MTA-OP-001

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Administrative Items
Date	12/14/2021
Functional Area Where Benefits Will Be Realized	Operations Work Management Radiation Protection
Reference Implementation Guidance	NEI 2018 TIP Award Submittal 55 (ID: 11253806)
Industry SME	EPRI Operating Plant Initiatives Contact: nuclearplantmod@epri.com
Previous Implementation	This solution is in use. Please contact EPRI for implementation examples and contacts.
Implementation Enablers	A wireless network is not needed unless the digital plant viewer includes wireless camera feeds, wireless telemetry or is accessed through a mobile device. If such equipment is used, then one of the following may be needed: MTA-MA-003 – Implement a Wireless Network Infrastructure Using a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) MTA-MA-004 – Implement a Wireless Network Infrastructure Using WiFi
Applicability	All reactor types All geographic regions
Keywords	Plant viewer; digital technology; data visualizing; data‑driven decisions; big data, web portal
Business Case Analysis Cross-Reference	N/A

Description

Many nuclear power plants have a wide array of mapping, telemetry, camera feeds, and other plant data systems integrated into their facilities. Each of these systems can be pulled together into one interface, through which work efficiencies and further insights can be gained. A digital plant viewer software solution serves the purpose of collating the plant data systems into one location on a web‑based application.

The digital plant viewer provides personnel with an interactive plant map including 360‑degree images, live video feeds, current radiological exposure data, and wireless telemetry feeds from a plant’s wireless sensors. It also includes a plant’s operations logbook and electronic shift operations management system for additional information. The digital plant viewer incorporates a plant’s existing camera and sensor infrastructure, and can be accessed from plant computers, self‑service kiosks, and mobile devices.

This tool can be used to improve work efficiency through the ability to monitor ongoing work with live camera feeds and plan work with 360‑degree images. The digital plant viewer also allows outage contractors to become quickly acquainted with the site, which reduces the need for personnel to provide direction and guidance to the contractors (e.g., for radiation protection). The tool is expected to be robust to modernization improvements and can be upgraded to include new cameras, sensors and processing technology.

Benefits

Benefits Estimate

Level 2 – Savings are expected to be between $1 million and $5 million per year based on deployment in a large fleet. Savings are based on reduced contract labor, increased efficiencies for plant staff, and decreased frequency of radiological surveys. Additional savings may be realized through dose savings associated with fewer radiological surveys and reduced outage duration from improved work efficiencies. Further savings may be achievable through additional modernization improvements to the digital plant viewer (e.g., new cameras / sensors).

Benefits Description

• Reduction in resource usage – the digital plant viewer is expected to increase efficiencies for plant staff and reduce contract labor due to the reduced need to collect and disseminate information about plant layout, dose maps, etc.
• Reduced dose and time commitment from routine radiological surveys – trending radiological conditions on plant maps allows for condition‑based surveys to reduce the frequency of routine surveys.
• Increased efficiencies in Radiation Protection – Radiation Protection wait times and workload are expected to be reduced through the digital plant viewer interface.
• Improved work coordination and planning through the use of video camera and live dose feeds – potential reduction in outage duration by improving work efficiencies using the information provided through the digital plant viewer.
• The web‑based portal provides easy access to a variety of information sources, reducing the time spent searching for data in multiple systems.

Costs and Schedule

Cost

Level 2 – Implementation cost (either through internal software development or through a vendor) is expected to be between $1 million and $5 million. Costs can include procuring and installing imaging equipment needed to create 360‑degree tours of the facility, interactive touch screens, cameras, telemetry, servers, and computer hardware items. The software solution can interface with existing equipment, which would reduce the procurement and installation cost.

Schedule

Less than six months for implementing the software in a single‑unit plant. Most camera systems can be installed online, except for areas of high dose which require installation while the plant is in an outage. Additional activities, such as developing the software rather than procuring it or performing a 360‑degree tour of the facility, will extend the schedule.

Scope Context

Cost and savings are based on a large fleet‑wide implementation with reduction in personnel. Large deployments will maximize potential savings. Extent of telemetry data included in the digital plant viewer depends on existing plant wired and wireless sensor data.

Risks

• Cybersecurity risks are present when implementing the technology; implementation should follow the plant’s appropriate cybersecurity guidelines.
• The physical security department should be involved when creating 360‑degree images to ensure they do not provide sensitive information.
• Installing cameras / sensors in high‑dose areas will require an outage; permanently installed equipment in these high‑dose areas should be robust to the radiological conditions.

SWEEP Score

Category	Level	Description
Cost	2	Implementation cost is greater than $1 million per year but less than $5 million per year.
Savings	2	Savings are estimated up to $5 million per year, depending upon fleet size.
Payback	2	Payback period is expected to be between 1–5 years. Payback period can be decreased based on outage schedules.
Technical Readiness	3	The technology is ready for wide operational deployment. This technology has already been implemented at nuclear power plants.
Licensing Readiness	3	No changes are required for implementation. This technology has already been implemented at nuclear power plants.
Implementation Proficiency	2	Requires site‑specific experience with digital technologies; a systematic engineering approach should be taken while implementing the digital plant viewer.