The NEA Studsvik Material Integrity Life Extension (SMILE) Project gathered members on 7-10 April in Nyköping, Sweden, to discuss results and prepare for future ambitions.
The SMILE Project was launched in 2021 with the aim of investigating metallic components and materials from boiling water reactors (BWR) and pressurised water reactors (PWRs) under decommissioning, to better understand and predict ageing phenomena. The information obtained from the experimental investigations can be used to support plant ageing management activities, life extension programmes and operating license renewals. The five-year project (2021-2025) is supported by 20 organisations from 10 countries.
SMILE Project is conducted by Studsvik Nuclear AB (Sweden) and is based on experimental examinations and the testing of aged components and materials that are harvested from Swedish light water reactors (LWRs) decommissioned after more than 40 years of operation: Oskarshamn 1 and 2 (BWRs) and Ringhals 2 (PWR). Material replaced 30 years after operation is also investigated, e.g. the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) upper head and pressuriser from Ringhals 3 and 4.
With material harvesting completed, the project has been advancing experimental testing and observation campaigns and delivered technical results and presentations. As the project has entered its last year, the SMILE team presented to more than 40 meeting participants from 10 countries the project results and upcoming activities. The project will focus on finalising experimental work, analysing results and providing a database to collect and preserve the project outcomes.
Participants also discussed the opportunity to pursue material investigation of the harvested SMILE components and future priority research areas during a second phase of the project envisioned for 2026-2030. Additional participants can join throughout the project development phase and interested parties are invited to contact the NEA for further information on the joining process.
