Cross - Metal valve seals for nuclear power generation

Advanced Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a key part of the goal to develop safe, clean, and affordable nuclear power options. The advanced SMRs currently under development represent a variety of sizes, technologies, capabilities and deployment scenarios. These advanced reactors, envisioned to vary in size from tens of megawatts up to hundreds of megawatts, can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination and other industrial functions.

Valves in nuclear power plants play critical roles in both the nuclear containment and the balance of plant areas and must meet applicable regulatory requirements for design, manufacture and construction to ensure safe and effective plant operation in both safety-related and non-safety related applications.

Valve seals are vital components for optimum performance for both flow control and reduced emissions. In many cases metal seals can improve performance, providing a longer life with reduced maintenance and minimum interruption to plant operations. Specific areas include stem seals, seat seals, back-up seals, flange seals and retaining rings.

The severe service, high temperature, high-pressure and corrosive operating conditions inherent in nuclear industry environments demand the use of cobalt-free materials. Meeting these requirements Cross works with Super Austenitic, Duplex and Super Duplex stainless steels, Inconel, nickel alloys and titanium, as well as low and high temperature carbon and alloy steels, for applications at temperatures up to 1,000ºC.   

As well as proprietary forging processes for the manufacture of seals to the highest tolerances and strength, Cross also has the facilities and capacity to manufacture machined parts for other areas such as valve trims with virtually no limit to minimum or maximum sizes and quantities.

Cross offers a complete package for design and manufacture of its precision products. Extensive design and production facilities utilise methods and special-purpose equipment developed in-house, facilitating the manufacture of products precisely matched to each application.  The choice of materials can be complex, and advice is offered based on test results from the Cross in-house metallurgical laboratory as well as experience with different alloys for a diverse range of conditions.

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