The French company Framatome presents an innovative technology that impacts the core of reactors. Framatome is preparing to have its latest technological breakthrough validated by the EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) in the United States. It is a new ultrasonic inspection tool designed for pressurized water nuclear reactors (PWR) that could inspect the welds of the reactor core envelope, an area directly exposed to thermal, mechanical, and neutronic stresses.
This presents a significant commercial opportunity for the French nuclear giant since approximately 73% of the global nuclear reactor fleet consisted of PWRs in 2026.
In a nuclear power plant, certain areas cannot easily be dismantled or replaced. Some zones need to be inspected without being opened, sometimes through several layers of materials. This is where Framatome’s latest creation using ultrasonics comes into play. The principle is to send acoustic waves into the materials to detect any potential anomalies. Failure to detect even the smallest crack can eventually pose a safety issue. Hence, the importance of having tools capable of seeing what the human eye cannot perceive.
The technology developed by Framatome has undergone one of the most demanding validation processes in the global nuclear sector, the EPRI’s (Electric Power Research Institute) Performance Demonstration Initiative program in the United States. The success rate of 100% achieved during the tests by Framatome will make its solution applicable to all operating PWR reactors in the US, accounting for approximately 21% of the global total.
Framatome plans to deploy this technology on several American reactors starting in 2026, with at least seven scheduled inspections during shutdowns. These operations will involve various configurations, including reactors with or without neutron shielding.
Furthermore, the technology will continue to evolve to meet new regulatory requirements, particularly those stemming from the updated MRP-227 Rev. 2-A guide, which governs the monitoring of materials in reactors.
The nuclear industry relies heavily on advanced maintenance and high-precision inspections, known as non-destructive testing (NDT). This market is expected to exceed 500 million euros by 2033, driven by the aging of existing power plants and stricter regulatory standards.
In this context, innovation becomes a key lever, with technologies such as advanced ultrasonics, eddy currents, and phased array systems playing vital roles in detecting imperceptible flaws to the naked eye.
The success achieved by Framatome highlights the expertise of France in not just constructing reactors but also in their maintenance and operation. Framatome’s presence across the entire nuclear cycle, from design to maintenance, enables the company to offer integrated solutions tailored to the needs of operators.
This expertise is particularly sought after in the United States, where authorities demand increasingly higher safety standards.
