Laser Photonics Corporation (LPC), a leading global developer of industrial laser systems for cleaning and other material processing applications, announced that it has received an order for a second and third CleanTech 500-CTHD laser cleaning system from Sargent & Lundy for use by Bruce Power in Ontario, Canada, the operator of North America’s largest operational nuclear power plant. For both the company and its employee unions, the initial system’s proven environmental and worker safety advantages were key factors in ordering an additional two systems.
John Armstrong, Executive Vice President of Laser Photonics, emphasized their laser cleaning technology's benefits for the nuclear industry: “Our innovative solutions offer a safe, eco-friendly approach, reducing radioactive waste and enhancing worker safety. Bruce Power and its workforce, with their solid commitment to clean energy, leads by example in adopting laser cleaning. Sargent & Lundy's engineering and project management expertise ensures successful implementation. Together, these organizations are setting a new benchmark for industries worldwide.”
CleanTech technology allows for precise cleaning without damaging underlying materials and reduces health risks by eliminating the need for chemicals. The second and third CleanTech system will be deployed in Bruce Power’s Vacuum Building Outage (VBO) program, as was the first LPC unit. The VBO commenced in April 2024, involving a temporary shutdown of Bruce B’s four nuclear units for thorough maintenance and inspection.
Vacuum buildings are unique to Bruce Power’s generating stations and are integral to its comprehensive safety system, providing an additional protective barrier against the release of radioactivity into the environment. All four operating units must be shut down approximately once every decade to facilitate these vacuum building inspections and maintenance.