maintenance costs."

Framatome ANP (Advanced Nuclear Power), a Framatome and Siemens Company, is the world's leading nuclear company. Framatome ANP's focus includes power plant services, modernization and nuclear fuel supply for many reactor designs, including those supplied by other vendors, and the development and turnkey construction of nuclear power plants and research reactors. In this joint venture, Framatome has a 66% stake and Siemens 34%. Framatome ANP is headquartered in Paris with regional companies in the USA and Germany. Framatome ANP has a total workforce of more than 13,000 worldwide and posts annual sales totaling more than $2.5 billion.

The company offers a full range of nuclear engineering and advanced technologies for both PWR and BWR plants, world class testing and qualification facilities, and advanced monitoring and digital instrumentation and control systems to enhance safety, improve plant operations and extend service life.

ADVENT Engineering Services, Inc. is an engineering consulting firm with expertise in specialized areas relating to critical facilities engineering. ADVENT was founded in response to a compelling and expressed need for higher standards of integrity, commitment and technical insight in providing engineering services to operators of nuclear facilities. ADVENT is dedicated to maintaining a culture for corporate growth that balances the service needs of our clients with an unrelenting standard of excellence.

For further information, visit: http://www.framatome-anp.com