BWXT Advanced Technologies has widened the purview of its ASME N-Type Certificate of Authorization to advance present and future nuclear reactor design projects.
With this expansion, the license now includes high-temperature reactor design under ASME Section III requirements and allows the company to begin operations at its newly-established BWXT Innovation Campus, the Lynchburg, Virginia-based enterprise announced on Thursday.
Joe Miller, president of BWXT Advanced Technologies, said that the organization has a “long history of high-quality nuclear design expertise and construction experience.”
He said that the broadening of the certification exemplifies the rigor of BWXT’s processes and the dedication of its workforce to reaching the standards of ASME Section III and N Stamp requirements and the expanding industry.
The comprehensive recertification process was completed alongside BWXT’s ongoing work to design a high-temperature gas reactor for the Department of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office’s Project Pele, which is being conducted under a $300 million contract expected to conclude in 2024.
BWXT’s commercial arm also holds various ASME Certificates of Authorization regarding its efforts to design, fabricate, manufacture, assemble and construct an assortment of nuclear power plant components for both North American and international facilities.
“ASME certification for the nuclear and non-nuclear industries is considered by many to be the internationally recognized ‘gold standard’ of certification and accreditation programs,” said Michael Frediani, director of auditing and inspection at ASME.
The organization, he added, has over 100 years of experience certifying manufacturers and accrediting other companies.
It was established as a not-for-profit professional entity intended to drive collaboration, information sharing and skill development spanning every engineering field and emphasize the role of engineers in society.
