ML23264A025
| ML23264A025 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/20/2023 |
| From: | John Mckirgan NRC/RES/DE |
| To: | |
| Jason Tokey 301-287-0982 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML23264A025 (12) | |
Text
Research Activities in Support of Digital Engineering in Nuclear Technology John McKirgan, Deputy Director Division of Engineering Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research US Nuclear Regulatory Commission September 20, 2023
NRC IS PREPARING FOR AN INCREASE IN NEW AND ADVANCED REACTOR Research and Molten Salt Small Modular Test Reactors Reactors and Current and potential Microreactors 20+ applications by 2027 EVOLVING Potential operating LANDSCAPE High-Liquid Metal 6+ licenses by 2027 Temperature Infrastructure Cooled Fast Gas-Cooled Improvements Reactors Reactors 15+ Entities actively engaged in pre-application activities 79 Topical reports and white paper reviews completed for 7 vendors 29 Topical reports and white papers under evaluation from 10 vendors
Digital Transformation in Nuclear Opportunities Challenges Regulatory Considerations
- Opportunity space is huge with
- Digital tools must be validated
- NRC has been proactively many potential applications and verified working to understand the evolving digital technology space
- Numerous potential benefits
- Enabling technologies carry their to identify technical and including improved efficiency, own risks which must be regulatory challenges and gaps, maintaining (or perhaps even addressed gather insights on potential use improving) safety, reducing cases, and develop institutional uncertainties, mitigating risk, and knowledge enabling enhanced data analytics and advanced monitoring
- NRC must stay focused on the data that has an impact on safety and ensure the models used for safety analyses are adequately validated and verified
Digital Twins Cybersecurity - Autonomous Control Systems Safety-Significant I&C Systems in the Digital Age MBSE Assessment STPA
& Evaluation Systems Engineering SAC
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Preparedness Vision and Outcomes
- Continue to keep pace with technological innovations to ensure the safe and secure use of AI in NRC-regulated activities
- AI framework and skilled workforce to review and evaluate the use of AI in NRC-regulated activities The AI Strategic consists of five strategic goals
- Goal 1: Ensure NRC Readiness for Regulatory Decisionmaking
- Goal 2: Establish an Organizational Framework to Review AI Applications
- Goal 3: Strengthen and Expand AI Partnerships
- Goal 4: Cultivate an AI-Proficient Workforce
- Goal 5: Pursue Use Cases to Build an AI Foundation Across the NRC Future Activities
- Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee meeting on AI (November 15, 2023)
Draft Available at ML22175A206
- Regulatory framework applicability assessment of artificial intelligence in nuclear Final available at ML23132A305 applications (Summer 2023 to Spring 2024)
DIGITAL PLATFORM IN ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION MOTIVATION & DRIVERS EXAMPLE NRC ACTIVITIES Innovative, economical, and safe construction is critical to RIC2023 Session: Constructing Our Energy Future:
realize the perceived momentum of advanced reactors. Opportunities and Challenges for Advanced Reactor Construction Regulatory research can improve understanding and assist with building confidence in advanced construction Staff detailing at National Reactor Innovation Center, technologies for their safety implications Advanced Construction Technology Initiative, Idaho National Laboratory University Nuclear Leadership Program grants: Lapped DIGITAL ENGINEERING IN CIVIL STRUCTURES connection for accelerated modularized construction,
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) advanced sensors for structural integrity monitoring
- Digital twin technology Study of Civil Structural Challenges for New and
- Sensor network, other monitor devices Advanced Reactors
- AI/ML for structural health monitoring
- Augmented reality (AR) for construction management
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies AMT Action Plan Rev 1 Focus areas include: Ongoing Activities
- Laser powder bed fusion (LPBD)
- Participating in Codes and Standards
- Laser direct energy deposition (L-DED)
- Expanding technical letter report topics, technical assessments,
- Electron beam welding (EBW) arc directed energy deposition)
- Power metallurgyhot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP)
- Performing additional assessments related to nondestructive examination (NDE), data & modeling for qualification, and implications of AMTs on materials performance
- Knowledge management activities such as planning additional public workshops (NDE-specific and broad topical)
- 2023 Workshop on Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) for Nuclear Applications -October 24-26, 202
Forward Looking Research
- Supports NRC vision of becoming a modern, risk-informed regulator
- University Nuclear Leadership ProgramSupports NRCs safety and security mission by awarding university-led research projects relevant to the NRC mission that complement its current research portfolio and help the NRC prepare for upcoming challenges
- Future Focused Research (FFR) ProgramSupports the identification, prioritization, performance, and monitoring of research activities intended to help the NRC prepare for upcoming challenges that have longer-term ( 3 years) horizons and greater risk opportunities than considered in typical activities Digital Twins - Licensing Regulatory Modernization Project Viability - Operating Reactors Nuclear Nano Key Attributes Integration of Technology - for Remote Safety, Security, Advanced Fuel Operation of and Safeguards Applications NPPs
Summary
- NRC must remain vigilantDigital technologies are entering the nuclear space from both the front and back door
- NRC has been proactively working to understand this evolving technology space to identify technical and regulatory challenges and gaps, gather insights on potential use cases, and develop institutional knowledge
- We are working to ensure we have the staff with the knowledge, skills, and ability to effectively regulate these new technologies
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