Design Safer and Smarter Advanced Nuclear Reactors

As a clean and dispatchable electricity source, nuclear energy complements intermittent renewables such as wind and solar to ensure that total power supply reliably meets grid demand. Given its crucial role in the clean energy transition, nuclear power must scale up quickly to accomplish decarbonization goals¹:

Today, advancements in nuclear technology present exciting opportunities. New builds are making headways in nuclear fusion, while advanced and small modular reactors (SMRs) are projected to enter the market within the next decade. The key question is: How quickly can industry leaders ensure the safety and success of advanced reactor technologies to secure a competitive advantage? Virtual twin technology on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform can accelerate the design process — by digitalizing the nuclear safety case and reducing costly disruptions throughout the project lifecycle.

Compared to traditional nuclear infrastructure, advanced nuclear reactors such as SMRs are safer due to passive safety measures that don’t depend on human intervention or backup power supplies to work. Their simpler design and volume fabrication enable lower project costs, shorter construction times and more efficient decommissioning. SMRs can also be installed at sites where conventional reactors cannot, helping to localize electricity production and decarbonize industrial heat for hard-to-abate sectors such as steel manufacturing.

SMRs are essential in the future low-carbon energy mix, but first, they must be ready and deployable at scale. Through simulation and model-based systems engineering within the virtual twin, designers and engineers can iteratively refine the SMR design while adhering to stringent nuclear safety requirements. They can explore configurations and scenarios virtually to identify the most efficient designs without building costly prototypes. The virtual twin allows for continuous improvement and optimization throughout the design phase so vendors can develop safe, reliable, configurable and affordable reactors.

Currently, all proposed SMR designs will use nuclear fission to generate power, but visionary leaders are leveraging the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to explore the possibilities of nuclear fusion. The idea is to harness the power of the sun and develop energy infrastructure capable of delivering electricity to the grid. Since new nuclear energy applications rely on innovative designs and alternative fuel types, vendors can leverage the virtual twin to conduct risk-informed design evaluations and strengthen their safety case.

From fission to fusion, the opportunities for advanced nuclear reactors are limitless. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform empowers vendors to tap into the full potential of SMRs so they can rapidly scale up the nuclear industry. By advancing nuclear reactor technologies and embracing virtual twin capabilities, vendors can actively contribute to the progression of the global transition to clean, reliable and sustainable energy sources.