June 24, 2026 | 1 Minute Read
Many nuclear plants are operating well beyond their original design life, placing increased demands on aging steam cycle components.
Over time, systems such as MSRs, feedwater heaters, and condensers experience:
- Material degradation
- Corrosion and fouling
- Thermal fatigue
- Declining heat transfer performance
One of the most important decisions operators face is whether to repair or replace critical equipment.
Repair strategies can be effective when degradation is localized and performance can be restored. Replacement becomes more viable when systems face widespread wear, inherent design limitations, or long-term reliability concerns.
In practice, this decision requires a combination of inspection data, performance analysis, and experience with how similar systems have aged over time.
Through experience supporting lifecycle decisions across nuclear plants, TEi has found that the most effective approaches are grounded in data, engineering analysis, and real-world insight – balancing immediate needs with long-term reliability and performance.
