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Over time, all facilities will be faced with problems of aging structures, systems, and components that have a critical impact on reliability. Clients are taking a more aggressive approach to plant aging. Part of this strategy is teaching staff to proactively detect aging indicators and mechanisms of degradation, particularly through walk-downs and system monitoring.

Altran Solutions has trained its customers' plant engineers, technicians, operations, and maintenance personnel to become more effective on the job. Classes in aging assessments, digital upgrades, corrosion management, biofouling management, and protective coatings help companies address common plant problems and issues proactively rather than reactively.

With our engineering and laboratory-based analytical tools, we investigate problems and concerns, provide independent assessments, and develop focused recommendations for our clients.

Additional training courses offered by Altran Solutions related to assessment and prevention of equipment degradation include:

• Aging Management
  • Co-developed by Altran Solutions and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Identification and Detection of Aging Issues (EPRI 1007932) training program provides the student with the knowledge and tools necessary to more effectively manage aging degradation of plant structures, systems, and components and, therefore, assure continued safe and reliable operation of the plant. The classroom presentation training material is supplemented with an Aging Assessment Field Guide (EPRI 1007933) and Aging Identification and Assessment Checklists: Mechanical Components (EPRI 1009743), Civil and Structural Components (1011224), and Electrical components (1011223).


• Hardware Failure Analysis
  • This course, geared toward System, Component, and Design Engineers, provides the basis concepts of component failure analysis, including an introduction to root cause. Included is a description of how to recognize degradation mechanisms, indicators, and stessors as well as fundamentals of analytical techniques. These failure analysis concepts provide a foundation for failure prevention strategies.


• Corrosion in Piping / Corrosion Management
  • This one-day course, designed for engineering, technician, operating, and maintenance personnel, reviews material selection and the fundamentals of corrosion. This course focuses on various types of corrosion including microbiological corrosion (MIC) as well as methodologies to detect and minimize corrosion's effects.


• Biofouling and Biofouling Management
  • This two-day course,designed for engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel, teaches the students the causes of biofouling and biodeterioration, and reviews techniques for identifying, preventing, and treating this type of corrosion.


• Flow Accelerated Corrosion Programs
  • This one-day course, designed for System, Program, and Design Engineers, offers an overview of flow accelerated corrosion. Students in this course will learn the terms, issues, and conditions required to produce FAC as well as the techniques used to avoid related component failures.


• Material Selection
  • This course presents plant and design engineers with the fundamentals of selecting component materials of construction that are suitable for the intended service. Discussion areas include identification of service conditions, material properties, and material performance in the identified service conditions, as well as typical applications. This course addresses ferrous metals (carbon, alloy, and stainless steels), non-ferrous metals (copper and nickel base, aluminum), and polymers (plastics, elastomers, rubbers). The information presented in this course will aid the engineers in minimizing component degradation and improving component reliability through proper material selection.



Other training course offerings include:

• AOV Technical Fundamentals
  • This is a one-day course that is designed as an introduction to air operated valves for a new AOV Engineer or as a presentation to the general engineering staff to provide an overall understanding of AOVs. It teaches the basics: valve types, operation, concerns, setpoints, common failures, and programmatic issues.


• MOV Technical Fundamentals
  • Similar to the AOV class, this one-day course is designed as an introduction to the motor operated valves for a new MOV Engineer or as a presentation to the general engineering staff to provide overall understanding. This course teaches MOV basics: valve types, operation, concerns, setpoints, common failures, and programmatic issues.


• AOV JOG Program
  • This one-day course teaches AOV engineers the history and intent of the AOV Joint Owners Group program. It discusses the nine basic elements of a successful AOV program and reviews the methodologies used by many plants in the nuclear industry to implement these nine elements.


• AOV Thrust Calculation Preparation
  • This three-day course reviews methodologies for the preparation of design basis calculations for rising stem and quarter turn air operated valves. Actuators covered in the training include diaphragm, pistons, link and lever, and scotch yoke. Methodologies are presented based on the EPRI AOV Evaluation Guide.


• AOV Calculation Reconciliation
  • For the mature Air Operated Valve program, this three-day course takes the next step after performing rising stem and quarter turn diagnostic tests. Students in this course will learn methods to address tolerances, uncertainties, actuator efficiencies, and dynamic loads when reconciling AOV design basis review calculations with diagnostic test results. This class is applicable to all individuals on the AOV team from field testing personnel to the AOV engineers.


• In-service Testing Programs
  • This one-day course provides IST engineers with a comprehensive review of the key elements of a successful IST program. Topics include the Code history, regulatory history, ASME OM Code details, scope, compliance, implementation, and exercises.


• In-service Testing Update
  • This one-day course introduces IST engineers to the In-service Testing Update Process. This course also provides a background of past as well as current industry issues regarding IST program scope, compliance, and implementation.


• Digital Instrumentation Fundamentals
  • This one-day course, designed for engineers with an understanding of analog control systems provides students with an overview of the knowledge necessary to upgrade analog control systems to digital control systems. This course reviews the difference between analog and digital systems, as well as outlining the benefits and concerns associated with changing from an analog control system to a digital control system.


• Protective Coatings Basics and Protective Coating Inspector
  • Altran Solutions offers a single-day presentation of basics as well as a comprehensive five-day classroom and practical training course. The basics course is intended for engineering, maintenance, and supervisory personnel and provides the fundamentals of protective coatings, their selection and uses, and the degradation mechanisms affecting them. The comprehensive course is intended to support certification as a Protective Coating Inspector to the requirements of ASTM D4537.