Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project Technology Development Roadmaps: The Technical Path Forward

摘要

Industry experience repeatedly demonstrates the consequences of proceeding with projects using technologies that are not sufficiently mature. The U.S. General Accounting Office noted that these consequences manifest themselves as cost overruns and schedule delays late in the project life cycle (GAO 2007). To avoid these undesirable consequences, the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) project initiated efforts to assess technology readiness of critical plant, areas, systems, subsystems, and components (PASSC) and identify the steps required to ensure sufficient maturity prior to inclusion into the NGNP design. This document presents the NGNP critical PASSCs, establishes a baseline for the current technology readiness status, and provides a path forward to achieve increasing levels of technical maturity and reduce risk. In May 2008, the suppliers were provided a scope of work in which they were asked to conduct a Technology Readiness Assessment and identify critical PASSCs. Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) were assessed and Technology Development Roadmaps (TDRM) were generated for each critical PASSC based on a set of requirements, including high level operating conditions.