Expansion Joints for UK’s Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Plant

MACOGA has been selected to supply Rubber Expansion Joints for the prestigious Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Plant in the UK. Hinkley Point C is a two-unit, 3,200 MWe nuclear power station under construction in Somerset, England.

With over 50 years of experience, we provide our customers with optimal solutions for critical applications to meet the most stringent safety regulations required for Nuclear Power Plants.

Expansion Joints features:

• Qty: 48 units
• Size: 2400 mm
• Type: MAC-F Series Un-Tied Single Sphere
• Bellows: EPDM + HighTech Reinforcing Fabric
• Design Pressure: 5.5 barg/FV
• Design Temperature: +60/0 °C

Validating the design and product quality of a nuclear Expansion Joint is critical due to the extreme safety, reliability, and durability requirements. Here’s a summary of the main tests carried out:

Design Validation:

• Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Fatigue Analysis
• Fracture Mechanics Analysis
• Seismic Analysis

Destructive Tests:

• Life Cycle Test
• Thermal Cycling Tests
• Burst Test

Material Testing:

• Material Certification
• Chemical Composition Testing
• Mechanical Property Testing
• Hardness Testing

Manufacturing Quality Tests:

• Welding Qualification Procedures 
• Dimensional Inspection
• Helium Leak detection Testing
• Hydrostatic Pressure resistance test
• Leak detection test 
• Vacuum Leak Test
• Vacuum resistance Test

This achievement underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in delivering high-quality Expansion Joints for critical infrastructure projects. 

The Hinkley Point C project represents a pivotal endeavor in the nuclear power sector, and our involvement highlights MACOGA's reputation for reliability and advanced engineering solutions. 

More information https://www.macoga.com/en/expansion-joints-for-specific-applications/power-generation