Nuclear Plant Modernization Toolbox
Overview
The Plant Modernization Toolbox is meant to be a resource to facilitate decision making and execution of the modernization process at nuclear power plants (NPPs). The Toolbox includes a variety of tools and aids to assist NPPs in identifying and evaluating cost savings from technology and process improvements. Utilities can use these tools to assess the costs and benefits of modernization ideas for their specific circumstances and operating experience. The Toolbox will continue to improve based on industry involvement. Contact EPRI with feedback or suggested additions by emailing: nuclearplantmod@epri.com.
The major components of the Toolbox are:
- The Modernization Process
- The Business Case Analysis Model (BCAM) and completed example business cases
- Modernization Technology Assessments (MTAs), covering a wide variety of candidate modernization improvements available for NPPs
- Technology and Process Improvements
To find out more about Nuclear Plant Modernization, visit: https://www.epri.com/research/programs/111344
Modernization Process
The Modernization Process provides guidance for developing a strategy for modernization of nuclear power plants and augmenting typical plant processes for large projects to address considerations specific to plant modernization. It describes various factors for developing a nuclear power plant modernization strategy to improve the economic competitiveness of nuclear power plants using modern technology and innovation. The strategy must be tailored to fit the circumstances of the specific site and utility.
The modernization process described in EPRI report “Nuclear Power Plant Modernization—Strategy Development and Implementation Process” (3002029089) is a framework for systematic implementation of modernization improvements at nuclear power plants. Modernization improvements encompass any concept, project, or activity that uses technology to improve how nuclear power plants are operated and/or maintained, with the overarching goal of reducing operations and maintenance (O&M) costs and improving workforce labor efficiency for the fleet, site, or unit. The modernization process is meant to be revisited throughout the life of a site’s modernization program and is comparable to processes that previously have been used by utilities for other large-scale efforts at nuclear power plants (for example, power uprate or license renewal).
The process guide link provided is to the EPRI download page for the report.
EPRI has launched the Plant Modernization Benchmarking & Assessment (PM B&A) supplemental project. The PM B&A will establish a peer and benchmarking group, providing participants with insights and guidance, industry-wide operational experience, subject matter expertise, peer benchmarking, and targeted research associated with specific modernization needs. Additional details are included in the PM B&A Supplemental Project Notice. Please contact your EPRI Technical Advisor or Plant Modernization (nuclearplantmod@epri.com) for information.
Additionally, EPRI is now offering the Modernization Strategy Development EPRI Application to our members. With EPRI Applications, EPRI will assist our member utilities in applying EPRI research. The Modernization Strategy Development scope includes development of a program charter, definition of key inputs and risks, identification of viable modernization candidates, and initial evaluation of those improvements, all consistent with the guidance in “Development and Implementation Process.” To learn more about the Modernization Strategy Development EPRI Application, please contact your EPRI Technical Advisor, or reach out to EPRI Plant Modernization (nuclearplantmod@epri.com) directly.
| Download Process Guide |
Business Case Analysis Model (BCAM) and Example Evaluations
The Excel-based Business Case Analysis Model (BCAM) provides a view of the economic feasibility of implementing nuclear plant modernization technologies. The model takes inputs from the user for the cost-drivers impacted by the technologies, to what extent those efficiencies will be harvested, and other business case inputs (e.g., the cost to implement, the time frame over which the business case is to be modeled) to provide output that supports plant modernization decision making. The output provided includes key financial metrics, such as cash flows, net present value (NPV), break-even, and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and operational metrics such as the headcount by functional area before and after the modernization effort is implemented.
The BCAM link provided is to the EPRI download page for the software, 3002019454.
Multiple example business case evaluations have been completed using the BCAM. The table of completed evaluations is accessed via the link below, and the table provides links to the published Technical Briefs for download.
The table of completed BCAM Technical Briefs can be searched by topic using the “Filter by Description” feature at the top of the page:
In addition, the BCAMs can be sorted by relative Net Present Value (NPVs) by clicking on the “NPV” column header. Finally, the table can be exported to an Excel spreadsheet for users’ internal purposes by using the download button (down arrow at top right of page).
EPRI has also developed a streamlined version of the BCAM as an online financial evaluation tool. This version of the BCAM allows members to complete higher level evaluations without the additional information required by the BCAM Excel tool. Users can complete multiple use case evaluations and see the financial results immediately. The use cases can be saved online or downloaded as PDF files. The Online BCAM is available to EPRI members and can be accessed by the below link. Please note that an EPRI login is required to access the tool.
| Online BCAM Tool | Download BCAM Software | BCAM CBT | BCAM List |
Modernization Technology Assessments (MTAs)
A Modernization Technology Assessment is a method to succinctly describe and characterize a potential nuclear plant modernization process improvement or technology so that items for further analysis can be quickly identified by utility and site staff. Technical update “Nuclear Industry Modernization—Modernization Technology Assessments: Specification, Template, and Examples” ( 3002020578 ) provides guidance for preparing MTAs that will be useful in coordinating the efforts of multiple preparers across multiple organizations.
Input for candidate MTAs was obtained from review of past and ongoing EPRI projects, industry award-winning projects (such as the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Top Innovative Practice awards), review of industry best practices, interviews with subject matter experts, and interaction with the industry through the EPRI Plant Modernization Committee.
MTAs can be proposed by utilities, vendors, EPRI, national laboratories, or other stakeholders. The MTA specification provides detailed guidance for users to draft MTAs. The link below accesses the specification from epri.com, and anyone interested in developing new MTAs or commenting on existing MTAs can send an email to NuclearPlantMod@epri.com.
Draft MTAs are reviewed by an EPRI Subject Matter Expert (SME), the Plant Modernization Lead, and, where appropriate, an applicable industry or utility SME. This review process is used to add an MTA to the Toolbox. As stated on the MTA Disclaimer page, EPRI does not endorse, recommend or favor any process, product or service discussed in an MTA. EPRI does not necessarily perform detailed technical or cost savings evaluations for the MTAs but can facilitate discussions with the MTA contributor and SMEs for additional information.
The MTA link below accesses a filter/sortable table of completed MTAs. Each MTA is publicly available and can be accessed via links in the MTA number. SWEEP Score information is provided in EPRI report 3002015802.
Similar to the BCAM table, the MTA table can be searched by topic by using the “Filter by Description” at the top of the page:
In addition, the MTAs can be sorted by SWEEP scores and Applicability by clicking the applicable column headers (e.g., Cost, Savings, etc.). Finally, the table can be exported to an Excel spreadsheet for users’ internal purposes by using the download button (down arrow at top right of page).
| Download MTA Spec | View MTA List |
Technology and Process Improvement Enablers
Many modernization efforts rely on enabling technologies or infrastructure.
Wireless
Installation of a wireless network or distributed antenna system infrastructure by itself, does not lead to any cost saving. However, this infrastructure would allow for widespread installation and usage of wireless technologies such as online monitoring sensors, which could potentially allow fewer maintenance activities, fewer corrective actions, increased equipment reliability, lower dose, and so forth. See EPRI reports 3002009128 (Use of LTE Cellular Network and Distributed Antenna Systems to Improve Connectivity and Increase Data Transfer) and 3002011820 (Online Monitoring – Engineering Change Package Content for a Distributed Antenna System and Wireless Vibration Sensors)
Application Integration
- Efficient software application integration is required to support many process improvements that use enterprise and software applications. EPRI report 3002020923, “Application Integration Using Standards-Based Messaging: Implementation of Energy Supply Common Information Model (ES-CIM) Interfaces” contains the result of preliminary research exploring the costs and roles that standards play in reducing costs and project risks. The resulting messaging standards are available through the ES-CIM Github Repository.
- To aid in application integration cases related to Plant Modernization, EPRI is extending the IEC CIM to address interfaces for bulk energy supply assets in the Energy Supply Common Information Model (ES-CIM). EPRI maintains the ES-CIM GitHub repository (https://github.com/epri-dev/ES-CIM/) to aid the general public in developing interfaces with information technology (IT) systems that support bulk energy supply assets. The repository contains WSDL, XSD, JSON, and XML files to aid developers and architects in standardizing interfaces.
- EPRI has developed the Energy Supply – Common Information Model (ES-CIM) Testbed, which allows for the testing of client software with some of the ES-CIM interfaces defined in our GitHub repository. The API was initially developed to support messages relating to PWR Water Chemistry, Radiation, and Spectroscopy. To access the ES-CIM Testbed, please click the button below.
| 3002023800 |