France’s Framatome announced on 23 July that it has performed a complete visual inspection of the tube bundle top structure of a steam generator at unit 2 of Spain’s Ascó NPP using the underwater inspection submarine system SUSI. 

This small, remote-controlled submarine navigates the primary circuit as well as the steam generator’s secondary side of NPPs and is equipped with technology for various applications. “This …is an important step in strengthening our presence in the Spanish market”, commented Catherine Cornand, senior executive vice president of Framatome’s installed base business unit.

Ascó nuclear plant is operated by ANAV, Asociación Nuclear Asco-Vandellos. It consists of two pressurised water reactors. Asco 1 started operating in 1984 and has an installed net capacity of 1031MWe. Asco 2, which started in 1986, has an installed net capacity of 1027MWe.