SPG, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes’ expertise brand specializing in radiological containment and nuclear processes

The solutions offered by SPG are mainly aimed at scientific and nuclear research, both civil and military. The brand’s main customers are the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energy Commission (CEA) and National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), and very large research infrastructures such as the CERN, ESS in Sweden and the ITER experimental thermonuclear reactor project established in France. When one of these customers issues a requirement specification related to its nuclear activity, our specialists then build the process or application allowing it to carry out gas treatments in open or closed loop, by chemical or thermochemical means. In particular, SPG specializes in gas stream detritiation processes enabling the extraction of tritium present in the gas to be treated. The tritium extracted is then concentrated, in order to store it. Tritium is already used in simulation programmes associated with the nuclear deterrent, and also as a fuel for the production of energy from the fusion of the atom in the thermonuclear reactor ITER. 

To achieve this, our experts are involved in the design, manufacture, integration and assembly of instrumented processes for applications at the extremes of pressure (from vacuum and ultra-high vacuum to high pressure) and temperature (from cryogenic to high temperature). They also work with applied technologies, mainly in mechanical, electromechanical and fluid design.  

Major research infrastructures use atomic elements that they must be able to contain and handle. They call on SPG t to design metal enclosures called "glove boxes" that allow the containment of radioactive elements and make it possible to handle the materials. 

In addition, our experts are asked to integrate commercial machinery such as machine tools, freezers, welding machines, cutting systems, etc. inside sealed enclosures. 

SPG also specializes in the storage and transport of radioactive or hazardous materials in passive or active temperature- and pressure-controlled sealed containers. Finally, our experts have developed a high-performance sealing system qualified, in particular, by Arianespace (for the high-pressure liquid oxygen and hydrogen pipes at 600 bars on Ariane 5 and Ariane 6). Joint S, invented, patented, manufactured and marketed by SPG, is also used on the "glove boxes" and container lids that the company delivers to its customers. 

This very specific range of skills could be deployed throughout Eiffage’s Energy Branch and on broader applications than the niche industries that make up SPG’s current customer base. Eiffage Énergie Systèmes’ expertise brand is able to meet the R&D needs expressed by many industrial customers, including precision boilermaking, sealing requirements, application containment, etc.  

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