Critical Structural Integrity Challenges for Nuclear Energy

The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is, in collaboration with FESI, running a new one-day course at The Boilerhouse, Grantham, UK between 9:15 am–4:30 pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 that addresses the key structural integrity challenges associated with the continuing operation of existing nuclear power plants and the design and plant life management of new systems.

Nuclear power generation is seen as vital to the future of UK energy supply. The last commercial nuclear reactor to be built in the UK was the Sizewell B Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) that has operated since the mid-1990s. There are currently several high temperature Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors (AGRs) in operation but they will soon be coming to the end of their life. Two new PWR reactors are being built at Hinkley Point C and there are plans for further reactors at Sizewell C. Furthermore, there are likely to be several Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) built in the not too distant future and looking further ahead, studies are planned in preparation for future Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) that are likely to operate at temperatures even higher than those of AGRs, of which the hottest components (outside the core) are of the order of 650 °C.

This new one-day course, run in collaboration with FESI, explores the key structural integrity challenges associated with the continuing operation of existing nuclear power plants and the design and plant life management of new systems.

For further details, including how to register, please refer to the organiser’s website.