Competition brief: EDF Energy inspection Innovation Challenge
Updated 22 July 2016
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1. Dates and deadlines
| Competition opens | Monday 18 July 2016 |
| Briefing event for potential applicants | Thursday 8 September 2016 in Gloucester |
| Application deadline | Noon on Wednesday 28 September 2016 |
| Pitching sessions for successful applicants | October 2016 - dates to be confirmed |
| Winners informed | November 2016 - dates to be confirmed |
| Projects start | January 2017 |
2. The competition scope
This competition has 2 themes based on the following 2 challenges. Challenge 1 relates to EDF Energy’s existing nuclear power stations. Challenge 2 relates to EDF Energy Renewables’ offshore wind farms. EDF Energy is seeking proposals for feasibility studies to address one or both of these challenges.
2.1 Challenge 1: inspection of high-risk components in advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors
EDF Energy operates 14 advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR). They provide about 18% of the UK’s electricity. EDF Energy has designed its R&D programme to show how it will extend lifetime of these reactors in a safe and cost-effective way. Access to accurate data on the state of the different critical components is vital.
The challenge
AGRs operate under high temperature conditions. This can be up to 650oC in some parts of the reactors. One of the potential life-limiting factors of AGRs is ageing due to the material degradation (creep, fatigue) of various components.
EDF Energy regularly inspects several of the components to monitor their condition and uses this information to predict how the components will behave as the plant ages. Because many of the components are within the reactor or boilers they are not easily accessible and require complex inspection arrangements.
These involve visual inspections using remote cameras and manned vessel entries in combination with non-destructive testing such as eddy current, ultrasonic testing and radiography.
Solutions needed
EDF Energy is looking for innovative solutions, in particular:
(a) New manipulators for access
One of the main challenges is that a lot of components are hard to access. EDF Energy is looking for a device that can inspect boiler components remotely. It may also be able to navigate congested areas in enclosed spaces. In some cases it may need to steer around bifurcations.
(b) New probes and techniques for inspection
EDF Energy is interested in a large range of inspection parameters:
- geometrical measurement, for example tube wall metal loss or defect geometries
- material characterisation for example carburisation effects, creep and fatigue damage, intergranular attack, deposition and pitting in austenitic stainless steel or 9% chrome steel
(c) Remote sampling techniques
Extraction of samples, usually fractions of 1mm3. This allows accurate characterisation of global degradation mechanisms and material loss. Sampling provides a means of validating inspection results from non-destructive methods.
(d) Solutions to decommissioning challenges
EDF Energy is looking for a wide number of solutions to the future decommissioning challenge. These vary from the inspection of ponds to remote sampling of radioactive environments, such as the graphite core.
2.2 Challenge 2: long-term solutions for offshore wind monopile foundation corrosion monitoring and control
EDF Energy considers internal corrosion behaviour for offshore wind farm monopile foundations unique in the offshore context. That’s why it needs modern inspection and monitoring solutions. These will ensure that operators can maintain the foundation’s structural integrity over its 25 year lifetime.
The challenge
Corrosion within monopile foundations is a cause for concern for offshore wind farms. The main problem is a deviation from the original design assumptions made for early offshore wind farm projects. This predicted that the inside of the monopile would be completely air and water-tight.
Operational experience has shown that a completely sealed compartment is difficult to achieve. This is due to periodic ventilation of the compartment below the air-tight deck during inspections. It is also caused by fresh seawater ingress through potential leakages in the export cable seals at the bottom of the foundation. This is why EDF Energy expects the anticipated rate of internal corrosion to continue instead of reducing.
Retrofitting internal galvanic anode-based cathodic protection systems within monopile foundations has mitigated the onset of continuing corrosion. But this has also introduced other problems. These include inconsistent protection of the internal surface over the length of the foundation below the air-tight deck. It also includes acidification of the internal water column due to the ongoing cathodic protection reaction. EDF Energy expects this to speed up corrosion.
Meeting the challenge
These observations show that certain regions of the foundation internal surface (below the air-tight deck) corrode at a higher rate than anticipated. To understand the impact of corrosion on foundation structural integrity EDF Energy needs to:
- inspect and monitor regions of concern. These are close to joints such as welds at depths of up to 20 metres that are often constructed from carbon steel with thicknesses up to 100mm
- continue to monitor internal environmental parameters that have an effect on corrosion
- inspect and characterise the condition of retrofitted cathodic protection systems
Solutions needed
At present, it is quite difficult to regularly monitor and inspect. This is because of:
- access constraints
- issues of working in a confined space
- hazards related to carrying out underwater inspections
This is why EDF Energy is looking for solutions which allow for:
- remote thickness measurement
- novel approaches for measuring and monitoring corrosion (material loss) in-situ
- remote inspection of welds and the internal cathodic protection system
- underwater thickness measurement through bio-fouling
3. Projects that we won’t fund
In this competition EDF Energy will not fund technologies that:
- have been unsuccessful in previous trials unless you have made clear innovative improvements
- do not provide significant advantages over the current state of the art technologies
4. Find out if you are eligible to apply
- This competition is open to businesses of any size, from start-ups to large companies
- If you are a business you can work alone or with partners
- You can work with academic partners but a business must lead your project
- We welcome innovators from outside the energy sector
The nuclear fleet challenge is open to UK companies only.
5. Funding and project details
We expect projects to last up to 3 months. EDF Energy has allocated between £5,000 and £10,000 for each project.
We will consider early stage and well-developed ideas. We will also consider proposals for technology transfer. We will select projects based on how innovative they are and how much value they create.
6. How to apply
The competition will follow a 2 stage process:
1. Video submission
You must apply online. You will need to complete an online form and upload a short video describing your idea. In the video, you must describe the approach you will take and tell us how your project is innovative. Videos will remain confidential. Only EDF Energy’s expert assessors will see them.
2. Pitching session
We will score your proposal and invite the highest scoring applicants to present their ideas to a panel of EDF Energy experts. These experts will select the final projects.
To apply:
- read the guidance for applicants for this competition
- attend the briefing event for potential applicants in Gloucester on 8 September 2016. You can also attend this event via webinar. Only UK companies can attend the event in person due to license controls
- complete and upload your online application and video on our secure server
We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.
7. Background and further information
EDF Energy is funding this competition. EDF Energy and Innovate UK are working in partnership to run the competition. This is a major opportunity for innovative businesses of all sizes to work with EDF Energy to:
- develop solutions to long-standing technology challenges
- trial these new technologies
- get potential access to a multi-million pound market
- commercialise their innovations
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies and its largest producer of low-carbon electricity. EDF Energy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EDF Group. This is one of Europe’s largest energy groups and generates around one fifth of the UK’s electricity. Its research and development activities are an integral part of the company, creating value and supporting future growth.
If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.
If you need more information, contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk