MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA (March 29, 2011) – Westinghouse Electric Company has awarded Emerson Process Management a contract to provide critical control valves to be used in two AP1000® pressurized water reactors at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Burke County, Georgia, USA. Vogtle units 3 and 4 will be the first new nuclear reactors built in the U.S. in over 25 years. Engineering and construction activities are underway, with plans to begin commercial operation of Unit 3 in 2016 and Unit 4 in 2017.
Emerson’s Fisher® control valves covered by the purchase orders are identical to those selected for the first four AP1000 nuclear power plants being built in China.
As part of the AP1000 plants’ passive residual heat removal system, the valves will help achieve proper plant cooling during shutdown. Emerson developed a specially modified ball valve that fits in the limited space available while meeting three key requirements: highly efficient flow during shutdown to provide cooling through a natural convection process without the assistance of the reactor coolant pump; tight shut-off when the plant is in operation to maintain efficiency; and accurate throttling control for all flowing conditions. Extensive testing demonstrated to Westinghouse that the new valve design could meet all specified flow requirements.
For over 35 years, Emerson has supported nuclear facilities worldwide with Fisher nuclear valves and associated services. In fact, Fisher valves are installed in over 90% of the world’s nuclear facilities. To date, thousands of Fisher ASME Section III N-Stamped and RCCM process control valves have been installed around the globe.
Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb™, Syncade™, DeltaV™, Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Daniel™, Ovation™, and AMS Suite.
Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world. The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions. Sales in fiscal 2011 were $24.2 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com
