One of the most essential tools in maintaining nuclear safety is the In-Service Inspection, or ISI, performed routinely during refueling outages. These inspections ensure that critical systems and components inside the reactor remain in safe, operable condition. They are required by regulatory bodies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and follow ASME standards. The goal of these […]
Strong documentation streamlines the Loop Plug installation process
During last Fall’s outage season, Preferred Engineering assisted with the installation ofa set of brand-new Hot/Cold Leg Loop Plugs. The process went smoothly thanks to anoutstanding product as well as excellent cooperation and planning with our customer todevelop and document a streamlined approach. While loop plugs may not require frequent installation, their role in nozzle isolation forPressurized Water […]
Custom Auxiliary Bridges Just Make Sense
Power stations have a variety of refueling and maintenance functions and the space available to accomplish them varies widely across facilities. That’s why custom solutions are the only way to go when designing auxiliary bridges that enable those refueling and maintenance tasks to happen. Custom-engineered bridge solutions not only consider the dimensions of your facility but also the […]
Preparing for Upcoming Outage Season
As we head into the Fall 2025 Outage Season, we’re pleased to share with you our Outage Season Lessons Learned and Best Practices. This is an in-depth document capturing the key lessons, best practices, and engineering insights gained during the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 outage seasons. This report underscores Preferred Engineering’s commitment to supporting your team in […]
Foreign Material Exclusion (FME) Keeps Things Where They Belong
Effective Foreign Material Exclusion (FME) is essential to successful maintenance and outage planning at both boiling water reactor (BWR) and pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear plants. Keeping things out of where they shouldn’t be is just as important as putting the right things in the right spot! Tools, debris, and other foreign materials don’t belong in sensitive reactor […]
Why Nuclear Maintenance Equipment Requires a Single-Source Solution
We’re pleased to share our recent article in Power Magazine by Steve Mitchell – Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 There is no room for missteps, miscommunication, or misunderstandings when it comes to nuclear maintenance. It demands precision, speed, and accountability. The tools and systems used during outages must function flawlessly, because when they don’t, the cost is more than […]
Temporary Reactor Pressure Vessel Cover
Fast and reliable Reactor Pressure Vessel Isolation Safety and efficiency are the two most important factors in every nuclear outage. Reducing outage duration, minimizing radiation exposure, and protecting equipment from damage are absolutely key. These responsibilities require tools that are carefully designed and engineered. That’s what Preferred Engineering delivers with the Temporary Reactor Pressure Vessel Cover (TRPVC). It […]
Reliable Fuel Systems, On Time—Because Data Doesn’t Wait
Another shipment is headed out the door—Shipment #2 for a major data center project. These 80-gallon day tanks are equipped with control panels, return pumps, and all necessary accessories. Built for continuous performance in mission critical environments, they’re part of a complete fuel oil system designed to keep emergency generators running when it matters most. At Preferred Utilities, […]
Protecting RPV Flange Components During Outage Operations
During refueling outages, Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) cavity flooding can unnecessarily increase maintenance time and exposure. Preferred Engineering’s Stud Hole Plug Set provides a proven solution, sealing stud holes to prevent water intrusion – preserving critical flange components and eliminating the need to clean flooded threads. Engineered specifically to prevent cavity water from contaminating the threaded holes, the […]
Powering Data Centers with Hardened Fuel Systems – Shipment #1 Out the Door!
Preferred Utilities is thrilled to announce that the first of six major shipments has left our facility, headed straight to a mission-critical data center project. In this deployment: our reliable, redundant, and secure fuel oil systems engineered specifically for high-stakes environments. Shipment #1 includes: These aren’t your average components—each tank and manifold is part of a fully integrated […]