Zamil Process Equipment reaches milestone in nuclear components fabrication
Thursday, 21st December 2017
Zamil Process Equipment Co. recently achieved a milestone in nuclear components manufacturing with the completion of a Reactor Pool Tank, which will serve as an outer enclosure for the first nuclear research reactor in the Kingdom, to be installed at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This unprecedented achievement marks the first time a large national company has manufactured a nuclear component that meets the category of nuclear safety according to international standards, proving Zamil Steel's ability to meet the requirements of nuclear power production projects in keeping with the Kingdom's plans for future development.
Designed and manufactured per ASME Section III, Div. 1, Subsection ND, Class 3 Components requirements according to a basic design carried out by Investigacion Aplicada (INVAP) from Argentina, the tank was manufactured in strict compliance with nuclear equipment manufacturing standards throughout all phases, from materials procurement to shipment. The vessel was built inside a dust-free enclosure in order to meet the stringent guidelines for nuclear components fabrication.
Each activity was monitored and tracked by detailed shop travelers using a sequence of fabrication steps at the monitoring, inspection and testing stages. All inspections, nondestructive examinations and hydrostatic tests were witnessed by representatives from both INVAP and KACST.
The successful fabrication of the reactor pool tank provided a valuable experience that has enhanced the company's existing capabilities, preparing it to undertake more extensive manufacturing of a range of critical components that will be needed for the upcoming implementation of nuclear energy programs in Saudi Arabia.
