EPRI and Newton Research Labs Develop Underwater Laser Scanner for Nuclear Fuel Rods

The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), an independent, public-
focused nonprofit research and development organization and Newton Research
Labs, Inc., a Seattle-based manufacturer of machine vision, robotics and optical
automation, have teamed together to develop an underwater laser scanning tool
to precisely measure the individual alignment profile of used nuclear fuel
assemblies.

A successful demonstration of the technology has been recently completed and
a second phase of development/deployment is anticipated to be announced in
the near future. The tool is intended to produce highly-detailed dimensional
measurements of BWR fuel bundles. After the system is validated, it will be
extended to also enable the measurement of PWR fuel assemblies.

The misalignment (or distortion) of used fuel bundles, due to bowing, bulging,
twisting or lengthening, is generally quite small and difficult to measure. For
instance a BWR fuel bundle may have a bow of less than a half inch along its
13-foot length (12 mm in 4 m). Nevertheless it is a concern among nuclear
plant operators, especially when it comes to reloading the core at the end of an
outage. Measurement of fuel bundles using the traditional systems based on
ultrasonic testing (UT) or Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs) may
be time-consuming and can impact the critical path schedule of getting a
reactor back online. The conceptual design and functional requirements of the
new scanning tool is targeted toward reducing fuel assembly/bundle
measurement times, while delivering comparable resolution, accuracy, and
precision of the legacy systems.

"Fuel distortion is an operational issue that may impact fuel off-load/re-load
activities, and if not adequately managed, may also impact reactivity control
systems," said John W. Bramblet, President and CEO of Newton Labs. "New tools
are needed to efficiently and effectively measure fuel distortion so that plant
operators may have the data necessary to manage distortion through fuel
design features, core design, and plant conditions. The development and
demonstration of this laser scanning inspection methodology will potentially
enhance the data collection process, and thereby, improve the operations of
nuclear plants," Bramblet concluded.

The non-contact fuel assembly/bundle scanning tool will be based upon
landmark underwater laser scanning technology previously developed by
Newton Research Labs specifically for the nuclear power industry and the
winner of a 2012 Industry TIP award. In addition to the speed, highly precise
measurements and real-time human viewable video produced by this tool, the
technology will include the capability to store and later manipulate 3D CAD and
image data to assist in fuel life cycle profiling. Newton engineers intend for the
new tool system to provide fully measureable models of fuel assembly
straightness, without the requirement of using a general purpose, third-party
commercial application to perform any measurements.

About EPRI The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com)
conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use
of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit
organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as
experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity,
including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment. EPRI's
members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and
delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40
countries. EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto,
Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.

About Newton Research Labs, Inc. Seattle based Newton Labs is a privately held
manufacturer of machine vision, robotics and optical automation. A spin-off of
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the company has for more
than 20 years developed and marketed high-performance, software guided
automation for industrial processes with significant concentration on the
nuclear power industry. Newton's products are designed to allow the quality,
efficiency and cost effectiveness of computer technology to replace the human
element in virtually every industry. Newton Labs has deployed more than
20,000 machine vision, robotic and automation systems worldwide. Additional
information about Newton and its nuclear industry products may be found at
http://www.newtonlabs.com/power.htm.