Custom Pilot Plants

designing and manufacturing pilot plants customized to support all aspects of tritium management process systems

Pilot plants are essential tools for data collection, testing, predicting risk, resolving issues before production, improving efficiency, facilitating operation and maintenance, training operators and developing a market. Pilot plants for R&D or in preparation for full scale production facilities can save time and money.

Tyne has over 20 years of experience in design and manufacture of custom pilot plants to fit each client’s unique project and associated requirements. Pilot plants require flexibility; we are equipped to build complex, low-leakage systems with temperatures ranging from high to cryogenic, and pressures ranging from high to full vacuum, making us the qualified candidate no matter the client’s constraints. Our collaborative team of experienced individuals works alongside clients to assess the size, equipment, and operational objectives that best fit the client’s needs.

Many pilot plants have simple scale-up capabilities, making them a useful tool in efficient resource-use. Process control systems may be made precisely the same as for the final plant, and scaling of the control system and any software programs can often apply to the finished plant with minimal change. Pilot plants inevitably result in an improved, simpler final design solution, and can eliminate scheduling delays. They are also useful training tools for preparing pilot operators and maintenance teams for full-scale deployment.

Tyne personnel have the project management, design, construction and commissioning skills, including qualified welders and NDE personnel, to carry out projects according to schedule and budgets, and to identify problem areas and find solutions. Our engineers will use their experience to supplement that of the client’s to provide a pilot plant design that functions as if it were the final process system. The small scale makes design changes relatively inexpensive and the identical small scale plant makes scaling to full size practical and cost effective.

Piping and Instrumentation Design

drawing and modeling

fabrication and assembly

testing and compliance

installation and system integration

training and support

Tritium processes are exceptional in their variety, frequently applying a combination of cryogenics, high temperatures, vacuum systems and high pressure. These systems are unique and complex, involving measurement, low leakage, critical containment and storage challenges.

Tyne is fully equipped and experienced to meet these challenges with innovation, cost control, partnership and quality.

With over 25 years experience in tritium systems design and manufacturing in the nuclear industry, we are fully aware of the documentation required for proper control both in nuclear power plants and other applications.

We are committed to keeping costs low, comprehensive scheduling, stringent quality assurance practices and furnishing all necessary certifications.

Tyne Engineering is experienced in the planning and application of efficient management for projects of varying size and scope. We are committed to effective scheduling and cost awareness while maintaining the highest level of safety and quality.

In each project we manage, we pay special attention to:

Quality requirements and levels
Applicable codes
Cost efficiency and control
Comprehensive scheduling
Subject matter experts staffing
Subcontracting and supplier sourcing
Procurement and fabrication
Inspection, testing and storage
Drawing, models and documentation
Management team overview and assurance

Quality management is an essential feature and plays an integral role in every project conducted by Tyne Engineering.

Our carefully developed QA procedures and manuals, certified to ISO 9001:2015, meet the needs of an extensive work scope from design through manufacturing and operation. We have been successfully audited by COG, through CANPAC, to CSA N299.1 and by AECL to the same level.

We have been approved independently by TSSA to design, build and repair piping systems and pressure vessels to ASME VIII Div 1 and B31.3. We are fully licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to handle depleted uranium. Our TSSA certification applies to work performed both in-house and remotely.

Our QA manual includes research and development, allowing for unique flexibility during innovative planning. Our detailed developmental quality assurance program allows us to provide solutions to the challenging demands of the evolving nuclear industry by ensuring unsurpassed consistency and quality in the components and process systems we design and manufacture.

In keeping with our QA procedures, every project begins with a project plan referencing related design, manufacturing, quality assurance and development plans. Our rigorous standards ensure our products and services are leading the industry and exceeding our customers expectations.

ISO9001:2015
10CFR50AppB (Quality Assurance for Nuclear Power Plants)
100CFR21
ASME NQA-1
EPRI-NP-5625 (for Commercial Grade Dedication)
CSA-N285.0 (for Nuclear Pressure Retaining Items, certified by TSSA)
CSA-B51 (including TSSA Certification to ASME Section VIII Div 1, ASME B31.3, ASME B31.1)
CSA-N286.7-16 (Quality Assurance for Safety-Related Computer Software)
CSA- N299.1 (Items and Services for Nuclear Power Plants)

Tyne Engineering has successfully designed, fabricated, assembled, and installed turnkey modular skid mounted tritium process systems for nuclear applications worldwide. Our methodology:

Conception > Front End > Systems Design > Controls & Automation Engineering > Fabrication > Installation > Start Up & Commissioning > Parts & Customer Service

Our systems are customized and designed to seamlessly integrate into our customers’ required process flow. Benefits include:

Reduction in overall costs
Entire process system is ready for installation
Ideal temporary solutions and remote locations
Offsite construction and testing reduces onsite costs
Reduced construction infrastructure at your site
Portability allows site location flexibility and export solutions

Tyne also specializes in custom built pilot plant design in various sizes for research and development in preparation for full scale production facilities.

Engineering a safer future through innovation and design

Welding is an integral part of manufacturing and refurbishing instrumentation and process systems both in existing and new construction nuclear applications.

Tyne’s advanced welding technology and highly skilled welders perform to our approved welding procedures in TIG, stick, stud welding and automatic tube welding.

Our welding qualifications and procedures are designed to meet and exceed nuclear industry standards and requirements.

Tyne understands the importance of appropriate leak testing methods when commissioning nuclear components and systems into service.

We thoroughly test the integrity and leak tightness of technologies used in nuclear applications across multiple industries. Our customers are assured that the components and systems will operate reliably and safely.

Our facilities and specialized engineers are fully equipped to carry out helium leak testing to 1 x 10E-9 atm cc/s. Our strong partnerships allow us to claim full nondestructive evaluation (NDE) performance and manufacturing capabilities.

The performance of advanced vacuum technologies is critical to successful operation of components and systems not only within nuclear power plants (NPP), but also in nuclear applications across industries.

Tyne has been designing and building high and ultra high vacuum systems for the nuclear power industry worldwide for over 25 years. We specialize in LN2 and He cryogenics, having designed and built equipment employing cryotraps and multiple other system technologies.

We are fully licensed to carry depleted uranium. We supply industry leading getterbed technology and also manufacture small test sources including americium 241, and amorphous silicon-bound tritium sources.

Tyne designs and manufactures a broad range of high pressure vessels operating up to 600 psig and temperatures up to 1000°C. We incorporated one such vessel in the design and manufacturing of a combustion chamber/oxidizer we built for Ontario Hydro.

We not only provide custom design of pressure vessels, but we specialize in the design and manufacturing of complex nuclear process systems, pilot plants and modular plants. Our manufacturing complies with all ASME (including pressure vessel code), CRN and PED requirements and standards.