Plant Equipment Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

09/12/2024 Rise of the robots

Robotic systems are proving critical in the nuclear sector for challenging decommissioning and disposal applications. Louise Davis speaks to a technical expert about how this technology is evolving and what advantages robots are bringing ... » Read More

08/01/2024 Testing AI regulation

Artificial intelligence is starting to enter the nuclear sector with substantial investment. The UK nuclear regulator, ONR, convened its first regulatory sandbox to learn more about how it might manage the technology » Read More

02/11/2023 Applying blockchain to nuclear sector

The nuclear sector has more responsibility than most to manage worker/contractor competence effectively. Can blockchain help optimise this challenging task? » Read More

02/11/2023 Stress cracks in nuclear pipework

The shutdown of reactors across France last year came as a shock to many, and provides a warning of the effects of stress corrosion cracking, writes Jody Muelaner » Read More

23/09/2022 Waste no more: change comes to Magnox at Sellafield nuclear site

Sellafield recently began removing waste from one of its most hazardous buildings, culminating a huge engineering and operations project that has been many years in the making. By Steed Webzell » Read More

16/09/2021 The biggest pumps in the world?

Among the largest pumps made for industry are the reactor coolant pumps used in modern PWR, pressurised water reactor-type nuclear power plants such as Sizewell B in Suffolk, and Hinkley Point C, currently being built. Each 10m-tall ... » Read More

12/08/2021 Inspection shutdowns in UK AGR nuclear power plants

UK nuclear power plants including Heysham 1, Torness and Hinkley Point B have recently undergone shutdowns that have included inspections for cracks in their graphite core. Such work has gained a new sense of urgency in the past few years, ... » Read More

04/04/2019 A nuclear approach to seismic sensing

This article discusses the latest trends in seismic monitoring and protection systems for nuclear plants, including technologies adopted and current best practice driven by enhanced risk management demands » Read More

01/08/2008 Sellafield special seal

Novel wet pipeline sealing and deployment techniques, successfully trialled for the now redundant first-generation nuclear waste treatment and storage plant at Sellafield, will not only prevent hazardous conditions arising on plant, but ... » Read More

01/02/2008 Atomic kitten

Ever wondered about nuclear submarines and the issues for plant engineers in operational and supporting roles, either onboard or dockside? Andrew Law, specialist in the operational plant support department at Rolls-Royce Nuclear Propulsion ... » Read More

01/12/2006 Cleaning up at Sellafield

British Nuclear Group is a specialist site management and nuclear clean-up business. Part of the BNFL Group, it delivers accelerated nuclear clean-up programmes safely and cost effectively for customers in the UK and overseas. Experienced ... » Read More