MAKING SMRs COMMERCIAL | REACTOR DESIGN
once passed, would create a global production network based on a set of agreed manufacturing principles shared by the regulatory bodies of each participating nation. The idea would follow something similar to the regulatory landscape that is now established best practice in global shipping and aviation. This would be a significant step forward, allowing a large number of parts to be licensed for production in multiple countries, creating the type of coordinated supply chain necessary to drive down costs. However, this solution also introduces its own set of challenges. Modular construction and fabricated parts built according to consistent codes and standards will require legal scrutiny, especially when it comes to logistics. For example, international nuclear liability regimes for transportable plants are still unclear, as is the applicability of environmental protection and public participation legislation.
The role of critical service Given the long regulatory approvals process – even for businesses that are further ahead with their design – opting for what’s known to meet existing standards is clearly sensible. Not just to prove the overall SMR concept, but also to give economies a pragmatic way to complement the variable nature of renewables without creating a major shortfall. Valves offer a good case in point. While relatively small features within the context of an overall build, they are
critical for keeping certain SMR designs functioning within ideal parameters. IMI Critical Engineering is helping to accelerate progress in this area by assisting with the application and design of several core components, including all safety relief valve types. This includes main steam safety valves, main steam and main feed-water isolation valves, turbine bypass valves, and also emergency core cooling system strainers. All these products have been previously approved for
service in large-scale reactors. While they cannot be applied like-for-like in an SMR, they nevertheless have thousands of hours of operations proven in critical service, easing some of the unfamiliarity regulators will face with bespoke engineered parts. This is particularly important given the passive safety systems inherent to many SMR designs, which lower the barrier of entry for new, inexperienced operators. This is not to say components can be overlooked or
fast-tracked during development. Every part, irrespective of where it’s manufactured, must go through the same robust testing procedure that has underpinned decades of safe product design and engineering in nuclear. But, if simplicity and speed are necessary aspects of making SMRs a success, then it’s prudent for developers to work with existing components and companies with knowledge of how they perform in critical service. This is just one aspect of a much larger puzzle, though no less important for introducing a technology that can legitimately decarbonise the grid and wider industry at a meaningful pace. ■
RAMTrans 2024
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