Wyle's Third Party Qualification (TPQ™) program provides commercial grade dedication of retrofit equipment and replacement parts no longer available from original sources. TPQ™ relies on Wyle's 30 years of equipment qualification experience and extensive qualification databases, plus numerous formal alliances with key original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Programs with significant engineering content are particularly well-suited for Wyle. Direct links to major manufacturers ensure the lowest pricing and greatest access to critical technical support. They also provide for explicit contractual assurance of long-term supply and attendant Part 21 responsibility.
The environmental qualification service work initially started in the early 1970s and 
includes activities such as radiation testing, thermal aging, seismic testing, and accident testing. Most of the original qualification programs were done on a representative sample of a standard manufacturers design and the construction process controlled to provide the necessary assurance of continued qualification. Wyle Laboratories performs environmental qualification testing to the requirements of IEEE-323, and IEEE-344 for any class 1E equipment for Nuclear Power Plants. The testing is used to confirm the adequacy of the equipment design under normal, abnormal, design basis event, post design basis event, and in-service test conditions for the performance of safety function(s). Presently, most of the qualification programs are being performed as either part of a replacement program or in conjunction with electrical equipment retrofit program.
Many of the traditional manufacturers of nuclear plant electrical and control equipment have eliminated their quality assurance programs for the nuclear industry based on financial considerations. This has opened up a market in "Third Party Qualification (TPQ)". The TPQ process procures standard commercial equipment from a manufacturer and utilizes a series of functional, dimensional, and qualification tests to verify critical characteristics of the equipment. This testing and inspection provides the necessary assurance that the component is capable of performing its intended safety function.
The aspect of Wyle's business started with small items such as fuses, relays, and circuit breakers. As the business has matured many of the items being requested now are retrofit components. These components are present day manufactured components that will actually fit into the older electrical cabinets or on the original equipment skids. Wyle has performed a significant amount of work with medium voltage switchgear and motor control center retrofits.
All components are furnished under a NUPIC audited quality assurance program with Wyle accepting 10 CFR Part 21 responsibility. Documentation includes direct traceability to the OEM. Parts provided in an assembly are typically not known to be nuclear qualified by their original manufacturer, when qualified by the assembly supplier. Wyle's EQ and Materials Aging databases readily support identification of alternate sources for these parts.
Wyle provides engineered retrofits and upgrades that cost-effectively improve system performance and reduce maintenance costs. All retrofit equipment is fully qualified and documented for safety-related service. Wyle and its OEM partners provide all required services including custom design, qualification plans, E.Q. & functional testing, software V&V, installation support, O&M training spares recommendations and all QA documentation.
Replacement Parts and Equipment Engineered Retrofits and Upgrades
Combined with Wyle's own record of service and commitment to the nuclear industry, alliances with key OEMs back up Wyle's ability to sustain exceptional life-of-plant support. In-house laboratory testing rounds out Wyle's full-service approach ensuring complete control of quality verification and fastest turnaround.
TPQ™ permits utilization of the best equipment and retrofits from leading mass production manufacturers. Engineered replacements, as well as, design upgrades are fully supported. Wyle remains the most experienced source for real time solutions to equipment qualification issues, as well as, for programmatic approaches to obsolescence management and alternate source development.
Replacement Parts and Equipment
Wyle excels at developing alternate sources for hard-to-find or obsolete safety-related electrical and mechanical parts. These are turnkey services under which 100% pedigreed parts are supplied with all of the value-added quality control and testing necessary for qualified substitutes. Complete documentation is provided including direct traceability by Wyle barcode number.
Parts provided in an assembly are typically not known to be nuclear qualified by their original manufacturer, when qualified by the assembly supplier. Wyle’s EQ and Materials Aging databases readily support identification of alternate sources for these parts.
Retrofits and Upgrades
Wyle provides engineered retrofits and upgrades that cost-effectively improve system performance and reduce maintenance costs. All retrofit equipment is fully qualified and documented for safety-related service.
Wyle and its OEM partners provide all required services including custom design, qualification plans, EQ & functional testing, V&V, installation support, O&M training, spares recommendations and all QA documentation. Examples of available items include recorders, motor control centers, switchgear, motors, valves, chillers and control panels.
Wyle also initiates generic retrofit programs, like those successfully completed for circuit breakers and recorders. These efforts address industry wide issues and allow engineering and qualification testing costs to be shared among users (thereby reducing some investment payback periods to as little as three years).
Obsolete Equipment Solutions
Wyle's Third Party Qualification (TPQ™) program provides commercial grade dedication of retrofit equipment and replacement parts no longer available as nuclear grade from original sources, such as:
- Recorders
- Motors
- Switchgear
- Control Panels
- Motor Control Centers (MCCs)
- Terminal Blocks
- Fuses
- Other Items
Programs with significant engineering content are particularly well-suited for Wyle. Direct links to major manufacturers such as Siemens and Eurotherm Chessell ensure the lowest pricing and greatest access to critical technical support. In-house laboratory testing rounds out Wyle's full-service approach ensuring complete control of quality verification and fastest turnaround. TPQ™ permits utilization of the best equipment and retrofits from leading mass production manufacturers.
Like-for-like replacements as well as design upgrades are fully supported. Wyle remains the most experienced source for engineered solutions to safety related equipment performance and qualification issues like obsolescence management and alternate source development.
Wyle excels at developing alternate sources for hard-to-find or obsolete safety-related electrical and mechanical parts. These are turnkey services under which 100 per cent pedigreed parts are supplied with all of the value-added quality control and testing necessary for qualified substitutes.
Generic retrofit programs, like those for Siemens vacuum breakers and Eurotherm recorders, address industry wide issues and therefore can share engineering and testing costs. They are particularly attractive to utilities because they can justify investment payback periods as short as three years.