A Low-Carbon Future With Efficient Nuclear SMR Projects

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the infrastructure needed for effective implementation of the nuclear power plant should be established in compliance with the standards and regulations through the best engineering and organizational practices.

Some important infrastructure aspects include site preparation, water supply, power supply, meteorological station, administration facilities, component manufacture and material supply, safeguard plan and equipment, spent fuel storage, emergency response facilities and more. Besides that, commercial nuclear companies will also need to fulfill strict regulatory requirements in order to obtain an operating license from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Each country has its own set of nuclear regulatory requirements that commercial nuclear companies need to adhere to.

To improve efficiency and safety, the IAEA also highlighted that nuclear companies have increased their usage of automation in plant systems, by utilizing complex control systems to assist in operational monitoring and decision-making.

The nuclear critical infrastructure sector is vital for national security, energy independence and technological advancement. It oversees and operates commercial nuclear power reactors that generate power to millions of citizens and businesses worldwide, consisting of three primary sub-sectors: Nuclear facilities, nuclear materials and nuclear waste. On top of that, these are also part of the sector:

• Nuclear power plants
• Research reactors
• Fuel cycle facilities
• Waste management and storage

Through all phases of a nuclear plant’s lifecycle, the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform enables better management of the engineering process by providing a unified virtual environment and a single source of information. This supports smooth collaboration that leads to increased confidence for project delivery. It empowers teams with the technological capabilities to leverage data and knowledge to mitigate program bottlenecks, risks and delays.
 

As a major advancement in Industry 4.0, the digital twin is redefining the nuclear industry by overcoming challenges of developing complex reactor systems, optimizing costs and improving safety. As of late 2023, the digital twin technology has been actively deployed in the nuclear sector, both in the advanced reactors and the fleet of light water reactors.

The usage of digital twin within the nuclear industry is demonstrated through the following aspects:

• Predictive maintenance and operations: Continuously monitor the condition of equipment and systems by analyzing real-time data to foresee potential failures and allow for timely maintenance to reduce downtime
• Safety and risk management: Enhance safety by simulating different operational scenarios, including potential accident conditions to allow operators to understand the impact of various incidents and implement preventive measures
• Design and engineering: Test and validate SMR designs and SMR research in a virtual environment during the design phase or the upgrade of nuclear facilities to address potential issues, thereby reducing cost and time associated with physical prototyping and modifications
• Operation optimization: Facilitate the optimization of nuclear plant operations by providing operational insights and performance metrics through the simulation of different operating conditions and configurations to identify efficient and cost-effective operational methods
• Lifecycle management: Support the entire lifecycle management of nuclear facilities, from construction, operation to decommissioning through the management and documentation of lifecycle activities, regulatory compliance and historical data for future reference
• Regulatory compliance and reporting: Assist in meeting regulatory requirements by providing a comprehensive digital representation of nuclear facilities through the compiling and submitting of reports to regulatory bodies with ensured transparency and accuracy
• Enhanced collaboration: Promote seamless collaboration among different stakeholders, including engineers, operators, regulators, and maintenance teams, through a shared digital model that improves communication and coordination across various functions

However, digital twins are simply digital representations of real-world entities or systems, in the form of a model which mirrors a unique physical object, process, organization, person or another abstraction.

The virtual twin technology of Dassault Systèmes is able to take it to the next level with the ability to 3D model everything in our environment. And unlike digital twins, the virtual twin offers integrated end-to-end systems to accelerate collaboration that allows design, simulation, market production and data analysis.

As an end-to-end digital solution, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform comes integrated with the virtual twin technology, where it is designed to help conquer nuclear project challenges caused by deeply entrenched data, a lack of overall visibility and dispersed stakeholders. Nuclear project owners have reported experiencing up to a 15% increase in productivity through the adoption of this technology.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that at present there are three countries with active developments of SMRs, which are France, UK and China.

The UK government has given the green light for the construction of a new nuclear facility at Hinkley Point in Somerset, which will be financed by the French and Chinese authorities. Hinkley Point C, the proposed new plant, will be built next to the two existing facilities, Hinkley Point A and B. It is set to begin operations to generate electricity by 2025.

Électricité de France (EDF) is the French company in charge of this nuclear project. EDF’s efforts in the development of SMRs and maintenance of existing nuclear fleet aligns with its commitment to providing reliable, low-carbon energy solutions that support the UK's net-zero ambitions.