Contact: John Ballantyne

British Energy (BE) own and run nine power station across the UK, eight of which are nuclear fuelled. These stations have a capacity of over 9.5 gigawatts, which currently accounts for a fifth of all the UK’s electricity needs, making BE the largest generator of electricity in the UK.

Halcrow has been involved with BE since 1991, and continue to deliver services to BE’s Dungeness, Hunterston B, Heysham 1, Hartlepool and Torness nuclear power stations. BE have used Halcrow as a consultant for the last 15 years for our extensive experience and expertise in the analysis, design and assessment of nuclear and nuclear related structures, including, seismic retrofit, independent technical assessment (ITA), detailed design, specialist advice and structural inspections.

Recently, Halcrow completing a highly technical report for British Energy which provides recommendations for the application of externally bonded Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) as a strengthening measure for existing reinforced concrete structures in the UK nuclear industry. It is hoped that the material and techniques discussed will be utilised to provide extremely effective and economical solution to the maintenance and retrofit of BE power stations.

Projects that Halcrow has delivered to BE include:

Gas Turbine (GT) Houses and Cooling Water (CW) Pumphouses, Heysham and Hartlepool

Halcrow completed the seismic assessment of the GT house and CW Pumphouse at both Heysham 1 and Hartlepool power stations as part of the Periodic Safety Review at the stations. The assessment included analysis and design to current codes of practice and included a variety of structural forms and materials such as steel frames, reinforced concrete frames, shear walls and foundations, precast concrete beams, masonry, piled foundations and reinforced concrete blast walls between the individual turbines.

Torness Blast and Missile Impact Assessment

Halcrow was commissioned to conduct an independent review of a report into potential blast and impact effects from hypothetical explosions within Torness nuclear power station, including an independent design review of the associated calculations. The calculations included detailed assessments of the likelihood of various damage scenarios as well as blast and perforation calculations for such scenarios. Particular scenarios of interest concerned the possible loss of post-trip coolant following an accident at site and the calculations and report formed part of the Periodic Safety Review documentation for Torness station.

Hunterson B Wharton Crane

Halcrow undertook a review of the existing Wharton crane design, which is located in the main reactor hall of Hunterston B nuclear power station. Included in this review was a seismic assessment of the crane structure and its supporting girders. By examining the operating procedures for the crane and also its parking arrangements, Halcrow was able to demonstrate that the existing crane and its support arrangements, which had not been designed for earthquake loading effects, could carry satisfactorily the design basis earthquake.

Other services delivered by Halcrow to British Energy include:

	AGR Power Stations IPR
	Dungeness B Box Girder Assessment
	Dungeness B Reactor Foundation Report
	Foundation Studies for Torness & Heysham 2 Power Stations
	Heysham AGR Dry Fuel Store
	Heysham 1 Fire System Enhancement
	Heysham 1 & Hartlepool Nuclear Power Stations : Liquefaction Studies
	Heysham 1 High Pressure Backup Cooling Water System Tanks
	Hunterston B 800te Refuelling Machine Support Girders
	Hunterson B Boiler House
	Hunterson B Electrical Cabinets
	Hunterson B Reactor Plug Racks
	Hunterson B Safety Related Structural Inspections
	Nuclear Power Station Turbine Hall Crane
	Torness Dry Fuel Store : Specialist Advice
	Torness and Hunterston B Reactor Buildings Condition Surveys
	Torness Pile Cap Jib Crane

Halcrow looks forward to continuing to support British energy in the ongoing operation of its stations.